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Background: Patent Ductus Arteriosus (PDA) is associated with adverse clinical outcomes in very low birth weight (<1500g) infants., Objective: In our study, it was aimed to investigate the effect of gentamicin treatment, which is frequently used for early-onset sepsis on ductal patency., Methods: We performed a single-center retrospective review of charts of preterm infants <32 weeks gestation with birth weight <1500 grams born between June 1, 2015 and December 31, 2019 at the neonatal intensive care unit. All infants underwent an echocardiogram (ECHO) at 72 hours. To determine the effect of gentamicin treatment on hemodynamically significant PDA (hsPDA), we compared the frequency and duration of gentamicin administration between infants with hsPDA and without hsPDA., Results: During the study period, 792 patients were evaluated. Gentamicin was given to more infants with hsPDA than to those without hsPDA (89.2% vs. 64.6%, p<0.001), and the duration of therapy was longer in those infants with hsPDA (7 days vs. 9 days, p<0.001). The area under the curve for duration of gentamicin was 0.772 (%95 CI: 0.742-0.804, P=0.0001), sensitivity: 59 (%95 CI: 53-65), specificity: 82 (%95 CI: 78-88), with a cut-off day for duration of gentamicin >7 days., Conclusion: In our study, it was found that ductal contraction decreased and hsPDA rate increased as the rate and duration of gentamicin increased., (Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.net.)

Background: Various effects of Astaxanthin were shown in the studies, including its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor and immunoregulatory effects., Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the beneficial effects of Astaxanthin on renovascular occlusion induced renal injury and to investigate the possible mechanisms., Methods: The rats were randomly assigned into three groups as follows: Group 1: control group (n=12), Group 2: renal ischemia-reperfusion injury group (n=12), Group 3: renal ischemia-reperfusion + asthaxantine treated group (n=12). The control group and the renal ischemia-reperfusion group were given 2cc/kg/g olive oil for 7 days before establishing ischemia to renal tissue. Astaxanthin dissolved in olive oil was given orally to the renal ischemia+astaxanthin group for 7 days before inducing renal ischemia. Caspase-(3, 8, 9), GSH, SOD, Total Thiol, TNF-α, IL-6, 8-OHdG were evaluated in each group., Results: Renal IRI was verified by analysing the pathological changes of renal tissues and the renal functions after renal reperfusion. Much less renal tubular damage was determined in the IRI+ASX group in comparison to the IRI group. Caspase-8, -9 and -3 immunoreactivity was observed to be minimal in the control group. Apoptosis was observed to be significantly reduced in the IRI + ASX group with respect to the IRI group and close to the level of the control group (p <0.05). Caspase-3 levels of tissue samples were significantly increased in the IRI group compared to the other groups, but significantly lower in the IRI+ASX group with respect to the IRI group (p<0.05). The TOS and OSI levels, indicating increased oxidative stress, were significantly lower in the IRI+ASX group with respect to the IRI group (p <0.001), but still higher than the control group (p <0.001). In addition to GSH, SOD and Total Thiol levels, TAS levels were also significantly higher in the IRI + ASX group in comparison to the IRI group (p <0.05). TNF-α, IL-6, lipid hydroperoxide, AOPP and 8-OHdG levels were lower in the IRI+ASX group than the IRI group (p <0.001). MPO, IL-6, TNF-α levels, representing the parameters indicating neutrophil infiltration and inflammation of the renal tissues, significantly increased in the IRI group with respect to the other groups (p <0.005)., Conclusion: When all the data obtained in our study were evaluated, ASX was determined to prevent renal damage due to renovascular occlusion to a great extent, through complex mechanisms involving antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antiapoptotic effects. Biochemical, histological and oxidative stress parameters were improved due to ASX., (Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.net.)

