IL6 and newborn respiratory distress syndrome: Indeed, positive effects of melatonin treatment have been reported in: a) newborns with sepsis, with reduction of serum levels of lipid peroxidation products and with increased survival [44]; b) in preterm infants with respiratory distress syndrome, reducing early serum indicators of chronic lung disease, i.e. plasma concentrations of IL-6, IL-8, TNF-α and of nitrite/nitrate [45]; c) in newborns with respiratory distress syndrome, reducing the levels of proinflammatory cytokines IL-6, IL-8, TNF-α in tracheobronchial aspirate and improving the clinical outcome [46].