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Background This study aimed to evaluate injury rates among Serie A soccer players across three seasons, highlighting the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods Fifty-four professional soccer players in the Italian Serie were assessed over the course of three seasons, including the 2019/2020 season, which was affected by the pandemic. Injuries were categorized into muscular, skeletal, and articular, and were analyzed according to player roles (defenders, midfielders, and forwards). They were also stratified by the period of the competitive season: (1) preseason, (2) first half of the season, (3) second half of the season, and (4) end of the season. Results The results indicate a sharp increase in injuries during the post-COVID-19 season (2020/2021), with increases in articular injuries (65%), skeletal injuries (120%), and muscular injuries (65%), compared to the previous seasons. Among player roles, defenders were the most affected by injuries, with a notable increase in the second half of the post-COVID season (36% more injuries compared to the pre-COVID season). The injury rate among midfielders increased by 46% in the post-COVID season compared to the pre-COVID season, with the highest number of injuries occurring at the end of the season. Conclusions This increased injury rate in defenders and midfielders, who often position themselves in the defensive zone, could be due to muscle mass loss. Further studies are needed to explore this aspect of injury epidemiology in soccer. Ultimately, careful, and gradual training is crucial for preventing injuries and maintaining the quality of soccer players’ performances.

In order to maximize adaptations and to avoid nonfunctional overreaching syndrome or noncontact injury, coaches in high-performance sports must regularly monitor recovery before and after competitions/important training sessions and maintain well-being status. Therefore, quantifying and evaluating psychometric states of recovery during the season in sports teams such as soccer is important. Over the last years, there has been substantial growth in research related to psychometric states of recovery in soccer. The increase in research on this topic is coincident with the increase in popularity obtained by subjective monitoring of the pre-fatigue state of the players before each training sessions or match with a strong emphasis on the effects of well-being or recovery state. Among the subjective methods for players’ control, the Hooper index (HI) assesses the quality of sleep during the previous night, overall stress, fatigue, and delayed-onset muscle soreness. Additionally, the total quality of recovery (TQR) scale measures recovery status. The HI and TQR recorded before each training session or match were affected by the variability of training load (TL) and influenced the physical and technical performances, and the affective aspects of soccer players. Researchers have recommended wellness monitoring soccer players’ psychometric state of recovery before each training session or match in order to detect early signs of fatigue and optimize high-level training performance. This method allows for better detecting signs of individual fatigue and allows coaches to adapt and readjust the TL, and avoid physical and technical gaps in order to improve the performance of soccer players.

Background/Objectives: Physical inactivity in children can lead to decreased physical fitness and reduced enjoyment of physical activity. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of exergaming on physical fitness, body composition and perceived enjoyment in elementary school children. Methods: Sixty-four male students (mean age 9.5 years) were randomly assigned to an exergaming group (EG, n = 32), engaging in Kinect Adventures three times a week for six months, or a control group (CG, n = 32), which continued standard physical education. Assessments were conducted pre- and post-intervention, including anthropometric measures, physical fitness tests (standing long jump, countermovement jump, sit-and-reach, 20-m sprint), aerobic fitness (20-m shuttle run), and perceived enjoyment measured with the PACES scale. Results: The EG demonstrated significant reductions in body weight, BMI, and relative fat mass compared to the CG (p < 0.01). Improvements in physical fitness were evident in EG, with increases in standing long jump distance (+12.8%; p < 0.0001), countermovement jump height (+65%, p < 0.0001), and flexibility (+75%; p < 0.0001). Aerobic fitness improved significantly in EG (+87.8m) compared to CG. Perceived enjoyment was notably higher in EG, especially at week three, compared to CG (69.3 ± 5.8 vs. 44.2 ± 11.6; p < 0.0001). Conclusions: Exergaming offers benefits for physical fitness and body composition in children, while also enhancing enjoyment. Incorporating exergames into physical education programs could be an effective strategy for addressing childhood obesity, improving physical skills, and increasing student enjoyment, encouraging long-term physical activity adherence.

