Ener Cagri Dinleyici

Effectiveness and safety of Saccharomyces boulardii for acute infectious diarrhea

Introduction: Acute diarrhea continues to be a leading cause of morbidity, hospitalization and mortality worldwide and probiotics have been proposed as a complementary therapy in the treatment of acute diarrhea. Regarding the treatment of acute diarrhea, a few probiotics including Saccharomyces boulardii seem to be promising therapeutic agents. Areas covered: We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis regarding the use of S. boulardii in the treatment of acute infectious diarrhea with relevant studies that searched with the PubMed, Embase, Scopus, Google Scholar, the Cochrane Controlled Trials Library, and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews through October 2011. This review describes the effects of S. boulardii on the duration of diarrhea, the risk of diarrhea during the treatment (especially at the third day) and duration of hospitalization in patients with acute infectious diarrhea. This review also focused on the potential effects of S. boulardii for acute infectious diarrhea due to different etiological causes. Expert opinion: S. boulardii significantly reduced the duration of diarrhea approximately 24 h and that of hospitalization approximately 20 h. S. boulardii shortened the initial phase of watery stools; mean number of stools started to decrease at day 2; moreover, a significant reduction was reported at days 3 and 4. This systematic review and meta-analysis of the efficacy of S. boulardii in the treatment of acute infectious diarrhea show that there is strong evidence that this probiotic has a clinically significant benefit, whatever the cause, including in developing countries. Therefore, with S. boulardii, the shortened duration of diarrhea and the reduction in hospital stay result in social and economic benefits.

Vaccine for Prevention of Mild and Moderate-to-Severe Influenza in Children

BACKGROUND Commonly used trivalent vaccines contain one influenza B virus lineage and may be ineffective against viruses of the other B lineage. We evaluated the efficacy of a candidate inactivated quadrivalent influenza vaccine (QIV) containing both B lineages. METHODS In this multinational, phase 3, observer-blinded study, we randomly assigned children 3 to 8 years of age, in a 1:1 ratio, to receive the QIV or a hepatitis A vaccine (control). The primary end point was influenza A or B confirmed by real-time polymerase chain reaction (rt-PCR). Secondary end points were rt-PCR-confirmed, moderate-to-severe influenza and rt-PCR-positive, culture-confirmed influenza. The vaccine efficacy and the effect of vaccination on daily activities and utilization of health care resources were assessed in the total vaccinated cohort (2584 children in each group) and the per-protocol cohort (2379 children in the QIV group and 2398 in the control group). RESULTS In the total vaccinated cohort, 62 children in the QIV group (2.40%) and 148 in the control group (5.73%) had rt-PCR-confirmed influenza, representing a QIV efficacy of 59.3% (95% confidence interval [CI], 45.2 to 69.7), with efficacy against culture-confirmed influenza of 59.1% (97.5% CI, 41.2 to 71.5). For moderate-to-severe rt-PCR-confirmed influenza, the attack rate was 0.62% (16 cases) in the QIV group and 2.36% (61 cases) in the control group, representing a QIV efficacy of 74.2% (97.5% CI, 51.5 to 86.2). In the per-protocol cohort, the QIV efficacy was 55.4% (95% CI, 39.1 to 67.3), and the efficacy against culture-confirmed influenza 55.9% (97.5% CI, 35.4 to 69.9); the efficacy among children with moderate-to-severe influenza was 73.1% (97.5% CI, 47.1 to 86.3). The QIV was associated with reduced risks of a body temperature above 39°C and lower respiratory tract illness, as compared with the control vaccine, in the per-protocol cohort (relative risk, 0.29 [95% CI, 0.16 to 0.56] and 0.20 [95% CI, 0.04 to 0.92], respectively). The QIV was immunogenic against all four strains. Serious adverse events occurred in 36 children in the QIV group (1.4%) and in 24 children in the control group (0.9%). CONCLUSIONS The QIV was efficacious in preventing influenza in children. (Funded by GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals; ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT01218308.).

Ceftriaxone-associated biliary sludge and pseudocholelithiasis during childhood: a prospective study.

Abstract Background : Cholelithiasis is a rare condition seen during childhood. The aim of this study was to determine frequency of biliary sludge and cholelithiasis with ceftriaxone therapy.

