IgE to wheat, prick test, and Patch test among children with celiac disease.

INTRODUCTION AND AIM: Celiac disease is one of the most common autoimmune disorders. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between celiac disease and wheat sensitization. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: In the current study, children aged < 18 years with confirmed celiac disease were included. Data were analyzed using SPSS. RESULTS: Gastrointestinal problems were the most common indication for evaluation in terms of celiac disease. Prick and patch tests were positive in 43.4% and 34% respectively. CONCLUSION: Prick test and patch test for wheat sensitization were positive in about 30-45% of the children for celiac disease.

An evaluation of ascitic calprotectin for diagnosis of ascitic fluid infection in children with cirrhosis.

BACKGROUND: The most common infection in children with the hepatic disease with or without cirrhotic ascites is spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP), which occurs in the absence of an evident intra-abdominal source of infection. The present study aims to assess the value of calprotectin in ascitic fluid in the diagnosis of ascitic fluid infection in children with liver cirrhosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this cross-section study, 80 children with underlying liver disease who attended the Hepatology and Emergency Department in Shiraz University Hospitals were studied. All the patients were evaluated by a thorough history, clinical examination, laboratory investigations, diagnostic paracentesis with PMNLs count, and Calprotectin, which was measured in 1 mL ascitic fluid by ELISA. RESULTS: Thirty-five patients (43.75%) were diagnosed with ascitic fluid infection. Of these children 6 cases had positive ascitic fluid culture (SBP). Calprotectin was high in AFI patients with a statistically significant difference in AFI patients compared to non-AFI patients. The cut-off levels were 91.55 mg /L and the area under the curve was 0.971. So it can serve as a sensitive and specific diagnostic test for detection of AFI in children with underlying liver disease. CONCLUSION: Elevated ascitic calprotectin levels in cirrhotic patients are a diagnostic and reliable marker for the detection of AFI and are considered a surrogate marker for PMN.

Factors associated with surgical treatment in pediatric intussusception.

BACKGROUND: The study aimed to identify factors related to the need for surgical treatment of intussusception in pediatric patients. METHODS: The medical charts of 106 patients diagnosed with intussusception and treated at the Imam Khomeini Medical Center in Ahvaz city between September 2019 and October 2020 were retrospectively reviewed. Patients were compared in terms of risk factor groups treated with surgery (12 pediatric patients) and nonsurgical methods (92 pediatric patients). Size of intussusception, free fluid in the abdomen, and currant jelly stool were compared between the groups. RESULTS: The mean age in the group treated with surgery was significantly higher (p = 0.01). The duration of symptoms in patients treated with surgery was significantly higher (p = 0.033). The size of intussusception in the surgical treatment group was significantly larger than in the nonsurgical recovery group (p = 0.042). The rates of presence of free fluid in the abdomen and currant jelly stool were significantly higher in patients treated with surgery (p = 0.001 and p = 0.004, respectively). CONCLUSION: Age > 1 year, duration of symptoms > 24 h, currant jelly stool, intussusception > 3.5 cm, and free peritoneal fluid are factors associated with surgical treatment of intussusception in children.

The first evaluation relationship of integron genes and the multidrug-resistance in class A ESBLs genes in enteropathogenic Escherichia coli strains isolated from children with diarrhea in Southwestern Iran.

Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) is one of the most important diarrheagenic agents among infants under 5 years in developing countries. This study aimed to investigate the relationship of integron genes and class A extended-spectrum ESBLs genes in MDR E. coli strains isolated from children with diarrhea in Southwestern Iran. Totally, 321 fecal samples were collected from diarrheal children under 5 years admitted to teaching hospitals of Abadan and Khorramshahr, southwest Iran. Routine bacteriological tests were performed for the identification of E. coli isolates. Multiplex PCR was used for the presence of eae, bfp, stx1, and stx2 genes to detected EPEC strains. Serogrouping was performed for EPEC strains. The EPEC isolates' antibiotic resistance pattern was determined by the disk-diffusion technique. All EPEC isolates were screened for integron and class A ß-lactamase genes. Of the 14 EPEC isolates, 12 (85.7%) were found to be ESBL-positive by double disk synergy test (DDST) and PCR. In addition, blaCTX-M and blaTEM genes were detected in 83.3% (n = 10) and 58.3% (n = 7) of EPEC isolates, respectively. None of the isolates had the blaKPC gene. On the other hand, 64.2% (n = 9) and 7.1% (n = 1) were positive only for intlI and intlII genes, respectively. The results demonstrated that EPEC is one of the major causes of childhood diarrhea in our region and that the distribution of class 1 integrons and ESBLs in EPEC strains is highly prevalent. Moreover, the results revealed that continuous monitoring of the emergence and expansion of MDR in EPEC strains is necessary.

