Recruitment Status Research Articles

Emerging Targets in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer.

Lung cancer is responsible for a high burden of disease globally. Over the last two decades, the discovery of targetable oncogenic genomic alterations has revolutionized the treatment landscape for early-stage and advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). New molecular drivers continue to emerge as promising therapeutic targets, including KRAS non-G12C, RAF/MEK, HER3, Nectin-4, folate receptor alpha, ITGB6, and PRMT5. In this review, we summarize the emerging molecular targets with a potential clinical impact in advanced NSCLC, elaborating on their clinical characteristics and specific mechanisms and molecular pathways for which targeted treatments are currently available. Additionally, we present an aggregate of ongoing clinical trials investigating the available treatment options targeting such alterations, in addition to their current recruitment status and preliminary efficacy data. These advancements may guide further research endeavors and inform future treatment strategies to improve the management of and transform outcomes for patients with advanced NSCLC.

Principal Features of Industry-Funded Trials that Posted Informed Consent Forms on ClinicalTrials.gov: a Cross-Sectional Analysis.

We aim to characterize industry-funded trials that have posted the informed consent forms (ICFs), and to assess whether the role played by industry as 'sponsor' or 'collaborator' could impact several relevant variables. A cross-sectional study wasconducted on ClinicalTrials.gov on all industry-funded trials registered on or before 25 February 2023. We registered types of intervention, current recruitment status, design, enrollment, and countries involved. For trials with special interest to potential participants and investigators and/or clinicians an analysis of the role played by industry as 'sponsor' or 'collaborator' was performed. Of 116,281 industry-funded trials registered, 741 (0.6%) had posted ICFs. Most of these trials were categorized as 'completed' (n = 408) or 'terminated' (n = 107). The review of a sample of 359 trials showed that most were on drugs and/or biologics (59%), were randomized (51%), conducted exclusively in the USA (72%), and had posted results (79%), protocols (92%), and statistical analysis plans (SAPs) (89%). Trials in which industry participated as 'collaborator' were significantly more likely to post ICFs when trials were in the 'active, not recruiting' phase (OR 4.70, 99.71% CI 1.59-13.9, p < 0.001) than industry-sponsored trials. This was also the case when assessing drugs/biologics (OR 2.64, 99.71% CI 1.25-5.58, p < 0.001). Conversely, companies acting as 'sponsors' were significantly more likely to post ICFs with trials assessing devices, radiation interventions and/or diagnostic tests (OR 0.37, 99.71% CI 0.17-0.79, p < 0.001) than when participating as 'collaborators'. While industry-funded trials rarely post ICFs, when they do, they are highly compliant with transparency requirements. Regulations and ethics codes should consider requiring posting of protocols, SAPs, and ICFs for all clinical trials, regardless the type of sponsor.

Characteristics, Progression, and Output of Randomized Platform Trials

Platform trials have become increasingly common, and evidence is needed to determine how this trial design is actually applied in current research practice. To determine the characteristics, progression, and output of randomized platform trials. In this systematic review of randomized platform trials, Medline, Embase, Scopus, trial registries, gray literature, and preprint servers were searched, and citation tracking was performed in July 2022. Investigators were contacted in February 2023 to confirm data accuracy and to provide updated information on the status of platform trial arms. Randomized platform trials were eligible if they explicitly planned to add or drop arms. Data were extracted in duplicate from protocols, publications, websites, and registry entries. For each platform trial, design features such as the use of a common control arm, use of nonconcurrent control data, statistical framework, adjustment for multiplicity, and use of additional adaptive design features were collected. Progression and output of each platform trial were determined by the recruitment status of individual arms, the number of arms added or dropped, and the availability of results for each intervention arm. The search identified 127 randomized platform trials with a total of 823 arms; most trials were conducted in the field of oncology (57 [44.9%]) and COVID-19 (45 [35.4%]). After a more than twofold increase in the initiation of new platform trials at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of platform trials has since declined. Platform trial features were often not reported (not reported: nonconcurrent control, 61 of 127 [48.0%]; multiplicity adjustment for arms, 98 of 127 [77.2%]; statistical framework, 37 of 127 [29.1%]). Adaptive design features were only used by half the studies (63 of 127 [49.6%]). Results were available for 65.2% of closed arms (230 of 353). Premature closure of platform trial arms due to recruitment problems was infrequent (5 of 353 [1.4%]). This systematic review found that platform trials were initiated most frequently during the COVID-19 pandemic and declined thereafter. The reporting of platform features and the availability of results were insufficient. Premature arm closure for poor recruitment was rare.

