OBJECTIVE To investigate the relationship between platelet count and serum valproic acid level, age, duration of valproic acid therapy, and polytherapy, and to determine the clinical significance of thrombocytopenia associated with high-dosage valproic acid therapy. DESIGN Cross-sectional study. SETTING Residential unit for neurologically impaired children and paediatric out-patient clinic,...

OBJECTIVE To assess the impact of breast feeding on the risk of obesity and risk of being overweight in children at the time of entry to school. DESIGN Cross sectional survey SETTING Bavaria, southern Germany. METHODS Routine data were collected on the height and weight of 134 577 children participating in the obligatory health examination at the time of school entry in Bavaria. In a subs...

Adolescence is transformation of a child to a fully-fledged individual. It is a period in which individual develops physically, socially and psychologically. It is in this period in which, due to lack of mental strength and stability, a person develops a serious mental health disorder called depression. A sample of 500 students was assessed using Beck Depression Inventory by investigators. This...

1 Fukuda K, Straus SE, Hickie I, Sharpe MC, Dobbins JG, Komaroff A, et al. The chronic fatigue syndrome: a comprehensive approach to its definition and study. Ann Intern Med 1994;121:953-9. 2 Reeves WC, Lloyd A, Vernon SD,Klimas N, Jason LA, Bleijenberg G, et al. Identification of ambiguities in the 1994 chronic fatigue syndrome research case definition and recommendations for resolution. BMC H...

OBJECTIVE To assess the relation between male and female medical leadership. DESIGN Cross sectional study on predictive factors for female medical leadership with data on sex, age, specialty, and occupational status of Norwegian physicians. SETTING Oslo, Norway. SUBJECTS 13 844 non-retired Norwegian physicians. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE Medical leaders, defined as physicians holding a leadin...

This study was conducted to find out the anthropometric, biosocial and obstetric predictors of birthweight in Kerala. The study sample consisted of 599 consecutive liveborn babies delivered at SAT Hospital, Medical College, Thiruvananthapuram and their mothers in November 2001. Details of maternal history, anthropometry, and biosocial and demographic factors were recorded. Birthweight was prima...