Distribution of genes encoding virulence factors of Shigella strains isolated from children with diarrhea in southwest Iran.

This study aimed to investigate the distribution of virulence factor genes in Shigella strains isolated from children with diarrhea in the southwest, Iran. In this cross-sectional study, 1530 diarrheal stool specimens were collected from children aged under 15 years. The Shigella strains were identified by biochemical methods and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Subsequently, all Shigella isolates were evaluated by PCR for the presence of nine virulence genes ipaH (responsible for dissemination from cell to cell), ial (responsible for epithelial cell penetration), sat (displays cytopathic activity in several intestinal cell lines), sigA (toxic to epithelial cells), pic (associated with colonization), pet (cytotoxic for epithelial cells), sepA (contribute to intestinal inflammation and colonization), virF and invE (regulatory proteins). A total of 91 isolates including 47 S. flexneri, 36 S. sonnei, and 8 S. boydii were identified. All isolates were positive for the ipaH gene. The other genes include ial, virF, invE, sigA, sat, sepA, pic and pet found in 84.6%, 72.5%, 68.1%, 62.6%, 51.6%, 39.5%, 37.3% and 28.5% of the isolates, respectively. The results showed a high distribution of virulence genes among Shigella strains in our region. It seems that for different Shigella spp. different virulence factors contribute to pathogenesis. The current study provided insights into some baseline information about the distribution of some virulence genes of Shigella isolates in Southwest Iran.

Clinical and laboratory data in pediatric autoimmune hepatitis: study from referral center in Iran.

BACKGROUND: Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) is an auto-inflammatory liver disease of children and adults, affecting patients of any age, sex, race or ethnicity, with more prevalence in females. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate clinical manifestation, laboratory findings, and outcome of children with autoimmune hepatitis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We evaluated 86 patients treated and followed with final diagnosis of AIH between years 2010 to 2018. Physical findings (including jaundice, hepatomegaly, splenomegaly and encephalopathy), liver enzymes, liver histology and autoantibodies (including ANA, Anti LKM-1 and ASMA) were extracted from medical files. Then the patients were followed for their final outcome (including response to medical treatment or successful treatment withdrawal, liver transplantation or death). RESULTS: Among 86 patients with AIH with mean age 9.10±4.36 years old, 66.27% were females. Jaundice (75.6%) and hepatomegaly (46.5%) were the most frequent physical findings, followed by splenomegaly (32.6%) and encephalopathy (17.4%). Aminotransferases including AST and ALT were elevated at least 3 times more than upper limit of normal in most of the patients (61.6% and 55.81%, respectively). Autoantibodies were available in 53 of 86 patients, 24.5% had AIH-1, 3.8% had AIH-II and 67.9% were seronegative. Medical treatment including prednisolone and azathioprine was started for patients, 53 of 86 cases (61.6%) had remission and 11 of 86 (13.7%) tolerated medication withdrawal successfully. Among all cases, 26 (30.2%) patients needed liver transplantation. Mortality rate was 9 among 86 cases (10.5%). CONCLUSION: Jaundice and hepatomegaly was the most frequent clinical findings. Mortality rate was 10.5.

Effect of polyethylene glycol versus lactulose on abdominal pain in children occult constipation: a randomized controlled study.

