Iranian Boys Research Articles

Information-seeking Behavior of Iranian Young Adults (18-28 Years Old) Regarding HPV on Social Media: A Preventive Approach to HPV.

Health information-seeking behavior refers to individuals' targeted actions to satisfy their health information needs and search for relevant disease-related information. Nowadays, social media platforms provide a great opportunity for meeting health information needs and delivering preventive education regarding human papillomavirus (HPV). The purpose of this study is the information-seeking behavior of Iranian young adults (18-28 years old) regarding HPV on social media, a preventive approach to HPV. The present descriptive-analytical study was conducted in 2023 among Iranian boys and girls aged 18-28 years. A multistage cluster sampling method was used to select 3840 participants. The data collection tool was Longo's Health Information-Seeking Behavior Questionnaire. The collected data were analyzed using the SPSS software. The results showed that Iranian youth aged 18-28 were more inclined to seek information on social media about the transmission routes and preventive measures for HPV. The primary informational need regarding transmission was "I want to know the main route of HPV transmission is through vaginal and anal intercourse?", and regarding prevention, it was "Can condoms prevent HPV infection?" Additionally, the findings indicated that young individuals sought information about HPV after their first sexual encounter. Most of the information needs of the youth were fulfilled through YouTube, Instagram, and WhatsApp, mainly in video format. Approximately 85.10% of the youth were satisfied with the information obtained from social media. The results revealed a significant and positive relationship between the health information needs of young adults (18-28 years old) in the area of HPV and personal factors. Gender, age, marital status, education level, history of HPV infection, and engaging is unprotected extramarital sex were identified as significant influential factors on the level of information needs of young individuals, especially regarding HPV preventive measures (P < 0.05). Health authorities and disease control and prevention centers need to harness the potential of social media in meeting the informational needs of youth and providing education and awareness, especially concerning the transmission and prevention of HPV.

Developing First Native Regression Equations to Predict of Cardiorespiratory Fitness in Healthy Boys.

Cardio-respiratory fitness (CRF) is a strong predictor of overall health and is considered a key physiological measure in health care settings. Maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) is considered the gold standard for measuring CRF. Non-exercise VO2max regression equations provide a safe, simple and relatively accurate means of measuring CRF in the general population. This study aimed to develop first native regression equations to predict of CRF without exercise test in Iranian healthy boys. Laboratory gold standard CRF and anthropometric variables were measured in 597 healthy boys (8-17 yr) in Hmadan City, Iran in 2019. Multiple regression analysis was used to generate CRF regression equations. Cross validation of the CRF regression equations was assessed using PRESS statistics, Pearson correlation, Bland-Althman plot and paired t-test. CRF regression equations based on age, body mass index, body fat and resting heart rate were developed (R2=0.602 - 0.639, SEE = 3.42 - 3.73 ml/kg/min). PRESS statistics show that, shrinkage of the R2 (0.04 - 0.06) and the increment of SEE (0.18 - 0.25 ml/kg/min) is minor. There was strong correlation (R =0.847-0.883, P<0.001) and no significant difference (min diff= 0.09-0.18 ml/kg/min, P>0.05) between measured and predicted CRF. The Bland-Altman plot illustrates the strong agreement between the two values. We introduced simple and satisfactorily accurate CRF regression equations based in healthy boys. Prediction of CRF of the boys by regression equations would provide a simple tool for assessing cardiorespiratory fitness in large studies including Iranian boys.

Validation of a Farsi version of the Eating Pathology Symptoms Inventory (F-EPSI) among Iranian adolescents