Current knowledge regarding the investigational 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine

The introduction of a 7-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV-7) into the routine childhood vaccination schedule has been shown to be effective in preventing invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD), pneumonia, otitis media and meningitis in infants and young children as determined by epidemiological surveillance studies. There has been a rise in IPD due to nonvaccine serotypes; however, this rise is small compared with the overall reduction in IPD. Non-PCV-7 serotypes and vaccine-related serotypes, such as serotypes 1, 5, 7F, 6A and 19A, have also been reported to cause IPD in some parts of the world where morbidity and mortality from pneumococcal disease are higher. An investigational 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV-13) uses CRM197 as a carrier, similar to the current PCV-7, and covers serotypes 1, 3, 5, 6A, 7F and 19A, in addition to the serotypes of PCV-7 (serotype 4, 6B, 9V, 14, 18C, 19F and 23F). PCV-13 is safe and well tolerated with other pediatric vaccines in infants according to clinical trials. IgG anticapsular polysaccharide-binding concentrations and opsonophagocytic assay responses are similar and noninferior between PCV-13 and PCV-7 and, according to immunogenicity studies, PCV-13 has more potential to protect against pneumococcal diseases with the additional six serotypes. With the addition of these new serotypes, it could be possible to cover potential pneumococcal serotypes causing IPD throughout the world. The cost of the vaccine, its length of duration, optimal scheduling, combination and boosting with PCV-7 are still unresolved issues. Assessment of the vaccine’s effectiveness and efficacy following potential licensure will require carefully designed cohort and case–control studies that can assess the indirect effects of PCV-13.

Pneumococcal conjugated vaccines: impact of PCV-7 and new achievements in the postvaccine era

Pneumococcal disease is a major health problem worldwide. Large, rapid declines in overall invasive pneumococcal disease and mucosal disease in children, reductions in vaccine-type disease in unvaccinated children and adults (indirect effects) and significant drops in antibiotic-resistant infections were observed after the introduction of a safe, available and immunogenic seven-valent pneumococcal vaccine. The determination of vaccine efficacy is a complex process, which includes efficacy, immunogenicity, safety, cross-reactivity, indirect effects and substantial geographic variation in serotype coverage. In this report, we perform an overview of the literature on current, investigational and potential candidate pneumococcal conjugated vaccines (PCVs). Every country should have its own strong and sustained surveillance system implemented to monitor the effects of vaccination on the frequency of vaccine and nonvaccine serotypes for invasive or mucosal disease, nasopharyngeal carriage and the indirect effects before and after introduction of PCV. New PCVs (PHiD-CV and PCV-13) may provide even greater coverage worldwide, especially in developing countries. Vaccine experts’ efforts are currently focused on developing alternative vaccine strategies against pneumococcal infections, especially the development of vaccines based on pneumococcal proteins.

Breastmilk ghrelin, leptin, and fat levels changing foremilk to hindmilk: is that important for self-control of feeding?

The aim of this study was to evaluate the changes in the ghrelin, leptin, and fat levels in the foremilk and hindmilk and the possible relationship between these levels with the age and growth of term healthy infants. Sixty-two babies were subdivided (according to their nutrition) into breastfed (BF), formula-fed (FF), and BF plus FF (BF + FF) groups. The total and active ghrelin and tryglyceride levels and the total cholesterol levels in the foremilk and hindmilk were studied at the first and second visits (mean of the second and fifth months, respectively). At both visits, the total and active ghrelin and the total cholesterol levels were lower in the hindmilk than in the foremilk. However, the triglyceride levels were higher in the hindmilk than in the foremilk (p < 0.001). The leptin levels were also higher in the hindmilk, but this difference was not statistically significant. At the second visit, the mean total foremilk ghrelin (p < 0.01), leptin (p < 0.05), tryglyceride (p < 0.001), and cholesterol (p < 0.01) levels in the BF group were decreased compared with the levels at the first visit, whereas the active ghrelin levels increased (p < 0.001). At the second visit, we observed a 3.5% increase in the body mass index in BF infants, a 14.6% increase in FF infants, and an 11.8% increase in BF + FF infants (p < 0.01). The foremilk leptin levels were lower in the BF + FF group than in the BF group at both visits. In conclusion, at the first and second visits, the decreased ghrelin and increased tryglyceride and leptin levels in the hindmilk might be associated with the important role of self-control when feeding BF infants. The stable content of formulas might be associated with a lack of self-control during feeding and increased nutrition. Changing the breast milk ghrelin, leptin, and fat levels between the foremilk and hindmilk and between the first and second visits might explain the differences in the weight gain patterns of BF and FF infants.

Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938 effectively reduces the duration of acute diarrhoea in hospitalised children

Guidelines consider certain probiotics useful in the management of acute gastroenteritis. This study evaluated the use of Lactobacillus (L) reuteri DSM 17938.

Clinical Efficacy Comparison of Saccharomyces boulardii and Yogurt Fluid in Acute Non-Bloody Diarrhea in Children: A Randomized, Controlled, Open Label Study

The purpose of this trial is to evaluate the clinical efficacy and cost/effectiveness of Saccharomyces boulardii compared with yogurt fluid (YF) in acute non-bloody diarrhea in children. This randomized, prospective open-label clinical trial includes 55 children (36 boys, 19 girls; mean age 21.2 +/- 28.2 months). Group A (N = 28) received lyophilized S. boulardii and group B (N = 27) received YF. The duration of diarrhea was shorter with S. boulardii but the hospital stay was reduced with YF, although these differences were not significant. However, diarrhea had resolved in significantly more children on day 3 in the S. boulardii group (48.5% versus 25.5%; P < 0.05). In outpatient cases, yogurt treatment was cheaper than S. boulardii whereas in hospitalized patients, treatment cost was similar. In conclusion, the effect of daily freshly prepared YF was comparable to S. boulardii in the treatment of acute non-bloody diarrhea in children. The duration of diarrhea was shorter in the S. boulardii group, expressed as a significantly higher number of patients with normal stools on day 3.

Current status of pneumococcal vaccines: lessons to be learned and new insights

One of the great success stories in pneumococcal vaccines is the 7-valent conjugated pneumococcal vaccine (PCV-7); and with wider coverage, the broad prevention it offers would be possible with new vaccines. The 7th International Symposium on Pneumococci and Pneumococcal Diseases (ISPPD-7) was held on the 14–18 March 2010 in Tel Aviv, Israel. During this symposium, clinical and epidemiological features in the post-PCV-7 era, current studies about two new approved PCVs (PHiD-CV and PCV-13) and new data about protein-based vaccines were extensively evaluated. Routine surveillance for pneumococcal infections is essential for all countries whether pneumococcal vaccines are available or not, and long-term results of surveillance help us to understand the PCVs potential benefits. Current epidemiological data about serotype 6C have also been presented from different countries and existing PCVs’ efficacy against serotype 6C should be evaluated. In the post-PCV7 era, we have some new emerging serotypes and we also need new vaccines or interventions focused on protection for children against serotypes prevalent in the developing world or broad protection across all pneumococcal serotypes. Effectiveness of the new PCVs against nasopharyngeal carriage, acute otitis media and invasive infections need to be investigated in the real world; immunogenicity of investigational protein-based vaccines, are still evaluated in different settings. We will have a chance to hear and discuss all the new achievements in the many aspects related to pneumococcal diseases at the next ISPPD-8, which will be held in Iguaçu Falls in 2012.

Comparison of pediatric and adult antibiotic-associated diarrhea and Clostridium difficile infections

Antibiotic-associated diarrhea (AAD) and Clostridium difficile infections (CDI) have been well studied for adult cases, but not as well in the pediatric population. Whether the disease process or response to treatments differs between pediatric and adult patients is an important clinical concern when following global guidelines based largely on adult patients. A systematic review of the literature using databases PubMed (June 3, 1978-2015) was conducted to compare AAD and CDI in pediatric and adult populations and determine significant differences and similarities that might impact clinical decisions. In general, pediatric AAD and CDI have a more rapid onset of symptoms, a shorter duration of disease and fewer CDI complications (required surgeries and extended hospitalizations) than in adults. Children experience more community-associated CDI and are associated with smaller outbreaks than adult cases of CDI. The ribotype NAP1/027/BI is more common in adults than children. Children and adults share some similar risk factors, but adults have more complex risk factor profiles associated with more co-morbidities, types of disruptive factors and a wider range of exposures to C. difficile in the healthcare environment. The treatment of pediatric and adult AAD is similar (discontinuing or switching the inciting antibiotic), but other treatment strategies for AAD have not been established. Pediatric CDI responds better to metronidazole, while adult CDI responds better to vancomycin. Recurrent CDI is not commonly reported for children. Prevention for both pediatric and adult AAD and CDI relies upon integrated infection control programs, antibiotic stewardship and may include the use of adjunctive probiotics. Clinical presentation of pediatric AAD and CDI are different than adult AAD and CDI symptoms. These differences should be taken into account when rating severity of disease and prescribing antibiotics.