الفهرس 
Preterm NewbornOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
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Abstract
Prematurity is the greatest single risk factor for death within the first year of life Prematurity and low birth weight increase the severity of some conditions that also affect full-term infants conditions such as respiratory distress syndrome (RDS), occur frequently in the preterm infant and may have varied complications and lasting sequelae. Respiratory Distress Syndrome RDS is caused by a deficiency of surfactant and is often also called hyaline membrane disease. Melatonin (N-acetyl-5-methoxytryptamine) is the major hormone secreted by the pineal gland. There is documented that there is increase in the production of ROS in septic neonates. Melatonin, as a free radical scavenger, is believed to work via electron donation to directly detoxify ROS such as the highly toxic hydroxyl radical as well as its precurso hydrogen peroxide. Melatonin also detoxifies a number of other oxidizing agents(RNS) including the peroxynitrite anion, singlet oxygen, nitric oxide, and peroxynitrous acid.Besides these scavenging actions, melatonin also stimulates several antioxidative enzymes including superoxide dismutase,glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase.