Comparison of two regimens of vitamin D supplementation for vitamin D-deficient neonates.

INTRODUCTION: Vitamin D deficiency is common in pregnant women, and supplementation of vitamin D is necessary for the infants of these women. This study explored the efficacy of an alternative way of vitamin D supplementation in an area with a high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in mothers. METHODS: This was a non-randomised clinical trial conducted in 2010 in Yazd, Iran. Full-term healthy infants born to vitamin D-deficient mothers (n = 82) were divided into the high-dose regimen (HDR; single oral bolus 30,000 IU vitamin D3, n = 34) and the standard-dose regimen (SDR; 400 IU/day vitamin D3 within two weeks of life, n = 48) groups. 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD) was measured using chemiluminescent immunoassays, and 25OHD level > 20 ng/mL was deemed sufficient. RESULTS: Over 90% of infants in the HDR group attained vitamin D sufficiency within one month, while comparable sufficiency was reached in the SDR group only after four months. At two months, the proportion of infants attaining 25OHD > 30 ng/mL was 93.3% and 27.9% in the HDR and SDR groups, respectively (p = 0.003). None of our infants achieved 25OHD levels > 100 ng/mL. CONCLUSION: For infants born to vitamin D-deficient mothers, oral supplementation of 30,000 IU vitamin D3 during the first month of life, followed by a routine recommended dose of 400 IU/day, should be considered. The four-month lag for attaining vitamin D sufficiency in 90% of infants in the SDR group may have clinical implications and should be further investigated.

Malignancy risk assessment in patients with thyroid nodules using classification and regression trees.

Purpose. We sought to investigate the utility of classification and regression trees (CART) classifier to differentiate benign from malignant nodules in patients referred for thyroid surgery. Methods. Clinical and demographic data of 271 patients referred to the Sadoughi Hospital during 2006-2011 were collected. In a two-step approach, a CART classifier was employed to differentiate patients with a high versus low risk of thyroid malignancy. The first step served as the screening procedure and was tailored to produce as few false negatives as possible. The second step identified those with the lowest risk of malignancy, chosen from a high risk population. Sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values (PPV and NPV) of the optimal tree were calculated. Results. In the first step, age, sex, and nodule size contributed to the optimal tree. Ultrasonographic features were employed in the second step with hypoechogenicity and/or microcalcifications yielding the highest discriminatory ability. The combined tree produced a sensitivity and specificity of 80.0% (95% CI: 29.9-98.9) and 94.1% (95% CI: 78.9-99.0), respectively. NPV and PPV were 66.7% (41.1-85.6) and 97.0% (82.5-99.8), respectively. Conclusion. CART classifier reliably identifies patients with a low risk of malignancy who can avoid unnecessary surgery.

Radiation-induced hypopituitarism in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

BACKGROUND: Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) is the most common malignancy among children for whom radiotherapy and chemotherapy are used for treatment. When hypothalamus-pituitary axis is exposed to radiotherapy, children's hormone level and quality of life are influenced. The aim of this study is to determine late effects of radiotherapy on hormonal level in these patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this study 27 children with ALL, who have been referred to Shahid Ramezanzadeh Radiation Oncology Center in Yazd-Iran and received 18-24 Gy whole brain radiation with Cobalt 60 or 9 MV linear accelerator, were assessed. These patient's basic weight, height and hormonal levels were measured before radiotherapy and also after different periods of time. RESULTS: GHD (growth hormone deficiency) after clonidine stimulation test was observed in 44% (n=12) and that in 50% of them (n=6), less than 1 year, had been passed from their radiation therapy. None of these patients demonstrated hormone deficiency in other axes. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that even application of a 18-24 Gy radiation dose might influence growth hormone levels; therefore, we recommend reduction of radiotherapy dose in such patients whenever possible.

Topiramate and propranolol for prophylaxis of migraine.

