Lipid profiles and prevalence of dyslipidemia in schoolchildren in south Khorasan Province, eastern Iran.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to evaluate serum lipid profiles and the prevalence of dyslipidemia in schoolchildren in south Khorasan Province. METHODS: The participants of this cross-sectional study were 685 girls and 641 boys, aged seven to 12 years, selected by multistage random cluster sampling from urban and rural areas of south Khorasan Province (eastern Iran). Fasting blood samples were analyzed for total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides, and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol. RESULTS: The mean values of total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol were significantly higher in girls. There was no significant correlation between the mean values of serum lipids with age of the children. The mean values of triglyceride and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol were significantly higher and lower, respectively, in rural areas. In all the participants, the percentiles of triglycerides were higher and the percentiles of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol were lower than standard values according to Lipid Research Clinics data. The most common form of dyslipidemia was decreased high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (14.1%). The prevalence of hypertriglyceridemia, increased low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and hypercholesterolemia were 5.4%, 4.1%, and 3%, respectively. There was not any significant relation between different forms of dyslipidemia with age of the children. Decreased high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and increased low-density lipoprotein cholesterol were significantly more common in girls. The prevalence of decreased high-density lipoprotein cholesterol was significantly higher in rural than urban areas. CONCLUSION: Considering the high prevalence of dyslipidemia and undesirable lipid profiles in the schoolchildren of eastern regions of Iran, it is strongly recommended to search for underlying factors.

Prevalence of using complementary and alternative medicine in children and its related factors in East iran.

OBJECTIVE: Recently application of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is increasing in children worldwide. The present study was conducted to determine the prevalence, related factors, types, the sources of information and knowledge of mothers for the possible side effects. METHODS: This descriptive and analytical study carried out within three months from April-June 2012 through oral interviews and questionnaires with 300 mothers of children referred to pediatric clinic in Vali-Asr Hospital, Birjand (center of South Khorasan province: East of Iran). Findings : 35.6% of mothers had used CAM as medication at least once for their children during the last year. There was a significant and direct correlation between using CAM for children with increased maternal age, decreased level of mother's education, mother being as a housewife and having more than two children. Most (93.3%) common treatments included medicinal herbs, oil rub (26.6 %) and prayer therapy (25.7%). Relative (72%) and neighbors (50%) were the most sources for mother's information while physicians consist only 2% of the information source. Only 1.3% of mothers knew that CAM may also exert some side effects. CONCLUSION: Considering the fact that about one third of mothers used CAM modalities, physicians were the least maternal source of CAM information, nearly all mothers were unaware of the side effects of CAM It is recommended that physicians should learn about the CAM to enable them for providing information to parents regarding its benefits and disadvantages. It is also highly recommended to enhance community knowledge about the proper use of different kinds of CAM.

Ceftriaxone-associated nephrolithiasis in children.

OBJECTIVE: Ceftriaxone is a third-generation cephalosporin which is widely used for treatment of infection in children accompanied by complications like urinary tract lithiasis and gallbladder psudolithiasis or sludge. The aim of this study was to investigate the incidence and predisposing factors that contribute to these complications in children. METHODS: This quasi-experimental and before- and after-study was conducted in 96 children who were hospitalized for treatment of different bacterial infections and received 50-100 mg/kg/day ceftriaxone divided into two equal doses intravenously under conditions of adequate hydration. Sonographic examinations of urinary tract and gallbladder were carried out before and after treatment for that purpose. Patients with positive sonographic findings after treatment were followed with serial sonographic examinations. FINDINGS: Post-treatment sonography demonstrated nephrolithiasis in 6 (6.3%) and gallbladder stone in one (1%), all were asymptomatic. Comparison of the groups with and without nephrolithiasis demonstrated no significant differences with respect to age, body weight, diagnosis, season of hospitalization, dosage of drug and the duration of treatment. Nephrolithiasis had a significant relation with male gender (P=0.02). CONCLUSION: Our results showed that pediatric patients may develop small sized, asymptomatic renal stones during a 2-6 day course of normal or moderate dose of ceftriaxone therapy. Close monitoring of ceftriaxone treated patients especially on high dose long term therapy for nephrolithiasis and gallbladder psudolithiasis or sludge is recommended.

Comparison of components of metabolic syndrome in premature myocardial infarction in an Iranian population: a case -control study.

BACKGROUND: Metabolic syndrome is a major risk factor for coronary artery disease (CAD). AIM: Aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of metabolic syndrome in patients with premature myocardial infarction (before 50 years of age). METHODS: In this case-control study, we compared 98 consecutive patients who were hospitalized in Birjand with acute first myocardial infarction before the age of 50 years and 98 age- and sex-matched healthy controls without a history of coronary artery disease. The case and control groups were categorized according to the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel (NCEP ATP III) metabolic syndrome criteria [presence of ≥3 of the following: Fasting blood glucose ≥100 mg/dL, triglyceride (TG) level ≥150 mg/dL, low high density lipoprotein (HDL; <40 mg/dL in men and <50 mg/dL in women), blood pressure ≥130/85 mm Hg, and waist circumference >102 cm in men or 88 cm in women]. The data were collected and analyzed by t-test, χ(2), and logistic regression in SPSS software 11.5. RESULTS: Prevalence of metabolic syndrome was significantly higher in cases than in control group (34.7% in cases, 16.3% in controls, P=0.003). All components of metabolic syndrome except high waist circumstance in the cases group were significantly higher than in control. The most common component of metabolic syndrome was high TG and the least common component was low HDL. CONCLUSION: We conclude that prevalence of metabolic syndrome in patients with premature myocardial infarction is high; high TG is the most common component of metabolic syndrome.

Risk factors for premature myocardial infarction: a matched case-control study.

BACKGROUND: Myocardial infarction in young age is increasing. Identifying risk factors could be important for health promotion. We studied classic atherosclerotic risk factors in premature myocardial infarction. METHODS: In this matched case-control study, which was conducted from 2005 to 2007 in Birjand County, the east of Iran, atherosclerotic risk factors (hyperten-sion, family history of coronary artery diseases, obesity, diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia) of 98 patients affected by acute myocardial infarction aged under 50 years were compared with that of 98 healthy neighborhood controls. RESULTS: Mean levels of cholesterol, triglyceride, low-density lipoprotein, as well as systolic blood pressure and body mass index were significantly higher in cases than in controls. There was a positive association between coronary artery disease at younger age and dyslipidemia OR=2.8 [95% CI: 1.5, 5.2], smoking OR=6.4 [95% CI: 3.0, 13.5], systolic hypertension OR=3.1 [95% CI: 1.5, 6.3], family history of coronary artery diseases OR=10.9 [95% CI: 3.2, 37.9] and diabetes OR=2.5 [95% CI: 1.04, 6.2]. CONCLUSION: Smoking, systolic hypertension and dyslipidemia were the most common risk factors among patients with premature myocardial infarction.