Thyroid Hormone Levels in Preterm Neonates with Birth Weight Less than 2500 g, Treated with Phenobarbital.

Objectives: Indicatively, phenobarbital can impair thyroid function in adults and children. The present research aims to evaluate the thyroid hormone levels in preterm neonates who had received phenobarbital treatment.

Materials &methods: This study was conducted on preterm neonates who weighed less or equal to 2500 g when phenobarbital was prescribed for treatment in the first 15 days of life.

The Effect of Probiotics on Headaches in Children with Migraine Treated with Sodium Valproate: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial.

Objective: Migraine is one of the most common complaints in children. This study aimed to determine the effect of probiotics (KidiLact) on headaches in children aged six to 15 years with migraine treated with sodium valproate.

Materials & Methods: This double-blind, randomized controlled clinical trial was performed on eighty children with migraine treated with sodium valproate.

The First Report of Iranian Registry of Patients with Spinal Muscular Atrophy.

Background: Insufficient amounts of survival motor neuron protein is leading to one of the most disabling neuromuscular diseases, spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). Before the current study, the detailed characteristics of Iranian patients with SMA had not been determined.

Objective: To describe the key demographic, clinical, and genetic characteristics of patients with SMA registered in the Iranian Registry of SMA (IRSMA).

Serum and Cerebrospinal Fluid Lactate Dehydrogenase in Children with Febrile Convulsions.

Objective: Tissue damage caused by febrile convulsion has not still been proved or refuted completely. Given the fact that lactate dehydrogenase as an intracellular enzyme can be increased due to tissue damage, we decided to evaluate serum and cerebrospinal fluid lactate dehydrogenase in children with febrile convulsion.

Materials & Methods: This is a cross-sectional study on 166 children aged 6-24 month, in three groups of simple febrile convulsion (n=56), complex febrile convulsion (n=27) with 3 different subgroups (recurrence in 24 hours, duration >15 minutes, and with focal components), and control (n=83).

Effects of Iron Supplementation on Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder in Children Treated with Methylphenidate.

Objective: To evaluate the effect of iron on the attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, treated with methylphenidate.

Methods: This double-blind, randomized placebo-controlled clinical trial was performed on 50 children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder under the treatment of methylphenidate, with ferritin levels below 30 ng/ml and absence of anemia. They were randomly assigned into two groups of ferrous sulfate and placebo, for 12 weeks.

The Effect of "Creating Opportunities for Parent Empowerment" Program on Parents of Children With Epilepsy and Other Chronic Neurological Conditions.

Objectives: Parents taking care of children with epilepsy experience stress in their daily lives, which enhances their anxiety, changes their function, and eventually increases their children's behavioral problems. The present study aimed at investigating the effect of creating opportunities for parent empowerment (COPE) program on parents of children with epilepsy or other chronic neurological conditions.

Material & Methods: A quasi-experimental clinical trial was conducted on 88 mothers of hospitalized children with epilepsy aged 3 to 12 years.

Effectiveness of Iron Therapy on Breath Holding Spells in the Children.

Objectives: The pathophysiology and mechanism of Breath-Holding Spells (BHS) remain controversial, and the relationship between BHS and anemia has not been clarified, although iron supplementation appears to be effective in many patients. We aimed to assess the probable relation of iron level with initiation of these spells in children.

Materials & Methods: Overall, 42 children with a diagnosis of BHS, aged between 6 months to 2 yr were enrolled during Mar 2015 to Dec 2016 at Rasht 17th Shahrivar Hospital, Rasht, northern Iran.

Neuropilin-2 rs849563 gene variations and susceptibility to autism in Iranian population: A case-control study.

Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are neurodevelopmental disruptions usually diagnosed in the first three years of child's life that characterized by some impairments in verbal and nonverbal communication, problems in social interactions and repetitive behaviors. The neuropilin-2 (NRP2) gene has been shown to both guide axons and control neuronal migration in the central nervous system (CNS). In this study the association between the NRP2 gene and autism using a cohort of 120 Iranian children (50 cases with autism and 70 control cases) was analyzed.

The association of CNTNAP2 rs7794745 gene polymorphism and autism in Iranian population.

Autism is a heterogeneous and multifactorial disease that results from the interaction between genetic vulnerability and environmental factors. Several studies showed that many of genes that play role in autism are component of signaling networks that regulate growth and synaptic plasticity, play an important role in the etiology of autism. Contactin associated-like 2 (CNTNAP2) gene is a member of the superfamily of synaptic adhesion proteins and encodes a scaffold protein called CASPR2 that is involved in the interaction of neuron-glia and clusters K channels in myelinated axons.

Analysis of methionine synthase (rs1805087) gene polymorphism in autism patients in Northern Iran.