OBJECTIVE: To compare efficacy and safety of topiramate (TPM) and propranolol for migraine prophylaxis in children. METHODS: In a parallel single-blinded randomized clinical trial, 5-15 y-old referred migraineurs to Pediatric Neurology Clinic of Shahid Sadoughi Medical Sciences University, Yazd, Iran from May through October 2011, were evaluated. Patients were distributed into two groups, 50 of whom were treated with 3 mg/kg/d of topiramate (TPM) and another group of 50, were treated with 1 mg/kg of propranolol for 3 mo. Primary endpoints were efficacy in reduction of monthly frequency, severity, duration and headache related disability. Secondary outcome was clinical side effects. RESULTS: Fifty two girls and 48 boys with mean age of 10.34 ± 2.31 y were evaluated. Monthly frequency, severity and duration of headache decreased with TPM, from 13.88 ± 8.4 to 4.13 ± 2.26 attacks, from 6.32 ± 1.93 to 2.8 ± 2.12, and from 2.36 ± 1.72 to 0.56 ± 0.5 h, respectively. Monthly frequency, severity and duration of headache also decreased with propranolol from 16.2 ± 6.74 to 8.8 ± 4.55 attacks, from 6.1 ± 1.54 to 4.8 ± 1.6 and from 2.26 ± 1.26 to 1.35 ± 1.08 h, respectively. Pediatric Migraine Disability Assessment score reduced from 31.88 ± 9.72 to 9.26 ± 7.21 with TPM and from 33.08 ± 8.98 to 23.64 ± 9.88 with propranolol. Transient mild side effects were seen in 18 % of TPM and in 10 % of propranolol (P = 0.249) groups. CONCLUSIONS: Topiramate is more effective than propranolol for pediatric migraine prophylaxis.

The role of maternal thyroid stimulating hormone receptor blocking antibodies in the etiology of congenital hypothyroidism in isfahan, iran.

BACKGROUND: Considering the role of maternal thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) receptor blocking antibody (TRAb) in the etiology of congenital hypothyroidism (CH), this study aimed to determine TRAb among patients with CH in Isfahan, Iran. METHODS: In this case-control study, patients with CH and their mothers were compared with a group of healthy neonates and their mothers. Venous blood samples were obtained for measurement of TRAb using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method among mothers and their neonates. TSH of mothers was also determined. RESULTS: The case group consisted of 65 patients with CH and their mothers; controls were 148 healthy neonates and their mothers. The prevalence of positive TRAb in patients with CH and their mothers was higher than in the control group (81.5% vs. 1.3% in mothers and 80% vs. 0% in neonates, respectively, P<0.05). The relationship between the TRAb and occurrence of CH was significant (P<0.05), whereas the corresponding figure was not significant for TRAb and the level of maternal and neonatal TSH in case and control groups (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: It seems that autoimmunity has an important role in the etiology of CH. Further studies are necessary to determine other autoantibodies in CH patients.

Frequency of subclinical hypothyroidism in 5- to 15-year-old children with migraine headache.

BACKGROUND: Migraine is the most frequent acute recurrent primary headache in childhood. Hypothyroidism may be an exacerbating factor for some primary headaches. The purpose of this study was to determine the frequency of subclinical hypothyroidism in children with migraine headache. METHODS: In a cross-sectional analytic study, the thyroid function tests of 5- to 15-year-old migraineurs who were referred to the Pediatric Neurology Clinic of Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences from January 2010 to February 2011 in Yazd, Iran, were measured based on the second edition of the International Classification of Headache Disorders. RESULTS: Forty-eight girls (46.2%) and 56 boys (53.8%) with mean age of 10.46±2.72 years were evaluated. Twenty-five (24%) children had hypothyroidism. The monthly frequency of headache (mean±SD, 14.75±8.9 vs. 20.12±9.49, p=0.04) and the duration of headache (mean±SD, 1.96±1.08 vs. 3.75±2.71 h, p=0.03) were more statistically significant in migraineur children with hypothyroidism, but the mean age, mean of onset age of migraine, sex distribution, and severity of headache were not statistically different in both groups. CONCLUSION: Based on the results of this study, subclinical hypothyroidism was as an exacerbating factor for migraine headache. Therefore, it is logical to check the thyroid function tests in migraineur children.

Efficacy of levothyroxine in migraine headaches in children with subclinical hypothyroidism.

OBJECTIVE: Hypothyroidism may be an exacerbating factor for primary headaches and migraine is one of the most common primary headaches in childhood. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of treatment of subclinical hypothyroidism on children with migraine headache. MATERIALS & METHODS: In a quasi-experimental study, the severity and monthly frequency of headache of 25 migraineur children with subclinical hypothyroidism who were referred to the pediatric neurology clinic of Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences,Yazd, Iran between January 2010 and February 2011 and were treated with levothyroxine for two months were evaluated. RESULTS: Thirteen girls (52%) and 12 boys (48%) with the mean age of 10.2 ± 2.76 years were evaluated. In children with hypothyroidism, the monthly frequency of headache (mean ± SD: 17.64 ± 9.49 times vs. 1.2 ± 1.1 times) and the severity of headache (mean± SD: 6.24±1.8 scores vs. 1.33 ± 0.87 scores) were significantly decreased by treatment. CONCLUSION: Based on the results of this study, treatment of subclinical hypothyroidism was effective in reducing migraine headaches. Therefore, it is logical to check thyroid function tests in migraineur children.