role of oxidative stress in pediatric urinary tract infections: a systematic review

Introduction: Urinary tract infection [UTI] that can affect any part of the urinary tract and may subsequently lead to kidney infection is linked with variety of causative factors such as oxidative stress. In this study, we aimed to systematically review the literatures to evaluate the effects of oxidative stress on UTI

Method: PubMed and Google scholar were searched systematically using the key terms, "oxidative stress" and "urinary tract infection" in the title, keywords, and abstract on February 2015 to find articles in which the oxidative stresses had been evaluated in children with urinary tract infection [UTI]. Papers were excluded if they were unrelated to the purpose of this study, or in language other than English. Full texts of the relevant documents were fully reviewed for data extraction

Result: Of overall 50 articles from PubMed, and 6 records found in Google scholar, only 8 articles met the inclusion criteria for further assessment. Additionally, three papers were omitted due to full texts unavailability or language irrelevancy, and five articles, which fully met the inclusion criteria, were used for data extraction. The results showed that the level of antioxidant decreases significantly in patients with UTI, while the markers of oxidative stress increases

Conclusions: The results of the studies showed that the level of antioxidants decreases in patients with UTI, while lipid peroxidase and the level of oxidative stress biomarkers such as malondialdehyde and reactive oxygen species increase. These findings are suggestive of an association between oxidative stress and UTI

Prevalence of using complementary and alternative medicine in children and its related factors in East Iran

Recently application of complementary and alternative medicine [CAM] is increasing in children worldwide. The present study was conducted to determine the prevalence, related factors, types, the sources of information and knowledge of mothers for the possible side effects. This descriptive and analytical study carried out within three months from April-June 2012 through oral interviews and questionnaires with 300 mothers of children referred to pediatric clinic in Vali-Asr Hospital, Birjand [center of South Khorasan province: East of Iran]. 35.6% of mothers had used CAM as medication at least once for their children during the last year. There was a significant and direct correlation between using CAM for children with increased maternal age, decreased level of mother's education, mother being as a housewife and having more than two children. Most [93.3%] common treatments included medicinal herbs, oil rub [26.6%] and prayer therapy [25.7%]. Relative [72%] and neighbors [50%] were the most sources for mother's information while physicians consist only 2% of the information source. Only 1.3% of mothers knew that CAM may also exert some side effects. Considering the fact that about one third of mothers used CAM modalities, physicians were the least maternal source of CAM information, nearly all mothers were unaware of the side effects of CAM It is recommended that physicians should learn about the CAM to enable them for providing information to parents regarding its benefits and disadvantages. It is also highly recommended to enhance community knowledge about the proper use of different kinds of CAM

Comparison of components of metabolic syndrome in premature myocardial infarction in an Iranian population: a case -control study

Metabolic syndrome is a major risk factor for coronary artery disease [CAD]. Aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of metabolic syndrome in patients with premature myocardial infarction [before 50 years of age]. In this case-control study, we compared 98 consecutive patients who were hospitalized in Birjand with acute first myocardial infarction before the age of 50 years and 98 age- and sex-matched healthy controls without a history of coronary artery disease. The case and control groups were categorized according to the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel [NCEP ATP III] metabolic syndrome criteria [presence of >/= 3 of the following: Fasting blood glucose >/= 100 mg/dL, triglyceride [TG] level >/= 150 mg/dL, low high density lipoprotein [HDL; <40 mg/dL in men and <50 mg/dL in women], blood pressure >/= 130/85 mm Hg, and waist circumference >102 cm in men or 88 cm in women]. The data were collected and analyzed by t-test, chi[2], and logistic regression in SPSS software 11.5. Prevalence of metabolic syndrome was significantly higher in cases than in control group [34.7% in cases, 16.3% in controls, P=0.003]. All components of metabolic syndrome except high waist circumstance in the cases group were significantly higher than in control. The most common component of metabolic syndrome was high TG and the least common component was low HDL. We conclude that prevalence of metabolic syndrome in patients with premature myocardial infarction is high; high TG is the most common component of metabolic syndrome

