title: Caffeine Modifies the Immune and Anti-inflammatory Responses to Short Incremental Cycling Exercise Until Exhaustion in Humans: A Pilot Study

authors: Rahimi, Mohammad Rahman

abstract: Exercise has well-documented effects on immune function with both positive and negative sequelae dependent on intensity, volume, and duration. The immunosuppressive effects of exercise are mediated, in part, by the complex interaction of cytokines, catecholamines, and nutrition. Caffeine has been reported to modulate immune function; however, the interaction with brief exhaustive exercise is not well characterized. It was hypothesized that caffeine would upregulate the cytokine response to intense exercise. Seven male students volunteered to participate in a randomized, double-blinded crossover study where they ingested either caffeine (6 mg/kg) or a maltodextrin placebo (6 mg/kg) 1 h prior to a cycling exercise. The exercise protocol started at 100 W and the intensity was increased by 50 W every two minutes until exhaustion. Serum samples were collected pre-, post-, and 1-h post-exercise and analyzed for IL-4, IL-10, and TGF-<jats:italic>β</jats:italic>1. Caffeine ingestion increased time to exhaustion (<jats:italic>P</jats:italic> = 0.005; Effect Size [ES] = 1.33), IL-4 (<jats:italic>P</jats:italic> = 0.004; ES = 2.34), IL-10 (<jats:italic>P</jats:italic> = 0.047; ES = 0.41 ± 0.57), and TGF-<jats:italic>β</jats:italic>1 (<jats:italic>P</jats:italic> = 0.013; ES = 0.76). The accentuated response of the cytokines may have important ramifications due to their potent anti-inflammatory and immunoregulatory properties. Specifically, the 6 mg/kg caffeine dose not only improved exercise performance but the cytokine data is indicative of an upregulated inflammatory response and an enhancement of the anti-inflammatory benefits of exercise.

text: Caffeine Modifies the Immune and Anti-inflammatory Responses to Short Incremental Cycling Exercise Until Exhaustion in Humans: A Pilot Study Exercise has well-documented effects on immune function with both positive and negative sequelae dependent on intensity, volume, and duration. The immunosuppressive effects of exercise are mediated, in part, by the complex interaction of cytokines, catecholamines, and nutrition. Caffeine has been reported to modulate immune function; however, the interaction with brief exhaustive exercise is not well characterized. It was hypothesized that caffeine would upregulate the cytokine response to intense exercise. Seven male students volunteered to participate in a randomized, double-blinded crossover study where they ingested either caffeine (6 mg/kg) or a maltodextrin placebo (6 mg/kg) 1 h prior to a cycling exercise. The exercise protocol started at 100 W and the intensity was increased by 50 W every two minutes until exhaustion. Serum samples were collected pre-, post-, and 1-h post-exercise and analyzed for IL-4, IL-10, and TGF-<jats:italic>β</jats:italic>1. Caffeine ingestion increased time to exhaustion (<jats:italic>P</jats:italic> = 0.005; Effect Size [ES] = 1.33), IL-4 (<jats:italic>P</jats:italic> = 0.004; ES = 2.34), IL-10 (<jats:italic>P</jats:italic> = 0.047; ES = 0.41 ± 0.57), and TGF-<jats:italic>β</jats:italic>1 (<jats:italic>P</jats:italic> = 0.013; ES = 0.76). The accentuated response of the cytokines may have important ramifications due to their potent anti-inflammatory and immunoregulatory properties. Specifically, the 6 mg/kg caffeine dose not only improved exercise performance but the cytokine data is indicative of an upregulated inflammatory response and an enhancement of the anti-inflammatory benefits of exercise.

year: 2023-03-07

title: Social media and the evolution of vaccine preferences during the COVID-19 pandemic: Discrete choice experiment

authors: Maris, R

subjects: COVID-19

abstract: Vaccine information and misinformation are spread through social media in ways that may vary by platform. Understanding the role social media plays in shaping vaccine preferences is crucial for policymakers and researchers.


          
          
            Objective


            This study aims to test whether social media use is associated with changes in vaccine preferences during the COVID-19 pandemic in New Zealand, and whether trust in sources of information has a moderating role.


          
          
            Methods


            Our data consist of a balanced panel of 257 web-based respondents in New Zealand in August 2020, October-November 2020, and March-April 2021. We use a novel approach with stated choice panel data to study transitions between different vaccine preference groups. We analyze the associations between these transitions and social media use. We classify respondents as resistant (never chose a vaccine), hesitant (chose a vaccine between 1 and 5 times), and provaccine (chose a vaccine 6 out of 6 times) in each wave of data.


