A Collaboration-Mediated Exploration of Nonnative L2 Teachers’ Cognition of Language Teaching Methodology

The present study sought to investigate nonnative L2 teachers’ cognition of teaching methodology based on their collaborative talks. Participants were 12 nonnative EFL teachers categorized into three collaborative discussion groups by their teaching experience. Collaborative discussions were aimed at exploring the participants’ cognition of language teaching methodology, including the criteria for the evaluation of teaching methodology, classroom activities, teaching language skills and sub-skills, teachers’ roles, and learners’ roles in general and communicative language teaching (CLT) in particular. Analysis of the data indicated that the teachers participating in each discussion group held largely similar cognition about most of the issues in teaching methodology and CLT. In addition, there were similarities between the High-experience and Mid-experience groups regarding their cognition of the advantages of CLT, teachers’ roles, and learners’ roles. The results of this study can help teacher educators design more effective teacher education courses and in-service programs to enhance EFL teachers’ cognition of teaching methodology

Prevalence and Covariates of Metabolic Syndrome among Elderly People Living in Nursing Homes, Semnan, Iran

Backgrounds: The study aimed to determine the prevalence and covariates of metabolic syndrome among the elderly residents in nursing homes in Semnan Province, Iran. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted among aged participants institutionalized in nursing home in 2018. The study participants’ characteristics were assessed using a demographic assessment form. Moreover, the Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA) questionnaire, Mentally Assessing Nutritional Assessment (MANA), Katz's Index of Independence in Activity of Daily Living, Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and well-being were applied to assess the participants’ physical and mental status. In addition, Para-clinical and biochemical tests for diagnosis of metabolic syndrome used based on the Adult Treatment Panel (ATPIII). Results: In this study, of 129 eligible participants, 27.7% were suffering from metabolic syndrome. The prevalence of MS in male and female subjects were 26.6% and 28%, respectively.  The results of the study indicated a significant relationship between metabolic syndrome and nutritional statues (Pvalue=0.004), mental status (Pvalue=0.001) and ADL (Pvalue=0.003). Moreover, the results showed no significant relationship between well-being and metabolic syndrome. Of all variables of the study, significant relationship between smoking habit, lack of daily activity, abdominal obesity, high systolic and blood pressure, high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) HDL-cholesterol, Waist Circumference (WC), systole blood pressure (SBP) were found to be statistically significant. Conclusions: The findings of the study indicated the prevalence of metabolic syndrome among institutionalized elderlies is high. It is recommended to implement preventive and therapeutic measures in this vulnerable group of elderly people. Key words: Metabolic Syndrome, Elderly People, Nursing Homes, Prevalenc

Effect of conjugated linoleic acid, vitamin E and their combination on lipid profiles and blood pressure of Iranian adults with active rheumatoid arthritis

The aim of this study was to assess the impact of conjugated linoleic acids (CLAs), vitamin E, and combination of these nutrients on serum lipid profiles and blood pressure (BP) in patients with active rheumatoid arthritis (RA). In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, 87 patients with active RA were divided into four groups receiving one of the following daily supplements for three months: Group C: CLAs 2.5 g equivalent to 2 g mixture of cis 9-trans 11 and trans 10-cis12 CLAs in a rate of 50/50; Group E: vitamin E: 400 mg; Group CE: CLAs and vitamin E at above doses: Group P: placebo. After supplementation, SBP levels decreased significantly in the group C in comparison with groups E and P and mean arterial pressure reduced significantly in groups C and CE. There weren’t significant differences in the levels of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), triglycerides, cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), LDL/HDL, cholesterol/HDL, fasting blood sugar, C-reactive protein (CRP), arylestrase activity, platelet count and body mass index between groups. CRP dropped nonsignificantly in groups P, C, E and CE (19%, 24%, 55%, and 39%, respectively). Erythrocytes sedimentation rate levels decreased in groups C, E and CE (P ≤ 0.05, P ≤ 0.05, P ≤ 0.001, respectively). It is concluded that supplementation of CLAs decreased BP and vitamin E decreased CRP. Therefore cosupplementation of CLAs and vitamin E might be profitable for heart disease prevention in RA patients

The effects of resveratrol on the expression of VEGF, TGF-β, and MMP-9 in endometrial stromal cells of women with endometriosis

Resveratrol is a phytochemical with anti-angiogenic, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties. The present study has evaluated the effect of resveratrol on the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) as factors related to endometriosis progression. Thirteen eutopic (EuESCs) and 8 ectopic (EESCs) endometrial stromal cells from women with endometriosis and 11 control endometrial stromal cells (CESCs) were treated with resveratrol (100 µM) for 6, 24 and 48 h. The gene and protein expression levels of VEGF, TGF-β, and MMP-9 were measured using real-time PCR and ELISA methods, respectively. Results showed that the basal gene and protein expression of VEGF and MMP-9 were higher in EESCs compared to EuESCs and CESCs (P < 0.01 to < 0.001 and P < 0.05 to < 0.01 respectively). Also, resveratrol treatment decreased the gene and protein expression of VEGF and MMP-9 in EuESCs, EESCs and CESCs (P < 0.05 to < 0.01 and P < 0.05 to < 0.01 respectively) and gene and protein expression of TGF-β in EESCs and EuESCs (P < 0.05 to < 0.01). The effect of resveratrol in reduction of VEGF gene expression was statistically more noticeable in EESCs compared to EuESCs and CESCs (P < 0.05). According to the findings, resveratrol may ameliorate endometriosis progression through reducing the expression of VEGF, TGF-β, and MMP-9 in endometrial stromal cells (ESCs). © 2021, The Author(s)

