Hypertension in Iranian urban population, epidemiology, awareness, treatment and control

To assess the epidemiological characteristics of hypertension patients in urban population of Yazd, A central city in Iran. This cross sectional study was conducted from 2005-2006 and carried out on population aging 20-74 years. It is a part of the phase I of Yazd healthy heart program that it is a community interventional study for prevention of cardiovascular disease. Data obtained from questionnaires were analyzed by SPSS version 13. P value less than 0.05 were considered significant level. This study comprised of 2000 participants that 847 [42.5%] were diagnosed as being hypertensive. After age adjustment, prevalence of hypertension was 25.6% [23.3% for women and 27.5% for men [P<0.001]. Age, Total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, triglyceride, fasting blood glucose, impaired glucose tolerance test, body mass index and waist were significantly higher in the hypertensive groups. 53.7% of hypertensive cases were aware of own condition, 45% were treated, and 33.9% of treated were controlled [30.7% and 35.4% in men and women respectively]. In other word, 24% of all hypertensives [aware or unaware about own blood pressure condition] were treated and only 8% of them were controlled. Men significantly had less awareness [P<0.001], lower tendency to take medication [P<0.001], and less were controlled [P=0.046]. We understand high prevalence, low awareness, treatment, and control of hypertension and higher prevalence of other traditional metabolic risk factors in these cases. It seems that urgent preventional studies should be conducted in this population

Utility of laboratory studies in seizures of children older than one month of age

<p><b>INTRODUCTION</b>Seizure is the most common paediatric neurological disease which occurs in ten percent of children. In approaching a convulsive patient, finding the causes of seizure is essential, and the patient's history as well as the physical examination are important. The role of routine laboratory tests for children's seizures (except neonates) is undetermined, but checking for serum sodium, glucose, calcium and urea routinely has been advised. The purpose of this study was to determine the diagnostic efficacy of these serum chemistry tests in the seizures of children older than one month of age.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>In this descriptive, retrospective study, medical records of 302 hospitalised children with seizure were reviewed. Results of laboratory tests, like sodium, calcium, blood glucose and urea levels, pertinent history and physical examination, and the change in patient management based on serum chemistry test results, were analysed. All the children in the study were classified as having seizure with or without fever.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In 302 hospitalised children with seizure, about ten percent of 938 tests were abnormal. 27.7 percent of these abnormal results were seen in 1-12-month-old infants. Only 11 percent of abnormal tests (1.3 percent of total tests) might have caused a seizure. Also, 0.2 percent of the results could not be predicted from the history or physical examination, which was conducted in patients younger than one year of age.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Routine determination of serum chemistry values in seizures of children does not contribute to therapy, and are costly and time-consuming. It may not be helpful and informative unless the patient is less than one year of age.</p>

Analgesic effects of glucose and water in neonates

Several methods have been used to relieve pain in neonates. The objective of this study was to assess the analgesic effect of 50% glucose and water during hepatitis B vaccination. In this randomized controlled trial, 90 term neonates were studied. Infants were randomly assigned to one of the three equal sized groups. First, heart rates were measured by EKG monitor. Then, 2mL of either 50% glucose or sterile water was administered into the mouths of infants in groups one and two, respectively. No intervention was done for group three. During vaccination until three minutes after, crying of babies was taped. Heart rates were measured during injection until 60 seconds. Mean values of duration of crying for glucose, water, and no intervention groups were 21.1 s, 33.3 s, and 56.9 s, respectively, which were significantly different [P= 0.0003]. Post hoc test revealed substantial differences between groups one and three [P= 0.0001] and between groups two and three [P= 0.006]. However, groups one and two were not statistically different [P= 0.19]. Moreover, heart rate did not rise significantly in any of those groups. Both 50% glucose and water showed analgesic effects in neonates