Do Socioeconomic Inequalities Exist Within Ophthalmology and Orthoptics in the UK?: A Scoping Review

Introduction

It is well documented that socioeconomic disadvantage adversely affects general health and ocular health worldwide. Within orthoptics, while clinicians recognise a relationship between socioeconomic situation and treatment outcome, no previous literature review was found to address this issue. Neither was a UK-specific literature review found to address the same issue for ophthalmology as a whole.

Aim

This literature review evaluates evidence for an association between socioeconomic situation and ophthalmic/orthoptic conditions and their treatment outcomes, specifically within the UK.

Methods

Keyword searches were conducted on Google Scholar and the University of Liverpool library catalogue. Results for the main analyses were limited to full papers, specific to the UK, written in English. Literature was only included from pre-2000 if more recent evidence was insufficient.

Results

There is evidence of socioeconomic disadvantage being associated with the following: reduced visual acuity; reduced attendance at diabetic retinopathy screening appointments; and delayed presentation of glaucoma, cataracts, and diabetic retinopathy. However, evidence linking socioeconomic disadvantage to AMD is mixed. There is limited evidence of the increased prevalence of amblyopia and subsequent barriers to its treatment for socioeconomically underserved children. There is also evidence of a reduction in quality of life for socioeconomically underserved adults with strabismus.

Conclusions

Health inequalities within ophthalmology and orthoptics are reported, but with confounding results for some conditions. Further research should explore the reasons behind the inequalities that are found and identify methods of reducing them.

Using a Computerised Staircase and Incremental Optotype Sizes to Improve Visual Acuity Assessment Accuracy

Background:

Given the impact of visual acuity results on diagnosis and management, it is essential that the test is accurate, determined by factors such as test-retest variability. Standardisation improves accuracy, which can be performed via a computerised staircase methodology. Standard clinical tests with scoring of 0.02 per optotype implies an incremental score per optotype despite optotype size remaining constant on each line. The aim of this study is to establish if near continuous incremental optotype display and scoring improves test-retest variability compared to current testing methods.

Methods:

A computerised three up, one down adaptive staircase was used to display Kay Picture optotypes on an LCD monitor. Three methods of visual acuity assessment were undertaken: ETDRS, Kay Pictures and computerised Kay Pictures. Tests were performed twice under standard clinical conditions.

Results:

One hundred nineteen adults were tested. Test-retest variability for computerised Kay pictures was 0.01 logMAR (±0.04, p = 0.001). Good levels of agreement were observed for computerised Kay pictures in terms of test-retest variability, where the test had the smallest mean bias (0.01 logMAR compared to 0.03 and 0.08 logMAR for Kay Pictures and ETDRS respectively) and narrowest limits of agreement. Participants performed better in computerised Kay pictures than Kay Pictures by 0.03 logMAR, and better in ETDRS than computerised Kay pictures by 0.1 logMAR.

Conclusion:

Computerised Kay pictures exhibited a low test-retest variability, demonstrating it is reliable and repeatable. This repeatability measure is lower than the test-retest variability of the ETDRS and Kay Pictures tests.

1083 A REVIEW OF FAST DATA IN TALLAGHT UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL, AND THE IMPACT OF COVID ON TREATMENT

Introduction

Stroke is a leading cause of morbidity. Current guidelines advise maximum of 4.5 hours post symptom onset for thrombolysis, and 24 hours for thrombectomy. (1) Delay between symptom onset and treatment is associated with an inferior outcome. Thrombolysis is available in 27 Irish centers. Average rate of thrombolysis is 11%. (3) Fewer than half of stroke patients arrived in hospital within three hours of symptom onset in 2019. (4) Median door-to-needle time is 48 minutes.

Method

FAST calls in Tallaght University Hospital, from 2/7/19–1/7/21, were included in this analysis (n = 594).

