Sport activity in adolescence: associations with health perceptions and experimental behaviours

Despite the relevance of this research topic from a public health perspective, there is currently a lack of objective data on European adolescents' sport activity, notably the associations between their sport habits and their health attitudes and behaviours, which may have important consequences both in terms of somatic (cardiovascular) health and mental health. The objective of the present study was to determine the direction and strength of the associations between the frequency of sport and health variables; in particular, perceptions of health, self image, substance use and experimental behaviours. Data were collected as part of the 1993 Swiss Multicentric Adolescent Survey on Health. In this survey, anonymous self-administered questionnaires were distributed to a national representative sample of 10 000 in-school adolescents (15-20 years of age). Univariate analyses explored the relationships between the level of sport activity and health variables; then logistic regression analyses examined the strength of these relationships. According to the results, half of the sample do sports more than twice a week, boys more often as part of a sports club. Differences between non-athletic and athletic adolescents describe the latter as having less somatic complaints, more confidence in their future health, a better body image, a lesser tendency to attempt suicide, a higher frequency of use of the car seat belt, and a lower use of tobacco, wine and marijuana. Links between the frequency of sport activity and the locus of control related to health, general satisfaction with life or sexual behaviours are less strong. It must be noticed that the cross-sectional data collection precludes the establishment of a causal relationship between exercise and health behaviours. However, the existing links underline the coexistence of positive health characteristics and sport activity, suggesting that an incitement to get involved in physical activity may be a necessary component of a comprehensive prevention approach among adolescent

Sport activity in adolescence: associations with health perceptions and experimental behaviours

Despite the relevance of this research topic from a public health perspective, there is currently a lack of objective data on European adolescents' sport activity, notably the associations between their sport habits and their health attitudes and behaviours, which may have important consequences both in terms of somatic (cardiovascular) health and mental health. The objective of the present study was to determine the direction and strength of the associations between the frequency of sport and health variables; in particular, perceptions of health, self image, substance use and experimental behaviours. Data were collected as part of the 1993 Swiss Multicentric Adolescent Survey on Health. In this survey, anonymous self-administered questionnaires were distributed to a national representative sample of 10,000 in-school adolescents (15-20 years of age). Univariate analyses explored the relationships between the level of sport activity and health variables; then logistic regression analyses examined the strength of these relationships. According to the results, half of the sample do sports more than twice a week, boys more often as part of a sports club. Differences between non-athletic and athletic adolescents describe the latter as having less somatic complaints, more confidence in their future health, a better body image, a lesser tendency to attempt suicide, a higher frequency of use of the car seat belt, and a lower use of tobacco, wine and marijuana. Links between the frequency of sport activity and the locus of control related to health, general satisfaction with life or sexual behaviours are less strong. It must be noticed that the cross-sectional data collection precludes the establishment of a causal relationship between exercise and health behaviours. However, the existing links underline the coexistence of positive health characteristics and sport activity, suggesting that an incitement to get involved in physical activity may be a necessary component of a comprehensive prevention approach among adolescents

The chromatin landscape of primary synovial sarcoma organoids is linked to specific epigenetic mechanisms and dependencies.

Synovial sarcoma (SyS) is an aggressive mesenchymal malignancy invariably associated with the chromosomal translocation t(X:18; p11:q11), which results in the in-frame fusion of the BAF complex gene SS18 to one of three SSX genes. Fusion of SS18 to SSX generates an aberrant transcriptional regulator, which, in permissive cells, drives tumor development by initiating major chromatin remodeling events that disrupt the balance between BAF-mediated gene activation and polycomb-dependent repression. Here, we developed SyS organoids and performed genome-wide epigenomic profiling of these models and mesenchymal precursors to define SyS-specific chromatin remodeling mechanisms and dependencies. We show that SS18-SSX induces broad BAF domains at its binding sites, which oppose polycomb repressor complex (PRC) 2 activity, while facilitating recruitment of a non-canonical (nc)PRC1 variant. Along with the uncoupling of polycomb complexes, we observed H3K27me3 eviction, H2AK119ub deposition and the establishment of de novo active regulatory elements that drive SyS identity. These alterations are completely reversible upon SS18-SSX depletion and are associated with vulnerability to USP7 loss, a core member of ncPRC1.1. Using the power of primary tumor organoids, our work helps define the mechanisms of epigenetic dysregulation on which SyS cells are dependent

EWSR1-ATF1 dependent 3D connectivity regulates oncogenic and differentiation programs in Clear Cell Sarcoma.