Analysis and Improvement Plan of University Students Employment and Recruitment Status

Analysis and Improvement Plan of University Students Employment and Recruitment Status

Biometry, Growth, and Recruitment Pattern of a Commercially Important Nereid polychaete, Namalycastis fauveli, from the East Coast of Bangladesh

Certain benthic polychaetes, such as species within the genus Namalycastis, are employed in the diet of gravid shrimps in aquaculture due to their amino acids and highly unsaturated fatty acid content, enhancing the quality of gravid shrimp. Despite its importance in the rapidly developing shrimp culture industry, the population parameters of this economically valuable species are unknown. Therefore, the present study examines the population parameters of Namalycastis fauveli to assess its occurrence, growth, recruitment, exploitation level, and stock status in Bangladesh. Monthly samplings of N. fauveli and environmental variables were collected from five sites of the Cox’s Bazar coast using a square-shaped mud corer with a 0.093 m2 (or 1.0 ft2) mouth opening from August 2020 to July 2021 to measure or estimate. Within the 8.0–30.0 cm depth range of the intertidal zone, polychaete samples were collected from the sediment. The results showed negative allometric growth (b &lt; 3), but there was a significant L–W relationship (p &lt; 0.05, r2 = 0.43 to 0.94). The estimated L∝, K, and ϕ were 22.05 cm, 0.99 year−1, and 2.69, respectively, while total mortality (Z) was 4.56 year−1. It was calculated that the fishing mortality and capture probability proportionally increased with the total length at a certain age. Recruitment mostly occurred in October and March, and temperature had a greater impact than salinity. The evaluated exploitation level (E = 0.57) indicated that the stock was overexploited. Thus, the above results provide some valuable information for shrimp farmers and stakeholders, as well as for policymakers in the move towards restoration, species conservation, and efficient management of N. fauveli natural stocks.

MalnutritiOn assessment with biOelectrical impedaNce analysis in gastRic cancer patIentS undergoing multimodaltrEatment (MOONRISE)-Study protocol for a single-arm multicenter cross-sectional longitudinal study.

European data suggests that over 30% of gastric cancer (GC) patients are diagnosed with sarcopenia before surgery, while unintentional weight loss occurs in approximately 30% of patients following gastrectomy. Preoperative sarcopenia significantly increases the risk of major postoperative complications, and preoperative body weight loss remains a superior predictor of outcome and an independent prognostic factor for overall survival (OS) in patients with GC. A standardized approach of nutritional risk screening of GC patients is yet to be established. Therefore, the MOONRISE study aims to prospectively analyze the changes in nutritional status and body composition at each stage of multimodal treatment among GC patients from five Western expert centers. Specifically, we seek to assess the association between nutritional status and body composition on tumor response following neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC). Secondary outcomes of the study are treatment toxicity, postoperative complications, quality of life (QoL), and OS. Patients with locally advanced gastric adenocarcinoma scheduled for multimodal treatment will be included in the study. Four consecutive nutritional status assessments will be performed throughout the treatment. The following study was registered in ClinicalTrials.gov (Identifier: NCT05723718) and will be conducted in accordance with the STROBE statement. The anticipated duration of the study is 12-24 months, depending on the recruitment status. Results of this study will reveal whether nutritional status and body composition assessment based on BIA will become a validated and objective tool to support clinical decisions in GC patients undergoing multimodal treatment.

