effects of L-thyroxin replacement therapy on bone mineral and body composition in hypothyroid children

This study aimed to detect the effects of L-T4 treatment on bone mineral and body composition in hypothyroid children, Thirty five hypothyroid patients [10 males and 25 females], mean age was 11.57 +/- 5.06 yr. Twenty six children of matched age and sex served as controls, Dual energy X-ray absorptiometry [DXA] was done to detect the bone mineral density [BMD], bone mineral content [BMC] and Z score at lumbar and femur neck regions. Body composition was also studied by DXA. Serum calcium, phosphorus, osteocalcin, osteoprotegrin and urinary deoxypyridinoline were measured. No significant differences were detected in lumbar Z score [-0.19 +/- 0.65] and femur Z score [-0.16 +/- 0.57] compared to controls [-0.33 +/- 0.75] and [-0.21 +/- 0.53] respectively. BMD and BMC are not significantly different from controls. No significant difference was detected between cases and controls as regard body composition. Positive correlation was detected between BMD and age [r 0.857, P<0.01], and with the period of treatment [r=0.766, P<0.01]. Positive correlation was existed between BMD and total body fat [r=0.693, P<0.01], and with abdominal fat [r=0.667, P<0.01]. L-T4 treatment in hypothyroid children doesn't alter bone metabolism and body composition

Malnutrition and underlying factors among primary school children in Giza Governorate, Egypt

To assess the prevalence of nutritional deficiency diseases and their underlying factors and to assess nutritional knowledge and behavior of urban and rural primary school children. The study is a cross sectional and analytic study conducted upon 1000 primary school children within the age range 10-13 years from five Governmental Primary Schools in Giza governorate. Three questionnaires were fulfilled including demographic data, past history of illnesses and nutritional knowledge and behavior. Full clinical examination and measurements of weight and height were done to assess height for age [HA] and body mass index [BMI]. Hemoglobin levels in blood and stool analysis were performed for all studied children. In rural areas 64.7% of children had errors of refractions, 93.6% had pallor, 42.7% had gingivitis and 11.2% had grade 1 goiter which were significantly higher than children in urban areas [44.5%, 80.6%, 31.3% and 8.6% respectively] while xerosis and flat nails were insignificantly higher. A high proportion of children were underweight and significantly higher in urban than rural areas [76.9% and 69.4% respectively]. High percentages of parasitic infections were found which were significantly higher in urban than rural areas [5 1.7% and 46.2% respectively]. About one third of children [32.7%] in urban areas suffered from anemia compared to 19.7% in rural areas and more than 50% of them had severe anemia [18.3% and 10.3% respectively]. The majority of faulty feeding habits were significantly higher in rural than urban children. Total nutritional knowledge score was 97.4% in urban and 99.2% in rural areas with insignificant statistical difference between regions. As for the total nutritional behavior, about 3/4 of children in both regions had fair score with significant urban-rural statistical difference [74.8% and 71.1% respectively]. The rural community in Giza Governorate showed a significantly higher prevalence of clinical signs indicative of malnutrition and faulty feeding habits than urban regions while the urban community showed a significantly higher prevalence of underweight, anemia, parasitic infestations and dental carries than rural areas. Both regions had poor total nutritional knowledge scores and fair total nutritional behavior scores. The most significant variables influencing the nutritional knowledge were socioeconomic standard [SES], age and urban residence while for nutritional behavior these factors were age, urban residence, SES and nutritional knowledge. The study recommends that primary school children in rural as well as urban areas should be considered as a priority in the nutrition promotion and education programs with a special address to micronutrient supplementation and fortification and de-worming