Results

160 FAST calls took place pre-Covid (20/month), and 434 post-Covid (27.12/month). Time of symptom onset was recorded in 390 cases. Time patients last seen well was known in 185 cases, unknown time of onset in 19. After review by the stroke clinician, FAST imaging was obtained in 78% of cases (n = 464). Of these, 34 cases of FAST imaging were performed for inpatients. Average time from registration to CT was 35:24 minutes pre covid, and 45:52 minutes post. 9.7% of patients were thrombolysed. The median door-to-needle time was 41 minutes pre-Covid(n = 21, 2.625/month), and 54 minutes after (n = 37, 2.3/month). Thrombectomy was performed in 46 cases. 222 patients were diagnosed with an ischaemic stroke, 50 had TIA and 48 had haemorrhagic strokes. Other diagnoses included migraine (6.7%, n = 40), seizures (6.7%, n = 40) and Bells Palsy (3.7%, n = 22). 55% (n = 330) of cases were registered to ED with FAST call between the hours of 9 am-5 pm. 27% (n = 161) of cases occurred during the night shift.

Conclusion

The median door-to-needle times were below national median pre-Covid, and longer post-pandemic, with an increase in the rate of presentation in the same time-frame. This report highlights the effect of the pandemic on time-critical patient interventions in stroke and the need to stratify services to respond to structural challenges.

P04 An evaluation of antimicrobial stewardship education in the School of Pharmacy of an Irish university—a mixed methods study

Background

Antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) is essential to control the emergence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) which has become an international health priority. Education of undergraduate students on AMS and AMR is a strategic objective in the WHO Global Action Plan on AMR and Ireland's National Action Plan.^1,2 Research on AMS/AMR education has focused primarily on medical students with less emphasis on those from other healthcare profession including pharmacy students.

Objectives

To investigate AMS and AMR education in the Pharmacy undergraduate programme in the School of Pharmacy of an Irish University.

Methods

A mixed methods study was conducted. Ten semi-structured interviews were conducted in October 2019 with academic staff to capture their views on AMS education. Participants included staff members from different disciplines, those identified as involved in teaching elements of infectious disease, antibiotics, AMS and related topics, and those involved in curriculum design and approval within the School of Pharmacy. Interview transcripts were analysed by thematic analysis. An electronic survey of 17 questions was emailed to all second to fifth year UCC Pharmacy students in October 2019 to gather students’ views and experiences of AMS education. The survey contained four sections which addressed demographics, AMS, resources and education using open-ended, closed-ended or Likert-scale questions. Ethical approval was obtained.

Results

Six key themes were identified from the ten interviews: (i) curriculum priorities and capacity; (ii) housing of the subject, fragmentation and cohesion; (iii) integration; (iv) communication; (v) teaching methods; and (vi) assessment methods. 113 students participated in the survey (32.3% response rate). 96% agree that a strong knowledge of antimicrobials for their future careers is important, and over 89% of students desire more education on AMR and AMS. Only 43% of students found their AMS education provided sufficient preparation for practice. Students felt most prepared to recognize clinical signs of infection and least prepared for IV to oral switching, interpreting biological marker and de-escalation of antimicrobials. Over 50% of students never used or were not familiar with the national primary care antimicrobial guidelines: www.antibioticprescribing.ie.

Conclusions

Pharmacy students and staff agree that AMS and AMR are important and need enhanced educational focus. Students feel there are gaps in their AMS education and expressed a desire for more education in this area. Improved communication and identification of curriculum priorities by staff could help to establish a more cohesive and comprehensive educational approach to this area.

Developmental Regulation and Functional Prediction of microRNAs in an Expanded Fasciola hepatica miRNome