Assessing the degree to which randomized controlled trials align with the core outcome set for osteoarthritis of knee and hip: A cross-sectional analysis

ObjectiveTo assess the degree of core outcome set alignment and identify issues with alignment to the 2019 COS among clinical trial registrations focused on knee and/or hip osteoarthritis (OA). MethodsOur search was performed on registered knee and hip OA randomized controlled trials (RCTs) available on ClinicalTrials.gov and WHO International Clinical Trials Registry Platform. The screening process considered trials registered between 8/2014 and 6/2023. We extracted data on general trial characteristics and the five trial endpoints detailed in the COS (pain, physical function, quality of life, patient global assessment, and adverse events), in a masked and duplicate manner. The frequencies of COS alignment were assessed over time prior to and after COS publication. ResultsOf the 10,718 RCTs screened, 481 met inclusion criteria. Most were phase 3 (368/481, 76.51%) and heavily university-funded (184/481, 38.25%). Despite the 2019 COS, no marked enhancement in overall alignment was noted. The outcome 'Pain' exhibited the highest degree of COS alignment (455/481, 94.59%), whereas 'adverse events' lagged behind (89/481, 18.50%). Additionally, trial factors such as 'Continent', ‘Funding Type’, and ‘Recruitment Status’ displayed no significant influence on COS alignment. ConclusionsDespite the acknowledged advantages of using COS in RCTs and the availability of an updated COS, the alignment to these outcomes remains notably low. Significant efforts are needed to encourage broader adoption in future studies on knee and hip OA, with the aim of improving research quality and patient care.

The Response Study: A French registry on pregnancy in women with MS and related disorders and their children up to 6 years-Protocol, recruitment status, and baseline characteristics.

Counseling on pregnancy is still challenging, particularly regarding the use of disease-modifying treatments (DMTs). We are lacking long-term outcomes in children exposed to DMTs. This study aimed to set up a French pregnancy registry for women with multiple sclerosis (MS) and related disorders nested within the Observatoire Français de la Sclérose en Plaques (OFSEP) cohort. Prospective, observational, multicentric, epidemiological study in France. Neurological visits are organized according to routine practice. Data are collected on the OFSEP minimal datasheet. Auto-questionnaires on pregnancy are completed by patients at Months 5-6 and 8 during pregnancy, and Months 3, 6, and 12 postpartum. A specific survey on analgesia is completed by anesthesiologists. Pediatric data are collected from the child's health book, where visits on Day 8, Month 9, and 24 are mandatory. Parents complete neurodevelopmental questionnaires at Year 1, Years 2 and 6. The RESPONSE study started in August 2019. On 7 April 2023, 515 women were included. Baseline demographics are presented. RESPONSE will provide rich information on the global management of pregnancy in France and prospective data on children until the age of 6 years, exposed or not to a DMT, including data on neurodevelopment that can be compared to the general population. EDMUS and ARSEP Foundation, Biogen, Roche.

Floristic Composition, Population Structure, and Recruitment Status of Plant Species: A Case Study of Farmer-Managed Natural Regeneration Practices in Arid and Semi-Arid Lands in Kenya

Floristic Composition, Population Structure, and Recruitment Status of Plant Species: A Case Study of Farmer-Managed Natural Regeneration Practices in Arid and Semi-Arid Lands in Kenya

Dementia with Lewy bodies Drug Therapies in Clinical Trials: 2022

AbstractBackgroundReviews of randomized clinical trials (RCTs) in Dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) are essential for informing ongoing research efforts of symptomatic therapies and potentially disease‐modifying therapies (DMTs).MethodsWe performed a Systematic Review of DLB drug development by examining 3 international registries: ClinicalTrials.gov, the European Union Drug Regulating Authorities Clinical Trials Database, and the International Clinical Trials Registry Platform, to identify drugs in trials in DLB. We analyzed recruitment status, the disease stage and diagnostic groups included in clinical trials, number of trials participants and treatment exposure, use of repurposed agents per clinical trial phase, description of outcome measures for primary endpoints, use of biomarkers for inclusion and/or outcome measures, sponsorship, and global distribution.ResultsWe found 25 agents in 40 trials assessing symptomatic treatments and disease modifying therapies for DLB: 7 Phase 3, 31 Phase 2, and 2 Phase 1 trials. We found an active pipeline for drug development in DLB, with most ongoing clinical trials in phase 2. We identified a recent trend towards including participants at the prodromal stages, although more than half of active clinical trials will enroll mild to moderate dementia patients. Additionally, repurposed agents are frequently tested representing 65% of clinical trials.ConclusionTo accelerate DLB drug development there is a need for more clinical trials, increased diagnosis at earlier stages of the disease, disease‐specific outcome measures and biomarkers, as well as augmenting global representation and including more diverse populations.