Risk factors for premature myocardial infarction: a matched case-control study

Myocardial infarction in young age is increasing. Identifying risk factors could be important for health promotion. We studied classic atherosclerotic risk factors in premature myocardial infarction. In this matched case-control study, which was conducted from 2005 to 2007 in Birjand County, the east of Iran, atherosclerotic risk factors [hypertension, family history of coronary artery diseases, obesity, diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia] of 98 patients affected by acute myocardial infarction aged under 50 years were compared with that of 98 healthy neighborhood controls. Mean levels of cholesterol, triglyceride, low-density lipoprotein, as well as systolic blood pressure and body mass index were significantly higher in cases than in controls. There was a positive association between coronary artery disease at younger age and dyslipidemia OR=2.8 [95% CI: 1.5, 5.2], smoking OR=6.4 [95% CI: 3.0, 13.5], systolic hypertension OR=3.1 [95% CI: 1.5, 6.3], family history of coronary artery diseases OR=10.9 [95% CI: 3.2, 37.9] and diabetes OR=2.5 [95% CI: 1.04, 6.2]. Smoking, systolic hypertension and dyslipidemia were the most common risk factors among patients with premature myocardial infarction

Relationship of body mass index with serum lipids in elementary school students.

Objective. To determine the relationship of body mass index with serum lipids in elementary students. Methods. This prospective analytic study was conducted among 954 elementary school students (9-11years), selected by multi stage random systematic method from 6 cities and their rural areas from The South Khorasan province (eastern Iran) from September to December 2006. Height and weight was measured and Body mass index was calculated. Total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) were determined. Results. 954 students 9-11 years old were studied. 45.4% were boys. 76.5% were living in the city. 1.8% of students were obese and 3.4% were over weight. There was no significant relation between obesity and overweight with sex, age and the area of residence. There was significant relation between BMI with TC (P= 0.003), TG (P< 0.001) and LDLC (P= 0.04). TG was significantly higher in obese and overweight students than in normal weight students (P< 0.001). TC (0.002) and LDL-C (0.01) were significantly higher in obese students than normal weight students. The prevalence of high TG was significantly higher in obese and overweight students than normal weight students (0.003). There was no significant difference between different kinds of dyslipidemia with area of residence. Conclusion. it is necessary to measure serum lipid profile in obese and overweight children.

Prevalence of zinc deficiency in elementary school children of South Khorasan Province [East Iran]

Zinc deficiency is common in developing countries and can affect growth of children. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of zinc deficiency and its effect on growth in elementary school children of South Khorasan province. This cross-sectional study was carried out on 908 9-11 year-old school children of South Khorasan province [East Iran] from October to December 2007. The subjects were chosen by multi-stage cluster random sampling method from urban and rural areas. Anthropometric measurements were made following standard techniques. Children were considered Stunting, underweight and wasting as height-for-age and weight-for-age and weight-for-height Z-score below or equal -2 standard deviation using the National Center for Health Statistics [NCHS] reference population. Serum zinc level was measured by atomic absorption spectrometry. Statistical analysis was performed by the SPSS statistical package using t-test, Chi-square and ANOVA. Totally, 474 subjects [52.2%] were girls and 697 subjects [76.8%] resided in city. The prevalence of stunting, underweight and wasting was 13.2%, 6.8% and 5.5%, respectively. The mean value of zinc plasma level was 87.7 [ +/- 32.7] micro g/dl; it was significantly higher in girls and in urban areas. There were no significant differences in mean serum zinc in school children with normal growth and subjects that were stunted, underweight or wasted. The prevalence of zinc deficiency was 28.1% and it was significantly higher in rural areas. The prevalence of zinc-deficiency was significantly higher in stunted school children than non-stunted children. Zinc deficiency is common in elementary school children of South Khorasan province, so searching studies for underlying factors of zinc deficiency and supplementation of zinc, especially in stunted students is recommended

Comparison of Lipoprotein [a] and apolipoproteins in children with and without familial history of premature coronary artery disease

The importance of cardiovascular risk factors like hypertension, obesity and dyslipidemia in prediction of later coronary artery disease [CAD] in offspring of high-risk family is well known. This study was performed to compare the level of lipoprotein [a] and apolipoproteins as new risk factors in children and adolescents with and without a family history of premature CAD This case-control study was performed from November 2004 until September 2005. All patients with premature myocardial infarction hospitalized in the coronary care units [CCU] of Vali-e-Asr hospital, who survived and had children between 2-14 years old, were defined as parents of the case group. 86 of them were chosen with simple non-random method. Only one child from each family was selected randomly. The control group consisted of children with nearest age and sex to children of the case group from the neighbors with equivalent socioeconomic status, without a family history of premature myocardial infarction. Subjects had been instructed to fast for 12 to 14 hours. Venous blood was analyzed for lipoprotein [a] and Apolipoprotein A1 and B100. The level of lipoprotein [a] was significantly higher in the case group. There was not a significant difference of lipoprotein levels between the two groups. Measurement of lipoprotein [a] is recommended in screening programs in offspring of high-risk families