Background: Chemotherapy suppresses the immunoglobulin production due to the cell toxicity. Decreased immunoglobulins levels results in opportunistic infections. Assessment of immunoglobulin G (IgG) serum levels against selected vaccine-preventable diseases (VPD) before and 6 months after chemotherapy (AC) in a group of Iranian cancerous children. Methods: Serum levels of Rubella, Diphtheria toxin, Hepatitis B virus (HBV), Tetanus Toxoid, Mumps and Measles IgGs of were measured among 30 previously vaccinated malignant children. Six months AC, IgG serum levels were retested to compare with the before treatment concentration. Results: 17 (56.7%) individuals were male and the age mean±SD = 7.69±3.09 (3-15 years). The most frequent malignancy was ALL (56.7%). Rubella IgG was decreased from 73.88±85.11 to 56.59±72.84 IU/mL (P< 0.05; r= 0.956; 33.4% became negative AC (NAC), Diphtheria toxin IgG was diminished from 0.683±0.454 to 0.174±0.248 IU/mL (P< 0.05; r= 0.601; 26.7% NAC); Anti-HBV IgG was reduced from 46.26±101.56 to 25.56±80.49 IU/mL (p< 0.05; r= 0.524; 60% NAC) and Anti-Tetanus Toxoid IgG was fall down from 1.031±0.582 to 0.321±0.408 IU/mL (p< 0.05; r= 0.365; 33.4% NAC). Anti-Measles and Anti-Mumps IgGs were not significantly changed (p> 0.05). Conclusion: Pediatric chemotherapy was associated with diminished IgG serum levels of most VPD. Quantitative estimations showed that: when the higher or lower IgG exists before chemotherapy, the higher and lower levels remain 6 months after treatment, respectively. Revaccination program is suggested against opportunistic infectious threats in Iranian pediatrics suffering cancer and undergoing chemotherapy. This approach enhances their survival and quality of life.

Background: Magnesium oxide is proposed to be effective in prevention of nephrotoxic impact of carboplatin therapy. The aim was to evaluate the magnesium oxide supplementation effect on serum creatinine, blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and glomerular filtration rate (GFR) in cancerous children. Methods: 18 children were treated with 250 mg/day magnesium oxide and other 18 children with placebo for 14 days before onset of carboplatin chemotherapy based on the routine protocols in oncology. Serum creatinine (Cr), BUN and GFR were measured and compared before, on day 3 and 7 of magnesium carboplatin therapy. Results: There were 7 (38.89%) and 12 (66.67%) male patients in treatment and control groups, respectively. Serum Cr and BUN were increased significantly 3 and 7 days after intervention in both groups. There was an insignificant difference for serum Cr and BUN between treatment and control groups before intervention, 3 days or 7 days after carboplatin administration onset (p> 0.05). The GFR was reduced significantly from 101.38±14.67 to 90.11±10.52 mL/min/1.73m² in treatment and from 97.5±9.71 to 92.33±10.61 mL/min/1.73m² in control group. After 7 days the GFR was reduced to 84.11±12.47 mL/min/1.73m² in treatment and 85.38±10.66 mL/min/1.73m² in control group (p= 0.371). Conclusion: Current study shows that magnesium supplementation did not prevent carboplatin-induced nephrotoxicity in cancerous children. Anyway, we propose magnesium oxide supplementation for such patients considering this fact that magnesium in an essential element for cell and tissue growth, maintenance and metabolism.

Background: Iron deficiency is the most common micronutrient deficiency affecting nearly one-third of the population and is the leading cause of anemia worldwide. n this study, we evaluated the effectiveness of ferrous gluconate and ferrous sulfate supplements to identify the best iron supplement with the most effective and the least side effects in toddlers 6-24 months old. Methods: A randomized, single-blind clinical trial was performed. A total of 120 healthy toddlers aged 6 to 24 months old (two groups of 60) entered the study. Toddlers receiving ferrous sulfate (FS group) and ferrous gluconate (FG group) supplements. Blood indices such as hemoglobin & ferritin levels were evaluated at baseline and 6 months post- supplementation. Results: The FG group that received ferrous gluconate chelate iron showed approximately 2.4 g/dl higher Hb level in comparison to the FS group with ferrous sulfate supplementation 6 months post-supplementation (12.51±0.58 g/dL vs. 10.10±0.83, p = 0.045). Side effects were significantly more common in the FS group than the FG group (43.3 % vs. 16.7 %, P ≤ 0.001. Conclusion: The present study shows that educating mothers to feed toddlers with breast milk and iron supplements, including ferrous sulfate and ferrous gluconate, can be helpful in the prophylaxis of iron deficiency. Our results show that ferrous gluconate can be used in cases where ferrous sulfate causes unacceptable side effects.