Causes and types of precocious puberty in North-West Iran

Precocious puberty is of concern because of the underlying disorders, the short adult stature, and the psychosocial difficulties. This study was carried out in order to evaluate the characteristics of children referred to pediatric endocrinology clinic with diagnosis of precocious puberty. In a cross-sectional study between February 2007 and September 2009, all of the children referred to pediatric endocrinology clinic in North-West Iran with diagnosis of precocious puberty were recruited. Data of 106 girls [82.2%] and 23 boys [17.8%] were analyzed. Mean age of the patients at the time of referral was 6.6 +/- 2.8 years [ranging 0.3-14 yr], which was 7 +/- 3.9 [ranging 0.3-14 yr] for boys and 6.6 +/- 2.5 [ranging 0.8-12 yr] for girls [P=0.6]. Out of 129 subjects, 56[43.4%] had precocious puberty, 71.4% [35 cases] of them were due to central precocious puberty and 28.6% [16 cases] were pseudo-precocious puberty. 73 out of 129 subjects [56.6%] were due to normal variants of puberty, normal puberty, and no puberty. 87.5% of subjects with central precocious puberty were idiopathic. Most of children referred with diagnosis of precocious puberty have benign normal variants. Most of cases with precocious puberty are affected with central precocious puberty, especially with idiopathic form of it

Dose supplemental zinc prevent recurrence of febrile seizures?

Febrile seizures [FS] are the most common form of seizures in children. Previous studies have suggested that zinc may play a role in the prevention of FS. However, there is limited information on the preventative effects of zinc against FS. This study aimed to determine whether prescribing zinc supplements could prevent FS. In a randomized, placebo-controlled trial, 100 children who had experienced simple FS for the first time were recruited. Children in the case group [50 patients] were orally administered1mg/kg/day zinc sulfate for 1 year, and children in the control group [50 patients] received a placebo. Serum zinc levels in both the control and case groups were measured at the start and at the end of the study, and recurrent cases of FS were recorded. The case group consisted of 29 boys [58%] and 21 girls [42%] with a mean age of 2.06 +/- 0.83, and the control group consisted of 31 boys [62%] and 19 girls [38%] with a mean age of 2.22 +/- 1.04 years. An inverse relationship was found between febrile diseases and serum zinc levels. In other words, the occurrence of febrile diseases decreased with an increase in serum zinc levels. Eight children [16%] in the case group and 8 in the control group experienced recurrent FS within a year. Supplemental doses of zinc [1mg/kg/day] reduced the rate of febrile illnesses, but did not prevent the recurrence of FS

Autoimmune thyroid disease in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes mellitus in Northwest Iran

To investigate the prevalence of autoimmune thyroid disease in diabetic children in Northwest Iran. In a cross-sectional study from February 2006 to November 2007, serum levels of anti-thyroid peroxidase, and anti-thyroglobulin antibodies, and thyrotropin hormone were measured with ELISA method in 176 diabetic children [78 Male and 98 Female] at a mean age of 8.3 +/- 3.7 and mean diabetes duration of 1.6 +/- 2.5 years, who were referred to the Pediatric-Endocrinology Clinic of Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran. Autoimmune thyroid disease was found in 12% of patients [8.6% female, and 3.4% male]. Significant levels were found for anti-thyroid peroxidase [10.2%], anti-thyroglobulin [8%], and both antibodies [6.3%] in all patients. We concluded that autoimmune thyroid disease in Iranian children, and adolescents with type 1 diabetes has a medium prevalence rate compared with those of other countries. The disease is more common in female, and older diabetic patients

Etiology of short stature in east Azerbaijan, Iran

Short stature is a common problem encountered by pediatricians and is the most common cause for referral to pediatric endocrinologists. Although most children referred with short stature are normal and classified as normal variants of stature [constitutional growth delay and familial short stature], it may sometimes be the only obvious manifestation of an endocrine or systemic disease. The objective of this study was to assess the characteristics of patients referred to pediatric endocrinology clinic because of short stature and determination of the etiology. Three hundred-seventy nine children and adolescents were studied which referred with short stature to pediatric endocrinology clinic. After complete clinical and paraclinical evaluation and appropriate treatment [if needed], patients were followed for at least six months. From 379 studied patients with a mean age of 9.7 +/- 3.7 years, 192 [50.7%] were girls and 187 [49.3%] boys [P=0.066]; short stature in 132 [34.8%] of patients was not approved. Normal variants of Short stature [familial and constitutional] constituted 53.3% of etiology in short patients. In 11.5% of short patients, no obvious etiology was found, and 9.8% were born with intra uterine growth retardation. Other causes were growth hormone deficiency, hypothyroidism, skeletal dysphasia, Turner syndrome, and malnutrition. A great number of children and adolescents referred with short stature to pediatric endocrinology clinics are not really short. Greater than half of short patients are normal variants of Short stature

Severe neonatal hypercalcemia due to primary hyperparathyroidism; a case report

Neonatal primary hyperparathyroidism [NPHP] is a rare disease characterized by marked hypercalcemia, diffuse parathyroid hyperplasia and skeletal demineralization. These patients have symptoms of chronic hypercalcemia such as failure to thrive, irritability, abdominal pain and anorexia. It is often fatal unless parathyroidectomy is performed. Treatment with drugs usually is inadequate and often results in chronic hypercalcemia and death. A 10-day-old, 2.9 kg male newborn was hospitalized for anorexia, poor feeding, cyanosis, hypotonia, lethargy and severe dehydration. Diagnosis of severe hypercalcemia due to primary hyperparathyroidism was established and surgical approach selected because of failure of medical therapy to control hypercalcemia. The baby was successfully treated by total parathyroidectomy with autotransplantation. Although neonatal primary hyperparathyroidism [NPHP] is a rare disease, it must be considered for differential diagnosis in neonates with severe hypercalcemia. Early diagnosis and total parathyroidectomy with autotransplantation can be life-saving

[External genital anomalies in newborn babies]

External genital anomalies are common congenital anomalies, especially in male newborns. It seems that the incidence of these anomalies is increasing. Although the etiology of these anomalies is obscure in most cases, genetic and environmental factors have important roles. This study aimed to determine the types and frequency of these anomalies in newborn babies and to compare the results with those of a study which was conducted in the same hospital in 1991. In a descriptive analytic and cross-sectional study, all babies born March 2005 to February 2006 in Alzahra Hospital, Tabriz, were recruited. 6800 newborns consisting of 3475 [51.1%] boys and 3325 [48.9%] girls were studied. No anomaly was found in girl newborns, but 6.6% of boys had external genital anomalies. Undescended testis and hypospadias were first and second common anomalies. In comparison with the previous study, the frequency of anomalies was higher in preterm and low birth weight babies, babies of related parents and older mothers. The frequency of external genital anomalies had an ascending trend in the last decade. Low birth weight, preterm delivery, high maternal age, and related parents are risk factors for these anomalies