Toxicity and larval growth inhibition of 11 insecticidal proteins of Bacillus thuringiensis were evaluated against neonate larvae of Helicoverpa armigera, a major pest of important crops in Spain and other countries, by a whole-diet contamination method. The most active toxins were Cry1Ac4 and Cry2Aa1, with LC50 values of 3.5 and 6.3 microg/ml, respectively. At the concentrations tested, Cry1Ac...

Oesophageal atresia usually occurs without any genetic background. Three cases associated with Fanconi's anaemia are reported. One neonate had growth retardation and numerous malformations including oesophageal atresia and four other components of the VACTERL association. In the two others, oesophageal atresia was isolated. In patients with such malformations an early diagnosis of Fanconi's ana...

OBJECTIVE Adipokines (cytokines produced by adipose tissue) play a major role in the control of body weight and energy distribution. Retinol-binding protein 4 (RBP4), only recently recognized as an adipokine, has been proposed to modulate systemic insulin sensitivity. The goal of this study was to determine whether there is an association between maternal plasma RBP4 concentration and the birth...

Congenital granular cell tumor (CGCT) is a rare benign neoplastic growth of the anterior maxilla of neonates. The tissue origin of this lesion whether it is from neural or muscular; is still debatable although many immunohisto chemical markers studies have been documented. We present a case report of a female neonate with a large CGCT along with a brief review of literature.

BACKGROUND The drug ketamine is frequently abused for recreational use in Asia, but few studies in humans have focused on the effects of ketamine exposure during pregnancy on the health of neonates. Here, we report a neonate whose mother was suspected of ketamine abuse during pregnancy. The case was confirmed by testing hair samples of the neonate. METHODS Hair samples of the neonate were tak...

BACKGROUND Emerging evidence indicates that maternal oxidative stress during pregnancy could impair fetal growth and that antioxidant vitamins (e.g. vitamins A, E and C) have a significant role in maintaining physiological processes of pregnancy and growth. AIMS To determine the concentrations of vitamins A, E, and C in pair-matched maternal and cord serum samples of neonate, and thus to inve...

Neurosteroids are synthesized de novo in the brain, and the cerebellar Purkinje cell is a major site for neurosteroid formation. We have demonstrated that the Purkinje cell possesses intranuclear receptor for progesterone and actively produces progesterone de novo from cholesterol only during rat neonatal life, when cerebellar cortical formation occurs dramatically. We have further demonstrated...