No abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the incidence and outcome of isolated moderate renal pelvis dilatation (RPD) [anterior-posterior diameter (APD) 10-15 mm] in an unselected population of 2-month-old infants prospectively followed for up to 12-14 months of life. Isolated moderate renal pelvis dilatation was detected in 282 of the 11,801 (2.4%), infants screened; 240 infants with normal renal ultrasound were enrolled as the control group. Resolution of RPD was considered when an APD

Serum concentrations of T4, T3, reverse T3 (rT3), TSH, Thyroxine binding globulin (TBG) and Thyroxine binding prealbumin (TBPA) were measured and a TRH-stimulation test was performed in 10 iodide untreated children affected by cystic fibrosis (CF) and in 84 controls. As compared to the controls, CF patients had lower T4 and rT3, similar T3 and TBG and increased T3:T4 ratios. They also had lower TBPA, but this could not account for the low T4. Finally they had higher basal and TRH-stimulated TSH. Our results indicate subclinical hypothyroidism in CF. The mechanisms responsible for this situation are not elucidated by our data.

Systolic and diastolic blood pressure (BP), heart rate and weight were measured in 260 boys and 254 girls, from birth to 12 months of age. Mean +/- SD values of parameters studied and percentile curves are reported. Systolic and diastolic BP increase significantly during the first 6 months of life and are poorly correlated with weight. In the 1st month of life the diastolic BP values are lower than those reported by others.

Preterm newborns are challenged by excessive oxidative injury, resulting from several perinatal stimuli, such as intrauterine infections, resuscitation in delivery room, mechanical ventilation, and postnatal complications, in the presence of immature antioxidant capacities.Free radicals (FRs) are molecular species with an unpaired electron in the outer shell which renders them highly reactive and unstable. 1 FRs containing oxygen may be termed a reactive oxygen species (ROS). Abstract Background: Oxidative stress is involved in several neonatal conditions characterized by an upregulation in the production of oxidative or nitrative free radicals and a concomitant decrease in the availability of antioxidant species. Oxygen, which is obviously vital to survival, can be highly damaging to neonatal tissue which is known to be poorly equipped to neutralize toxic derivatives. Thus, exposure of the newborn infant to high oxygen concentrations during resuscitation at birth increases oxidative damage. Visfatin is an adipocytokine involved in oxidative stress and an important mediator of inflammation that induces dose-dependent production of both pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines. To our knowledge, the diagnostic value of visfatin as a marker of oxidative stress in preterm newborns has not been investigated. Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate visfatin levels in preterm neonates resuscitated with different concentrations of oxygen in the delivery room. Patients: Fifty-two preterm newborns with gestational age less than 32 weeks, resuscitated randomly with different oxygen concentrations (40%, 60%, or 100%) were enrolled at the University Hospital of Messina, over a 12-month period to evaluate serum visfatin levels at T0 (within 1 h after birth), T24 h, T72 h, and T168 h of life. Results: At T72 h and T168 h, higher serum visfatin values in the high-oxygen group compared to the low-and mildoxygen subjects (P = 0.002 and P <0.001, respectively) were noted. Conclusion:The results of this study suggest that visfatin could be a new marker of oxidative stress in preterm newborns.