Background: Grape seed extract (GSE) is a natural supplement known for its various health benefits, including anti-inflammatory effect. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of GSE supplementation on inflammatory markers, neuropeptide Y, anthropometric measurements, and appetite in obese or overweight individuals. Methods and materials:A randomized, double-blind clinical trial was performed on 40 obese or overweight subjects who were randomly assigned to receive GSE (300 mg/day) or placebo for a period of 12-weeks. Both groups were under a restricted calorie diet (RCD)(~250 kcal lower than the estimated energy requirement).Anthropometric measurements, biochemical biomarkers and dietary intakes were determined during the study period. Results:The reductions of body weight, body mass index, waist circumference, and waist to hip ratio were significantly higher in the GSE group compared to the placebo group (P = 0.045, 0.033, 0.029, and 0.021, respectively). Lower levels of neuropeptide Y, tumor necrosis factor alpha, and high sensitivity C-reactive protein were observed in the GSE group in comparison with the placebo group (P = 0.041, 0.001, and 0.034, respectively).Conclusion: GSE supplement with a RCD has favorable effects in reducing anthropometric measurements and inflammatory markers in obese or overweight individuals, and may play an effective role in the treatment of obesity.

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BackgroundThe present study was designed to determine whether zinc supplementation would increase the effects of restricted calorie diet (RCD) on obesity.Methods and materialsA randomized, double-blind clinical trial was performed on 40 obese subjects who were randomly assigned to receive zinc supplements (30 mg/day) or placebo for a period of 15-weeks. Both groups were under a restricted calorie diet (~ 300 kcal lower than the estimated energy requirement). Anthropometric measurements, biochemical markers, appetite, and dietary intakes were determined during the study period.ResultsThe reductions of body weight, body mass index, waist circumference, and hip circumference were significantly higher in the zinc group compared to the placebo group (P = 0.032, 0.025, 0.003, and 0.0001, respectively). Lower levels of high sensitivity C-reactive protein, apelin, homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), and appetite score were observed in the zinc group in comparison with the placebo group (P = 0.0001, 0.001, 0.031 and 0.001 respectively).ConclusionThis study indicates that Zn supplementation with a restricted calorie diet has favorable effects in reducing anthropometric measurements, inflammatory markers, insulin resistance and appetite in individuals with obesity, and may play an effective role in the treatment of obesity.Trial registration This clinical trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov at the U.S. National Library of Medicine (NCT02516475).

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Grape seed extract (GSE) is a flavonoid‐rich supplement, recently discussed as a potential moderator of inflammation and obesity. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effects of GSE supplementation along with a restricted‐calorie diet (RCD), on changes in blood lipid profile, visceral adiposity index (VAI), and atherogenic index of plasma (AIP). We designed a randomized, double‐blinded, placebo‐controlled clinical trial. Forty obese or overweight individuals (25 ≤ body mass index < 40 kg/m2) were randomly assigned to receive GSE (300 mg/day) or placebo, plus RCD, for 12 weeks. We studied the anthropometric measures, biochemical biomarkers and dietary intake within the study timelines. Levels of high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL‐C) and HDL‐C/low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL‐C) significantly increased in the GSE group as compared with the placebo group at week 12 (p = .03 and .008, respectively, adjusted for age, sex, energy and saturated fatty acid intake). We also observed a significant reduction in LDL‐C following GSE supplementation in comparison to placebo (adjusted for age, sex and energy intake, p = .04). VAI, AIP, total cholesterol and triglyceride significantly decreased in the GSE group compared with the baseline (p = .04, .02, .01, and .02, respectively). GSE supplementation may have a modulatory role in improving blood lipid profile in obese or overweight individuals, when accompanied by RCD.

This study presented the fabrication of macro and micro-scale microbial fuel cells (MFCs) to generate bioelectricity from oxalate solution and monitor the biodegradation in a micro-scale MFC for the first time. The maximum generated power density of 44.16 W m−3 in the micro-scale MFC elucidated its application as a micro-sized power generator for implantable medical devices (IMDs). It is also worthwhile noting that for the macro-scale MFC, the significant amounts of open circuit voltage, oxalate removal, and coulombic efficiency were about 935 mV, 99%, and 44.2%, respectively. These values compared to previously published studies indicate successful oxalate biodegradation in the macro-scale MFC. Regarding critical challenges to determine the substrate concentration in microfluidic outlets, sample collection in a suitable time and online data reporting, an analogy was made between macro and micro-scale MFCs to elicit correlations defining the output current density as the inlet and the outlet oxalate concentration. Another use of the system as an IMD is to be a platform to identify urolithiasis and hyperoxaluria diseases. As a versatile device for power generation and oxalate biodegradation monitoring, the use of facile and cheap materials (< $1.5 per device) and utilization of human excreta are exceptional features of the manufactured micro-scale MFC.

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COVID-19 research has relied heavily on convenience-based samples, which—though often necessary—are susceptible to important sampling biases. We begin with a theoretical overview and introduction to the dynamics that underlie sampling bias. We then empirically examine sampling bias in online COVID-19 surveys and evaluate the degree to which common statistical adjustments for demographic covariates successfully attenuate such bias. This registered study analysed responses to identical questions from three convenience and three largely representative samples (total N = 13,731) collected online in Canada within the International COVID-19 Awareness and Responses Evaluation Study ( www.icarestudy.com ). We compared samples on 11 behavioural and psychological outcomes (e.g., adherence to COVID-19 prevention measures, vaccine intentions) across three time points and employed multiverse-style analyses to examine how 512 combinations of demographic covariates (e.g., sex, age, education, income, ethnicity) impacted sampling discrepancies on these outcomes. Significant discrepancies emerged between samples on 73% of outcomes. Participants in the convenience samples held more positive thoughts towards and engaged in more COVID-19 prevention behaviours. Covariates attenuated sampling differences in only 55% of cases and increased differences in 45%. No covariate performed reliably well. Our results suggest that online convenience samples may display more positive dispositions towards COVID-19 prevention behaviours being studied than would samples drawn using more representative means. Adjusting results for demographic covariates frequently increased rather than decreased bias, suggesting that researchers should be cautious when interpreting adjusted findings. Using multiverse-style analyses as extended sensitivity analyses is recommended. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10654-022-00932-y.