BackgroundEmerging evidence indicates that fruits rich in polyphenols may attenuate exercise-induced muscle damage and associated markers of inflammation and soreness. This study was conducted to determine whether bilberry juice (BJ), which is particularly rich in polyphenols, reduces markers of muscle damage in runners completing a half marathon.MethodsA total of 21 recreationally trained runners (age 30.9 ± 10.4 y; mass 71.6 ± 11.0 kg; M = 16; F = 5) were recruited to a single blind, randomised, placebo-controlled, parallel study. Participants were block randomised to consume 2 × 200 ml of BJ or energy-matched control drink (PLA) for 5 d before the Sheffield Half Marathon, on race day, and for 2 days post-race. Measurements of delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS), muscle damage (creatine kinase; CK) and inflammation (c-reactive protein; CRP) were taken at baseline, pre-race, post-race, 24 h post-race and 48 h post-race. The effect of treatment on outcome measures was analysed using magnitude-based inferences based on data from 19 participants; 2 participants were excluded from the analyses because they did not provide samples for all time points.ResultsThe half marathon caused elevations in DOMS, CRP and CK. BJ had a possibly harmful effect on DOMS from pre-race to immediately post-race (11.6%, 90% CI ± 14.7%), a likely harmful effect on CRP from pre-race to 24 h post-race (mean difference ES 0.56, 90% CI ± 0.72) and a possibly harmful effect on CRP from pre-race to 48 h post-race (ES 0.12, 90% CI ± 0.69). At other time points, the differences between the BJ and PLA groups in DOMS and CRP were unclear, possibly trivial or likely trivial. Differences in the changes in CK between BJ and PLA were unclear at every time point other than from baseline to pre-race, where BJ had a possibly harmful effect on reducing muscle damage (ES 0.23, 90% CI ± 0.57).ConclusionDespite being a rich source of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory phytochemicals, BJ evoked small to moderate increases in exercise-induced DOMS and CRP. Further larger studies are required to confirm these unexpected preliminary results.

Four data sets from studies included in the Reproducibility Project were re-analyzed to demonstrate a number of flawed research practices (i.e., “bad habits”) of modern psychology. Three of the four studies were successfully replicated, but re-analysis showed that in one study most of the participants responded in a manner inconsistent with the researchers’ theoretical model. In the second study, the replicated effect was shown to be an experimental confound, and in the third study the replicated statistical effect was shown to be entirely trivial. The fourth study was an unsuccessful replication, yet re-analysis of the data showed that questioning the common assumptions of modern psychological measurement can lead to novel techniques of data analysis and potentially interesting findings missed by traditional methods of analysis. Considered together, these new analyses show that while it is true replication is a key feature of science, causal inference, modeling, and measurement are equally important and perhaps more fundamental to obtaining truly scientific knowledge of the natural world. It would therefore be prudent for psychologists to confront the limitations and flaws in their current analytical methods and research practices.

he Intermittent Exotropia Questionnaire (IXTQ) is a patientderived, intermittent exotropia-specific instrument designed to evaluate health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in children with intermittent exotropia and their parents. 1,2 The IXTQ consists of 3 parts: the 12-item child IXTQ (completed by the child to assess the child's HRQOL), the 12-item proxy IXTQ (completed by the parent to assess the child's HRQOL), and the 17-item parent IXTQ (completed by the parent regarding his or her own HRQOL). 1 The child and proxy questionnaires each have a single subscale. The parent questionnaire contains 3 subscales: psychosocial, function, and surgery. The IXTQ is reliable and valid for assessing HRQOL in children with intermittent exotropia. [1][2][3] It is available for download free of charge at http://pedig.jaeb.org/.The IXTQ was originally developed using classical test theory. Rasch analysis may be used to modify and improve existing HRQOL instruments. [4][5][6][7][8][9] In the present study, Rasch analysis was used to refine the existing IXTQ, removing items that do not contribute meaningful information to the instrument and ensuring that response options are properly interpreted. Methods Patient CohortParents gave written informed consent, and children gave written assent when required. The protocol was approved by the institutional review boards of the Mayo Clinic, Jaeb Center for Health Research, and other local sites involved in the study. Data were collected and analyzed in accordance with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act guidelines. The IXTQ was completed by 575 parents of 575 children aged 1 through 16 years with intermittent exotropia at the time of their child's clinic examination, enrolled from May 15, 2008, through July 24, 2013. The 295 children aged 5 years or older completed the age-appropriate child IXTQ. Parents and children completed the IXTQ as part of routine care in the strabismus practice of one of the authors (J.M.H., n = 110) or at the enrollment examination for 1 of 2 ongoing randomized clinical trials being conducted by the Pediatric Eye Disease Investigator Group (NCT 01032603 [n = 69] and NCT 01032330 [n = 396]). Child questionnaires were administered to children aged 5 through 7 years by study personnel. All 8-to 17-year-old child, proxy, and parent questionnaires were self-administered. Patient demographics are reported in eTable 1 in the Supplement. Statistical AnalysisBefore Rasch analysis, items with floor and ceiling effects on the child, proxy, and parent IXTQs were eliminated as described in the eMethods in the Supplement. Rasch analysis was performed on each of the 4 IXTQs using the analytic methods that we have applied previously (eMethods in the Supplement). 9 The performance and structure of the Rasch-IMPORTANCE The Intermittent Exotropia Questionnaire (IXTQ) is a patient, proxy, and parental report of quality of life specific to children with intermittent exotropia. We refine the IXTQ using Rasch analysis to improve reliability and validity.OBSERVATI...

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