Objective: This study was performed to determine the prevalence and risk factors of low birth WEIGHT (LBW) among the live born neonates at the hospitals in Tehran from Sep 2005 till Sep 2006. Material & Methods: This study was a cross-sectional study. Ten hospitals in Tehran were chosen randomly. During the period of study several days in a month were chosen randomly and all NEWBORNs born on those days were assessed. The studied characteristics included sex, gestational age, birth order, the interval to previous birth, existence of congenital anomalies, multiple pregnancy, maternal age, gravidity and parity number, history of maternal fertility (including previous LBW infants, infertility, abortion), history of recent pregnancy (including smoking, drug consumption, x-ray exposure, WEIGHT gain, vaginal bleeding, gestational illness, folate and iron consumption, gestational infection), chronic illness of the mother, maternal education and maternal job. Findings: We studied 514 (56.5%) females and 391 (43.5%) males. The LBW prevalence was 8.6% (78 NEWBORNs). There was significant statistical relationship between LBW and gestational age, the interval to previous birth, existence of congenital anomalies, multiple pregnancy, maternal age, history of maternal fertility (including previous LBW infants, infertility, abortion), history of recent pregnancy (including smoking, drug consumption, WEIGHT gain, vaginal bleeding, gestational illness, iron consumption, gestational infection), chronic illness of the mother and maternal education.Conclusion: Although our results regarding LBW prevalence and risk factors confirm the results of other studies, we recommend perspective studies to reconfirm the LBW risk factors.

Objective: The goal of this study was to identify the risk factors of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) in neonatal intensive care unit in preterm infants born with birth WEIGHT 1000-2000g or at gestational age less than 34 weeks. Material & Methods: From August 2000 to December 2001, 50 preterm NEWBORN infants with birth WEIGHTs less than 2000 g or gestational age less than 34 weeks admitted to the NICU were studied. NEWBORN infants with birth WEIGHT between 1200-2000g who received more than 6 hours oxygen and NEWBORN infants with birth WEIGHT 1000-1200 g regardless of oxygen therapy, who survived until 4 weeks postnatal, were enrolled and followed. Patients underwent indirect ophthalmologic examination by two ophthalmologists between 4-8 weeks post partum. The NEWBORN infants who had ROP were assigned to case group and those without ROP to control group, both groups were reexamined every 2-4 weeks or according to international classification of retinopathy of prematurity (ICROP) advice.Findings: Fifty NEWBORN infants, 36 (72%) in control group, 14 (28%) in case group, were studied. Gestational age and birth WEIGHT of the patients with ROP were significantly lower than those of control group. Duration of oxygen therapy, hyperoxia, acidosis, hypercarbia, hypocarbia and phototherapy are suggested as risk factors contributing to ROP. Conclusion: The results of this study demonstrate that the ROP frequency remains elevated among premature and very low birth WEIGHT infants. Infants at risk for ROP should have screening eye examinations and proper treatment.

Background and purpose: Women’s health, as almost “half of the population of each society” and in recent years as “half of the workforce,” is of particular importance in achieving sustainable development goals. The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between birth WEIGHT and gestational age and mother’s employment.Materials and Methods: This descriptive analytic study was implemented among 390 cases (180 employees and 210 housewives) from pregnant women referred to Imam Ali Hospital in Amol, Mazandaran, Iran. Sampling was done by available methods, and data collection was conducted using a researcher made form appropriate to the purpose of the study. After collecting demographic and birth characteristics information (gestational age and birth WEIGHT), the results were analyzed using chi-square and t-test.Results: The mean birth WEIGHT in the case (employed mothers) and control groups was 3262.5±506.3 and 3369.1±450.8 g, respectively; in case group was significantly lower than control group (P=0.029). This difference was not observed in gestational age between the two groups with mean age38.8±1.7 in unemployed mothers and 38.5±2.0 weeks in employed mothers.Conclusion: Women’s employment during pregnancy is associated with some consequences such as effects on birth WEIGHT. Given the important role of the birth WEIGHT in the health and survival of babies, establishing greater co-ordination between the job and conditions of a pregnant woman will be effective on the health of the mother and baby.