          
          
            Results


            We found a positive or neutral association between social media use and vaccine uptake. Facebook, Twitter (pre-2022), and TikTok users who are provaccine are less likely to become hesitant or resistant. Facebook and Instagram users who are hesitant are more likely to become pro. Some social media platforms may have a more positive association with vaccine uptake preferences for those who do not trust the government.


          
          
            Conclusions


            The paper contributes to the wider literature, which shows social media can be associated with reinforcing both pro and antivaccination sentiment, and these results depend on where individuals get their information from and their trust in such sources.

text: Social media and the evolution of vaccine preferences during the COVID-19 pandemic: Discrete choice experiment Vaccine information and misinformation are spread through social media in ways that may vary by platform. Understanding the role social media plays in shaping vaccine preferences is crucial for policymakers and researchers.


          
          
            Objective


            This study aims to test whether social media use is associated with changes in vaccine preferences during the COVID-19 pandemic in New Zealand, and whether trust in sources of information has a moderating role.


          
          
            Methods


            Our data consist of a balanced panel of 257 web-based respondents in New Zealand in August 2020, October-November 2020, and March-April 2021. We use a novel approach with stated choice panel data to study transitions between different vaccine preference groups. We analyze the associations between these transitions and social media use. We classify respondents as resistant (never chose a vaccine), hesitant (chose a vaccine between 1 and 5 times), and provaccine (chose a vaccine 6 out of 6 times) in each wave of data.


          
          
            Results


            We found a positive or neutral association between social media use and vaccine uptake. Facebook, Twitter (pre-2022), and TikTok users who are provaccine are less likely to become hesitant or resistant. Facebook and Instagram users who are hesitant are more likely to become pro. Some social media platforms may have a more positive association with vaccine uptake preferences for those who do not trust the government.


          
          
            Conclusions


            The paper contributes to the wider literature, which shows social media can be associated with reinforcing both pro and antivaccination sentiment, and these results depend on where individuals get their information from and their trust in such sources.

year: 2025

title: Two Decades After Siaan Nathan’s (1999) Study: Revisiting the Responsiveness of Professional Clinical Psychology Programmes

authors: Chan, Joanna

abstract: Clinical psychology training programmes in Aotearoa New Zealand are predominantly monocultural and centred on perspectives from Western Europe and North America. Several initiatives have sought to address the monocultural dominance of Western psychology in training programmes, with limited sustainability. We surveyed clinical psychology programme directors (N=6) to assess the progress of programmes towards meeting Te Tiriti o Waitangi obligations across five key domains (Māori representation across programme staff and students, advisory group, admissions process and programme content). Promisingly, progress regarding the inclusion of Māori-focused content and faculty representation was identified. However, all directors reported that the increase in Māori student representation was slow, with half (n=3) reporting the number of tauira Māori applicants to programmes was an ongoing concern. The limited progress towards ensuring increased Māori representation was thought to reflect system constraints. The findings highlight the pressing need for clinical psychology training to fulfil Te Tiriti o Waitangi obligations to support tino rangatiratanga for Māori that leads to transformative change. Notably, equity for Māori was identified as a priority through the provision of sufficient and sustainable resourcing for kaupapa Māori psychologies.

text: Two Decades After Siaan Nathan’s (1999) Study: Revisiting the Responsiveness of Professional Clinical Psychology Programmes Clinical psychology training programmes in Aotearoa New Zealand are predominantly monocultural and centred on perspectives from Western Europe and North America. Several initiatives have sought to address the monocultural dominance of Western psychology in training programmes, with limited sustainability. We surveyed clinical psychology programme directors (N=6) to assess the progress of programmes towards meeting Te Tiriti o Waitangi obligations across five key domains (Māori representation across programme staff and students, advisory group, admissions process and programme content). Promisingly, progress regarding the inclusion of Māori-focused content and faculty representation was identified. However, all directors reported that the increase in Māori student representation was slow, with half (n=3) reporting the number of tauira Māori applicants to programmes was an ongoing concern. The limited progress towards ensuring increased Māori representation was thought to reflect system constraints. The findings highlight the pressing need for clinical psychology training to fulfil Te Tiriti o Waitangi obligations to support tino rangatiratanga for Māori that leads to transformative change. Notably, equity for Māori was identified as a priority through the provision of sufficient and sustainable resourcing for kaupapa Māori psychologies.

year: 2025