The current study was performed to evaluate the effects of synbiotic administration on metabolic profiles in overweight diabetic patients with coronary heart disease (CHD). This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was done among 60 diabetic patients with CHD. Participants were randomly divided into 2 groups: group A (n=30) received synbiotic supplements containing 3 probiotic bacteria spices 2×10, 2×10, 2×10 CFU/g plus 800 mg inulin and group B (n=30) received placebo for 12 weeks. Fasting blood samples were taken at baseline and after 12-week intervention to determine metabolic profiles. After 12 weeks of intervention, patients who consumed synbiotic capsule had significantly decreased fasting plasma glucose (- 19.6±74.6 vs.+19.2±66.9 mg/dL, P=0.03), serum insulin concentrations (- 0.7±5.1 vs.+3.3±6.3 µIU/mL, P=0.01), the homeostasis model of assessment-estimated b cell function (- 3.4±19.5 vs.+11.5±21.0, P=0.006) and increased the quantitative insulin sensitivity check index (+ 0.002±0.01 vs.-0.01±0.02, P=0.03) compared with the placebo. In addition, changes in HLDL-cholesterol levels (+ 1.8±5.7 vs.-2.2±6.0 mg/dL, P=0.01) in supplemented patients were significantly different from those of patients in the placebo group. Synbiotic supplementation for 12 weeks among diabetic patients with CHD had beneficial effects on markers of insulin metabolism and HDL-cholesterol levels.

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The present contribution proposes a multi-arc dynamic model to predict the parameters of AC flashover propagating over EHV ice-cover insulators. The model considers the arc as time-dependent impedance consting of a resistance in series with an inductance. The residual ice layer is specified in terms of an equivalent resistance, where the equivalent surface conductivity is calculated by taking into account the water film flowing over the glass surface. The temporary arc length developing over an icecovered insulator is calculated through the arc velocity, determined using high-speed image recording techniques. The principal characteristics of flashover, including minimum flashover voltage, leakage current and arc velocity are investigated through the proposed multi-arc dynamic model. The proposed models were successfully validated in the laboratory using station post insulators -typically used in Hydro- Quebec 735 kV substations -under AC voltage based on the standard method presented in IEEE Std 1783. Good agreement was also observed between the flashover voltage calculated from the proposed multi-arc model and those obtained experimentally on ice-covered EHV insulators. The proposed model is helpful for properly designing and selecting the EHV insulators used in cold climate conditions.Index Terms -Multi-arc model, ice-covered insulator, maximum withstand voltage, air gap, flashover, electric arc.

Background: This study was conducted to determine the effects of dietary supplements containing green tea, capsaicin and ginger extracts on weight loss and metabolic profiles among overweight women. Methods: This randomized double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial was implemented among 50 overweight women. Participants were randomly divided into 2 groups. Group A received dietary supplements containing 125 mg green tea, 25 mg capsaicin and 50 mg ginger extracts (n = 25) group B received placebos (n = 25) twice with lunch and twice with dinner daily for 8 weeks. Results: Compared with placebo, taking dietary supplements containing green tea, capsaicin and ginger resulted in a significant decrease in weight (-1.8 ± 1.5 vs. +0.4 ± 1.2 kg, respectively, p < 0.001) and body mass index (BMI; -0.7 ± 0.5 vs. +0.1 ± 0.5 kg/m², respectively, p < 0.001). In addition, subjects who received green tea, capsaicin and ginger co-supplements had significantly decreased serum insulin concentrations (-2.6 ± 3.9 vs. -0.6 ± 2.0 µIU/mL, p = 0.02), homeostatic model of assessment for insulin resistance (-0.5 ± 0.8 vs. -0.05 ± 0.6, p = 0.01), and increased quantitative insulin sensitivity check index (+0.01 ± 0.01 vs. +0.001 ± 0.01, p = 0.008) and plasma glutathione (GSH) levels (+73.8 ± 120.6 vs. -28.3 ± 193.4 µmol/L, p = 0.03) compared with the placebo. Conclusions: Our study indicated that taking green tea, capsaicin and ginger co-supplements for 8 weeks among overweight women had beneficial effects on weight, BMI, markers of insulin metabolism and plasma GSH levels.

This study was conducted to examine the effects of vitamin D, K and Ca co-supplementation on carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) and metabolic status in overweight diabetic patients with CHD. This randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was conducted among sixty-six diabetic patients with CHD. Participants were randomly allocated into two groups to take either 5 µg vitamin D, 90 µg vitamin K plus 500 mg Ca supplements (n 33) or placebo (n 33) twice a day for 12 weeks. Fasting blood samples were obtained at the beginning of the study and after the 12-week intervention period to determine related markers. Vitamin D, K and Ca co-supplementation resulted in a significant reduction in maximum levels of left CIMT (−0·04 (SD 0·22) v. +0·04 (SD 0·09) mm, P = 0·02). Changes in serum vitamin D (+6·5 (SD 7·8) v. +0·4 (SD 2·2) ng/ml, P < 0·001), Ca (+0·6 (SD 0·3) v. +0·1 (SD 0·1) mg/dl, P < 0·001) and insulin concentrations (−0·9 (SD 3·1) v. +2·6 (SD 7·2) µIU/ml, P = 0·01), homoeostasis model for assessment of estimated insulin resistance (−0·4 (SD 1·2) v. +0·7 (SD 2·3), P = 0·01), β-cell function (−2·1 (SD 9·0) v. +8·9 (SD 23·7), P = 0·01) and quantitative insulin sensitivity check index (+0·007 (SD 0·01) v. −0·006 (SD 0·02), P = 0·01) in supplemented patients were significantly different from those in patients in the placebo group. Supplementation resulted in significant changes in HDL-cholesterol (+2·7 (SD 7·0) v. −2·5 (SD 5·7) mg/dl, P = 0·002), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (−1320·1 (SD 3758·3) v. +464·0 (SD 3053·3) ng/ml, P = 0·03) and plasma malondialdehyde concentrations (−0·4 (SD 0·5) v. −1·0 (SD 1·1) µmol/l, P = 0·007) compared with placebo. Overall, vitamin D, K and Ca co-supplementation for 12 weeks among diabetic patients with CHD had beneficial effects on maximum levels of left CIMT and metabolic status. The effect of vitamin D, K and Ca co-supplementation on maximum levels of left CIMT could be a chance finding.