The Effects of a Course of Motor Activities Along with Music on the Balance, Running Speed and Agility in Children with Autism

Background and aims: Autism is one of the most common disorders affecting children. People with Autism disorder have problems with many motor skills, such as balance and walking speed. This study was aimed to investigate the effect of a period of motor activities along with music on balance performance and running speed in the children between 6 to 9 years old suffering from autism disorder. Methods: This study was a semi-experimental research. Among children with autism disorders in care centers of autistic children in 2017 in Isfahan, 16 children were selected using screening tests. They were randomly divided into two groups (interventional and control) and in each group 8 patients using the Bruninx Oseretsky test as a pre-test, after assessing balance performance and running speed and agility. Then, the interventional group performed motor activities along with music for 8 weeks and 3 sessions per week. Finally, all subjects were subjected to post-test using balance performance and running speed. In order to investigate the natural distribution of data, Shapiro Wilco test was used and the covariance analysis by SPSS 21 was used for the research hypothesis. Results: The findings of this study showed that the groups were homogeneous in terms of age, IQ and severity of autism. The findings of this study also showed that motor activities along with music in the interventional group was effective on the balance performance, running speed and agility of children suffering from autism disorder and they were significantly improved compared with the control group (P=0.001). Conclusion: According to the results, motor activity can be considered with music to improve balance performance, speed and agility in children with Autism disorder. Hence, the use of motor activity along with music is suggested as a suitable interventional method for children with Autism disorder

Evaluating the Effect of Prophylactic Acetaminophen in the Prevention of Patent Ductus Arteriosus (PDA) in Premature Neonates: A randomized clinical trial

neonates. The purpose of this study is to determine the efficacy of prophylactic parenteral acetaminophen as a safer alternative drug for PDA in preterm infants. Methods: In a randomized clinical trial carried out in a one-year period, 60 preterm newborns under 30 weeks of gestational age with birth weights under 1500 grams, admitted in neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) of Emam Reza Hospital, Mashhad were studied. The prophylaxis group received parenteral acetaminophen for 3 days. Echocardiography was performed 96 hours after the last given dose and on the 14th day in both groups. Result: There were 30 newborns in each group. In the 4th-day echocardiography, in 33.3% of the prophylaxis group and 26.7% of the control group, the ductus arteriosus was closed (P=0.106). In the 14th-day echocardiography, the ductus was closed in 63% and 41.4% of the intervention and control group, respectively, which was not statistically significant. In addition there was not a significant difference in the ratio of left atrium to aortic root between the two groups. Conclusion: This study showed that in total, PDA was closed in more cases in the intervention group compared to the control group but the difference was not statistically significant. Acetaminophen is a new medicine for PDA closure, which may be more prevalent in future due to its cost effectiveness and safety

Interleukin-6 as A Prognostic Biomarker in Perinatal Asphyxia

Abstract Objective Early diagnosis is considered as a priority for prevention and treatment of asphyxia-related complications. The main aim of the present study was to evaluate the prognostic value of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy grade in prediction mortality and developmental status of neonates affected by prenatal asphyxia. Materials & Method The cohort study was conducted on 38 term asphyxiated infants at Ghaem hospital, Mashhad, Iran, during 2013-2017. The HIE grade and serum IL-6 levels were determined at the time of birth. The developmental status was determined using the Denver II test at the end of two-year follow-up. Results  HIE grade 3 resulted in 83% mortality rate and developmental delay in all the survivors. The average IL-6 level was 2.7 ng/ml in the control group (not affected HIE) which increased up to 29, 175 and 136 ng/ml in those with HIE grades 1, 2 and 3, respectively. Roc curve analysis revealed the cut-off levels 24 pg/ml to predict the developmental delay with sensitivity and specificity of 96 and 92%, respectively. Conclusion  The IL-6 level and HIE grade are the potential prognostic biomarkers for determination of mortality and morbidity rate in the asphyxiated neonate

Effect of high-dose vitamin D supplementation on antibody titers to heat shock protein 27 in adolescent girls