PurposeLimited research has validated eating pathology assessments in Iranian adolescent boys and girls. In particular, the measures that have been validated do not capture both boys’ and girls’ eating behaviors in adolescence. The purpose of the current study was to validate a Farsi version of the Eating Pathology Symptoms Inventory (F-EPSI) for use in Iranian adolescents.MethodsParticipants (N = 913; 85.3% girls) were adolescents who completed a battery of questionnaires including the F-EPSI. In addition, F-EPSI data for Iranian adolescents were compared with those of previously published data of adult Iranian college students.ResultsConfirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) indicated that the F-EPSI had an acceptable fit to the data and supported the eight-factor model. The scale was invariant by gender, weight status, eating disorder, and age groups. Boys reported higher scores than girls on the Excessive Exercise, Muscle Building, Body Dissatisfaction, and Binge Eating subscales. Adolescents with higher weight and eating disorder symptoms endorsed higher scores on the F-EPSI subscales. Older adolescents and adults reported higher scores than younger adolescents and adolescents, respectively. Adolescents had higher scores than adults on Restricting and Excessive Exercise subscales. The F-EPSI demonstrated good convergent validity through correlations with other eating pathology symptoms. The F-EPSI subscales were associated with depression and body mass index (zBMI) in expected directions that indicate criterion validity of the scale.ConclusionsFindings suggest that the F-EPSI is a reliable and valid measure in Iranian non-clinical adolescents. The F-EPSI will enable researchers to examine a broad array of eating pathology symptoms in adolescents for whom Farsi is their official language.Level of evidenceLevel V; Cross-sectional descriptive study.

Street Children in Iran: What Are Their Living and Working Conditions? Findings from a Survey in Six Major Cities.

This cross-sectional rapid survey was conducted from March to May 2017 in six major cities in Iran. The sample group consisted of Iranian and non-Iranian girls and boys, aged 10 to 18, who worked on the streets for at least one month prior to the survey. Time-location based sampling was used. A total of 856 Children were randomly selected from 464 venues, including corners of streets, parks, metro gates, bus stations, shopping malls, and shopping centers frequented by street children. Findings showed that 90% of participants were boys, 60% were between 10 and 14 years old, almost 50% attended school, 12% were illiterate, and 32% had quit school. Children of Afghan nationality comprised 54% of the study participants, and the rest were Iranian. Of all participants, 85% resided with family or relatives. Most children (75.5%) worked more than 5 h daily, and vending (71.2%) and waste picking (16.1%) were common activities. Street children suffered, mainly, from harsh weather (22.7%), insults and beatings of everyday people (21%), starvation (20.7%), and police repression (15.4%). More than half of the study participants were not involved in intervention programs, and just 7% of them had attended any health education programs. Street children reported little to no service use, which may contribute to poor health. Street children require immediate attention to improve their wellbeing. Decision-makers and academicians should collaborate on intervention development research to design appropriate health and social interventions targeted at street children.

Aplastic anemia: a new complication in the recent mysterious hepatitis outbreak among children worldwide: two case reports

BackgroundRecently, an unknown hepatitis outbreak among children has concerned many individuals worldwide. These cases are frequently reported, mainly from Europe and other countries. In this study, we present two similar patients, who, to the best of our knowledge, are the first cases reported in the Middle East (Shiraz, Fars Province, Iran). Unlike in similar cases reported up until 30 April 2022, our patients’ hepatitis eventually resulted in aplastic anemia.Case presentationIn this study, we present cases of two Iranian boys aged 13 and 8 years with hepatitis of unknown origin who developed aplastic anemia in the course of hospitalization.ConclusionsHepatitis-associated aplastic anemia is a well-known immune-mediated form of aplastic anemia that we detected in our patients and treated with immunosuppressive therapy. One patient established a satisfactory response to the treatment, but unfortunately, the other was declared brain dead.

Characteristics of disease progression and genetic correlation in ambulatory Iranian boys with Duchenne muscular dystrophy

BackgroundDuchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is the most common muscular dystrophy in the pediatric population. The manifestations of this disease include progressive muscle weakness, gait dysfunction, and motor impairment, leading to a loss of ambulation by the age of 13 years. Molecular diagnosis is the standard diagnostic tool for DMD. This study aimed to investigate disease progression and genetic patterns in Iranian ambulant boys and to find the correlation between genotypes and motor function phenotypes.MethodsThis study was performed on 152 DMD patients. Clinical history, including the disease phenotype, steroid therapy, and the North Star Ambulatory Assessment (NSAA) score, was taken for all the patients. Molecular diagnoses were confirmed by multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification and next-generation sequencing tests.ResultsA total of 152 Iranian DMD patients were examined in this study. The mean age at the time of disease onset was 4.04 ± 2.00 years, and the mean age at diagnosis was 5.05 ± 2.08 years. The mean age of ambulation loss was 10.9 years. Contracture was reported in 38.9% of cases. In terms of age, the mean total NSAA score showed a peak at 4 years of age, with a mean NSAA score of 24. Annual changes in the NSAA score were determined for all cases, based on the mutation type and exon site. Deletion mutation was found in 79.1% of cases, duplication in 6.8%, nonsense in 12.8%, and splice site in 1.4%. The most common single exon deletion was exon 44 (5.3%), and the most common multiexon deletions were attributed to exons 45–50 and exons 45–52 (4.6%). The results did not indicate any correlation between the mutation type and age at the time of disease onset, loss of ambulation age, and wheelchair dependence; however, a significant association was found between contracture and mutation type. The results showed a significant difference in the NSAA score between the deletion and nonsense groups at the age of 3 years (P = 0.04). No significant correlation was found between the phenotype and exon site. Overall, 91.1% of the study population had a history of corticosteroid use, and 54.1% showed compliance with rehabilitation therapy.ConclusionThis study demonstrated the phenotypes and mutational features of Iranian DMD boys and provided information regarding the natural motor history of the disease, disease progression, diagnosis, and status of DMD management in Iran. The present findings can promote the development of clinical trials and future advanced molecular therapies in Iran.

A Comparative Study on Omani and Iranian Fourth-Grade Students’ Mathematics Achievement

The present study aimed to compare Omani and Iranian fourth-grade students’ performance in the TIMSS 2015 mathematics test. The TIMSS assessment sampling method was applied for selecting the statistical samples. Furthermore, the rule of gender and parents’ educational level were analyzed to compare boys' and girls’ performance in the TIMSS mathematics based on these factors. The results showed that there was a statistically significant difference between Omani girls’ and boys’ performance in the TIMSS 2015 mathematics assessment. Hence, the Iranian boys’ and girls' t-test results showed that no statistically significant difference was found between Iranian boys’ and girls’ mathematics performance. Moreover, the ANOVA analysis showed that there is a significant difference between parents’ educational level and students' mathematics achievement. Keywords: Mathematics, TIMSS, Gender, Parental Education DOI: 10.7176/JEP/13-11-01 Publication date: April 30 th 2022

Psychometric properties of a Farsi translation of the Functionality Appreciation Scale (FAS) in Iranian adolescents

The 7-item Functionality Appreciation Scale (FAS; Alleva et al., 2017) measures an individual’s appreciation of their body for what it can do and is capable of doing (i.e., functionality appreciation). However, few studies have assessed the psychometric properties of the FAS in non-English speaking populations and in younger age groups. Here, we examined the psychometric properties of a novel Farsi translation of the FAS in Iranian adolescent girls and boys. A sample of 828 Iranian adolescents completed the FAS alongside the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale and the Beck Depression Inventory-II. Participants were randomly split into a first split-half for exploratory factor analysis (EFA) or a second split-half for confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). The EFA broadly supported a 1-dimensional model of FAS scores, although one item had low item-factor loadings. The CFA indicated that both the 6- and 7-item models had adequate fit. In further analyses, we found that the 7-item unidimensional model was invariant across gender and that higher FAS scores were significantly associated with higher self-esteem and lower depressive symptoms, indicative of convergent validity. These results provide evidence that the Farsi translation of the FAS is reliable and valid for use in Iranian adolescent girls and boys.

Normative data for handgrip strength in Iranian healthy children and adolescents aged 7\u201318\u2009years: comparison with international norms

BackgroundGrip strength is an essential component of physical fitness. The objective of this study was to develop normative handgrip strength data for Iranian healthy boys and girls comparing their handgrip strength with international reference values.MethodsHandgrip strength was measured in 2637 healthy children/adolescents (1391 boys and 1246 girls), aged 7–18 years, using a standard adjustable Jamar hand dynamometer (Model 5030 J1, Sammons Preston Rolyan, Bolingbrook, IL, USA). Body mass (kg) and stature (cm) were measured and body mass index was computed in kg/m2. The sample was stratified by gender, age, and hand preference.ResultsHandgrip strength increased with age and was considerably higher in boys than in girls for all age groups (p < 0.001). Grip strength had a parallel and linear growth for both genders until the age of about 11 years and showed a steeper upward slope in boys than in girls thereafter. The findings of the current investigation were significantly different from those of the previously published normative data, especially for boys over the age of 12 years and girls in the age range of 7–18 years (p < 0.001). This difference was mainly in such a way that the Iranians had lower handgrip strength.ConclusionsThe differences between present results and those of similar available in the literature in this field emphasize the significant role of using normative data specific to a particular population in research or clinical settings.

