Research in Medicine
Year:2002 | Volume:26 | Issue:2|Papers Count:12

Background: This cohort study was conducted to compare the growth of two groups of infants who were exclusively breast-fed till the end of the 6th month or received complementary foods add to the breast milk, after the 4th month of age, between January 1997 and February 1998. Materials and methods: 200 term and healthy infants who had been exclusively breast-fed for the first 4 months of life were selected. 100 infants fed exclusively by breast milk until the age of 6 months. 100 infants continued to be breast-fed and received complementary foods. Mothers of both groups received education about breast-feeding importance and techniques and mothers of complementary food-group, received education about weaning upon the table of complementary food introduction, supervised by Ministry of Health and Education. There were no differences between the mothers age and education, infants sex, weight and height between the groups at the time of study. Infants feeding pattern, weight, and height were assessed and recorded at the end of 5th and 6th months of age.Results: The mean of weight (±SD) in exclusively breast-fed infants and complementary-fed infants was 7718±763.1gr and 7726.3± 765.4gr, respectively. We have found no significant difference between the infants weight gain and weight at the end of 6th month (p= 0.86 and p=0.96, respectively). The rate of diarrhea and respiratory infections were 11% and 23% in exclusively breast-fed and 27% and 35% in complementary-fed infants between the age of 4 to 6 months. Conclusion: Breast-feeding can provide infants growth and protect them against infectious diseases. Thus, exclusively breast feeding is highly recommended between the age of 4-6 months.

Background: The present study was carried out to determine the nonnal range of blood pressure in 11-17 year-old students in Hamadan and to assess its correlation with their height and weight.Materials and methods: A total of 1495 students including 732 boys and 763 girls were selected and studied.Results: Six boys (0.8%) and eight girls (1%) were revealed to have hypertension. The mean (±SD) of systolic and diastolic blood pressure of the boys was 95±10.5 and 61±8 mmHg, respectively. These figures increase smoothly with the age and reach to 113±13 and 73± 10 mmHg in 17-year-old boys. For girls, these figures were 105±12 and 69±9mmHg at age of 11 that increased to 115±11.5 and 74± 8mmHg at age of 17. Conclusion: Cloths of the girls have systematically biased their blood pressure figures to a level slightly more than reality. There was a linear correlation between both systolic and diastolic blood pressure with height and weight of the subjects. The international standards quite suffice for evaluation of blood pressure in the studied age group. Promotion the periodic blood pressure measurement in children and adolescents seems to be necessary.

Background: Vitamin D is an essential substance for bone health. Vitamin D serum concentration has been shown to have a seasonal variation in different countries, but this has not yet been studied in Iran. Materials and methods: In this study performed on participants of Tehran Lipid and Glucose Study (TLGS), we measured serum level of 25-hydroxy vitamin D (25-0H-D) in 1172 subjects (682 women and 490 men) aged 3-69 years, who were studied in different months of the year. No sampling was achieved in month 10 of Iranian calendar (January) due to coincidence with Ramadan fasting. 25-0H-D was measured by competitive protein binding assay using RIA kits, and serum levels below 20ng/ml were considered as vitamin D deficiency. Results: Vitamin D serum level in our study population had a monthly variation pattern and the magnitude of variation was greater in males as compared to females. The lowest serum 25-0H-D levels were observed in December and February in both sexes (12±13 and 14±14 ng/ml in females and 28±16 and 24±18ng/ml in males, respectively), whereas the highest levels were seen in November (29±29ng/ml in females and 55±27ng/ml in males). In all months mean serum level of 25-0H-D in females was equal or less than that in males. The magnitude of monthly variations in females was lower than in males and the least difference between 25-0H-D level of the two sexes observed in summer. Mean 25-0H-D level in males in summer and Winter (31± 17 and 28±22ng/ml, respectively) is significantly lower than in spring and autumn (38±27 and 43± 29ng/ml; p<0.05 and p<0.01, respectively), but females have shown no significant difference between 25-0H-D levels during the first three seasons and only levels during winter were significantly lower than those of autumn (17±16 ng/ml vs. 23±23 ng/ml, p<0.05).Conclusion: The lower magnitude of seasonal variation and the significantly lower levels of 25-0H-D in females in our study can be attributed to their life style and their conventional clothing worn without variation all throughout the year. Our findings signify the importance of further research and adoption of preventive public health strategies for metabolic bone diseases, especially during the winter.