This study aimed to evaluate the impact of a soccer season on the lipid profile of professional soccer players. Forty male players participated in the study. Blood samples for lipid profile analysis were collected at four time points: before the start of the training period (T0), immediately after the 4‐week training phase (T1), at mid‐season (T2, 23 weeks after T0), and the end of the season (T3, 43 weeks after T0). Throughout the competitive season, there was a significant decrease in body fat percentage (BFP, p < 0.001, RM‐ANOVA) and an increase in fat‐free mass (FFM, p < 0.001, RM‐ANOVA). Plasma levels of total cholesterol (TC) and LDL cholesterol (LDL) significantly decreased (TC: p = 0.003, LDL: p = 0.033, RM‐ANOVA), whereas HDL cholesterol (HDL) levels increased significantly in response to training (p = 0.013, RM‐ANOVA). Triglyceride (TG) concentrations were significantly higher before the season than after (p < 0.001, RM‐ANOVA). Additionally, the LDL/HDL and TC/HDL ratios showed significant reductions over the season (LDL/HDL: p = 0.004, TC/HDL: p < 0.001, RM‐ANOVA). The observed decrease in LDL, TC, and TG levels, along with the increase in HDL levels at the end of the season. These results suggest that regular soccer training induces favorable changes in the lipid profile of professional players. Further studies are needed to determine whether such changes are associated with long‐term health outcomes in elite athletes, particularly considering their typically low baseline risk for cardiovascular conditions.

The global prevalence of childhood obesity is high. Obesity main causes are linked to sedentary lifestyles. Increasing physical activity (PA) and reducing sedentary activities are recommended to prevent and treat obesity. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a 6‐month school PA intervention on obesity prevention and healthy behaviors in school‐aged children. Participating students (10–11 years of age) were randomly divided into an intervention group and a control group. Children in the intervention group (n = 80) participated in a multicomponent PA that included improvement in extracurricular physical activities (with an additional 40 min per day for 5/6 days per week). Children (n = 80) in the control group participated in usual practice. Participants had mean body mass index of 19.7 ± 2.9 kg/m2, and 33.7% of them were overweight or with obesity at T0. The change in body mass index in intervention group (−2.4 ± 0.6 kg/m2) was significantly different from that in control group (3.01 ± 1.8 kg/m2). The effects on waist circumference, waist‐to‐height ratio, and physic fitness were also significant in intervention group compared with control group (all p < 0.05). Furthermore, there is a significant decrease in overweight or children with obesity in the experimental group (to 17.5%, p < 0.05). These findings suggest that a school‐based intervention program represents an effective strategy for decreasing the number of overweight and children with obesity. Lifestyle changes toward an increased physical activity (PA) and reduced sedentary activities are recommended to prevent and treat obesity. After 6‐month of increased PA the children included in participant group significantly improved body mass index, waist circumference, waist‐to‐height ratio, and physic fitness; instead, no such improvements were observed for the nonparticipant group. Our data suggest that a school‐based intervention program represents an effective strategy to reduce overweight and obesity in children.

