A comparison of antibiotic disks from different sources on Quicolor and Mueller-Hinton agar media in evaluation of antibacterial susceptibility testing

Background and Objectives: Antibacterial susceptibility testing of clinical bacterial isolates through disk diffusion method plays a major role in antibacterial treatment. One of the main factors affecting the result of these tests is the type, structure and quality of the disks. The main objective of this study was to compare the agreement of antibiotic disks originated from three companies on Quicolor and Mueller-Hinton agar. Materials and Methods: Quicolor and Mueller-Hinton agar media were used in disk diffusion method. Seventy clinical isolates from Enterobacteriaceae family (21 Klebsiella spp., 36 Escherichia coli, 1 Enterobacter spp. and 12 Shigella spp.) were investigated in the study. After obtaining data, the results were interpreted as resistant, sensitive or intermediate. Kappa coefficient measured the agreement of two media. Coefficient of variation (CV) was also calculated for antibiotic disks. Results: The kappa agreement values for three types of antibiotic disks on Quicolor and Mueller-Hinton agar plates were good or excellent for all the examined antibiotics. CV values were also very satisfactory in the majority of cases. Conclusion: Antibiotic disks from three manufacturers can successfully be used on both Quicolor and Mueller-Hinton agar plates

Prevalence of sensorineural hearing loss in patients with congenital hypothyroidism in qazvin, Iran (2015)

Background: Congenital hypothyroidism increases the risk of sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL). Children with hearing impairment are prone to communication disorders. The present study aimed to determine the prevalence of SNHL in patients with congenital hypothyroidism in Qazvin, Iran. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on children with transient or permanent congenital hypothyroidism in Qazvin province, Iran in 2015. The patients were identified through national neonatal thyroid screening during 2006-2011. Hearing loss was assessed using the auditory brainstem response (ABR). A minimum of three years of follow-up was carried out to determine the permanency of congenital hypothyroidism. Data analysis was performed using t-test and Chi-square. Results: In total, 155 children with congenital hypothyroidism were enrolled in the study, including 67 females (43.2%) and 151 cases of primary congenital hypothyroidism. Abnormal ABR was observed in 10 patients (6.45%) (6.6% in permanent cases and 6.1% in transient cases), seven of whom were female. In addition, eight patients with primary congenital hypothyroidism and two patients with central congenital hypothyroidism had abnormal ABR (P=0.165). Mean primary thyroid-stimulating hormone levels (52.45±39.91 versus 38.23±28.03 IU/l; P=0.355) and T4 (6.07±4.33 versus 6.98±3.40 µg/dl; P=0.307) had no significant differences in the children with SNHL and other patients. At the beginning of the treatment, mean age of the children with SNHL was 28.50±22.13 days, while it was 28.87±30.34 days in the other subjects (P=0.909). Conclusion: According to the results, the prevalence of SNHL was lower in the patients with congenital hypothyroidism compared to the reported rates in other countries. However, the assessment of hearing loss should be prioritized in the infants with congenital hypothyroidism. Keywords: Communication disorders, Congenital hypothyroidism, Diagnosis, Mass screening, Sensorineural hearing los

Differences in Response to Conventional Vitamin D Therapy among Obese and Normal Weight Children and Adolescents in Qazvin, Iran

Abstract Background Vitamin D (Vit D) deficiency is one of the major nutritional deficiencies in children. Obesity has inverse association with vitamin D levels. The aim of this study was to determine the differences in response to conventional treatment for Vit D deficiency and insufficiency in obese and normal weight children and adolescents. Materials and Methods: This nested case control study was conducted in 69 obese children and 133 normal weight matched control suffering from Vit D insufficiency or deficiency. Vit D deficiency was defined as serum 25(OH) D3 0.05). After follow up, mean Vit D level became 29.6 ng/mL in obese and 33 ng/mL in normal weight children (P<0.05). 39.8% of normal weight group still had Vit D insufficiency, while 50.7% of obese group had Vit D insufficiency or deficiency and the difference was borderline significant (P= 0.064). Conclusion Therapeutic response in obese children was less than normal weight children. It seems that treatment with higher doses of Vit D or longer period is necessary in obese children of the present study. Key Words: Adolescents, Children, Obesity, Vitamin D deficiency. *Please cite this article as: Saffari F, Shahroodi P, Oveisi S, Esmailzadehha N, Hajmanoochehri F, Jalilolghadr Sh, et al. Differences in Response to Conventional Vitamin D Therapy among Obese and Normal Weight Children and Adolescents in Qazvin, Iran. Int J Pediatr 2017; 5(9): 5725-32. DOI: 10.22038/ijp.2017.22473.188

