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The objective of this study was to investigate the association between specified levels of physical education (PE) at school and different parameters of cognition in boys and girls, considering potential covariates. Baseline data from a crossover nutrition intervention study were used for a secondary analysis of 247 schoolchildren (37% girls). Participants were children from the fifth and sixth grade with an "advanced" (5-6 hr) or "regular" (3 hr) level of PE a week, without random allocation. Using three computerized tasks, cognition data were collected under usual school conditions. An advanced level of PE at school was associated with better overall cognitive performance, specifically in response speed and accuracy when controlling for lunch conditions. Girls attending advanced-PE classes showed the best performance. The potential covariates explained little about cognitive variability. Given the cognitive differences between boys and girls, future research is warranted to replicate these findings by measuring motor skills.

Problem: Visual deficits/ametropia are particularly significant obstacles in sports because the visual system controls/corrects all of an athletes movements. However, athletes are at increased risk for eye injuries caused by high-velocity objects e.g. balls or physical contact with opponents. This study presents the current (German) figures on eye injuries in club and school sports and evaluates the risk of eye injuries in various sports.Methods: We evaluated 2,392 eye injuries, selected from the 221,273 club sports injuries recorded in the Ruhr University Bochum and ARAG Sports Insurance database for the period 1987-2017. The school sports eye injuries recorded by the German Social Accident Insurance for 2019 were also analyzed.Results: Of all the club sports injuries recorded, 1.08% were eye injuries; of these, 19.7% had to be treated in hospital, 13.9% required surgery, and 56.9% prevented the injured athletes from working. Blunt trauma was the most common cause of injury, comprising more than 50% of cases. Eye injuries were strongly overrepresented in club sports injuries sustained during water polo, squash, badminton, and tennis (injury proportion ratio (IPR)=5.1-8.8). In school sports, eye injuries comprised 1.83% of the reported cases.Discussion: Eye injuries in sports are relatively rare, but often serious. Based on the increased IPR found for some sports, further studies must analyze the risk of eye injury in more detail. Eye protection in the form of sport-appropriate glasses should be used.Key Words: Sport Injury, Injury Proportion Ratio, Eye Protection, Sport Safety

Objectives: The primary objectives of this investigation were to provide an overview of data about back pain prevalence in athletes, to analyse the prevalence in the German elite athletic population, and to compare it with physically-active individuals.Methods: 1. A comprehensive analysis of the literature was undertaken, using specifically developed search strategies for relevant epidemiological research on back pain. 2. An online back pain questionnaire was sent to approximately 4,000 German elite athletes and a control group of 253 physically-activeindividuals.Results: Lifetime and point prevalence were the most commonly researched episodes and the lower back was the most common location of pain. Lifetime prevalence of low back pain in athletes was 1-94%, and point prevalence was 18-65%. In German elite athletes,prevalence rates were 77% and 34%, respectively, and were slightly higher in athletes than inactive controls (71% and 29%, respectively) and the general population (11-84% and 7-33%, respectively). Prevalence of back pain varied between athletes of different disciplines. Conclusion: Back pain is a common complaint in athletes and in the general population. A high training volume in athletes and a low training volume in the general population might increase prevalence rates. Our findings indicate the necessity for specific prevention programs, especially in high-risk sports. Further research should investigate the optimal dose-effect relationship of sporting activity to prevent back pain. KEY WORDS: Back Pain, Neck Pain, Spine, Prevalence, Elite Sport, Athletes

Idiopathic as well as nonspecific low back pain is relevant in health care systems as well asinleisure and high-performance sports. Neuromuscular and/or structural deficits, mostly accompanied by biopsychological factors,are known risk factors for both the onset and chronification of symptoms. Meta-analytic evidence describes positive effects of physical activity. However, type, dose-response relation, minimum of training required and setting-specific implementation has not been fullyclarified. Since 2011, the national research network Medicine in Spine Exercise [MiSpEx] has beenfollowing a project layout called Ran Rcken focussing on the development and validation of intervention programs including neuromuscular and pain adaptation moderated by individual training status, pain behaviour, allostatic load and social settings. Overall about 8000 patients and athletes have been and are being followed experimentally and clinically in 34 studies. It could be shownthat a training program focussing on compensation of external loads elicited by perturbations is effective in prevention and rehabilitation in both athletes and general population. Besides validation of further consecutively developed programs emphasis is put on the evaluation of transfer strategies to medical systems, sports as well as general population. Finally, the evaluation of an efficient dose-response relation is addressed.KEY WORDS: Low Back Pain, MiSpEx, Sports, Perturbations, Therapy, Prevention, Training