An Examination of the Prevalence of Injury and the Pain and Disability in Specialized Positions of the Elite Players of Iran's Youth Premier League Volleyball

Introduction: Volleyball is considered one of the most exciting and popular sports throughout the world and as this has rapid and explosive movements in various directions, the size of the forces involved in such movements can result in injuries. Regarding this, the study tried to examine the injuries and the degree of disability pain, particularly in specialized volleyball positions in the eighth most harmful sport in the world of sports. Materials and Methods: The study was retrospective descriptive examining the acute injury, chronic injury, and the pain and disability among the players. The population was all the elite players of the Premier League of Iranian boys' youth volleyball. The number of players willing to cooperate in this study was 81. Data was collected by the interviewer using Cornell and Nordic questionnaires and then the collected data was analyzed using descriptive statistical tests in SPSS 24 and Excel software. Results: The highest rates of acute and chronic injuries regarding the specialized position of the players were in the position (opposite) in the shoulders at 23.61 and 33.33% of the total, respectively, in the position of libero in the back area, respectively, as 15.87 and 8.33% of the total. Moreover, the rates of these injuries - acute and chronic - in outside hitter position were in the arm and elbow at 71.11 and 80% of the total, respectively, in the setter position in the back area at 16.67 and 25% of the total, and finally in the middle blocker position, the highest rate of acute injury was in the neck area with 47.78% and chronic injury in the ankle and thigh as 66.67% of the total. However, overall, the most injury belongs to the positions of outside hitter and middle blocker. However, the highest percentage of pain and disability were related to musculoskeletal problems in the lower limbs was 40.45% of the total pain and disability and in the lower limbs the highest pain and disability was observed in the knees with 20.58%. The second rate of pain and disability was in the upper limbs of athletes as 35.08%. The highest pain and disability was observed with a large difference of 18.43% in the shoulders, then 18.22% in the trunk and 13.53% in the waist. Conclusion: By studying the prevalence of injuries to athletes in specialized positions of each sport, one can plan athletes' training programs to prevent injuries and even enhance them creating better efficiency for them. Keywords: Volleyball, musculoskeletal injury, pain and disability

The validation of a Farsi version of the Clinical Impairment Assessment (F-CIA) among Iranian adolescent boys and girls.

Although some studies have been conducted to examine general psychosocial impairment in Iran, there is no research to date on clinical impairment secondary to disordered eating in Iranian adolescents. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the Farsi version of the Clinical Impairment Assessment (F-CIA) among Iranian adolescents. A total of 1112 adolescents (ageM [SD] = 15.55 [1.59], body mass index [zBMI] M [SD] = - 0.00 [1.0]; 54.6% girls) were recruited from four cities (Tehran [Capital], Tabriz [North-Western], Kurdistan [West], and Rasht [North]) in Iran. After translation and back-translation procedures, the F-CIA, Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire (EDE-Q), and Beck Depression Inventory-Second Edition (BDI-II) were administered to adolescents. We used confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), measurement invariance, independent samples t tests, Pearson correlation, chi-square tests, and internal consistency to test validity and reliability. CFA indicated that F-CIA demonstrated good fit to the data and supported a three-factor model. The scale was invariant across gender and zBMI. The F-CIA had good internal consistency (αs = 0.76-0.93) and positive associations (rs = 0.13-0.62; p < 0.001) with zBMI, disordered eating symptoms, and binge/purge symptoms. We found no gender differences across mean scores on the F-CIA, but adolescents with higher zBMI reported higher scores on the F-CIA relative to those with lower zBMIs. Finally, adolescents scoring above CIA cutoffs reported higher zBMI, disordered eating outcomes, and depression. Findings suggested that the F-CIA is a reliable and valid measure of clinical eating disorder-related impairment in Iranian adolescents. III; Evidence obtained from well-designed observational study, including case-control design for relevant aspects of the study.

