No significant differences in efficacy were found between MTX and MMF groups. MMF may represent a good alternative for the treatment of psoriasis in patients who are unable to take MTX or other available drugs due to contraindication or toxicity.

BackgroundThe quality of life (QOL) is an important indicator for disease-severity classification and outcome measurement in obtaining treatment sinonasal diseases. The sinonasal outcome test 22 (SNOT 22) questionnaire has been introduced as the best specific sinonasal instrument for QOL measurement.ObjectivesTo prepare a valid and reliable Persian language version of SNOT 22 questionnaire.Patients and MethodsAfter forward and backward translation of the original version of SNOT 22 questionnaire from English to Persian, a group of patients with nasal septal deviation who need septal surgery and another group of healthy volunteers answered the Persian version of the questionnaire. The responsiveness rate, validity (Pearson correlations and differential validity) and reliability (internal consistency and test-retest reliability) of the 22 items of the questionnaire was calculated. P value < 0.05 was considered significant.ResultsThirty adults with nasal septal deviation need surgical correction and 30 healthy volunteers were included (mean age 30.4 ± 7.1 vs. 33 ± 6.7, P value = 0.148). The questionnaire was introduced to subjects two times with a two-week-period gap. Total responsiveness rate for 22 items was more than 97%. The total Cronbach's Alfa coefficient was 0.898 (ranging 0.890-0.903). The Pearson correlations were 0.85 and 0.96 for patients and healthy volunteers, respectively. The mean total score were 25.6 ± 13.3 (range 6-52) and 7.6 ± 9.1 (range 0-45) in patients and healthy volunteers, respectively (P < 0.0001). The subscales scores were also significantly different between two groups.ConclusionsThe Persian version of SNOT 22 questionnaire is a valid and reliable instrument for accessing sinonasal diseases in Persian-speaking people.

Oral atorvastatin 40 mg/day was not associated with therapeutic benefit when given to patients with baseline PASI scores less than 12 who were also treated with standard topical therapies. Additional trials are needed to elucidate the place of statins for the treatment of psoriasis. A larger follow-up study, as well as testing atorvastatin in patients with more intensive disease characterized by high PASI scores, is needed. Studies using higher atorvastatin doses or dose-ranging studies should also be performed.

Background: Birth weight appears to play a role in determining high blood pressure (BP) and obesity during childhood. The purpose of this study is to investigate the association between birth weight and later obesity and hypertension among 10- to 13-year-old schoolchildren. Methods: A total of 1,184 primary school students were selected from 20 randomized schools between 2011 and 2012 in Iran. Height, weight, waist circumference and BP were measured using standard instruments. Data were analyzed using stepwise regression and logistic regression models. Results: 13.5% of children had a history of low birth weight. First-degree family history of obesity, excessive gestational weight gain and birth weight were significantly correlated with overweight/obesity and abdominal obesity (p = 0.001), whereas only birth weight was associated with high BP (p = 0.001). An inverse correlation was found between waist circumference and systolic/diastolic BP. The duration of breastfeeding in children with low birth weight was inversely correlated with obesity/overweight, abdominal obesity and hypertension. Conclusion: The results suggests that birth weight is inversely associated with BP and more so with obesity and abdominal obesity. The duration of having been breastfed could have an influence on later hypertension, obesity and abdominal obesity. Further results are needed to test these correlations as well as diagnosing early life factors to prevent young adult overweight/obesity or hypertension.