The Effects of Folic Acid Supplementation on Recurrence and Metabolic Status in Endometrial Hyperplasia: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial

Abstract: Background: Data on the effects of folic acid supplementation on clinical symptoms and metabolic profiles of patients with endometrial hyperplasia (EH) are limited. This investigation was performed to evaluate the effects of folic acid supplementation on clinical symptoms and metabolic status of patients with EH. Methods: This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was conducted among 60 women diagnosed with EH. Diagnosis of EH was made based on biopsy results. Participants were randomly allocated to 2 groups to take 5 mg/d folic acid supplements (n = 30) or placebo (n = 30) for 12 weeks. Results: After the 12-week intervention, folic acid supplementation significantly decreased fasting plasma glucose (β -3.99 mg/ dL; 95% CI, -7.39, -0.59; P = 0.02), serum insulin levels (β -2.82 µIU/mL; 95% CI, -4.86, -0.77; P = 0.008), homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance (β -0.68; 95% CI, -1.20, -0.17; P = 0.009), triglycerides (β -16.47 mg/dL; 95% CI, -28.72, -4.22; P = 0.009) and very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) cholesterol (β -3.29 mg/dL; 95% CI, -5.74, -0.84; P = 0.009), and significantly increased the quantitative insulin sensitivity check index (β 0.01; 95% CI, 0.004, 0.03; P = 0.01) compared with the placebo. Additionally, folic acid intake resulted in a significant reduction in serum high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) (β -0.36 mg/L; 95% CI, -0.52, -0.21; P < 0.001) compared with the placebo. Folic acid supplementation did not affect other metabolic parameters. Conclusion: In conclusion, we found that folic acid administration for 12 weeks to subjects with EH improved glycemic control, triglycerides, VLDL-cholesterol and hs-CRP levels, but did not influence recurrence and other metabolic profiles

An adaptive approach into the design of formative CAA systems in an instructor-centred paradigm

Instructionist model is an instructor-centred method of learning whose goal is to represent and transfer objective realities from instructors to the learners. A Computer-Assisted Assessment (CAA) system can be adaptive in such a way that the outcomes of an assessment can be used to determine further questions or information that the students need to address. This paper aims to discuss an adaptive solution in the design of formative CAA, focusing on an instructor-centred model of e-learning in order to address the problems of formative CAA. In this paper, a comprehensive framework for the design of an adaptive formative assessment is proposed and the first prototype of the system is explained in details. It is assumed the evaluation of data obtained from the test stage of the first system prototype can be used to establish appropriate guidelines into the user requirements of such systems

Application of computer-assisted-assessment (CAA) into the instructor-centred model of e-learning

Electronic learning is considered as an efficient mechanism in knowledge transfer. Traditional instruction, when defined as teacher-centred, hierarchically organized and individually assessed, is a pedagogical approach held in contempt by many in the educational community. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the application of instructor-centred paradigm when it is applied to formative Computer Assisted Assessment (CAA) systems and to identify those elements that exists in traditional instructionist model and can be applied in CAA. Formative assessment is used as a diagnostic tool for students and teachers to identify and improve areas of weakness (Williams, 2000). This paper describes parts of work in progress within the context of an instructor-centred model of e-learning. The main goal of this study is to investigate the issues concerned with applying an instructor-centred paradigm into an intelligent tutoring system in order to support learning and teaching objectives

The effect of zinc and vitamin E cosupplementation on metabolic status and its related gene expression in patients with gestational diabetes