The validation of a Farsi version of the Loss of Control over Eating Scale (F-LOCES) among Iranian adolescent boys and girls

ObjectiveFew studies have been conducted on disordered eating in Iran, with limited research on loss of control (LOC) eating in adolescents. The purpose of the current study was to evaluate the validation of a Farsi version of the Loss of Control over Eating Scale (F-LOCES) among Iranian adolescents. MethodParticipants were 504 boys (Age mean = 15.35; Body Mass Index [zBMI] mean = 0.01) and 607 girls (Age mean = 15.71; zBMI mean = −0.01) who completed a battery of questionnaires including the F-LOCES. ResultsConfirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) and bi-factor model indicated that the F-LOCES had good fit to the data and supported a three-factor model. Additionally, the scale was invariant across all the groups. Girls had higher scores than boys on the behavioral subscale. Additionally, individuals with elevated eating pathology and zBMI endorsed higher LOC eating. As expected, the F-LOCES scores were positively associated with zBMI, disordered eating symptoms, and depression, and negatively associated with self-esteem. DiscussionFindings suggest that the F-LOCES is a reliable and valid measure of LOC eating in Iranian adolescents. The availability of the F-LOCES will enable researchers to examine the developmental trajectories, predictors, and outcomes of LOC eating.

The main physical components of body image from the perspectives of Iranian adolescents: a qualitative study

BackgroundAlthough different aspects of body image have been extensively studied in Western societies, there is little evidence regarding the main physical components that contribute to perceptions of body image from the perspective of adolescents, especially in Eastern-Mediterranean regions. This study aims to investigate main physical components of body image from the perspectives of Iranian boys and girls.MethodsThis qualitative study has been conducted using a grounded theory approach. The focus of the current study was on identifying the main physical characteristics of body image as perceived by participants. A total of 13 semi-structured focus group discussions were conducted with 84 adolescents (42 girls and 42 boys), aged 15–18 years. All focus group discussions were audio recorded and transcribed verbatim. Data collection continued until saturation was reached.ResultsThe mean age and BMI of participants were 16.2±0.9 years and 24.3±8.0 kg/m2 respectively. Regarding main physical components of body image, three main themes emerged from the data: 1) perceived face/hair, which included three subthemes-facial features, facial shape/form and hair, 2) perceived body, which included three subthemes-body size, body shape and bone structure and 3) perceived physical functioning which included three subthemes-physical ability, physical health and voice tone. Among mentioned themes, perceived body was the concept which was most frequently addressed by both adolescent boys and girls. Additionally, in terms of the other remaining two themes, when adolescents were talking about their bodies, girls more frequently mentioned their faces and its features, while boys tended to talk more about their physical functioning.ConclusionThis qualitative study provide further insight into the physical components of body image as perceived by Iranian boys and girls. Current findings indicated that besides those features that focused on body appearance and its aesthetic aspects, physical functioning was another main component of perceived body image by participants. These findings can contribute to the design and implementation of effective interventions aiming at improving body image and its related disorders in Iranian adolescents.

Eating disorder symptoms among adolescent boys and girls in Iran.

Few studies of eating disorder (ED) symptoms among young people in Iran have been conducted. This cross-sectional study examined ED symptoms, assessed by the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire (EDE-Q). Adolescent boys (n = 498) and girls (n = 607) aged 12-19 years, recruited from schools in four different regions of Iran, completed a survey that included the EDE-Q. ED symptoms, namely, EDE-Q global scores and the occurrence of specific ED behaviors, were compared between boys and girls. Girls had higher global scores and were more likely to report regular extreme dietary restriction than boys (16.6 vs. 12.0%). The effect sizes for these differences were small. The regular occurrence of other behaviors (girls vs. boys-binge eating: 21.1 vs. 18.8%; self-induced vomiting: 3.3 vs. 5.4%; laxative misuse: 6.1 vs. 7.6%; excessive exercise: 5.3 vs. 4.4%) did not significantly differ by gender. Twelve percent of boys and 12.9% of girls met criteria for an operational definition of "probable ED case." ED symptoms appear to be relatively common among Iranian adolescent boys and girls. Programs designed to reduce the occurrence and adverse impact of these symptoms may therefore be increasingly important.

