Validity of a motor-cognitive dual-task agility test in elite youth football players.

Agility, as the ability to react rapidly to unforeseen events, is an essential component of football performance. However, existing agility diagnostics often do not reflect the complex motor-cognitive interaction required on the field. Therefore, this study evaluates the criterion and ecological validity of a newly developed motor-cognitive dual-task agility approach in elite youth football players and compare it to a traditional reactive agility test.

Effects of 6-Week Motor-Cognitive Agility Training on Football Test Performance in Adult Amateur Players - A Three-Armed Randomized Controlled Trial.

Agility, defined as the ability to rapidly respond to unforeseen events, constitutes a central performance component in football. Existing agility training approaches often focus on change of direction that does not reflect the complex motor-cognitive demands on the pitch. The objective of this study is to examine the effects of a novel motor-cognitive dual-task agility training (Multiple-object tracking integrated into agility training) on agility and football-specific test performance parameters, compared to agility and a change of direction (COD) training.

Randomized controlled clinical trial on the efficacy of a novel antimicrobial chewing gum in reducing plaque and gingivitis in adolescent orthodontic patients.

Objectives: Chewing gums containing antiseptics or other antimicrobial substances may be effective in reducing plaque and gingivitis. Therefore, the aim of this randomized placebo-controlled clinical trial was to investigate the efficacy of a novel antimicrobial chewing gum containing essential oils (cinnamon, lemon, peppermint) and extracts on reduction of dental plaque and gingivitis as well as on oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) in adolescent orthodontic patients.

Materials: 52 patients (11-22 years of age) were randomly assigned to use a test chewing gum (COVIDGUM, Clevergum) or a commercially available control chewing gum over a period of 10 days.

[Genetics in sports-muscle injuries].

Background: The human genome is the complete set of genetic instructions encoded in an individual's DNA. Genetics plays an important role in the development and progression of muscle injuries. Many genes are involved in muscle development, growth, and repair, and variations in these genes can affect an athlete's susceptibility to muscle injury.

Validity of the SKILLCOURT® technology for agility and cognitive performance assessment in healthy active adults.

Background/objectives: Agility and cognitive abilities are typically assessed separately by different motor and cognitive tests. While many agility tests lack a reactive decision-making component, cognitive assessments are still mainly based on computer-based or paper-pencil tests with low ecological validity. This study is the first to validate the novel SKILLCOURT technology as an integrated assessment tool for agility and cognitive-motor performance.

Reliability and Usefulness of the SKILLCOURT as a Computerized Agility and Motor-Cognitive Testing Tool.

Introduction: Agility and cognitive skills are essential in sports. However, standardized agility assessment tools often lack a reactive component, and cognitive assessments are performed using computer-based or paper-pencil tests. The SKILLCOURT is a newly developed testing and training device allowing agility and cognitive assessments in a more ecologically valid setting.

Allergic diseases in German competitive athletes: results of a cross-sectional study.

Background: Allergic diseases are common in the general population. Among the population of competitive athletes (hereafter referred to as athletes), previous studies have mostly focused on the prevalence of allergic diseases and further aspects of bronchial asthma. We aimed to examine the prevalence of allergic diseases and respective medication use in athletes in Germany.

Acupuncture and osteopathic medicine for atopic dermatitis: a three-armed, randomized controlled explorative clinical trial.

Background: Patients with atopic dermatitis (AD) frequently use acupuncture (ACU) and osteopathic medicine (OM), although their therapeutic benefits are unclear.

Aim: To investigate the effectiveness of ACU and OM in patients with AD.

Methods: In a three-armed, single-centre, randomized controlled open explorative clinical trial, adult patients with AD received ACU, OM or no study intervention (control group; CG) plus routine care.

Effects of COVID-19 Lockdown on Physical Performance, Sleep Quality, and Health-Related Quality of Life in Professional Youth Soccer Players.

Background: In March 2020, the COVID-19 outbreak led to the declaration of a pandemic. The accompanying restrictions on public life caused a change in the training routines of athletes worldwide. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of a 13-week supervised home training program on physical performance, sleep quality, and health-related quality of life in professional youth soccer players during the first COVID-19 lockdown in Germany.

Acupuncture and its effect on cytokine and chemokine profiles in seasonal allergic rhinitis: a preliminary three-armed, randomized, controlled trial.

Purpose: Numerous studies have demonstrated effectiveness for acupuncture in the treatment of seasonal allergic rhinitis (SAR). However, the underlying mechanism remains still unclear.

Methods: 29 SAR patients were recruited from a large randomized, controlled trial investigating the efficacy of acupuncture in SAR.

Use of Complementary Medicine in Competitive Sports: Results of a Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: Although complementary medicine is frequently used in Germany, there is almost no information about complementary medicine use in competitive sports. The aim was to assess the use of complementary medicine among elite athletes in Germany.

Patients And Methods: A cross-sectional study among athletes was performed between March 2012 and September 2013.

Somatosensory profiles in acute herpes zoster and predictors of postherpetic neuralgia.