Autism is characterized by impairment in reciprocal communication and speech, repetitive behaviors, and social communication. The genetic and environmental factors play roles in the pathogenesis of autism. It was recently shown that the genes involved in the folate/homocysteine pathway may be risk factors for autistic children.

The association of SHANK3 gene polymorphism and autism.

Background: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and Autism are both general terms for a group of complex disorders of brain development. These disorders are characterized by difficulties in social interaction, verbal and nonverbal communication and repetitive behaviors. Many genes have been shown to be involved in Autism.

Health-Related Quality of Life and Related Factors in Children and Adolescents With Epilepsy in Iran.

The effects of epilepsy may disturb the ability of the child and family to function and has detrimental effects on health-related quality of life (HRQOL). We determined HRQOL and related factors in children and adolescents with epilepsy in Iran. This cross-sectional study was performed in a private neurology pediatric clinic in Guilan Province (North of Iran).

Comparative efficacy of herbal essences with amphotricin B and ketoconazole on in the condition.

Background: The species are the most important factors of fungal infections in humans and animals. It is necessary to prepare antifungal or antimicrobial drugs because of increasing drug resistance. The natural treatment of diseases of bacterial origin using medicinal plants is important.

Leptomeningeal dissemination of pilocytic astrocytoma in a 17-year-old boy.

Pilocytic astrocytoma with leptomeningeal dissemination is a rare phenomenon and can be associated with obstructive hydrocephalus and an unfavorable prognosis. Herein, we report a seventeen-year-old boy with a history of ventriculo-peritoneal shunt insertion due to severe hydrocephalus who presented with progressive headache and vomiting together with ocular and cerebellar signs and symptoms. Neuroimaging confirmed the presence of multiple intracranial masses in the cerebellum and thalamus.

Is serum vitamin D levels associated with disability in patients with newly diagnosed multiple sclerosis?

Background: Although the precise etiology of multiple sclerosis (MS) is unknown, it seems that both genetic and environmental factors are important. Recent studies suggest that low serum vitamin D levels are important environmental factor in MS. The aim of this study was to compare the serum levels of vitamin D between MS patients and healthy subjects, and to determine its association with disability in MS patients.

Prognostic value of arterial blood gas disturbances for in-hospital mortality in pediatric patients with severe traumatic brain injury.

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the changes of arterial blood gas as a secondary insult in children and young adults suffering from severe traumatic brain injury, and to assess the correlation, if any, with their in-hospital mortality.

Method: In this cross-sectional study, the medical data of all children and adolescents with severe head trauma admitted to the Rasht Poursina Hospital were reviewed between April 2006 and September 2011. Data including age, gender, GCS upon admission, arrival and daily ABG values for the first 3 days, results of brain CT scan, as well as in-hospital mortality rate were collected.

Febrile seizure: demographic features and causative factors.

Objective: Because of geographical and periodical variation, we prompted to determine the demographic features and causative factors for febrile seizure in Rasht.

Materials & Methods: In this cross-sectional study, all 6-month- to 6-year-old children with the diagnosis of febrile seizure admitted to 17 Shahrivar hospital in Rasht, from August, 2009 to August, 2010 were studied. Age, sex, family history of the disease, seizure types, body temperature upon admission and infectious causes of the fever were recorded.

Association of persistent hyperglycemia with outcome of severe traumatic brain injury in pediatric population.

Purpose: Hyperglycemia is a common secondary insult associated with an increased risk of mortality and poor outcome in traumatic brain injury (TBI), but the effect of hyperglycemia on outcomes of severe TBI in children and adolescents is less apparent. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association of hyperglycemia with mortality in pediatric patients with severe TBI.

Methods: In this cross-sectional study, data of all children and adolescents with severe TBI admitted to Poursina Hospital in Rasht, including age, gender, Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) upon admission, mortality rate, hospital length of stay, and serial blood glucose during the first three consecutive ICU days following admission, were reviewed from April 2007 to May 2011.

A randomized trial of propranolol versus sodium valproate for the prophylaxis of migraine in pediatric patients.

Background: Migraine is the most common of the paroxysmal disorders to affect the brain in the pediatric population. Both propranolol and sodium valproate (valproic acid) have been advocated as prophylactic agents for childhood migraine.

Objective: To compare the efficacy and tolerability of propranolol and sodium valproate in the prevention of migraine in the pediatric population.

Association between iron deficiency anemia and first febrile convulsion: A case-control study.

Objective: The relationship between iron deficiency anemia and febrile convulsions has been examined in several studies with conflicting results. The authors aimed to evaluate the relation, if any, of iron status with first febrile convulsion.

Methods: In this case-control study, the authors assessed 200 children with a diagnosis of first febrile convulsion, aged between 6 months and 5 years, during March 2005 to September 2006.