Ghrelin levels in cord blood from concordant and discordant twin pairs: association with birth weight and postnatal catch-up growth.

Objective: To determine whether cord blood ghrelin levels in discordant and concordant twins predict postnatal catch-up growth.

Methods: After obtaining parental consent, cord blood samples were collected at delivery for total ghrelin analysis. Infant weight, length and head circumference were obtained at birth, 2, 4, and 6 months of age.

Involvement of imidazoline and opioid receptors in the enhancement of clonidine-induced analgesia by sulfisoxazole.

Clonidine, an alpha2-adrenergic agonist, has been demonstrated to produce significant analgesia and potentiate morphine analgesia. Endothelin (ETA) receptor antagonists have also been found to potentiate the antinociceptive response to morphine. Clonidine and ET have been reported to have cardiovascular interactions involving the sympathetic nervous system, but it is not known whether ETA receptor antagonist affects clonidine analgesia.

Involvement of central endothelin receptors in neonatal morphine withdrawal.

The involvement of central endothelin (ET) receptors in neonatal morphine tolerance has been demonstrated. The present study investigates the role of central ET receptors in morphine withdrawal in neonatal rats. The aim was to determine whether activation of G-proteins coupled to opioid and ET receptors by morphine and various ET receptor modulators is affected during morphine withdrawal in neonatal rats.

Role of endothelin (ETA) receptors in neonatal morphine withdrawal.

We have previously demonstrated role of central endothelin (ET) receptors in neonatal morphine tolerance. The present study was conducted to investigate involvement of central ET receptors in neonatal rat morphine withdrawal. The aim was to determine activation of G-proteins coupled to opioid and ET receptors by morphine and ET ligands in neonatal rat brains during morphine withdrawal.

Role of endothelin in neonatal morphine tolerance.

Management of neonatal opioid tolerance and withdrawal symptoms remains a major challenge in neonatal intensive care units. We provide evidence that central endothelin (ET) mechanisms are involved in the development of morphine tolerance in neonatal rats. Pregnant rats were rendered tolerant to morphine and rat pups were delivered by cesarean section.

Procalcitonin as a screening test for late-onset sepsis in preterm very low birth weight infants.

Objective: To compare the utility of procalcitonin (PCT) vs C-reactive protein (CRP) as indicators of late-onset neonatal sepsis in very low birth weight (VLBW) infants.

Methods: PCT and CRP levels were measured in VLBW infants with suspected sepsis and controls. Comparisons were made between infected vs noninfected infants.

Evidence that morphine tolerance may be regulated by endothelin in the neonatal rat.

Background: Opioids are widely used in the neonatal intensive care units for analgesia and sedation. Management of tolerance and withdrawal symptoms in neonates remains a major challenge.

Objectives: The present study investigates the involvement of a central endothelin (ET) mechanism in the development of tolerance to morphine in neonatal rats.

Upregulation of neutrophil surface adhesion molecules in infants of pre-eclamptic women.

Objective: To evaluate evidence of neutrophil activation in infants born to pre-eclamptic women and examine any association between degree of neutrophil activation and severity of pre-eclampsia.

Design: This study utilized quantitative flow cytometry to determine whether the expression of surface adhesion molecules: CD18, CD11a, CD11b, and CD11c on cord blood neutrophils using mean channel fluorescence values (MCF). A total of 20 infants of pre-eclamptic women were compared with a control group of 19 infants of normotensive women.