Comparison of blood lead levels of mothers and cord blood in intrauterine growth retarded neonates and normal term neonates

To compare the blood lead levels of mothers and cord blood in intrauterine growth retarded [IUGR] neonates and normal term neonates. From April to December 2005, we carried out a cross-sectional, prospective study in Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran. Blood lead levels were measured in the umbilical cord and maternal venous blood samples in 32 mother-infant pairs with IUGR full term neonates, and 34 mother-infant pairs with normal full term neonates. Blood-lead levels were analyzed by atomic absorption spectrometry. The mean lead concentration in neonates of IUGR and normal groups was not significantly different [107.47 +/- 16.75 versus 113.08 +/- 19.08 micrometer/L, p=0.2]. The mean lead concentration in mothers of IUGR group was lower than normal groups, but this difference was not significant [124.56 +/- 19.71 versus 135.26 +/- 26.91 micrometer/L, p=0.07]. Maternal lead levels were strongly related with cord blood in both IUGR and normal groups [r=0.8, p<0.0001]. Maternal and cord blood lead levels was not correlated with birth weight of newborns in either group. Overall, 65.6% of IUGR neonates and 76.4% of normal neonates was above the critical level defined for lead poisoning as>100 micrometer/L by the centers for disease control; however, this was not statistically different between the groups. Our results indicate that the mean lead level was not higher in IUGR neonates, and the whole blood lead was not related to the birth weight. In addition, maternal and cord blood lead levels were strongly correlated, and there were remarkable lead burdens on both the mothers and their neonates in this industrial area

[Frequency of various malignant diseases in children younger than 10 years old in Yazd]

According to the results of studies from different parts of the world, malignancies in children are rare. Despite this fact, malignant neoplasms remain the second leading cause of death in children after accidents. ALL, CNS tumors and lymphomas are the most common malignancies in children. They account for approximately more than 50% of malignancies and occur more frequently in boys than girls. There are 2 peak incidences early childhood and adolescence in the < 19 years old age group. The distribution of malignant diseases in the pediatric age group on the basis of age and sex has been evaluated in this study. This descriptive - observational study was done by cross- sectional method from 1998 till 2003. We evaluated the frequency and distribution of malignant diseases in children younger than 10 years old according to age and sex in Yazd. The files of children whose malignancy was confirmed by the pathological reports were studied and data related to age, sex, type of malignancy and time of admission was entered in the questionnaires. Frequency and distribution of malignant diseases in male children < 10 years old is 60.4%which is more than females [39.6%]. It is most frequent in children aged 6-7 years and least common in children<1 years of age. ALL has the highest frequency of distribution, while histiocytosis has the lowest. The other malignancies following ALL are as follows: Hodgkins lymphoma [8.5%], Neuroblastoma [8.5%] soft tissue sarcoma [7.5%] bone tumors [6.6%], Wilm's tumor [6.6%], Germ cell tumors [3.8%], AML [2.8%], Retinoblastoma [1.9%], malignant neoplasms of the liver [1.9%] and Histiocytosis [0.9%]. The frequency and distribution of malignant diseases in the pediatric age group is more common in males than in females which is the same as other studies. The frequency and distribution of malignant diseases is the most in children aged 6-7 years that is different from other studies. ALL is the most prevalent malignant disease in the pediatrics age group followed by Hodgkins lymphoma and CNS tumors