INTRODUCTION AND AIM: Functional abdominal pain (FAP) is one of the major gastrointestinal complaints in childhood. Studies have reported occult constipation (OC) as one of the leading causes of abdominal pain. Recent researches have proposed laxatives as potent therapeutic targets for abdominal pain in patients with OC. However, no study has compared effect of poly ethylene glycol (PEG) and lactulose on occult constipation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 51 patients aged 4 to 18 years with abdominal pain who had OC (defined as fecal impaction in abdominal X ray) were studied. Demographic and clinical data including age, sex, body weight, height, abdominal pain duration, abdominal pain rate and fecal odor were registered. They were randomly assigned to receive PEG (1gr/kg) or Lactulose (1cc/kg) for at least two weeks. All patients were reevaluated by pain measurement scale after at least two weeks of treatment. RESULTS: It is indicated that the efficacy of PEG for reducing abdominal pain in OC was 48% while it was 37% for Lactulose. This study indicated that this efficacy is not affected significantly by sex and fecal odor, however this efficacy is influenced by age, body weight, abdominal pain duration and abdominal pain rate for both PEG and Lactulose. CONCLUSION: It could be concluded that PEG is a more efficient drug for treating abdominal pain in occult constipation than Lactulose and its optimum effect can be achieved in elder patients with more severe abdominal pain.

Complications After endoscopic balloon dilatation of esophageal strictures in children. Experience from a tertiary center in Shiraz - Iran (Nemazee Teaching Hospital).

BACKGROUND: Esophageal stricture is one of the most important complication of the caustic ingestion. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate complications of balloon dilatation among children with esophageal stenosis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In this retrospective study 82 children were included. Children who underwent balloon dilatation for esophageal stenosis were included in our study. Duration of study was 14 year starting from 2001. Mean age of the cases was 3.95±0.4 year (Min: 15 days, Max: 14 year). Chart review and telephone calling were the methods of data collection. Data was analyzed using SPSS. RESULTS: In this study, 47% of the patients were male and 53% of the cases were female. Caustic ingestion (33.7%) was the most common etiology for the esophageal stricture. Vomiting (87.8%) was the most common presenting symptom. Among our cases, 76.8% had no compliant after esophageal dilatation. Chest pain was the most common compliant after esophageal dilatation. Response rate was similar among boys and girls. Toddler age had the best treatment response after esophageal dilatation. CONCLUSION: Among our cases, 76.8% had no post procedural compliant after esophageal dilatation. Esophageal perforation was seen in 4.9% of the cases. Chest pain was the most common post dilatation complication.

Evaluation of frequency of autoimmune hepatitis autoantibodies in children with type 1 diabetes.

BACKGROUND: Diabetes mellitus type 1 (T1DM) is one of the childhood diseases with growing prevalence. Various accompanying autoimmune diseases were seen with type 1 diabetes. The most common autoimmune diseases with T1DM are autoimmune thyroiditis and celiac disease. In some reports, autoimmune hepatitis has been reported in association with DM-1. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate autoimmune hepatitis autoantibodies in children with T1DM. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this crosssectional study, 202 children with T1DM were evaluated (47.5% were males and 52.5% were girls). Liver enzymes, autoimmune hepatitis related autoantibodies such as anti-nuclear antibodies (ANA), anti-smooth muscle (ASMA) and anti liver and kidney microsomal antibodies (LKM-1) were measured. Liver ultrasound was done for participants and biopsy of liver was taken for children with increased echogenicity of the liver, hepatomegaly or elevated liver enzymes. Results analyzed by statistical software spss-16, Descriptive statistics and chi-square test, paired T-TEST. Level of less than 5% was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: In 6 patients ANA and in 4 patients (2%) ASMA was positive,1 patient was ASMA positive but ANA negative. None of the patients were Anti LKM-1 positive. 3 patients had positive ANA and ASMA, and increased liver echogenicity on ultrasound simultaneously. Histological evaluation was showed that 2 patients had findings in favor of autoimmune hepatitis. CONCLUSION: Auto antibodies were positive in 10 cases. ANA was positive in 6 (2.97%) of all cases. ASMA was positive in 4 (1.98%) cases. Increased echogenicity was found in 3 cases. Histological evaluation showed 2 patients had biopsy confirmed autoimmune hepatitis. AIH-2 was not seen among our cases.

