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Thymoquinone is the most important secondary metabolite in black Cumin, which has several pharmaceutical applications. In this study, effect of TiO2 and SiO2 nanoparticles as new elicitors, on expression of Geranyl diphosphate synthase gene (GPPS gene), as a key gene involved in thymoquione biosynthesis pathway was investigated in two Iranian accessions. Plants were treatment in the early flowering stage and after 24 h of 50 and 100 mg/L of each nanoparticle, separately. After RNA extraction, GPPS gene expression was analysed by qRT-PCR method. The results showed that the TiO2 and SiO2 nanoparticles, generally stimulates the GPPS expression. The TiO2 nanoparticles were more effective than SiO2 for the induction of GPPS expression. Also, 100 mg/L treatment of nanoparticles raised gene expression more than 50 mg/L concentration. It can be concluded these nanoparticles can be used as robust elicitors to enhance the production of Thymoquinone in black cumin through up-regulation of related metabolic pathway genes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: As life expectancy increases, the incidence of degenerative diseases such as osteoarthritis also increases. Dynamic balance is one of the essential factors that affect the mobility and daily living activity of patients suffering from knee osteoarthritis after undergoing Bilateral Total Knee Replacement (BTKR) surgery. Traditional rehabilitation approaches are based on reducing pain and increasing muscle strength, which are applied topically on the knee area. One of the new methods used to improve balance is neurofeedback, which acts at the central nervous system level. This pilot study aims to examine the effect of neurofeedback on dynamic stability and sustained attention in women who underwent BTKA. Materials & Methods: This is a quasi-experiment study with a pre-test/post-test design and no control group. The study population consisted of all patients with BTKA referred to the outpatient clinic of the Department of Occupational Therapy at Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences from April 2017 to September 2017. Of these patients, 8 female patients with a mean age of 67.5 years (3 months had passed since their surgery) were selected using a convenience sampling method and based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Results: The inclusion criteria were being over 55 years old; having a history of BTKR surgery in the last 2 to 4 months; being able to walk independently; using a cement prosthesis; lacking a record of cognitive problems (mini-mental state exam score> 20), cardiovascular diseases, uncontrolled high blood pressure, visual impairment, drug abuse or alcohol use, vestibular disorders that can impair balance, use of neuroleptics and sedatives; not receiving neurofeedback before this study, or undergoing surgery in other joints of lower limbs, such as ankle or hip. The exclusion criteria were the absence of more than two sessions from therapeutic protocol and unwillingness to collaborate in the research process. All patients received 8 sessions of standard neurofeedback training. Assessments were done at three times: before the intervention, and at the 4th and 8th sessions using vigilance subscale of Vienna test system and Biodex balance system (dynamic stability level 6 test). Data analysis was done in SPSS V. 22 using repeated-measures ANOVA and paired-samples t test. P0.05). However, the mean reaction time decreased significantly (P

Objective Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a chronic inflammatory, demyelinating, and neurodegenerative disorder of the Central Nervous System (CNS) and it is also the most common cause of non-traumatic neurological disability in young adults. MS in women, especially young women, is about 1.5 to 3 times more common than men all over the world. About 2.5 million people worldwide are suffering from MS. The destruction of myelin in certain areas exhibits certain signs and symptoms. Balance disorders are particularly problematic because they are associated with difficulty in moving from one position to another, sustaining an upright posture, and performing functional activities such as walking and turning, all of which predisposes people with MS to the loss of equilibrium and falls. Isfahan City in Iran suffers from a high prevalence of MS that put it amongst the regions with the highest prevalence of MS in Asia and Oceania. This study aimed to use the holistic approaches of occupational therapy to investigate the physical and cognitive factors (attention, cognition and muscle strength of lower extremities) that affect the gait of MS patients in the city of Isfahan, Iran. Materials & Methods The present study was a descriptive-correlational one and convenience sampling method was used to recruit the samples. The study population consisted of all patients with MS in Isfahan City in August 2017. A group of 70 patients (24 males and 46 females with the Mean±SD age of 32.20±7.55 y) met the inclusion-exclusion criteria and were enrolled in the study. To be eligible for the study, the patients had to meet the following inclusion criteria: having a neurologist-confirmed diagnosis of MS with MRI scan, being able to read and write, and walk at least 100 m independently. We excluded patients with cognitive impairments that might hinder understanding of the tasks to be accomplished, those with any comorbid neurologic condition other than MS, and those who are unwilling to collaborate with the research process. After providing sufficient information about the research process and getting informed consent of the patients, the questionnaires and tests were provided to the participants to be completed. The study tools were the Mini-Mental Status Examination (MMSE), 10 m Walking Test (10 MWT), Timed Up and Go test (TUG), Sit to Stand test, and Stroop test. For data analysis, the Pearson correlation coefficient and multiple regression analysis were performed in SPSS version 16. Results In this study, 70 patients suffering from MS participated. The results showed a significant negative correlation between the scores of walking speed test (10 m walking) and the scores of the functional strength of the lower extremities muscles (P