Infants' growth charts for southern Iran

Currently there are no growth charts based on local norms available for infants in Iran, and their growth is assessed by the National Centre for Health Statistics (NCHS) reference data, which is misleading. Growth charts for a cohort of 317 infants (164 girls and 153 boys) born in Shiraz (Southern Iran) in 1996 and followed for 2 years from birth are presented. All the centiles of length and weight charts are slightly above those of the NCHS charts under the age of 6 months and fall substantially below those over the age of 6 months. However, the spread is similar, so there is no suggestion that the difference is due to the prevalence of gross malnutrition. The difference shows that the use of locally based growth charts are essential for assessing the growth of children in Iran. The representativeness of our data leads us to conclude that the charts presented here are likely to be applied to the urban infant population of Iran.

Gegenwärtig stehen im Iran für Kleinkinder keine auf lokalen Normdaten basierende Wachstumsdiagramme zur Verfügung. Das Wachstum dieser Kinder wird anhand der Referenzdaten des Nationalen Zentrums für Gesundheitsstatistik (NCHS) eingeschätzt, was zu Fehleinschätzungen führt. Es werden Wachstumsdiagramme für eine Kohorte von 317 Kleinkindern (164 Mädchen und 153 Jungen) vorgestellt, die 1996 in Shiraz (Südiran) geboren wurden und nach ihrer Geburt 2 Jahre lang untersucht wurden. Alle Längen- und Gewichtszentilen liegen bis zu einem Alter von unter 6 Monaten leicht über denjenigen der NCHS-Diagramme und fallen ab einem Alter von 6 Monaten beträchtlich unterhalb diese. Allerdings ist die Spannweite ähnlich und daher gibt es kein Anzeichen dafür, dass der Unterschied auf das Vorliegen einer schweren Unterernährung zurückzuführen ist. Die Unterschiede zeigen, dass die Verwendung von lokalen Wachstumsdiagrammen für die Einschätzung des Wachstums von Kindern im Iran notwendig ist. Die Tatsache, dass unsere Daten als repräsentativ anzusehen sind, veranlasst uns zu der Schlussfolgerung, dass die hier vorgestellten Charts wahrscheinlich für die städtische Kleinkinderpopulation im Iran anwendbar sind.

On ne dispose pas actuellement en Iran de tables normatives de la croissance établies sur des données locales, si bien que la croissance des enfants iraniens est inadéquatement observéeen référence aux données du National Centre for Health Statistics (NCHS). On présente ici des courbes de croissance établies à partir d'une cohorte de 317 enfants (164 filles et 153 garçons) nés à Shiraz (Iran méridional) en 1996 et suivis pendant leurs deux premières années. Tous les centiles de taille et de poids sont légèrement supérieurs à ceux des tables NCHS avant l'âge de six mois, puis leurs deviennent nettement inférieurs par la suite. L'évolution des courbes étant similaire, il n'y a donc pas raison de suspecter que la différence est due à de la malnutrition. Cet écart entre les deux tables montre que l'utilisation de courbes fondées sur des données locales est essentielle pour le suivi de la croissance des enfants en Iran. La représentativité de nos données nous conduit à estimer que les tables présentées dans ce travail sont applicables à la population infantile urbaine en Iran.     

A Multi‐Structural Model for Prediction of Effective Gas Permeability in Mixed‐Matrix Membranes

A new model for prediction of the effective permeability of gases in mixed matrix membranes (MMMs), considering the effects of particle shape and the interfacial layer, is presented. The proposed model treats core filler particles and interfacial shell layers as complex particles. Moreover, the Bruggman mathematical procedure is used to improve the accuracy of the presented model for high concentrations of fillers in MMMs. Also, an appropriate uniform criterion is established to make efficient use of the new model for various experimental data to avoid the need for curve‐fitting procedures. Finally, the proposed model is examined for several sets of experimental data.

     

Effect of Plaque Burden and Morphology on Myocardial Blood Flow and Fractional Flow Reserve

Background

Atherosclerotic plaque characteristics may affect downstream myocardial perfusion, as well as coronary lesion severity.

Randomized controlled trial of aripiprazole versus risperidone for the treatment of amphetamine-induced psychosis

Background: Lifetime prevalence of amphetamine-induced psychotic disorder is reported as being up to 23% for methamphetamine (MA) abusers. Approximately 25% of those with a baseline DSM-IV diagnosis of substance-induced psychosis are diagnosed with primary psychosis at one-year follow-up. Evidence on the treatment of amphetamine psychosis is very limited. Objectives: To investigate the efficacy of risperidone versus aripiprazole in treatment of amphetamine-induced psychotic symptoms. Methods: In a double-blind study, 45 participants were randomly allocated to either aripiprazole 15?mg or risperidone 4?mg daily over a six-week trial. Positive and negative symptoms of psychosis were assessed using the Scale for Assessment of Negative Symptoms (SANS) and the Scale for Assessment of Positive Symptoms (SAPS) at baseline and completion of the trial. Results: SANS and SAPS scores decreased significantly in both groups. Mean SAPS score reduction in risperidone and aripiprazole group was 16.20 and 10.80, respectively, after trial course (p?p?=?0.08). Conclusions: Both aripiprazole and risperidone were effective for patients diagnosed with amphetamine-induced psychotic disorder. However, risperidone had the greater effect on positive psychotic symptoms while patients with negative symptoms may respond better to aripiprazole. There is a case for further studies evaluating the efficacy of atypical antipsychotics in this disorder.     

Low prevalence of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia after cardiac surgery in Thai patients

Introduction

Heparin induced-thrombocytopenia (HIT) has been well recognized in Western countries. However, there are no data in the Thai population. We therefore investigated the prevalence of anti-platelet factor 4 (PF4)/heparin antibodies, HIT, and its thrombotic complications in Thai patients undergoing cardiac surgery using unfractionated heparin.

Materials and methods

Seventy-three consecutive patients were prospectively enrolled in this study. Blood samples before operation and week 1, week 2, and week 3 after operation were collected from each patient for HIT antibody screening by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay using IgG antibody specific to the PF4/heparin complex. Positive samples were further analyzed by ¹⁴C-serotonin release assay. Complete blood count was performed daily during the first week, then weekly for 3 weeks.

Results

No patient had detectable anti-PF4/heparin antibodies at baseline. Five patients sero-converted during the course of the study for anti-PF4/heparin IgG: 3 (4.1%) at week 1, 4 (5.5%) at week 2, and 5 (6.8%) at week 3 after surgery. However, none of these patients had anti-PF4/heparin antibodies that resulted in ¹⁴C-serotonin release to be considered clinically significant antibodies. Post-operative thrombocytopenia after the operation was found in 35 patients (47.9%), but was not considered to be caused by HIT. Thromboembolic events occurred in 3 patients (4.1%) during follow up; however, none of these patients had positive PF4/heparin antibody tests.

Conclusions

Our study represents the first study to examine Thai patients exposed to heparin in the context of cardiac surgery. We found a lower prevalence of positive anti-PF4/heparin antibodies and clinical HIT than previously published studies.