Interleukins in diagnosis of perinatal asphyxia: A systematic review

Background: Biochemical markers including interleukins (ILs) has been proposed for early diagnosis of asphyxia. Objective: This study has aimed to systematically review the significance of IL measurements in the diagnosis of perinatal asphyxia. Materials and Methods: PubMed, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, Embase, and Scopus databases before 2017 were searched for the following keywords: asphyxia, neonatal, interleukin, and diagnosis. A total of 13 out of 300 searched papers were finally selected for evaluation. Interleukins under study were IL6 and interleukin 1β (IL-1β). Interleukins had been measured in 10 studies by serum samples, 2 studies by samples of Cerebro Spinal Fluid (CSF), and 1 study by sample of umbilical cord blood. The inclusion criteria were: studies on neonates, with adequate information from the test results and studies using markers other than ILs to detect asphyxia; however, studies with only abstracts available were excluded. Results: Research on the issue suggests that IL6 > 41 Pg/dl has the sensitivity of 84.88% and the specificity of 85.43%, whereas IL-1β > 4.7 Pg/dl has the sensitivity of 78% and specificity of 83% in the diagnosis of neonatal asphyxia. Among diagnostic ILs for neonatal asphyxia, combination of IL6 and IL-1β had the highest sensitivity, that is, 92.9%. Conclusion: IL6 and IL-1β of serum samples were used in the early diagnosis of perinatal asphyxia and are useful predictors for the outcomes of perinatal asphyxia and its intensity. In addition, simultaneous evaluation of IL-1β and IL6 can improve the sensitivity of the early diagnosis of perinatal asphyxia

Economic policy uncertainty and forecast bias in the survey of professional forecasters

This paper analyzes the properties of forecast bias in the Survey of Professional Forecasters in relation to economic policy uncertainty. Employing the quarterly forecast bias of 14 key macroeconomic variables and 12 measures of policy uncertainty from 1985 to 2020, we demonstrate that most real activity variables have significant negative responses to economic policy uncertainty. On the other hand, there is a substantial degree of sluggishness in the corresponding forecasts, generating long-lasting forecast bias. In other words, our results show that inattentive forecasters cause SPF forecast bias using both static and dynamic frameworks

Serum Hsp70 antigen: Early diagnosis marker in perinatal asphyxia

BACKGROUND: Perinatal asphyxia is an important cause of mortality and permanent neurological and developmental deficit. Early and accurate diagnosis would help to establish the likely prognosis and may also help in determining the most appropriate treatment. Studies in experimental animal models suggest that a protein called Hsp70 may be a good and potentially useful marker of cellular stress that may be clinically useful in determining the presence of neonatal asphyxia. OBJECTIVES: Regarding the importance of early and accurate diagnosis of asphyxia, we conducted this study, which is the first investigation of the comparison of the serum Hsp70 antigen level between asphyxiated and healthy infants. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In this observational study, the serum concentrations of Hsp70 antigen were compared between neonates suffering from perinatal asphyxia (n = 50) and normal neonates (n = 51). The inclusion criteria for the cases were neonates who had reached term and had at least two clinical criteria of asphyxia. Exclusion criteria were babies with gestational age < 37 weeks, infants with congenital abnormalities or positive blood culture. Exclusion criteria in this group were the requirement to hospital stay during first week of the life or babies whose mothers had difficulties during pregnancy or delivery. Term neonates without major anomalies who had asphyxia during delivery were enrolled in the first six hours after delivery, and control group consisted of healthy term neonates without problems and normal delivery process in the first week of life. The cord blood was taken during labor to measure Hsp70 antigen level by using an in-house ELISA (The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay). RESULTS: The median values of serum anti Hsp70 titers were significantly higher in asphyxiated neonates compared with non-asphyxiated neonates (0.36 [0.04 - 1.14] vs 0.24 [0.01 - 0.63]). At cutoff point = 0.3125 ng/mL, sensitivity was 58% and specificity 76% based on ROC curve. CONCLUSIONS: A significant difference between the serum concentrations of Hsp70 of the control and patient group was observed in this study. It is inferred serum concentrations of Hsp70 antigen may be a useful marker for the early diagnosis of that prenatal hypoxia

