Background:

There is scarce epidemiological data on early and asymptomatic stages of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in children, especially from developing countries. In this study, we investigated the frequency of CKD stages 3-5 among general students of Isfahan (a large province of Iran), and compared the findings with those derived from the main pediatric nephrology referral center of province.

Methods:

This study was performed among 712 Isfahani school students (377 boys) aged 7-18 years, as part of the baseline survey of a national surveillance system. Blood samples were analyzed for blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, and cystatin C. Glomerular filtration rate (GFR) was calculated based on two 2009 Schwartz equations (the “updated” and the “new” equations). CKD was defined as GFR <60 ml/min/1.73 m2. Additionally, a retrospective analysis of clinical records of children with stages 3-5 CKD referred to main referral center of province from November 2001 to December 2011 was made.

Results:

The mean age of students was 12.2 ± 2.4 years. In students’ screening, the frequency of CKD was 1.3% and 1.7% based on the updated Schwartz and the new Schwartz equation, respectively. The referral center survey revealed an annual incidence of 14.5 per million age-related population (pmarp), and a prevalence of 118.8 pmarp in our province.

Conclusion:

The prevalence of asymptomatic and undetected low GFR in Iranian children is higher than what is reflected from the reports of referral centers. Simple screening programs like annual urinalysis among high-risk school students should be considered.

We aimed to investigate whether oral administration of captopril modulate wound healing, nitric oxide (NO), and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) concentration in wound fluid of diabetic rats. 48 male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided in four groups (n = 12). The 36 rats were rendered diabetic by streptozotocin. The animals of the first and second groups received 25 and 50 mg/kg/day captopril, respectively, (DM-cap25 and DM-cap50). The animals of the third group were treated by distilled water (DM-control). Control rats had no intervention. The wound fluid level of NO and VEGF were measured. Wound specimens were investigated histopathologically. At the 5th day, there was significantly more NOx in wound fluid of DM-cap25 compared to other groups. At the 7th day, both captopril-treated groups had more NOx in wound fluid compared to other groups. At the 11th day, both captopril-treated groups had more NOx in wound fluid compared to DM-control group. VEGF concentration was significantly higher in both captopril-treated groups versus DM-control group (P < .05). There were significant higher wound healing scores in captopril-treated groups compared with DM-control group (P < .05). These results suggest that captopril might be useful in diabetic wound healing.

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.