A Persian Translation and Cross-cultural Adaptation of the Nordic Occupational Skin Questionnaire

Introduction: Work related dermatitis is one of the most prevalent diseases, which its economic and social effects on the individual and the society is considerable. The Nordic Occupational Skin Questionnaire (NOSQ-2002) is known as a comprehensive and standardized tools for screening the occupational skin diseases.The main purpose of this study was to translate and cross-culturally adapt the NOSQ-2002/SHORT into Persian.Materials and methods: A survey cultural translation carried out during 2018 in Mashhad, Iran. The NOSQ-2002/SHORT adaptation process included the forward translation and reconciliation, back translation and an expert panel assessment. The content validity ratio (CVR) and content validity index (CVI) were calculated according the to Lawshe formula. The Persian version of the questionnaire was tested in 30 workers attended the training courses for health ID card confirmation as a pilot study and were confirmed by physical examination. Base on the participants’ opinion, the ambiguous questions were modified by the expert panel. Results: All the 15 questions had a CVR of 0.6 and higher. The overall content validity index of the questionnaire was equal to 0.80. Some obscure words not good understood by the pilot study participants were revised. The results of the questionnaire declaration was matched with the physical examination for each worker.Conclusion: The Persian version of the NOSQ-2002/SHORT questionnaire is now available for researchers for assessment hand eczema in the work settings. Further research is suggested to evaluate the validity of the Persian version of NOSQ-2002

A National Survey: Desire of Dermatology Residents to Train in Cosmetic Dermatology and Its Association With Learning Medical Dermatology

The main challenge for training in cosmetic dermatology is the difference in the attitudes of residency programs and residents about the necessity and amount of education during the residency period. A national online survey conducted between September 6th and November 21st, 2017. Residents, members of the Iranian Board of Dermatology, faculty members and program directors (PDs) were asked to participate in the survey.174 participants from 12 residency programs participated in this study and the response rate of residents, professors, and Dermatology Board Directory Members (Boardmans) and PDs was 89.8%, 61.7%, and 81.8%, respectively. Residents declared greater tendency towards practicing medical dermatology (mean score, 5.165±0.8335) over the five years after graduation than that of was perceived by professors (4.043±1.2988), and Boardmans and PDs (4.059±1.0290) (P˂0.001). The first residents’ priority was practicing in medical dermatology (5.165±0.8335) during 5-years after graduation. However, professors (5.261±0.8282) and Boardmans and PDs (5.176±0.7276) predicted residents' first priority would be practicing cosmetic dermatology (P˂0.001). Forty one (60.3%) of the professors, Boardmans, and PDs agreed or strongly agreed that residents’ desire to learn more about cosmetic procedures resulted in their decreased interest in learning medical procedures (P=0.18). Medical dermatology is still clearly the basis for training in residency programs,and even for residents who have a high tendency to practice cosmetic dermatology, there is a strong tendency to work in the field of medical dermatology as well

Efficacy of intralesional amphotericin B for the treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis

Background: Antimoniate compounds have been used as gold standard treatment for cutaneous leishmaniasis since many years ago, but with increase in incidence of drug as well as individual contraindications, more attention has been given to alternative treatments. Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of intralesional amphotericin B as an alternative treatment for cutaneous leishmaniasis in Mashhad, Iran, during 2007-2009. Materials and Methods: Non-random sampling from both sexes and without any age limitation of cases eligible for this alternative treatment was done. Size and induration of lesions were measured before beginning and weakly during the treatment. Amphotericin B (2 mg/ml) was injected into lesions weekly for up to 12 weeks and the cases were followed up for the treatment responses, possible side effects and recurrence of the disease. Results: A total of 93 patients with a mean age of 20.81 ± 15.26 years were included in this study. At the end of 12 th week, 61.4% of the patients were recovered completely (more than 90% reduction in size and induration), 21.6% had partial remission (60-90% reduction in size and induration), and 17% had less than 60% reduction in size and induration of skin lesions. Injection side effects were insignificant and did not lead to premature discontinuation of treatment in any patients. Conclusion: Weekly intralesional injection of amphotericin B looks promising, considering the fact that most of the patients in this study were resistant to antimoniates

The effect of oral miltefosine in treatment of antimoniate resistant anthroponotic cutaneous leishmaniasis: An uncontrolled clinical trial.

