The effects of ginger supplementation on markers of inflammatory and oxidative stress: A systematic review and meta‐analysis of clinical trials

The present systematic review and meta‐analysis was conducted to investigate the effects of ginger supplementation on markers of inflammatory and oxidative stress. PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and Web of Science were systematically searched to identify relevant clinical trials evaluating the effects of ginger on serum CRP (C‐reactive protein), TNF‐α (tumor necrosis factor‐alpha), IL‐6 (interleukin‐6), PGE2 (prostaglandin E2), TAC (total antioxidant capacity), and MDA (malondialdehyde) from inception up to September 2019. Mean difference and 95% confidence intervals were pooled using a random‐effects model. Potential publication bias was assessed using visual inspection of funnel plot and Egger's weighted regression tests. After excluding irrelevant records, 20 full‐text articles that included 25 separate studies were included to the meta‐analysis. Pooled results of this study indicated a statistically significant effect of ginger on serum CRP, TNF‐α, IL‐6, TAC, and MDA levels following ginger supplementation in compared to the controls. Also, the effects of ginger on serum PGE2 was marginally significant. Moreover, the high heterogeneity was disappeared in subgroup analysis performed by age, duration, dosage, and quality. This current analysis indicates that ginger supplementation has a significant effects on serum inflammatory and oxidative stress markers.     

Effects of the 11+ and Harmoknee Warm-up Programs on Physical Performance Measures in Professional Soccer Players

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of the 11+ and HarmoKnee warm-up programs on performance measures in professional soccer players. Thirty-six male professional soccer players (age: 18.9 ± 1.4 years) were divided into 3 groups, the 11+, HarmoKnee and control group (n = 12 per group). The experimental groups performed the programs 3 times per week for 2 months (24 sessions), whereas the control group only performed their regular soccer training. The performance tests carried out were: 10m speed tests with and without a ball, 20m single sprint, vertical jump, Wall-Volley and Illinois agility tests. The 11+ group demonstrated significant increases from pre-to-post time points in the vertical jump (3.7%), Wall- Volley (5.4%) and Illinois agility tests (1.7%), while the HarmoKnee group showed a significant increase in Wall-Volley test, with a 5.2% increase. The repeated measures analysis revealed differences between the groups (large effect size) in the 11+ and HarmoKnee groups, compared to the control group, in 10m speed tests with and without a ball, 20m single sprint and Illinois agility tests (p < 0.05). Thus 8-weeks performing the 11+ warm-up program can enhance jump height, agility and soccer skill while the HarmoKnee program generally only improves soccer skill in young professional male soccer players.

Key Points

• The 11+ improves performance by means of Illinois agility, vertical jump and Wall-Volley tests whereas HarmoKnee improves Wall-Volley test. Incorporating 11+ as a part of the warm-up program by the young teams would be beneficial in agility, leg power and soccer skill respectively.
• Further modification of both programs may be required to fully realize the players'' speed performance potential.
• Data from this research can be helpful for soccer trainers in choosing programs to enhance performances in young male professional soccer players.

Key words: Performance, vertical jump, Illinois agility test, sprint, Wall-Volley test     

Electrochemical potential noise analysis of Cu–BTA system using wavelet transformation

Electrochemical potential noise analysis was used to investigate corrosion behavior of copper electrodes in presence of 0.001, 0.005, 0.01 and 0.02 M benzotriazole (BTA) inhibitor. Energy distribution of the potential noise was obtained from wavelet transformation using the 4th order Daubechies pattern. Two lowest frequencies were added-up and fitted to the impulse response of the first order circuit to achieve the time-constant vs. concentration (T–C) diagram. T–C diagram can be used either as a conventional diagram of inhibition efficiency or a tool for evaluation of the surface film dielectric constant. The assumptions made in this treatment were confirmed by EIS method.     