Background: Nocturnal enuresis is a common problem among children and adolescents that seeks extra attention for the family. The present study was conducted over 94 school-aged children residing in Tehran to determine the efficacy of different therapeutic interventions on nocturnal enuresis.Materials and methods: The study population was selected through the Tehran urban district-11 and-13 between October 1998 and May 1999. First, children were selected according to the DSM-IV diagnostic criteria, then, with respect to their parents awareness, educational pattern was provided based on Health Belief Model (HEM). Samples were randomly distributed in any of the three groups: education, medication, and both. Initial (before the intervention) and secondary assessment (following the intervention) were achieved.Results: Boys were more frequently affected than girls. Following the intervention, 52.7% had declared to have urinary incontinence, whereas the remaining 47.3% had urinary continence. Totally, 67% have found interventions successful, of whom 35% belongs to the "medication group" and 32% were in the "educational group". Variation in urine output was not recorded. Awareness of a full bladder was reported in 47% of the children. Conclusion: Results have revealed higher prevalence of nocturnal enuresis in boys and the efficacy of therapeutic interventions.

Background: Hyperbilirubinemia is a common disease of neonatal period that comprises the vast majority of neonatal hospitalization. Since septicemia is a common cause of neonatal jaundice, most of the pediatricians emphasize on thorough sepsis work-up. Between 1996 and 1998, we studied the etiology of neonatal jaundice in Taleghani General Hospital. Materials and methods: During this cross sectional study, 112 icteric. infants who had birth weight of ≥2kg and total bilirubin of >15mg/dl were assessed. Initial data, clinical manifestations and laboratory results were all recorded. Results: The most prevalent causes of neonatal jaundice Were breast-milk jaundice (37 cases), and blood group incompatibility (23 cases). 24 infants have presented jaundice in association with systemic infection. of whom 23 have presented clinical manifestations of sepsis, and one had solely conjunctivitis (as well as positive blood culture).Conclusion: Results have revealed that those infants, who have jaundice in the absence of apparent clinical manifestations of infection, require no further sepsis work-up.

Background: The cells that donot express MHC gene products or express lower levels of MHC class I molecules are unable to present endogenous viral antigen or tumoural antigen to cytotoxic lymphocyte. This defect may help the tumour cell to be invisible from the host's immune system.Materials and methods: The monoclonal antibody "W6/32(IgG2)" was utilized to determine the MHC class I antigen expression on the tumour cell lines, using flow cytometery system. The cells were derived from primary lesions and metastatic stages of the same patients during the time of tumour progression. Results: Data showed all melanoma cell lines expressed the MHC class I molecules on the cell surfaces. However, two out of three metastatic counterpart cell lines expressed the antigen in lower level than their primary partner lines. In general, the MHC antigen expression on the cells increased when those were treated with interferons, but responsiveness of metastatic cell lines was lower than their primary partner. Similar effects were seen by the treatment of cells with TNF-α. TGF-β2 was able to decrease the MHC antigen expression on the majority of the tested cell lines.Conclusion: The present data support the hypothesis which have been stated that deletion, defect or reduction of MHC gene or protein molecules could be involved in tumor escaping mechanisms. Moreover, production or increasing such antigens on tumor cells could be a useful therapeutic approach.