The liver fluke, Fasciola hepatica, is a global burden on the wellbeing and productivity of farmed ruminants, and a zoonotic threat to human health. Despite the clear need for accelerated discovery of new drug and vaccine treatments for this pathogen, we still have a relatively limited understanding of liver fluke biology and host interactions. Noncoding RNAs, including micro (mi)RNAs, are key to transcriptional regulation in all eukaryotes, such that an understanding of miRNA biology can shed light on organismal function at a systems level. Four previous publications have reported up to 89 mature miRNA sequences from F. hepatica, but our data show that this does not represent a full account of this species miRNome. We have expanded on previous studies by sequencing, for the first time, miRNAs from multiple life stages (adult, newly excysted juvenile (NEJ), metacercariae and adult-derived extracellular vesicles (EVs)). These experiments detected an additional 61 high-confidence miRNAs, most of which have not been described in any other species, expanding the F. hepatica miRNome to 150 mature sequences. We used quantitative (q)PCR assays to provide the first developmental profile of miRNA expression across metacercariae, NEJ, adult and adult-derived Evs. The majority of miRNAs were expressed most highly in metacercariae, with at least six distinct expression clusters apparent across life stages. Intracellular miRNAs were functionally analyzed to identify target mRNAs with inversely correlated expression in F. hepatica tissue transcriptomes, highlighting regulatory interactions with key virulence transcripts including cathepsin proteases, and neuromuscular genes that control parasite growth, development and motility. We also linked 28 adult-derived EV miRNAs with downregulation of 397 host genes in F. hepatica-infected transcriptomes from ruminant lymph node, peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) and liver tissue transcriptomes. These included genes involved in signal transduction, immune and metabolic pathways, adding to the evidence for miRNA-based immunosuppression during fasciolosis. These data expand our understanding of the F. hepatica miRNome, provide the first data on developmental miRNA regulation in this species, and provide a set of testable hypotheses for functional genomics interrogations of liver fluke miRNA biology.

Diagnostic accuracy of ultrasound in the paediatric population with acute right iliac fossa pain, our District General Hospital experience

AIM

This project aimed to evaluate the role of ultrasound scan (USS) in children presenting with acute onset right iliac fossa (RIF) pain and suspected appendicitis.

METHODS

We retrospectively studied 100 consecutive children undergoing USS for RIF pain. Children with low to moderate clinical probability of appendicitis were seen by the surgical team and subsequently underwent USS by a radiologist or a sonographer with a special interest in paediatric USS. The clinical findings, blood tests, and radiological diagnosis led to a decision to operate, observe or discharge. USS findings were subsequently verified with the final histology. The six-month follow-up data of these patients were also analysed.

RESULTS

35 males, median age of 11 years (range 4-17), and 65 females, median age of 14 years (range 6-18) were included. A total of 23 appendicectomies were performed. On histology appendicitis was confirmed in 20, including 16 pre-operatively diagnosed on USS. 6 of these appendicectomies were performed on clinical suspicion with normal USS. 1 patient was diagnosed with neuroendocrine tumour of the appendix. Only 2 negative appendicectomies were performed. 62 patients were discharged without intervention. USS sensitivity was 74%, and specificity was 92% for appendicitis. An additional 16 patients were identified with alternate pathology including 5 ovarian cysts.

CONCLUSION

Appendicitis was more common in male patients; however, there was no difference in overall disease prevalence in male or female paediatric patients. Thus, USS is a valuable tool to exclude appendicitis in children with low to moderate probability.

Mortality in residential care services for people with disabilities in Ireland

Background

All-cause mortality is higher in people with disability than in people without disability. There is a need for descriptive epidemiological studies of deaths in people with disability to inform the development of public health interventions. All deaths in residential disability services in Ireland are notified to the Chief Inspector in the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA). These include notification of unexpected and expected deaths. The herein aim was to describe total, unexpected and expected deaths, and identify leading causes of death in residential disability services in Ireland.

Methods

Data on deaths in residential disability services in 2019 and 2020 were extracted from the Database of Statutory Notifications from Social Care in Ireland. The number of total deaths was calculated along with the percent and number of unexpected and expected deaths. The primary cause of death notified by services was coded using ICD-11 chapter headings.

Results

During 2019 and 2020, on average 9,115 people resided in residential disability services. Of these, 395 died, of which 45% (n = 178) were notified as unexpected. The leading causes of unexpected deaths were respiratory system diseases (35%, n = 62) and circulatory system diseases (18%, n = 32). The leading causes of expected death were respiratory system diseases (41%, n = 89) and cancers (31%, n = 67).