Interleukin-6 as A Prognostic Biomarker in Perinatal Asphyxia

Abstract Objective Early diagnosis is considered as a priority for prevention and treatment of asphyxia-related complications. The main aim of the present study was to evaluate the prognostic value of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy grade in prediction mortality and developmental status of neonates affected by prenatal asphyxia. Materials &amp; Method The cohort study was conducted on 38 term asphyxiated infants at Ghaem hospital, Mashhad, Iran, during 2013-2017. The HIE grade and serum IL-6 levels were determined at the time of birth. The developmental status was determined using the Denver II test at the end of two-year follow-up. Results &nbsp;HIE grade 3 resulted in 83% mortality rate and developmental delay in all the survivors. The average IL-6 level was 2.7 ng/ml in the control group (not affected HIE) which increased up to 29, 175 and 136 ng/ml in those with HIE grades 1, 2 and 3, respectively. Roc curve analysis revealed the cut-off levels 24 pg/ml to predict the developmental delay with sensitivity and specificity of 96 and 92%, respectively. Conclusion &nbsp;The IL-6 level and HIE grade are the potential prognostic biomarkers for determination of mortality and morbidity rate in the asphyxiated neonate

Evaluation of urinary tract infections following

زمینه و هدف: عفونت ادراری یک مشکل شایع و جدی در نوزادان است. مطالعات نشان داده اند که زردی می تواند یک علامت زودرس عفونت ادراری باشد. هدف از این مطالعه بررسی شیوع عفونت ادراری در نوزادان مبتلا به زردی، سن بروز، شدت زردی، علایم و عوارض هیپربیلی روبینمی غیر مستقیم ناشی از عفونت ادراری در این نوزادان می باشد. روش بررسی: در این مطالعه توصیفی- تحلیلی در سالهای 1382 الی 1388، کلیه نوزادان مراجعه کننده به بیمارستان قائم مشهد بعلت زردی بدون علامت از نظر عفونت ادراری بررسی شدند. از نوزادان مورد مطالعه آزمایش بیلی روبین مستقیم و غیر مستقیم، کامل ادرار و کشت ادرار و سایر آزمایشات لازم انجام گردید. در اغلب نوزادان با عفونت ادراری سونوگرافی کلیه ها انجام گردید. اطلاعات مربوط به حاملگی، زایمان و حوادث پس از تولد ثبت شد. داده ها با استفاده از تست دقیق فیشر، کای دو و t دانشجویی مورد تجزیه و تحلیل قرار گرفت. یافته ها: از 1487 نوزاد دچار زردی ، 1061 نوزاد از نظر عفونت ادراری بررسی گردیدند که 74 مورد (97/6) عفونت گزارش گردید. سن بروز زردی، سن مراجعه و سن بهبودی نوزادان دچار عفونت ادراری بطور قابل ملاحظه ای دیرتر از نوزادان فاقد عفونت بود (05/0

A Study on the Risk Factors for Obstetrical Brachial Plexus Palsy

ObjectiveConsiderable medical and legal debates have surrounded the prognosis and outcome of obstetrical brachial plexus injuries and obstetricians are oftenconsidered responsible for the injury. In this study, we assessed the factors related to the outcome of brachial plexus palsy.Material &amp; MethodsDuring 24 months, 21 neonates with obstetrical brachial plexus injuries were enrolled.Electrophysiology studies were done at the age of three weeks. They received physiotherapy and occupational therapy. They were examined every 3 monthsfor one year and limbs function was assessed according to Mallet scores; also, maternal and neonatal factors were collected by a questionnaire.Results There were 10 boys and 11 girls.Of all, 76.2% had Erb's palsy, 19% had total brachial palsy and 4.8% hadklumpke paralysis.Risk factors including primiparity, high birth weight, shoulder dystocia, andprolonged second stage of labor were assessed.Electrophysiology studies showed neuropraxia in 52.4% and axonal injuries in42.9% of the patients.At the end of the first year, 81% of the patients had functioned recovery aroundgrade III or IV of Mallet scores.There were only significant relationships between functional improvement andneurophysiologic findings.ConclusionOutcome of obstetrical brachial injuries has a close relationship toneurophysiologic study results than other risk factors

Relationship between the dynamic and static modulus of elasticity in standing trees and sawn lumbers of Paulownia fortune planted in iran

This paper aims to introduce a relationship between the dynamic modulus of elasticity in healthy standing trees of Paulownia fortune (planted in Iran) and the static modulus of elasticity in sawn wood. For this reason, a stress-wave non-destructive testing technique was carried out in longitudinal and transverse directions in 14 trees into two diameter classes (25-31 cm and 32-38 cm) at breast height and in logs at different height of stem to measure the stress wave speed and consequently, dynamic modulus of elasticity. Then, static modulus of elasticity of samples was calculated using 3-point bending tests in the sawn wood. The results revealed that the stress-wave speed and dynamic modulus of elasticity in logs of paulownia are more than those of standing trees in longitudinal direction. Also, the diameter of the tree can significantly affect the stress wave velocity in standing trees and logs of paulownia. Finally, a high correlation coefficient exists between static modulus of elasticity and dynamic modulus of elasticity (r= 0.68) in this tree