Growth retardation among children in southern Iran: a 7-year population based cohort study

BackgroundGrowth retardation is a common health problem, which requires early prevention and detection. This study was conducted to define the approximate age at which stunting starts among the Iranian boys and girls.MethodThe second phase of a population-based retrospective cohort nested case-control study on 400 children who were followed from birth to 7 years of age. This study was performed to define the pattern of growth among stunted and normal children and to reveal the age at which stunting starts in each gender.ResultsOf the selected participants, 53% were girls. Also, about 18% of the children registered by the selected health centers were defined as stunted (under the 3rd percentile of the corresponding sex-age NCHS/WHO growth reference). For boys, the height was relatively similar between the two groups until the age of 6 months at which the difference in height between normal and stunted children starts to become significantly large (difference = 0.70 cm, P = 0.04). For girls, height in the two groups is relatively similar until the age of 9 months at which the difference starts to become significantly large (difference = 0.97 cm, P = 0.01). No significant difference in the weight of the girls was observed between the normal and stunted groups during the study period (difference = 283.21 g, P > 0.05). However, boys from the stunted group were lighter since almost the same time that they started to become significantly shorter (difference = 1265.19 g, P = 0.001).ConclusionsSoon after birth (at about the 6 months of age), the growth pattern of some (stunted) children starts to stumble and divert from normal. The sixth month of age is the age at which mothers start weaning with withdrawing breast milk and start supplementary foods and adult diet. A specially designed study is needed to understand the actual reason for observing such a phenomenon among Iranian children.

Estimation of the Active Social Network of Street Children in Shiraz (A City of Iran)

: Street children are a hard-to-reach population. Since the direct method is not feasible and has some limitations, we utilized the network scale-up (NSU) as an indirect method. This study was conducted in Shiraz municipalities. Our target population was Iranian boys between 10 to 18 years of age during the years 2014 to 2016. Three trained psychologists conducted face to face interviews with 86 street children (boys) on the streets, through the convenience sampling technique. The social network size of street boys in Shiraz was estimated at 17 persons (ranging from zero to 92 people, mean = 17 ± 17, median = 13). Overall, the network size of the hidden population might be smaller than the general population, due to the stigmatized nature of their behavior and place of work.

National Growth Charts for BMI among Iranian Children and Adolescents in Comparison with the WHO and CDC Curves.

Background/Objectives: Previous attempts to create national BMI curves for Iranian children and adolescents were limited to local databases. The objective of this study was to build national BMI growth charts for children and adolescents and to report the key percentiles and national cutoff points based on the data obtained from all provinces of Iran. We also aimed to compare our BMI curves to WHO and CDC curves. Methods: In each province, about 1000 children and adolescents (6-18 years) were randomly selected from the urban and rural areas by the multistage stratified cluster sampling method. Across the entire country, 240 trained researchers visited the participants' homes. After obtaining consent forms, these researchers gathered the demographic data, accurate anthropometrics, and BMI measurements. In the data screening and data cleaning levels, the outliers were removed. Then the data sets were smoothed using the log-transformation method. After this, they were converted to Z-scores based on normal distribution and then transformed back to the original scale. Finally, these data sets were used to determine each percentile. Results: A total of 22,718 final cleaned data were analyzed, including 10,921 (48.1%) boys and 11,797 (51.9%) girls. The normal BMI curves of Iranian children and adolescents and comparison to the WHO and CDC curves are presented here. This study introduces the new cutoff points for categorizing Iranian children and adolescents as underweight, normal, overweight, or obese, based on a large-scale national survey. Conclusions: The fifth BMI percentiles in Iranian boys and girls were significantly lower compared to WHO and CDC fifth percentile. Also, the 95th percentile curve in our study was significantly lower than the CDC 95th percentile curves in boys and girls.

