Background. Alterations in thyroid hormones regulation and metabolism are frequently observed in patients with cirrhosis. Aims. To assess alterations in thyroid volume (TV), haemodynamics, and hormones in patients with cirrhosis and their relation to hepatic arterial haemodynamics, and disease severity. Methods. Forty cirrhotic patients were compared to 30 healthy subjects regarding TV, free triiodiothyronine (fT3), free tetraiodothyronine (fT4), thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), and pulsatility and resistance indices in the inferior thyroid and hepatic arteries. Results. TV (P = 0.042), thyroid volume standard deviation score (TVSDS, P = 0.001), Inferior Thyroid Artery Pulsatility Index (ITAPI, P = 0.001), Inferior Thyroid Artery Resistance Index (ITARI, P = 0.041), Hepatic Artery Pulsatility Index (HAPI, P = 0.029) and Hepatic Artery Resistance Index (HARI, P = 0.035) were higher among cases being highest in Child-C patients. FT3 was lower in patients than controls (P = 0.001) and correlated negatively with ITAPI (r = −0.71, P = 0.021) and ITARI (r = −0.79, P = 0.011). ITAPI and ITARI correlated directly with HAPI and HARI (r = 0.62, P = 0.03, and r = 0.42, P = 0.04, resp.). Conclusions. Thyroid is involved in the haemodynamic alterations of cirrhosis. Routine study of thyroid by Doppler and assessment of thyroid functions should be performed in patients with cirrhosis to offer proper treatment if needed.
Background: Neonatal sepsis (NS) is a systemic uncontrolled inflammatory response to an infectious agent, resulting in oxidative stress. Melatonin antioxidant and free radical scavenger proved to be safe in neonates. We aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of melatonin as adjuvant therapy in NS. This was an interventional trial conducted on 40 preterm neonates with NS diagnosed on the basis of clinical and laboratory criteria. They were simply randomized to melatonin treated (MT) (n = 20) and conventionally treated (CT) (n = 20) groups. Melatonin was administered at a total dose of 20 mg enterally in two divided doses of 10 mg each, 1 h apart. Malondialdehyde (MDA) was assessed in patients at enrollment, 4 and 72 h later in MT, and 72hours later in CT. Fifteen healthy matched neonates were included as a control. Results: There were no significant differences between MT and CT groups regarding baseline sepsis workup. However, total leucocytic count, absolute neutrophil count, and C-reactive protein were significantly higher and platelets were significantly lower in CT compared to MT after 72 h. MDA was doubled in CT while reduced in MT 72 h after intervention (p = 0.000). Mortality was significantly lower in MT. No side effects following melatonin administration were reported.
Conclusion:Melatonin is effective and safe adjuvant for treatment of NS that improves clinical and laboratory outcomes.
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