Background: Infants with FETAL GROWTH RETARDATION (FGR) are prone to intestinal disorders.Objectives: Aim of the study was to determine the role of mucosal defense ability in formation of gut injury in infants with FGR.Materials and Methods: 44 premature infants who were admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit were divided into two groups: 20 infants with FGR (FGR group) and 24 appropriate-for-gestational age newborns (AGA group). Control group consisted of 22 premature infants who were delivered after uncomplicated pregnancy. Gut barrier function was evaluated by detecting serum intestinal trefoil factor (ITF) and intestinal fatty acid binding protein (IFABP). The level of serum IFABP and ITF was measured by using ELISA method.Results: FGR group showed significantly higher ITF concentration than AGA group on the first days of life (P ˂ 0.01). High level of ITF in the FGR group significantly declines up to 7th - 10th day of life (P ˂ 0.01). This reduction was accompanied by increase of IFABP which is a marker of ischemic intestinal mucosal injury. Correlation analyses showed that ITF had a negative correlation with IFABP.Conclusions: Infants with FETAL GROWTH RETARDATION are characterized by a high level of ITF on the first days of life. This protects intestinal mucosa under hypoxic conditions. Its subsequent decline accompanied by an increase of IFABP reflects the depletion of Goblet cells to secret ITF causing damage to the integrity of intestinal mucosal barrier.

Objectives: The administration of betamethasone is associated with increased placental vascular resistance results in the return of the diastolic flow. This study aimed to assess the changes in the flow velocity waveform (FVW) color Doppler in the umbilical artery after the administration of betamethasone in pregnancies with FETAL GROWTH RETARDATION (FGR). Materials and Methods: This descriptive-analytical research included all pregnant women who were referred to Al-Zahra teaching hospital and diagnosed with FGR. The eligibility criteria were the impaired umbilical artery FVW color Doppler, qualified for the administration of a fix-dosed Betamethasone, and no FETAL abnormalities. The perinatologists performed the FVW color Doppler ultrasonography before and after the administration of betamethasone at intervals of 24, 48, and 96 hours and weeks 1 and 2. FVWs were obtained by pulsed-wave Doppler ultrasonography. Then, neonatal outcomes were recorded based on neonates’ admission documents. Finally, one-way repeated measures ANOVA, Cochran’ s Q test, and paired-samples t-test were used to compare Doppler indices before and after betamethasone administration. Results: The mean pulsatility index (PI) and resistance index (RI) of the umbilical artery showed a statistically significant reduction after the administration of betamethasone (P < 0. 001). The measured umbilical artery PI at two weeks after drug administration predicted the neonatal intensive care unit admission (P = 0. 042). Eventually, the results revealed no significant association between the amniotic fluid index (AFI) and betamethasone administration (P = 0. 3). Conclusions: In general, betamethasone administration improved the FVWs of the umbilical artery in pregnant women with FETAL GROWTH restriction while no association was found between the AFI and betamethasone administration.

Background and Objectives: Congenital heart disease (CHD) is one of the causes of malnutrition and GROWTH RETARDATION. Here we studied GROWTH disturbance in different type of CHD. Materials and Methods: In this case-control study, 400 children with CHD (from 3 months to 16 years old age) were selected. Patients were divided into four groups: 1.acyanotic without pulmonary hypertension (PHT), 2. acyanotic with PHT, 3.cyanotic without PHT, 4.cyanotic with PHT. Body weight (Wt), height (Ht) and head circumference (HC) of these patients were measured and compared with those of matched control group. Results: The mean Wt, Ht and HC of the patients in group one was not significantly different from that of the controls (P>0.05). In group two, the mean Wt was significantly lower than control group (P=0.01). In group three and four, there were significant differences between the mean Wt and Ht compared with that of the control group (P<0.05). There was significant difference between the pulmonary pressure of patients in group 2 and 4 (P=0.0001).Conclusion: The findings of this study showed that children with congenital heart disease are susceptible to GROWTH disorders and this is more significant in cyanotic patients. GROWTH disorders are more common and severe in cyanotic patients with pulmonary hypertension.

Background and Objective: Intrauterine GROWTH restriction (IUGR) is an obstetrical complication. IUGR increases the chance of neonatal death and obstetrical complications in comparison with normal pregnancy. Timely diagnosis of this condition allows effective interventions that decrease the morbidity and mortality. This study was done to compare of superior vena cava to aorta diameter ratio in three vessel view in fetuses with intrauterine GROWTH restriction and normal GROWTH fetuses. Methods: This case control study was performed on 60 mothers in 25 to 37 weeks of pregnancy who were referred to radiology department of a hospital in Iran during 2018-19. 30 patients were diagnosed with IUGR and were included as case group. 30 healthy fetuses were included as control group. Routine ultrasonography was performed for evaluating placenta, fetuse, and amniotic fluid. Also, colour Doppler sonography was performed on umbilical vessels along with superior vena cava and ascending aorta for definite diagnosis of IUGR. Demographic data regarding fetuse’, s age, pregnancy status, number of parities, and age of mother were also accumulated. The superior vena cava/aorta ratio (SVC/AO) was compared in IUGR and healthy fetuses. Based on their amniotic fluid, fetuses were divided into normal and mild oligohydramnios. Results: There was a significant difference in SVC/AO diameter index between case and control groups (P<0. 05). Mean SVC/AO ratio was significantly higher in IUGR fetuses in compared to healthy fetuses. There was no significant difference between normal and oligohydramnios fetuses either in case or control groups. Conclusion: Implementation of SVC/AO diameter index in three vessels view sonography in screening programs for pregnant women can reduce neonatal morbidity and mortality.

Objectives Silver-Russell syndrome (SRS) is a rare genetic disorder which is typically characterized by prenatal and postnatal GROWTH failure and asymmetry in the size of the two halves or other parts of the body. Herein, we report accurate diagnosis and management of a patient with SRS. Case Our patient was a 9-year-old boy with short stature and dysmorphic facial profile. The patient was diagnosed with SRS based on clinical and radiographic features such as short stature, triangular face, mandibular hypoplasia and clinodactyly. He was under GROWTH hormone therapy since birth. The orthodontic treatment plan was space management for permanent teeth and GROWTH modification to accelerate mandibular GROWTH potential. Conclusion Early diagnosis and treatment are very important for SRS patients. GROWTH hormone therapy is often prescribed. It is necessary to persuade these patients to undergo early orthodontic intervention and comply with the follow-up protocol.

Objective: Placenta is the maternoFETAL contact zone, provided by normal membranes and endometrium, for which the intrauterine FETAL life depends on. Regarding the importance of placenta in embryonic period, this study aims at investigating the histopathological changes of placenta in newborns with intrauterine GROWTH RETARDATION (IUGR).Materials and Methods: This study was performed on two groups (control and experimental) of pregnant women with IUGR fetus in the Histological Department of Medical School of Azad University, Tabriz. In the experimental group, 30 samples of IUGR placentas were examined. The samples were first fixed in formalin, embedded in paraffinized mold, and cut into 5 μm sections. After that, the samples were prepared for staining with Hematoxylin and Eosin (H& E), trichrome, and PAS techniques.Results: Findings showed the increase of syncytial knots and fibrinoid, the presence of villous fibrosis, and decrease of glycogen deposit in the experimental group. In addition, statistical investigations suggested that placental and FETAL weights in the experimental group were significantly lower than control group (P<0.05).Conclusion: The results obtained from this study showed that FETAL placental and birth weights were lower than control group. Pathological results showed increase of syncytial knots and fibrinoid in the experimental group in comparison to control group.