Characteristics of registered research in peritoneal dialysis: Past and present.

Recent national policy changes in the United States and the continued growth of peritoneal dialysis (PD) as a therapy for end-stage kidney disease has renewed interest in this modality. The objective of this study was to describe the current landscape of PD clinical trials to assess trends and gaps in clinical research. An advanced search was completed through ClinicalTrials.gov, yielding 248 studies. Descriptive statistics and Fisher exact tests were used for statistical analysis. Most studies were completed (197, 79.4%), did not indicate a phase (143, 57.7%), were academically sponsored (156, 62.9%), or conducted in Asia (88, 35.5%). There has been overall growth in PD clinical trials since 1995. The type of phase was related to study location (p = 0.008). The type of study intervention was related to study recruitment status, sponsor type, and primary outcome (p = 0.030, p &lt; 0.001, p &lt; 0.001, respectively). Despite growth in PD research worldwide, more studies are being conducted outside the U.S., and static investment in U.S. government-sponsored PD research risks not achieving the goal of increasing availability of home dialysis.

Cognitive Remediation in Bipolar (CRiB2): study protocol for a randomised controlled trial assessing efficacy and mechanisms of cognitive remediation therapy compared to treatment as usual

BackgroundA substantial proportion of people with bipolar disorder (BD) experience persistent cognitive difficulties associated with impairments in psychosocial functioning and a poorer disorder course. Emerging evidence suggests that cognitive remediation (CR), a psychological intervention with established efficacy in people with schizophrenia, can also benefit people with BD. Following a proof-of-concept trial showing that CR is feasible and potentially beneficial for people with BD, we are conducting an adequately powered trial in euthymic people with BD to 1) determine whether an individual, therapist-supported, computerised CR can reduce cognitive difficulties and improve functional outcomes; and 2) explore how CR exerts its effects.MethodsCRiB2 is a two-arm, assessor-blind, multi-site, randomised controlled trial (RCT) comparing CR to treatment-as-usual (TAU). Participants are people with a diagnosis of BD, aged between 18 and 65, with no neurological or current substance use disorder, and currently euthymic. 250 participants will be recruited through primary, secondary, tertiary care, and the community. Participants will be block-randomised (1:1 ratio, stratified by site) to continue with their usual care (TAU) or receive a 12-week course of therapy and usual care (CR + TAU). The intervention comprises one-on-one CR sessions with a therapist supplemented with independent cognitive training for 30–40 h in total. Outcomes will be assessed at 13- and 25-weeks post-randomisation. Efficacy will be examined by intention-to-treat analyses estimating between-group differences in primary (i.e., psychosocial functioning at week 25 measured with the Functional Assessment Short Test) and secondary outcomes (i.e., measures of cognition, mood, patient-defined goals, and quality of life). Global cognition, metacognitive skills, affect fluctuation, and salivary cortisol levels will be evaluated as putative mechanisms of CR through mediation models.DiscussionThis study will provide a robust evaluation of efficacy of CR in people with BD and examine the putative mechanisms by which this therapy works. The findings will contribute to determining the clinical utility of CR and potential mechanisms of action.Trial registrationCognitive Remediation in Bipolar 2 (CRiB2): ISRCTN registry: https://www.isrctn.com/ISRCTN10362331. Registered 04 May 2022. Overall trial status: Ongoing; Recruitment status: Recruiting.

Recruitment status and host-fish-limitation threats to endangered freshwater pearl mussel (Margaritifera laevis) in eastern Hokkaido, northern Japan

Recruitment status and host-fish-limitation threats to endangered freshwater pearl mussel (Margaritifera laevis) in eastern Hokkaido, northern Japan

Tumor Cell-Intrinsic PD-L1 Effects on Radiation-Induced Locoregional Antitumor Immunity

