Cecilia M Kitic

University of Queensland | UQ

Granulysin is a cytolytic granule protein released by natural killer cells and activated cytotoxic T lymphocytes. The influence of exercise training on circulating granulysin concentration is unknown, as is the relationship between granulysin concentration, natural killer cell number and natural killer cell cytotoxicity. We examined changes in plas...

The idea that microbes induce disease has steered medical research toward the discovery of antibacterial products for the prevention and treatment of microbial infections. The twentieth century saw increasing dependency on antimicrobials as mainline therapy accentuating the notion that bacterial interactions with humans were to be avoided or desira...

Increasing temperature and exercise disrupt tight junctions of the gastrointestinal tract although the contribution of environmental temperature to intestinal damage when exercising is unknown. This study investigated the effect of 2 different environmental temperatures on intestinal damage when exercising at the same relative intensity. Twelve men...

This study investigated whether heat acclimation (HA) could improve rowing performance in temperate conditions in national-level rowers. Using a parallel-group design, eleven rowers (3 female, 8 male, age: 21±3 years, height: 182.3±6.8cm, mass: 79.2±9.0kg, V˙O2peak: 61.4±5.1ml·kg·min⁻¹) completed either a HA intervention (HEAT, n = 5) or acted as c...

This study investigated whether hot water immersion (HWI) could heat acclimate athletes and improve intermittent running performance and perception of in-game running ability, during a competitive Australian Rules Football (ARF) season. Fifteen male semi-professional ARF athletes (Mean (SD); age: 22 (3) years, height: 182.3 (6.5) cm, mass: 80.5 (5....

Brosnan, RJ, Watson, G, Stuart, W, Twentyman, C, Kitic, CM, and Schmidt, M. The validity, reliability, and agreement of GPS units-Can we compare research and applied data?. J Strength Cond Res XX(X): 000-000, 2021-This study's aim was to investigate the validity, within-brand interunit reliability, and between-brand agreement of movement indicators...

Strenuous exercise increases gastrointestinal damage, but the dose–response relationship is yet to be elucidated. It is also commonly believed that running causes greater gastrointestinal damage than cycling. Two randomised, crossover studies aimed to 1) quantify gastrointestinal damage with increasing exercise intensity, and 2) determine if runnin...

Exercise is associated with a reduction in splanchnic blood flow that leads to the disruption of intestinal epithelium integrity, contributing to exercise-induced gastrointestinal syndrome. Strategies that promote intestinal blood flow during exercise may reduce intestinal damage, which may be advantageous for subsequent recovery and performance. T...

Context: Time of day has been shown to impact athletic performance, with improved performance observed in the late afternoon-early evening. Diurnal variations in physiological factors may contribute to variations in pacing selection; however, research investigating time-of-day influence on pacing is limited. Purpose: To investigate the influence of...

This study aimed to investigate the differences in the interface pressure applied by sports and medical compression socks and assess the pressure gradient profile. Sixty (30 male, 30 female) national representative athletes were fitted with both medical grade and sports compression socks in a counterbalanced order. Interface pressure was assessed u...

Ultra-endurance athletes accumulate an energy deficit throughout their events and those competing in self-sufficient multi-stage races are particularly vulnerable due to load carriage considerations. Whilst urinary ketones have previously been noted in ultra-endurance exercise and attributed to insufficient carbohydrate (CHO) availability, not all...

Purpose The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of an ultra-marathon on heart rate variability (HRV) and psychometric indices in endurance runners. In addition, we aimed to determine the magnitude of change and subsequent recovery for 7 days following the race. Methods Recreationally trained runners (n = 13 (8M); age = 36.6 ± 7.6 years...

Introduction Controlled trials support the efficacy of exercise as a treatment modality for chronic conditions, yet effectiveness of real-world Exercise Physiology services is yet to be determined. This study will investigate the efficacy and cost-effectiveness of services provided by Accredited Exercise Physiologists (AEPs) for clients with type 2...

