new formula for estimating fetal weight: the impression of biparietal diameter, abdominal circumference, mid-thigh soft tissue thickness and femoral length on birth weight

Abdominal circumference [AC], biparietal diameters [BPD] and femoral length [FL] are now the main parameters used to obtain estimated fetal weight [EFW]. Although the role of soft tissue parameters in determining fetal weight was proved but clinical attention to mid-thigh soft tissue thickness [STT] is limited. To find the impression of STT on birth weight [BW] and represent a new predictive formula. One hundred and fourteen normal singleton term [36-42w] pregnancies with delivery within 72 hours were randomly selected to participate in this prospective cohort study. Variables measured by ultrasonography before birth included: AC, BPD, FL and STT. The actual neonatal BW was also measured after birth. Linear regression model was used and R square and p-value were reported The mean [SD] of BW was 3406 [405] gr. R square was best fit for the model that STT was added to AC, BPD, FL [r[2]: 0.77]. R square for the model using BPD, AC, FL and model using BPD, STT, FL was the same [r[2]: 0.7]. Best fit formula was Log [BW]= 2.461+0.003BPD+0.001AC+0.007STT+0.005FL. AC [R: 0.67, p<0.001], STT [R: 0.50, p<0.001], BPD [R: 0.59, p<0.001], FL [R: 0.66, p<0.001] were significantly correlated with birth weight. AC had also significant correlation with STT [p=0.001] This study showed adding STT to other variables in predictive models of fetal weight would provide a nice estimation [r[2]=0.77] and in cases that measuring AC is suboptimal STT may be a good replacement

Clinical features and severity of psoriasis: a comparison of facial and nonfacial involvement in Iran

Facial involvement in psoriasis is accomplished with poor prognosis. In this study, clinical features and severity of psoriasis were compared between facial and nonfacial psoriasis involvement groups in Iran. It also evaluated these characteristics in different subtypes of facial psoriasis. One hundred and thirty- eight psoriatic patients having referred to our clinic entered in this cross- sectional study in 2006 - 2007. Medical information, whole body and scalp Psoriasis Area and Severity Index [PASI] scores were obtained. Variables were compared between the facial and nonfacial involvement groups and also in different subtypes of the former including peripherofacial [PF], centrofacial [CF], and mixedfacial [MF]. A P-value of < 0.05 was considered as significant. We found 55.0% facial involvement in Iranian psoriatic patients. MF [52.6%], CF [28.9%], and PF [18.4%], respectively were the common forms of facial involvement. The median whole body and scalp PASI scores, the number of male participants, and tongue involvement were significantly higher in patients with facial involvement. Comparing different subtypes of facial psoriasis, whole body PASI and scalp PASI scores were significantly higher in MF subtype and lower in CF subtype. Despite the least severity in the latter subtype, psoriatic arthritis and geographic tongue were shown to be more common in this subtype. Moreover, relapse history was correlated with PF subtype. Facial involvement in psoriasis had significantly higher whole body and scalp PASI scores in Iran which may be an indication of more severe disease. This difference was more prominent in MF subtype