Background: Oral contraceptives are a well-known cardiovascular risk factor. The present study Was conducted to determine the effects of contraceptives on cardiovascular risk factors in females participating in the Tehran Glucose and Lipid Study. Materials and methods: It was a cross sectional study. of 15005 females participating in TGLS, 2480 females aged 15-49 years were selected. Different contraceptive methods including OCP, IUD, condom, withdrawal method were recorded. Blood pressure, height, weight, blood sugar, cholesterol, triglyceride. HDL, LDL, and 2-hour post glucose load (75mg glucose) were all measured.Results: Contraceptive methods were withdrawal (48%), OCP (11%), condom (4%), and IUD (5%). 32% have reported no means of contraception. Serum level of cholesterol, triglyceride, HDL, and LDL Were within the normal range. Significant differences were found between OCP users and nonusers regarding the FBS, 2-hour post glucose load and HDL (p<0.01). Conclusion: Significant differences in FBS, 2-hour post glucose load and HDL were within the normal range. Our results revealed that OCP is not associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease.

Background: Knowledge of the normal grow1h and development of children and adolescents is essential for preventing and detecting disease. To study physical growth and the pattern of pubertal changes in girls. height, weight, development of breast and pubic hair, and also age of menarche were determined in 11-14 year old girls in Shiraz. Materials and methods: This cross sectional study \vas achieved by random sampling, in which, 10% of guidance schools were chosen in Shiraz. Then 10% of girls were selected randomly.Results: The mean of girls height and weight were lower than the NCHS (National Center for Health Statistics) standards. The mean age (±SD) of breast bud stage and pubic hair development were 10.8±1.8 and 11.5±0.69 years, respectively. The mean age of menarche was 12.55±0.78 years.Conclusion: Our study population have presented slower physical growth comparing to the NCHS standards, however, age of pubertal events and sexual development is comparable to other communities.

Background: Rapid growth of population has made family planning an important goal in medical centers. As there are various methods of contraception, different groups of people, regarding their medical and socioeconomic conditions, can use different method. We determine the frequency of unintended pregnancy, despite using different methods of contraception, in Mahdieh Hospital during January and February] 995.Materials and methods: 1300 parturicnts referring for the termination of pregnancy, were included in this cross sectional study. Initial data including their age at the time of study, duration of marriage, number of parities, and the contraceptive methods were all recorded.Results: The study population included 1300 parturients aged 14-44 years. Totally, unintended pregnancy was reported in 368 individuals (28.3%), of whom, 245 (66.6%) have used withdrawal method. The rate of unintended pregnancy with other methods were as below: OCP 64 cases (17.4%/), condom 30 cases (8.1 %), lactation 11 cases (3%), minipills 8 cases (2.2%), IUD 5 cases (1.3%), TL 4 cases (1.1%), and vasectomy 1 case (0.3%). Unintended pregnancy was more frequently observed in 18-28 year old females (62.5%). Conclusion: The present study has revealed the necessity of educating young couples and encouraging them to use effective contraceptive methods.

Fasciola hepatica is a zoonotic disease that could accidentally affected the man via taking infected vegetables. This parasite would usually involve liver and biliary ducts, however, ectopic involvement of lungs, peritoneum, brain. thyroid, epididymis, and eye were reported. A 37 -year old female presenting with dyspnea, productive cough, fever, shaking chills and sweating. Radiographs have revealed pleural effusion, and localized empyema. Mature Fasciola hepatica was detected in BAL study.

Fibromatosis (desmoid tumor), an aggressive and non-metastasizing lesion, is made of fibrous tissues and is seen exactly 825 times more in FAP. Unlike the single affecting cases with more limited process, fibromatosis has a more damaging effect, especially in abdominal area, and usually appears after abdominal surgeries. In the mentioned family, all the two kids arc affected with Gardner syndrome, where their daughter has been affected with spread desmoid tumor after a colostomy operation. Beside the uniqueness of Gardner syndrome, the disease was appeared among all the family kids and was not fully responding to surgery. We highly suggest non-surgical approach for affected individuals especially females.