study on psycho-social factors related to children's suicide

Over the last 45 years, mortality due to suicide has increased in some developed and developing countries, among both children and adults. This study was undertaken to determine the cases suicide in 6-15 years old children. Between Jan. 2005 and Jan. 2008, data from 292 children [239 girls and 53 boys] aged 6-15 years who attempted suicide and were referred to the Loghman Hakim Medical Poison Centre affiliated to Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences in Tehran, Iran were enrolled. The Children Suicide Questionnaire [CSQ] was applied. The percentage of girls who attempted suicide was 81.8% against 18.2% for boys. Most of them were from 12 to 14 years old. 43.8% of the children were in a poor socio-economic class. 55.5% of the study period was between 6.00 pm and 12.00 pm. 41% of the respondents reported cases of mental illness in their family. 41.6% of the children had previously attempted suicide while 95% of suicide attempts took place at home and in 36.6% of suicides, there was a family argument. Depression [28%] and epilepsy [27.1%] were the most cited cases of personal problems using antiepileptic drugs [23%], benzodiazepine [23%], and antidepressants [20%]. This study suggests a collaboration between pediatricians, psychiatrists and psychologists

Cervical spondyloticmyelopathy: the pattern of neurologic deficits and improvement following anterior cervical decompression

We evaluated the specific pattern of pre- and postoperative neurological signs and symptoms of cervical spondylotic myelopathy [CSM] to determine findings which had a predictive value for surgical outcome. Consecutive patients with CSM caused by osteophytic ridge or intervertebral disc herniation who underwent anterior cervical decompression and fusion in Loghman Hakim Hospital from 1999-2003 were prospectively enrolled. Patients were evaluated postoperatively by office visit. Outcome was assessed by objective neurological examination and scoring with multiple functional rating scales. Forty - three patients [30 male, 13 female] with a mean age of 48.8 years fulfilled our inclusion criteria. The most common preoperative symptoms were sensory deficit in distal upper limbs [88.4%], gait disturbance [69.8%] and sensory deficit of distal lower limbs [58.1%]. The most common signs were hyperreflexia [95.3%], Hoffman's sign [93%] and Babinski's sign [83.7%]. Vertebral osteophyte and soft disc herniation were found in 86% and 14% of the patients, respectively. Overall functional improvement, evaluated by using a modification of the Japanese Orthopedic Association Scale was noted in 79.7% of the patients who had an abnormal scale preoperatively. Strength improved considerably and significantly after operation. However, less than half of the patients experienced functional improvement in the lower limbs, a discrepancy that was probably caused by persistent spasticity. Atrophy of the hand muscles, preoperative spastic gait and cord atrophy as shown in MRI were poor prognostic factors