Obesity in chronic functional constipation compared to healthy children

Introduction: Childhood obesity and chronic functional constipation (CFC) are common public health problems. This study was designed to compare the prevalence of obesity in children with and without CFC.Materials and Methods: All children referred with constipation (2009-2010) were evaluated, and were enrolled if they were diagnosed as CFC. Children with mild illnesses, but without GI problem, were selected as controls.Their age and sex matched. Data about age, sex, weight, height, body mass index (BMI), duration of breast feeding, duration of constipation, incontinence, daily consumption of fiber and dairy products, daily activity, and family history of CFC were recorded for both groups.Results: 208 constipated children (51% male; mean age: 4.73 yr) and 208 healthy controls were enrolled. 19.7% of patients and 17.8% of controls (P>0.05) were obese (BMI>95%). Patients had: less average (>2 hr) daily activity (80.3% vs. 95.2%; P<0.001); shorter period of breast feeding (16.3 mo. vs. 18.24 mo.; P≈0.017) and more frequently diet with inadequate fiber (58.7% vs. 28.8%; P<0.001). There was no difference for dairy consumption (P≈0/94). Family history of CFC found to be more in patients (28.8% vs. 8.2%; P<0.001). In patient group, mean duration of constipation was longer in obese subjects (in comparison to non-obese ones; 31.4 mo. vs. 21 mo.; P<0.01).Conclusion: Although the prevalence of obesity in children with CFC was similar to healthy age matched population, they were differed by duration of breastfeeding, average daily fiber consumption, average daily physical activity and family history of constipation

SOFT Syndrome: The First Case in Iran

Primordial dwarfism (PD) is a group of rare genetically heterogeneous disorders consisted of disorders with intrauterine growth retardation continued through the life. SOFT syndrome with characteristics of short stature, onychodysplasia, facial dysmorphism, and hypotrichosis has been presented as a subtype of PD. Only 20 cases of SOFT syndrome have been reported in world to date, but none of them were not in Iran. Our case was 6.5-year-old girl with a complaint of growth retardation including height of 97 cm (Z = −4.6 standard deviation [SD]) and weight of 14 kg (Z = −4 SD) referred to growth clinic. She had a prominent forehead, triangular face, short limbs, malformed nails, and crowded teeth and her psychomotor function was normal. Laboratory and karyotype tests were normal while she was homozygous for c.G491A mutation of POC1A gene thus SOFT syndrome diagnosis was confirmed for her and recombinant growth hormone therapy was discontinued