Background: Monitoring physical freshness is essential in assessing athletes’ conditions during training periods, training sessions, or competitions. To date, no single physical freshness scale has been successfully validated against training load variables and widely used scales measuring different facets of physical freshness. Objective: In this study, we develop and test the practical utility of a perceived physical freshness (RPF) scale to monitor the condition of the athletes and to prevent excessive fatigue and insufficient recovery during training sessions or competitions. Methods: Sixteen professional male soccer players (mean ± SD age 26 ± 4 years) were enrolled. Training load (TL), monotony, strain, rate of perceived exertion (RPE), well-being indices (sleep, stress, fatigue, and muscle soreness), total quality recovery (TQR) and RPF were determined each day for two weeks of training, including a week intensified training (IW) and a week taper (TW). The validity of the RPF scale was assessed by measuring the level of agreement of a player’s perceived physical freshness relative to their TL variables, recovery state and well-being indices during each training phase (IW and TW) and during the overall training period (TP). Results: RPF increased during the TW compared to IW (ES = 2.31, p < 0.001, large). For the TP, IW and TW, weekly RPF was related to weekly TL (r = −0.81, r = −0.80, r = −0.69, respectively), well-being (r = −0.91, r = −0.82, r = −0.84, respectively) and TQR (r = 0.76, r = 0.91, r = 0.52, respectively), all p < 0.01. For the TP, IW and TW, daily RPF was related to TL (r = −0.75, r = −0.66, r = −0.70, respectively), well-being (r = −0.84, r = −0.81, r = −0.78, respectively) and TQR (r = 0.82, r = 0.81, r = 0.75, respectively), all p < 0.01. Conclusions: RPF was effective for evaluating the professional soccer players’ physical freshness and may be a strategy for coaches to monitor the physical, psycho-physiological, and psychometric state of the players before training session or matches.

There is very little about the impact that sports training has on female football referees. Therefore, we determined the effects of a 40‐week physical preparation, including a full football season, on plasma testosterone and cortisol concentrations and physical performance in female football referees. Plasma cortisol and testosterone concentrations were assayed together with fitness tests at the beginning of the training period (T0, in September), after 8 weeks from T0 (T1), at the mid of the season (T2, 24 weeks after T0), and at the end of the season (T3, in June, 40 weeks after T0). Plasma cortisol increased during the first period and up to T2 (from 15.4 ± 4.7 to 28.5 ± 3.9 µg/dl; p < 0.001), and then decreased at the end of the season (T3: 16.0 ± 2.4 µg/dl). Plasma testosterone concentration in T0 was 14.2±0.37 µg/dl and increased in T1 (57.1 ± 3.7 µg/dl) and T2 (47 ± 3.7 µg/dl) and then decreased in T3 (33.5 ± 2.8 µg/dl). Resting testosterone levels in women were very low (14,2 ± 0.37 µg/dl) (Figure 3c). Testosterone increased in T1 (57.1 ± 3.7 µg/dl) and T2 (47 ± 3.7 µg/dl) whilst, at the end of the season, its concentration decreased (33.5 ± 2.8 µg/dl) (Figure 3c). Significant improvements were observed in all physical performances during the observed period (ANOVA, p < 0.05). Finally, testosterone and cortisol concentrations significantly (p < 0.0001 for both) correlated with maximal oxygen consumption. In T1, testosterone concentration was also significantly correlated with running speed test (p < 0.001). In conclusion, training induces endocrine changes in order to maintain body homeostasis in women referees. It is important that coaches and sports scientists regularly observe changes in endocrine function induced by training and matches in female referees, because they can help maximize referees’ performance and limit cases of overtraining. Since biological sex can influence the physical performance and the hormonal response to exercise, plasma cortisol and testosterone concentrations were assayed together with fitness tests before the training period (T0), immediately after T0 (T1), at the middle (T2) and at the end (T4) of the season, in 14 female referees.Significant improvements were observed in all physical performances during the observed period. Cortisol and testosterone changes significantly correlated with maximal oxygen consumption. In T1, testosterone concentration was also significantly correlated with running speed test.

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a highly aggressive type of solid tumor that is becoming more common. cis ‐[PtCl 2 (NH 3 ) 2 ] (in short cisplatin or CDDP) has been shown to be effective in treating various cancers, including PDAC. However, the development of resistance to chemotherapy drugs has created a need for the synthesis of new anticancer agents. Platinum‐based drugs containing the bidentate ligand phenanthroline have been found to have strong antitumor activity due to their ability to cause DNA damage. In this study, we examined the ability of two Pt (II) cationic complexes, [Pt( η 1 ‐C 2 H 4 OR) (DMSO) (phen)] + (in short Pt‐EtORSOphen; R  = Me, 1 ; Et, 2 ), to inhibit the growth and spread of BxPC‐3 PDAC cells, in comparison to CDDP. The length of the alkyl chain and its associated lipophilic properties did not affect the anticancer effects of complexes 1 and 2 in BxPC‐3 cells. However, it did appear to influence the rapid loss of mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨ M ), suggesting that these complexes could potentially be used as mitochondria‐targeted lipophilic cations in anticancer therapy.

