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Background Inconsistent data exist regarding the influence of parasitic infection on the prevalence of allergic sensitization and disorders. Objective To investigate the impact of geohelminth and protozoan infections on sensitization patterns and allergic symptoms of children living in low-income communities in Gqeberha, South Africa. Methods In a cross-sectional study, 587 school children aged 8-12 years were recruited in June 2016 and screened for reactivity to common allergens by skin prick tests and for parasitic infections by stool tests. Additionally, questionnaires were completed to record allergic symptoms the children may have experienced. Results Positive SPT were found in 237/587 children (40.4%), about one third of whom were polysensitized. Sensitizations were most frequently detected against the house dust mites (HDM) Dermatophagoides spp . (31.9%) and Blomia tropicalis (21.0%). Infections with geohelminths ( Ascaris lumbricoides , Trichuris trichiura ) were found in 26.8% and protozoan infections ( Gardia lamblia , Cryptosporidia spp .) in 13.9% of study participants. Mixed logistic regression analyses revealed negative associations between parasite infection and sensitization to Blomia tropicalis (OR: 0.54, 95%CI 0.33-0.89) and to Dermatophagoides spp . (OR 0.65, 95%CI 0.43-0.96), and between protozoan infection and allergic sensitization to any aeroallergen, although these associations were not significant when adjusted for false discovery. Geohelminth infection and intensity of geohelminth infection were both associated with reduced risk of polysensitization (OR 0.41, 95%CI 0.21-0.86), and this association remained significant with adjustment for false discovery. Reported respiratory symptoms were associated with HDM sensitization (ORs from 1.54 to 2.48), but not with parasite infection. Conclusions and clinical relevance Our data suggest that geohelminth infection and high geohelminth infection intensity are associated with a reduced risk of polysensitization.

Purpose Whereas there is compelling evidence for an association between cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) and executive function and attention, its relation with social cognition has not been investigated yet. However, social cognition is linked with mental health and career success in jobs with high demands on social interaction. The present study aims to examine the association between CRF and the facial emotion recognition aspect of social cognition in police officers. Methods The study utilized a cross-sectional design. 198 male and female participants (aged 38.3 ± 1.3 years) completed the Astrand submaximal bicycle ergometer test and their CRF was estimated using the Astrand-Rhyming nomogram. Additionally, a 2-choice reaction time task and two facial emotion recognition tasks (labeling and matching) with low (emotion recognition from faces) and high (emotion recognition from eyes) difficulty trials were administered for the assessment of attention and social cognition. Results Adjusting for age, gender, education, and attention, hierarchical regression supported higher CRF to be related to higher performance on overall performance on the facial emotion labeling and matching tasks, Beta = 0.141, P = .046. With regard to difficulty levels, a similar association between CRF and task performance was found for the faces condition, Beta = 0.147, P = .043, but not for the eyes condition, Beta = 0.105, P = .132. Conclusions Social cognition appears to differ as a function of adults' CRF level. The present findings have a high relevance for police officers, because they need to rely on this cognitive domain for many decisions in their work-life.

Background Accumulating evidence suggests that adolescents' moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) is associated with less off-task behaviour in the classroom. However, the contribution of cognitive functions to this relation still remains unclear. Executive function and aspects of social cognition, which appear to be correlated with MVPA, have been found to determine academic behaviours. Aim This study examines the direct association between MVPA and off-task behaviour as well as mediations by different cognitive domains. Sample Forty-six-male and 67-female adolescents aged 13.0 ± 1.3 years were recruited from local schools. Methods Participants recalled their MVPA. Using video cameras, their classroom behaviours were recorded and a 6-min period was rated for off-task behaviour. Additionally, participants completed a modified Flanker task, which assessed both inhibitory control and cognitive flexibility, a Sternberg paradigm, which assessed working memory, and an Emotion Recognition task. Results Path-analyses revealed that higher MVPA was associated with less off-task behaviour. Inhibitory control accounted for a partial mediation of this association. The mediating role of inhibitory control was most pronounced for the relation between MVPA and off-task behaviours related to noise. Conclusion These findings provide a first indication that curricular and extracurricular physical activities targeting specific improvements in inhibitory control may promise transfer effects to classroom behaviours.

Few studies have focused on burnout among vocational students. This study examined the association between burnout and mental health among 56 Swiss vocational students (29 males, 27 females, M = 18.1, SD = 1.2 years) and tested whether recommended levels of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) attenuate this relationship. Burnout was strongly associated with increased depressive symptoms and decreased levels of life satisfaction, mental toughness, and quality of sleep. Students above recommended levels of MVPA reported lower burnout and higher mental health. No significant moderator effects were observed. Symptoms of burnout were associated with increased mental health problems. Physical activity should be promoted to prevent burnout, because nearly half of the students did not meet MVPA recommendations. Language: en

Mental toughness has been explored predominantly within sport contexts. Nevertheless, it is difficult to conceive mental toughness as only applicable to athletes. This study examines whether mentally tough participants exhibit resilience against stress. This is a cross-sectional study based on two different samples: Sample 1 consisted of 284 high school students (99 males, 185 females, M = 18.3 years). Sample 2 consisted of 140 first through fifth semester undergraduate students (53 males, 87 females, M = 20.0 years). Participants provided information about their level of perceived stress (10-item Perceived Stress Scale), mental toughness (48-item Mental Toughness Questionnaire) and depressive symptoms (Beck Depression Inventory). Consistent across the two samples, mental toughness mitigated the relationship between high stress and depressive symptoms. The interaction between stress and mental toughness explained 2% of variance in the adolescent sample and 10% of variance among young adults. The promotion of protective factors that foster resilient adaptation is a relevant issue. Mental toughness may appeal to individuals that are typically difficult to be reached with health interventions. Because mental toughness is part of young people's daily speech, it may serve as a less academic resource than other health psychology concepts.