Evaluation of Genetic Variation of Common Fig (Ficus carica L.) in West of Iran

This study describes morphological diversity and relationship of 14 cultivars and 133 wild fig accessions from central Zagros Mountains located in the west of Iran, based on 58 morphological characters. Among all characters, secondary drooping branches, number of bark tubers, shape of central lobe, length of central lobe/length of lamina, little lateral lobes, shape of leaf without lobed, fruit shape, fruit weight, fruit neck length, fruit skin over color and fruit pulp cavity showed higher coefficient of variation (CV) indicating a high level of variation. The existence of high CV in the evaluated characters indicates that there is a high diversity among the studied cultivars and accessions. One of the important wild figs that called 'Ghir-vahshi' was found in 'Baba-Heyran 2' location showing very diverse characters. Cluster analysis divided the 147 genotypes into five main clusters. The results of principal components analysis showed that the first three components explained 33.22% of total variation in data. According to the factor analysis, eighteen factors justified about 75.62% of the total variation found among genotypes. The factor analysis showed that the most of discriminator variables were depend on leaf, fruit size and growth form. The obtained results revealed that central Zagros Mountains in the west of Iran is a rich source of fig genetic diversity which could be used for fig breeding programs

Effects of administration of omega-3 fatty acids with or without vitamin E supplementation on adiponectin gene expression in PBMCs and serum adiponectin and adipocyte fatty acid-binding protein levels in male patients with CAD

Objective: Adiponectin is a unique anti-atherogenic adipocytokine. Regulation of adiponectin secretion is dysfunctional in cardiovascular diseases. The current trial study assessed the effects of omega-3 fatty acids with or without vitamin E on adiponectin gene expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells and serum adiponectin and adipocyte fatty acid-binding protein (A-FABP; also called ap2 and FABP4) levels in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). Methods: This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial included 67 male patients with CAD. First of the four group of participants received 4 g/day omega-3 fatty acids plus 400 IU/day vitamin E (OE), second group 4 g/day omega-3 fatty acids plus vitamin E placebo (OP), or both omega-3 fatty acid and vitamin E placebos (PP) for 8 weeks. Adiponectin gene expression and serum adiponectin and FABP4 levels were evaluated. Results: The combination of omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin E in patients with CAD affected their serum adiponectin and FABP4 levels and the adiponectin/FABP4 ratio significantly. In the OP group, serum adiponectin levels did not change significantly. Consumption of omega-3 fatty acids with and without vitamin E had no significant effect on adiponectin gene expression. Conclusion: Omega-3 fatty acids with or without vitamin E improve adiponectin levels in patients, without any significant changes in adiponectin gene expression. This nutritional intervention may prevent complications in patients with CAD because of increased adiponectin levels. (Anatol J Cardiol 2015; 15: 981-9

Acute sleep deprivation increases portion size and affects food choice in young men

SummaryAcute sleep loss increases food intake in adults. However, little is known about the influence of acute sleep loss on portion size choice, and whether this depends on both hunger state and the type of food (snack or meal item) offered to an individual. The aim of the current study was to compare portion size choice after a night of sleep and a period of nocturnal wakefulness (a condition experienced by night-shift workers, e.g. physicians and nurses). Sixteen men (age: 23±0.9 years, BMI: 23.6±0.6kg/m2) participated in a randomized within-subject design with two conditions, 8-h of sleep and total sleep deprivation (TSD). In the morning following sleep interventions, portion size, comprising meal and snack items, was measured using a computer-based task, in both fasted and sated state. In addition, hunger as well as plasma levels of ghrelin were measured. In the morning after TSD, subjects had increased plasma ghrelin levels (13%, p=0.04), and chose larger portions (14%, p=0.02), irrespective of the type of food, as compared to the sleep condition. Self-reported hunger was also enhanced (p<0.01). Following breakfast, sleep-deprived subjects chose larger portions of snacks (16%, p=0.02), whereas the selection of meal items did not differ between the sleep interventions (6%, p=0.13). Our results suggest that overeating in the morning after sleep loss is driven by both homeostatic and hedonic factors. Further, they show that portion size choice after sleep loss depend on both an individual's hunger status, and the type of food offered

Essential Oil of Two Iranian Horehound Species: Marrubium propinquum and Marrubium parviflorum