This prospective cohort study aimed to characterize the sensory profile during acute herpes zoster (AHZ) and to explore sensory signs as well as physical and psychosocial health as predictors for postherpetic neuralgia (PHN). Results of quantitative sensory testing of 74 patients with AHZ at the affected site and at the distant contralateral control site were compared to a healthy control group. Pain characteristics (Neuropathic Pain and Symptom Inventory and SES), physical functioning, and psychosocial health aspects (Pain Disability Index, SF-36, and STAI) were assessed by questionnaires.

Effect of Dry Needling on Thigh Muscle Strength and Hip Flexion in Elite Soccer Players.

Purpose: Increase in muscle force, endurance, and flexibility is desired in elite athletes to improve performance and to avoid injuries, but it is often hindered by the occurrence of myofascial trigger points. Dry needling (DN) has been shown effective in eliminating myofascial trigger points.

Methods: This randomized controlled study in 30 elite youth soccer players of a professional soccer Bundesliga Club investigated the effects of four weekly sessions of DN plus water pressure massage on thigh muscle force and range of motion of hip flexion.

Comparison of molecular and extract-based allergy diagnostics with multiplex and singleplex analysis.

Background: ImmunoCAP ISAC 112, is a commercially available molecular allergy IgE multiplex test. Data on the comparison of this rather novel test with extract-based as well as molecular ImmunoCAP singleplex IgE tests is missing.

Objective: To perform a comparison between the ISAC multiplex IgE assay and the ImmunoCAP singleplex test results.

Evoked itch perception is associated with changes in functional brain connectivity.

Chronic itch, a highly debilitating condition, has received relatively little attention in the neuroimaging literature. Recent studies suggest that brain regions supporting itch in chronic itch patients encompass sensorimotor and salience networks, and corticostriatal circuits involved in motor preparation for scratching. However, how these different brain areas interact with one another in the context of itch is still unknown.

Acupuncture for allergic disease therapy--the current state of evidence.

This review summarizes current evidence for acupuncture treatment of allergies. Several randomized controlled trials have demonstrated a specific effect of acupuncture for allergic rhinitis; while a few studies have shown positive effects for atopic dermatitis, asthma and itch. Specifically for allergic rhinitis and asthma, acupuncture may be cost-effective in terms of money spent per quality-of-life gained.

A randomised multicentre trial of acupuncture in patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis--trial intervention including physician and treatment characteristics.

Background: In a large randomised trial in patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis (SAR), acupuncture was superior compared to sham acupuncture and rescue medication. The aim of this paper is to describe the characteristics of the trial's participating physicians and to describe the trial intervention in accordance with the STRICTA (Standards for Reporting Interventions in Controlled Trials of Acupuncture) guidelines, to make details of the trial intervention more transparent to researchers and physicians.

Methods: ACUSAR (ACUpuncture in Seasonal Allergic Rhinitis) was a three-armed, randomised, controlled multicentre trial.

Influence of alpine mountain climate of Bavaria on patients with atopic diseases: studies at the Environmental Research Station Schneefernerhaus (UFS - Zugspitze) - a pilot study.

Mountain and maritime climate therapy takes advantage of specific climatic conditions to treat chronic allergic diseases. It was the aim of the study to investigate effects of a 5 day sojourn on atopic diseases at the highest German mountain. In this pilot study 18 patients with grass pollen-induced rhinoconjunctivitis, atopic ezcema or asthma and 11 non-allergic controls were included.

Acupuncture in patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis: a randomized trial.

Unlabelled: Chinese translation

Background: Acupuncture is frequently used to treat seasonal allergic rhinitis (SAR) despite limited scientific evidence.

Objective: To evaluate the effects of acupuncture in patients with SAR.

Design: Randomized, controlled multicenter trial.

The brain circuitry mediating antipruritic effects of acupuncture.

Itch is an aversive sensory experience and while systemic therapies, such as acupuncture, have shown promise in alleviating itch in patients suffering from chronic itch, their antipruritic mechanisms are unknown. As several lines of evidence implicate brain-focused mechanisms, we applied functional magnetic resonance imaging and our validated temperature-modulation itch model to evaluate the underlying brain circuitry supporting allergen-induced itch reduction in atopic dermatitis patients by acupuncture, antihistamine, and respective placebo treatments. Brain response to allergen itch demonstrated phase dependency.

Airborne indoor particles from schools are more toxic than outdoor particles.

High concentrations of particulate matter (PM(10)) were measured in classrooms. This study addresses the hazard of indoor particles in comparison to the better-studied outdoor particles. Samples were taken from six schools during teaching hours.

Itch and eczema.

Eczema/dermatitis belongs to the most pruritic of skin diseases. Pruritogenic mediators in the skin are still mostly unknown. Recent studies, however, have shown that the histamine 4 receptor plays an important role in itch pathophysiology; tryptase and IL-31 are also involved in atopic eczema itch.

Alternatives to prokinetics to move the pylorus and colon.

Purpose Of Review: Gastrointestinal motility disorders (GMDs) are common in the ICU. When encountering these problems, one typically thinks of prokinetics. This review summarizes current evidence of treatments.