[Frequency of beta-globin mutations in beta-thalassemia patients from east of Mazandaran]

Beta-thalassemia is the most common inherited disorder in the world, especially in Iran. According to Iranian thalassemia society registry, 18616 thalassemia patients now living in Iran, which Mazandaran and Fars provinces have the most patients. Previous reports have shown that the frequency of b-thalassemia carriers is more than 10% in Mazandaran province. Although b-thalassemia is very heterogenous in the molecular level, but in each population, 5 to 10 mutations are more common. In this research common mutation in eastern area of Mazadaran province was investigated. 5 to 10 ml peripheral blood samples were collected from volunteer patients who were referred to Boali Sina Hospital in Sari. DNA was extracted from blood, then 20 different mutations were screened and detected using two different methods, ARMS-PCR and Reverse-Dot Blot in Thalassemia Research Center in Sari and Amir Kola Thalassemia Center. From 240 chromosomes investigated in 120 b-thalassemia patients in total, 96.25% mutations were identified. 13 different mutations were identified from 231 chromosomes. Among different mutations investigated, IVSII-1G>A was detected as the most common with frequency of 68/3%, which was homozygous in 64 individuals [53/3%] and compound heterozygous with other mutations in 34 individuals [28/3%] respectively. Mutations C8[-AA], codon22[G>A]/ FSC 22/23/24[-7bp], codon 30[G>A], and IVSII-1G>A were identified in 83% of chromosomes which were studied [200 chromosomes from 240]. Mutation IVSII-1G>A is the most common mutation in northern provinces [Gilan, mazandaran, Golestan] in recent study. Also, comparison of these results with the similar finding from other provinces showed that the distributions of mutations in the northern area are different with northwest, south or southeast of the country

[ study on 6-18 years-old girl students about weight and height in Sari]

Measurement of height and weight of children and adolescents are important sources of information and the best index for evaluation of their growth and nutritional and health status of society. This study performed to evaluate weight, height and pubertal stage of girls in sari. This cross - sectional study was performed on 1320 6-18 years old school girls in elementary guidance and high school of Sari. Their height, weight and pubertal stage were evaluated and recorded by educated personas. Also Body Mass Index was calculated and recorded. Then Z score [SDS] of weight, height and the Body Mass Index studied people was compared by using calculated standard curve and findings in NCHS curve and findings of 1997 in Sari. For analyzing data, descriptive statistics, Mean +/- SD, Frequency and percent were used. By using NCHS curve 1256 persons [95.2%] from total persons that were studied, had normal height [5 - 95 percentile] and the weight of 1254 persons [95%] were in 5 - 95 percentile. 2/5 centemers increasing in height and 2.5 Kg increasing in weight were seen in comparison to 1997 study. BMI of persons in all age groups [expect 17 year old with +/- 0.05 SD] were over than 50 percentile and mean age of beginning of menarche was 11.4 +/- 1.1. Our study in Sari shows the improvement in growth index in comparison to 1997 study which become near to standard curve in developed country