serum lead level of childern in emergency ward

Lead is neurotoxic metal and particularly harmful to the developing nervous system of young children. The U.S. Department of Health and Human services established a National goal to eliminate blood lead level more than 100 Microgram/lit in children age<7 years by 2010. Our perpous was to evaluate the serum lead blood level of 1-7 years old children in khorasan province. This cross sectional - descriptive study performed on 206 children aged one to seven years who were referred to pediatric out patients clinic and pediatric emergency service of Emam Reza medical center.Mashhad Iran from Jan. 200 1 - 2002 children age and blood lead levels were collected in special form. From all children before entrance to study 3 cc blood had been taken for blood lead level. Blood lead levels in all samples were measured by the same lab and same technician. Collected data were processed by descriptive statistics and frequency tables. In this study we measure blood lead levels in 206 children aged one to six years in Emam Reza Medical center pediatrics emergency service and out patients clinic. The mean age of children was 40/04 +/- 1 8/66 months and the mean blood lead level was 121/95 +/- 33/54 Mcg/lit and in 74/8% of children the lead levels were more than 100 Mc/lit. study showed the lead levels are more than other countries studies. Further epidemiologic studies should be performed for this very important heath problem of Mashhad children

effect of calcium and phosphorus in osteopenia of prematurity

Introduction: Osteopenia is a recognized complication in VLBW infants. In adequate postnatal intake of calcium and phosphorus is probably important in the pathogenesis of bone disease in VLBW infants. This study is carried out to determine the effect of calcium and phosphorus supplementation on prevention of Osteopenia in preterm infants

Material and Methods: In NICU at Ghaem Hospital for a period of one year 43 preterm infants with birth weight less than 2000gr, were followed from birth to six week after birth. Twenty babies [control group] received breast milk and 23 babies [case group] received breast milk and supplemented with calcium and phosphorus. All received a daily supplement of 400U vitamin D. serum calcium, phosphorus and alkaline phosphatase obtained every two weeks until six-weeks postnatal age, at the end of this time wrist x-ray for evaluating of Osteopenia were done

Results: With biochemical criteria 15 patients developed osteopenia, which 7[30.4%] were in the case group and eight [40%] were in the control group. With radiographic criteria 23 patients developed osteopenia which 11[48%] were in the case group and 12[60%] were in the control group, these difference are not significant [P=0.35 and P=0.2]. Linear growth during this period was 5.36cm in the case group versus 4.45cm in the control group, and weight gain was 19.76gr/day in the case group versus 16.61g/day in the control group

Conclusion: Calcium and phosphorus supplementation in VLBW infants that fed breast milk was effective on prevention of osteopenia. In addition this supplementation induced better linear growth and weight gain

Association of maternal factors successful breast feeding in mothers with low birth weight infants

Introduction: Human breast milk is the only and important milk for newborns especially low birth weight newborns. In this cross-sectional study mothers of low birth weight babies with successfull breast feeding. Were observed before and after discharge from hospital during 9 months from May 2000 to March 2001, In Imam Reza Medical Center NICU

100 mothers entered this study. 84% of them were successful breast feeders. 15% of mothers fed their preterm babies with own and other mothers milk, but less than one percent didn't breast feed their babies

This study showed that mother age, parity, number of babies, type of delivery and education weren't statistically significant and the only important factor was economic level [P=0.02]