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The aim of asthma treatment is to reduce airway inflammation by avoiding environmental triggers and using daily anti-inflammatory medications. This study aimed to compare the effects of fluticasone propionate (FP) and budesonide (Bud) on the clinical symptoms and control of asthma in children with moderate to severe asthma. In this open-label study, children with moderate to severe asthma were randomly selected to receive either FP 250 mcg or Bud 400 mcg for 3 months. Asthma control test scores were measured in both groups monthly. The clinical symptoms, drug adherence, and rescue medication were also evaluated. A total of 50 patients with ages between 4 and 7 years old were included in the study (25 cases received Bud and 25 cases received FP). Asthma control test scores, daily and nocturnal symptoms, and cough rates were significantly improved in both groups. The average asthma control scores for the fluticasone group were 21.68±3.32 in the second month and 24.84±2.67 in the third month, whereas the budesonide group had scores of 18.52±3.32 and 22.48±4.12 during the same periods. These variances were statistically significant. Additionally, the requirement for salbutamol use was notably reduced in the fluticasone group compared to the budesonide group throughout all three months. The efficacy of fluticasone propionate in decreasing the need for rescue medication and enhancing asthma control test scores was markedly superior to that of budesonide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Intra ventricular hemorrhage (IVH) is a major cause of mortality among very low birth weight infants. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between mean platelet volume (MPV) and IVH in very low birth weight infants. METHOD: In this cohort study, all premature infants weighing less than 1500 grams who were admitted to the NICU were enrolled from August 2018 to July 2019. Brain ultrasonography was performed on the first and seventh days and one month of age and were compared with Platelet count and MPV. RESULTS: From 183 neonates, 23 cases (12.6%) had IVH. The mean MPV on the first day in the group with IVH was 10.48±0.85 and in the non-IVH group was 9.9±0.74 (P = 0.005). The mean MPV on the seventh day in the IVH and non-IVH group were 10.4±0.92 and 10.03±0.74 (P = 0.04) respectively. On the first and seventh day, for one unit of MPV increase, the chance of IVH increased by 2.68 and 2.1 respectively. (p = 0.001; OR3.643; 95% CI [1.703–7.753]). CONCLUSION: The mean MPV index is significantly higher in the infants with IVH and therefore it can be used in early detection of IVH in neonates weighing less than 1500 grams. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background & Objective: Febrile seizures are one of the most common neurological disorders in children. The aim of this study was to investigate the extent of abnormal EEG reports and its association with other risk factors of febrile seizures. Materials & Methods: In this prospective observational study, all patients with febrile seizure admitted into Mousavi Hospital in Zanjan, Iran, from April 2015 to March 2016 were enrolled. EEG was carried out for all patients and the clinical data were recorded in the prepared questionnaire .The statistical analysis was performed by using spss.16 software. Results: One hundred seventy patients, 92 (54.1%) male and 78 (45.9%) female with the mean age of 28.57 months were evaluated. The EEG reports were normal in140 (82.4%) cases and 30 (17.6%) cases had abnormal reports including 8 cases(26.6%) of spike & sharp electric discharge, 2 cases (6.6%)of slow activity and 20 cases(66.6%) of nonspecific changes. EEG abnormalities were significantly related with male sex (P = 0.020), history of previous febrile convulsion (p< 0.001), positive family history of epilepsy and febrile seizures (p< 0.001) and complex type of febrile convulsion (p< 0.001). Longer duration of seizure (p< 0.001) and older age of patients (p< 0.033) had significant relation with abnormal EEG. Conclusion: Although EEG is not routinely performed in all patients with febrile seizure, it is recommended for male gender, age over 3 years, complex febrile seizure, previous history of seizure and family history of epilepsy or febrile seizures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE: Premature birth is an important factor for mortality and morbidity of neonates. This study was designed to evaluate the outcome of preterm neonates who needed neonatal intensive care (NICU) hospitalization after 6 yr at their entrance to the school. MATERIALS & METHODS: This cross sectional study was conducted on premature neonates consecutively hospitalized in NICU of Valie Asr Hospital (the Academic Pediatric Hospital, Zanjan, Northwestern Iran) from September 2001 to September 2003. All children with a history of prematurity and NICU treatment were evaluated at their entrance to the school. Demographic findings, clinical examinations, IQ test, hearing and visual acuity exams were recorded. RESULTS: From 179 neonates, 78 (43.6%) survived and were discharged from hospital. Fifty-four of them were available and entered first grade in primary school. Only one case had severe mental retardation. One case had severe retinopathy of prematurity (ROP). Hearing abnormality was not detected in any case. There was no significant relation between IQ score, visual as well as hearing findings and gestational age. CONCLUSION: We did not find significant disability in the outcome of surviving infants. This could be explained by the high mortality rate of neonates during hospitalization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This study aims to evaluate the effect of symbiotic (Pedilact) on the treatment of infantile colic. Materials and Methods: In this randomized clinical trial in Zanjan, Iran, 76 infants with infantile colic were assigned to two groups of 38 cases using block randomization. The intervention group received 5 drops of Pedilact, a symbiotic containing Lactobacillus reuteri and simethicone (20 mg twice daily), and the control group received placebo in addition to simethicone for 4 weeks. Daily crying time, number of crying attacks per day, and sleep duration were recorded on days 1, 7, 14, 21, and 28, and the results were compared. Results: Thirty-three infants in the intervention group and 35 infants in the control group were enrolled. There was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of age, gender, gestational age, maternal age, type of delivery, type of feeding, and weight at the beginning and the end of the study (all P > 0.05). Daily crying time in the control and intervention groups decreased from 240 and 210 min/day, respectively, to 0 min/day in both the groups. Daily crying attacks decreased from 5 and 4/day in the control and intervention groups, respectively, to 0/day. Sleep duration in both the groups increased from 720 to 840 and 930 min/day in the control and intervention groups, respectively, but the changes were not significant (P = 0.56, P = 0.52, and P = 0.13, respectively). Conclusion: We did not find a significant improvement in colic symptoms in infants receiving symbiotic compared to placebo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]