Whilst athletes are the epitome of health, venous thromboembolisms (VTE) including deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism have been demonstrated to occur in well-trained athletes. VTE is frequently misdiagnosed and poorly treated within this population, often resulting in career or life-threatening ramifications. Furthermore, VTE risk rises wi...

Too clot or not too clot? The influence of travel, marathon running and compression socks on blood clot risk Introduction: Prolonged air travel and exercise have individually been demonstrated to be associated with an increased risk of thrombosis (i.e. blood clots). When combined, acute coagulation activation occurs post-exercise. Compression garm...

While athletes are often considered the epitome of health due to their physique and lowered potential for metabolic and cardiovascular diseases, they may also be at risk for the onset and development of venous thromboembolism (VTE). In an attempt to achieve and remain competitive, athletes are frequently exposed to numerous athlete-specific risk fa...

Purpose: Compression socks are frequently used in the treatment and prevention of lower-limb pathologies; however, when combined with endurance-based exercise, the impact of compression socks on haemostatic activation remains unclear. Objectives: To investigate the effect of wearing compression socks on coagulation and fibrinolysis following a m...

Objectives: To assess the effect of wearing compression socks on immediate and subsequent 5 km running time trials, with particular attention to the influences on physiological, perceptual and performance-based parameters. Design: Counter-balanced cross-over experiment. Methods: Twelve male runners (mean ± SD 5 km run time 19:29 ± 1:18 min:s) each...

This poster presented research investigating if the time of day a short-duration high-intensity exercise bout is performed influences overall haemostatic activation. Accepted by EJSS 2018

The study aimed to determine the effects of mild exertional heat stress on intestinal injury, permeability, gastrointestinal symptoms, and systemic endotoxin and cytokine responses. Ten endurance runners completed 2 h of running at 60% V̇O2max in warm (WARM: 30°C) and temperate (TEMP: 22°C) ambient conditions. Rectal temperature (Tre) and gastroint...

PurposeThe study aimed to determine the effects of exertional-heat stress on gastrointestinal integrity, symptoms, systemic endotoxin and inflammatory responses; and assess the relationship between changes in body temperature and gastrointestinal perturbations. Methods Ten endurance runners completed 2 h running at 60% \(\dot {V}\)O2max in hot (HOT...

Exercise has been demonstrated to have considerable effects upon haemostasis, with activation dependent upon the duration and intensity of the exercise bout. In addition, markers of coagulation and fibrinolysis have been shown to possess circadian rhythms, peaking within the morning (0600–1200 h). Therefore, the time of day in which exercise is per...

en Linked Content This article is linked to Uno and Costa et al papers. To view these articles visit https://doi.org/10.1111/apt.14330 and https://doi.org/10.1111/apt.14157.

This study investiogated the influence of short-duration, high-intensity exercise on coagulation and fibrinolytic responses whilst additionally investigated if a time of day response was present within markers of haemostasis

This study investogated the influence of wearing compression socks on haemostatic markers throughout a marathon run.

Introduction: Gastrointestinal (GI) distress in endurance athletes is prevalent and detrimental to performance. Adverse GI symptomatology can be analogous with irritable bowel syndrome, where fermentable oligosaccharide, disaccharide, monosaccharide and polyols (FODMAP) reduction has demonstrated efficacy. This study investigated the effects of lo...

Exertional heat stress (EHS) disturbs the integrity of the gastrointestinal tract leading to endotoxaemia and cytokinaemia, which have symptomatic and health implications. This study aimed to determine the effects of carbohydrate and protein intake during EHS on gastrointestinal integrity, symptoms, and systemic responses. Eleven (male, n = 6; fema...

Background “Exercise‐induced gastrointestinal syndrome” refers to disturbances of gastrointestinal integrity and function that are common features of strenuous exercise. Aim To systematically review the literature to establish the impact of acute exercise on markers of gastrointestinal integrity and function in healthy populations and those with c...

