Effect of Lamotrigine on Prophylaxis of Pediatric Classic Migraine

ObjectiveThis study was conducted to evaluate the preventive effect of lamotringine on migraine aura and migraine attacks in children, afflicted with classic migraine.Material & MethodsConducted between October 2005 and April 2008 in the neurology clinic of Kashani hospital,  Shahrekord, this study was a clinical trial, aimed at evaluating the prophylactic effects of Lamotringine administered to 21 children suffering from migraine with aura.ResultsOf the subjects, 52.4% of patients were female. The most common type of aura was visual (42.9%). Following use of Lamotrigine, significant reductions were seen in the frequency (from 5 ± 0.83 to 3.04 ± 1.65) and in intensity (from 6. 33 ± 1.08 to 3.66 ± 1.1) of migraine aura (P= 0.002). After 6 months of drug usage 66.6% of patients were improved.ConclusionLamotringine is effective in reducing the migraine aura and intensity of attacks in patients suffering from migraine with aura, and is hence beneficial for prophylactic therapy in children with classic migraine.

Association of Maternal Working Condition with Low Birth Weight: The Social Determinants of Health Approach

Background: The socioeconomic conditions have made more job opportunities available to women. This has created interest to conduct studies on the effect of working lifestyle on pregnancy outcomes. Aim: This study was conducted with the aim to assess the relationship between mothers’ working status as a social determinant and the incidence of low birth weight (LBW) of the newborn. Subjects and Methods: This case–control study was conducted on 500 women with normal weight infants (control group) and 250 women with LBW infants (case group) in selected hospitals in Tehran. Data were collected using a researcher‑made questionnaire, designed to assess the effect of mothers’ prenatal lifestyle, as a social determinant, on LBW of the newborn. A section of the questionnaire involved assessment of mother’s working condition in terms of the work environment, activities, and job satisfaction. Data were analyzed using Chi‑square and logistic regression tests. Results: LBW among employed mothers was 5 times more likely than unemployed ones (odds ratio = 5.35, P < 0.001). Unfavorable work conditions such as humid environment, contact with detergents, and being in one standing or sitting position for long hours were significantly associated with LBW (P < 0.001). Conclusion: The present study showed that unfavorable work conditions were associated with LBW; therefore, they need special attention.Keywords: Low birth weight, Pregnancy, Socioeconomic factors, Working condition

A Comparison between Symmetry of Abdominal Muscle Size in Healthy Adolescents and Adolescents with Low Back Pain

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Low back pain (LBP) is a musculoskeletal disorder and a relatively common complaint. Muscles, as the most important stabilizers of the spine, are impaired in patients with LBP. The aim of this study is to compare the symmetry of abdominal muscle size in the dominant and non-dominant sides as well as the painful and painless sides between healthy adolescents and adolescents with LBP. METHODS: This case-control study was conducted on 80 healthy adolescents and 80 adolescents with chronic nonspecific LBP, aged 15 to 18 years. Samples were chosen using convenience sampling method while being matched in terms of height, weight and body mass index. First, the demographic data were collected; then, their abdominal muscle size (transverse abdominus, internal oblique and external oblique) and intra-abdominal fat were measured by sonography. FINDINGS: The difference in mean value and possibility value for transverse abdominus (p=0.024 and 0.189), internal oblique (p=0.000 and 0.861), external oblique (p=0.031 and 0.287) and intra-abdominal fat (p=0.762 and 0.081) was significant between the two groups in term of abdominal muscle size while the difference in intra-abdominal fat size was not statistically significant. Results also revealed a statistically significant difference in abdominal muscle size (except for external oblique and intra-abdominal fat) between the dominant and non-dominant sides (p<0.05) and between the painful and painless sides in adolescents with LBP (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: The results of the present study demonstrated that abdominal muscle size in dominant and painful side is smaller than non-dominant and painless side

Comparing the Reliability of Abdominal Muscles Thickness Using Ultrasonography in Adolescents with Low Back Pain and Healthy Adolescents

