Evidence map›Paper›PMID 37344544›Full record

ArticlePediatric research2023

Reduction in regulatory T cells in preterm newborns is associated with necrotizing enterocolitis.

Ilenia Pacella, Maria Di Chiara, Rita Prota, Chiara De Luca, Annalisa Cardillo, Elena Potenza, Alessandra Pinzon Grimaldos, Valeria Pinna, Silvia Piconese, Gianluca Terrin

Open access · hybridAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Pediatric research, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 11 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
11citing papers in PubMed
1.3field-weighted citation impact, top 23% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

11 citing papers in PubMed, 8 citations in OpenAlex.

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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.

Ilenia Pacella *Department of Internal Clinical Sciences, Anesthesiology and Cardiovascular Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
Maria Di Chiara *Department Maternal Infantile and Urological Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
Rita ProtaDepartment Maternal Infantile and Urological Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
Chiara De LucaDepartment Maternal Infantile and Urological Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
Annalisa CardilloDepartment Maternal Infantile and Urological Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
Elena PotenzaDepartment of Internal Clinical Sciences, Anesthesiology and Cardiovascular Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
Alessandra Pinzon GrimaldosDepartment of Internal Clinical Sciences, Anesthesiology and Cardiovascular Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
Valeria PinnaDepartment of Internal Clinical Sciences, Anesthesiology and Cardiovascular Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
Silvia PiconeseDepartment of Internal Clinical Sciences, Anesthesiology and Cardiovascular Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
Gianluca TerrinDepartment Maternal Infantile and Urological Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy. gianluca.terrin@uniroma1.it.
Sapienza University of Rome · ITFondazione Santa Lucia · IT

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundDespite multifactorial pathogenesis, dysregulation of inflammatory immune response may play a crucial role in necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC). Regulatory T cells (Tregs) are involved in immune tolerance early in life. We aimed to investigate the predicting role of Tregs in developing NEC in neonates at high risk.

methodsWe studied six newborns with a diagnosis of NEC (cases) in comparison with 52 controls (without NEC). We further classified controls as neonates with feeding intolerance (FI) and neonates without it (FeedTol). The rate of female and male neonates (sex defined as a biological attribute) was similar. We analyzed the blood frequency of Tregs (not overall numbers) at three time points: 0-3 (T0), 7-10 (T1), and 27-30 (T2) days after birth by flow cytometry. Neonates' sex was defined based on the inspection of external genitalia at birth.

resultsWe observed, at T0, a significantly lower frequency of Tregs in NEC cases (p < 0.001) compared with both FI (p < 0.01) and FeedTol controls (p < 0.01). Multivariate analysis reported that the occurrence of NEC was independently influenced by Treg frequency at birth (ß 2.98; p = 0.039).

conclusionTregs frequency and features in the peripheral blood of preterm neonates, early in life, may contribute to identifying neonates at high risk of developing NEC. IMPACT: Regulatory T cells may play a pivotal role in regulating the immune response in early life. Reduction of Tregs in early life could predispose preterm newborns to necrotizing enterocolitis. Early markers of necrotizing enterocolitis are still lacking. We demonstrated a predicting role of assessment of regulatory T cells in the diagnosis of this gastrointestinal emergency. Early identification of newborns at high risk of necrotizing enterocolitis through measurement of regulatory T cells may guide clinicians in the management of preterm newborns in order to reduce the development of this severe condition.

Indexed as

Enterocolitis, NecrotizingFetal DiseasesInfant, Newborn, DiseasesFemaleHumansInfant, NewbornInfant, PrematureMaleT-Lymphocytes, Regulatory

Identifiers

PMID37344544
PMCPMC10624602
OpenAlexW4381599072

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.