Utility of Modeling End-Stage Liver Disease in Children with Chronic Liver Disease

Abstract Introduction: Chronic liver diseases consist of wide spectrum disorders that may be complicated by cirrhosis and therefore need to transplantation. The pediatric end-stage liver disease (PELD) score and model of endstage liver disease (MELD) score has been used as predictors of mortality chronic liver diseases listed for liver transplantation. The aim of this study is evaluation of relation between PELD\MELD score and evidence of cirrhosis in children with choronic liver disease. Materials and Method: This cross-sectional study conducted on 106 patients of chronic liver disease referred to Ghaem haspital, Mashhad university of medical science, Iran during 24 months period (2010)(2011)(2012)(2013). PELD and MELD score were calculated for all patients. Clincal and patholoogical findings of cirrhosis were recorded. Results: Mean age of patients was 68/3 ± 41.8 months. Mean PELD\MELD score was -1/59± 9/64. There was significant correlation between PELD\MELD score and clinical icter, spelenomegaly, evidence of hepatopulminary syndrome, esophageal varices, evidence of cirrhosis in tissue specimences. Conclusion: PELD\MELD score appear to be benefit for detection of cirrhotic children among paients with choronic liver disease

Can Dermatoglyphics Be Used as a Marker for Predicting Future Malocclusions?

ntroduction: Dermal ridges and craniofacial structures form from the same embryonic tissues during the same embryonic period. Thus, this might indicate a possible association between dermatoglyphics and facial skeletal disorders, such as malocclusions. Early diagnosis of skeletal malocclusions sometimes can prevent future surgical procedures. The aim of this study was to compare the dermatoglyphic characteristics of different malocclusions. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 323 patients who were referred to Orthodontic Department of Mashhad Dental School were recruited. The participants were classified into three groups according to Angle´s classification, i.e., Skeletal Class 1 (n = 163), Skeletal Class 2 (n = 111), and Skeletal Class 3 (n = 49). For all participants, we recorded the total ridge counts of each finger (TRC), atd angles, a-b ridge counts, and types of fingerprint patterns. Right- and left-hand asymmetry scores were calculated. The chi-squared test was used to compare the dissimilarity of the types of patterns for each finger. Asymmetry of other parameters was analyzed statistically using the ANOVA or Kruskal-Wallis tests. P-values greater than 0.05 were considered to be significant. Results: A significant difference was determined between Class I and Class III patients in terms of left a-b ridge count (p=0.049). Loop was the most frequent pattern in the three groups, whereas the arch pattern occurred with the lowest frequency. No significant difference was found in the other parameters that were studied. Conclusion: Although there were some slight differences in dermatoglyphic peculiarities of different skeletal malocclusions, most of the palm and fingerprint characteristics failed to indicate any significant differences

Cleft lip and Palate: A 30-year Epidemiologic Study in North-East of Iran

Introduction: Cleft lip and palate are among the most common congenital anomalies worldwide. This study was conducted in order to explore the incidence and related factors of cleft lip and/or palate (CL/P) among live births in Mashhad, North-Eastern Iran.   Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, records of 28,519 infants born between March 1982 and March 2011 at three major hospitals in Mashhad were screened for oral clefts. Clinical and demographic factors relating to diagnosed cases, including birth date, gender, birth weight, maternal age, number of pregnancies, type and side of cleft and presence of other congenital anomalies were recorded for analysis.   Results: The overall incidence of CL/P was 1.9 per 1,000 live births. Cleft lip associated with cleft palate (CLP) was the most prevalent type of cleft (50%), followed by isolated cleft lip         (35.2%) and isolated cleft palate (14.8%). A total of 92.6% of oral clefts were bilateral and 5.5% were located on the right side. In addition, clefts were found to be more common in male than female births (male/female ratio=2.3). The rate of associated congenital anomalies in CL/P newborns was 37%. No significant differences were observed in the incidence of oral clefts across three decades of study; except for CLP which was significantly more prevalent between 2002–2011 (P=0.027). There were no significant differences with regard to season of birth, associated anomalies or maternal age of affected newborns in the three time periods of the study. Furthermore, maternal age and number of pregnancies were not significantly different among the three types of cleft (P=0.43 and P=0.91, respectively). Although the mean birth weight of patients affected with isolated cleft palate was considerably lower than that of the other two types of cleft, the difference was not statistically significant (P=0.05).    Conclusion:  This study indicates a frequency of CL/P close to the findings in East Asian countries and higher than some previous reports from Iran, European and American countries. Ethnicity-related genetic factors may have a role in the conflicting results obtained from different populations