The prevalence of obesity and its related risk factor in the north of iran in 2006

Background: The main objective of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of the obesity and the related risk factors in the north of Iran. Methods: This was a population-based cross-sectional study that enrolled 2495 subjects (1247 males and 1248 females) using stratified cluster sampling. Interviewers recorded the data using a multidimensional questionnaire including anthropometric indexes. Body mass index equal to or greater than 25 was considered as overweight and that of 30 and 40 as obese and pathologic obese respectively. SPSS 16.0 software was used for statistical data analysis. Results: Mean age of the subjects was 39.2 [95% CI: 38.6, 39.8] yr. Mean body mass index was 25.3 [95% CI: 25.0, 25.6] kg/m(2) for men and 27.5 [95% CI: 27.2, 27.9] kg/m2 for women. The prevalence rates of overweight, obesity and pathologic obesity were 29.9% (745/2495), 22.5% (561/2495) and 1.8% (44/2495) respectively. The prevalence of obesity was higher in urban residents than rural ones, 27.3% versus 18.9% respectively (P<0.001). The prevalence rates of obesity and pathologic obesity were much higher in women than men were, 30.3% versus 15.4% and 3.0% versus 0.6% respectively (P=0.001). The odds ratio estimate was 1.68 [95% CI: 1.40, 2.02] for urban area compared to rural area; 2.60 [95% CI: 2.14, 3.15] for females compared to males; 5.95 [95% CI: 3.54, 9.99] for married people compared to single people; 1.89 [95% CI: 1.44, 2.84] for age group of 55-65 years compared to age group of 15-24 years; 1.76 [95% CI: 1.17, 2.64] for illiterate people compared to those who had academic education; 1.98 [95% CI: 1.13, 2.49] for poor people compared to people with high economic level. Conclusion: The prevalence of obesity and overweight is very high in the north of Iran, hence is a signal of serious health problem, and should be the focus of special attention.     

Transesophageal echocardiographic determinants of embolism in nonrheumatic atrial fibrillation

The purpose of the study was to determine the relation of transesophageal echocardiographic findings to symptoms of systemic embolism in patients with nonrheumatic atrial fibrillation. Transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography were used to study 107 patients with atrial fibrillation including 49 patients without embolic complications and 58 patients who had suffered from previous cerebral or peripheral embolism. A multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that left atrial thrombi (odds ratio 9.0, 95% CI 2.4–33.6, p < 0.005) and the presence of dense left atrial spontaneous contrast (odds ratio 8.4, 95% CI 1.3–53.1, p < 0.05) were independently related to embolic symptoms. Intensive left atrial spontaneous contrast was associated with an increased left atrial diameter (odds ratio 2.0, 95% CI 1.1–3.6, p < 0.05), the presence of chronic atrial fibrillation (odds ratio 6.9, 95% CI 1.6–29.8, p < 0.01) and aortic atherosclerosis (odds ratio 2.6, 95% CI 1.2–5.5, p < 0.05). It was further negatively correlated to mitral regurgitation (odds ratio 0.4, 95% CI 0.2–0.9, p < 0.05). In conclusion, dense spontaneous echo contrast and left atrial thrombi are associated to thromboembolic complications in patients with nonrheumatic atrial fibrillation. Classifying of spontaneous contrast seems to be useful when estimating the thromboembolic risk in atrial fibrillation.     

Fe3O4@nano-cellulose/Cu(ii): a bio-based and magnetically recoverable nano-catalyst for the synthesis of 4H-pyrimido[2,1-b]benzothiazole derivatives

Fe₃O₄@nano-cellulose/Cu(ii) as a green bio-based magnetic catalyst was prepared through in situ co-precipitation of Fe²⁺ and Fe³⁺ ions in an aqueous suspension of nano-cellulose. The mentioned magnetically heterogeneous catalyst was characterized by FT-IR, XRD, VSM, FESEM, TEM, XRF, EDS and TGA. In this research, the synthesis of 4H-pyrimido[2,1-b]benzothiazole derivatives was developed via a three component reaction of aromatic aldehyde, 2-aminobenzothiazole and ethyl acetoacetate using Fe₃O₄@nano-cellulose/Cu(ii) under solvent-free condition at 80 °C. Some advantages of this protocol are good yields, environmentally benign, easy work-up and moderate reusability of the catalyst. The product structures were confirmed by FT-IR, ¹H NMR, and ¹³C NMR spectra.

Fe₃O₄@nano-cellulose/Cu(ii) as a green bio-based magnetic catalyst are prepared, characterized and applied for synthesis of 4H-pyrimido[2,1-b]benzothiazoles with good to excellent yields.     

The Effect of 2 Different Exercise Programs on Pain Intensity and Muscle Dimensions in Patients With Chronic Low Back Pain: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Objectives

The purpose of this study was to compare the effect of 2 exercise programs combined with electrotherapy on pain intensity and lumbar stabilizer muscles dimensions in patients with nonspecific chronic low back pain.