Update on Acute Kidney Injury in Pediatrics- Part 1

Acute kidney injury is known as an acute reversible insult to the kidney but its definition and classification is not uniform. Earlier classification of acute renal failure was according to pre-renal, renal, and post renal by using history, the time of response to fluid therapy, and some blood and urinary parameters and markers. Recently, efforts have been made to present a uniform definition of acute kidney injury for earlier disease detection in order to decrease the rate of morbidity, mortality, length of hospital stay, and even death. However, it is clear that serum creatinine is a late marker of renal injury and many new investigations have tried to find more sensitive biomarkers to recognize earlier stages of AKI, its exact underlying mechanism, and outcome. Here we provide the first section of a series about new concepts on AKI with focus on pediatrics. Keywords: Acute Kidney Injury; Pediatrics; Biological Markers; Classification

The Relationship between Serum Vitamin D Level and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

How to Cite This Article: Sharif MR, Madani M, Tabatabaei F, Tabatabaee Z. The Relationship between Serum Vitamin D Levels andAttention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. Iran J Child Neurol. Autumn 2015;9(4): 48-53.AbstractObjectiveAttention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the most prevalent mental health disorders. In recent years, the impacts of various micronutrients on ADHD have been studied. However, vitamin D has received much less attention. This study was aimed at evaluating the association and level of serum vitamin D in children with ADHD.Materials & MethodsThis case-control study was carried out, in 2012, on 6 to 12 yr-old children.Thirty-seven were children with ADHD in the cases group and another 37 healthy children were in the control group. Venous blood sample was drawn from each child to measure the serum level of vitamin D. Other variables were compared as well.ResultsThe mean serum vitamin D level of children with ADHD (19.11±10.10 ng/ml) was significantly lower than that of the control group (28.67±13.76 ng/ml) (P<0.001).ConclusionDeficiency of vitamin D has been proved in various psychiatric diseases. This study evidenced a significantly low level of serum vitamin D in children with ADHD. This suggests the need for regularly monitoring of serum vitamin D levels and treatment of patients with vitamin D deficiencies

Estimation of Maximum Finger Tapping Frequency Using Musculoskeletal Dynamic Simulations

A model for forward dynamic simulation of the rapid tapping motion of an index finger is presented. The finger model was actuated by two muscle groups: one flexor and one extensor. The goal of this analysis was to estimate the maximum tapping frequency that the index finger can achieve using forward dynamics simulations. To achieve this goal, each muscle excitation signal was parameterized by a seventh-order Fourier series as a function of time. Simulations found that the maximum tapping frequency was 6 Hz, which is reasonably close to the experimental data. Amplitude attenuation (37% at 6 Hz) due to excitation/activation filtering, as well as the inability of muscles to produce enough force at high contractile velocities, are factors that prevent the finger from moving at higher frequencies. Musculoskeletal models have the potential to shed light on these restricting mechanisms and help to better understand human capabilities in motion production

Evaluation of Clinical Manifestations, Laboratory Findings and Outcome of Children with Covid-19

Background: Coronavirus, a common infectious disease in the 21st century, has not been studied enough in children. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the clinical manifestations, laboratory findings, and outcomes of children with Covid-19 admitted to Shahid Beheshti Hospital in Kashan during 2020-2022. Method: In this retrospective cohort study, the medical records of children with covid-19 referred to Shahid Beheshti hospital in Kashan between February 2020 and March 2022 were reviewed. The information extracted from the patient's medical records included demographic variables, clinical characteristics, laboratory findings, and the outcome of covid-19. The collected data were analyzed through SPSS 16, using descriptive statistics (frequency distribution, mean and standard deviation) and inferential statistics (chi-square test and ANOVA). Result: The findings of 271 children (159 boys; 52% of the age group≤5 years) showed that fever (57.6%), cough (39.9%), nausea-vomiting (31.7%), and diarrhea were the most common clinical symptoms. Also, the majority of patients were in the abnormal range in terms of Monocyte (89.3%), PTT (84.7%), Lymphocyte (83.6%), Neutrophil (80.4%), and LDH (74.5%). Pulmonary involvement was present in 12.5% of children. Finally, four children (1.5%) died. Conclusion: Severity of lung involvement and the outcome of the covid-19 disease (admission to the ICU and death) among children were at a low level, and in fact, it shows the better condition of children than adults in relation to this disease

The Comparative Semantics of the Term Irteqab (Revelation) in Sunni and Shi’ite Exegesis

Translators of the words of Wahy (revelation) have considered some vocabularies as synonymous with each other in the translation of the Qur’an. Moreover, sometimes they have applied one single meaning as equivalent for different Arabic words in the Qur’an while paying attention to the accurate meaning of the words is a way to untangle the mystery of some Quranic verses and traditions. Using pictorial translation can provide a more meaningful translation than what Sunni and Shi’ite translators have already stated in their books. The term “Irteqab” in Sunni and Shi’ite exegesis is considered as synonymous with “waiting” so its semantic delicacies are ignored. Comparing Sunni and Shi’ite exegetic theories, it is attempted in this study to delve deep into the ignored points in translation and to analyze the semantics of the term using pictorial interpretative method relying on the Qur’an and the style of the verses in the story of Naqeh Saleh (the miracle camel of Prophet Saleh) in Surah al-Qamar. In addition to maintaining conceptual structure and consistency with the concepts provided by verbal dictionaries, the pictorial interpretative method in this study represents more accurate, tangible, and practical meaning along with the Quranic divine programs for the intended words. Among Sunni and Shi’ite early commentators, Zeyd ibn Ali, Hasan ibn Abi al-Hasan, Abu Sa’iid Khudri, and most importantly Imam Ali (PBUH) have discussed the subject of “Irteqab in Surah Ad-Dukhan” more precisely

