Reliability and criterion-related validity of the Cooper test in pre-adolescents and adolescents: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

The Cooper test (CT) is used to assess cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) in pre-adolescents and adolescents, although it was originally developed to assess healthy adults. The aim of this study is to examine the available scientific evidence on the reliability and criterion validity of CT when administered to pre-adolescents and adolescents. Systematic searches were performed in three electronic databases (MEDLINE/PubMed, SPORTDiscuss and Scopus). To examine reliability and validity, four separate meta-analyses were implemented, finding high heterogeneity in studies with low methodological quality. There was a paucity of research regarding absolute reliability, while studies attempting to develop or cross-validate VO2max/VO2peak equations were almost non-existent. Information on the psychometric properties of CT in pre-adolescents under 12 years of age is scarce. The findings of this review cast doubt on the usefulness of CT both in identifying CRF and in determining the impact of strategies developed to improve CRF among pre-adolescents and adolescents.

Polymorphisms in autophagy genes are genetic susceptibility factors in glioblastoma development.

BACKGROUND: Glioblastoma is the most aggressive and common malignant primary brain tumor in adults. Many genetic, epigenetic and genomic mutations have been identified in this tumor, but no driving cause has been identified yet for glioblastoma pathogenesis. Autophagy has proved to be deregulated in different diseases such as cancer where it has a dual role, acting as a tumor suppression mechanism during the first steps of tumor development and promoting cancer cells survival in stablished tumors. METHODS: Here, we aimed to assess the potential association between several candidate polymorphisms in autophagy genes (ATG2B rs3759601, ATG16L1 rs2241880, ATG10 rs1864183, ATG5 rs2245214, NOD2 rs2066844 and rs2066845) and glioblastoma susceptibility. RESULTS: Our results showed a significant correlation between ATG2B rs3759601, ATG10 rs1864183 and NOD2 rs2066844 variants and higher risk to suffer glioblastoma. In addition, the relationship between the different clinical features listed in glioblastoma patients and candidate gene polymorphisms was also investigated, finding that ATG10 rs1864183 might be a promising prognosis factor for this tumor. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first report evaluating the role of different variants in autophagy genes in modulating glioblastoma risk and our results emphasize the importance of autophagy in glioblastoma development.

Spontaneous malignant transformation of a supratentorial pilocytic astrocytoma.

Pilocytic astrocytoma (PA) is a circumscribed neoplasia considered as a grade I astrocytoma by the World Health Organization. Its most common location is the cerebellum and it develops during the first two decades of the life. Prognosis is mostly excellent if gross-total resection can be achieved, with 10-year survival rates of up to 80%. Anaplastic or malignant transformation (MT) can rarely occur and is usually related to previous radiation. Spontaneous MT has exceptionally been reported. Histological criteria for diagnosis of MT are unclear, so no consensus exists. We present an atypical case of MT of a frontal PA without previous radiotherapy in a 28 years old patient. Also, we review the literature about prognostic factors of PA and discuss histological features that are considered as anaplastic or malignant in the PA.

Spontaneous malignant transformation of a supratentorial pilocytic astrocytoma

Pilocytic astrocytoma (PA) is a circumscribed neoplasiaconsidered as a grade I astrocytoma by the WorldHealth Organization. Its most common location is thecerebellum and it develops during the first two decadesof the life. Prognosis is mostly excellent if gross-totalresection can be achieved, with 10-year survival ratesof up to 80%. Anaplastic or malignant transformation(MT) can rarely occur and is usually related to previousradiation. Spontaneous MT has exceptionallybeen reported. Histological criteria for diagnosis ofMT are unclear, so no consensus exists. We present anatypical case of MT of a frontal PA without previousradiotherapy in a 28 years old patient. Also, we reviewthe literature about prognostic factors of PA and discusshistological features that are considered as anaplastic ormalignant in the PA (AU)