Sleep architecture and obstructive sleep apnea in obese children with and without metabolic syndrome: a case control study

Purpose Obesity and biochemical parameters of metabolic disorders are both closely related to obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). The aim of this study was to compare sleep architecture and OSA in obese children with and without metabolic syndrome. Methods Forty-two children with metabolic syndrome were selected as case group and 38 children without metabolic syndrome were matched for age, sex, and BMI as control group. The standardized Persian version of bedtime problems, excessive daytime sleepiness, awakenings during the night, regularity and duration of sleep, snoring (BEARS) and Children’s Sleep Habits Questionnaires were completed, and polysomnography (PSG) was performed for all study subjects. Scoring was performed using the manual of American Academy of Sleep Medicine for children. Data were analyzed using chi-square test, T test, Mann–Whitney U test, and logistic regression analysis. Results Non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep and N1 stage in the case group were significantly longer than the control group, while REM sleep was significantly shorter. Waking after sleep onset (WASO) was significantly different between two groups. Severe OSA was more frequent in the control group. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that severe OSA (OR 21.478, 95 % CI 2.160– 213.600; P = 0.009) and REM sleep (OR 0.856, 95 % CI 0.737–0.994; P = 0.041) had independent association with metabolic syndrome. Conclusions Obese children with metabolic syndrome had increased WASO, N1 sleep stage, and severe OSA. But the results regarding sleep architecture are most likely a direct result of OSA severity. More longitudinal studies are needed to confirm the association of metabolic syndrome and OSA. Keywords Metabolic syndrome X . Obesity . Obstructive sleep apnea . Sleep stages . Polysomnograph

Differences in response to conventional vitamin D therapy among obese and normal weight children and adolescents in Qazvin, Iran

Vitamin D (Vit D) deficiency is one of the major nutritional deficiencies in children. Obesity has inverse association with vitamin D levels. The aim of this study was to determine the differences in response to conventional treatment for Vit D deficiency and insufficiency in obese and normal weight children and adolescents. Materials and Methods: This nested case control study was conducted in 69 obese children and 133 normal weight matched control suffering from Vit D insufficiency or deficiency. Vit D deficiency was defined as serum 25(OH) D3 <10 ng/mL and Vit D insufficiency was defined as 11< 25(OH) D3 <30 ng/mL. Conventional treatment with 300,000-600,000 IU of vitamin D3 was administered intramuscularly over one day for both groups. The participants were followed up after three month. 25 (OH) D3 was measured at baseline and after the follow up period. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 22.0. Results: At baseline, mean Vit D level was 13.5 ng/mL in obese and 14.5 ng/mL in normal weight children (P>0.05). After follow up, mean Vit D level became 29.6 ng/mL in obese and 33 ng/mL in normal weight children (P<0.05). 39.8% of normal weight group still had Vit D insufficiency, while 50.7% of obese group had Vit D insufficiency or deficiency and the difference was borderline significant (P= 0.064). Conclusion Therapeutic response in obese children was less than normal weight children. It seems that treatment with higher doses of Vit D or longer period is necessary in obese children of the present study. Key Words: Adolescents, Children, Obesity, Vitamin D deficienc

Study of three common ApoB gene mutations in possible familial hypercholesterolemia patients in Cheharmahal va Bakhtiari province, Iran, 2003

Background and aim: Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is an autosomal dominant disorder caused mainly by mutations in the low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR) and apolipoprotein B (ApoB).Until now, the molecular basis of FH has been demonstrated in detail in many populations , but there is still very limited molecular data concerning FH in Iran . The aim of this study was to investigate frequency of 3 common Apo-B100 gene mutations in an Iranian population. Method: In this descriptive –lab based study a total of 30 non-related possible FH subjects from Cheharmahal va Bakhtiari were studies. All samples were tested for 3 common Apo-B100 gene mutations including R3500Q, R3500W and R3531C using PCR-RFLP procedure. Result: None of the common Apo-B100 mutations R3500Q, R3500W and R3531C were detected in samples examined using PCR-RFLP. Conclusion: Our data indicated that Apo-B100 gene mutations have not contribution to FH in samples studied here. However, we examined 3 common Apo-B100 mutations in only 30 patients, and to determine the role of mutations of this gene in developing FH in Cheharmahal va Bakhtiari province, more FH samples/populations needed to be investigated