This study aimed to estimate the genetic parameters of body WEIGHT traits in Markhoz goats, using B-spline random regression models. The data used in this study included 19549 records collected during 29 years (1992-2021) in Markhoz goat Breeding Research Station, located in Sanandaj, Iran. The model used to analyze data included fixed effects (year of birth, sex, type of birth and age of dam) and random effects including direct additive genetic, maternal additive genetic, permanent environmental and maternal permanent environmental assuming homogeneous and heterogeneous residual variance during the time. Akaike (BIC) and Bayesian (BIC) information criteria were used to compare the models and bspq.4.4.4.4 was selected as the best model. The direct heritability values for birth, 3-month, 6-month, 9-month and 12-month WEIGHTs were estimated to be 0.14, 0.16, 0.08, 0.28 and 0.26, respectively. Genetic correlation between body WEIGHTs at birth and 3-month, birth and 6-month, birth and 9-month, birth and 12-month, 3-month and 6-month, 3-month and 9-month, 3-month and 12-month, 6-months and 9-month and 9-month and 12-month were 0.22, 0.38, 0.21, 0.56, -0.26, 0.30, 0.62, 0.86 and 0.77, respectively. The highest phenotypic correlation was between the WEIGHT of 9-month and 12-month (0.82) and the lowest correlation was between birth WEIGHT and 3-month and 6-month (0.12). The results showed that the 9-month WEIGHT is a good criterion for selection in Markhoz goats.

Introduction: In spite of the recent improvements in prenatal and postnatal cares, there is an increase of respiratory distress in premature NEWBORNs that need to be put on ventilators. Due to intratracheal intubation and ventilation systems, there is an increase of ventilator-associated infection among such neonates; thus, calling for more attention and evaluation. Accurate diagnosis and immediate treatment of these infections may decrease the onset of respiratory complications, the cost due to prolonged hospitalization, drug consumption and neonatal mortality.Materials and Methods: This is a cross-sectional study. The sampling technique used for the study was easy and based on goals. The population of the study were selected among intubated NEWBORNs in neonatal intensive care of Bahman 22nd Hospital in Mashhad. The subjects were diagnosed for Respiratory Distresses (RDS) during the years 2006 to 2007. Tracheal culture was done and antibiograms were created for all the cases while changing the tube. Also, the results of blood culture, the number of tubes being changed, the duration of intubation and the number of suctions were studied. Having completed the information forms, the data were evaluated with SPSS software running Fisher test and K2.Results: Among 100 neonates who were studied, 34 cases had positive tracheal culture. The organisms identified included: Coagulase positive staph (30%), C. Negative staph (23%) and E. coli (23%). The results of blood culture were positive in 6% of the cases. 40% of the subjects were suctioned 10-12 times a day and 60% of them were put on intubators 3-5 days and 50% of them had their tracheal tubes changed 3 to 4 times during hospitalization period.Conclusion: Repeated sterile suctioning as well as reducing the time of intubation and the number of tube changing diminished the formation of organism colonization in trachea.

Background: Prematurity is the most common cause of neonatal death, resulting in approximately 80% of the deaths of infants without congenital abnormalities.Objectives: This study aimed to determine the survival of low birth WEIGHT infants and to investigate the effect of birth WEIGHT, gestational age, and Apgar score on mortality rate.Patients and Methods: We retrospectively studied the mortality and survival of 798 NEWBORNs with birth WEIGHT of<2500 g during a 4-year period in the neonatal intensive care unit of a referral hospital in Qom, Iran.Results: The survival-to-discharge rate was 50% for infants weighing<1000 g and 84.2% for those weighing 1000 – 1499 g. Survival rates at 26, 27, and 28 weeks’ gestation were 54.1%, 63.6%, and 70.2%, respectively. An Apgar score of more than 5 at the first minute and more than 7 at the fifth minute were associated with better survival after hospital discharge.Conclusions: Our study showed that even with modern perinatal technology and care, early deaths of extremely low birth WEIGHT infants are common in our hospitals.