Ellagic acid effects on disease severity, levels of cytokines and T-bet, RORγt, and GATA3 genes expression in multiple sclerosis patients: a multicentral-triple blind randomized clinical trial

BackgroundMultiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic autoimmune disease. Ellagic acid is a natural polyphenol and affects the fate of neurons through its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. The present study aimed to investigate ellagic acid effects on disease severity, the expression of involved genes in the pathogenesis of MS, and the levels of related cytokines.MethodsThe present study was a triple-blind clinical trial. Eligible patients were randomly assigned to two groups: Ellagic acid (25 subjects) for 12 weeks, receiving 180 mg of Ellagic acid (Axenic, Australia) and the control group (25 subjects) receiving a placebo, before the main meals. Before and after the study, the data including general information, foods intake, physical activity, anthropometric data, expanded disability status scale (EDSS), general health questionnaire (GHQ) and pain rating index (PRI), fatigue severity scale (FSS) were assessed, as well as serum levels of interferon-gamma (IFNγ), interleukin-17 (IL-17), interleukin-4 (IL-4) and transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β), nitric-oxide (NO) using enzyme-linked immunoassay (ELISA) method and expression of T-box transcription factor (Tbet), GATA Binding Protein 3 (GATA3), retinoic acid-related orphan receptor-γt (RORγt) and Glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) genes were determined using Real-Time Quantitative Reverse Transcription PCR (RT-qPCR) method.FindingsEllagic acid supplementation led to a reduction in IFNγ, IL-17, NO and increased IL-4 in the ellagic acid group, however in the placebo group no such changes were observed (−24.52 ± 3.79 vs. -0.05 ± 0.02, p &lt; 0.01; −5.37 ± 0.92 vs. 2.03 ± 1.03, p &lt; 0.01; −18.03 ± 1.02 vs. -0.06 ± 0.05, p &lt; 0.01, 14.69 ± 0.47 vs. -0.09 ± 0.14, p &lt; 0.01, respectively). Ellagic acid supplementation had no effect on TGF-β in any of the study groups (p &gt; 0.05). Also, the Tbet and RORγt genes expression decreased, and the GATA3 gene expression in the group receiving ellagic acid compared to control group significantly increased (0.52 ± 0.29 vs. 1.51 ± 0.18, p &lt; 0.01, 0.49 ± 0.18 vs. 1.38 ± 0.14, p &lt; 0.01, 1.71 ± 0.39 vs. 0.27 ± 0.10, p &lt; 0.01). Also, ellagic acid supplementation led to significant decrease in EDSS, FSS and GHQ scores (p &lt; 0.05), and no significant changes observed in PRI score (p &gt; 0.05).ConclusionEllagic acid supplementation can improve the health status of MS patients by reduction of the inflammatory cytokines and Tbet and RORγt gene expression, and increment of anti-inflammatory cytokines and GATA3 gene expression.Clinical trial registration: (https://en.irct.ir/trial/53020), IRCT20120415009472N22

The effect of ginger (Zingiber Officinale) as an ancient medicinal plant on improving blood lipids

Ginger (Zingiber Officinale Roscoe) is a plant that is used as a popular spice in foods, desserts and drinks all around the world. This plant is native to Asia and has been used since ancient times in the prevention and treatment of many diseases. To date, several properties of ginger such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anticoagulation activities have been studied and the effect of the plant to reduce pain and improve nausea and vomiting has been established. Among human and animal studies that have been carried out in recent years on the properties of ginger, some literature aimed to investigate the effect of this plant on blood lipids. In this review, we consider those studies and their possible enzymatic and molecular mechanisms regarding the effect of ginger on lipid profiles. © 201

CLA Has a Useful Effect on Bone Markers in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis is a systemic, chronic disease which may increase the risk of osteoporosis. This study was carried out in order to examine the effect of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) on bone markers in rheumatoid arthritis disease which is the most common autoimmune disease. The present study is a randomized double-blind clinical trial. Subjects included 52 patients with active rheumatoid arthritis who were divided into two groups. Group I received standard treatment plus 2 daily 1.25 g capsules (Containing about 2 g of 9-cis 11-trans isomer and 10-cis 12-trans isomer in ratio of 50 �50 CLA in glycerinated form), Group II received standard treatment plus 2 Placebo 1.25 g capsules containing sunflower oil with high oleic acid. Telopeptides C, osteocalcin, and MMP3 were analyzed by ELISA method, PGE2 was done by competitive enzymatic immunoassay method, and IGF-1 was analyzed by the IRMA method based on the sandwich method and ALK-P of bone. Before and after the intervention, the questionnaires about general information, nutrition assessment and medical history were filled out by the subjects. Nutritional assessment was done by a 24-h record questionnaire for the three-day diet. The results were analyzed using SPSS software (version 18). Findings: There was no significant difference between the groups in enzyme activity of ALK-P of bone, PGE2 and MMP3 variables. However, differences between the two groups in terms of activity of telopeptides C, Osteocalcin, and IGF1 were significant (P &lt; 0.05). CLA has a potentially beneficial effect on bone markers in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Therefore, in order to study the effect of CLA on bone health in patients with RA and all patients with autoimmune and bone diseases more studies with longer duration and evaluation of bone mass density are required. © 2016, AOCS