Pediatr Neonatol
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Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) of prematurity is associated with impaired angiogenesis. Excess soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 (sFlt-1) and lower levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) impaired alveolarization in preterm rats. Overexpression of placenta growth factor (PlGF) in mice caused airspace enlargement, which is similar to BPD pathologically. Our study aimed to clarify whether cord blood levels of these angiogenic factors were associated with the development of BPD in preterm infants. ⋯ Cord blood level of PlGF, rather than VEGF or sFlt-1, was significantly increased in the BPD group. Consistent with our previous report, cord blood level of PlGF may be considered as a biomarker to predict subsequently developing BPD in preterm infants.
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Neonatal sepsis is an important cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality in the neonatal intensive care unit. Soluble triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells-1 (sTREM-1) has been evaluated in sepsis and septic shock, and it was found to be valuable in distinguishing septic cases from nonseptic cases. Endocan is constitutively expressed by endothelial cells, and high levels of endocan may be of relevance for the promotion of systemic inflammation. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the levels of sTREM-1 and endocan were increased in late-onset neonatal sepsis. ⋯ Serum sTREM-1, IL-6, endocan levels, and I/T ratio increased in septic neonates. However, the diagnostic accuracy of circulating sTREM-1 seemed to be better than endocan and I/T ratio, but lower than IL-6.