Background and Objective: Utilization of plants as antioxidants in food processing has a potential for substitution of synthetic antioxidants. In the present work, some unexplored biological activities of Thymus daenensis, commercial thyme essential oils and thymol were comparatively studied.
Materials and Methods: Ferrous ion chelating was assessed by spectrophotometry by mixing the essential oils with diluted FeSO₄ followed by addition of ferrozine. Antioxidative properties were assessed by beta carotene bleaching and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging tests. Gallic acid equivalent of ferric reduction was carried out using FeCl₃. Super oxide anion radical scavenging was determined using xanthine oxidase and anti tyrosinase inhibitory activity was determined by a spectrophotometry method using a modified dopachrome method with L-DOPA as the substrate.
Results: Chelating reaction of T. daenensis oil was dose dependent, and its super oxide anion radical scavenging property was higher than the commercial oil. Lipid peroxidation inhibition by T. daenensis oil was stronger and those of the commercial oil and thymol were approximately equal. DPPH free radical scavenging property of
T. daenensis oil was higher than trolox, butylated hydroxytoluene and anisol (BHT and BHA). Ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) of T. daenensis oil was greater. The total phenolics anti tyrosinase IC₅₀ were also determined.
Conclusion: The results point to the nutritional value of these plants in preventing formation of toxic reactive oxygen species, and show that Thymus daenensis, as a good antioxidant, can directly scavenge free radicals. The results from biological properties of Thymus daenensis are indicative of its potentials for use in food and drug industries.

Background and Objective: Because of the importance of happiness in giving up substance abuse the aim of this study was to investigate the correlation between coping styles, negative automatic thoughts, and hope with happiness in the addicts referred to Ahvaz drug abuse rehabilitation centers. Materials and Methods: The study population comprised of 100 addicts whom were referred to Ahvaz drug abuse rehabilitation clinics during the year 2011. Participants were selected by convenience sampling method and response to the Parker and Andler coping styles, Miller hope scale, Oxford happiness inventory, and Kendall and Hollon negative automatic thought questionnaires. Results: Our results indicate that there is a significant relationship between coping styles, negative automatic thoughts, and hope with happiness in the addicts. Regression analysis showed that predictive variables were able to predict 60% of happiness, with problem-oriented coping style and hope being the best predictors of happiness. Conclusion: Improving problem-oriented coping style and hope can play a great role in happiness and improving the rate of rehabilitation and recovery in addicts.

Background and Objective: Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women worldwide. Saffron is one of the most well-known plants as an antioxidant and anticancer. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of saffron on the viability of breast cancer cells and simultaneous interaction effect of Paclitaxel drug. Materials and Methods: In this study, saffron extract (Crocus sativus L.) was prepared by Soxhlet method. Breast cancer cells (4T1) were prepared from the Pasteur cell bank then passaged several times until the required number of cells obtained. Cytotoxicity of Paclitaxel and the extracts of saffron were assessed separately and simultaneously using colorimetric MTT assay and trypan Blue test with certain concentrations of drug and extracts in the treatment period of 48 and 72 h. Then, the rate of apoptogenic changes in each compound was evaluated by Hoechst and PI methods. Results: Data from 48 and 72 h treatment of extract of Crocus sativus showed antitumor effects on breast cancer cells. These effects were dose and time dependent. The synergistic effects in 48 hour treatment indicated a significant increase in cytotoxicity of saffron/Paclitaxel (P <0.05). Conclusion: The results showed that ethanol and aqueous extract of saffron and Paclitaxel have significant anticancer properties against breast cancer cells. It was also found that the aqueous and ethanol extracts of saffron can considerably increase cytotoxicity in cancer cells induced by Paclitaxel while the aqueous extract of saffron showed better results. Referenses 1- Abdullaev Fl. Cancer chemoperventive and tumoricidal properties of saffron. Biol Med. 2002 227: 20-25. 2- Eisenberg D, Kessler R. Saffron redgold of brackish. Tehran Agricultural Information Bank. 1995. 3- Akhondzadeh S, Tahmacebi-Pour N, Noorbalaa A, et al. Crocus sativus L. 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Background and Objective: Umbilical Cord blood (UCB) hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) transplantation is a therapeutic approach for the treatment of malignant and non-malignant hematologic disorders due to ease of collection, lack of risk for donors and lower levels of infection. Moreover, it is considered a good alternative for bone marrow HSC transplantation. The main limitation of their use is insufficient amount of HSCs due to low volume of blood collected from umbilical cord. A possible solution to overcome this limitation may be the in vitro expansion of these cells on 3D nanofiber scaffolds, with the goal of natural niche’s topography and chemistry mimicking.
Materials and Methods: In this study, MACS isolated CD133+ cells were confirmed via flow cytometry and then cultured in three conditions:  2-dimensional culture (2D), 3D PLLA scaffold and collagen-fibronectin coated PLLA scaffold.
Comparison between three aforementioned groups showed that collagen-fibronectin coated scaffold had the highest expansion level CD133+ cells, while also having the highest clonogenic capacity and biocompatibility.
Conclusion: The results of this study showed that the protein coating of 3D PLLA scaffold with collagen-fibronectin provides a suitable system for the expansion of cells with minimal differentiation in vitro.