[Expression of hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis with hepatic dysfunction in a 50 days old infant]

The Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis [HLH] is a rare disease with the pathologic hallmark of having aggressive proliferation of activated macrophages and histiocytes in the tissues and organs, which phagocyte other cells. The Incidence of HLH was estimated to be 1 case per 50000 - 300000. Case report: A 50 days infant was referred to Shahid Sadoughi Hospital with hepatic manifestations such as ascites, hepatosplenomegaly, markedly elevated liver function tests, herniated umbelical cord, abnormal coagulation profiles, and the bone marrow revealed HLH. Unfortunately the parents did not permit the appropriate treatment to be done and the infant died at age of 90 days old. since the HLH have nonspecific clinical signs, it should be considered as differential diagnosis of neonatal liver disease, especially when it is accompanied by cytopenias

[ role of C-reactive protein in diagnosis of neonatal early-onset sepsis]

Bacterial sepsis is one of the most common diagnostic challenges in newborn medicine and is considered as a leading cause of neonatal mortality and morbidity. To study the role of C-reactive protein [CRP] in diagnosis of neonatal early-onset sepsis. This was a cross-sectional analytical study in which 100 newborn babies admitted to NICU were investigated. C-reactive protein was measured before and 24 hours after the beginning of therapy. Continuation or cessation of antibiotic treatment depended upon the result of CRP and blood culture. The data were analyzed statistically using chi-square and fisher exact tests. Sensitivity of the first measurement of CRP compared with the result of blood culture was unmeasurable, but the negative predictive value was 97%. The sensitivity of CRP in second measurement and the negative predictive value were 100%. Our findings revealed that the first CRP result bear little sensitivity in diagnosing sepsis, however, the second CRP result produced higher sensitivity and negative predictive value [100%] for detection of early-onset sepsis. CRP negativity 24 hours after the onset of symptoms could rule out the presence of sepsis with further antibiotic cessation. On the other hand, a positive CRP with sensitivity of 100% is suggestive of sepsis

[ effect of gender and number of pups on postpartum depressive-like behaviors in rats]

Postpartum depression [PPD] is the most common complication of childbearing women. According to the effect of alterations of estrogen, progesterone, beta-endorphins, CRH and hCG on the etiology of PPD and considering the effect of fetal gender on some maternal hormone levels, the effect of fetal gender on PPD [due to hormonal mechanisms] is a ponderable hypothesis. Because of the interaction between cultural, social and economical factors with occurrence of PPD, study on the correlation between gender or number of infants and PPD is difficult in human populations. We purposed to study the correlation between gender or number of pups and PPD-like behaviors in rats. In this study postpartum depressive-like behaviors were assessed in 30 Wistar rats by Forced Swim Test [FST]. Behaviors observed in the FST such as increased immobility and decreased active behaviors [struggling, swimming and diving] are depression symptoms. On postnatal days 3 and 4 dams were placed in a swim tank and their behaviors [struggling, swimming and immobility time and diving number] were recorded and assessed. The correlation between postpartum depressive like behaviors and pups sexual ratio [females/males] or pups number was analyzed by the Bivariate Correlation [Pearson's test]. A significant positive correlation between pups number and immobility time was observed [r = 0.641, p<0.05]. However increase in pups number decreased the struggling and swimming time and diving numbers, the correlations were not significant [p>0.05]. There was not any significant correlation between pups sexual ratio and behaviors observed in FST [p>0.05]. Results of this study imply that PPD-like behaviors are affected by pups number but are independent to pups gender in rats