Prognostic value of high plasma vitamin C concentration at birth associated with low antioxidant activity in preterm neonates

This study was done to measure vitamin C, ceruloplasmin and antioxidant activity of plasma at birth and their relation to gestational age. We also investigated whether the plasma antioxidant activity is influenced by the vitamin C to ceruloplamin ratio. We also investigated the relation between plasma antioxidant activity at birth and neonatal mortality. Blood samples were taken from 36 preterm newborns and 12 term newborns as a control group within two hours after birth. Plasma ascorbic acid, ceruloplasmin and antioxidant activity of plasma were measured. The premature infants were classified into 2 groups: Group I [survivors - 24] and group II [died, n = 12]. Compared to the full term newborns, the plasma antioxidant activity was significantly decreased [P<0.05] in preterm neo-nates, and showed a significant negative correlation with plasma ascorbic acid and vitamin C to ceruloplasmin ratio. The plasma antioxidant activity was significantly decreased in died preterm infants than survived preterm infants [P<0.05]. There was a significant high [P<0.05] plasma vitamin C in preterm neonates compared to full term neonates and also there was a significant high [P<0.05] vitamin C in died preterm neonates in comparison to survivors. There was a significant low [P<0.05] plasma ceruloplasmin in preterm neonates compared to full term neonates, but there was non significant difference in plasma ceruloplasmin between died and survived preterm neonates. Thus we concluded that plasma antioxidant activity at birth is a significant predictor of neonatal mortality. Some preterm neonates are born with low ceraloplasmin and high vitamin C concentration, the high vitamin C concentration may modulate theferroxidase activity of plasma cerulopasmin which may inhibit the antioxidant activity of plasma. This effect may be an important factor in the mortality of preterm neonates

Serum Cytokine Levels in Neonatal Sepsis

The Serum, cytokines level may be elevated in neonatal sepsis and the magnitude of its elevation may be related to the severity of illness and mortality. The aim of this study is to evalute tumour necrosis factor alpha and interleukin-6 serum levels in the diagnosis and prognosis of neonatol sepsis Tumour necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-6 serum levels are determined in 24 newborn infants with positive blood culture [group I] 23 new born infants with suspected sepsis group [II] and 15 newborn as control [group III]. The serum cytokines levels are measured on admission and 48 hours after admission. The serum cytokine levels TNF alpha and IL6 are significantly elevated in neonates with sepsis their levels are significantly higher in died than survived cases and are related to the severity of illness. Their significant decreament with the proper therapy is of good prognostic value. The combination of TNF alpha and IL6 determinations appears to be alpha good predictor of neonatal sepsis

Tumor necrosis factor [TNF] in children with chronic liver diseases

TNF-alpha is a cytokine produced from monocytes and macrophages and has multiple biological activities. Serum TNF levels were determined by radioimmunoassay in 11 children with chronic liver diseases. TNF level was significantly increased in children with chronic liver diseases when compared with reference group [10 healthy children]. There was a significant positive correlation between TNF and liver enzymes [AST and ALT] and a significant negative one between TNF and Hb% and red cell count. TNF production may be related to hepatitis activity or viral replication. Elevations of TNF may contribute in a degree to bone marrow depression in those patients