The prediction of NLR, an easy, inexpensive, and rapid method, along with CRP in the neonatal period for diagnosis of sepsis, will be more effective in detecting culture-proven sepsis and in decreasing unnecessary antibiotherapy.

Colistin administration appears to be efficacious in VLBW infants; however, renal function tests and serum electrolytes should be monitored more closely in these infants during treatment.

ObjectiveSepsis is a complex clinical condition caused by a dysregulated immune response to an infection resulting in a fatal outcome. This study aimed to investigate the value of urine soluble triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells (sTREM-1) for diagnosing culture-proven sepsis in preterm infants.MethodsPreterm neonates were evaluated for late-onset sepsis (LOS). Laboratory investigations were performed. Urine sTREM-1 samples and blood cultures were synchronously collected. Using blood culture results, preterm neonates were divided into the culture-proven group and suspected sepsis group.ResultsA total of preterm 62 infants were included in the study; 31 had culture-proven sepsis and 31 were suspected as having sepsis. There were no significant differences in gestational age, sex, birth weight, and delivery mode between the groups. Neonates in the culture-proven group had significantly higher urine sTREM-1 levels than did those in the suspected sepsis group. Using a cut-off point for a urine sTREM-1 level of 78.5 pg/mL, the sensitivity was 0.90, specificity was 0.78, positive predictive value was 0.68, and negative predictive value was 0.94.ConclusionsThe present study highlights the role of urine sTREM-1 levels in LOS. Urine sTREM-1 may be a reliable and sensitive marker in detecting sepsis in preterm infants.

The reference values of serum IgG and IgM levels should be further evaluated in larger series with the presented data in this article. In addition, preterm babies appear to have lower Ig levels thus carry the risk of relevant morbidity.

Background:Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction with ST autograft is sometimes unsuccessful because of harvested thin graft. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can be a useful tool to evaluate the thickness of the graft. This study is performed to evaluate whether there is any correlation between diameters and cross-sectional area (CSA) of the semitendinosus tendon (ST) on the preoperative magnetic MRI and the diameter of the 4-stranded ST autograft in ACL reconstruction.Materials and Methods:Seventy patients who underwent single-bundle ACL reconstruction with 4-stranded ST for full-thickness ACL ruptures were included in this study. Anteroposterior (AP) and mediolateral (ML) diameters of ST at the levels of the joint line (JL) and femoral physeal line (PL), and also CSA at these levels were measured on T2-weighted fat-suppressed MRI examinations. The data obtained were compared with intraoperatively measured diameters of 4-stranded ST autograft. Correlations between variables were evaluated using Spearman's rho. Receiver operating characteristic and area under the curve statistics were used to evaluate the cut-off value for the correlation between 4-stranded ST graft diameter of 8 mm and CSA (mm2) on MRI.Results:On MRI measurements, no correlation was found between AP diameters at the level of the JL and 4-stranded ST diameter (P = 0.180). However, correlations were found between diameter of 4-stranded ST and ML diameter at the level of JL (P = 0.003) and PL (P = 0.002), AP diameter at the level of the PL (P = 0.009), CSA at the level of the JL (P < 0.001) and at the level of PL (P < 0.001). Correlation between the diameter of 4-stranded ST and CSA at both levels was more significant than that between AP-ML diameters of ST and diameter of autograft. The cut-off value for the 8 mm diameter CSA of 4-stranded ST was 5.9 mm2 at the JL and 8.99 mm2 at the PL.Conclusion:Preoperative MRI evaluation of CSA at the JL of the ST is a reliable parameter to predict graft size. Other graft alternatives should better be considered if the CSA of ST is <5.9 mm2 at the level of the JL.