Serum Endothelin-1 and Transforming Growth Factor-β Levels in the Newborns With Respiratory Distress

The purpose of this present study was to evaluate the serum levels of ET-1 and TGF-β in the newborns with respiratory distress. In this study, newborns with respiratory distress hospitalized into the Newborn Intensive Care Unit were included. The highest values of ET-1 and TGF-β were obtained from newborns with diagnosis as meconium aspiration syndrome (5.70 ± 5.87 pg/mL and 3.75 ± 1.94 pg/mL, resp) in the sample obtained in the first six hours after birth, and these are statistically different from control group (P < .05). Also, same results were obtained for newborns with respiratory distress syndrome (3.37 ± 1.59 pg/mL and 2.05 ± 0.98 pg/mL, resp). After oxygen treatment, ET-1 values obtained in the first six hours of life were decreased regularly in the following days (P < .05). In the differentiating diagnosis of the respiratory distress of newborns, the investigation of ET-1 and TGF-β levels is meaningful. The ET-1 levels investigated in the first six hours is more useful in determining the prognosis, and repeating ET-1 levels in the following days is more meaningful to determine clinical response

Normal platelet parameters in childhood period from newborns to adolescents

PURPOSE: There are few studies on normal values of platelet parameters as mean platelet volume (MPV), thrombocytocrite (PCT) and platelet distribution width (PDW) in children. The aim of this study is to determine the normal values of these platelet parameters in healthy Eastern Turkish children. MATERIALS and METHODS: This study is realized in Healthy Child Clinic of Fırat University Medical Facullty on a total number of 1005 children, between 0 to 14 years old, who have normal growth and developmental features. Their blood samples were collected by venipuncture of the arm. Platelet values determined in an automatic counter (Advia 120, Japan) were used in the statistical analysis to calculate the mean and standart deviation. To determine the differentiations between age groups one way Anova was used and p<0.05 was accepted as significant. RESULTS: Platelet count and PCT values are decreased in neonatal period. These values are increased slightly in infantile period and are decreased again in adolescent period. For MPV extremely low values are in neonatal period, and after these values increase from infantile to adolescent period. However PDW values are apparently increased in neonatal period and than go along in a constant interval. CONCLUSIONS: The values of platelet indices obtained in this study were similar to different reports and may be used as reference values in pediatric patients with clinical problems related to these cells

Cytokine responses to symbiotic and lactoferrin combination in very low birth weight neonates: a randomized control trial

Introduction. Probiotics and prebiotics, which are multifunctional agents, have potential benefits in chronic mucosal inflammation, including the prevention of necrotizing enterocolitis. However, the mechanisms and the results of these immunomodulatory effects are not clear. This study aimed to investigate the cytokine response to the combination of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium together with fructo- and galacto-oligosaccharides (symbiotic) and lactoferrin in very low birth weight neonates