Determination of Hepatitis B Surface Antibody Titer in Vaccinated Children with Major Thalassemia in Kerman-Iran

Thalassemia patients, comparing to normal population are more susceptible to hepatitis, because of frequent blood transfusions. To determine the immune response of children with major beta-thalassemia, by measuring anti-hepatitis B surface antibody [anti-HBs Ab] following the last HBV vaccine injection. This study carried out on 215 thalassemic children who received three st and ard intramuscular recombinant HBV vaccines. Children age range was between 1- 4.5 with a mean age of 3.37 years. Based on the time lapsed since last vaccine injection, the subjects were divided into three groups; 0-15 months, 15-30 months and 30-45 months, respectively. Based on the serum levels of anti-HBs antibody, subjects were categorized as: good responders [anti-HBs >100 IU/Lit], low responders [anti-HBs 10-100 IU/Lit] and non responders [anti-HBs <10 IU/Lit]. The mean range of anti-HBs level in the above mentioned groups were 205.34, 128.8 and 54.25 IU/lit, respectively [P<0.0001]. In girls, the mean antibody level was 104.2 and in boys it was 95.8 IU/Lit [P>0.05]. Out of 215 selected individuals 75 [35%] were good responders, 65[30%] low responders and 75 [35%] non-responders. St and ard HBV vaccination in thalassemic children results in an immune response in more than 65% of the subjects. Therefore, assessment of anti-HBs antibody level, 45 months after the last vaccination is recommended

Report of a four-year-old boy with progeria without total alopecia

Hutchinson-Gilford progeria syndrome is an extremely rare condition with features of premature and accelerated ageing. The pattern of inheritance is unclear, although autosomal dominant mutations have been proposed. The disease presentation is usually in infancy and early childhood with a characteristic phenotype of short stature, abnormal skin and nail, beaked nose, loss of subcutaneous fat, failure to thrive, varying degrees of alopecia and premature graying of hair and prominent scalp veins. Laboratory and pathological findings are not characteristic and death results from cardiovascular abnormalities usually in the second decade of life in the majority of cases. We report a four-year-old boy who came to our hospital with history of mottled pigmentation of skin and abnormal pacies. Due to clinical features and pathological data, the case was diagnosed as Hutchinson Gilford progeria syndrome

Etiologic prospects of hirsutism a study on 59 adult females in southern Iran

Etiologies of hirsutism largely depend on ethnic composition of population. In order to clarify the etiologies of hirsutism in Kerman, a south province of Iran, 59 [18-46 years] hirsute woman who fulfilled Fenyman and Gallwey score >8 were entered in the study. Baseline serum luteinizing hormone [LH],' follicular stimulating hormone [FSH], Prolactin, dihydro- epianderosterone sulfate [DHEA-S], testosterone, thyroid stimulating hormone, 17-hydroxyprogesterone I [1 7-OHPG] and stimulated 17-OHPG by I adrenocorticotropic hormone injection were measured by radioimmunoassay. Ultrasound evaluation of ovaries I was performed for all subjects. According to the investigation results, three major causes of hirsutism were idiopathic 31 [52.5%], polycystic ovary syndrome [PCOS] 24 [40.7%] and late onset congenital adrenal hyperplasia [LOCAH] 4 [6.8%]. Comparing the data, LH-FSH ratio [1.75+/-0.2] I was higher in PCOS [P<0.00l], 17 OHPG [2.61+/-0.6 ng/ml] and DHEAS level [102+/-25.4 micro g/dl] were higher in LOCAH patients [p<0.001]. As the third cause of hirsutism, screening for LOCAH should be considered in evaluation of all hirsute subjects