Conclusions

Almost half of deaths in residential disability services were notified as unexpected. Respiratory disease was the leading cause of both expected and unexpected death in people with disability residing in residential services in Ireland; three-fold the general Irish population (10.7%). Public health interventions aimed at reducing respiratory disease may reduce deaths in this group.

Key messages

In 2019 and 2020, nearly half of deaths of people with a disability residing in residential services were notified as unexpected. Death from respiratory diseases was substantially higher in people with disability living in residential services in Ireland than in the general population and warrants public health intervention.

Evaluation of a New Method to Track Changes in Vision at Home for Children Undergoing Amblyopia Treatment

PURPOSE

A new amblyopia tracker app has been designed to provide parents with a method of monitoring a child's vision by presenting a single optotype size that the tester moves to identify the furthest distance the optotypes can be seen. The aim of this study is to evaluate this methodology in adults, comparing the findings to visual acuity (VA) measured with the iSight app and to determine the test retest variability.

METHODS

Adults, aged 18-39 years, with no known eye condition and VA ≤ 0.7 logMAR were recruited. Bangerter filters were used to simulate amblyopia, where VA was reduced below 0.0 with an interocular difference of at least 0.2 logMAR. Testing for both apps was performed monocularly, with the test order being randomised.

RESULTS

Data from 32 subjects were analysed. For the test retest variability analysis, paired t-tests showed no statistically significant difference between the tests for either eye, either app or the interocular acuity difference (p > 0.3 in all cases). Bland Altman plots showed similar limits of agreement between the two apps. When comparing measurements between the apps there was no statistically significant difference on the first or second test, either eye or the interocular acuity difference (p > 0.5 in all cases).

CONCLUSION

The results support the theory that changing distance is a valid method of assessing VA as the measurements agree well with the standard approach of reducing optotype size. Test retest variability is similar between the two apps and there is good agreement between the measurements.

Hematological predictors of mortality in neonates with fulminant necrotizing enterocolitis

OBJECTIVE

Determine whether hematological and transfusion patterns following, the onset of NEC can identify infants likely to develop fulminant, fatal necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC).

DESIGN

Determine hematological predictors of fulminant NEC.

RESULTS

Of 336 neonates with NEC, 35 (10%) who developed fulminant NEC were born with higher birth weights and more frequently developed radiologically evident pneumoperitoneumand/or portal venous gas. Following the diagnosis of NEC, these infants were more likely to rapidly develop thrombocytopenia, lymphopenia, neutropenia, and lower total white blood cell counts compared to medical/surgical non-fulminant type. They were also more likely to have received a red blood cell (RBC) transfusion (76.7% vs. 53.1%, p = 0.001) within 48 h after disease onset and platelet transfusion (24.2% vs. 11.7%; p = 0.03) before the onset of NEC.

CONCLUSION

Neonates with fulminant NEC frequently developed thrombocytopenia, lymphopenia, neutropenia, and leukopenia, received RBC transfusions after or platelet transfusions before the onset of NEC developed the fulminant disease.

Proceedings of the Thirteenth International Society of Sports Nutrition (ISSN) Conference and Expo

P1 Impact of antioxidant-enriched nutrient bar supplementation on the serum antioxidant markers and physical fitness components of track and field athletes

Lalitha Ramaswamy, Supriya Velraja

P2 The effects of phosphatidic acid supplementation on fitness levels in resistance trained women

Guillermo Escalante, Phil Harvey, Michelle Alencar, Bryan Haddock

P3 The effects of phosphatidic acid supplementation on cardiovascular risk factors in resistance trained men

Phil Harvey, Guillermo Escalante, Michelle Alencar, Bryan Haddock

P4 The efficacy of sodium bicarbonate supplementation on physical capacity and selected biochemical markers in elite wrestlers

Krzysztof Durkalec-Michalski, Jan Jeszka, Bogna Zawieja, Tomasz Podgórski

P5 Effects of different nutritional strategies in hydration and physical performance in healthy well-trained males

Ana Paula Trussardi Fayh, Alexandre Hideki Okano, Amanda Maria de Jesus Ferreira

P6 Reduction of plasma creatine concentrations as an indicator of improved bioavailability

Ralf Jäger, Martin Purpura, Roger C Harris

P7 Effect of three different breakfast meals on energy intake and nutritional status in college-age women

Molly M. Krause, Kiley A. Lavanger, Nina O. Allen, Allison E. Lieb, Katie A. Mullen, Joan M. Eckerson

P8 Accuracy of the ASA24® Dietary Recall system for assessing actual dietary intake in normal weight college-age women.

