ABSTRACT
             Background and Objectives: Cancer and its conventional treatments may bring about some psychological and health-related symptoms leading to unstable cortisol level. Since evidence has shown that mindfulness based approaches can be helpful to reduce cortisol level, we aimed at investigating the efficacy of   mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) on decreasing salivary cortisol level in the women with breast cancer. 
             Methods: in this one- group pretest posttest study, the women with early stage breast cancer were assessed to select eligible ones (N = 15). They were first trained for collecting salivary cortisol sample (before, after and follow-up)   and then were asked to participate in MBCT, an eight-week session approach.  Participants provided salivary samples in the morning (7: 30- 8:30), afternoon (1-3) and night (9-11).  To measure cortisol, Cortisol Enzyme Immunoassay Kit was used. Analysis was performed on the data of 12 participants remained, using repeated measurement.
              Results: the results of repeated measure ANOVA revealed that cortisol level of posttest (after 8-weeks of MBCT and follow-up period) in comparison with pretest was significantly reduced for morning and afternoon cortisol while it was not true for night cortisol.  The post-treatment cortisol was not significantly correlated with age groups, education levels and socio-economic status using repeated measure ANCOVA.   
             Conclusion: Given that the women with breast cancer are at the high risk of psychological distresses and unstable cortisol level, we recommend mindfulness-based approaches esp. MBCT to health providers specifically those working with breast cancer patients.
             Keywords: Mindfulness, MBCT, Cortisol , Salivary Cortisol, Breast cancer.

ABSTRACT
          Background and Objectives: Proper diagnosis of clinical conditions is a major goal of clinical and biochemical analyses. Recently, increasing efforts have been put on the use of less invasive sampling techniques with optimal sensitivity and specificity. The aim of this study was to investigate the applicability of saliva instead of blood for measuring biochemical parameters of liver and kidney function in healthy individuals.
          Methods: Plasma and saliva samples were collected from 100 healthy volunteers to measure level of alkaline phosphatase (ALP), alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), total bilirubin, gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT), urea and creatinine using a fully automated chemistry analyzer (ACE Alera) with ready to use validated kits. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was carried out using MediCal program to calculate sensitivity and specificity and area under ROC (AUC).
          Results: The mean (standard deviation) salivary level of ALP, AST, ALT, GGT, total bilirubin, creatinine and urea was 20.9 (20.7) U/L, 25.8 (17.9) U/L, 10.6 (11.8) U/L, 9.6 (4.37) U/L, 0.16 (0.13) mg/dL, 0.09 (0.05) mg/dL and 35.6 (15.2) mg/dL, respectively. Saliva to blood ratios of ALP, AST, ALT, GGT, total bilirubin, creatinine and urea was 14%, 113%, 65%, 45%, 19%, 12% and 130%, respectively. The suggested normal saliva ranges of ALP, AST, ALT, GGT, total bilirubin, creatinine and urea were 7-98 (U/L), 31-104 (U/L), 6-31 (U/L), 15-24 (U/L), 0-0.13 (mg/ dL), 0.14-0.31 (mg/ dL) and 45-74 (mg/ dL), respectively.  The calculated sensitivity and specificity values were 38%  and 85% for ALP), 80% and 76% for AST, 75% and 45% for ALT, 60%  91% for GGT, 49% and 38% for total bilirubin, 20% and 91% for creatinine and 100% and 75% for urea. The AUC was higher than 0.7 for urea, GGT and AST, indicating good sensitivity and specificity of saliva testing for evaluation of these enzymes.
          Conclusion: Based on the results, saliva could be as a noninvasive method of assessing kidney and liver function. Saliva may be a favorable alternative to plasma for measuring level of urea, GGT and AST in humans.