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Background Serum procalcitonin ( PCT) increases in various respiratory disorders such as acute respiratory distress syndrome. Elevated PCT is also observed in healthy neonates. In this study, we investigated whether PCT is a good marker of respiratory disorder in neonates. Methods A total of 155 neonates with or without respiratory disorder, were eligible for the study. PCT was measured on electrochemiluminescence immunoassay. Each neonate was allocated to the non-respiratory disorder (control) group ( n = 95), or a respiratory disorder group ( n = 60). PCT was compared between the groups, and association with other markers, including C-reactive protein ( CRP) and white blood cell ( WBC) count, was analyzed. Results Of the 60 neonates in the respiratory disorder group, 39, 10, five, one, two, two, and one neonates had transient tachypnea of the newborn, respiratory distress syndrome, air leak syndrome, meconium aspiration syndrome, 18-trisomy, neonatal asphyxia, and congenital diaphragmatic hernia, respectively. Mean PCT, CRP and WBC count in the respiratory disorder group were 9.01 ng/mL, 0.26 mg/dL, and 16 100 cells/μL, respectively. The area under the curve obtained for PCT in distinguishing between the respiratory disorder and control groups was 0.85 (sensitivity, 66.7%; specificity, 93.0%; optimum cut-off, 3.73 ng/mL), that for CRP was 0.72 (sensitivity, 75.0%; specificity, 64.6%; optimum cut-off, 0.14 mg/dL), and for WBC it was 0.44 (sensitivity, 60.0%; specificity, 29.6%; optimum cut-off, 15 000 cells/μL). Conclusions PCT is more susceptible, as a diagnostic parameter of infection, to the effect of respiratory disturbance than CRP and WBC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Open heart surgery for infants with low body weight (BW) remains still a challenge. Pulmonary artery banding (PAB) is a useful surgical palliation for small neonates and early infants with excessive pulmonary blood flow who are unable to withstand a heart surgery. This study retrospectively reviewed neonates and infants who underwent PAB to assess the surgical results and the validity of our PAB. We selected 38 acyanotic infants and neonates and divided them into 2 groups: low BW (< 2.5 kg, n = 15, group L) and normal or high BW (≥ 2.5 kg, n = 23, group NH). The average BW at the time of PAB was 2.8 ± 1.1 kg (range, 1.2-5.8 kg), and the average age at the time of PAB was 41.8 ± 44.8 days (range, 2-151 days). Using a 3-mm-wide polyester tape, we tightened the main pulmonary artery to obtain the circumference of (19 mm + 1 mm for each kg of BW). There was no early death but one late death in each group. Postoperative BW continuously increased 1 month after PAB in both groups, although BW was significantly lower in group L than in group NH. Intracardiac repair (ICR) was accomplished in 31 patients (13 in group L and 18 in group NH) at average ages of 1.5 years, while the remaining 5 patients are awaiting ICR. In conclusion, PAB using our formula for the infants even weighing < 2.5 kg has low mortality and is effective as a bridge to ICR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a case study of a 35-day old infant who was admitted to a hospital due to abdominal and venous distension and bilateral leg edema. Imperforate hymen (IH) has been discovered, as well as renal failure. A regular mass was discovered behind the bladder using magnetic resonance imaging, and bilateral hydronephrosis was also detected.