Villagers residing in areas with rice farms are exposed to smoke from burning of agricultural waste that may affect respiratory health. To assess respiratory effects of this smoke-induced air pollution, a cross-sectional study has been conducted in three randomly selected villages of Isfahan rural areas. A physician-administered health questionnaire was completed for 433 male and 561 female villagers aged 1-80 years, followed by physical examinations and spirometry in symptomatic cases, before and after a rice burning episode in October 2000. Total particulate and respirable particulate maters (PM 10 was doubled during burning episode. Prevalence rates for respiratory symptoms before smoke were: recent asthma attacks (7.7%), using asthma medications (3%), sleep disturbed by dyspnea and cough (7.4%), exercise-induced cough (13.3%), which increased to 9.5, 7.1, 9.3 and 17%, respectively. Mean initial values (as percent of prediction) for; FEV1, FEV1/FVC, PEFR, and FEF25-75 were: 85.9 +/- 22.7, 81.7 +/- 8, 86.2 +/- 26.2 and 60 +/- 26.4, respectively. The mentioned values decreased to to 83.2 +/- 19.5, 76.5 +/- 10.3, 85.5 +/- 21.1 and 54.3 +/- 26.4, respectively. All of the clinical and spirometric changes were statistically significant. Study findings suggest increased respiratory morbidity associated with rice burning episodes among all people living in the area.

Asthma, chronic bronchitis and other respiratory disorders in rural Isfahan are more prevalent than expected for a young rural population with low smoking rates. The cause of this should be investigated.

Background: Vitamin D plays an important role in regulating the immune system, calcium and phosphorus homeostasis, and bone formation. This micronutrient plays an important role in the incidence and severity of respiratory infections. Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the vitamin D serum level in children with acute lower respiratory infections (ALRIs) and its association with the severity of infection with vitamin D serum level. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 99 children with ALRIs aged 20.13 ± 17.55 months who were selected with a simple random sampling technique. The children were examined and evaluated at the time of admission. Their data, including demographic characteristics and the findings of the physical examination and laboratory, were recorded in the questionnaires. Serum level of 1,25-dihydroxy vitamin D3 [1,25(OH)2D] and 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 [25(OH)D] were measured by HPLC method. Results: children with severe acute lower respiratory infection had a significant lower level of 25(OH) D (P = 0.02). Indeed, data analysis showed a level of 25(OH) D inversely associated with severity of acute lower respiratory infections in children (B =-0.7, P = 0.00). Conclusions: The severity of the lower respiratory tract infections was inversely proportional to the level of 25(OH)D, and it may be hoped that increasing 25(OH)D level may reduce the severity of ALRIs.

Background. Lipoprotein lipase (LPL) is one of the major enzymes responsible for the hydrolysis of triglyceride (TG)-rich lipoprotein. The effects of LPL polymorphisms on serum TG are inconsistent among different populations.

Background: Functional abdominal pain (FAP) is a common complaint causing several referrals to pediatricians. On the other hand, the most common presentation of hyperuricosuria and also hypercalciuria is chronic/recurrent abdominal pain. Therefore, a hypothesis has been raised; abdominal pain due to hyperuricosuria and/or hypercalciuria may be misdiagnosed as FAP. The current study has aimed to respond to this theory. Materials and Methods: This is a case–control study conducted on children diagnosed with FAP based on Rome IV criteria and age-matched normal controls. Blood and random urine samples were taken from healthy children and those with FAP. Random urine samples were examined for calcium, uric acid, oxalate, and creatinine concentrations. Random urine calcium to urine creatinine above 0.2 mg/mg was considered hypercalciuria and random urine uric acid above 0.56 mg/dl, GFR as hyperuricosuria. The data were analyzed using logistic models. Results: Hypercalciuric children had a significantly lower chance of FAP (odds ratio [OR] =0.425, 95% confidence interval [CI] =0.204–0.886). Although an inverse association was seen between hyperuricosuria and FAP (OR = 0.693, 95% CI = 0.395–1.214), it was not statistically significant. In stratified analyses by gender for both hyperuricosuria and hypercalciuria, a marginal inverse significant association was seen in male gender (P < 0.1). Conclusion: Our study showed that hypercalciuria is significantly in inverse association with FAP but not hyperuricosuria. Therefore, these disorders, particularly hyperuricosuria may not be considered as the possible causes of FAP. Further studies with larger sample size for providing more reliable evidence are recommended.