Pancreatic cancer is one of the most lethal malignancies with an increasing incidence and a high mortality rate, due to its rapid progression, invasiveness, and resistance to anticancer therapies. In this work, we evaluated the antiproliferative and antimigratory activities of the two organometallic compounds, [Pt(η1-C2H4-OMe)(DMSO)(phen)]Cl (1) and [Pt(η1-C2H4-OEt)(DMSO)(phen)]Cl (2), on three human pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma cell lines with different sensitivity to cisplatin (Mia PaCa-2, PANC-1, and YAPC). The two cationic analogues showed superimposable antiproliferative effects on the tested cells, without significant differences depending on alkyl chain length (Me or Et). On the other hand, they demonstrated to be more effective than cisplatin, especially on YAPC cancer cells. For the interesting cytotoxic activity observed on YAPC, further biological assays were performed, on this cancer cell line, to evaluate the apoptotic and antimetastatic properties of the considered platinum compounds (1 and 2). The cytotoxicity of 1 and 2 compounds appeared to be related to their intracellular accumulation, which was much faster than that of cisplatin. Both 1 and 2 compounds significantly induced apoptosis and cell cycle arrest, with a high accumulation of sub-G1 phase cells, compared to cisplatin. Moreover, phenanthroline-containing complexes caused a rapid loss of mitochondria membrane potential, ΔΨM, if compared to cisplatin, probably due to their cationic and lipophilic properties. On 3D tumor spheroids, 1 and 2 significantly reduced migrated area more than cisplatin, confirming an antimetastatic ability.

Brugada syndrome (BrS) is an ion channelopathy that results in characteristic electrocardiographic (ECG) changes and predisposes to sudden cardiac death (SCD). The SCD risk stratification is influenced by many factors, primarily the ECG pattern and symptoms presented [1]. Asymptomatic patients are considered to be of relatively low risk, especially those with drug-induced Brugada pattern without other risk factors (VF, syncope, etc.) [2]. It is well known that Brugada pattern (BrP) temporal variability is associated with event risk increase (higher temporal of type 1 ST-segment elevation in the 24-hour monitoring period seems to be associated with cardiac events) [3]. However, no cases of BrP variability related to heart rhythm are described.A 68-year-old man was scheduled for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation (mEHRA score 2b). No drug attempts were made before the procedure, and no family SCD history or syncope were reported in the medical history. We performed AF ablation, under conscious sedation with intermittent midazolam and fentanyl administration, with isolation of pulmonary veins using the CARTO electroanatomic mapping system, Thermocool Smarttouch SF Catheter and Pentaray catheter (Biosense Webster, Inc.). At the end of the procedure, sustained atrial fibrillation was triggered (Figure 1 A). Therefore, having not planned further treatments in the left atrium and having already withdrawn the catheters in the right atrium, we decided to administer flecainide 2 mg/kg over 10 min. After 3 min ECG gradually showed the ST segment coved-type elevation in V1–V2. Then we moved the V5-V6 electrodes to the second intercostal space continuing the infusion according to the protocol. At the end of the infusion, a clear BrP was observed, particularly evident in the V2 derivation shorter RR longer beats, but at arrhythmia interruption, the pattern surprisingly disappeared (Figure 1 B), and then gradually reappeared after 50 s with a diagnostic BrP (Figure 1 C). Based on the patient’s clinical history, the occasional drug-induced BrP finding and considering him to be at low risk of SCD, we decided to evaluate the follow-up without performing an electrophysiological study (EPS). The patient was therefore discharged without antiarrhythmic therapy, with the indication for family electrocardiographic screening and compliance with behavioral rules.Several hypotheses have been proposed to explain the pathophysiology behind BrS. The...View full text...