El astrocitoma pilocítico es un tumor bien delimitado,que según la clasificación de la OrganizaciónMundial de la Salud, se cataloga dentro del grupo de losastrocitomas de grado I. La localización más frecuentede esta neoplasia es el cerebelo y se manifiesta fundamentalmenteen las dos primeras décadas. Siempre ycuando se consiga una resección total, el pronóstico esmuy bueno, alcanzando una tasa de supervivencia del80% a los diez años. De manera excepcional, puedehaber casos de transformación anaplásica o maligna,normalmente asociados a radioterapia previa; se handescrito muy pocas situaciones de transformaciónespontánea. Existe mucha discusión a la hora de considerarlos criterios de malignidad desde un punto devista anatomopatológico. Presentamos un caso excepcionalde transformación anaplásica de un astrocitomapilocítico en un paciente de 28 años, al igual que revisamoslos criterios pronósticos de esta neoplasia y discutimoslos datos anatomopatológicos que se consideran deanaplasia o malignidad (AU)

Purely intramedullary spinal cord primitive neuroectodermal tumor: case report and review of the literature.

INTRODUCTION: Primitive neuroectodermal tumors (PNETs) are malign neoplasms of the central nervous system which mainly locate in cerebellum (medulloblastoma). Primary intraspinal PNETs are rare. Within this group, we have found ten cases of purely intramedullary PNETs (IPNETs). In this report, we describe a new IPNET case and review the literature about these infrequent intramedullary tumors. CASE REPORT: A 17 month-old boy showed progressive decrease of motion in his lower extremities. Spine magnetic resonance imaging revealed an intramedullary expansive lesion from T3 to T10. A near-total removal was performed. The pathological diagnosis was PNET. Subsequent chemotherapy was recommended. Six months after operation, holocord progression has occurred. CONCLUSION: IPNETs are uncommon tumors affecting children and young adults. They are characterized by recurrence, progression or intracranial dissemination. Outcome is dismal: most patients die within two years in spite of surgical resection followed by radiotherapy and chemotherapy.

Purely intramedullary spinal cord primitive neuroectodermal tumor, case report and review of the literature / Tumor neuroectodérmico primitivo espinal exclusivamente intramedular: caso clínico y revisión de la literatura

Introduction. Primitive neuroectodermal tumors (PNETs) are malign neoplasms of the central nervous system which mainly locate in cerebellum (medulloblastoma). Primary intraspinal PNETs are rare. Within this group, we have found ten cases of purely intramedullary PNETs (IPNETs). In this report, we describe a new IPNET case and review the literature about these infrequent intramedullary tumors. Case report. A 17 month-old boy showed progressive decrease of motion in his lower extremities. Spine magnetic resonance imaging revealed an intramedullary expansive lesion from T3 to T10. A near-total removal was performed. The pathological diagnosis was PNET. Subsequent chemotherapy was recommended. Six months after operation, holocord progression has occurred. Conclusion. IPNETs are uncommon tumors affecting children and young adults. They are characterized by recurrence, progression or intracranial dissemination. Outcome is dismal: most patients die within two years in spite of surgical resection followed by radiotherapy and chemotherapy (AU)

Introducción. Los tumores neuroectodérmicos primitivos (PNETs) son neoplasias malignas del sistema nervioso central que principalmente se localizan a nivel del cerebelo (denominadas en este caso meduloblastomas). Son muy poco frecuentes los PNETs primarios intraespinales. Dentro de este grupo, solamente hemos encontrado diez casos de PNETs exclusivamente intramedulares. En este artículo, describimos un nuevo caso de IPNET y procedemos a revisar la literatura existente sobre este tipo de tumores. Caso clínico. Se trata de un niño de 17 meses de edad que ha desarrollado una paraparesia progresiva. La resonancia magnética espinal muestra una lesión expansiva intramedular que se extiende desde T3 hasta T10. Se procedió a una extirpación macroscópica casi completa. El estudio anatomopatológico reveló un PNET. Se recomendó quimioterapia. Seis meses después de la cirugía, ha habido progresión a lo largo de la médula. Conclusión. Los PNETs exclusivamente intramedulares son raras neoplasias que afectan a niños y adultos jóvenes. Se caracterizan por la recurrencia, progresión o diseminación intracraneal. Son procesos de muy mal pronóstico, ya que los pacientes mueren en los primeros dos años a pesar de la resección quirúrgica y posterior radioterapia y quimioterapia (AU)