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Objective Vaspin and leptin play an important role in the foetal and postnatal development of children, which may be disturbed by infections. The effect of congenital infection on serum vaspin and leptin values is not well known. Aim The evaluation of vaspin and leptin concentrations in full-term AGA neonates, according to their gender, birth asphyxia, type of delivery, occurrence of pneumonia and determination of correlation between concentrations of both hormones and anthropometric parameters. Material and methods The study involved 100 full-term neonates (53 boys and 47 girls); among them, 40 were with congenital pneumonia and 60 were healthy control. Serum vaspin and leptin concentrations were measured between the 3rd and 6th days of life by the ELISA method. Results It was found that vaspin and leptin concentrations were significantly higher in pneumonic neonates than in the healthy neonates. Healthy female neonates had significantly higher concentrations of both hormones than the male neonates. In neonates with pneumonia, negative correlation between vaspin concentration and foetal maturity was noted. Type of delivery had no influence on the values of these hormones in both the groups. Conclusions 1. Congenital pneumonia in full-term AGA neonates contributes to increase of serum vaspin and leptin concentrations, independently of their gender, birth weight, birth asphyxia and type of delivery. 2. Healthy full-term female neonates have significantly higher vaspin and leptin concentrations than the male neonates. 3. In healthy and pneumonic neonates, any significant correlation between serum vaspin and leptin concentrations and body length, head and chest circumferences, and any mutual correlation between vaspin and leptin were stated.

Adiponectin is a cytokine built with 244 amino acids. It is produced and secreted by adipose tissue. The concentration of this hormone in serum fluctuates from 1 to 30 μg/ml. The main function of this cytokine is the control of metabolism, carbohydrates and lipids. Women have higher concentration of adiponectin than men. Its high concentration is observed in those suffering from anorexia and bulimia. Its reduced concentration decreases insulin levels, and leads to the development of diabetes and lipodystrophy. It is believed that low adiponectin level contributes to the development of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular complications including unstable coronary artery disease. Mechanisms of synthesis regulation have not been thoroughly understood. One describes only the increase of adiponectin gene expression regulated by receptors activated by peroxisome proliferation. Adiponectin is present in breast milk where it plays an important role in the development of the infant. The newborn has higher adiponectin level than the adult; it correlates with the maturity of foetus and its body weight. Full-term newborns with normal birth weight have higher concentration of adiponectin than the premature infants and newborns with low birth weight. Infants with macrosomia have lower concentration of this hormone than children with normal and low birth weight, despite their similar BMI. In the prepubertal age, the value of adiponectin is a good indicator of insulin resistance. Changes in the concentration of adiponectin in foetuses and newborns, under the influence of not fully explained factors, may affect their development and lead to childhood obesity. In the first year of life, there is a progressive decrease in the concentration of this hormone.

Objective: Only a few studies on improving the early diagnosis of severe neonatal infections have focused on the role of serum RANTES concentration (sRC). The aim of the study was to establish sRC in neonates with early-onset infections, according to their gestational age, sex, birth asphyxia, mode of delivery and value of some biochemical and hematological parameters.Material/Methods: The analysis comprised 129 neonates, including 89 infected (52 preterm, 37 full-term; 43 with sepsis, 39 with congenital pneumonia, 7 with severe urinary tract infection) and 40 healthy (control group, 25 full-term, 15 preterm). The sRC in peripheral vein blood was measured by the ELISA method using Quantikine Set (R & D systems, USA).Results: The sRC in infected neonates ranged from 10.83 to 122.55 μg/ml, in full-term neonates from 18.28 to 122.55 μg/ml, and in preterm from 10.83 to 118.24 μg/ml. The mean sRCs in full-term septic neonates (73.95±25.99 μg/ml) and with organ infections (58.43±29.24 μg/ml) were significantly higher than healthy ones (28.25±14.06 μg/ml). The mean sRCs in septic preterm neonates (59.17±28.29 μg/ml) and those with organ infections (50.86±28.16) were significantly higher than in healthy preterm neonates (25.61±8.29 μg/ml). Positive correlations between sRC and CRP value (r=0.3014, p=0.004) and between sRC and band cell count (r=0.2489, p=0.019) were found in all infected neonates. Conclusion. The significant increase of serum RANTES concentration in early-onset infections in neonates, regardless of their gestational age, sex and birth asphyxia, not only proves the presence of an active immunological process but also may be a useful biomarker for diagnosis of severe neonatal infections.

