A meta-analysis was performed to assess the accuracy of the procalcitonin (PCT) test for diagnosing neonatal sepsis. The major databases, MEDLINE, EMBASE and the Cochrane Library were searched for studies published between January 1996 and May 2009 that evaluated PCT as a diagnostic marker for neonatal sepsis and provided sufficient data to calculate sensitivity and specificity. Twenty-two studies were included in the analysis. Trials that evaluated the PCT test for the diagnosis of early-onset neonatal sepsis at different time points (birth, 0-12 h, 12-24 h, and 24-48 h) and late-onset neonatal sepsis (LONS) all showed moderate accuracy (Q* = 0.79, 0.86, 0.81, 0.82, and 0.77, respectively). The PCT test was more accurate than the C-reactive protein (CRP) test for the diagnosis of LONS. A sensitivity analysis found that differences in PCT assay producer, gestational age and severity of sepsis in the study population may partially explain the between-studies heterogeneity. The PCT test showed moderate accuracy in diagnosing neonatal sepsis, regardless of differences in diagnostic criteria and time points for testing. For the diagnosis of LONS, the PCT test showed better accuracy than the CRP test. PCT is a valuable additional tool for the diagnosis of neonatal sepsis.

UGT1A1 Gly71Arg polymorphisms are a risk factor for developing neonatal hyperbilirubinemia in Asian, but not Caucasian, subjects. UGT1A1 TATA promoter polymorphisms were not associated with an increased risk of neonatal hyperbilirubinemia in Asian subjects, but results from the Caucasian population were conflicting and require further epidemiological investigation.

The UGT1A1 211G>A mutation is associated with neonatal hyperbilirubinemia in Asians, but not in Caucasians.

This study demonstrated that the 388 G>A mutation of the SLCO1B1 gene is a risk factor for developing neonatal hyperbilirubinemia in Chinese neonates, but not in white, Thai, Brazilian, or Malaysian populations; the SLCO1B1 521 T>C mutation provides protection for neonatal hyperbilirubinemia in Chinese neonates, but not in white, Thai, Brazilian, or Malaysian populations.

BackgroundTo evaluate the association between the genetic polymorphism of the solute carrier organic anion transporter family member 1B1 (SLCO1B1, also known as organic anion transport polypeptide C) and hyperbilirubinemia in Chinese neonates.Methods183 infants with hyperbilirubinemia and 192 control subjects from the Fifth People’s Hospital of Shenzhen were recruited. Polymerase chain reaction, restriction fragment length polymorphisms and agarose gel electrophoresis techniques were used to detect genetic variants of SLCO1B1.ResultsThe study revealed that SLCO1B1 388 G > A occurred significantly more frequently in neonates with hyperbilirubinemia than in controls (RR = 1.50; 95% CI: 1.13–2.00). There were no significant differences in SLCO1B1 521 T > C between the hyperbilirubinemia and the control group (RR, 1.00; 95% CI, 0.72–1.40). No carriage of the C to A substitution at nucleotide 463 was detected.ConclusionThe SLCO1B1 388 G > A variant is associated with neonatal hyperbilirubinemia in Chinese neonates.