Targeting PD-L1 is a beneficial strategy to reinvigorate antitumor immunity, however variable response and resistance are challenging and suggest the need for multimodality approaches. Tumor cell-intrinsic PD-L1 signals also regulate non-canonical pathogenic pathways that may impact treatment resistance. Ionizing radiation (IR) can induce antitumor immunity and has demonstrated therapeutic synergy with immunotherapy in some cases, however tumor-driven immunologic mechanisms affecting clinical outcomes remain incompletely understood. In this study, we investigated the impact of tumor cell-intrinsic PD-L1 signals on IR-induced locoregional immune response and tumor control. We used orthotopic B16-F10 melanoma (WT-B16) and 4T1 triple negative breast cancer (WT-4T1) murine tumor models, as well as PD-L1 disabled variants (KO) generated by CRISPR/Cas9, implanted bilaterally. IR (10 Gy) was targeted at one tumor alone to evaluate both direct and indirect IR effects based on tumor PD-L1 status. We evaluated response by tumor volume (TV) measurements, flow cytometry of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) and tumor draining lymph nodes (TDLNs) in both irradiated and unirradiated compartments, and granzyme B (GZB) PET imaging to assess functional in vivo changes. Chemokine-based multiplex assays were used to assess cell lines receiving IR (4Gy) and ex vivo tumor lysates and serum. IR-induced local tumor control was not significantly affected based on tumor PD-L1 status, however deactivation of tumor cell PD-L1 enhanced IR-induced regional tumor control. Unirradiated WT tumors in mice harboring irradiated KO but not irradiated WT tumors demonstrated a significant mean reduction in TV with instances of complete distant tumor regression. PET imaging demonstrated a nearly 2-fold higher concentration of GZB in KO versus WT tumors, in line with known locally immunosuppressive effects of tumor PD-L1. Remarkably, GZB levels were >1.5-fold higher in unirradiated WT tumors in mice harboring an irradiated KO versus WT tumor, which correlated with a 50% increase in PD-1+CD8+ T cells. Higher levels of CD62+CD44- naïve CD4+ (4-fold) and CD8+ (2-fold) memory T cells were seen in TDLNs of irradiated KO versus WT tumors. Cytokine levels positively correlated with immune recruitment and activation status, as CXCL10, CCL2 and CCL5 were significantly upregulated in PD-L1 KO versus WT tumors cells. Results from this study demonstrate cell-intrinsic PD-L1 inhibits IR-induced locoregional immune activation and frequency of regional tumor control, with clinical implications including therapeutic targeting of tumor cell-intrinsic PD-L1 signals to enhance IR-induced immunogenicity, utility of IR based on tumor PD-L1 status particularly in the metastatic setting, and immunotherapy combinations. Future studies investigating mechanisms of resistance to IR-induced immune activation to enhance responsiveness are warranted.

Morts Pour la France: A database of French fatalities of the Great War

This article describes the construction and content of the Morts pour la France database. This database contains individual-level data on the universe of the 1.3 million French fatalities of the Great War who were officially recognized as war victims. It provides information on each soldier’s first and last names, dates of birth and death, circumstances of death, recruitment status, military rank and unit, and locations of birth and recruitment. We further provide datasets of military death rates at the level of 87 départements and 35 thousand municipalities along with relevant shapefiles and discuss potential applications of this database.

Association between nutrient intake related to the one-carbon metabolism and colorectal cancer risk: a case–control study in the Basque Country

PurposeEpidemiologic evidence for the association between methyl-donor nutrient intake and colorectal cancer (CRC) risk remains inconclusive. We aimed to examine the relationship between intake of vitamins of the B group, methionine, total choline and betaine and CRC risk, in a population from the CRC screening programme in the Basque Country.DesignThis observational study included 308 patients with CRC and 308 age- and sex-matched subjects as controls. During recruitment, dietary, anthropometric, lifestyle, socioeconomic, demographic, and health status information was collected. Conditional logistic regression was used to estimate the odds ratios (ORs) for CRC risk.ResultsThe adjusted ORs for CRC risk decreased with higher intakes of choline and betaine (p < 0.05). After further adjustment for folate, high intake of choline and betaine remained associated with a reduced CRC risk (adjusted model for choline, OR third tertile vs first tertile = 0.45, 95% CI 0.26–0.80, p = 0.006; for betaine, OR third tertile vs first tertile = 0.27, 95% CI 0.16–0.47, p < 0.001). Regarding the other nutrients, our findings indicated a non-significant decrease in CRC risk with the high level of intake.ConclusionsOur data suggest that choline and betaine intake influence CRC risk in the studied population.

