afshin fayazi

The prevalence of spastic cerebral palsy is increasing rapidly among children, with a prevalence of 2-4 per thousand people. This study aimed to investigate the effect of 12 weeks training program with TheraSuit and its durability on balance control and gait parameters in children with cerebral palsy.

 This quasi-experimental study was performed on children (age range of 6-12 years) with spastic diplegia cerebral palsy referred to occupational therapy and rehabilitation clinics in Hamadan City, Iran, in 2021. Twelve children were selected by convenience sampling. Without random assignment, the patients were divided into two groups: with and without TheraSuits. Before and after the intervention, the balance score and kinematic parameters, including step length, step width, walking speed, ankle, thigh and knee range of motion, were measured in stationary and moving positions in both groups. The exercises were performed for 12 weeks, three sessions every other day for one hour. The Mann-Whitney U and Wilcoxon tests were used to evaluate the effectiveness of the intervention. All statistical analyses were performed in SPSS software, version 24 at a significance level of 5%.

The results showed a significant improvement in balance score after the intervention in the intervention group compared to the control group (P=0.002), but the speed of walking, hip and knee range of motion significantly decreased compared to the control group (P<0.05). The results showed that 10 weeks and one month later, there was a lasting effect of training in both groups (P>0.05).

 Our results confirmed the effectiveness of corrective exercises in the group with TheraSuit, so its use in a rehabilitation program for cerebral palsy patients is recommended, and the durability of the exercise was seen in both groups.

Epilepsy is a chronic disease with different effects on performance. It is important to control seizures in the shortest possible time using medications with the least side effects. There are controversies regarding the effectiveness and side effects of new generation medications, compared to old and first-line therapeutic agents. Therefore, this study aimed to compare the effectiveness and side effects of two medications, including sodium valproate (as a first-generation medication) and levetiracetam (as a second-generation medication).

All children over two and under 18 years old with a new diagnosis of generalized and focal epilepsy who met the inclusion criteria and were willing to enter the study were enrolled randomly. They were then divided into two groups of treatment with sodium valproate and levetiracetam. The frequency of recurrent seizures in patients and complications after taking the medications were accurately recorded with a six-month follow-up.

The results showed no significant difference of age, gender, and family history of seizures in the patients of both groups with the success rate in seizure control. Moreover, there was no significant difference between the two groups regarding the type of medication (sodium valproate and levetiracetam), type of seizure (focal and generalized), and success in treatment (seizure inhibition). Additionally, the group treated with sodium valproate revealed more significant side effects, compared to the levetiracetam group (P<0.05).

According to the results of the present study, both sodium valproate and levetiracetam have been effective in controlling seizures. More follow-up and further studies are required to take effective steps to control the costs and complications of anticonvulsant therapy.

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a common neuropsychological disorder among children that might lead to disruption of daily activities. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the effects of pyridoxine on the treatment and reduction of symptoms severity in children with ADHD under Ritalin treatment. 

This clinical trial included a total of 50 children with ADHD in the age range of 5-12 years who were referred to Emam clinic of Children’s Neurology and Be’sat Hospital, Hamedan, Iran, and were selected using a convenience sampling approach. The participants were divided into two similar treatment groups. One group only received Ritalin as the treatment and the second group received Pyridoxine and Ritalin together. The change in the severity of the symptoms was analyzed using Conners Rating Scale.

The patients in the two treatment groups were identical in terms of age and gender. The mean score of disease severity in both groups reduced up to 23.92 and 32.12 units, respectively, compared to those before intervention (P<0.001). In addition, there was a statistically significant difference between the severity of symptoms before and after intervention in both groups following the intervention (the mean scores of the severity of symptoms were obtained at 65.09 and 54.00, respectively) in children with ADHD (P=0.006).

The addition of Pyridoxine tablets to the treatment diet of children in the age range of 5-12 years suffering from combined symptoms of ADHD led to further reduction of symptoms and an increase in the effectiveness of the treatment.

Migraine is the most common cause of headaches in children. Understanding the factors that lead to exacerbation of headaches and their recovery plays an important role in controlling the disease. Melatonin is a hormone secreted by the pineal gland of the midbrain and some surrounding tissues. Research has shown that melatonin levels are lower in patients with migraines than in healthy people. Propranolol is a first-line drug in the prevention of migraine headaches. Therefore, in the present study, we investigated the effect of propranolol with melatonin on improving migraine intensity in patients without sleep disorders.

In this study, 49 children aged 5 to 15 years old who referred to the pediatric neurology clinic of Besat Hospital in Hamadan with a headache complaint who were diagnosed with migraine were eligible to receive migraine prevention medication, entered the study. Patients with migraine without sleep disturbance were randomly divided into two groups. The first group (control group) were treated with propranolol tablets daily and the second group (case group) were treated with propranolol and melatonin tablets daily. The course of treatment was at least 4 weeks, and if patients received the appropriate response, treatment continued up to three months. Data were analyzed using SPSS software version 16.

In this study, 49 patients with migraine (27 boys and 22 girls) who had the criteria to enter the study with an average age of 2.26 ± 10.12 entered the study. The highest frequency was related to the location of the headache in the frontal region and the quality of the headache of the multiplier type. It took about 1.5 years between the onset of the headache and the patientschr('39') visit to the doctor. The results of this study showed that the most irritating factor was school-related headaches and stress. The difference in the mean number of monthly headaches until the first month of treatment was not significant between the two groups, but after another three months of medication, the second group (propranolol and melatonin) surpassed the first group (propranolol) and decreased further in the number of monthly headaches

 According to the results of this study, propranolol alone can be considered as an effective drug for the treatment of various migraine headaches in children, but the results showed that melatonin consumption, especially with a duration of use of more than one month, according to the regulation of the sleep cycle and Awakening, if combined with propranolol, can be both more effective in reducing patientschr('39') headaches and improving treatment satisfaction.