The Prevalence of Renal Scar in Urinary Tract Infection Using Dimercaptosuccinic Acid (DMSA) Scan, and Related Factors in Children under 16 Years Old during the Years 2012-2016 in Sari City, Iran

Background: Urinary tract infection is one of the main causes of renal scar that can lead to serious complications such as hypertension or chronic renal failure. Therefore, accurate and timely diagnosis of urinary tract infection and other risk factors related to scar is very important. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of renal scar using dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) scan after urinary tract infection in children under 16 years old in Bu Ali Sina hospital located in Sari City, Iran, during the years 2012 to 2016. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, the data were extracted from files related to those patients suffering UTI referred to Bu Ali Sina hospital, for whom DMSA scan was performed. Results: Of 208 enrolled children, 83.2% were girls and 16.8% were boy with mean age of 32.80 ± 32.57 months. Based on the first DMSA scan, the prevalence of scars was about 40%; and based on second DMSA scan (delayed), the prevalence was about 34%. In people who had scar, the frequency of UTI was more. In these patients, the most common organisms were Escherichia coli (71.4%), Proteus (14.3%), and Klebsiella (10.7%). Proteus significantly led to scar formation more than the others. Vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) with prevalence of 67.9% was the most common observed disease; and all patients with severe scars suffered from VUR. Scar in DSMA scan had no significant relationship with age and gender. Conclusion: Scar is a relatively common complication of UTI in children and VUR is an important risk factor for permanent damage. It is mandatory to think to this critical complications in children with UTI. Keywords Urinary tract infection; Scar; DMS

Versatile Biodegradable Poly(ester amide)s Derived from α-Amino Acids for Vascular Tissue Engineering

Biodegradable poly(ester amide) (PEA) biomaterials derived from α-amino acids, diols, and diacids are promising materials for biomedical applications such as tissue engineering and drug delivery because of their optimized properties and susceptibility for either hydrolytic or enzymatic degradation. The objective of this work was to synthesize and characterize biodegradable PEAs based on the α-amino acids L-phenylalanine and L-methionine. Four different PEAs were prepared using 1,4-butanediol, 1,6-hexanediol, and sebacic acid by interfacial polymerization. High molecular weight PEAs with narrow polydispersity indices and excellent film-forming properties were obtained. The incubation of these PEAs in PBS and chymotrypsin indicated that the polymers are biodegradable. Human coronary artery smooth muscle cells were cultured on PEA films for 48 h and the results showed a well-spread morphology. Porous 3D scaffolds fabricated from these PEAs were found to have excellent porosities indicating the utility of these polymers for vascular tissue engineering

Impact of maternal fasting during Ramadan on growth parameters of exclusively breastfed infants in Shahroud, 2012

Introduction: There are many advantages in breastfeeding of infants. The impact of fasting of breastfeeding mothers during Ramadan, on their exclusively breastfed infants’ growth, is still unclear. The objective of this study is to determine the impact of maternal Ramadan fasting on growth parameters of exclusively breastfed infants. Methods: This cohort study was conducted on 55 healthy, exclusively breastfed infants, aged 1 to 6 months, during Ramadan and three months after it. 20 infants, whose mothers fasted throughout Ramadan (case group) and 35 infants, whose mothers did not fast (control group), were enrolled in the study. All infants underwent periodic physical examinations, twice in Ramadan and 3 times in the first, second and the third months after Ramadan. The data analyses were done using a repeated measure analysis of variance. Statistical significance was defined as PFindings: The average age was 3.43±1.38 months in the case group and 2.31±1.45 months in the control group that presence no significant difference between. From the total number of infants, 23 cases (41.8%) were males and the rest were females. All growth parameters increased during the study period (P< 0.05), with the same rate of increase for both groups (P=0.125). Conclusion: Ramadan fasting by breastfeeding mothers did not adversely affect the growth parameters of exclusively breastfed infants in short-term

The clinical comparison of the Pediatrics Assistants\' skills score, before and after the executive rotational style

Introduction: Pediatrics assistants should have the same training program. Shahid Beheshti University of medical sciences has seven training hospital, however, there are no similar specialized departments in all of these hospitals. Therefore, it is necessary to develop identical rotational style in order to train assistants according curriculum. The aim of this study was to investigate and compare the pediatrics assistants' skills scores in clinic, before and after the executive rotational style. Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out in two successive steps in Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences. In the first step, the rotational guideline was developed by the specialists and used for pediatrics assistants since 2015. The second step was carried out in 2017. In this phase, the effect of the implementation of the guideline was investigated by a researcher-made questionnaire. Eighty-four questionnaires were distributed among the pediatrics assistants of Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences. Sixty-nine assistants fulfilled the questionnaires. Thirty-eight assistants have been trained by the rotational program and, 31 assistants have been trained by the old one. Data were collected from questionnaires, and analyzed using Spss software version 16. 0. Results:The mean and standard deviation of the clinical skills scores were higher in rotational group of assistants, camper with the others especially in wards of neonatal, nephrology, emergency, infectious, gastroenterology, lung, heart, rheumatology, hematology, and oncology. The rotational group assistants earned lower clinical skills scores than the others in endocrinology (3. 7±1. 5) and asthma and allergy (4. 3±2. 1) departments. Conclusion:the findings indicated that the implementation of rotational style in Shahid Beheshti University of medical sciences had a positive effect on the pediatrics assistants' clinical skills improvement