Cholera vaccine clinical trials: A cross-sectional analysis of clinical trials registries

ABSTRACT Cholera has been one of the world’s biggest public health challenges for centuries. The presence of this disease brings into focus the social determinants of health in different parts of the world. Research and development efforts to find safe and effective Cholera vaccines are critical to decreasing the disease burden from Vibrio cholerae. We searched the International Clinical Trials Registry Platform (ICTRP) and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) on 5 March 2023. We included all registered randomized trials studying Cholera vaccines. We used Microsoft Excel to perform a descriptive analysis of the source registry, geographic distribution, recruitment status, phase of trials, and type of trial sponsor and presented the findings using tables and graphs. The search of ICTRP yielded 84 trials, and 315 trials were identified from CENTRAL. Seventy-four trials were included in the analysis. Most of the trials (66%, n = 49) were registered in ClinicalTrials.gov, followed by Clinical Trials Registry – India (9%, n = 7) and the Cuban Public Registry of Clinical Trials (8%, n = 6). The geographical distribution of the trials indicates that 48% (n = 36) of the trials were conducted in Asia, followed by 23% (n = 17) in North America, 15% (n = 11) in Africa, and 11% (n = 8) in Europe. Results further indicate that 81% (n = 60) of trials have a recruitment status “Not recruiting,” followed by 12% (n = 9) with a status “recruiting.” With the recent surge in Cholera cases and the limited supply of Cholera vaccines, research indicates the need for Cholera vaccine trials to ensure the availability of vaccines, especially in populations affected.

Unpublished completed obstetric randomized clinical trials registered at ClinicalTrials.gov: how big is this issue?

A portion of obstetrical randomized clinical trials (RCTs) registered at ClinicalTrials.gov are not published in peer-reviewed journals. To compare the characteristics of completed published versus unpublished randomized clinical trials in obstetrics registered on ClinicalTrials.gov, and to identify barriers to publication. This cross-sectional study queried ClinicalTrials.gov for all completed obstetrical randomized clinical trials registered between January 1, 2009, and December 31, 2018. For each completed obstetrical RCT, we abstracted the following registration fields from ClinicalTrials.gov: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier; recruitment status; trial start and completion dates; study results; type of intervention; study phase; enrollment size; funder type; location; and facilities. Calculated variables included time to completion. In May 2021, we used PubMed and Google Scholar to identify the publication status of completed trials, and we compared the characteristics of published vs. unpublished RCTs. The corresponding authors' email addresses for the unpublished studies were collected from ClinicalTrials.gov and departmental websites. Between September 2021- March 2022, authors of these completed but unpublished obstetrical RCTs were contacted and invited to respond to a survey examining perceptions of barriers to publication, responses of which were collected and presented as counts and percentages. Of the 647 obstetrical randomized clinical trials marked as completed on ClinicalTrials.gov, 378 (58%) were published, and 269 (42%) were unpublished. Unpublished trials were more likely to have an enrollment size of <50 participants (14.5% published, 25.3% unpublished; P < 0.001), and less likely to be conducted at multiple sites (25.4% vs. 17.5%; p < 0.02). The main barriers to publication reported in the survey by authors whose trials were not published included: lack of time (30%), change in employment or completion of training (25%), and results that were not of statistical significance (15%). Among the obstetrical randomized clinical trials registered and marked as completed on ClinicalTrials.gov, over 40% were unpublished. Unpublished trials were more likely to be smaller studies, conducted by researchers who reported experiencing a lack of time as the most common barrier to study publication.