National trends of pre-hypertension and hypertension among Iranian adolescents across urban and rural areas (2007\u20132011)

BackgroundThe current nationwide study, for the first time, aimed to assess and compare the trend of pre-hypertension and hypertension among urban and rural adolescents in Iran.MethodsThis study has been conducted in the framework of the National Surveys of Risk Factors for Non-Communicable Diseases. To estimate pre-hypertension and hypertension prevalence among 9715 adolescents, aged 15–19 years, data collected in four repeated cross-sectional surveys (2007–2011) has been used. The prevalence trends of pre-hypertension and hypertension were examined across urban and rural areas of Iran. To calculate the adjusted prevalence ratios (PRs) of pre-hypertension and hypertension over cycles across area of residence and genders, a complex sample survey and multinomial logistic analysis were performed.ResultsUsing the definition of pre-hypertension and hypertension presented by the seventh Joint National Committee (JNC-VII) for adolescents, after adjusting for confounders, the prevalence of pre-hypertension changed in both urban (boys:28.96% to 29.24% and girls:18.33% to 20.06%) and rural (boys 31.58% to 32.05% and girls 22.25% to 24.13%) areas over the study duration. Non-significant rising prevalence of hypertension was also observed in boys and girls of both regions (urban 12.76% to 15.04% and 8.02% to 9.06%; rural 9.95% to 11.79% and 10.35% to 11.60%, for boys and girls respectively). The adjusted prevalence ratios (PRs) of pre-hypertension (2.16; 95% CI 1.68–2.79 and 1.92, 95% CI 1.57–2.34, in urban and rural, respectively) and hypertension (2.40; 95% CI 1.65–3.51 and 1.82, 95% CI 1.36–2.45, in urban and rural, respectively) were higher in boys than girls. Comparing the adjusted PRs of pre-hypertension and hypertension in urban versus rural areas, in both genders, showed higher PRs of pre-hypertension in rural girls (1.33, 95% CI 1.01–1.75).ConclusionThe current results showed high constant trends of pre-hypertension and hypertension in Iranian boys and girls, residing in both urban and rural areas.

Evaluation of skeletal age based on Greulich-Pyle method in Tehran

Although bone age plays a special role in determining the child’s age, there are some variations in skeletal growth of different people. The aim of this study was to compare the bone age with chronological age of children aged 2–18 years old in order to recognize whether Greulich-Pyle (GP) method could be reliable for Iranian children? The standard radiograph of Left hand was taken in 40 healthy subjects, then the bone age was determined according to GP. Mean ± SD bone ages were delayed 1.12 ± 0.65, 0.82 ± 1.34 and 0.10 ± 0.51 years than the mean chronological ages in 2.99–5.99, 10–13.99 and 14–17.99 age group, respectively; and advanced −0.33 ± 3.12 years in the 6–9.99 age group. In BMI levels <18.5, 18.5–24.9, 25–29.9 and ≥30, Mean ± SD bone ages in males were delayed 2.25 ± 0.21, 0.14 ± 0.55, 0.87 ± 0.41 and 4.05 ± 0.70 years than the mean chronological ages, respectively. In BMI range of 18.5–24.9 and BMI ≥ 30, Mean ± SD bone age in females was delayed 0.50 ± 0.49 and 0.45 ± 0.63 years than the mean chronological ages, respectively. For BMI < 18.5, Mean ± SD bone age in females were advanced −0.40 ± 2.69 years than mean chronological ages. Considering these differences, Iranian boys may have a different pattern of bone growth from GP standards.

Prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in healthy Iranian children: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Vitamin D deficiency is related to rickets in children, and it can increase the risk of osteoporosis in adulthood. The aim of our study was to estimate the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency among healthy Iranian children and adolescents. Vitamin D levels less than 20ng/ml and between 20 and 30ng/ml was considered as vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency, respectively. Methods: Relevant observational studies evaluating the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency through 1 January 1990 to 28 Dec 2016, were searched in several electronic databases including Iran-Medex, Scientific Information Database (SID), Irandoc, PubMed and NLM Gateway (for MEDLINE), Web of Science, and Scopus with no restriction on language. Only full-text articles were used for data extraction and synthesis after considering the inclusion/exclusion criteria. Results: 11 studies included; the data of four studies of Iranian newborns were withdrawn because of their high heterogeneity. The prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in Iranian boys and girls were 35% (CI 95% 34–37) and 61% (CI 95% 60–63), respectively. The prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency in Iranian children and adolescents was 31% (CI 95% 30–31). Conclusion: It seems that the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency is very high among Iranian children and adolescents. The present findings could provide practical information for healthcare decision makers.