The PAY test: a new approach for assessing functional performance in children and adolescents with asthma.

OBJECTIVE: To develop, validate, and test the reproducibility of a new test capable of assessing functional performance in children and adolescents (PAY test: Performance Activity in Youth). METHODS: participants without and with asthma were included in the development and validation phases, respectively. The PAY test includes five activities: transition from sitting to standing, walking 10 m, step climbing, shoulder extension and flexion, and star jumps. Participants underwent the Pediatric Glittre test (TGlittre-P test time), modified shuttle test (MST), and cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET). OUTCOMES: PAY test and TGlittre-P test times, oxygen uptake (VO2peak), and distance walked in the MST. RESULTS: 8 healthy volunteers, aged 12 (7 - 15) years old were included in the development phase and 34 participants with asthma, aged 11 (7 -14) years old, in the validation phase. The PAY test elicited greater physiological responses (VO2peak 33.5 ± 6.9 mL/kg) than the TGlittre-P (VO2peak: 27.4 ± 9.0 mL/kg), but lower than the MST (VO2peak: 48.9 ± 14.2 mL/kg) and CPET (VO2peak: 42.0 ± 8.8 mL/kg), p < .05. Moderate correlation between the PAY test time and the TGlittre-P time (r = 0.70, p < .001) and distance walked in the MST (r = -0.72, p < .001). The PAY test time was longer in participants with asthma than in healthy participants (3.1 [3.0 - 3.3] min vs. 2.3 [2.1 - 2.4 min]), p < .001.; and the test was reproducible (ICC 0.78, CI 95% 0.55-0.90, p < .001). CONCLUSIONS: The PAY test is a valid and reproducible tool for assessing functional performance in children and adolescents with asthma.

The PAY test: a new approach for assessing functional performance in children and adolescents with asthma

Abstract Objective: To develop, validate, and test the reproducibility of a new test capable of assessing functional performance in children and adolescents (PAY test: Performance Activity in Youth). Methods: participants without and with asthma were included in the development and validation phases, respectively. The PAY test includes five activities: transition from sitting to standing, walking 10 m, step climbing, shoulder extension and flexion, and star jumps. Participants underwent the Pediatric Glittre test (TGlittre-P test time), modified shuttle test (MST), and cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET). Outcomes: PAY test and TGlittre-P test times, oxygen uptake (VO2peak), and distance walked in the MST. Results: 8 healthy volunteers, aged 12 (7 -15) years old were included in the development phase and 34 participants with asthma, aged 11 (7-14) years old, in the validation phase. The PAY test elicited greater physiological responses (VO2peak 33.5 ± 6.9 mL/kg) than the TGlittre-P (VO2peak: 27.4 ± 9.0 mL/kg), but lower than the MST (VO2peak: 48.9 ± 14.2 mL/kg) and CPET (VO2peak: 42.0 ± 8.8 mL/kg), p < .05. Moderate correlation between the PAY test time and the TGlittre-P time (r = 0.70, p < .001) and distance walked in the MST (r = -0.72, p < .001). The PAY test time was longer in participants with asthma than in healthy participants (3.1 [3.0 - 3.3] min vs. 2.3 [2.1 - 2.4 min]), p < .001.; and the test was reproducible (ICC 0.78, CI 95% 0.55-0.90, p < .001). Conclusions: The PAY test is a valid and reproducible tool for assessing functional performance in children and adolescents with asthma.

Antiproliferative effects of 13α/ß-steroids on triple-negative MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells: unraveling intracellular signaling without ERα

Abstract This study aimed to investigate the activities of novel 20(R)-3,20-dihydroxy-19-norpregn-1,3,5(10)-trienes (kuz7 and kuz8b) of natural 13ß- and epimeric 13α-series against triple-negative MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells. High antiproliferative activity of synthesized compounds kuz8b and kuz7 against MDA-MB-231 triple-negative cancer cells was revealed. The steroid kuz7 of natural 13ß-configuration was more active against MDA-MB-231 cells than the 13α-steroid kuz8b. Cell cycle analysis revealed common patterns for the action of both tested compounds. The number of cells in the subG1 phase increased in a dose-dependent manner, indicating induction of apoptosis, which was also verified by PARP cleavage. In contrast, the number of cells in the G0/G1 phase decreases with increasing compound concentration. Steroid kuz7 at micromolar concentrations reduced the expression of GLUT1, a glucose transporter. High efficacy of the combination of kuz7 with biguanide metformin was shown, and synergistic effects on MDA-MB-231 cell growth and expression of the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2 were revealed. According to the obtained results, including the high activity of kuz7 against triple-negative cancer cells, the detected induction of apoptosis, and the decrease in GLUT1 expression, 13ß-steroid kuz7 is of interest for further preclinical studies both alone and in combination with the metabolic drug metformin