The "upper limb rotation test": Reliability and validity study of a new upper extremity physical performance test.

OBJECTIVES: The primary purpose was to evaluate the reliability of the Upper Limb Rotation Test (ULRT). The secondary objective was to evaluate the relationship between the ULRT and two PPTs (SMBT and CKCUEST), trunk rotation range of motion (SRT) and shoulder rotational isometric strength. DESIGN: Reliability study and correlation study. SETTING: Laboratory. PARTICIPANTS: 91 healthy adults participated to establish the reliability and validity of the ULRT. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: We used a two-session measurement design to evaluate the reliability of the ULRT. The SMBT, CKCUEST, SAC and the SRT were performed to determine relationships with the ULRT. RESULTS: Results showed good reliability. The SEM 95 and the MDC95 showed clinically acceptable absolute reliability values for the ULRT. A moderate correlation was found between the ULRT and CKCUEST scores. A moderate correlation was found between ULRT and SMBT scores. CONCLUSIONS: Results demonstrated good relative reliability and clinically acceptable absolute reliability values for the ULRT. Performances on the ULRT were moderately correlated with the PPTs.

The intestine-specific homeobox gene Cdx2 decreases mobility and antagonizes dissemination of colon cancer cells.

The gravity of colorectal cancer is mainly due to the capacity of tumor cells to migrate out of the tumor mass to invade the stroma and disseminate as metastases. The acquisition of a migratory phenotype also occurs during wound healing. Here, we show that several features characterizing invasive colon tumor cells are shared by migrating cells during wound repair in vitro. In particular, the expression of the intestine-specific transcription factor Cdx2, a key gene for intestinal identity downregulated in invasive cancer cells, is reduced during wound healing in vitro. Transcription factors involved in epithelial-mesenchymal transition such as Snail and Slug are upregulated during wound healing and are able to repress Cdx2 transcription. In vitro, forced expression of Cdx2 in human colon cancer cell lines retarded wound repair and reduced migration, whereas inhibition of Cdx2 expression by RNA interference enhanced migration. In vivo, forced expression of Cdx2 opposed tumor cells spreading in nude mice xenografted at three different sites. These data provide evidence that Cdx2 antagonizes the process of tumor cell dissemination, and they suggest that this homeobox gene might represent a new therapeutic target against metastatic spreading of colon cancer.