Kiley A. Lavanger, Molly M. Krause, Nina O. Allen, Allison E. Lieb, Katie A. Mullen, Joan M. Eckerson

P9 β-aminoisobutyric acid does not regulate exercise induced UCP-3 expression in skeletal muscle

Elisa Morales, Jeffrey Forsse, Thomas Andre, Sarah McKinley, Paul Hwang, Grant Tinsley, Mike Spillane, Peter Grandjean, Darryn Willoughby

P10 The ability of collegiate football athletes to adhere to sport-specific nutritional recommendations

A. Jagim, G. Wright, J. Kisiolek, M. Meinking, J. Ochsenwald, M. Andre, M.T. Jones, J. M. Oliver

P11 A single session of low-volume high intensity interval exercise improves appetite regulation in overweight men

Victor Araújo Ferreira, Daniel Costa de Souza, Victor Oliveira Albuquerque dos Santos, Rodrigo Alberto Vieira Browne, Eduardo Caldas Costa, Ana Paula Trussardi Fayh

P12 Acute effects of oral peppermint oil ingestion on exercise performance in moderately-active college students

Suresh T. Mathews, Haley D. Bishop, Clara R. Bowen, Yishan Liang, Emily A. West, Rebecca R. Rogers, Mallory R. Marshall, John K. Petrella

P13 Associations in body fat and liver triglyceride content with serum health markers in sedentary and exercised rats fed a ketogenic diet, Western diet or standard chow over a 6-week period

A. Maleah Holland, Wesley C. Kephart, Petey W. Mumford, C. Brooks Mobley, Ryan P. Lowery, Jacob M. Wilson, Michael D. Roberts

P14 Physiological changes following competition in male and female physique athletes: A pilot study

Eric T. Trexler, Katie R. Hirsch, Bill I. Campbell, Meredith G. Mock, Abbie E. Smith-Ryan

P15 Relationship between cognition and hydration status in college students at a large Southwestern university

Kate Zemek, Carol Johnston

P16 Whey protein-derived exosomes increase protein synthesis in C2C12 myotubes

C. Brooks Mobley, Petey W. Mumford, David D. Pascoe, Christopher M. Lockwood, Michael E. Miller, Michael D. Roberts

P17 The effect of three different energy drinks on 1.5-mile running performance, oxygen consumption, and perceived exertion

Gabriel J. Sanders, Willard Peveler, Brooke Warning, Corey A. Peacock

P18 The Ketogenic diet improves rotarod performance in young and older rats

Wesley C. Kephart, Petey W. Mumford, Ryan P. Lowery, Michael D. Roberts, Jacob M. Wilson

P19 Absorption of bonded arginine silicate compared to individual arginine and silicon components

David Sandler, Sara Perez Ojalvo, James Komorowski

P20 Effects of a high (2.4 g/kg) vs. low/moderate (1.2 g/kg) protein intake on body composition in aspiring female physique athletes engaging in an 8-week resistance training program

Bill I. Campbell, Danielle Aguilar, Andres Vargas, Laurin Conlin, Amey Sanders, Paola Fink-Irizarry, Layne Norton, Ross Perry, Ryley McCallum, Matthew R. Wynn, Jack Lenton

P21 Effects of a high (2.4 g/kg) vs. low/moderate (1.2 g/kg) protein intake on maximal strength in aspiring female physique athletes engaging in an 8-week resistance training program

Bill I. Campbell, Chris Gai, Seth Donelson, Shiva Best, Daniel Bove, Kaylee Couvillion, Jeff Dolan, Dante Xing, Kyshia Chernesky, Michael Pawela, Andres D. Toledo, Rachel Jimenez