The effects of prebiotic supplementation on weight gain, diarrhoea, constipation, fever and respiratory tract infections in the first year of life.

AIM: This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of prebiotics on some common clinical ailments in healthy term infants. METHODS: Sixty healthy-term, breastfed (BF) infants were included. Along with these infants, 120 healthy-term formula-fed infants were randomly assigned to either the prebiotic formula (PF, n = 60) or regular formula (RF, n = 60) groups. Ready-to-use prebiotic-supplemented formula containing galacto-oligosaccharides and polydextrose (ratio 1:1) was used. RESULTS: At 2 months of age, PF infants demonstrated significantly higher weight gain than BF and RF. At 6 months of age, bodyweight was significantly higher in the RF group compared to BF and PF groups (P < 0.05). Similar results were seen at 8, 10 and 12 months of age. At 10 months of age, the duration of diarrhoea was significantly shorter in PF-fed compared to the RF (P = 0.03) group. A significant difference was found between PF and RF (P < 0.0001) and BF and RF groups (P = 0.002) for diarrhoea duration. Means of constipation episodes per year were 0.03 ± 0.18, 0.433 ± 0.77 and 0.1 ± 0.30 for the BF, RF and PF groups, respectively, with significant difference found between BF and RF (P = 0.006) and PF and RF (P = 0.02). The means of episodes of respiratory tract infections per year for BF, RF and PF groups were 1 ± 0.69, 1.6 ± 0.88 and 1 ± 0.58, respectively (P = 0.01). CONCLUSION: Prebiotic-supplemented and regular formula were similar to breast milk regarding prophylactic effects for diarrhoea, constipation and respiratory tract infections in the first year of life. Prebiotic-supplemented formula may be an appropriate substitution for breast milk when breast milk in unavailable.

Effect of sequential therapy on treatment of Helicobacter pylori infection in children.

BACKGROUND: Helicobacter pylori infection which plays a major role in the etiology of chronic gastritis and duodenal ulcers in children and adults is one of the commonest chronic infection worldwide. Cure of the infection leads to healing of gastric inflammation and prevention of peptic ulcer. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of the sequential therapy for treatment of Helicobacter pylori infection. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this study, 40 children with symptoms of H. Pylori that the infection was proved by endoscopy and biopsy and rapid urease test (UBT) were enrolled, and received sequential therapy (Lansoprazol, Amoxicillin) for 5 days and (Lansoprazol, Metronidazole and Clarithromycin) for next 5 days. The eradication rate of therapy was evaluated by stool antigen test 6 weeks after completion of therapy. This study was carried out in Pediatric Gastroenterology Clinic of Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran. This study was approved by ethic committee of Shiraz University of Medical Sciences. RESULTS: Forty children with mean age of (10.8±4 years) were evaluated. The most common symptom on first admission was epigastric pain (82.5%), with mean duration of symptoms (16±14.5 month). The most common endoscopic findings was redness and erosion of the antrum (55%) and the most pathologic findings was chronic gastritis (77.5%). The most drug adverse effect was nausea (22.5%). The eradication rate of sequential therapy was 82.5%. CONCLUSION: Eradication rate of sequential therapy was 82.5% among our cases.

Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy in children: a single center study at Tertiary hospital Iran.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study was to evaluate complications after percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy among children who underwent percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy in Nemazee hospital. MATERIALS AND METHODS: All children who underwent percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy were included in the current study. Place of the study was department of pediatric gastroenterology of Nemazee children hospital of Shiraz university of medical sciences. Duration of the study was 5 year starting from 2008. All drugs such as aspirin, NSAIDS, and heparin were discontinued 1-7 days before procedures. All patients were kept NPO 6-8 hours before procedure according to the age. Single dose antibiotic was prescribed for all cases before procedure. During procedure, all patients were sedated using propofol and or midazolam. Some patients required intubation. RESULTS: Of 39 cases who underwent PEG, 4 (10.2%) patients showed complication. The most common indication for PEG insertion were neurologic problem (84.6%) and metabolic disease (10.2%). Of our patients, 84.6% of the cases had the weight below third percentile. CONCLUSION: The most common indication for percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy was cerebral palsy. The complication rate in our study was 10.2%. Celulitis was the most common complication.

