Motor Skill Improvement in Preschoolers: How Effective Are Activity Cards?

Strategies to early develop and implement motor skill promotion in preschoolers are lacking. Thus, we examined the effects of a card-based exercise promotion program in a kindergarten setting. 214 preschool children (5.5 ± 0.6 y, range 4.2–6.7 y) were examined in the present intervention study. Body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference were measured. Children were randomly assigned to the KIDZ-Box® physical activity intervention program (INT: n = 107) or the control group (CON: n = 107). Children were trained daily for 15 min over 7 month at the preschool for agility, balance, endurance and jump performance, employing the card-based KIDZ-Box® media package. At pre- and post-testing, dynamic balance, jump and agility performance were tested. Cross-sectionally, agility testing differed between sexes (p = 0.01) and BMI (p = 0.02). Trends towards a significant association were found between BMI and side-to-side jumping (p = 0.1) and beam balancing (p = 0.05). Relevant interventional effects favoring the intervention group were slightly found for agility (p = 0.04, ηp2 = 0.02) and moderately for side-to-side jumping (p < 0.001, ηp2 = 0.08). Balance performance did not relevantly improve. As jumping cards have been used frequently by the teachers, jumping improvements are plausible. The activity cards are feasibly applicable but should be employed with more structure during longer training sessions

The ribosome receptors Mrx15 and Mba1 jointly organize cotranslational insertion and protein biogenesis in mitochondria

Mitochondrial gene expression in Saccharomyces cerevisiae is responsible for the production of highly hydrophobic subunits of the oxidative phosphorylation system. Membrane insertion occurs cotranslationally on membrane-bound mitochondrial ribosomes. Here, by employing a systematic mass spectrometry-based approach, we discovered the previously uncharacterized membrane protein Mrx15 that interacts via a soluble C-terminal domain with the large ribosomal subunit. Mrx15 contacts mitochondrial translation products during their synthesis and plays, together with the ribosome receptor Mba1, an overlapping role in cotranslational protein insertion. Taken together, our data reveal how these ribosome receptors organize membrane protein biogenesis in mitochondria

Cbp3–Cbp6 interacts with the yeast mitochondrial ribosomal tunnel exit and promotes cytochrome b synthesis and assembly

A complex specifically required for the biogenesis of the respiratory chain component cytochrome b binds to the tunnel exit of yeast mitochondrial ribosomes to coordinate protein synthesis and assembly

ATM induces MacroD2 nuclear export upon DNA damage

ADP-ribosylation is a dynamic post-translation modification that regulates the early phase of various DNA repair pathways by recruiting repair factors to chromatin. ADP-ribosylation levels are defined by the activities of specific transferases and hydrolases. However, except for the transferase PARP1/ARDT1 little is known about regulation of these enzymes. We found that MacroD2, a mono-ADP-ribosylhydrolase, is exported from the nucleus upon DNA damage, and that this nuclear export is induced by ATM activity. We show that the export is dependent on the phosphorylation of two SQ/TQ motifs, suggesting a novel direct interaction between ATM and ADP-ribosylation. Lastly, we show that MacroD2 nuclear export temporally restricts its recruitment to DNA lesions, which may decrease the net ADP-ribosylhydrolase activity at the site of DNA damage. Together, our results identify a novel feedback regulation between two crucial DNA damage-induced signaling pathways: ADP-ribosylation and ATM activation

Modeling autosomal recessive cutis laxa type 1C in mice reveals distinct functions for Ltbp-4 isoforms

Recent studies have revealed an important role for LTBP-4 in elastogenesis. Its mutational inactivation in humans causes autosomal recessive cutis laxa type 1C (ARCL1C), which is a severe disorder caused by defects of the elastic fiber network. Although the human gene involved in ARCL1C has been discovered based on similar elastic fiber abnormalities exhibited by mice lacking the short Ltbp-4 isoform (Ltbp4S(-/-)), the murine phenotype does not replicate ARCL1C. We therefore inactivated both Ltbp-4 isoforms in the mouse germline to model ARCL1C. Comparative analysis of Ltbp4S(-/-) and Ltbp4-null (Ltbp4(-/-)) mice identified Ltbp-4L as an important factor for elastogenesis and postnatal survival, and showed that it has distinct tissue expression patterns and specific molecular functions. We identified fibulin-4 as a previously unknown interaction partner of both Ltbp-4 isoforms and demonstrated that at least Ltbp-4L expression is essential for incorporation of fibulin-4 into the extracellular matrix (ECM). Overall, our results contribute to the current understanding of elastogenesis and provide an animal model of ARCL1C.Peer reviewe

Modeling autosomal recessive cutis laxa type 1C in mice reveals distinct functions for Ltbp-4 isoforms

