ABSTRACT
Antibiotic- associated diarrhea is a common problem in pediatric population. There is growing interest in probiotics, probiotics and synbiotics for prevention of this complication because of their worldwide availability as dietary supplements. The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of a synbiotic mixture in prevention of antibiotic- associated diarrhea. In this randomized controlled trial, 218 patients [111 in the synbiotic and 107 in the placebo group] aged 6 months to 14 years with respiratory tract infection and/ or otitis media who needed antibiotic treatment in outpatient setting, were enrolled. They received 1 billion Colony Forming Unit of seven probiotics species plus Fructooligosaccharide in form of powder or placebo [matched for size, shape, and volume] for 7 days. Amoxicillin, Amoxicillin-clavalanic acid, cefixim and Azithromicin were the most common drugs used by physcicians Mothers recorded stool frequency and consistency daily for 7 days. We found no significant difference [P>0.05] in occurrence of diarrhea between synbiotic and placebo groups. This synbiotic mixture did not appear to reduce antibiotic- associated diarrhea in children. Further studies are needed to investigate the potential benefits of Synbiotics in prevention of this disease
ABSTRACT
During the past decade Asthma have been increased worldwide. Free radicals have been proposed to be responsible or the pathogenesis of many diseases because of their harmful effects on the cells and tissues. There are some defense mechanisms in the organism to avoid the harmful effects of free radicals. The most important antioxidants are glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase. Glutathione peroxidase has selenium and superoxide dismutase system has zinc in their structures which diminish the harmful effects of oxygen free radicals. This research was done to analyze the relation between serum zinc concentrations as antioxidant in children asthma. This was a case study. We made comparison between 80 asthmatic patients. Who attended the pediatric allergy outpatients clinics and 80 control group children who attended the pediatric outpatient clinic for the complaints of non specific non-chronic disorders [acute upper respiratory system infection, urinary tract infection e.t.c] without any of history of atopy. None of the patients in the study used systemic or inhaled steroids and nonsterioidal anti inflammatory for the last 2 weeks. The serum zinc was measured with manual calorimetric method and then the results were compared. In this study the overage age in case group was [6.07 +/- 2.07 yrs] and in control group was [5.25 +/- 3.44 yrs]. Therefore, no significant difference was detected. In view of gender both groups were totally identical. Mean serum zinc in patients was 93.93 +/- 25.58 mg/dl and in controls was 97.18 +/- 23.59 mg/dl; With no statistical difference [P>0.05]. It was not approved that serum zinc concentrations were lower in the asthmatic patients than normal individuals