The effect of gluten-free diet among celiac patients aged 3-12 years old on BMI during 2006 to 2014 at Nemazee Teaching hospital.

INTRODUCTION: Celiac disease (CD) is increasingly diagnosed and weight changes are common after adoption of a glutenfree diet (GFD) and there is concern that patients might gain further weight on a GFD. OBJECTIVES: This study examined to evaluate the impact of a GFD on the body mass index (BMI), whether favorable or unfavorable. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this retrospective study, we reviewed electronic records of 44 patients with serologic study and intestinal biopsy confirmed CD who was visited in Nemazee hospital, Shiraz. All patients were put on GFD for 2 years and followed closely by pediatric gastroenterologist. BMIs were categories to four group underweight, normal weight, overweight and obese. Initial BMI and follow-up BMI was comparing together and also compared with general population. RESULT: At diagnosis, 27.27% of subjects were underweight, 63.64% normal and 9.09% were obese. On a GFD, 66.66% of underweight patients gained weight and became normal weight and 25% of normal weight and 75% of obese patients had increase weight; and the rest of the patients, BMI remained stable. The follow-up BMIs were statistically higher than initial BMIs (mean 17.17 vs. 15.62, p <0.0001). CONCLUSION: Individuals with celiac disease have lower BMI than the regional population at diagnosis. On the GFD, BMI is increased significantly in all categories.

Caustic ingestion in children in south of Iran. Retrospective study from Shiraz - Iran.

Caustic ingestion is a major health concern in both developed and developing countries, that may lead to serious esophageal injury. The clinical presentation of caustic ingestion in children vary from asymptomatic to serious and fatal sequelae, such as perforation and stricture formation. OBJECTIVE: Due to the lack of a comprehensive study in our area, this study has evaluated clinical and endoscopic manifestations and complications of caustic ingestion in children in south of Iran. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this retrospective study, we reviewed 75 children with caustic ingestion who admitted in Nemazee Hospital of Shiraz University of Medical Science during 6 years (2006-2011). Sign and symptoms were recorded for each case. RESULTS: The most common symptoms were dysphagia, oral lesions, vomiting, and drooling. Esophageal injuries were detected in both acid and alkali ingestion, but gastric injuries was significantly more in acid ingestion. During follow up period, 20% of all cases developed esophageal stricture. CONCLUSION: Dysphagia, oral lesions, vomiting, and drooling were the most common findings.Esophageal stricture was found in 20% of cases during 3 months of follow up.

Inflammatory bowel disease evolution in the past two decades: a chronological multinational study.

