Revista medico-chirurgicală̆ a Societă̆ţ̜ii de Medici ş̧i Naturaliş̧ti din Iaş̧i
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Rev Med Chir Soc Med Nat Iasi · Oct 2011
Multicenter Study[Procalcitonine--early marker of neonatal infection].
Neonatal infection represents the third most important cause of mortality in Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICU), following perinatal asphyxia and respiratory distress syndrome. The incidence varies according to the level of care, between 5% in level II neonatal wards and 20% in the NICUs. The lack of specific early markers for infection could be partially responsible for the lack of antibiotic treatment or unnecessary treatment. In this context, many variables were examined as markers for sepsis. Large concentrations of C-reactive proteine (CRP) and procalcitonine (PCT) were positively correlated with the severity of the infection and generally indicated a poor outcome. ⋯ High serum levels of PCT in studied lots plead for the usage of PCT for the fast and early diagnostis of neonatal infection. In those cases with positive PCT and negative blood cultures or positive CRP and clinical symptoms of infection, PCT would be a useful tool, aiding in the initiation or termination of antibiotic treatment, which would ultimately lead to lowering costs. PCT as a screening tool for cases with risk factors for infection is still to be analysed in terms of costs versus benefits and the longterm implications of neonatal sepsis and antibiotic treatment.
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Rev Med Chir Soc Med Nat Iasi · Oct 2009
Multicenter Study[Aflatoxin contamination of food: additional risk factor for chronic liver diseases].
Aflatoxins are over all spread toxic metabolites of fungi, able to induce chronic liver damages. ⋯ FFQ revealed a high risk of ingestion of aflatoxin contaminated foodstuff in general population, greater in rural areas. The risk of aflatoxin intake seems unreleated with the gravity of chronic liver disease.