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During the 1997 Federation Internationale des Sociétés d'Aviron World Junior Rowing Championships, anthropometric data on 383 male junior rowers were assessed. With 430 participating athletes, the sample represented 89% of the population. In addition to age, 27 dimensions were measured: body mass, six heights or lengths, four breadths, 10 girths, and six skinfolds. The elite male junior rowers were tall (187.4 (5.8) cm; mean (SD)) and heavy (82.2 (7.4) kg), with larger length, breadth, and girth dimensions than a nationally representative sample of Belgian boys of the same chronological age. A rowing specific anthropometric profile chart with norms was constructed. The stature of the junior rowers is similar to that of adult heavyweight elite rowers, except that the junior rowers are lighter. Compared with non-finalists, finalists are heavier (but still lighter than the adult heavyweight elite rower) and taller, with greater length, breadth (except for the bicristal diameter), and girth dimensions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Doxorubicin (doxo) remains the standard of care for patients with advanced soft tissue sarcoma (STS), even though response rates to doxo are only around 14% to 18%. We evaluated enapotamab vedotin (EnaV), an AXL-specific antibody-drug conjugate (ADC), in a panel of STS patient-derived xenografts (PDX). Eight models representing multiple STS subtypes were selected from our STS PDX platform (n = 45) by AXL immunostaining on archived passages. Models were expanded by unilateral transplantation of tumor tissue into the left flank of 20 NMRI nu / nu mice. Once tumors were established, mice were randomized into an EnaV treatment group, or a group treated with isotype control ADC. Treatment efficacy was assessed by tumor volume evaluation, survival analysis, and histological evaluation of tumors, and associated with AXL expression. EnaV demonstrated significant tumor growth delay, regression, and/or prolonged survival compared to isotype control ADC in 5/8 STS PDX models investigated. Experimental passages of responding models were all found positive for AXL at varying levels, but no linear relationship could be identified between the level of expression and level of response to EnaV. One model was found negative for AXL on experimental passage and did not respond to EnaV. This study provides a preclinical rationale for the evaluation of AXL-targeting ADCs in the treatment of AXL-expressing sarcomas.

Despite poor response rates and dose-limiting cardiotoxicity, doxorubicin (doxo) remains the standard-of-care for patients with advanced soft tissue sarcoma. We evaluated the efficacy of two tetrapeptidic doxo prodrugs (PhAc-ALGP-Dox or CBR-049 and CBR-050) that are locally activated by enzymes expressed in the tumor environment, in ten sarcoma patient-derived xenografts. Xenograft models were selected based on expression of the main activating enzyme, i.e., thimet oligopeptidase (THOP1). Mice were either randomized to vehicle, doxo, CBR-049 and CBR-050 or control, doxo, aldoxorubicin (aldoxo) and CBR-049. Treatment efficacy was assessed by tumor volume measurement and histological assessment of ex-mouse tumors. CBR-049 showed significant tumor growth delay compared to control in all xenografts investigated and was superior compared to doxo in all but one. At the same time, CBR-049 showed comparable efficacy to aldoxo but the latter was found to have a complex safety profile in mice. CBR-050 demonstrated tumor growth delay compared to control in one xenograft but was not superior to doxo. For both experimental prodrugs, strong immunostaining for THOP1 was found to predict better antitumor efficacy. The prodrugs were well tolerated without any adverse events, even though molar doses were 17-fold higher than those administered and tolerated for doxo.

Clinical use of doxorubicin (Dox) is limited by cumulative myelo- and cardiotoxicity. This research focuses on the detailed characterization of PhAc-ALGP-Dox, a targeted tetrapeptide prodrug with a unique dual-step activation mechanism, designed to circumvent Dox-related toxicities and is ready for upcoming clinical investigation. Coupling Dox to a phosphonoacetyl (PhAc)-capped tetrapeptide forms the cell-impermeable, inactive compound, PhAc-ALGP-Dox. After extracellular cleavage by tumor-enriched thimet oligopeptidase-1 (THOP1), a cell-permeable but still biologically inactive dipeptide-conjugate is formed (GP-Dox), which is further processed intracellularly to Dox by fibroblast activation protein-alpha (FAPα) and/or dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP4). In vitro, PhAc-ALGP-Dox is effective in various 2D- and 3D-cancer models, while showing improved safety toward normal epithelium, hematopoietic progenitors, and cardiomyocytes. In vivo, these results translate into a 10-fold higher tolerability and 5-fold greater retention of Dox in the tumor microenvironment compared with the parental drug. PhAc-ALGP-Dox demonstrates 63% to 96% tumor growth inhibition in preclinical models, an 8-fold improvement in efficacy in patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models, and reduced metastatic burden in a murine model of experimental lung metastasis, improving survival by 30%. The current findings highlight the potential clinical benefit of PhAc-ALGP-Dox, a targeted drug-conjugate with broad applicability, favorable tissue biodistribution, significantly improved tolerability, and tumor growth inhibition at primary and metastatic sites in numerous solid tumor models., (©2022 The Authors; Published by the American Association for Cancer Research.)

Background: Soft tissue sarcoma (STS) comprises a family of rare, heterogeneous tumors of mesenchymal origin. Single-agent doxorubicin remains the first-line standard-of-care treatment for advanced and inoperable STS, but response rates are only around 15%. In 2016, phase Ib/II clinical trial results reported an overall survival benefit of 11.8 months when combining doxorubicin and the platelet-derived growth factor receptor alpha (PDGFRA)-directed antibody olaratumab compared to doxorubicin alone, without providing a scientific rationale for such unprecedented therapeutic effect. We decided to evaluate the efficacy of olaratumab in a panel of STS patient-derived xenografts (PDX)., Methods: NMRI nu/nu mice were bilaterally transplanted with tumor tissue of patient-derived xenograft models expressing PDGFRA, including models of leiomyosarcoma (UZLX-STS22), malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor (UZLX-STS39), myxofibrosarcoma (UZLX-STS59) and undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma (UZLX-STS84). Mice were randomly divided into four different treatment groups: (1) control, (2) doxorubicin (3 mg/kg once weekly), (3) anti-PDGFRA [olaratumab (60 mg/kg twice weekly) + mouse anti-PDGFRA antibody 1E10 (20 mg/kg twice weekly)] and (4) the combination of doxorubicin and anti-PDGFRA (same dose/schedule as in the single treatment arms). Tumor volume, histopathology and Western blotting were used to assess treatment efficacy., Results: Anti-PDGFRA treatment as a single agent did not reduce tumor growth and did not result in significant anti-proliferative or pro-apoptotic activity. Combining doxorubicin and anti-PDGFRA did not reduce tumor burden, though a mild inhibition of proliferation was observed in UZLX-STS39 and -STS59. A pro-apoptotic effect was observed in all models except UZLX-STS22. Antitumor effects on histology were not significantly different comparing doxorubicin and the combination treatment. Moreover, anti-PDGFRA treatment, both as a single agent as well as combined with doxorubicin, did not result in inhibition of the downstream MAPK and PI3K/AKT signaling pathways., Conclusions: We were not able to demonstrate significant antitumor effects of anti-PDGFRA treatment in selected STS PDX models, neither alone nor in combination with doxorubicin. This is in line with the very recent results of the phase III clinical trial NCT02451943 ANNOUNCE, which did not confirm the clinical benefit of olaratumab in combination with doxorubicin over single agent doxorubicin.

