Reference Intervals of Serum Procalcitonin Are Affected by Postnatal Age in Very Low Birth Weight Infants during the First 60 Days after Birth.

Background: Procalcitonin (PCT) may be a more sensitive marker for neonatal bacterial infections than C-reactive protein (CRP). However, the reference intervals of serum PCT were not sufficiently studied in neonates older than 1 week of age, especially for very low birth weight infants.

Objectives: This study investigated the reference level of serum PCT for neonates according to gestational age (GA) and postnatal age (PNA).

Resveratrol contributes to chemosensitivity of malignant mesothelioma cells with activation of p53.

Resveratrol is a naturally occurring polyphenolic phytoalexin with chemopreventive properties. We previously reported a synergistic anti-proliferative effect of resveratrol and clofarabine against malignant mesothelioma (MM) cells. Here, we further investigated molecular mechanisms involved in the synergistic interaction of these compounds in MM MSTO-211H cells.

Evaluation of new rapid antigen test for detection of pandemic influenza A/H1N1 2009 virus.

We evaluated the SD Bioline Influenza Ag A/B/A(H1N1) Pandemic test kit and compared it with real-time reverse transcriptase PCR (RT-PCR) for its ability to detect H1N1 2009. The sensitivity and specificity of the test kit for H1N1 2009 were 77% and 100%, respectively.

Effect of exogenous surfactant therapy on levels of pulmonary surfactant proteins A and D in preterm infants with respiratory distress syndrome.

Objectives: To examine whether exogenous pulmonary surfactants (exPS) substitute for or merely supplement endogenous pulmonary surfactants (enPS) by looking at sequential changes in the surfactant proteins (SP) SP-A and SP-D in alveolar pools.

Methods: Fourteen preterm infants with RDS treated with an artificial surfactant were compared to five normal-term infants without RDS who were treated with artificial ventilation at birth.

Results: Immediately after birth, SP-A and SP-D were essentially absent in the alveolar pools of the RDS group, but were present at normal levels in the controls.

Relationship between pulmonary surfactant protein and lipid peroxidation in lung injury due to paraquat intoxication in rats.

Background: Pulmonary damage resulting from lipid peroxidation is a principal effect of paraquat intoxication. The host-defense functions of surfactant are known to be mediated by the surfactant proteins A and D (SP-A and SP-D, respectively). The primary objective of this study was to evaluate the variations over time in levels of surfactant protein and lipid peroxidation (LPO) in lung tissue following free-radical-induced injury.