Objective: Although vitamin D deficiency is associated with several inflammatory conditions, there have been few studies on the effects of vitamin D supplementation on markers of oxidative stress and inflammation. The aim of the current study was to evaluate the effects of high dose vitamin D supplementation on heat shock protein 27 antibody (anti-Hsp27) titres in adolescent girls. Methods: Five hundred and fifty adolescent girls received vitamin D3 at a dose of 50,000 IU/week for 9 weeks. Demographic, clinical, biochemical markers including serum fasting blood glucose, lipid profile and anti-Hsp27 titers as well as hematological parameters including white blood cell count (WBC), and red blood cell distribution width (RDW) were determined in all the subjects at baseline and at the end of the study. Results: Serum vitamin D increased significantly, from 6.4 (4.2-9.6) ng/mL to 35.6 (25.8-47.5) ng/mL (P <0.001) following the intervention. Furthermore, serum anti-Hsp27 titers were significantly lower after the 9 week vitamin D administration period [0.22(0.12-0.33) OD vs. 0.19(0.11-0.31) OD; P=0.002]. A significant correlation was found between serum anti-Hsp27 and RDW (r=0.13, p=0.037). The reduction in RDW values after intervention were particularly evident in subjects with the greatest increase in serum vitamin D levels. Conclusions: High-dose vitamin D supplementation was found to reduce antibody titers to Hsp 27. Further randomized placebo-controlled trials are warranted to determine the long time effect of vitamin D administration on the inflammatory process especially that associated with chronic disease

Infantile Herpes Simplex Virus Meningitis: A Case Report

Background: Herpes simplex virus (HSV) is one of the main causes of neonatal meningitis; nonetheless, it usually goes unreported. A lumbar puncture is needed to accurately differentiate between viral and bacterial meningitis. The cerebrospinal fluid can be analyzed to exclude bacterial meningitis; nevertheless, the identification of the specific viral cause may be beneficial. Viral diagnosis determines prognosis, improves the care of the patient, decreases hospitalization duration, and reduces unnecessary use of antibiotics. In young infants, the herpes simplex virus infection is responsible for serious complications leading to morbidity, mortality, and permanent sequelae in survivors. The clinical findings of this infection usually include tremors, seizures, lethargy, irritability, poor feeding, temperature instability, and a bulging anterior fontanel, which are common in almost all forms of meningitis. These similarities make the differential diagnosis rather difficult. Case report: We report and discuss the case of an an11-day-old neonate girl who presented with fever and negative test results, as well as our challenges that finally led to the diagnosis of HSV-related meningitis and its management. Conclusion: It could be managed to reach a firm diagnosis confirming the initial differential diagnosis through additional and repetitive testing. Therefore, it is concluded that clinical judgments may be more reliable than paraclinical results in the individual approach for each patient. Furthermore, HSV infection should also be considered for patients with a persistent fever of unknown origin. It is also recommended to adopt separate procedures for the suspicion of HSV type 1 and HSV type 2.   Keywords: Herpes simplex virus, Infantile fever, Meningiti

Severe Backache followed by Lumbar Punctur

The purpose of this study is to report a case of severe back pain following lumbar puncture (LP), which was associated with an accidental tether cord syndrome (TCS) in MRI. The patient was a 10-year-old boy that was hospitalized in the pediatric ward for severe headache and to rule out meningitis. First, LP was performed for him, but he suffered very severe back pain after LP. Lumbosacral MRI was performed to rule out collection or abscess formation, but the evidence of the TCS was accidentally found; however, it was too unexpected before. In the short term follow up, the symptoms of the patient were completely resolved by using analgesics. It was shown that his pain was as a result of LP. In general, although sometimes severe lower back pain after LP may be overwhelming, if neurologic examination were normal, it is important to assure parents that it would be resolved

The Effect of Zinc Supplementation on Cognitive Performance in Schoolchildren

Introduction Zinc is a vital micronutrient in humans and its deficiency in children can thwart their growth and development, compromise their immunity and cognitive function. However, there is a paucity of studies about the effect of zinc supplementation on cognitive functions. This study is an attempt to quantify the impact of zinc supplementation on cognitive performance of schoolchildren. Materials and Methods This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled field trial was carried out in public elementary school in Mashhad- Iran to investigate the effect of Zinc on cognition of 45 healthy children. The cognitive test used in the trial was Raven IQ (Intelligence Quotient) test. A total of 45 first grade children aged 6 to 8 years were enrolled and divided into two experiment and control groups. The cases group, received 20 mg of zinc sulfate syrup vs.  the control group  received a placebo each day for 6 months. Raven IQ test was administered under basal conditions before and after the supplementation of zinc or placebo. Results The memory and intellectual development in the experimental group was significantly more than in the control group (P < 0.05). Conclusion The results of the study demonstrate the positive relationship between zinc administration and some aspects of intellectual development and personality features, emphasizing the significance of this element in the normal psychological status of children