BackgroundRecent circumstantial evidence suggests increasing number of Iranian patients with cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) who are unresponsive to meglumine antimoniate (MA), the first line of treatment in Iran. Oral meltifosine was previously reported to be effective in visceral leishmaniasis as well CL. The current study is designed to determine efficacy and safety of oral miltefosine for the treatment of anthroponotic cutaneous leishmaniasis (ACL) cases who were refractory to MA in Iran.Methodology/principal findingsMiltefosine was orally administered for 27 patients with MA resistant ACL with approved L.tropica infection, at a dosage of ∼2.5 mg/kg daily for 28 days. Patients were evaluated on day 14 and 28, as well as 3, 6 and 12 month post treatment follow up sessions. Laboratory data were performed and repeated at each visit. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 17. Twenty-seven patients including 16 men (59.25%) and 11 women (40.74%) with mean age of 28.56 ± 4.8 (range 3-54 years old) were enrolled. Total number of lesions were 42 (1-4 in each patient). Most of lesions were on face (76.19%). Mean lesions' induration size was 2.38 ± 0.73 cm at the base-line which significantly decreased to1.31 ± 0.58 cm and 0.61 ±0.49 cm after 14 and 28 days of therapy, respectively (p value ConclusionOral miltefosine could be an effective alternative for the treatment of MA-resistant ACL

Comparison of Echocardiographic Abnormalities in Psoriasis Patients with the Control Group

Introduction: Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease characterized by plaques covered with silvery scales. Psoriasis is highly prevalent in different countries in the world, including Iran. Several studies have reported a significant association between psoriasis and cardiovascular diseases. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between psoriasis and cardiac disease using echocardiography.Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in Imam Reza Hospital of Mashhad, Iran during 2013-2014 on patients with clinical diagnosis of psoriasis confirmed via biopsy. In addition, healthy volunteers homogenous in terms of age and gender were selected as the control group. Echocardiography was performed on patients and control subjects. Size of the left and right ventricles, left ventricle ejection fraction, diastolic function, and pulmonary artery pressure were recorded. In addition, patients were assessed in terms of the presence of valve regurgitation and disease severity.Results: In total, 23 patients with psoriasis and 23 control subjects were enrolled in this study. Mean duration of psoriasis was 7.0±9.1 years (range: 1-25 years), and disease severity ranged between moderate and severe. Left ventricular end-diastolic and systolic diameters were significantly higher in patients with psoriasis (P=0.030 and P=0.016, respectively). Moreover, left ventricular diastolic dysfunction was observed in 14 psoriasis patients (60.8%) and 3 control subjects (13.4%) (

Cardiogoniometry in psoriatic patients and its comparison with a control group

Background: Cardiogoniometry (CGM), a spatiotemporal electrocardiologic method may be useful as a cardiovascular diagnostic tool. Increased incidence of coronary artery or myocardial involvement and defects in automatic setting of heart activity have been reported in psoriasis which could be related to the presence of systemic inflammation. Cardiogoniometry and the related parameters have been used in this study as a diagnostic technique in psoriasis patients. Methods: Thirty patients with psoriasis and 30 healthy, age and sex-matched individuals with no history of cardiovascular diseases or traditional coronary risk factors were enrolled. Duration and severity of the disease, using psoriasis severity and area index (PASI) score were recorded. Electrocardiography and cardiogoniometry were performed. Heart rate, QT interval and QT dispersion (QTD) were measured. SDNN (standard deviation of normal R-R interval) and myocardial ischemia score were determined by cardiogoniometry. Results: There was significant difference between the psoriasis patients and the controls in terms of heart rate (76.37 ± 14.41 vs 72.53 ± 9.684, p = 0.02), myocardial ischemia score (−1.53 ± 2.63 vs −0.46 ± 0.73, p = 0.037), corrected QT interval (392.64 ± 26.00 vs 377.26 ± 22.34, p = 0.017) and QTD (32.00 ± 17.88 vs 6.67 ± 15.16, p < 0.001). No statistically significant difference was found in SDNN (36.37 ± 21.01 vs 26.90 ± 14.88, p = .29). There were moderate correlation between PASI and SDNN (r = 0.427, p = 0.009), heart rate (r = 0.427, p = .009) and score (r = 0.481, p = .004). Conclusion: Abnormalities in resting ECG and CGM and their correlation with disease severity raises concerns about the need for cardiovascular follow-ups of psoriatic patients, especially those with severe disease