Introduction: This study aimed to analyze the impact of low‐value medications (Lvm), that is, medications unlikely to benefit patients but to cause harm, on patient‐centered outcomes over 24 months. Methods: This longitudinal analysis was based on baseline, 12 and 24 months follow‐up data of 352 patients with dementia. The impact of Lvm on health‐related quality of life (HRQoL), hospitalizations, and health care costs were assessed using multiple panel‐specific regression models. Results: Over 24 months, 182 patients (52%) received Lvm at least once and 56 (16%) continuously. Lvm significantly increased the risk of hospitalization by 49% (odds ratio, confidence interval [CI] 95% 1.06–2.09; p = 0.022), increased health care costs by €6810 (CI 95% −707€–14,27€; p = 0.076), and reduced patients' HRQoL (b = −1.55; CI 95% −2.76 to −0.35; p = 0.011). Discussion: More than every second patient received Lvm, negatively impacting patient‐reported HRQoL, hospitalizations, and costs. Innovative approaches are needed to encourage prescribers to avoid and replace Lvm in dementia care. Highlights: Over 24 months, more than every second patient received low‐value medications (Lvm).Lvm negatively impact physical, psychological, and financial outcomes.Appropriate measures are needed to change prescription behaviors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The authors report on their experiences as participants in the Community, Self and Identity Project; a collaborative teaching and research project between the University of the Western Cape and Stellenbosch University. The project aimed to provide fourth year social work and psychology students the opportunity to become part of a shared "community of practice", where students could work and learn together, and become co-creators of knowledge. It provided the participating students with the opportunity to engage in critical interactions with one another, across racial and class differences. One of the researchers and facilitator for the project, together with four of the participating students, describe their overall impressions of the project; the challenges faced in talking about differences; the effects of facilitation; and some of the group polarization that emerged. The authors conclude that the contact provided by the CSI project, may not have reduced prejudices, however an awareness was created of the importance of acknowledging silenced issues and reflection on one's own assumptions. The article highlights the necessity for higher education institutions to create opportunities for students to engage in dialogue across differences. (Contains 1 note.)

Abstract Objective Exhaled breath condensate (EBC) contains among a large number of mediators hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) as a marker of airway inflammation and oxidative stress. Similarly EBC pH also changes in respiratory diseases. It was the aim of our investigation to prove if hydrogen peroxide release and changes in pH of EBC changes with exercise. Methods EBC was collected from 100 litres exhaled air along with samples of arterialized blood of 16 healthy subjects (9 males, 7 females, age 23 ± 1 years). EBC hydrogen peroxide was analyzed with EcoCheck amperometer (FILT, Berlin). The rate of H2O2 release was calculated from the concentration and collection time. pH and PCO2 in blood and in EBC were measured with the Radiometer blood gas analyzer, EBC was equilibrated with a gas mixture (5% CO2 in O2). The bicarbonate concentration was calculated according to the law of mass action for CO2 and HCO3- (pK = 6.1). Results H2O2 concentration in EBC was 190 ± 109 nmol/l, and H2O2 release at rest was 31.0 ± 18.3 pmol/min. At maximal exercise, the H2O = concentration in EBC increased to 250 ± 120 nmol/l, and H2O2 release significantly increased at maximal exercise to 84.4 ± 39.9 pmol/min (P < 0.01). At rest pH of the CO2 equilibrated EBC was at 6.08 ± 0.23 and the [HCO3 -] was 1.03 ± 0.40 mmol/l. At maximum exercise, pH 6.18 ± 0.17 and [HCO3-] 1.23 ± 0.30 mmol/l remained almost unaltered. Conclusions The rate of H2O2 release in EBC increased during exhausting exercise (external load: 300 Watt) by a factor of 2, whereas the pH and the bicarbonate concentration of the EBC, equilibrated with 5% CO2 at 37°C were not significantly altered. It has to be proven by further experiments whether there is a linear relationship between the rates of H2O2 release in EBC in graded submaximal exercise.

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