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the effects of zinc and vitamin E cosupplementation on metabolic status and gene expression related to insulin and lipid metabolism in women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). Methods: Fifty-four women, in the age range of 18�40 years, diagnosed with GDM were recruited for this randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial. Subjects were randomly allocated into two intervention groups to either taking 233�mg/day Zinc Gluconate plus 400-IU/day vitamin E supplements or placebo (n�=�27 each group) for 6 weeks. Gene expression related to insulin and lipid metabolism was evaluated in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of women with GDM using RT-PCR method. Results: Participants who received zinc plus vitamin E supplements had significantly lower serum insulin levels (β�=��3.81; 95 CI, �5.90, �1.72; p�=�.001), homeostasis model of assessment-insulin resistance (β�=��0.96; 95 CI, �1.54, �0.38; p�=�.002), serum total-cholesterol (β�=��8.56; 95 CI, �16.69, �0.43; p�=�.03) and low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL)-cholesterol (β�=��8.72; 95 CI, �15.27, �2.16; p�=�.01), and higher quantitative insulin sensitivity check index (β�=�0.01; 95 CI, 0.005, 0.02; p�=�.007) compared with the placebo. Moreover, zinc and vitamin E cosupplementation upregulated gene expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPAR-γ; p�=�.03) and low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR; p�=�.04) compared with the placebo. Though, zinc and vitamin E combination did not affect other metabolic parameters. Conclusions: Overall, zinc and vitamin E cosupplementation for 6 weeks in women with GDM significantly improved insulin metabolism, lipid profile, and the gene expression levels of PPAR-γ and LDLR. © 2018 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Grou

Levels and health risk assessments of particulate matters (PM 2.5 and PM 10 ) in indoor/outdoor air of waterpipe cafés in Tehran, Iran

To determine the concentration of particulate matters (PM 2.5 and PM 10 ), 36 samples were collected from indoor/outdoor air of hookah cafés (HS), cigarette cafés (CS), both hookah and cigarette (HCS), and no-smoking building (NS) in Tehran City from December 2017 to March 2018. The mean ± SD of PM 10 concentration in the indoor air of the cafés in terms of HS, CS, HCS, and NS sites has been 702.35, 220.20, 1156.60, and 60.12 μg/m 3 , while for PM 2.5 , the values have been 271.92, 111.80, 619.10, and 22.25 μg/m 3 , respectively. It was also found that the PM concentration inside the cafés was higher during weekend session (with a higher number of active smokers), than during the weekday sessions. Moreover, the PM levels in the indoor air of the cafés were considerably higher than those of the outdoors (p < 0.05). Based on path analysis, the number of �active smokers� had the highest influence on production of PM inside the cafés, followed by the tobacco type. Finally, the mean excess lifetime cancer risk (ELCR) for PM 2.5 in the indoor air of cafés was observed in the range of 0.64 � 10 �5 �14.98 � 10 �5 . Also, the mean of hazard quotient (HQ) for PM2.5 and PM 10 was calculated in range of 0.82�18.4 and 0.16�3.28, respectively, which corresponds to an unacceptably high risk for human health. The PM levels in the indoor air of smoking cafés in Tehran are significantly high, such that it can cause serious risks for the health of both the customers and personnel. Thus, it is necessary that suitable controlling strategies be adopted for this public health threat. © 2019, Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature

Phenolic Compounds and Antioxidant Activity of Dried Peel of Iranian Pomegranate

Background: Literature review shows that there are not sufficient data about polyphenolic compounds of peel of Iranian pomegranate. So, this work was mainlyundertaken to determine phenolic compounds and antioxidant activity of dried peel of Iranian pomegranate. Methods: Pomegranate fruits were obtained from mature fruits grown in Saveh, Iran and the Pomegranate Peel (PP) were dried with three different methods. Powders of PP were extracted with four different solvents, using a soxhlet apparatus. The compounds of PP extracts were analyzed by High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC). Then, yield percentage and Radical Scavenging Activity (RSA) were determined. Statistical analysis was performed using the SAS 9.1 software. Results: Different ranges of tannic acids, testosterone and α-estradiol, estriol, estrone, cyanidin 3-glucoside, cyanidin3,5-diglucoside, pelargonidin 3-glucoside, pelargonidin 3,5diglucoside, and delphinidin 3-glucoside were identified. Both the highest yield percentage (18.820±0.661) as well as the highest RSA percentage (63.862±0.376) were obtained from the ethanol showing significant (p0.05) relationship with yield of extraction and also antioxidant activity of the PP extracts. Conclusion: HPLC analysis identified some various phenolic compounds in Iranian PP extract showing considerable antioxidant activities. Although drying method showed no relation with yield of extraction and also antioxidant activity of the PP extracts, but type of solvent was effective on yield of extraction and type of extracted compounds of PP

Promoted chondrogenesis of hMCSs with controlled release of TGF-β3 via microfluidics synthesized alginate nanogels

