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The Use of Melatonin against Oxidative Stress in Pediatric Disorders

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Studies on Pediatric Disorders

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Abstract

Melatonin (N-acetyl-5-methoxytryptamine) is an endogenously produced indoleamine secreted by pineal gland. Melatonin has the ability to scavenge free radicals and chelate metals, and antioxidant property. This chapter discusses the utility of melatonin in pediatric practice, with an emphasis on (1) the structure and function of melatonin; (2) the ability of melatonin against oxidative stress; (3) current use of melatonin in different pediatric disorders; and (4) current problems and new perspectives in melatonin uses in pediatric medicine.

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Abbreviations

8-OHdG:

8-Hydroxydeoxyguanosine

ADMA:

Asymmetric dimethylarginine

AFMK:

N 1-acetyl-N 2-formyl-5-methoxykynuramine

AMK:

N 1-acetyl-5-methoxykynuramine

BDL:

Bile duct ligation

CLD:

Chronic lung disease

DDAH:

Dimethylarginine dimethylaminohydrolase

DNMT:

DNA methyltransferases

HI:

Hypoxia-ischemia

ICSD:

International Classification of Sleep Disorders

IUGR:

Intrauterine growth restriction

NOS:

Nitric oxide synthase

PKC:

Protein kinase C

PVL:

Periventricular leukomalacia

RDS:

Respiratory distress syndrome

RNS:

Reactive nitrogen species

ROS:

Reactive oxygen species

SHR:

Spontaneously hypertensive rat

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by grant 101-2314-B-182A-021-MY3 (to Tain, Y.L.) and grant 99-2314-B-182A-003-MY3 (to Huang, L.T.) from National Science Council, Taiwan, and grant CMRPG8B0171 (to Tain, Y.L.) from Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taiwan.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pediatrics, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung, Taiwan

    You-Lin Tain & Li-Tung Huang

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  1. You-Lin Tain
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  2. Li-Tung Huang
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Correspondence to You-Lin Tain .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Department of Pediatrics, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Okayama, Japan

    Hirokazu Tsukahara

  2. Department of Pediatrics, Kansai Medical University, Osaka, Japan

    Kazunari Kaneko

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Tain, YL., Huang, LT. (2014). The Use of Melatonin against Oxidative Stress in Pediatric Disorders. In: Tsukahara, H., Kaneko, K. (eds) Studies on Pediatric Disorders. Oxidative Stress in Applied Basic Research and Clinical Practice. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-0679-6_13

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