[ study of relative expression of key genes of thymol biosynthesis pathway in thymus vulgaris cv. 'varico 3' under cold stress using real-time PCR]

Background: Thyme [Thymus vulgaris L.] is a valuable medicinal plant which has many secondary metabolites such as thymol and carvacrol

Objective: This study was done to evaluation of cold stress effect on gene expression in thymol biosynthesis pathway including DXR ¡HMGR and TPS1

Methods: The effect of cold stress in the time period of 0, 3, 12, 24 and 48 hours on gene expression in thymol biosynthesis pathway including DXR, HMGR and TPS1 was evaluated by RT-PCR. This study was done on base of complete randomized design [CRD] in Institute of Medicinal Plants, ACECR, Karaj, Iran

Results: Results showed that the cold stress had significantly effect on expression of studied genes. The highest expression of HMGR gene was observed within 3 hours after cold treatment [1.57 times more than control treatment]. The expression of DXR and TPS1 genes were reduced in different periods of cold stress

Conclusion: In general, the genes expression of thymol and carvacrol biosynthesis pathway including DXR, HMGR and TPS1 were significantly changed by cold stress

[Evaluating the sensitivity and specificity of total and free sialic acid levels for the diagnosis of bladder cancer and its relation to the stage and grade of tumor malignancy]

Background: Bladder cancer is the second most common urological malignancy. Cystoscopy is the "gold standard" for the detection of bladder cancer, but is invasive and relatively expensive. This study aimed to investigate the sensitivity and specificity of serum levels of free and total sialic acids as tumor markers in the diagnosis of bladder cancer

Materials and Methods: In this study, the diagnostic value of blood samples collected from 58 patients with bladder cancer and 60 normal subjects were evaluated. The spectrophotometrical Aminoff's method was used for measuring serum levels of free and total sialic acids. After comparing the mean values for the mentioned parameters, ROC curve was used to calculate the sensitivity and specificity and other diagnostic values of markers

Results: The mean values for total sialic acid and free sialic acid were higher in cancer patients than in normal healthy controls [P<0.001]. The sensitivity and specificity of total sialic acid at the cut-off point of 48.75 mg/dL were 91% and 82%, respectively and also the sensitivity and specificity of free sialic acid at the cut-off point of 0.708 mg/dL were 81% and 80%, respectively. Moreover, a positive correlation was seen between the serum levels of total, free sialic acids and stage or grade of the tumor

Conclusion: Our results revealed that the measurement of serum levels of these parameters using some simple, non-invasive, inexpensive, and reproducible tests can diagnose the bladder cancer and provide important clinical findings on the extent of the malignancy and also reduce the number of cyctoscopies

[Improving the capabilities of the physicians working in health care centers of Chaharmahal va Bakhtiari province for doing applied researches]

In the last decades efforts have been dedicated to improve research activities among academic staff in the universities. However less attention has been paid to improve research skills among nonacademic staff of health system, especially physicians. Thus, in this research capability of the physician working in Chaharmahal va Bakhtiari for doing applied researches has been investigated. In this interventional research, the study population was consisted of all general physicians who were working in health care centers in Chaharmahal va Bakhtiari [CMVB] province. From the whole population of general physicians 60 physicians were selected and were randomly divided into two separate groups [30 physician as case group and 30 physicians as control group]. Case group participated in a research methodology workshop. In this workshop they were trained how to find the health system priorities and how to write a research proposal. After finishing the workshop, they returned to their work and conducted their research proposal and then they participated in the second workshop to present their research results. In second workshop they improved their abilities for writing a scientific article, preparing a poster, giving a scientific talk and paper publishing. Prior and after the workshop their knowledge about the subject was collected in both groups, using a questioner. At the end, results collected from both groups were analyzed using paired and independent-t tests. The average scores of knowledge about research methodology in case group was 6.23 +/- 0.24 and 12.97 +/- 2.3 5 prior and after interventions, respectively [P<0.05]. The capacity of case group for conducting research activities was significantly higher compared to the control group. They were principle researchers in 16 research projects and co-workers in 70 research projects. We conclude that continuous naming of this project may lead to improving performance of more applied research projects and to solve more health problems