The field of cartilage tissue engineering has been evolved in the last decade and a myriad of scaffolding biomaterials and bioactive agents have been proposed. Controlled release of growth factors encapsulated in the polymeric nanomaterials has been of interest notably for the repair of damaged articular cartilage. Here, we proposed an on-chip hydrodynamic flow focusing microfluidic approach for synthesis of alginate nanogels loaded with the transforming growth factor beta 3 (TGF-β3) through an ionic gelation method in order to achieve precise release profile of these bioactive agents during chondrogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). Alginate nanogels with adjustable sizes were synthesized by fine-tuning the flow rate ratio (FRR) in the microfluidic device consisting of cross-junction microchannels. The result of present study showed that the proposed approach can be a promising tool to synthesize bioactive -loaded polymeric nanogels for applications in drug delivery and tissue engineering

Socio-Economic Status and Prevalence of Self-Reported Osteoporosis in Tehran: Results from a Large Population-Based Cross-Sectional Study (Urban HEART-2)

Osteoporosis is a widespread disease among older peoples. The aim of this study is to estimate the prevalence of self-reported osteoporosis and assessing its association with socio-economic status. A population-based cross-sectional study was conducted in Tehran, Iran in 2011. Participants were 45,990 individuals aged above 20 years from 22 urban districts. Osteoporosis was measured by self-administrative questionnaire. Wealth index was constructed using principal component analysis based on household assets. Chi-square test, chi square test for trend, and crude odds ratio were used to assess associations in univariate analysis. Multiple logistic regression utilized to estimate adjusted associations between self-reported osteoporosis and socio-economic status. The overall estimated prevalence of self-reported osteoporosis was 4 (95 CI 3.88�4.13), 1.19 in men, and 6.84 in women (P < 0.001). The prevalence increased considerably as age increased (P for trend < 0.001). In multivariable analysis, education and wealth status were negative, and smoking was positively associated with the prevalence of self-reported osteoporosis. No association was found between participants� skill levels and Townsend deprivation index with the prevalence of self-reported osteoporosis. The findings of the present study have improved understanding of the association between socioeconomic status and osteoporosis in the Iranian population. It is important to consider socioeconomic status in screening and prevention programs. © 2018 The New York Academy of Medicin

The effect of solution treatment time on the tensile deformation characteristics of naturally-aged A383 alloy die castings

A383 aluminum alloy high pressure die castings were solution treated at 490 °C for six durations ranging between 15 and 180 min, subsequently quenched in water and naturally aged for 4 days. The effect of solution treatment time on the evolution of microstructure and tensile properties were determined previously (G. Eisaabadi et al. Mater. Sci. Eng. A, 722, pp. 1–7, 2018.) In the current study, the tensile deformation characteristics of A383 alloy castings were determined by analyzing work hardening rate versus true stress in Kocks-Mecking plots. Results showed that (i) there was a sudden drop in work hardening rate immediately prior to fracture in all specimens, (ii) some specimens exhibited Portevin-Le Chatelier (PLC) effect, (iii) the stress where the PLC effect started increased with yield strength, (iv) the unitless Kocks-Mecking parameter, K. decreased with increasing solution treatment time, and there was a strong relationship between K and elongation (v) the main benefit of prolonged solution treatment of cast aluminum alloys is healing of structural defects, namely oxide bifilms. These results are discussed in detail in the paper

The effect of solution treatment time on the microstructure and ductility of naturally-aged A383 alloy die castings

A383 aluminum alloy high pressure die castings were solution treated at 490 °C for six duration ranging between 15 and 180 min, subsequently quenched in water and naturally aged for 4 days. The effects of solution treatment time on the evolution of microstructure and tensile properties were determined. As expected, Si particles became larger and rounder with increasing solution treatment time. In all cases, the size and aspect ratio of the Si particles followed the lognormal distribution. Moreover, the coarsening of Si particles during solution treatment was found to follow the Lifshitz –Slyozov-Wagner model. A new equation was developed for the evolution of the aspect ratio during solution treatment of Al-Si-Mg alloys. Analysis of tensile properties showed that elongation and quality index increased steadily with increasing Si particle size, a result that is in contrast with the widely accepted notion that large Si particles impairs the ductility of cast Al-Si-Mg alloys. The positive correlation between Si particle size and quality index was interpreted to be due to partial healing of oxide bifilms entrained in the castings