The research aim of this study was to determine possible hormone predictors of physical performance in adolescent team sport athletes. Saliva samples were collected immediately prior to performance testing sessions from 114 state squad athletes (77 male, 37 female) participating in either Australian football, basketball, hockey, or netball. Partici...

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to assess the reliability of power output measurements of a Wahoo KICKR Power Trainer (KICKR) on two separate occasions, separated by fourteen months of regular use (~1 h per week). Methods: Using the KICKR to set power outputs, powers of 100-600W in increments of 50W were assessed at cadences of 80, 90 and...

Australian Rules football (ARF) is a physically demanding sport that can induce high levels of fatigue. Fatigue may be intensified during periods where multiple matches are played with limited recovery time. Combined carbohydrate and protein (CHO+PRO) intake during physical activity may provide performance and recovery benefits. The aim of this stu...

In this consensus statement on immunonutrition and exercise, a panel of knowledgeable contributors from across the globe provides a consensus of updated science, including the background, the aspects for which a consensus actually exists, the controversies and, when possible, suggested directions for future research.

Purpose: To investigate whether a five-day cycling training block in the heat (35°C) in Australian rules footballers was superior to exercising at the same relative intensity in cool conditions (15°C) for improving intermittent running performance in a cool environment (<18°C). Methods: Using a parallel-group design, 12 semi-professional footbal...

Background: Time of day has been shown to impact athletic performance with changes of up to 10% detected throughout the day. Physiological factors such as body temperature and hormonal responses display individual circadian rhythms and are believed to be associated with alterations in performance. These factors may also contribute to variations in...

Purpose: To determine the effect of wearing compression socks between repeated running bouts on perceptual, physiological and performance-based parameters. Methods: Twelve well-trained male runners (mean ± SD; 5km time 19:24 ± 1:19 mm:ss) recorded their perceptions on the efficacy of compression socks for recovery prior to completion of two expe...

Background With the advent of workplace health and wellbeing programs designed to address prolonged occupational sitting, tools to measure behaviour change within this environment should derive from empirical evidence. In this study we measured aspects of validity and reliability for the Occupational Sitting and Physical Activity Questionnaire that...

Introduction: Time of day has been shown to impact athletic performance with increases of 10% observed when competing between the hours of 1600 to 2000 h, or within an athlete’s circadian peak window [1]. Physiological factors such as body temperature and hormonal responses display individual circadian rhythms and are believed to be associated with...

Recent explosion in the prevalence of gluten-free athletes, exacerbated by unsubstantiated commercial health claims, has led to some professional athletes touting gluten-free diet as the secret to their success. Forty-one percent of athletes report adhering to a gluten-free diet (GFD), which is four-fold higher than the population-based clinical re...

We surveyed 910 athletes to assess behaviours towards self-selected food/ingredient avoidance to minimize gastrointestinal distress. Fifty-five percent eliminated at least 1 high fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides, and polyols (FODMAP) food/category, with up to 82.6% reporting symptom improvement. In athletes indicating th...

Athletes employ various dietary strategies in attempts to attenuate exercise-induced gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms to ensure optimal performance. This case-study outlines one of these GI-targeted approaches via the implementation of a short-term low FODMAP (Fermentable Oligosaccharides, Disaccharides, Monosaccharides and Polyols) diet, with the ai...

Introduction & Aims: With changes in cycling performance as small as 1% determining the difference between a finish on the podium and a finish within the peloton, the ability to accurately monitor training and competitive performances in trained cyclists is significantly important. Ergometers that replicate cycling are invaluable pieces of laborato...

Methods • On two separate occasions 14 months apart, power settings produced by the KICKR were compared to the power measured by a CALRIG in standard laboratory conditions (18º C and 40% RH). • Power outputs of 100-600 W (50 W increments) were controlled by the KICKR (in ergometer mode) at cadences of 80, 90 and 100 rpm controlled by the CALRIG. •...