Cleft lip and Palate: A 30-year Epidemiologic Study in North-East of Iran

Introduction: Cleft lip and palate are among the most common congenital anomalies worldwide. This study was conducted in order to explore the incidence and related factors of cleft lip and/or palate (CL/P) among live births in Mashhad, North-Eastern Iran.   Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, records of 28,519 infants born between March 1982 and March 2011 at three major hospitals in Mashhad were screened for oral clefts. Clinical and demographic factors relating to diagnosed cases, including birth date, gender, birth weight, maternal age, number of pregnancies, type and side of cleft and presence of other congenital anomalies were recorded for analysis.   Results: The overall incidence of CL/P was 1.9 per 1,000 live births. Cleft lip associated with cleft palate (CLP) was the most prevalent type of cleft (50%), followed by isolated cleft lip         (35.2%) and isolated cleft palate (14.8%). A total of 92.6% of oral clefts were bilateral and 5.5% were located on the right side. In addition, clefts were found to be more common in male than female births (male/female ratio=2.3). The rate of associated congenital anomalies in CL/P newborns was 37%. No significant differences were observed in the incidence of oral clefts across three decades of study; except for CLP which was significantly more prevalent between 2002–2011 (P=0.027). There were no significant differences with regard to season of birth, associated anomalies or maternal age of affected newborns in the three time periods of the study. Furthermore, maternal age and number of pregnancies were not significantly different among the three types of cleft (P=0.43 and P=0.91, respectively). Although the mean birth weight of patients affected with isolated cleft palate was considerably lower than that of the other two types of cleft, the difference was not statistically significant (P=0.05).    Conclusion:  This study indicates a frequency of CL/P close to the findings in East Asian countries and higher than some previous reports from Iran, European and American countries. Ethnicity-related genetic factors may have a role in the conflicting results obtained from different populations

Utility of Modeling End-Stage Liver Disease in Children with Chronic Liver Disease

Introduction: Chronic liver diseases consist of wide spectrum disorders that may be complicated by cirrhosis and therefore need to transplantation. The pediatric end-stage liver disease (PELD) score and model of end-stage liver disease (MELD) score has been used as predictors of mortality chronic liver diseases listed for liver transplantation. The aim of this study is evaluation of relation between PELDMELD score and evidence of cirrhosis in children with choronic liver disease.   Materials and Method: This cross-sectional study conducted on 106 patients of chronic liver disease referred to Ghaem Haspital, Mashhad University of Medical Science, Iran during 24 months period (2010-2013). PELD and MELD score were calculated for all patients. Clincal and patholoogical findings of cirrhosis were recorded.   Results: Mean age of patients was 68/3 ± 41.8 months. Mean PELDMELD score was -1/59± 9/64. There was significant correlation between PELDMELD score and clinical icter, spelenomegaly, evidence of hepatopulminary syndrome, esophageal varices, evidence of cirrhosis in tissue specimences.   Conclusion: PELDMELD score appear to be benefit for detection of cirrhotic children among paients with choronic liver disease

Identification of Dermatoglyphic Patterns in Parents of Children with Cystic Fibrosis

Background Dermatoglyphics could assist in the diagnosis of congenital abnormalities. The aim of this study was to identify the dermatoglyphic patterns (finger print pattern type, total ridge count of each finger, a-b ridge count, and articulotrochanteric distance [ATD angles]) in the parents of cystic fibrosis children. Materials and Methods We recruited 75 parents of children with cystic fibrosis for the study group and 341 parents for the control group. We recorded finger print pattern type, total ridge count (TRC), a-b ridge count, and ATD angles of all participants. Then we identified any asymmetry between the right and left hands of each person and characteristics of parents in two genders. Chi-square analysis, Mann-Whitney U test, and Fisher's exact test were used for data analysis. Results We observed significant differences in a-b ridge count on the right hand (P=0.02), and mean total ridge count on the right digit I (P=0.05), right digit IV (P=0.03), and right digit V in  the fathers of children with cystic fibrosis compared to the control group(P=0.02). Conclusion According to the results, we suggest that the dermatoglyphic traits of parents could be used as a simple, appropriate, and supplementary screening method in the diagnosis of children with CF. Nevertheless, we need lager studies to precisely confirm that dermatoglyphics is a reliable method in the diagnosis of CF