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Coronary artery disease (CAD) is developed by an insufficient supply of oxygen-rich blood to the myocardium. Recent studies have shown that increased oxidative stress has implicated in the pathogenesis of coronary atherosclerosis. Anxiety and CAD have a mutual relationship, as the effect of long-lasting anxiety on atherosclerosis and CAD is well known. The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between dietary / serum total antioxidant capacity and CAD.

A total of 160 male patients were enrolled in this cross-sectional study. Diagnosis and analysis of angiograms were performed visually by a cardiologist. The subjects were categorized into CAD− (coronary artery obstruction <75 per cent) and CAD+ (coronary artery obstruction ≥ 75 per cent) groups. Anthropometric indices, blood pressure, blood sugar and lipid profile and physical activity (PA) were assessed. Information about anxiety was obtained by Spielberger questionnaire. Dietary total antioxidant capacity (TAC) was obtained by using a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire and an oxygen radical absorbance capacity of selected foods.

Mean of dietary TAC was significantly lower in CAD+ than CAD− group (P < 0.001). However, there was not any significant differences about serum TAC (P = 0.28). The mean of body mass index (BMI) (P = 0.04) and triglyceride (TG) level (P = 0.03) and the frequency of smoking (P = 0.03) were significantly higher in the CAD+ than the CAD− group. There was no significant relationship between CAD with apparent (P = 0.33) and hidden anxiety level (P = 0.16). Confounding factors such as smoking and medications were adjusted.

This study had certain limitations. Being a single center cross-sectional design does not permit analysis of causal relationships; the sample size was geographically limited. The authors could not exclude the medication of patients, which could affect the total antioxidant capacity levels. Measurement error in self-reported dietary consumption may results misclassification of exposure.

A diet high in total antioxidant capacity is inversely associated with CAD. Serum TAC does not vary between men with and without CAD when confounders including age, BMI, TG, smoking, SBP, DBP, energy intake, PA, HDL-C, LDL-C, T-C, FBS, family history of CAD, education and anxiety are taken into consideration.

High consumption of vegetables and fruits may play a major role in the prevention of CAD.

The study was approved by the ethics committee of Isfahan University of Medical Sciences (No:394888).

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a complex disorder that exacerbates the risk of cardiovascular disease and diabetes mellitus; some studies have indicated the beneficial effects of green tea on human health. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of green tea consumption on the MetS indicators in women.

A randomized clinical trial was carried out on 70 eligible women with confirmed diagnosis of MetS who visited Shabani Diabetes Clinic (Isfahan, Iran). Participants were randomly divided into two groups. Participants in the Green Tea Group were asked to consume three 200 cc of green tea in the morning, at noon and at night for eight weeks, while people in the control group were asked to take identical amount of lukewarm water at the same schedule. Anthropometric indicators, blood pressure, blood sugar, lipid profile, diet and physical activity were assessed at the beginning and the end of the study.

An independent t-test showed that weight (p = 0.001), body mass index (p = 0.001), waist circumference (p < 0.001) and waist–hip ratio (p = 0.02), systolic blood pressure (p = 0.04), fasting blood glucose (p = 0.01) and low density lipoprotein (p = 0.03) changed significantly more in the Green Tea Group than in the control group; but no such inter-group difference was observed in diastolic blood pressure, triglyceride, total cholesterol and high density lipoprotein (HDL) values (p > 0.05).

Regular consumption of green tea for eight weeks significantly improved anthropometric indices, blood pressure, blood sugar and lipid profile in women with MetS. Therefore, this beverage can serve as part of an effective dietary strategy to control MetS.

The aim of this study is to optimize the electrospinning parameters used in the production process of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) nanofibers.

The response surface methodology (RSM) was used to determine the experimental design. The 30 nanofiber prototypes candidates were electrospun using a needle-based electrospinning machine. PVC polymer, N-dimethyl formamide and tetrahydrofuran solvents were used to prepare the electrospinning solution.

The electrospun nanofibers had a mean diameter of 386 ± 136.57 nm, in the range of 200−412 nm. The mean porosity was 31.60 ± 6.37% in the range of 15.33−41.53%. The webs made from electrospun nanofibers had a mean pressure loss of 194.23 ± 47.7 pa in the range of 124−300 pa. The highest statistically significant correlation was observed between solution concentration and nanofiber diameter (r = 0.756, p < 0.05).

The optimal electrospinning parameters were determined to be: a solution concentration of 11 weight percent, a voltage of 16.5 kV, a needle-collector distance of 13.5 cm and an electrospinning duration of 4 h.