The Effect of a Balance Training Program under Dual-Task Conditions on Working Memory of Children with Developmental Coordination Disability

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of a selected balance training program under dual and single-task conditions on working memory of children with developmental coordination disorder. The research method was semi-experimental and a pre-test-post-test- follow-up design with a control group. In this study, 39 boys with DCD were selected by the available sampling method and randomly assigned to three groups: Dual-task training (n=13), single-task training (n=13), and control (n=13). The two experimental groups performed a selected training program with two different conditions for 8 weeks. All subjects were evaluated in three stages of pre-test, post-test and follow-up test (two months after post-test) by the Corsi block-tapping test (working memory test). Data analysis using ANOVA with the repeated measure as well as one-way ANCOVA showed that in the post-test, working memory in dual-task group was superior to both single and control groups (P <0.05). Also, a significant difference was observed from pre-test to post-test in all experimental groups except the single task group in the extended block index and the control group. In the follow-up test, this superior was maintained only in the overall score index and the overall effort. Also, the single-task group was superior to the control group in the post-test (P <0.05). Due to the importance of executive function, using this selected exercise program to improve working memory can be a useful tool and is suggested for this group of children

The effect of a selected training program under dual-task and single-task conditions on the cognitive flexibility of children with developmental coordination disability

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of a selected training program under dual and single-task conditions on the cognitive flexibility of children with developmental coordination disorder. The research method was semi-experimental and with a pre-test-post-test- follow-up design with control group. The statistical population of this study included male students with developmental disorder in Ahvaz city. From the mentioned population, a sample of 39 subjects who were eligible for inclusion in the study was selected by available sampling method. After the Trail Making Test as a pre-test, they were randomly assigned to three groups: Exercise Dual task (n=13), single task training (n=13) and control (n=13). Then, the two experimental groups performed a selected training program with different conditions for 8 weeks and 3 sessions each 45 minutes each week. At the end, all subjects were followed by a Trail Making Test and two months later, a follow-up test. Data analysis using one-way covariance analysis as well as t-test showed that in post-test, cognitive flexibility in dual task group was superior to both single and control group (P < 0.05). In the follow-up test, this superiority remained only rather than the control group. Also, the single task group was superior to the control group in the post-test (P <0.05). Compared to single-task approaches, dual-task-based exercises can improve the cognitive flexibility of children with developmental coordination disorder, so using this method in the planning of classes is suggested for this group of children

Glucose-6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase Deficiency and Neonatal Hyperbilirubinemia

Background: Jaundice is affecting over 60-80 percent of neonates in the first week of life. Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency, which is an important cause of pathologic hyperbilirubinemia, can lead to hemolytic anemia, jaundice and kernicterus. The present study was performed to determine the prevalence of G6PD deficiency among icteric neonates in Shirvan, Iran. Methods: This descriptive, analytical study was performed by evaluating the medical records of neonates with jaundice, admitted to the neonatal ward of Imam Khomeini Hospital of Shirvan in 2012-2013. All neonates, who were evaluated in terms of G6PD, were included in this study. Data including the clinical signs and symptoms, laboratory test results and maternal history during pregnancy were recorded in the questionnaires. The patients were divided into two groups: with and without G6PD deficiency. The recorded data were compared between the two groups, using t-test and Chi-square test. P-value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Among 452 admitted neonates, 16 (3.5%) presented with G6PD deficiency. There was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of birth weight, weight on admission, Coombs’ test results, hematocrit level, length of hospital stay and total bilirubin level. However, there was a significant difference between the two groups regarding reticulocyte count. Conclusion: Based on the findings, establishment of an early G6PD screening program, which can prevent further complications in neonates, seems essential, particularly in countries such as Iran where G6PD deficiency is highly prevalent