title: Oxidative and inflammatory parameters in respiratory distress syndrome of preterm newborns: beneficial effects of melatonin.
abstract: Reactive oxygen species play an important role in the pathogenesis of respiratory distress syndrome and its complications. This study was conducted to determine if treatment with the antioxidant melatonin would influence interleukin-6, interleukin-8, tumor necrosis factor alpha, and nitrite/nitrate levels in newborns with grade III or IV respiratory distress syndrome (radiographically confirmed) diagnosed within the first 6 hours of life. Prior to treatment, a blood sample was collected from the umbilical cord or a peripheral vein of each newborn. Second, third, and fourth blood samples were collected at 24 hours, 72 hours, and 7 days, respectively, after beginning treatment with melatonin or placebo. Compared with the melatonin-treated respiratory distress syndrome newborns, in the untreated infants the concentrations of interleukin-6, interleukin-8, and tumor necrosis factor alpha were significantly higher at 24 hours, 72 hours, and at 7 days after onset of the study. in addition, nitrite/nitrate levels at all time points were higher in the untreated respiratory distress syndrome newborns than in the melatonin-treated babies. Following melatonin administration, nitrite/nitrate levels decreased significantly, whereas they remained high and increased further in the respiratory distress syndrome infants not given melatonin.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Medical Pediatrics, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, University of Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Eloisa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gitto
authors.forename: Russel J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Reiter
authors.forename: Stefania P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Cordaro
authors.forename: Mariangela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: La Rosa
authors.forename: Pietro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Chiurazzi
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Trimarchi
authors.forename: Placido
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gitto
authors.forename: Maria P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Calabrò
authors.forename: Ignazio
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Barberi
mesh_terms: D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature / Q000097:blood*; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood; D016209:Interleukin-8 / Q000097:blood; D008550:Melatonin / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009566:Nitrates / Q000097:blood; D009573:Nitrites / Q000097:blood; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects*; D012127:Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Newborn / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D015850:Interleukin-6; D016209:Interleukin-8; D009566:Nitrates; D009573:Nitrites; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D008550:Melatonin