Recent studies have revealed an important role for LTBP-4 in elastogenesis. Its mutational inactivation in humans causes autosomal recessive cutis laxa type 1C (ARCL1C), which is a severe disorder caused by defects of the elastic fiber network. Although the human gene involved in ARCL1C has been discovered based on similar elastic fiber abnormalities exhibited by mice lacking the short Ltbp-4 isoform (Ltbp4S(-/-)), the murine phenotype does not replicate ARCL1C. We therefore inactivated both Ltbp-4 isoforms in the mouse germline to model ARCL1C. Comparative analysis of Ltbp4S(-/-) and Ltbp4-null (Ltbp4(-/-)) mice identified Ltbp-4L as an important factor for elastogenesis and postnatal survival, and showed that it has distinct tissue expression patterns and specific molecular functions. We identified fibulin-4 as a previously unknown interaction partner of both Ltbp-4 isoforms and demonstrated that at least Ltbp-4L expression is essential for incorporation of fibulin-4 into the extracellular matrix (ECM). Overall, our results contribute to the current understanding of elastogenesis and provide an animal model of ARCL1C.Peer reviewe

Associations between physical fitness, physical activity behaviours, cardiovascular health and back health in 6 to 8 year old children of Basel-Stadt

Background Insufficient physical activity and physical fitness are associated with cardiovascular diseases and back pain in adults. But cardiovascular risk factors and risk factors for back pain can be detected earlier in life. Aims Therefore, the aim of this dissertation study was to examine associations between physical fitness, physical activity behaviour, anthropometrics and retinal vessel diameters, as a risk factor of cardiovascular disease, and spinal flexibility or spinal posture, as risk factors for back pain, in a cohort of Swiss children aged 6 to 8 years. Further, the influence of parental education, household income and nationality on physical fitness, retinal vessel diameters and risk factors for back pain was analysed. Additionally, through the Sportcheck project the physical fitness skills of all first-graders of the canton Basel-Stadt could be classified in order to arrange performance-linked additional physical education lessons. The goal was to increase children’s physical activity, knowing that the motivation is higher when children are having a similar level in physical education classes. Methods Therefore, 1314 children conducted a 20 m shuttle run test, a 20 m sprint, a jumping sidewards and a balancing backwards test. Also height and weight were measured and the body mass index (BMI) calculated. The optional measurements of retinal vessel diameters, using a Static Retinal Vessel Analyzer, were completely conducted in 391 children. Measurements of spinal flexibility and spinal posture, using a hand-held computer-assisted electromechanical device, the MediMouse, were performed in 395 children. Additional proxy-reported questionnaires about physical activity behaviour, parental education, household income and nationality were completed by 340 children. Results It was found that cardiorespiratory fitness and indoor activity had a positive influence on retinal vessel health. Physically fit children had a more flexible spinal inclination and pelvic tilt than their peers. Boys with a high level of cardiorespiratory fitness had additionally more often a normal spinal posture. Parental education level, household income and migrant background were negatively related to the physical fitness levels and anthropometrics of the schoolchildren. Moreover, children from less educated parents and with a migrant background were spending more time in front of a screen than their peers. By the use of the physical fitness tests 351 (27%) children were recommended for the movement promotion class and 140 (11%) first-graders for the talent promotion program Talent Eye. The remaining 823 (62%) children were recommended for an additional physical sports lesson. Compared to the year before 43 more children registered for movement promotion classes (2012/2013: 11 children, 2013/2014: 54). Conclusions In conclusion physical fitness showed a beneficial association with cardiovascular and back health and is related to parental education level, household income and migrant background of first-graders. On the basis of the Sportcheck study the physical fitness level of first-graders of Basel-Stadt could be classified for additional physical education lessons. Besides, more children registered for movement promotion classes. Future follow-ups will analyse whether on the basis of the Sportcheck children will be more active in the long-term

2,2′-Bipyridin-1′-ium 1-oxide bromide monohydrate

The title compound 2,2′-bipyridin-1′-ium 1-oxide bromide crystallizes as a monohydrate, C10H9N2+·Br−·H2O. Structural disorder is observed due to the fact that protonation, as well as oxidation, of the N atoms of 2,2′-bipyridine occurs at either of the N atoms. The disorder extends to the remainder of the cation, with a refined occupancy rate of 0.717 (4) for the major moiety. An intramolecular N—H...O hydrogen bond forces the bipyridine unit into an s-cis conformation. Each pair of neighbouring 2,2′-bipyridin-1′-ium ions forms a dimeric aggregate by hydrogen bonds between their respective N—O and the N—H functions. These dimers and hydrogen-bonding interactions with bromide ions and the water molecule give rise to a complex supramolecular arrangement