PurposeAbnormalities in serum magnesium levels have been seen in obesity and its related diseases. Our aim is to determine the mean magnesium levels in overweight and obese children as compared to the levels in normal weight controls to study its relationship with obesity and overweight. The study was done at a tertiary care hospital.MethodsA case-control study was conducted at the Department of Pediatrics, Combined Military Hospital, Peshawar, over a 12-month period from August 7, 2015 to August 6, 2016. A total of 140 children between 2-14 years of age were included in the study. They were divided into two equal groups of 70 children each. Both of the groups were matched according to their age and sex. Children with a body mass index (BMI) greater than or equal to 85th centile and 95th centile were placed in the overweight and obese category, respectively, and termed as cases while the other 70 children with a BMI greater than or equal to 5th centile but less than 85th centile were categorized as the normal weight group and termed controls. The serum magnesium levels of both case and control groups were calculated.ResultsThe serum magnesium levels were significantly lower in the overweight and obese group (2.08 ± 0.211 mg/dl) as compared to the normal weight group (2.55 ± 0.155 mg/dl, p<0.001). A significantly strong inverse relationship was seen between serum magnesium levels and body mass index.ConclusionMean serum magnesium levels in overweight and obese children are lower than those in normal weight children. Further studies are required to see the effect of supplementation of diet with this essential micronutrient on the weight of children.

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Waardenburg-Shah syndrome is a rare autosomal recessive [AR] inherited disorder characterized by the presence of Hirschsprung's disease with a high likelihood of aganglionic megacolon, due to which the mortality is high. The management of the condition involves surgical intervention for the removal of the aganglionic segment of the colon. Here, we report a neonate that presented with a white forelock, white eyelashes, iris hypopigmentation, and sensorineural deafness associated with bilious vomiting, refusal to feed, and failure to pass meconium indicating intestinal obstruction.

Meconium peritonitis is an aseptic chemical peritonitis, which results from perforation of the gut in utero. 1 Its incidence is 1 in 35,000 live births. Meconium peritonitis can be classified into three types, i.e. generalised, cystic, and fibro-adhesive. 2

Objective To determine the frequency and risk factors of meconium aspiration syndrome in babies delivered to mothers with meconium stained amniotic fluid attending neonatal unit of tertiary care hospital.  Study design Prospective cross sectional study  Place and duration of study Neonatal Unit “Pak Emirates Military Hospital”, Rawalpindi from 1st January to 30th September 2018 Patients and methods All pregnant women with cephalic presentations with either spontaneous vaginal delivery (SVD) or lower segment cesarian section (LSCS) mode of delivery and having light-yellow to thick dark-green color liquor after spontaneous or artificial rupture of membrane were enrolled. Meconium aspiration syndrome along with risk factors like gestational age, weight, gender, mode of delivery, grades of meconium, and mortality was noted.  Results Of 384 patients, meconium aspiration syndrome was observed in 37 (9.6%) patients. Meconium aspiration syndrome was 2.97 times higher among patients with >36 weeks of gestation (AOR: 2.97, 95% CI: 1.12-7.89), 61% higher among patients with ≤3 kg weight (AOR: 0.39, 95% CI: 0.19-0.85), 89% higher among females (AOR: 1.89, 95% CI: 0.91-3.95), 83% higher among patients with SVD (AOR: 1.83, 95% CI: 0.89-3.75), 4.12 times higher among patients with grade III (AOR: 4.12, 95% CI: 0.51-33.45) and 8.65 times higher among patients with grade II color liquor (AOR: 8.65, 95% CI: 1.11-67.45).  Conclusion Meconium aspiration syndrome frequency was found considerably higher. In particular, newborn having higher gestational age, increased weight, female gender, SVD as the mode of delivery, grade III and grade II meconium were reported as the significant risk-factors.