Evaluating the serum levels of zinc, copper, magnesium, and 25-hydroxy vitamin D in children with idiopathic drug-resistant epilepsy; a cross-sectional study.

Background: Drug-resistant epilepsy is defined as failure of seizure control in spite of using 2 or 3 proper antiepileptic drugs in appropriate time. Mineral elements play important roles in neuronal function; it is believed that mineral deficiency may lead to complications through seizure management. In the present study, serum levels of zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), magnesium (Mg), calcium (Ca), and 25-hydroxy vitamin D (Vit D) in drug-resistant-epilepsy (DRE) patients were evaluated and compared with the controlled patients.

The prevalence and major determinants of non-compliance with anti-seizure medication among children.

A wide range of adherence to the use of anti-seizure medications has been reported among children with the disease, and accordingly, various factors on the degree of adherence to the drug have been reported. But in our society, there is no clear picture of drug adherence and related factors among children with seizures. We evaluated the frequency of adherence to anti-seizure medication as well as related factors.

Comparison between serum magnesium levels of asphyxiated neonates and normal cases.

Asphyxia is one the most important causes of neonatal mortality and morbidity. It is suggested that magnesium may have a protective role against cellular damage during hypoxic brain insult, or change effect post-asphyxia consequences. Our study was performed for comparison of serum magnesium in neonates with and without asphyxia.

Plasma Ammonia Levels in Newborns with Asphyxia.

Objective: Perinatal asphyxia may result in hypoxic damage in various body organs, especially in the central nervous system. It could induce cascade of biochemical events leading to the cell death and metabolic changes, eventually may increase plasma ammonia levels. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of hyperammonemia in neonates with asphyxia and to find the relationship between ammonia levels and severity of asphyxia.

Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Isolated From Various Types of Hospital Infections in Pediatrics: Panton-Valentine Leukocidin, Staphylococcal Chromosomal Cassette mec SCCmec Phenotypes and Antibiotic Resistance Properties.

Background: Staphylococcus aureus has long been considered as a major pathogen of hospital infections.

Objectives: The present investigation was carried out to study the distribution of Staphylococcal Chromosomal Cassette mec (SCCmec) types, Panton-Valentine Leukocidin (PVL) gene and antibiotic resistance properties of Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) strains isolated from various types of infections found in Iranian pediatric patients.

Patients And Methods: Two-hundred and fifty-five clinical specimens were collected from four major provinces of Iran.

Shiga Toxigenic Escherichia coli in Iranian Pediatric Patients With and Without Diarrhea: O-Serogroups, Virulence Factors and Antimicrobial Resistance Properties.

Background: Shiga-toxigenic Escherichia coli is an important human pathogen cause of diarrhea, hemorrhagic colitis, hemolytic uremic syndrome and thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura in humans is a significant public health.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the molecular characteristics and antimicrobial resistance properties of Shiga toxigenic Escherichia coli (STEC) strains with respect to their seasonal, age and geographical distributions in Iranian pediatric patients with and without diarrhea.

Patients And Methods: Four hundred and eighty swab samples were taken from pediatric patients with and without diarrhea of four major provinces of Iran.

Intraventricular Hemorrhage in Term Neonates: Sources, Severity and Outcome.

Objective: Intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) occurs in preterm infants; however, the occurrence of this event is less frequent in term neonates. The present study evaluated clinical characteristics, pathophysiological features, and early outcome of term neonates with IVH in a referral neonatal center in Iran.

Materials & Methods: This study was performed on 30 full-term neonates admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) of Ali-Asghar Hospital, Tehran, Iran between March 2005 and April 2011.

Frequency of Meningitis in Children Presenting with Febrile Seizures at Ali-Asghar Children's Hospital.

Objective: Febrile seizures (FS) are the most common type of childhood seizures, affecting 2-5% of children. As the seizure may be the sole presentation of bacterial meningitis in febrile infants, it is mandatory to exclude underlying meningitis in children presenting with fever and seizure. To determine the frequency of meningitis in children with FS and related risk factors, the present study was conducted at Ali-Asghar Children's Hospital.

Renal function in children with febrile convulsions.

Objective: Febrile convulsions (FC) are the most frequent seizure disorder in children. Some studies have detected serum electrolyte disturbances in patients with FC. This study determines serum electrolytes, renal function tests, and frequency of urinary tract infection in hospitalized children with FC.

Neonatal meningitis: risk factors, causes, and neurologic complications.

Objective: Neonates are at greater risk for sepsis and meningitis than other ages and in spite of rapid diagnoses of pathogens and treatments, they still contribute to complications and mortality. This study determines risk factors, causes, and neurologic complications of neonatal meningitis in hospitalized neonates.

Material & Methods: In this descriptive, cross sectional study, we evaluated 415 neonates with sepsis and meningitis admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit at our center between 2008 and 2012.