PurposeStatins are known as cholesterol-lowering agents, but have been suggested for the treatment of asthma because of their anti-inflammatory effects. In this study, the potential therapeutic effects of atorvastatin were investigated in asthmatic patients.MethodsA total of 62 patients with persistent mild to moderate asthma who presented at asthma clinics of Arak University of Medical Sciences were recruited in a double-blind randomized clinical trial. The asthma clinical control score was assessed based on the standardized Asthma Control Test. Lung volume, i.e., percentage of forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1%) and percentage of forced vital capacity (FVC%), and peripheral blood eosinophils were also measured. The intervention group was treated with atorvastatin 40 mg per day for 8 weeks, while the control group received a placebo. Asthma controller treatments were not changed. At the beginning and end of the study, serum cholesterol and triglyceride levels were measured to evaluate adherence of the patients to the treatment.ResultsThe asthma control score did not significantly differ between the intervention and control groups (P=0.06). Difference in FEV1%, FVC%, and blood eosinophil count between the intervention and control groups were not statistically significant (P>0.05). The differences in post-treatment cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels were significant (P<0.05).ConclusionsOur study shows that atorvastatin is not effective in the treatment of persistent mild to moderate asthma.

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Background and Objectives. Presence of excessive nitrite and nitrate in foodstuff can have toxic and carcinogenic effects on humans. This study is aimed at measuring nitrate and nitrite in different foodstuffs available in Arak city market, Iran, in 2013. Methods. Totally 323 samples including stew (102 samples), beverage (116 samples), fruit (55 samples), and vegetables (50 samples) were randomly collected and analyzed according to official AOAC method 973 and ISO 6635 through spectrophotometric method. Results. Average concentration of nitrate and nitrite in the samples was 6.58–136.76, 1.52–38.22 mg kg−1 or liter, respectively. Presence of nitrate and nitrite was confirmed in all samples. High levels of nitrate and nitrite were observed in celery and ghormeh stew; and lower level of nitrate and nitrite was found in traditionally produced vinegar, verjuice, and tomato. Conclusions. It was found that the mean values for nitrite in investigated products were higher than ADI levels of WHO.

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