Study of two common P53 gene mutations in gastric cancer using PCR-RFLP in Chaharmahal va Bakhtiari province, Iran, 2003

Background and aim: Gastric cancer is the most common cause of cancer death world wide after lung cancer. Genetic factors including oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes are always involved in progression of this cancer. The P53 tumor suppressor gene is believed to have a broad role in the cell such as programmed cell death and stop cell replicating damaged DNA which has been summarized as the guardian of the genome. This study aims to determine the frequency of two common P53 gene mutations using PCR-RFLP in gastric cancer in Chaharmahal va Bakhtiari province. Methods: This descriptive – lab based study describes the mutation analysis of paraffin embedded gastric samples from 38 patients in Chaharmahal va Bakhtiari province. We have investigated the frequency of P53 gene mutation in exons 7 and 8 by PCR-RFLP to detect alteration in two common hot spots in codon 248 and 282. Results: We determined no mutation in P53 gene hot spots in codon 248 and 282. Conclusion: We conclude that association of P53 gene mutations with gastric cancer is very low in Chaharmahal va Bakhtiari province. However we have examined only 38 gastric samples and more samples need to be investigated to reveal the contribution of P53 gene mutation in causing gastric cancer in this province. Also it is necessary to study the entire coding region and promoter of the gene in patients from different population and ethnic groups

The Effects of Climate Change on Sugar Beet Yield with an Emphasis on Crop Production Risk in Iran

Climate change and the resulting changes in climatic parameters influence all agricultural activities. The present study aimed to explore the effect of climatic variables on sugar beet crop yield in two climates – cold climate and hot and arid climate – using the Just and Pope stochastic function. First, the most effective climatic variables on sugar beet yield were identified by the Feiveson algorithm and the Just and Pope function. Data stationarity test was applied to assess the stationarity of the included variables. The interrelationship of the dependent and independent variables was analyzed by the co-integration test. Finally, the coefficients of the Just and Pope function for sugar beet crop in two studied climates for the time period of 1998-2017 were estimated. The results of sugar beet yield function in cold regions show that sugar beet yield in cold regions was significantly influenced by acreage and maximum temperature at p < 0.10 level and by minimum temperature deviation, production lag, and trend at p < 0.01 level, but the variable of precipitation was significant in none of the levels. The estimation of the Just and Pope function for sugar beet crop in hot and arid regions indicates that the effects of maximum temperature, production lag, and trend are significant on sugar beet yield at p < 0.05 level, but the effects of acreage, precipitation deviation, and minimum temperature deviation were insignificant. Given temperature variations and unexpected precipitation, it is recommended to encourage sugar beet farmers to use crop insurance in order to mitigate local farmers’ risk and alleviate the damages of climate change

Sleep architecture and obstructive sleep apnea in obese children with and without metabolic syndrome: a case control study

Purpose Obesity and biochemical parameters of metabolic disorders are both closely related to obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). The aim of this study was to compare sleep architecture and OSA in obese children with and without metabolic syndrome. Methods Forty-two children with metabolic syndrome were selected as case group and 38 children without metabolic syndrome were matched for age, sex, and BMI as control group. The standardized Persian version of bedtime problems, excessive daytime sleepiness, awakenings during the night, regularity and duration of sleep, snoring (BEARS) and Children’s Sleep Habits Questionnaires were completed, and polysomnography (PSG) was performed for all study subjects. Scoring was performed using the manual of American Academy of Sleep Medicine for children. Data were analyzed using chi-square test, T test, Mann–Whitney U test, and logistic regression analysis. Results Non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep and N1 stage in the case group were significantly longer than the control group, while REM sleep was significantly shorter. Waking after sleep onset (WASO) was significantly different between two groups. Severe OSA was more frequent in the control group. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that severe OSA (OR 21.478, 95 % CI 2.160– 213.600; P = 0.009) and REM sleep (OR 0.856, 95 % CI 0.737–0.994; P = 0.041) had independent association with metabolic syndrome. Conclusions Obese children with metabolic syndrome had increased WASO, N1 sleep stage, and severe OSA. But the results regarding sleep architecture are most likely a direct result of OSA severity. More longitudinal studies are needed to confirm the association of metabolic syndrome and OSA. Keywords Metabolic syndrome X . Obesity . Obstructive sleep apnea . Sleep stages . Polysomnograph