[ relation between serum zinc level and febrile seizures in children admitted to Zanjan Valie-Asr Hospital]

Febrile seizures [FS] are the most common seizures seen in childhood with a prevalence of 2-14% in different societies. This study was carried out regarding the possibility of the relationship between serum zinc levels and occurrence of FS. 117 children ranging from 6 months to 5 years were divided into four groups: FS [n=39], febrile patients with no seizures [FNS] [n=40], control group of afebrile patients with no seizures [AFNS] [n=32], and patients with seizures without fever [n=6]. After completion of a questionnaire and obtaining blood, serum zinc levels were measured. Data was analyzed using SPSS software. The mean serum zinc levels in 39 FS patients was 75.67 mcg/dl, 40 febrile patients with no seizure had a mean serum zinc level of 87.58 mcg/dl. 32 afebrile patients with no seizure had a mean serum zinc level of 89.06 mcg/dl and in 6 afebrile patients with seizure; the mean serum zinc level was 96/67 mcg/dl. The serum zinc level in FS patients was significantly lower than the other groups [p=0.002 and p=0.001], whereas the 3 other groups had no significant difference [P= 0.971]. Regarding the high incidence of hypozincaemia in FS, low serum zinc levels may be associated with the occurrence of FS

[Maternal knowledge about nutritional status of 6 to 12 month old infants in the community oriented medical education of Zanjan university of medical sciences]

Children suffering from failure to thrive [FTT] may have significant impairments in physical growth as well as cognitional and developmental functions .After 6 months of age approximately one third of the energy needed for a child should be provided by supplemental nourishments. Studies have shown that poverty itself is not a factor of malnutrition alone and the role of the mother's knowledge in proper use of the family income and the use of the supplementary nutrition in appropriate time with proper food is significant. The aim of this study was to evaluate maternal knowledge about nutritional status of children and its related factors. This cross sectional study was conducted on three hundred mothers who had a child between 6 to 12 months, at the health care center of the community oriented medical education in Zanjan University of Medical Sciences .The mothers were interviewed about supplemental nutrition. Information about maternal age, education, number of children, and family income were also gathered. One hundred eighty one [60/3%] of mothers were between the ages 20-29years and 35/3% had only elementary education. Fifty five percent lived in rental houses and 47/5% had one child. 42/3% of them were found to have average knowledge. Eighty two percent knew the appropriate time to start supplemental nutrition but 92% did not know that the best time of supplemental nutrition was after breast feeding. According to this study, there was a significant relationship between maternal knowledge about supplemental nutrition and maternal age, education, and the number of children [P<0.0001]. However there was no significant relationship between mother's knowledge and family type of home ownership. It seems that up-grading maternal knowledge plays an important role in prevention of FTT

[ introduction of the first case of jarcho- levin syndrome from Iran]

Jarcho-Levin syndrome is a rare central skeletal system defect with the involvement of ribs and vertebrae and association of short trunk stature and some other organ anomalies. One of the common problems is different rate of respiratory abnormalities. Chest X-Ray is the primary base for the diagnosis, but spiral 3D CT scan give us more accurate evaluation of the ribs situation. There are also cardiac problems associated with this syndrome. In this case we present a 9- month- old infant who had Jarcho-Levin syndrome with right-sided heart failure