Background: Hyperviscosity of blood secondary to polycythemia results in increased resistance to blood flow and decrease in delivery of oxygen., Objective: To evaluate whether serum endocan, NSE and IMA levels can be compared in terms of endothelial injury/ dysfunction and neuronal damage in term neonates with polycythemia who underwent PET., Methods: 38 symptomatic polycythemic newborns having PET and 38 healthy newborns were included in the study. Blood samples for endocan, NSE and IMA were taken at only postnatal 24 hours of age in the control group and in polycytemia group just before PET, at 24 and 72 hours after PET., Results: The polycythemia group had higher serum endocan(1073,4 ± 644,8 vs. 378,8 ± 95,9ng/ml; p<0.05), IMA(1,32 ± 0,34 vs.0,601 ± 0,095absorbance unit; p<0.05) and NSE(44,7 ± 4,3 vs. 26,91 ± 7,12μg/l; p<0.05) levels than control group before the PET procedure. At 24 hours after PET, IMA(0,656 ± 0,07 vs. 0,601 ± 0,095absorbance unit; p<0.05) and endocan(510,9 ± 228,6 vs. 378,8 ± 95,9ng/ml; p<0.05) levels were closer to the control group, being still statistically significant higher. NSE levels decreased to control group levels having no difference between the PET and control groups at 24 hours after PET (28,98 ± 6,5 vs. 26,91 ± 7,12μg/l; p>0.05). At 72 hours after PET the polycythemia and control groups did not differ statistically for IMA, endocan and NSE levels (p>0.05)., Conclusion: Serum endocan and IMA levels can be used as a biomarker for endothelial damage/ dysfunction and tissue hypoxia in infants with symptomatic polycytemia., (Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.net.)

Background/aim: This study aimed to ascertain the effects of astaxanthin on the lungs of rat pups with bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) induced by hyperoxia and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)., Materials and Methods: Forty-two newborn Wistar rats, born to spontaneous pregnant rats, were divided into three groups: Hyperoxia (95% O2) + lipopolysaccharide (LPS) group, hyperoxia + LPS + astaxhantin group, and control: no treatment group (21% O2). Pups in the hyperoxia + LPS + astaxanthin group were given 100 mg/kg/day oral astaxanthin from the first day to the fifth day. Histopathologic and biochemical evaluations, including glutathione (GSH), total anti-oxidant status (TAS), total oxidant status (TOS), lipid hydroperoxide (LPO), 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP), myeloperoxidase (MPO), total thiol, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin 1 beta (IL-1β), and caspase-3 activities, were performed., Results: Better survival rates and weight gain were demonstrated in the hyperoxia + LPS + astaxanthin group (p <0.001). In the histopathologic evaluation, the severity of lung damage was significantly reduced in the hyperoxia+LPS+astaxanthin group, as well as decreased apoptosis (ELİSA for caspase-3) (p <0.001). The biochemical analyses of lung tissues showed that TAS, GSH, and Total thiol levels were significantly higher in the astaxanthin treated group compared to the hyperoxia + LPS group (p <0.05) while TOS, AOPP, LPO, 8-OHdG, MPO levels were significantly lower (p <0.001). In addition, unlike the hyperoxia + LPS group, TNF-α and IL-1β levels in lung tissue were significantly lower in the astaxanthin-treated group (p <0.001)., Conclusion: Astaxanthin was shown to reduce lung damage caused by inflammation and hyperoxia with its anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, anti-apoptotic properties, and to protect the lung from severe destruction., (Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.net.)

Background: Although LC-MS/MS is preferred as a reliable method, therapeutic enzyme drugs in the blood matrix may lead to false results., Objective: The purpose of this article is to experimentally investigate the effect of five different enzymes used in the treatment of metabolic diseases on blood immunosuppressant measurement., Methods: Five different enzyme drugs (galsulfase, alglucosidase alfa, imiglucerase, elosulfase alfa, laronidase) were added to control materials containing tacrolimus, everolimus, sirolimus, and cyclosporine A drugs. Measurements were performed using an LC-MS/MS instrument (Shimadzu 8040, Japan). The amount of deviations from the target values was calculated., Results: Blood Immunosuppressant levels significantly changed after the administration of enzyme drugs. Four different enzyme drugs led to false-positive results in the tacrolimus levels at a rate of 10.58% (95% CI, 9.83-11.32) to 37.28% (95% CI, 33.55-41.27). The highest deviations were observed with the administration of galsulfase and alglucosidase alpha in the sirolimus levels at rates of 336.54% (95% CI, 306.25-366.82) and 395.88% (95% CI, 360.25-431.50), respectively. Imiglucerase was the least effective enzyme for the sirolimus level (0.80% (95% CI, 0.71-0.89). Different deviations between the ratios of - 9.37% (95% CI, -10.40 - -8.33) and 8.33% (95% CI, 7.41-9.24) were determined at the cyclosporin A level., Conclusion: Galsulfase, alglucosidase alpha, imigluserase, elosulfase alpha and laronidase can significantly interfere with immunosuppressant measurements with LC-MS/MS. False immunosuppressant results associated with enzyme injection may result in immunosuppression failure, organ rejection. For the measurement of immunosuppressant levels, sampling should be done before the enzyme infusion. Clinicians should question the time of enzyme infusion and sampling when confounding results in immunosuppressant measurement., (Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.net.)