Introduction Some immunological studies in schoolchildren with BPD did not make any concern on B lymphocytes subpopulations. Aim To make an assessment of the quantitative values of B, CD5+ and CD23+ lymphocytes in children with BPD, including the severity of disease. Material and methods The study comprised 86 children aged from 8 to 12 years of life, among them 15 with I°, 12 with II°, 9 with III° of BPD and 25 born prematurely and 25 full-term without BPD. The immunological examination comprised determination of leukocytes, lymphocytes, B lymphocytes, CD5+ and CD23+ in peripheral vein blood using FACS scan flow cytometer. Results The mean percentage of B lymphocytes was the lowest in children with BPD III°, significantly lower than in children with BPD I° and II°. It was found significantly higher mean value of CD23+ in children with BPD than in children without BPD. No significant differences were noted in mean values of CD5+ lymphocytes between groups. Conclusions 1. In schoolchildren, born preterm with respiratory insufficiency, who became sick with BPD there are quantitative changes of B lymphocytes and their subpopulation CD23+ B. 2. The severity of BPD has a crucial influence on the decrease of B lymphocytes and on the increase of CD23+ lymphocytes. 3. Quantitative analysis of B lymphocytes and CD23+ lymphocytes in schoolchildren with past severe neonatal pathology may be useful for the assessment of immunological reactions in children with BPD and for determining their immune defences.

Objective The study of leptin and omentin-1 in adults and older children indicates on the relationship these hormones have with state of nutrition, diabetes, insulin-sensitivity and arterial hypertention. The effect of leptin and omentin on fetal growth in healthy neonates is not well known. Aim The evaluation of serum leptin and omentin concentrations in healthy, eutrophic full-term neonates according to their gender, anthropometric parameters and mode of mother's delivery. Materials and methods The study involved 79 (49 girls, 27 boys) neonates, among them 63 were vaginal born and 19 by cesarean section. Serum leptin and omentin-1 concentrations were measured between 3rd and 7th day of life by ELISA method. Results It was found that mean serum leptin is significantly higher in girls than in boys and serum omentin-1 concentration significantly lower in female than in male neonates. Statistically significant (p Conclusions 1) These data demonstrate that serum leptin and omentin-1 concentrations in healthy eutrophic full-term neonates are associated with their gender, leptin level with body length and omentin-1 with head circumference. 2) Birth weight and mode of mother's delivery do not have a significant influence on serum leptin and omentin-1 concentrations in full-term, eutrophic neonates.

Background Determination of sCD14-ST (presepsin) concentration as a marker for infections in newborns was not performed till now. Aim 1. Assessment of blood presepsin concentration in newborns, including their sex, fetal maturity, birth weight, early-onset sepsis. 2. Determination of correlation between presepsin value and CRP, procalcitonin concentrations and some hematological parameters. Material and methods The study comprised 45 newborns, among them 27 septic and 18 without infection, but with perinatal risk factors or symptoms suggesting infection, in which by rapid chemiluminescent enzyme immunoassay, using Pathfast TM analyser from Mitsubishi Kagaku Iatron, sCD14-ST concentration in whole blood was measured. Results The mean presepsin concentration in septic newborns (1772 ± 1009 pg/ml) was significantly higher than in group without infection (556 ± 158). Positive correlations between sCD14-ST and CRP, procalcitonin concentrations and negative correlations between the value of presepsin and Ht, Hb, platelet count, birth weight and fetal maturity were noted. Conclusions 1. In newborns with early-onset sepsis, independently of their sex, birth weight, fetal maturity, significant increase presepsin concentration, correlating with increase of CRP and procalcitonin values and with decrease of platelet count, Hb and Ht. 2. Measurement of presepsin concentration in neonatal whole blood may be usefulness in diagnosis of early-onset sepsis.