The effect of saffron supplementation on blood glucose and lipid profile: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Background: Despite several studies about the effects of saffron supplementation on serum concentrations of lipid and glucose profiles, no systematic study had summarized the findings. Therefore, we conduct current study to systematically summarize findings from studies about the effect of saffron supplementation on serum levels of glucose and lipid profiles and to do a meta-analysis, if possible. Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted for clinical trials published in PubMed, SCOPUS, EMBASE, Cochrane's Library and ISI Web of Science from the beginning to 22 February 2019. All randomized clinical trials on the effect of saffron supplementation on serum concentrations of lipid and glucose profiles were included. Results: In overall, six studies were included in the current study. Pooled analysis of six studies for the effect of saffron on serum TG, TC and FBG concentrations and of five studies for LDL and HDL, showed a significant reduction in TG (WMD: -8.93 mg/dl; 95 CI: -16.49 to -1.37, P = 0.02) and TC levels (WMD: -5.72 mg/dl; 95 CI: -11.10 to -0.34, P = 0.03), a significant increase in HDL levels (WMD: 2.7 mg/dl; 95 CI: 0.22 to 5.18, P = 0.03), and no significant effect on LDL (WMD: -2.30 mg/dl; 95 CI: -11.73 to 7.13, P = 0.63) and FBG levels (WMD: -5.30 mg/dl; 95 CI: -14.20 to 3.60, P = 0.51). Conclusion: We found a significant reduction in serum concentrations of TC and TG and a significant increase in serum levels of HDL following supplementation with saffron. Saffron supplementation had no significant influence on serum FPG and LDL concentrations. © 2019 Elsevier Lt

The effect of berberine supplementation on obesity parameters, inflammation and liver function enzymes: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Introduction: So far, no study has summarized the findings on the effects of berberine intake on anthropometric parameters, C-reactive protein (CRP) and liver enzymes. This systematic review and meta-analysis were done based upon randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to analyze the effects of berberine on anthropometric parameters, CRP and liver enzymes. Method: Following databases were searched for eligible studies published from inception to 30 July 2019: MEDLINE, EMBASE, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, PubMed and Google scholar. Necessary data were extracted. Data were pooled by the inverse variance method and expressed as mean difference with 95 Confidence Intervals (95 CI). Result: 12 studies were included. Berberine treatment moderately but significantly decreased body weight (WMD = �2.07 kg, 95 CI -3.09, �1.05, P < 0.001), body mass index (BMI) (WMD = �0.47 kg/m2, 95 CI -0.70, �0.23, P < 0.001), waist circumference (WC) (WMD = �1.08 cm, 95 CI -1.97, �0.19, P = 0.018) and C-reactive protein (CRP) concentrations (WMD = �0.42 mg/L, 95 CI -0.82, �0.03, P = 0.034). However, berberine intake did not affect liver enzymes, including alanine aminotransferase (ALT) (WMD = �1.66 I/U, 95 CI -3.98, 0.65, P = 0.160) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) (WMD = �0.87 I/U, 95 CI -2.56, 0.82, P = 0.311). Conclusion: This meta-analysis found a significant reduction of body weight, BMI, WC and CRP levels associated with berberine intake which may have played an indirect role in improved clinical symptoms in diseases with metabolic disorders. Berberine administration had no significant effect on ALT and AST levels. © 2020 European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolis

Phytoremediation of nitroglycerin in smokeless powders

The reported study evaluated the feasibility of rhizosphereenhanced phytoremediation in the removal of nitroglycerin (NG), as applied in commercial smokeless powder (SP), from soil. Double base smokeless powder was applied to soil mesocosms at rates of 0, 1, 5 and 10% (w/w). The mesocosms were seeded with oats (Avena sativa) or planted with live sedge plants (Carex vulpinoidea). Composted biosolids (20% w/w) were used as a soil treatment. Mesocosms were sampled at 7, 14, 30, and 60 days after initial planting. Determination of residual soil NG was performed using gas chromatography with an electron capture detector. Both plant species were capable of modest NG uptake (146.0 and 87.5mg·kg-1 for sedge and oat, respectively at the 10% SP rate). Only modest quantities of NG removal were accounted for by abiotic processes such as soil sorption. Soil bacterial numbers remained relatively constant regardless of rate of SP application. Microbial activity in the plant rhizosphere was concluded to be the major contributor to NG solubilization and decomposition. Addition of composted biosolids to soil imparted a positive effect in NG decomposition and/or removal from soil. Additional study is needed to determine long-term decomposition of smokeless powder and subsequent NG reactions in soil

Through-plane and in-plane thermal diffusivity determination of graphene nanoplatelets by photothermal beam deflection spectrometry

In this work, in-plane and through-plane thermal diffusivities and conductivities of a freestanding sheet of graphene nanoplatelets are determined using photothermal beam deflection spectrometry. Two experimental methods were employed in order to observe the effect of load pressures on the thermal diffusivity and conductivity of the materials. The in-plane thermal diffusivity was determined by the use of a slope method supported by a new theoretical model, whereas the through-plane thermal diffusivity was determined by a frequency scan method in which the obtained data were processed with a specifically developed least-squares data processing algorithm. On the basis of the determined values, the in-plane and through-plane thermal conductivities and their dependences on the values of thermal diffusivity were found. The results show a significant difference in the character of thermal parameter dependence between the two methods. In the case of the in-plane configuration of the experimental setup, the thermal conductivity decreases with the increase in thermal diffusivity, whereas with the through-plane variant, the thermal conductivity increases with an increase in thermal diffusivity for the whole range of the loading pressure used. This behavior is due to the dependence of heat propagation on changes introduced in the graphene nano-platelets structure by compression