P22 Monitoring of female collegiate athletes over a competitive season reveals changes in nutritional biomarkers

M. Rabideau, A. Walker, J. Pellegrino, M. Hofacker, B. McFadden, S. Conway, C. Ordway, D. Sanders, R. Monaco, M. S. Fragala, S. M. Arent

P23 Comparison of prediction equations to indirect calorimetry in men and women athletes

Jason D. Stone, Andreas Kreutzer, Jonathan M. Oliver, Jacob Kisiolek, Andrew R. Jagim

P24 Regional variations in sweat-based electrolyte loss and changes in plasma electrolyte content in Division I female athletes over the course of a competitive season

M. Hofacker, A. Walker, J. Pellegrino, M. Rabideau, B. McFadden, S. Conway, D. Sanders, C. Ordway, R. Monaco, M. S. Fragala, S. M. Arent

P25 In-season changes in plasma amino acid levels in Division I NCAA female athletes

Ozlem Tok, Joseph K. Pellegrino, Alan J. Walker, David J. Sanders, Bridget A. McFadden, Meaghan M. Rabideau, Sean P. Conway, Chris E. Ordway, Marissa Bello, Morgan L. Hofacker, Nick S. Mackowski, Anthony J. Poyssick, Eddie Capone, Robert M. Monaco, Maren S. Fragala, Shawn M. Arent

P26 Effects of a ketogenic diet with exercise on serum markers of bone metabolism, IGF-1 and femoral bone mass in rats

Petey W. Mumford, A. Maleah Holland, Wesley C. Kephart, Ryan P. Lowery, C. Brooks Mobley, Romil K. Patel, Annie Newton, Darren T. Beck, Michael D. Roberts, Jacob M. Wilson, Kaelin C. Young

P27 Casein supplementation in trained men and women: morning versus evening

Tobin Silver, Anya Ellerbroek, Richard Buehn, Leo Vargas, Armando Tamayo, Corey Peacock, Jose Antonio

P28 A high protein diet has no harmful effects: a one-year crossover study in resistance-trained males

Anya Ellerbroek, Tobin Silver, Richard Buehn, Leo Vargas, Armando Tamayo, Corey Peacock, Jose Antonio

P29 SUP (Stand-up Paddling) athletes: nutritional intake and body composition

Adam Pollock, Anya Ellerbroek, Tobin Silver, Corey Peacock, Jose Antonio

P30 The effects of 8 weeks of colostrum and bio-active peptide supplementation on body composition in recreational male weight lifters

A. Kreutzer, P. Zavala, S. Fleming, M. Jones, J. M. Oliver, A. Jagim

P31 Effects of a Popular Women’s Thermogenic Supplement During an Energy-Restricted High Protein Diet on Changes in Body Composition and Clinical Safety Markers

Cody T. Haun, Petey W. Mumford, Parker N. Hyde, Ciaran M. Fairman, Wesley C. Kephart, Darren T. Beck, Jordan R. Moon, Michael D. Roberts, Kristina L. Kendall, Kaelin C. Young

P32 Three days of caffeine consumption following caffeine withdrawal yields small strength increase in knee flexors

Geoffrey M Hudson, Tara Hannings, Kyle Sprow, Loretta DiPietro

P33 Comparison of cellular nitric oxide production from various sports nutrition ingredients

Doug Kalman, Sara Perez Ojalvo, James Komorowski

P34 The effects of 8 weeks of bio-active peptide supplementation on training adaptations in recreational male weight lifters

P. Zavala, S. Fleming, M. Jones, J. Oliver, A. Jagim

P35 Effects of MusclePharm Assault Black^TM on lower extremity spinal excitability and postactivation potentiation: A pilot study

Brian Wallace, Haley Bergstrom, Kelly Wallace

P36 Effects of four weeks of Ketogenic Diet alone and combined with High intensity Interval Training or Continuous-Moderate intensity on body composition, lipid profile and physical performance on healthy males