Oncogenic fusion proteins generated by chromosomal translocations play major roles in cancer. Among them, fusions between EWSR1 and transcription factors generate oncogenes with powerful chromatin regulatory activities, capable of establishing complex gene expression programs in permissive precursor cells. Here we define the epigenetic and 3D connectivity landscape of Clear Cell Sarcoma, an aggressive cancer driven by the EWSR1-ATF1 fusion gene. We find that EWSR1-ATF1 displays a distinct DNA binding pattern that requires the EWSR1 domain and promotes ATF1 retargeting to new distal sites, leading to chromatin activation and the establishment of a 3D network that controls oncogenic and differentiation signatures observed in primary CCS tumors. Conversely, EWSR1-ATF1 depletion results in a marked reconfiguration of 3D connectivity, including the emergence of regulatory circuits that promote neural crest-related developmental programs. Taken together, our study elucidates the epigenetic mechanisms utilized by EWSR1-ATF1 to establish regulatory networks in CCS, and points to precursor cells in the neural crest lineage as candidate cells of origin for these tumors

The contribution of Swiss scientists to the assessment of energy metabolism

Although Switzerland is considered a small country, it has its share in discoveries, inventions and developments for the assessment of energy metabolism. This includes seminal contributions to respiratory and metabolic physiology and to devices for measuring energy expenditure by direct and indirect calorimetry in vivo in humans and small animals (as well as in vitro in organs/tissues), for the purpose of evaluating the basic nutritional requirements. A strong momentum came during World War II when it was necessary to evaluate the energy requirements of soldiers protecting the country by assessing their energy expenditure, as well as to determine the nutritional needs of the Swiss civil population in time of war when food rationing was necessary to ensure national neutrality and independence. A further impetus came in the 1970s at the start of the obesity epidemics, toward a better understanding of the metabolic basis of obesity, ranging from the development of whole-body concepts to molecular mechanisms. In a trip down memory lane, this review focuses on some of the earlier leading Swiss scientists who have contributed to a better understanding of the field

ELAVL3: A NEW PROTEIN PROMOTING THE GROWTH OF PRONEURAL GLIOBLASTOMA ?

ABSTRACT ELAVL3 is an RNA-binding protein, specifically expressed in terminally differentiated neurons. It is necessary for neuron differentiation and maintenance as well as for neuronal plasticity and memory. Bioinformatic analysis, based on The Cancer Genome Atlas data, showed that ELAVL3 expression is increased in gliobastoma multiforme (GBM) of the proneural subtype. It also revealed strong correlation between ELAVL3 and proneural signature gene expression. Those results suggest that the protein might be implicated in GBM development. However, because the role of ELAVL3 in malignant cells has not yet been investigated, it is not clear whether the increased protein expression is necessary for malignant cell tumoregenicity or if it is simply a byproduct of the expression of proneural genes. This study aims to assess the importance of the increased expression of ELAVL3 in proneural GBM stem cells (GSCs) and to clarify the putative role of the protein in the development of this malignancy. First of all, the ELAVL3 expression was determined in GSCs grown both as spheroids and as differentiated adherent cells. Then, its expression was suppressed in GSCs. Those cells were then used to perform a proliferation assay and injected as xenografts into mice, in an attempt to better understand ELAVL3 function. The results of the in vitro experiments showed that the ELAVL3 expression is higher in proneural GSCs compared to stem cells of the other subtypes, which is in agreement with the results of the bioinformatic data analysis. Proliferation assays also showed that non-ELAVL3 expressing cells have a lower proliferation rate than ELAVL3 expressing cells. Unfortunately, those results could not be confirmed by the results of the xenograft injections, due to the lack of data yielded by in vivo experimentation. The results showed aincreased expression of ELAVL3 in proneural GBM stem cells that has never been described before. It also revealed involvement of the protein in cell proliferation, thus offering potential new perspectives regarding its function and its implication in tumorigenesis. Further studies will be needed to confirm these findings and to establish the exact function of ELAVL3 proneural glioblastoma

Energy-nitrogen balances and protein turnover in small and appropriate for gestational age low birthweight infants.