Poster 368: Effects of Early Sports Specialization on NCAA Basketball Players: Injury, Career Outcomes, and Gender Differences

Objectives: There has been a trend towards single-sport specialization at increasingly younger ages amongst youth athletes. Early specialization has been associated with increased injury rates and reduced career longevity in professional basketball players. However, the effects of early specialization on injury and longevity in college basketball have not been studied. Further, the effects on other important career markers such as recruitment and scholarship attainment are not well understood. The purpose of this study is to determine whether associations exist between early specialization and injury risk, recruitment, scholarship attainment, and career longevity in college basketball athletes. Methods: This study represents a sub-analysis of basketball players from a larger study which surveyed former student athletes from multiple National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) institutions. Former student-athletes from three large Division I institutions as well as other collaborating Division I- III institutions who graduated between 1960 and 2018 were eligible for inclusion in the study. Current basketball athletes were also eligible for participation if they had participated in at least one season of basketball. Athletes were surveyed regarding demographics, age of specialization, time-loss injury history, scholarship attainment, recruitment status, and longevity of college basketball career. Early specialization was defined as narrowing participation to a single sport (basketball) before age 15. For injury history, athletes were specifically queried for sports-related injuries that resulted in greater than 30 days out of sport or were season-ending. Chi-square and Fisher’s exact test were performed to identify significant differences. Results: One hundred and eight basketball players completed the survey, including 6 current athletes and 102 former athletes. There were 54 males and 54 females. Fourteen athletes were classified as early specializers (before age 15) and 94 athletes were classified as late specializers (age 15 and older). There were no significant differences between early and late specializers in terms of rate of time-loss injury (14.3% vs. 31.5%; p = 0.23), rate of surgery for a sports injury (14.3% vs. 18.5%; p = 1.0), or mean college basketball career length (3.21 years vs. 3.09 years; p = 0.4) (Table 1). There was also no significant difference in scholarship attainment (69.2% vs. 66.3%; p = 1.0) or recruitment status (71.4% vs. 71.2%; p = 0.76) (Table 1). Between females and males, there was no significant difference in rate of early specialization (9.3% vs. 14.8%, p = 0.38). There were no significant differences in rates of injury (30.2% vs. 30.2%; p = 1.0), surgery (23.0% vs 13.0%; p = 0.17), scholarship attainment (72.2% vs. 62.8%; p=0.3), or recruitment (72.2% vs. 79.3%; p=0.4) (Table 2). Females on average had a longer collegiate career length than males (3.95 years vs. 2.89 years; p=0.03) (Table 2). Conclusions: Early specializing college basketball players did not experience increased rates of injury, surgery, or decreased collegiate basketball career longevity. Early specializers were also not more likely to be recruited or to receive a scholarship. These findings suggest that early specialization may not be a risk factor for injury, need for surgery, or attrition in the collegiate basketball population. These findings also suggest that early specialization may not be necessary for recruitment or scholarship attainment in college basketball. Further prospective study evaluating all injury types, including overuse injuries, is warranted to better understand the effects of early sport specialization in this population. [Table: see text][Table: see text]

Implications of forage quality for population recovery of bighorn sheep following a pneumonia epizootic

AbstractAnimals are inherently tied to nutritional resources of the landscape. Added cost of coping with environmental stressors, like disease, can exacerbate nutritional limitations. Pneumonia, a respiratory disease caused primarily by bacterial pathogens, has caused massive declines in populations of bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis) throughout western North America. Nevertheless, population dynamics following a pneumonia epizootic vary across populations, which has spawned the idea that ecological conditions may play a role in regulating populations after a die‐off. We used 2 bighorn sheep populations with contrasting dynamics to test the hypothesis that habitat quality on summer range affects population dynamics following a pneumonia epizootic. We sampled over 700 vegetation transects and quantified nutrient content of 2,093 forage samples of 127 genera on summer ranges to compare habitat quality (macro‐ and micronutrients in forage, biomass, plant cover, and species diversity) between the ranges. The population exhibiting growth, higher recruitment, and better nutritional condition had over double the herbaceous biomass in their core foraging areas in summer than the population exhibiting decline, lower recruitment, and poorer nutritional status. The population experiencing growth also had more macro‐ and micronutrients available on their summer range as a function of higher biomass along with higher species diversity. Although winter range often is considered the nutritional bottleneck for ungulates, we demonstrate that the conditions of summer range can have consequences for population dynamics. Habitat quality should be incorporated when considering management objectives and population recovery of large herbivores in the presence of disease; interactions between habitat quality and population dynamics still apply and likely are amplified with additional stressors like disease.