Carbonate alteration of ophiolitic rocks in the Arabian–Nubian Shield of Egypt: sources and compositions of the carbonating fluid and implications for the formation of Au deposits

Ultramafic portions of ophiolitic fragments in the Arabian–Nubian Shield (ANS) show pervasive carbonate alteration forming various degrees of carbonated serpentinites and listvenitic rocks. Notwithstanding the extent of the alteration, little is known about the processes that caused it, the source of the CO2 or the conditions of alteration. This study investigates the mineralogy, stable (O, C) and radiogenic (Sr) isotope composition, and geochemistry of suites of variably carbonate altered ultramafics from the Meatiq area of the Central Eastern Desert (CED) of Egypt. The samples investigated include least-altered lizardite (Lz) serpentinites, antigorite (Atg) serpentinites and listvenitic rocks with associated carbonate and quartz veins. The C, O and Sr isotopes of the vein samples cluster between −8.1‰ and −6.8‰ for δ13C, +6.4‰ and +10.5‰ for δ18O, and 87Sr/86Sr of 0.7028–0.70344, and plot within the depleted mantle compositional field. The serpentinites isotopic compositions plot on a mixing trend between the depleted-mantle and sedimentary carbonate fields. The carbonate veins contain abundant carbonic (CO2±CH4±N2) and aqueous-carbonic (H2O-NaCl-CO2±CH4±N2) low salinity fluid, with trapping conditions of 270–300°C and 0.7–1.1 kbar. The serpentinites are enriched in Au, As, S and other fluid-mobile elements relative to primitive and depleted mantle. The extensively carbonated Atg-serpentinites contain significantly lower concentrations of these elements than the Lz-serpentinites suggesting that they were depleted during carbonate alteration. Fluid inclusion and stable isotope compositions of Au deposits in the CED are similar to those from the carbonate veins investigated in the study and we suggest that carbonation of ANS ophiolitic rocks due to influx of mantle-derived CO2-bearing fluids caused break down of Au-bearing minerals such as pentlandite, releasing Au and S to the hydrothermal fluids that later formed the Au-deposits. This is the first time that gold has been observed to be remobilized from rocks during the lizardite–antigorite transition

Evaluation of acute renal failure in neonates bedridden in Neonatal Intensive Care Unite (NICU) in Ghaem hospital

چکیده: زمینه و هدف: نارسایی حاد کلیه بصورت یک کاهش ناگهانی شدید در GFR (Glomerular Filtration Rate) تعریف شده است و در بخش نوزادان شایع می باشد. این مطالعه با هدف بررسی انسیدانس، اتیولوژی، شیوه افتراق انواع نارسایی کلیه در نوزادان انجام شد. روش بررسی: در یک مطالعه توصیفی، 750 نوزاد بستری شده در بخش مراقبت های ویژه نوزادان بیمارستان قائم(عج) مشهد، از دی ماه 1384 تا دی ماه 1385، با تشخیص نارسایی کلیوی و بر اساس سونوگرافی و پاسخ به مایع درمانی به دو گروه رنال و پره نال تقسیم بندی شدند. این نوزادان از نظر ریسک فاکتورهای پره ناتال، پری ناتال، پست ناتال ریسک فاکتورهای مادری و محیطی و اندکس های مختلف سرمی و ادراری بررسی و داده ها به کمک آمار توصیفی تحلیل شدند. یافته ها: از 750 بیمار پذیرش شده 38 نوزاد (5) تشخیص نارسایی کلیوی داشتند، که 29 نفر (4/76) نارسایی پره رنال و 9 نفر (6/23) نارسایی رنال داشتند. فاکتورهای مستعد کننده همراه با نارسایی کلیوی شامل آسفیکسی (42)، سندرم غشا هیالن مامبران ((RDS (7/26)، سپسیس (13)، دهیدراتاسیون شدید (13) و بیماری مادرزادی قلبی (2/5) بودند. نتیجه گیری: نارسایی حاد کلیه یک علت مهم مرگ در نوزادان می باشد. شناسایی فاکتورهای مستعد کننده مثل نارس بودن، آسفیکسی، RDS، ونتیلاسیون و کنترل دقیق وضعیت کلیه های نوزادان در این شرایط ضروری است. پیش آگهی نوع پره رنال در صورت مایع درمانی مناسب، خوب بوده ولی در نوع رنال پیش آگهی وابسته به بیمار زمینه‌ای می باشد و مرگ و میر بالاست