Background: Two species of genus Marrubium belonging to the family Lamiaceae, were studied for their volatile components. Methods: The essential oils were extracted from aerial parts of the plants through hydrodistillation using a Clevenger apparatus. Later, CG and CG-MS analysis were applied to assess the chemical components of the essential oils. Results: Analysis of the M. propinquum essential oil resulted in the identification of 22 components, representing 79.6% of the total essential oil that principally contained oleic acid (19%), β-caryophyllene (7.4%) and m-tolualdehyde (5.2%). In the case of M. parviflorum, 20 components were identified, representing 83% of the M. parviflorum essential oil, among them oleic acid (11.8%), α-pinene (10.2%) and germacrene D (9.8%) were the main compounds. Conclusion: Regarding the results of this study in both essential oils after the non terpenoids, sesquiterpene hydrocarbons possessed the uppermost portion of the oils. We found some similarities and differences between M. propinquum and M. parviflorum essential oils and also in comparison with other species of genus Marrubium which might be due to different parameters such as agrotechnical factors

Effect of multidimensional physiotherapy on non-specific chronic low back pain: a randomized controlled trial

Abstract Background Many people with non-specific chronic low back pain (NSCLBP) do not recover with current conventional management. Systematic reviews show multidimensional treatment improves pain better than usual active interventions. It is unclear whether multidimensional physiotherapy improves pain better than usual physiotherapy. This study determines the effectiveness of this treatment to reduce pain and disability and improve quality of life, pain cognitions, and electroencephalographic pattern in individuals with NSCLBP. Methods 70 eligible participants aged 18 to 50 years with NSCLBP were randomized into either the experimental group (multidimensional physiotherapy) or the active control group (usual physiotherapy). Pain intensity was measured as the primary outcome. Disability, quality of life, pain Catastrophizing, kinesiophobia, fear Avoidance Beliefs, active lumbar range of motion, and brain function were measured as secondary outcomes. The outcomes were measured at pre-treatment, post-treatment, 10, and 22 weeks. Data were analyzed using intention-to-treat approaches. Results There were 17 men and 18 women in the experimental group (mean [SD] age, 34.57 [6.98] years) and 18 men and 17 women in the active control group (mean [SD] age, 35.94 [7.51] years). Multidimensional physiotherapy was not more effective than usual physiotherapy at reducing pain intensity at the end of treatment. At the 10 weeks and 22 weeks follow-up, there were statistically significant differences between multidimensional physiotherapy and usual physiotherapy (mean difference at 10 weeks, -1.54; 95% CI, -2.59 to -0.49 and mean difference at 22 weeks, -2.20; 95% CI, − 3.25 to − 1.15). The standardized mean difference and their 95% confidence intervals (Cohen’s d) revealed a large effect of pain at 22 weeks: (Cohen’s d, -0.89; 95% CI (-1.38 to-0.39)). There were no statistically significant differences in secondary outcomes. Conclusions In this randomized controlled trial, multidimensional physiotherapy resulted in statistically and clinically significant improvements in pain compared to usual physiotherapy in individuals with NSCLBP at 10 and 22 weeks. Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04270422; IRCT IRCT20140810018754N11

Omega-3 Fatty Acid Modifies Serum HSP 70 and hs-CRP in Patients With Cardiovascular Disease: Randomized Double‐Blind Placebo-Controlled Trial

All stages of initiation and progression of atherosclerosis are associated with inflammatory responses. Heat shock proteins (HSP-70) can play an important role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. Serum High-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) is significantly associated with the severity of coronary arteriosclerosis. Omega 3 fatty acids contribute to the primary and secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease (CVD). The purpose of the current study was to assess the effect of omega-3 on serum HSP-70 and HsCRP in patients with atherosclerosis. The current study was a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind parallel-group clinical trial, involving 42 male patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). The volunteers were randomly allocated into two groups to receive 4 g omega-3 (containing 720 mg EPA plus 480 mg DHA) supplements (n=21) or placebo (n=21) per day for 8 weeks. Fasting blood samples were taken at the beginning and end of the trial to quantify serum levels of HSP-70 and hsCRP concentrations. The result of the present study revealed that no significant difference was observed between two groups before and after the intervention in terms of serum levels of Cholesterol, Triglyceride, FBS, serum Insulin and homeostasis model of assessment-insulin resistance (HOMA-IR). The difference of HSP-70 between two groups was statistically significant (P=0.04). There was no significant difference between two groups for hsCRP. The study showed that taking omega-3 fatty acids can ameliorate serum HSP-70 as inflammatory parameters. The results suggest more investigation to assess the pathway omega-3 leads to lower incidence of CVD