Background: This study was performed in children aged <15 years, at the Pediatric Neurology Clinic of Imam Reza Hospital affiliated to Mashhad University of Medical Sciences. The objective of this study was to recognize the main predisposing factors that result in uncontrolled seizures in patients so that we can start the treatment accurately. Methods: There were two groups of patients; group I, consisted of 51 patients, with minimum refractory seizures of one episode per month while taking at least two antieplieptic drugs, and group II, comprised of 80 well-controlled patients chosen at random, who had no fit within 6 months after starting the treatment. Results: factors affecting the occurrence of refractory seizures included age <1 year, multiple seizures before starting the treatment, male gender, myoclonic seizures, neurologic defects, neonatal and daily seizures, and first abnormal electroencephalogram and brain computerized tomo­graphy scan. Conclusion: There are several factors that can predict development of uncontrolled seizures.  Knowledge of these factors helps us to discriminate our patients and pay more attention to those at risk of developing uncontrolled seizures.    

Background: Cosmetic surgery became increasingly popular in recent years. In some cases, cosmetic surgery caused some complications and did not create a durable improvement of quality of life. Objectives: The current study aimed at determining the predictive factors for cosmetic surgery in Iranian females. Methods: The current case-control study was conducted on 98 females admitted to the plastic surgery clinics (the case group) and 102 females admitted to other clinics as the control group. The simple random sampling method was used. The inclusion criteria were no obvious physical defects and known mental disorders. Duplicates and the ones not interested to cooperate with the study were excluded. Study data were collected using demographic, the multidimensional scale of perceived social support (MSPSS), and the Cohen perceived stress scale (PSS). The Chi-square test was used to assess the categorical variable. The logistic regression model was applied to measure odds ratio. Results: The relationship between educational level as well as occupation, and cosmetic surgery were statistically significant. The social support from friends and others was significantly associated with tendency toward cosmetic surgery. While family support and perceived stress showed no differences between the females with and the ones without cosmetic surgery. The logistic regression analysis showed that higher education level, being a housewife, and external supports had a significant relationship with cosmetic surgery. Conclusions: factors including higher education level, being a housewife, and external supports were the important factors affecting the tendency toward cosmetic surgery among females in Ilam, Iran. Identifying the risk factors of unnecessary cosmetic surgery is needed in every society, to plan counseling programs and reduce unnecessary surgeries.

Background: So far, many studies investigated factors that affect pregnancy rates after intrauterine insemination (IUI). Various investigators have not agreed on the nature and ranking of these criteria. Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the predictive factors for pregnancy rate after controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH)/ IUI.Materials and Methods: Retrospective study of all patients undergoing IUI at Zeynep Kamil Gynecologic and Pediatric Training and Research Hospital from January 2006 to December 2009. In total 980 IUI cycles in 569 couples were analyzed. All women in the study underwent ovarian stimulation using gonadotropin and IUI was performed 36 h after triggering ovulation. The primary outcome measure was clinical pregnancy rates. predictive factors evaluated were female age, body mass index (BMI), duration of infertility, type of infertility, follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) level and estradiol (E2) on third day of the cycle, number of preovulatory follicles, endometrial thichness, total motil sperm (TMS) count, and ratio of progressive motile sperm.Results: The overall clinical pregnancy rate was 4.7%. Among the predictive factors after multivariate logistic regression analysis level of BMI (<25 kg/m²), number of preovulatory follicles ( ³2), level of FSH (<9.4 IU/L), level of E2 (<80 pg/ml) and the ratio of progressive motile sperm (>50%) significantly influenced the clinical pregnancy rate.Conclusion: Level of BMI, FSH, estradiol, number of preovulatory follicles and the ratio of progressive motile sperm may determine IUI procedure as optimum treatment model.

Background: A successful kidney transplantation (KT) corrects the main metabolic abnormalities responsible for secondary hyperparathyroidism (HPT). Nonetheless, after several months, many patients keep abnormally high parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels and/or become hypercalcemic with persistent HPT. Objective: In the present survey, the frequency of high PTH levels and the influence of certain important factors on its evolution among patients with successful KT were investigated within three months posttransplantation. Methods: A total of 126 patients, who had successful KT, entered the study between 2000 and 2002. On the day of operation and three months later, demographic data and serum calcium, phosphorus, albumin, creatinine, and immunoreactive PTH (iPTH)(by IRMA) were checked. Hypercalcemic patients, at third month, were followed up for one year after transplantation. With respect to the post-KT iPTH level, patients were divided into two groups; those with iPTH above and below 60 pg/mL. The importance of several factors on the evolution of hyperparathyroidism was determined. Sequential changes in serum calcium were also assessed in hypercalcemic patients up to one year after transplantation. Results: Twenty-one (16.6%) out of 126 patients had a post-KT serum calcium of >10.8 mg/mL. Post-KT iPTH value of > 60 pg/mL was found in 9 (7.1%) out of the 126 cases. There was a statistically significant relationship between the age of patients and duration of dialysis and a post-KT high PTH level (P<0.001). Other risk factors did not seem to have a significant correlation with the post-KT high PTH level. In all hypercalcemic patients, PTH levels normalized but hypercalcemia persisted in 14 (88% ) out of 16 patients up to 1 year after transplantation. Conclusion: Increased age of the patient as well as the duration of dialysis had significant influences on development of persistent HPT, three months posttransplantation. We believe that it is better to transplant the patients as soon as possible, in order to prevent the devastating complication of persistent HPT and hypercalcemia.