Determination of birth indices in healthy neonates

Determination of birth indices is essential for primary supportive care, evaluation of perinatal anomalies, determination amount of difference from standard values and for further follow up. In this study using a multicentre sampling, a number of 2832 healthy neonates selected. Mean and percentile values of four main birth indices; weight, height, head and chest circumference are presented. In this study, males outnumbered the females (50.8 vs. 49.2). Mean (± SD) weight, height, head and chest circumferences were 3231.70 gr (±3.92), 49.77 cm (±1.76), 35.03 cm (± 1.27) and 33.34 cm (±1.56), respectively. Weight, height and head circumference had significant statistical differences in male and female. Chest circumference had difference in gender groups, but it seemed to be clinically not significant (mean difference= 0.416). Birth weight in both genders plus height and chest circumference in girls were significantly lower than NCHS standard values. But, head circumference was more. Height and chest circumference of males had no statistically difference. © 2007 Tehran University of Medical Sciences. All rights reserved

Short-term and long-term outcome of hemolytic uremic syndrome in Iranian children

Background: Hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) is the most common cause of acute renal failure during infancy. Many symptoms and clinical features have been proposed as prognostic factors for HUS in the short and long term, while the results of different studies have often been controversial. The aim of this study was to evaluate short-term and long-term outcomes of HUS in Iranian children. Methods: Medical records of all 92 children suffering from HUS admitted to the pediatrics nephrology ward at Ali-Asghar Children Hospital in Tehran, Iran, from 1990 to 2004, were retrospectively reviewed. Results: Out of 92 children, mortality was observed in 18 patients (19.6) during the acute phase of the disease. Significant correlation between mortality and seizures, coma and hypertension in the acute phase was found (p0.05). In the long-term, the presence of hypertension in the acute phase of the disease (p=0.023; relative risk RR = 3.89; 95% confidence interval 95% CI, 1.01-13.76), hypertension at discharge time (p<0.001; RR=10; 95% CI, 2.44-40.91) and need for dialysis (p=0.021; RR=1.38; 95% CI, 1.13-1.70) were shown to be significant risk factors for future hypertension in HUS patients. Conclusion: Central nervous system involvement is associated with mortality in the acute phase of HUS, whereas the severity of disease in the admission phase is related to occurrence of hypertension in future. © Società Italiana di Nefrologia

Cross-sectional reference values for height, weight and body mass index of schoolchildren living in Tehran, Iran

Aim: The aim of the study was to create reference values for weight, height and body mass index (BMI) of school children living in Tehran. Method and samples: The study subjects consisted of 1420 girls between 6 and 17 years of age and 1515 boys between 6 and 15 years of age. Samples were collected by a multistage sampling method from schools in different areas of Tehran. All participants were established to be healthy and their height, weight and BMI evaluated. Reference standard values estimated by the LMS method using LMS Light software and 3rd, 5th, 10th, 25th, 50th, 75th, 90th, 97th and 85th (only for BMI) centiles were constructed and the results compared with US reference values. Results: The centiles provided a good fit to the data. In boys, there were some significant differences of mean standard deviation scores (SDS) of height and BMI from zero, but there were no significant differences in weight. In girls, the mean SDS of height, weight and BMI were significantly lower than zero, especially for 7-9 years of age. Among 12-13-year-old girls, the mean SDS of height, weight and BMI came closer to zero, and the differences were not significant. Thereafter, although girls seemed to be shorter than US reference measures, their weight and BMI did not differ from reference values significantly. Conclusion: Our results for boys between 6 and 15 years are comparable with US reference values; however, the US reference values, especially for height, are not applicable for Iranian girls between 6 and 17 years. © 2006 Informa UK Ltd

Age of puberty in Iranian girls living in Tehran

The aim of this study was to determine the age of appearance of secondary sexual characteristics in Iranian girls living in Tehran. A cross-sectional study was conducted between 2003 and 2004 on 1420 6-17-year-old females in different parts of Tehran. Data were collected on the basis of a multistage probability sampling. Secondary sexual characteristics were evaluated by inspection and palpation, and were recorded according to Tanner staging. The subjects were asked about the occurrence of menarche and the age of its onset. Generalized additive logistic modelling was used for the analysis of data. The median age (percentile 10-percentile 90) of Tanner 2 of breast development (B2) and Tanner 2 of pubic hair growth (P2) among 1136 girls was 9.74 years (8.23-11.94) and 10.49 years (8.86-12.17), respectively. The ages of the 2.5 percentile for B2 and P2 were 7.42 and 7.03 years, respectively, so the onset of puberty at <7 years and 5 months is considered precocious in this population. The median age of menarche in 399 girls was 12.68 years (11.27-15.96). © 2006 Informa UK Ltd