Background: Activated inflammation and oxidant stress during cerebral ischemia reperfusion injury (IRI) lead to brain damage. Astaxanthin (ASX) is a type of carotenoid with a strong antioxidant effect., Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the role of ASX on brain IRI., Methods: A total of 42 adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into 3 groups as control (n=14) group, IRI (n=14) group and IRI + ASX (n=14) group. Cerebral ischemia was instituted by occluding middle cerebral artery for 120 minutes and subsequently, reperfusion was performed for 48 hours. Oxidant parameter levels and protein degradation products were evaluated. Hippocampal and cortex cell apoptosis, neuronal cell count, neurological deficit score were evaluated., Results: In the IRI group, oxidant parameter levels and protein degradation products in the tissue were increased compared to control group. However, these values were significantly decreased in the IRI + ASX group (p<0.05). There was a significant decrease in hippocampal and cortex cell apoptosis and a significant increase in the number of neuronal cells in the IRI + ASX group compared to the IRI group alone (p<0.05). The neurological deficit score which was significantly lower in the IRI group compared to the control group was found to be significantly improved in the IRI + ASX group (p<0.05)., Conclusion: Astaxanthin protects the brain from oxidative damage and reduces neuronal deficits due to IRI injury., (Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.net.)

Background: Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP) is a pathophysiologic condition of the retina due to abnormal proliferation of retinal vessels., Objective: The study aimed too ascertain the importance of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), interleukin-33 (IL-33) and endocan in the diagnosis and follow-up of ROP., Methods: This prospective cohort study was conducted in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) of Health Science University, Zekai Tahir Burak Maternity Teaching Hospital, Ankara, Turkey, between February 2017 and August 2018. Preterm infants (gestational age (GA) of ≤32 weeks and birth weight of ≤1500 gr), diagnosed ROP were included in the study. VEGF, IGF-1, IL-33 and endocan levels were evaluated in the cord blood and in the serum before and after treatment of infants in the ROP and control groups., Results: A final number of 146 infants were included in the study. During the study period, 73 infants were identified as the ROP group, and 73 infants were allocated as the control group. In the ROP group, the cord blood VEGF value was higher than the control group (p <0.05). However, IGF-1 levels in the cord blood were lower in the ROP group than control (P<0.05). IL-33 and endocan values in the cord blood were similar in both control and ROP groups (p>0.05). Although serum levels of IL-33, VEGF and endocan were higher before laser treatment, these biomarkers decreased significantly after laser treatment (p <0.05)., Conclusion: We determined that serum IL-33 and endocan levels might be suggested as sensitive novel markers for the prediction of severe ROP., (Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.net.)

Background: Neonatal sepsis is considered as the most frequent cause of death in newborns. Early diagnosis is important to reduce mortality and morbidity. The rapid progression of the disease requires proper use of biomarkers specific for prompt diagnosis and intervention., Objective: We aimed to evaluate the benefit of interleukin-33 serum levels in the diagnosis and treatment of neonatal sepsis., Method: We included 51 infants with neonatal sepsis as the main study group and 50 neonates without sepsis as the control group. Serum levels of interleukin-6, interleukin-33 and C-reactive protein were measured on the 1st, 3rd and 7th days of sepsis in the study group and on the 3rd postpartum day in the control group, respectively., Results: Serum levels of interleukin-6, interleukin-33 and C-reactive protein were significantly higher in the first day of sepsis. Serum levels of interleukin-6, interleukin-33 and C-reactive protein decreased significantly on the 3rd and the 7th days of antibiotic treatment. We found a significant relationship between interleukin-33 and C-reactive protein and between interleukin-6 and C-reactive protein on the first day of sepsis., Conclusion: Serum interleukin-33 level is up-regulated in neonatal sepsis, which might be used as a novel diagnostic marker and also a useful tool to predict prognosis in early neonatal sepsis., (Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.org.)