Fatty liver disease in obese children in Kashan, Iran

Background: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is increasingly a common disease which is created by the accumulation of fat in the liver. About 20% of adults and 5% of children suffer from this disease. In some studies, half of obese children had fatty liver disease and approximately 90% of the patients with fatty liver were obese. The aim of this study was to evaluate fatty liver disease in obese children referred to the pediatric clinic in Kashan, Iran, in 2012. Methods: This study was done on 200 children aged 5-15 years with Body Mass Index (BMI) more than 95% and other causes of obesity were ruled out. Liver ultrasonography for evaluation of fatty liver and blood sampling were performed for these children. Results: Of 200 studied children, 122 (61%) and 78 (39%) were male and female, respectively with mean age of 9.07 years. The average of BMI was 27.9. According to liver sonography, 118 (59%) patients had fatty liver that 91.5% of them were grade I and 8.5% grade II. Liver enzyme levels, serum lipids and uric acid were significantly higher in obese children with fatty liver. Fatty liver had a significant relationship with insulin levels but no with Fasting Blood Sugar (FBS). Conclusions: In this study, the prevalence of fatty liver and associated disorder in obese children was high (59%). Therefore, the lifestyle changes are necessary to prevent childhood obesity and some measures should be carried out for the treatment of fatty liver in children

Mathematical modeling and numerical seismic study of smart concrete beams

The seismic response of the smart layer is studied in this article based on mathematical modeling and numerical solution. The structure is modeled by sinusoidal shear deformation (SSDT) and the motion equations are derived by energy method and virtual work. The concrete beam is covered by a piezoelectric layer for smart control of the structure. The differential quadrature (DQ) and Newark methods are applied for numerical solution and dynamic response of the smart concrete beam under the earthquake load. The influences of boundary conditions; external voltage, and geometrical parameters of the beam are studied on the seismic response of the smart concrete beam. The results indicate that by applying an external negative voltage, the dynamic deflection of the smart concrete beam is reduced, which is important for smart control of the system while this phenomenon is converse for positive external voltage

Investigating the Efficacy of Sumac Topical Solution Against Permethrin-resistant Human Head Lice

Background: The present study aimed at determining the efficacy of applying Rhus coriaria (Sumac) solution for the treatment of Permethrin-resistant head louse in patients, who used permethrin for at least 2 consecutive periods, but have not been cured.Methods: This study is a before-after clinical trial performed on 100 patients with pediculosis aged between 2 and 50 years old and both sexes. All patients had used Permethrin at least twice consecutively (with at least 14 days interval) according to correct instructions (on the first and 7th day), but they have not been cured. Each patient received 60ml of Rhus coriaria solution for 3 consecutive days, and the treatment was repeated again for another 3 days; then, the patients were followed-up on the 4th, 10th, and14th days after the treatment.Results: The results showed a significant difference in the severity of head lice infection and itching before the treatment and 14 days after the treatment (P<0.001).Conclusion: Rhus coriaria solution was more effective in eliminating head-louse infestations on 4, 10, and 14 days after the treatment and itching disappeared in most of the patients, while negligible complications were observed

Bladder Volume Wall Index In Children With Urinary Tract Infections

How to Cite This Article: Hooman N, Hallaji F, Mostafavi SH, Sharif MR, Tatarpoor P, Otukesh H. Bladder Volume Wall Index in Children with Urinary Tract Infections. J Ped. Nephrology 2013 July;1(1):18-22.Introduction: Few studies have focused on the correlation between bladder ultrasound and urinary tract infection. The aim of this study was to evaluate the bladder volume wall index in children with single or recurrent urinary tract infection.Materials & Methods: This case-control study was conducted between March 2008 and December 2009. The study was performed on one hundred children (8 boys, 92 girls) aged 4-15 years with a history of urinary tract infection and thirty-nine (20 males, 19 females) age- matched healthy children who had negative urine culture one month before investigation. The kidneys, ureters, and bladder sonography were performed in all children. Bladder volume wall index was calculated for each child and the result of 70-130 was presumed normal. Student T-test, chi-square, likelihood ratio, and risk ratio were used. P-value <0.05 was considered significant.Results: The mean bladder volume was 262.5 (±82) in recurrent urinary tract infection, 235 (±54) in single urinary tract infection, and 278 (±80) in controls (P<0.05). The bladder was thick (<70) in 37 (28 cases, 9 controls) and thin (>130) in 38 children (28 cases, 10 controls) (P>0.05). The median residual volume was not different between the two groups. The abnormal BVWI in children with vesicoureteral (VU) reflux was 75% as compared to 51% in those without VU reflux (P>0.05). There was no correlation between BVWI and age, gender, groups, vesicoureteral reflux status, or residual volume (P>0.05).Conclusions: According to our findings, the bladder volume wall index is not sensitive enough to discriminate children who are prone to urinary tract infection. Keywords: Urography; Urinary Tract Infections; Ultrasonography; Urinary Bladde