Cow's milk-based beverage consumption in 1- to 4-year-olds and allergic manifestations: an RCT.

BACKGROUND: Nutrients such as docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), prebiotics and ß-glucan have been associated with reduced incidence of respiratory illnesses and allergic manifestations (AM). Our objective was to assess if consumption of a cow's milk-based beverage with these and other nutrients supports respiratory, gastrointestinal, and skin health in otherwise well-nourished, healthy children. METHODS: In this double-blind, randomized, controlled trial, healthy children (1-4 years of age) from two daycare centers in Brazil were fed three servings/day of a cow's milk-based beverage (CMBB; n = 125) containing DHA, the prebiotics polydextrose (PDX) and galactooligosaccharides (GOS), ß-glucan, and other key nutrients, or a control cow's milk-based beverage (control; n = 131) for up to 28 weeks. Occurrence of respiratory infections, diarrheal disease and AM was assessed by study pediatricians and the number of episodes were analyzed with the Cochran-Mantel-Haenszel test and the Andersen-Gill model. RESULTS: The CMBB group had fewer episodes of AM, which included allergic rhinitis or conjunctivitis, wheezing, allergic cough, eczema and urticaria, compared to the control group (p = 0.021). The hazard ratio for increased number of episodes of AM was lower in the CMBB group compared to control (HR, 0.64; 95 % CI 0.47-0.89; p = 0.007). There was no difference in the incidence of respiratory infections and diarrheal disease between groups. CONCLUSION: A cow's milk-based beverage containing DHA, PDX/GOS, and yeast ß-glucan, and supplemented with micronutrients, including zinc, vitamin A and iron, when consumed 3 times/day for 28 weeks by healthy 1- to 4-year-old children was associated with fewer episodes of allergic manifestations in the skin and the respiratory tract. TRIAL REGISTRATION: registration number: NCT01431469.

Clinical and functional evaluation of patients with rectocele and mucosal prolapse treated with transanal repair of rectocele and rectal mucosectomy with a single circular stapler (TRREMS).

BACKGROUND: The aim of the present study was to make a preoperative and postoperative clinical and functional evaluation of patients who underwent transanal repair of rectocele and rectal mucosectomy with a single circular stapler (TRREMS procedure) as treatment for obstructed defecation syndrome (ODS) caused by rectocele and rectal mucosal prolapse (RMP). METHODS: This prospective study included 35 female patients, 34 multiparous and one nulliparous, with an average age of 47.5 years (range 31-67 years), rectocele grade II (n = 13/37.1%) or grade III (n = 22/62.9%), associated with RMP. The study parameters included ODS, constipation, functional continence scores and pre- and postoperative cinedefecographic findings. RESULTS: The average preoperative ODS score, the constipation score and the functional continence score were significantly reduced after surgery from 10.63 to 2.91 (p = 0.001), 15.23 to 4.46 (p = 0.001) and 2.77 to 1.71 (p = 0.001), respectively. Between the first and the eighth postoperative day, the average visual analog scale pain score fell from 5.23 to 1.20 (p = 0.001). Satisfaction with treatment outcome was 79.97, 86.54, 87.65 and 88.06 at 1, 3, 6 and 12 months, respectively. Cinedefecography revealed average reductions in rectocele size from 19.23 ± 8.84 mm (3-42) to 6.68 ± 3.65 mm (range 0-7) at rest and from 34.89 ± 12.30 mm (range 20-70) to 10.94 ± 5.97 mm (range 0-25) during evacuation (both P = 0.001). CONCLUSION: The TRREMS procedure is a safe and efficient technique associated with satisfactory anatomic and functional results and with a low incidence of postoperative pain and complications.

Comparative evaluation of the effect of sustained inflation and rapid inflation/deflation of the intrarectal balloon upon rectoanal inhibitory reflex parameters in asymptomatic subjects.

PURPOSE: The effects of rapid sustained inflation versus rapid inflation/deflation of the intrarectal balloon upon rectoanal inhibitory reflex (RAIR) parameters were evaluated in asymptomatic subjects. METHODS: Forty asymptomatic adults were submitted to anorectal manometry with rapid or sustained inflation with 30 and 60 mL air. The average age was 27.4 years (range, 20-40). The subjects were divided into Group I (20 men) and Group II (20 women) for analysis. RAIR parameters were registered in order to compare the inflation patterns within each group, and Groups I and II were compared for each inflation pattern with regard to RAIR parameters. RESULTS: Sustained inflation significantly increased IAS relaxation time and duration of the reflex in both groups, and IAS tone recovery time in Group I. CONCLUSIONS: RAIR parameters are influenced by the choice of inflation pattern. Further studies are required to establish a standard intrarectal balloon inflation pattern.