[Assessment of plasma and red blood cells fatty acid composition in boys with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder [ADHD]]

Background: Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder [ADHD] is one of the most common mental diseases in children. Fatty acids are important components of nerve cell myelin. Essential fatty acid deficiency leads to behavioral abnormalities similar to nervous disorders, such as ADHD. The purpose of this study was to determine the composition of fatty acids in plasma phospholipids and whole erythrocyte in the ADHD boys

Methods: This is a case-control study in which 36 boys with ADHD and 37 boys without ADHD -aged 6-12 years- were participated. ADHD children were diagnosed with clinical diagnosis and psychiatric questionnaires by a psychiatrist. Then fatty acids of plasma phospholipids and whole erythrocyte were extracted

Results: The mean content of sum of saturated fatty acids [P=0.004] and arachidonic acid [P<0.001] of plasma phospholipids were significantly lower and mean concentrations of oleic acid [P<0.001] and sum of monoenes [P<0.001] were significantly higher in the ADHD group compared to the control one. However in the total RBC, the mean concentrations of stearic acid [P=0.003], arachidonic acid [P=0.04] and alpha-linolenic [P=0.02] acid were significantly lower and the mean content of linoleic acid [P=0.01] was significantly higher in the ADHD group compared to the control one

Conclusion: Fatty acid composition of plasma phospholipids and RBC in the ADHD children differed from that of the non-ADHD children

Correlation of obesity and overweight with emotional-behavioral problems in primary school age girls in Tabriz, Iran

Obesity and overweight have shown an increasing trend in most developing countries. Childhood obesity would impose numerous health-related problems. This study was conducted to determine the correlation of obesity and overweight with emotional-behavioral problems in primary school age girls. In a cross-sectional study, 300 primary school girls [aged 7-11 years] were selected using a multi-staged sampling method, including randomized cluster and stratified method. For all students body mass index was measured and then based on BMI for age and sex, from each grade [1-5], 20 students were selected for each group of normal weight, overweight and obese. The emotional-behavioral problems were evaluated using child behavior checklist that consists of 113 items for childhood behavioral problems. Total behavioral problems were seen in 17%, 27%, and 2% in obese, overweight, and normal weight children, respectively. Internalizing problems [including Anxious/Depressed, Withdrawn, and Somatic Complaints] were seen in 11%, 15%, and 2% and externalizing problems [including Aggressive and Delinquent Behaviors] were observed in 8%, 17%, and 2% in obese, overweight, and normal weight children, respectively. The mean scores in all scales were higher in obese and overweight children in comparison with normal weight children and the emotional-behavioral problems had significant positive correlation with obesity and overweight [P<0.01]. Despite the cultural differences between east and west, yet there are similarities in the most of the emotional-behavioral problems related to overweight and obesity. Also, it seems that the risk of behavioral-emotional problems in overweight girls is more than in obese girls. Overweight and Obesity prevention may be a primary preventive step for these problems in children

Associated factors with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder [ADHD]: a case-control study

The current study attempted to investigate factors associated with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder [ADHD] in children without co-morbidities. In this case-control study, 164 ADHD children who attended the Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Clinics of Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Iran were compared with 166 normal children selected in a random-cluster method from primary and secondary schools. Clinical interviews based on DSM-IV-TR using K-SADS were used to diagnose ADHD cases and to select the control group. Participants were matched for age. We used chi-square and binary logistic regression for data analysis. Among the associated factors with ADHD were gender and maternal employment. Boys [OR 0.54; 95% confidence interval: 0.34-0.86] and those children with working mothers [OR 0.16: 95% confidence interval: 0.06-0.86] suffered more from ADHD. The birth season, family size, birth order, and parental kinship were not among risk factors for ADHO. The results of the study show that maternal employment and male gender are among the associated risk factors for ADHD

[Level of activity, social and school competency in obese and overweight girls of elementary schools in Tabriz city]

The prevalence of overweight and obesity among children has dramatically increased in many developing countries. Childhood obesity affects various aspects of life, including academic achievement, social skills, quality of life and social competency .The purpose of this paper is to investigate the level of activity, school and social competency in obese and overweight children of elementary girls' schools in Tabriz city. This research is a comparative-cross sectional study .The sample was 300 students [7-11 years old] of girls elementary schools in Tabriz city, selected based on educational class grade and Body Mass Index [BMI] by random sampling in three groups including normal, overweight and obese groups. Data were collected by Child Behavior Check List that has a 20 items for assessing the activity, school and social competency of children in home, school and society. Data was analyzed by SPSS -Pc [version 11.5]. The results showed that normal group had greater scores on activity, social, school and total competence than overweight and obese groups, it means that normal group had a favorite level of competency than others groups. The results proposed reverse correlation between BMI and school and total competency [P<0.05]. However, BMI had not significant correlation with activity and social competency. The findings of this study indicated reversed correlation between BMI, school and total competency. So, prevention of obesity can prevent or decrease children's competency problems