Matias Monsalves-Alvarez, Sebastian Oyharçabal, Victoria Espinoza

P37 Effect of branched-chain amino acid supplementation on creatine kinase, muscular performance, and perceived muscle soreness following acute eccentric exercise

Trisha A. VanDusseldorp, Kurt A. Escobar, Kelly E. Johnson, Nathan Cole, Terence Moriarty, Matthew Stratton, Marvin R. Endito, Christine M. Mermier, Chad M. Kerksick

P38 Effects of endurance training on markers of ribosome biogenesis in rodents fed a high fat diet

Matthew A. Romero, C. Brooks Mobley, Melissa Linden, Grace Margaret-Eleanor Meers, R. Scott Rector, Michael D. Roberts

P39 The effects of acute citrulline-malate on lower-body isokinetic performance in recreationally active individuals

Joshua L Gills, Hocheng Lu, Kimberly Parker, Chris Dobbins, Joshua N Guillory, Braden Romer, David Szymanski, Jordan Glenn

P40 The effect pre-ingested L-isoleucine and L-leucine on blood glucose responses and glycemic hormones in healthy inactive adults: Preliminary data.

Daniel E. Newmire, Eric Rivas, Sarah E. Deemer, Robert Wildman, Victor Ben-Ezra

P41 Does protein and source impact substrate oxidation and energy expenditure during and after moderate intensity treadmill exercise?

C Kerksick, B Gieske, R Stecker, C Smith, K Witherbee

P42 Effects of a pre-workout supplement on peak power and power maintenance during lower and upper body testing

Michael T. Lane, M. Travis Byrd, Zachary Bell, Emily Frith, Lauren M.C. Lane

P43 Effects of a pre-workout supplement on peak power production during lower and upper body testing in college-age females

Michael T. Lane, M. Travis Byrd, Zachary Bell, Emily Frith, Lauren M.C. Lane

P44 A comparison of whey versus casein protein supplementation on resting metabolic rate and body composition: a pilot study

Corey A. Peacock, Tobin A. Silver, Megan Colas, Mauricio Mena, Winter Rodriguez, Gabriel J. Sanders, Jose Antonio

P45 A novel mixed-tocotrienol intervention enhances recovery after eccentric exercise: preliminary findings

Andrea Vansickle, Brittany DiFiore, Stephanie Stepp, Grant Slack, Bridget Smith, Kayla Ruffner, Ronald Mendel, Lonnie Lowery

P46 The effects of post-exercise ingestion of a high molecular weight glucose on cycle performance in female cyclists

Katie R. Hirsch, Meredith G. Mock, Malia M.N. Blue, Eric T. Trexler, Erica J. Roelofs, Abbie E. Smith-Ryan

P47 Inclusive vs. exclusive dieting and the effects on body composition in resistance trained individuals

Laurin Conlin, Danielle Aguilar, Bill I. Campbell, Layne Norton, Katie Coles, Eric T. Trexler, Nic Martinez

P48 A whey protein hydrolysate may positively augment resting metabolism compared to intact whey protein

Jordan M. Joy, Roxanne M. Vogel, Thomas H. Hoover, K. Shane Broughton

P49 Seven days of high and low dose creatine nitrate supplementation I: hepatorenal, glucose and muscle enzyme function

R Dalton, R Sowinski, T Grubic, PB Collins, A Colletta, A Reyes, B Sanchez, M Kozehchain, YP Jung, C Rasmussen, P Murano, CP Earnest, M Greenwood, RB Kreider

P50 Seven days of high and low dose creatine nitrate supplementation II: performance

T Grubic, R Dalton, R Sowinski, PB Collins, A Colletta, A Reyes, B Sanchez, M Kozehchain, YP Jung, C Rasmussen, P Murano, CP Earnest, M Greenwood, RB Kreider

P51 Seven days of high and low dose creatine nitrate supplementation III: hemodynamics

R Sowinski, R Dalton, T Grubic, PB Collins, A Colletta, A Reyes, B Sanchez, M Kozehchain, YP Jung, C Rasmussen, P Murano, CP Earnest, M Greenwood, RB Kreider

P52 The efficacy of a β-hydroxy-β-methylbutyrate supplementation on physical capacity, body composition and biochemical markers in highly-trained combat sports athletes

Krzysztof Durkalec-Michalski, Jan Jeszka, Tomasz Podgórski

P53 Does protein and source impact substrate oxidation and energy expenditure during and after moderate intensity treadmill exercise?