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Low back pain (LBP) is one of the relative prevalent musculoskeletal disorders in patients which increases with increasing age. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate reliability of sonography in the assessment of abdominal muscles thickness in adolescents with LBP in comparison to healthy subjects. METHODS: This methodological study was carried out on thirty healthy girls and boys and 30 girls and boys with LBP. Transversus abdominis (TA), internal oblique (IO), external oblique (EO) and subcutaneous fat (SF) were evaluated in crook lying position using sonography at the end of exhalation. Two sets of images were taken on the same day to assess within-day reliability and the third measurement was taken one week later to evaluate between-day reliability. FINDINGS: The values of intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC), within-day and between-day reliability were high in two groups (ICC>0.80). ICC values were lower in patients with LBP compared with healthy subjects. Generally, within-day reliability was higher than between-day reliability. CONCLUSION: Reliability of sonography in the evaluation of abdominal muscles thickness and subcutaneous fat width was high in healthy adolescents and those who suffering from LBP

Population Size Estimates of Street Children in Iran: Synthesis of Multiple Methods

We used four methods (direct count, indirect count, wisdom of the crowd, and unique object multiplier) to map and estimate the population size of street children in six major cities in Iran in 2017. In aggregate for the six cities, the number of street children was estimated at 5296 (interquartile range [IQR] 4122-7071) using the median of the four methods. This corresponds to a rate of 16.3 (IQR 12.5-24.5) per 10,000 children age 5-18&nbsp;years old, or 3.2 (IQR 2.4-5.3) per 10,000 total population. The total number for street children in the country is estimated at 26,000 (IQR 20,239-34,719) children. Results can help policy-makers advocate for resources, plan programs, and evaluate the reach of programs for street children. The maps created through the course of the population size estimation exercise can also guide outreach efforts to provide street children with health and social welfare services

Interventions Plans for High-Risk Behaviors of Vulnerable Women: Rapid Assessment and Response Model

Background: In recent years, given the accelerated social changes, the prevalence of high-risk behaviors among different social strata has become a major concern for the society. Accordingly, this study was conducted to present proposed interventions for reduction of high-risk behavior of vulnerable women in Iran, based on rapid assessment and response model. Methods: This was a qualitative study using rapid assessment and response to identify needs of vulnerable women with such behaviors conducted over 8 months in 2 selected cities in Iran. In the assessment stage, study population consisted of vulnerable women, working professionally and illegally in the sex trade, selling their bodies in the city for money or commodity, during the period of this study and at least three months earlier, and key informants with experience, skill, and sufficient knowledge and history of management in issues of high-risk behaviors among SEX-workers. Semi-structured interview techniques, and question guide and open observations were used to explain high-risk behaviors. Results: According to the results obtained, 3 categories were identified, including high-risk behavior patterns and influencing factors, awareness and attitude, and diagnoses and medical services needs. Based on the 3 categories found, interventional strategies were designed separately for each one. Conclusion: Among benefits of rapid assessment and response methods, is design of interventions with participation of stakeholders and vulnerable groups, which increases the likelihood of interventions becoming operational

Access to needle and syringe programs and the relationship to equipment sharing among people who inject drugs in Kermanshah, Iran

© 2017 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC. Background: Needle and Syringe Programs (NSP) have been implemented in Iran since 2002. The primary aim of NSP is to prevent blood-borne virus transmission by providing sterile injecting equipment and information on safer injection practices. However, while NSP has been implemented in Iran for more than a decade, only a limited number of studies have evaluated the effect access to NSP has in reducing risk behaviors among people who inject drugs (PWIDs).Methods: Between September and December 2014 we used snow ball sampling to recruit PWID from Kermanshah for a cross-sectional survey. Participants completed a face-to-face interview and provided information on the frequency of injection and drug-related risk behaviors such as sharing (borrowing or lending) of previously used syringes/needles and the number of injecting partners with whom they have shared syringes/needles in the two months prior to interview. Correlation between drug-related risk behaviors and ability to access NSPs was assessed by bivariate and multiple logistic regression through the estimation of odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI).Results: Of 500 PWIDs in this study, 18%, 36% and 46% reported low, medium and high ability to access NSPs in the two months prior to interview, respectively. The odds of receptive syringe sharing among people with low-access was 3.5 times the odds of people with high-access when adjusted for covariates and remained statistically significant (adjusted odds ratio (AOR): 3.5, 95%CI 1.4–7.7). The relationship between access to NSP and use of sterile-injecting equipment was not statistically significant. The AOR for outcomes like paraphernalia sharing (AOR: 2.5, 95%CI: 0.6–4.6, p-value: 0.6) was not statistically significant.Conclusions: Similar to the previous research in international settings, this study found that PWID who reported to have more access to needle and syringe programs were less likely to use a syringe after someone else had used it. NSP program staff should focus on encouraging more frequent visits, increasing the opening hours and number of locations providing access to sterile syringe in settings with high concentrations of PWID