Background: The multifactorial nature of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), which manifests differently in individuals creates a need for a better understanding of the behaviour and pattern of the disease due to environmental factors. The current study aimed to study the changes in IBD behaviour, presentation, and characteristics in patients over the past two decades with a goal of improving patients' diagnosis, management and outcomes. Methods: During a 6-month period (1/02/2022-30/07/2022), the information of patients with IBD who attended IBD outpatient clinics of 11 referral centre's in six countries was collected, and based on the first time of diagnosis with IBD, they were allocated as group A (those who were diagnosed more than 15 years ago), group B (those who were diagnosed with IBD between 5 and 15 years ago) and group C (IBD cases who diagnosed in recent 5 years). Then the most prevalent subtypes and characters of the disease are evaluated and compared to make clear if the presenting pattern and behaviour of the disease has changed in the last 2 decades. Findings: Overall 1430 patients with IBD including 1207 patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) (84.5%) and 205 patients with Crohn's disease (CD; 14.3%) included. Mean age of participants at the first time of diagnosis with IBD was 30 years. The extra-intestinal involvement of IBD in groups A and B was more prevalent in comparison with group C. Most of those in groups A & B had academic education but in group C, the most prevalent educational status was high school or diploma (P = 0.012). In contrast to groups A and B, the relative prevalence of medium socioeconomic level in group C had decreased (65%). Relative prevalence of UC subtypes was similar among groups A and B (extensive colitis as most prevalent) but in group C, the most prevalent subtype is left side colitis (38.17%). The most prevalent subtype of CD in groups A and B was ileocolic involvement while in group C, upper GI involvement is significantly increased. The rate of food sensitivity among groups A and B was more than group C (P = 0.00001). The relative prevalence of patients with no flare has increased with a steady slope (P < 0.00001). Relative prevalence of presenting symptoms among patients with UC in group C differs and nowadays the rate abdominal pain (70.7%) and bloating (43.9%) have increased and frequency of diarrhoea (67.4%) has decreased. Interpretation: In the recent 5 years, the pattern of UC presentation has changed. The rate of upper GI involvement in CD and relative prevalence of patients with no disease flare increased and the rate of extra intestinal involvement decreased. Funding: None.

Relapse Rate of Clinical Symptoms After Stopping Treatment in Children with Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome.

Background: Cyclic vomiting syndrome (CVS) is a chronic functional gastrointestinal disorder. It is characterized by recurrent episodes of vomiting typically separated by periods of symptom-free or baseline health. The present study aimed at evaluating the effectiveness of propranolol and the relapse rate of clinical symptoms after stopping treatment in children suffering from CVS. Methods: Records of 504 patients below the age of 18 years with CVS who were treated with propranolol from March 2008 to March 2018 were reviewed. The duration of follow-up was 10 years. Results: The average age of CVS affliction was 4.3 years and the average age at the diagnosis was 5.8 years. All subjects were treated with propranolol (for an average of 10 months). 92% of treated subjects were cured, causing a dramatic decrease in the rate of vomiting (P < 0.001). Only an average of 10.5% of the studied subjects (53 people) showed a relapse of symptoms after stopping the treatment. The results of a 10-year follow-up period of the patients showed that 24 had abdominal migraine and 6 had migraine headaches, all of whom lacked the symptoms of disease relapse (prognostic evaluation). Conclusion: The findings of this investigation show that the duration of treating CVS with propranolol could be shortened to 10 months with a low percent of symptoms relapse and this shortening may be effective in preventing the undesirable side effects of the drug. The presence of abdominal migraine and migraine headaches in patients after treatment accomplishment and the lack of disease relapse can be prognostic measures for this disease, which require intensive attention.

MOLECULAR ASSESSMENT OF FECAL LACTOBACILLI POPULATIONS IN CHILDREN WITH FUNCTIONAL CONSTIPATION.

BACKGROUND: Investigation of the gut-specific bacterial strains including lactobacilli is essential for understanding the bacterial etiology of constipation. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to compare the prevalence and quantity of intestinal lactobacilli in constipated children and healthy controls. METHODS: Forty children fulfilling Rome IV criteria for functional constipation and 40 healthy controls were recruited. Fecal samples were analyzed using species-specific polymerase chain reaction followed by random amplified polymorphic DNA-PCR and quantitative real-time PCR. RESULTS: Totally, seven different species of lactobacilli were detected. Out of 80 volunteers, 65 (81.3%) were culture and species-specific PCR positive from which 25 (38.46%) constipated children and 40 (61.54%) healthy subjects. The most prevalent species were L. paracasei 21 (32.3%) followed by L. plantarum 18 (27.7%) among both healthy and patient groups. Analysis of the RAPD dendrograms displayed that strains isolated from constipated and non-constipated children have similarity coefficients of more than 90%. The qPCR assays demonstrated constipated children had a lower amount of total lactobacilli population (per gram of feces) than healthy controls. CONCLUSION: Our findings showed that the mere existence of various species of Lactobacillus in the gut does not enough to prevent some gastrointestinal disorders such as functional constipation, and their quantity plays a more important role.

