role of neuropeptide Y in acute exacerbation of bronchial asthma in children

In this study, venous blood was sampled from 30 children with an exacerbation of asthma before and after treatment. The mean plasma levels of NPY were higher in patients than in the controls. There was no significant difference between the level of NPY before and after treatment. So, plasma levels of NPY can be useful diagnostic tools for asthma, but cannot be employed as a predicator of responsiveness to bronchodilator therapy

Tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin-8, and interferon-alpha serum levels in neonatal sepsis and septic shock

The aim of this study was to evaluate TNF-alpha, IL-8 IFN- gamma serum levels as markers for the diagnosis and prognosis of neonatal sepsis and septic shock. TNF-alpha was measured by enzyme immunoassay [EIA], while IL-8 and IFN-gamma were assessed by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay [ELISA] in serum samples from 65 newborns with proven sepsis. Serum levels of TNF-alpha and IL-8 were significantly higher in newborns with Gram-negative than in those with Gram-positive bacterial infections. TNF-alpha serum levels correlated positively with IL-8. However, there was no significant correlation between TNF-alpha and IFN-gamma or between IL-8 and IFN-gamma. In conclusion, elevated serum levels of TNF- alpha and IL-8 could be considered as sensitive and specific parameters for predicting sepsis, septic shock and their clinical outcomes in newborn infants