Whereas in the past dental stools typically facilitated a 90° hip angle, a number of currently available alternative designs allow for a more extended hip posture. The present study investigated the influence of different stool types on muscle activity and lumbar posture. Twenty five participants completed a simulated dental procedure on a standard stool, a saddle and the Ghopec. The latter stool comprises a seat pan consisting of a horizontal rear part for the pelvis and an inclinable sloping down front part for the upper legs, with a vertically and horizontally adjustable back rest. Lumbar posture was most close to neutral on the Ghopec, whereas sitting on a standard/saddle stool resulted in more flexed/extended postures respectively. Sitting with a 90° angle (standard stool) resulted in higher activation of back muscles while sitting with a 125° angle (saddle and Ghopec) activated abdominal muscles more, although less in the presence of a backrest (Ghopec). To maintain neutral posture during dental screening, the Ghopec is considered the most suitable design for the tasks undertaken., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Longitudinal changes in height, weight and physical performance were studied in 33 Flemish male youth soccer players from the Ghent Youth Soccer Project. The players' ages at the start of the study ranged from 10.4 to 13.7 years, with a mean age of 12.2 +/- 0.7 years. Longitudinal changes were studied over a 5 year period. Peak height velocity and peak weight velocity were determined using non-smoothed polynomials. The estimations of peak height velocity, peak weight velocity and age at peak height velocity were 9.7 +/- 1.5 cm x year-1, 8.4 +/- 3.0 kg x year-1 and 13.8 +/- 0.8 years, respectively. Peak weight velocity occurred, on average, at the same age as peak height velocity. Balance, speed of limb movement, trunk strength, upper-body muscular endurance, explosive strength, running speed and agility, cardiorespiratory endurance and anaerobic capacity showed peak development at peak height velocity. A plateau in the velocity curves was observed after peak height velocity for upper-body muscular endurance, explosive strength and running speed. Flexibility exhibited peak development during the tear after peak height velocity. Trainers and coaches should be aware of the individual characteristics of the adolescent growth spurt and the training load should also be individualized at this time.

During the 1997 Federation Internationale des Sociétés d'Aviron (FISA) World Junior Rowing Championships, the anthropometric characteristics of 245 female junior rowers aged 17.5 +/- 0.8 years (mean +/- s) were assessed. Twenty-seven body dimensions (body mass, 6 heights or lengths, 4 breadths, 10 girths and 6 skinfolds) were measured in total. The elite female junior rowers were taller (174.5 +/- 6.2 cm) and heavier (69.5 +/- 6.2 kg), with greater length, breadth and girth dimensions, but lower skinfold thicknesses than a representative sample of Flemish (Belgian) girls of the same chronological age. An anthropometric profile chart was constructed that was rowing-specific and norms were established. Compared with scullers, sweep rowers were heavier (+4.2 kg) and taller (+2.8 cm), with greater length, breadth (except for femur width) and girth dimensions (except for calf girth). Sweep rowers also had greater skinfold thicknesses (except for the thigh and calf skinfolds). Finalists were heavier (+3.6 kg) and taller (+3.9 cm), with greater length, breadth (except for femur width) and girth dimensions (except for calf girth) than non-finalists. No significant differences were found for skinfold thicknesses between finalists and non-finalists.

The sensitivity of four different enrichment procedures to detect Listeria monocytogenes in the presence of high levels of Streptococcus faecalis was investigated. Defined mixed cultures of Strep. faecalis and L. monocytogenes gave better results with one-stage enrichment techniques. For manure samples, however, two-stage enrichment techniques gave the best performance. The so-called cold enrichment techniques were found to be unsatisfactory for samples from natural environments. The following materials were examined for the presence of L. monocytogenes: fresh pig faeces (16% positive), fresh cattle faeces (20% positive), stored liquid manure (0% positive), manured soil samples (0% positive) and ground water samples (5% positive). After 3 weeks of storage L. monocytogenes could be detected in only one of the initially nine positive fresh faeces samples. Two months after inoculation of stored liquid pig manure, stored liquid cattle manure and soil with L. monocytogenes, this bacterium could not be traced in any of these materials. Radishes (Raphanus sativus) and carrots (Daucus carota), sown in soil inoculated with L. monocytogenes, were gathered after 3 months and examined for the presence of L. monocytogenes. Three of six radish samples were found to be positive. Remarkably, however, all carrot samples (six) were free of L. monocytogenes.