Universidad Pública de Navarra

To examine the association between relative sit-to-stand (STS) power and age, establish sex-specific cut-off points, and evaluate their associations with adverse outcomes in Colombian older adults.

Cross-sectional, population-based study.

Health, Well-being, and Aging Study (SABE-Colombia, 2014-2015).

3051 community-dwelling adults aged ≥60 years (56.6 % women; mean age 68.6 ± 6.4 years).

Relative STS power (W·kg⁻¹) was estimated using a validated equation. Quantile regression examined age-related changes across percentiles (Q10-Q90). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves with the Youden index determined cut-off points. Age-adjusted logistic regression tested associations with frailty, functionality as gait speed and handgrip strength (HGS), and depression.

Optimal cut-offs for low relative STS power were 2.11 W·kg⁻¹ for men and 1.63 W·kg⁻¹ for women. Prevalence of low STS power was 34.3 % in men and 34.8 % in women, increasing with age in both sexes. Quantile regression revealed steeper age-related declines at higher percentiles, particularly among men. Low relative STS power was significantly associated with frailty and low functionality.

Relative STS power is a simple, clinically feasible biomarker to identify functional impairment in older adults. The sex-specific thresholds reported for Colombian populations reflect demographic differences in muscle physiology and decline. Their integration into geriatric practice may enhance early detection, guide preventive interventions, and ultimately improve health outcomes in aging populations.

This study aimed to establish cut‐points for cardiorespiratory fitness, muscular strength, and speed‐agility and to evaluate their ability to detect general and central obesity risk in preschool children aged 3–5 years.

Briefly, 3179 Spanish preschoolers (52.8% boys) were evaluated. Physical fitness was assessed with the PREFIT battery. Anthropometry included BMI and waist circumference. Obesity risk was defined using age‐ and sex‐specific percentiles according to criteria established by the World Health Organization and the International Diabetes Foundation. Receiver operating characteristic curve analyses were used to identify fitness cut‐points.

Age‐ and sex‐specific cut‐points were established. For cardiorespiratory fitness, cut‐points ranged from 9.5 to 23.5 laps in boys and 6.5 to 21.5 in girls across the 3– to 5‐year age range. Muscular strength cut‐points ranged from z ‐scores of −1.5 to 2.2 in boys and −1.6 to 1.9 in girls. Speed‐agility cut‐points ranged from 18.8 to 14.9 s in boys and 19.9 to 15.3 s in girls. Predictive accuracy was moderate‐to‐high (AUC range: 0.61–0.74 for cardiorespiratory fitness, 0.59–0.80 for strength, 0.49–0.71 for speed‐agility).

This study provides fitness cut‐points for detecting general and central obesity risk in preschoolers. Early integration of physical fitness assessments into health monitoring may facilitate early identification of obesity risk.

To address a critical gap in understanding amino acid transport in legume– Rhizobium symbiosis, we investigated the role of symbiosis‐associated USUALLY MULTIPLE ACIDS MOVE IN AND OUT TRANSPORTERS (UMAMITs) in Medicago truncatula nodulation. Transcript profiling, phylogenetic analysis and promoter–reporter fusions identified five symbiosis‐associated MtUMAMIT genes. CRISPR‐Cas9 genome editing generated two triple mutant lines lacking MtUMAMIT14 , ‐ 17 and ‐ 36. Physiological assays, amino acid quantification, and immunolocalisation using a MtUMAMIT17‐specific antibody were performed to assess symbiotic function and protein localisation. The induction of MtUMAMIT14 , ‐ 17 and ‐ 36 required Nod factor perception. Triple mutant nodules exhibited reduced nitrogen fixation, leading to nitrogen starvation symptoms, lower leghaemoglobin and amino acid levels, as well as increased starch accumulation. Immunolocalisation revealed MtUMAMIT17 at symbiosome and infection thread membranes, and vascular and uninfected zone III nodule cells. MtUMAMIT17 localised in the cell periphery in zone II cells, while it colocalised with the symbiosomes in infected zone III cells. We conclude that MtUMAMIT14, ‐17 and ‐36 are essential for efficient nitrogen fixation, functioning in amino acid transport across symbiotic interfaces and vascular tissues. We propose that their recruitment into nodulation programs represents a key evolutionary adaptation facilitating nutrient exchange critical for symbiotic success.