[Predictive value of plasma interleukin-6 level in the diagnosis of early neonatal sepsis]

Neonatal sepsis is one of the common causes of neonatal mortality and morbidity. This study was aimed to evaluate the plasma interleukin-6 [IL-6] level as an early marker of neonatal sepsis. This study was conducted on 142 term neonates admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit of Kashan Shahid Beheshti hospital during 2010-11. The plasma IL-6 level of cases was determined using the electrochemiluminescence method. Ten icteric neonates with no signs or symptoms of sepsis were treated with phototherapy. Bactec blood culture was performed in 132 cases of suspected sepsis. Ten cases had positive blood culture and 122 negative blood culture with symptoms of sepsis. Then the levels of IL-6, in10 positive blood culture, 10 negative blood culture and another 10 cases with no symptoms of sepsis, were compared using Kruskal-Wallis test. Seventy-four cases were male and 68 were female. The incidence of neonatal sepsis was 7%. The most common bacterial agents were group B Streptococcus and Staphylococcus epidermidis. Tachypnea [35.9%] was the most common sign among the admitted neonates. The mean IL-6 level in the first [suspected sepsis with a positive blood culture], the second [suspected sepsis with a negative blood culture] and the control group [icteric neonates] were 1545.65, 14.79 and 11.04 micro g/dl, respectively [P=0.001]. The plasma IL-6 level can be a good predictor of early neonatal sepsis

Impaction of laparoscopic ovarian electrocautery on doppler indices of stromal blood flow in women with polycystic ovary syndrome

Polycystic ovary syndrom [PCOS] is characterized by infertility, oligomenorrhea, and hyperandrogenism. Clomiphene citrate [CC], an antiestrogen, is first-line treatment for PCOS, if CC fails to induce ovulation, laparascopic electrocautery of the ovaries is offered. In this prospective controlled study, 52 women with clomiphen-resistant PCOS [group 1] and 46 women with regular menstrual cycles as a control group [group 2] were included. Hormonal profile and doppler blood flow changes within the ovarian stroma befor and after laparascopic ovarian electrocautery [LOE] in women with clomiphen- resistant polycystic ovary syndrome assessed and compared between groups. The doppler indices [pulsatility index and resistance index] of ovarian stromal blood flow were significantly lower in group 1 befor LOE than in group 2. The serum levels of testosteron [T] and LH were significantly reduced in group 1 after LOE compared with in group 1 befor LOE [P < 0.05]. Doppler indices [pulsatility index and resistance index] of ovarian stromal blood flow were significantly increased after LOE. Laparascopic electrocautery reduced serum T and LH and reduced ovarian blood flow velocities, which may explain the reduction of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome in women with PCOS after LOE. Laparascopic electrocautery of the ovaries is now accepted as the preferred first-line treatment of women with PCOS who are resistant to clomiphen citrate. All affected women could be considered for this treatment