C Kerksick, B Gieske, R Stecker, C Smith, K Witherbee

P54 Effects of 30 days of Cleanse™ supplementation on measure of body composition, waist circumference, and markers of gastrointestinal distress in females

Stacie Urbina, Emily Santos, Katelyn Villa, Alyssa Olivencia, Haley Bennett, Marissa Lara, Cliffa Foster, Colin Wilborn, Lem Taylor

P55 The effects of moderate- versus high-load training on body composition, muscle growth, and performance in college aged females

Jason M Cholewa, Amy Hewins, Samantha Gallo, Ashley Micensky, Christian De Angelis, Christopher Carney, Bill Campbell, Laurin Conlin, Layne Norton, Fabricio Rossi

P56 Effect of a multi-ingredient preworkout supplement on cognitive function and perceptions of readiness to perform

MS Koozehchian, PB Collins, R Sowinski, T Grubic, R Dalton, A O’Connor, SY Shin, Y Peter Jung, BK Sanchez, A Coletta, M Cho, A Reyes, C Rasmussen, CP Earnest, PS Murano, M Greenwood, RB Kreider

A novel dual-fluorescence strategy for functionally validating microRNA targets in 3' untranslated regions: regulation of the inward rectifier potassium channel K(ir)2.1 by miR-212

Gene targeting by microRNAs is important in health and disease. We developed a functional assay for identifying microRNA targets and applied it to the K(+) channel K(ir)2.1 [KCNJ2 (potassium inwardly-rectifying channel, subfamily J, member 2)] which is dysregulated in cardiac and vascular disorders. The 3'UTR (untranslated region) was inserted downstream of the mCherry red fluorescent protein coding sequence in a mammalian expression plasmid. MicroRNA sequences were inserted into the pSM30 expression vector which provides enhanced green fluorescent protein as an indicator of microRNA expression. HEK (human embryonic kidney)-293 cells were co-transfected with the mCherry-3'UTR plasmid and a pSM30-based plasmid with a microRNA insert. The principle of the assay is that functional targeting of the 3'UTR by the microRNA results in a decrease in the red/green fluorescence intensity ratio as determined by automated image analysis. The method was validated with miR-1, a known down-regulator of K(ir)2.1 expression, and was used to investigate the targeting of the K(ir)2.1 3'UTR by miR-212. The red/green ratio was lower in miR-212-expressing cells compared with the non-targeting controls, an effect that was attenuated by mutating the predicted target site. miR-212 also reduced inward rectifier current and K(ir)2.1 protein in HeLa cells. This novel assay has several advantages over traditional luciferase-based assays including larger sample size, amenability to time course studies and adaptability to high-throughput screening.

Statistical Modelling of Platypus, Ornithorhynchus anatinus, Habitat Preferences Using Generalised Linear Models

Bryant (1993) collected extensive data on the habitat preferences of the platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) measured in 36 pools in the upper Macquarie River system. Platypus presence or absence in these pools was measured on three occasions. Detailed modelling of the factors affecting pool preference was complicated by the scale of response being ordinal due to the inability of the observer to distinguish between repeated sightings of the same animal and several different animals. Initial modelling using logistic regression on a presence/absence index, collapsed from the ordinal response, discounted time of day and seasonal effects. These temporal simplifications allowed a binomial analysis of success rate based on the three visits, which identified an additional habitat factor not identified in the original analysis. Finally, a full ordinal regression of the proportions falling into each ordered category is presented as the ultimate modelling of platypus pooI preferences. The analysis indicated that length and depth of pools and the presence of overhanging vegetation were positively related to the observed presence of platypuses.