2022, Article / Letter to editor (International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance, vol. 17, iss. 10, (2022), pp. 1489-1498)PURPOSE: To evaluate the predictive value of a (non-)sport-specific test battery on the future success of young cyclists, test scores were compared with competition performances 2-3 years later. METHODS: Three motor coordination, 5 physical performance, and 2 cycling-specific measurements were collected in 111 U15 (13.0-14.9 y) and 67 U17 (15.0-16.9 y) male road cyclists. In addition, maturity status, relative age, and competition history were assessed. National and provincial competition results 2-3 years later, in the U17year2 and U19year2 categories, were submitted to 2 separate 4-stage hierarchical regressions. RESULTS: The results of the model of the U15 group revealed that maturity, relative age, competition history, motor coordination, physical performance, and cycling-specific performance accounted for 22.6% of the variance in competitive success. For the U15 category, only maturity and motor coordination were significant predictors of competitive success in the U17year2 category. Maturity and motor coordination each uniquely explained ±5% of the variance. However, for the U17 group-neither motor coordination, physical performance, nor cycling-specific performance could predict competitive success in the U19year2 category. CONCLUSIONS: The current study underlines the importance of general motor coordination as a building block necessary for optimal development in youth cycling. However, considering the lack of predictive value from the U17 category onward, other features may determine further development of youth athletes. Nevertheless, it is questioned why athletes need to possess a minimum level of all physical, motor coordination, and cycling-specific characteristics to experience success and enjoyment in their sport.
2022, Article / Letter to editor (INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF TOXICOLOGY, vol. 41, iss. 4, (2022), pp. 263-275)Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a leading cause of acute lower respiratory tract infections (LRTI) in infants, and toddlers and vaccines are not yet available. A pediatric RSV vaccine (ChAd155-RSV) is being developed to protect infants against RSV disease. The ChAd155-RSV vaccine consists of a recombinant replication-deficient chimpanzee-derived adenovirus (ChAd) group C vector engineered to express the RSV antigens F, N, and M2-1. The local and systemic effects of three bi-weekly intramuscular injections of the ChAd155-RSV vaccine was tested in a repeated-dose toxicity study in rabbits. After three intramuscular doses, the ChAd155-RSV vaccine was considered well-tolerated. Changes due to the vaccine-elicited inflammatory reaction/immune response were observed along with transient decreases in platelet count without physiological consequences, already reported for other adenovirus-based vaccines. In addition, the biodistribution and shedding of ChAd155-RSV were also characterized in two studies in rats. The distribution and persistence of the ChAd155-RSV vaccine candidate was consistent with other similar adenovector-based vaccines, with quantifiable levels of ChAd155-RSV observed at the injection site (muscle) and the draining lymph nodes up to 69 days post administration. The shedding results demonstrated that ChAd155-RSV was generally not detectable in any secretions or excreta samples. In conclusion, the ChAd155-RSV vaccine was well-tolerated locally and systemically.
2022, Article / Letter to editor (CHILDREN-BASEL, vol. 9, iss. 7, (2022))Gross motor coordination (GMC) is essential for the development of specific motor skills and long-term participation in physical activities and sports. Group analysis reveals that, on average, children develop these skills gradually; however, how individuals develop GMC is less clear. The main aim of this study is to increase the understanding of developmental patterns within one school year, and whether children's grade, gender, or baseline GMC proficiency are associated with these developmental patterns. In total, 2594 Dutch children aged 6-12 years performed the modified Korper Koordinations Test fur Kinder (KTK3+) twice in one school year (autumn and spring). The KTK3+ includes four subtests: walking backwards, moving sideways, jumping sideways, and eye-hand coordination (EHC) test. On average, children developed significantly on all subtests (p < 0.001). At baseline, children in higher grades scored significantly higher than children in lower grades, and children in grades 5 and 6 (age 9 and 10 years) showed most development (raw scores on average, p < 0.001). Boys outperformed girls on EHC across all grades, whereas girls outperformed boys on walking backwards. Nevertheless, both boys and girls developed similarly. Children with lower scores at baseline developed more quickly across all grades. Noteworthy is that 12.1-24% (depending on the test item) of the children scored lower in the spring than in the autumn tests. On average, children develop their GMC; however, we report large differences in their individual trajectories and note that a substantial number did not show a positive GMC development. Further research should examine GMC development with more possible influencing factors as well as over a longer time span to better understand differences in children's GMC development. This may result in more individualized programs in PE lessons, enabling children to optimally develop their GMC, and better use of GMC assessment tools to monitor children's development.
2022, Article / Letter to editor (International Journal of Sports Science & Coaching, (2022))This study examined the influence of both anthropometric and physical performance determinants on the likelihood to be selected to progress through a talent identification and development programme in young tennis. Data were collected in 538 young tennis players (323 males and 215 females) from 6 age categories (U8-U13). A principal component analysis was used to generate one anthropometric determinant (based on body height, body weight and maturity offset) and four physical performance determinants: speed and agility (based on 5 m sprint, 20 m sprint and 505 change of direction test); jumping power (based on standing broad jump and standing broad jump in series); motor coordination (based on balancing backwards and jumping sideways) and tennis ball control (based on a throw and catch test and hold tennis ball up test). For all determinants, tertiles were generated for every age category and both sexes separately. Univariate binary logistic regressions were performed to examine the influence of each determinant on the chances to be selected to progress in the talent identification and development programme. Significant odds ratios were found for all included anthropometric and physical performance determinants (p < 0.05), ranging from 0.26 to 7.50 in the male young tennis players and from 0.18 to 6.87 in the female young tennis players. The included determinants influenced selection chances mostly in the early age categories (U8-U10) as opposed to the later age categories (U11-U13). Future research should examine the influence of additional determinants (such as tennis (match-play) performance) on the selection chances to progress through a talent identification and development programme.