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to assess the validity of power output settings of the Wahoo KICKR Power Trainer (KICKR) using a dynamic calibration rig (CALRIG) over a range of power outputs and cadences. Methods: Using the KICKR to set power outputs, powers of 100-999W were assessed at cadences (controlled by the CALRIG) of 80, 90, 100,...

The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the reliability of a laboratory-based 4 km cycling time trial using a Wahoo KICKR Power Trainer. Twelve trained male cyclists (age: 34.0 ± 6.5 years; height: 1.78 ± 0.62 m; training per week: 11.9 ± 2.6 hours) completed three 4 km time trials on the Wahoo KICKR Power Trainer, with each time trial sep...

Recent explosion in the prevalence of gluten-free athletes, exacerbated by unsubstantiated commercial health claims, has led to some professional athletes touting gluten-free diet as the secret to their success. Forty-one percent of athletes report adhering to a gluten-free diet (GFD), which is four-fold higher than the population-based clinical re...

Context: The reliable measurement of shoulder strength is important when assessing athletes involved in overhead activities. Swimmers' shoulders are subject to repetitive humeral elevation and consequently have a high risk of developing movement-control issues and pain. Shoulder-strength tests performed in positions of elevation assist with the de...

Green tea (Camellia sinensis) has anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory effects, which may be beneficial to athletes performing high-intensity exercise. This study investigated the effects of carbohydrate and green tea coingestion on sprint cycling performance and associated oxidative stress and immunoendocrine responses to exercise. In a crossover...

Implementation of gluten-free diets amongst non-celiac athletes has rapidly increased in recent years due to perceived ergogenic and health benefits. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of a gluten-free diet (GFD) on exercise performance, gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms, perceived well-being, intestinal injury, and inflammatory resp...

Issue addressed: Community-based lifestyle modification programs can be a valuable strategy to reduce risk factors for chronic disease. However, few government-funded programs report their results in the peer-reviewed literature. Our aim was to report on the effectiveness of the Healthy Eating Activity and Lifestyle (HEAL) program, a program funde...

Cardiovascular disease is the main cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with kidney disease. The effectiveness of exercise for cardiovascular disease that is accelerated by the presence of chronic kidney disease remains unknown. The present study utilized apolipoprotein E knockout mice with 5/6 nephrectomy as a model of combined kidney dise...

Abstract Bromelain, a mixture of proteases obtained from pineapples, has been demonstrated to reduce exercise-induced muscle damage and inflammation, enhancing recovery. This investigation aimed to establish if markers of muscle damage and testosterone were influenced by acute bromelain supplementation in competitive cyclists taking part in a six-d...

Abstract The purpose of this investigation was to measure the interface pressure exerted by lower body sports compression garments, in order to assess the effect of garment type, size and posture in athletes. Twelve national-level boxers were fitted with sports compression garments (tights and leggings), each in three different sizes (undersized, r...

Objective The independent prognostic significance of abnormally low systolic blood pressure (SBP) during exercise stress testing (LowExBP) across different clinical and exercise conditions is unknown. We sought by systematic review and meta-analysis to determine the association between cardiovascular/all-cause outcomes and LowExBP across different...

Background: Sedentary behavior is related to metabolic syndrome and might have implications for the long-term health of workers in a low activity environment. The primary aim of this pilot study was to determine activity levels of adults working at a University during work hours. A secondary aim was to determine the relationship between actual and...

Background/AimsInflammation and endothelial dysfunction contribute to cardiovascular disease, prevalent in CKD. Antioxidant supplements such as tocopherols may reduce inflammation and atherosclerosis. This study aimed to investigate the effect of tocopherol supplementation on vascular function, aortic plaque formation and inflammation in apolipopro...

Adherence to a gluten-free diet (GFD) for non-coeliac athletes (NCA) has become increasingly popular despite a paucity of supportive medical or ergogenic evidence. This study aimed to quantify the demographics of NCA and determine associated experiences, perceptions and sources of information related a GFD. Athletes (n=910, female=528, no gender se...