Did the quarantine period of covid-19 interfere with the physical demands of central referees and assistants in professional soccer in a high level competition in Brazil?

Objective: This study compares the performance demanded from central referees and soccer assistants during professional games before and after the quarantine of COVID-19 during the same competition. Equipment and methods: Ten central referees and 19 assistants were monitored. Using a watch with Global Positioning System technology and a heart rate monitor, data were obtained of the distance they moved and information on their heart rate. A game before the quarantine period was compared to a game played 128 days after the quarantine period. These participants represented all the referees who played at least one game in the pre- and post-quarantine period of the same high-level competition in Brazil. Results: The results indicated that the total distance, average, and maximum heart rate did not present significant differences between the pre-and post-quarantine time of the central and assistant referees, except for the distance covered by the assistant referees in the second half, which was significantly greater in the post-quarantine period (Δ% = 6.27; P = 0.034). In conclusion, the central referees and assistants' performance was not affected after the 128-day quarantine period compared to the traditional transition period between the 37-day seasons.

Objectif: Cette étude compare les performances exigées des arbitres centraux et des assistants de football lors de matchs professionnels avant et après la mise en quarantaine pour COVID-19 lors de la même compétition. Matériel et méthodes: Dix arbitres centraux et 19 assistants ont été suivis. À l'aide d'une montre dotée de la technologie Global Positioning System et d'un moniteur de fréquence cardiaque, des données ont été obtenues sur la distance parcourue et des informations sur leur fréquence cardiaque. Un jeu avant la période de quarantaine a été comparé à un jeu joué 128 jours après la période de quarantaine. Ces participants représentaient tous les arbitres qui ont joué au moins un match dans la période pré et post-quarantaine de la même compétition de haut niveau au Brésil. Résultats: Les résultats ont indiqué que la distance totale, la fréquence cardiaque moyenne et maximale ne présentaient pas de différences significatives entre le temps avant et après la quarantaine des arbitres centraux et assistants, à l'exception de la distance parcourue par les arbitres assistants en seconde période, qui était significativement plus élevée dans la période post-quarantaine (Δ % = 6,27 ; p = 0,034). En conclusion, les performances des arbitres centraux et des assistants n'ont pas été affectées après la période de quarantaine de 128 jours, comparativement à la période de transition traditionnelle entre les saisons de 37 jours.

[What does pain intensity mean from the patient perspective? : A qualitative study on the patient perspective of pain intensity as an outcome parameter in treatment evaluation and on the interpretability of pain intensity measurements]. / Was bedeutet Schmerzintensität aus Sicht der Patienten? : Eine qualitative Studie zur Patientenperspektive auf Schmerzstärke als Konstrukt in der Therapieevaluation und die Interpretierbarkeit der Schmerzstärkemessung.

BACKGROUND: Pain intensity (PI) is a common outcome parameter in effectiveness studies on interdisciplinary multimodal pain therapy (IMPT), despite the fact that IMPT highlights dealing with rather than reducing chronic pain. Moreover, the measurement of pain intensity as a highly subjective experience is problematic. Patient participation is absolutely essential to examine the relevance of PI as a criterion of treatment success as well as to select/develop suitable measurement methods. METHOD: A qualitative multicenter study was conducted using focus groups with 69 patients (18-77 years; 80% female) at four different IMPT centers in Germany to discuss pain intensity as a therapy outcome parameter in IMPT, as well as the interpretability and feasibility of common measurement methods. RESULTS: The discussions emphasized that PI is a relevant, but not the primary, outcome in IMPT for patients. Patients' statements also demonstrate that there are some problems in measuring PI, for instance with regard to pain attacks. CONCLUSIONS: The focus group discussions suggested that, due to the highly subjective nature of PI, as well as (verbal) inaccuracies and a lack of standardization in common instruments, the measurement of pain intensity is a challenging task. These limitations should be taken into account in future studies.

[Patient perspectives in outcome research : Development of a focus group concept for collating patient perspectives on determination of effectiveness of multimodal pain therapy - A pilot study]. / Patientenperspektive in der Outcomeforschung : Entwicklung eines Fokusgruppenkonzepts zur Erhebung der Patientenperspektive auf die Effektivitätsbestimmung der multimodalen Schmerztherapie ­ eine Pilotstudie.

BACKGROUND: To assess the efficacy of multimodal pain therapy for chronic pain patients it is necessary to use suitable outcome domains as well as reliable and valid measurement instruments. Using pain intensity as an example, however, it is shown that there are critical issues with respect to suitability for chronic pain patients and the quality (e.g. content validity, feasibility and interpretability) of commonly used measurement instruments. METHOD: A focus group concept was designed to discuss the construct of pain intensity and common measurement instruments with chronic pain patients who underwent multimodal pain therapy. The focus group concept was tested in two pilot groups (N = 10) where eight issues previously established in guidelines were discussed. RESULTS: The results of the pilot studies affirmed that the construct of pain intensity as well as the measurement instruments must be critically considered when applied to chronic pain patients and the effectiveness of multimodal pain therapy. The concept of patient focus groups proved to be a suitable method for patient participation. Integrating patients should be considered not only in discussions of existing pain scales but also in developing new measurement instruments.

Regulation of parotid kallikrein secretion-role of the alpha 2- and beta-adrenergic system.

The effects of pharmacologically induced alterations of alpha 1, alpha 2 and beta-adrenergic system on kallikrein secretion - measured as amidolytic activity - in rat parotid gland were tested in vivo. Beta and alpha 1/2-adrenergic stimulation (Orciprenaline, alpha-methylnorepinephrine) caused a comparably significant increase of parotid kallikrein secretion. Alpha 2-receptor blockade (yohimbine) but not the alpha 1-antagonist prazosin, partly abolished the effect of alpha-methylnorepinephrine. The effects of the alpha 1-adreno-receptor agonist norfenephrine on kallikrein secretion were significantly lower compared to alpha 1/2-adreno-receptor-stimulation.