The aim of the present study was to compare, under the same nursing conditions, the energy-nitrogen balance and the protein turnover in small for gestational age (SGA) and appropriate for gestational age (AGA) low birthweight infants. We compared 8 SGA's (mean +/- s.d.: gestational age 35 +/- 2 weeks, birthweight 1520 +/- 330 g) to 11 AGA premature infants (32 +/- 2 weeks, birthweight 1560 +/- 240 g). When their rate of weight gain was above 15 g/kg/d (17.6 +/- 3.0 and 18.2 +/- 2.6 g/kg/d, mean postnatal age 18 +/- 10 and 20 +/- 9 d respectively) they were studied with respect to their metabolizable energy intake, their energy expenditure, their energy and protein gain and their protein turnover. Energy balance was assessed by the difference between metabolizable energy and energy expenditure as measured by indirect calorimetry. Protein gain was calculated from the amount of retained nitrogen. Protein turnover was estimated by a stable isotope enrichment technique using repeated nasogastric administration of 15N-glycine for 72 h. Although there was no difference in their metabolizable energy intakes (110 +/- 12 versus 108 +/- 11 kcal/kg/d), SGA's had a higher rate of resting energy expenditure (64 +/- 8 versus 57 +/- 8 kcal/kg/d, P less than 0.05). Protein gain and composition of weight gain was very similar in both groups (2.0 +/- 0.4 versus 2.1 +/- 0.4 g protein/kg/d; 3.5 +/- 1.1 versus 3.3 +/- 1.4 g fat/kg/d in SGA's and AGA's respectively). However, the rate of protein synthesis was significantly lower in SGA's (7.7 +/- 1.6 g/kg/d) as compared to AGA's (9.7 +/- 2.8 g/kg/d; P less than 0.05). It is concluded that SGA's have a more efficient protein gain/protein synthesis ratio since for the same weight and protein gains, SGA's show a 20 per cent slower protein turnover. They might therefore tolerate slightly higher protein intakes. Postconceptional age seems to be an important factor in the regulation of protein turnover

Energy intake and resting energy expenditure in adult male rats after early postnatal food restriction.

Contains fulltext : 70359.pdf (publisher's version ) (Open Access)Both in man and in animal models, changes in food intake and body composition in later life have been reported after alterations in perinatal nutrition. Therefore, we hypothesised that early postnatal undernutrition in the rat induces permanent changes in energy balance. Food restriction (FR) during lactation was achieved by enlarging litter size to twenty pups, whereas control animals were raised in litters containing ten pups. Energy intake and resting energy expenditure were determined in adult males. Early postnatal FR resulted in acute growth restriction followed by incomplete catch-up in body weight, body length and BMI. At the age of 12 months, middle-aged FR males had significantly lower absolute resting energy expenditure (200 v. 216 kJ/24 h, P = 0.009), absolute energy intake (281 v. 310 kJ/24 h, P = 0.001) and energy intake adjusted for BMI (284 v. 305 kJ/24 h, P = 0.016) than controls, whereas resting energy expenditure adjusted for BMI did not differ significantly between the groups (204 v. 211 kJ/24 h, P = 0.156). The amount of energy remaining for other functions was lower in FR males (80 v. 94 kJ/24 h, P = 0.044). Comparable data were obtained at the age of 6 months. These results indicate that in rats energy balance can be programmed by early nutrition. A low early postnatal food intake appears to programme these animals for a low energy intake and to remain slender in adult life