Electrocautery Incisional Therapy for Refractory Anastomotic Stricture in a Child: Report from Ahvaz, Iran.

Endoscopic electrocautery incisional therapy (EIT) is one of the methods for the treatment of refractory esophageal stricture among adult cases. There are few reports among children. Herein we report the successful use of EIT for a 13-year-old boy with an anastomotic stricture who was visited in our hospital due to poor feeding and inability to feed. The boy had undergone gastric resection due to gastric necrosis. This is the first report of electrocautery surgery using a needle knife for the treatment of benign esophageal stricture in our country.

COMPARISON BETWEEN OSTOMY CLOSURE USING PURSE-STRING VERSUS LINEAR IN CHILDREN.

BACKGROUND: Type of ostomy closure has connection with some complications and also cosmetic effects. AIMS: This study aimed to compare result of colostomy closure using purse-string method versus linear method in terms of surgical site infection, surgical time, and patient satisfaction. METHODS: In this study, 50 patients who underwent purse-string ostomy closure and 50 patients who underwent linear closure were included. Two groups were compared for surgical time, wound infection, patient satisfaction, scar length. A p-value <0.05 was considered significant. RESULTS: Wound infection was not reported among purse-string group compared to 10% in linear group (p=0.022). Scar length was 24.09±0.1 mm in purse string and 52.15±1.0 mm in linear group (p=0.033). Duration of hospital admission was significantly shorter in purse-string group (6.4±1.1 days) compared to linear (15.5±4.6 days, p=0.0001). The Patient and Observer Scar Assessment Scale scale for observer (p=0.038) and parents (p=0.045) was more favorable among purse-string group compared to linear. CONCLUSION: Purse-string technique has the less frequent surgical site infection, shorter duration of hospital admission, less scar length, and more favorable cosmetic outcome, compared to linear technique.

Study of serological and clinical factors among juvenile rheumatoid arthritis cases admitted to Mofid Children's Hospital and Imam Hossein Hospital, Tehran, Iran.

INTRODUCTION AND AIM: Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis is the most common rheumatologic disease of childhood period. The aim of study was to compare ANA positive and ANA negative cases. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This observation study was performed as correlation research. All cases with diagnosis ofJRA who visited Mofid Children's Hospital and Imam Hossein Hospital were included in this study. Duration of this study was from 2006, 1 October till 2008, 31 October. All patients were examined carefully by an experienced pediatric rheumatologist. Age, sex, disease onset, age at diagnosis, RF, ANA, HLA-B27, ESR, type of disease, disease activity, and duration of inactivity were included in this study. ANA titer was measured by immunoflurocence technique. Patients were categorized according to sex, ANA, and type of disease and then group was compared with each other. Data was analyzed by SPSS Ver. 16 (Chicago, IL, USA). This study was approved by Ethical Committee of university. RESULTS: In this study, 61 cases were enrolled. Twenty five cases (41%) were males and 36 cases were females. Mean of age at disease onset was 6.1 +/- 3.1 (Range 6 months to 12.5 years). Mean of age at disease diagnosis was 6.7 +/- 3.2. Mean of age at time of study was 7.6 +/- 3.5 (1.4 to 14 years). From all cases, 38 cases were oligoarticular, 18 cases were polyarticular and 5 cases were systemic onset. From 61 cases, 22 (36.1%) cases, had ANA positive JRA. Of these cases, 14 cases were oligoarticular and 8 cases were polyarticular. CONCLUSION: Except for sex and morning stiffness, there is significant correlation between type of disease and ANA,RF,HLA-B27, response to treatment, early onset erosion, subcutaneous nodule, and uveitis (P < 0.05). There is significant correlation between sex and ANA, RF, HLA-B27, early erosion, response to treatment, subcutaneous treatment, and uveitis (P < 0.05). There is significant correlation between ANA seropositivity and HLA-B27, early erosion, response to treatment, uveitis and subcutaneous nodule. Our results showed that there is significant correlation among ANA and other factors except morning stiffness. Another prospective study is recommended.