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1.
Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci ; 20(21): 4601-4606, 2016 11.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-27874935

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: Streptococcus salivarius K12 (BLIS K12) is a probiotic strain strongly antagonistic to the growth of Streptococcus pyogenes, the most important bacterial cause of pharyngeal infections in humans. Shown to colonize the oral cavity and to be safe for human use, BLIS K12 has previously been reported to reduce pharyngo-tonsillitis episodes in children or adults known to have experienced recurrent streptococcal infection. The present study was focussed upon evaluating the role of BLIS K12 in the control of streptococcal disease and acute otitis media in children attending the first year of kindergarten. PATIENTS AND METHODS: By randomization, 222 enrolled children attending the first year of kindergarten were divided into a treated group (N = 111) receiving for 6 months a daily treatment with BLIS K12 (Bactoblis®) and a control group (N = 111) who were monitored as untreated controls. During the 6 months of treatment and 3 months of follow-up, the children were evaluated for treatment tolerance, and for episodes of streptococcal pharyngo-tonsillitis, scarlet fever and acute otitis media. RESULTS: During the 6-month trial (N = 111 per group) the incidence of streptococcal pharyngo-tonsillitis, scarlet fever and acute otitis media was approximately 16%, 9% and 44% respectively in the treated group and 48%, 4% and 80% in the control group. During the 3-months follow-up (N = 29 per group) the corresponding rates of infection were 15%, 0% and 12% in the treated group and 26%, 6% and 36% in the controls. No apparent side effects were detected in the treated group either during treatment or follow-up. All of the enrolled children completed the study. CONCLUSIONS: The daily administration of BLIS K12 to children attending their first year of kindergarten was associated with a significant reduction in episodes of streptococcal pharyngitis and acute otitis media. No protection against scarlet fever was detected.


Subject(s)
Otitis Media/prevention & control , Probiotics/administration & dosage , Streptococcal Infections/prevention & control , Case-Control Studies , Child, Preschool , Female , Humans , Male , Otitis Media/microbiology , Pharyngitis/microbiology , Pharyngitis/prevention & control , Scarlet Fever/microbiology , Scarlet Fever/prevention & control , Streptococcal Infections/microbiology , Streptococcus pyogenes/pathogenicity , Streptococcus salivarius , Tonsillitis/microbiology , Tonsillitis/prevention & control
2.
Pediatr Med Chir ; 25(5): 353-9, 2003.
Article in Italian | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-15058835

ABSTRACT

The use of bottled mineral water during the pediatric age is increasing, both for powdered formula milk reconstitution and for diluted cow's milk. The aim of this report is to compare a bottled spring water with a very low mineral content with tap water in the reconstitution and/or dilution of 6 different infant starting formulas and cow's milk. The osmolality, buffering power and renal solute load potential of the formulas reconstituted with the bottled water were all significantly lower than when tap water was used (P < 0.01). When the bottled water was used to dilute cows' milk, the morphology of milk casein precipitates (after addition of rennet) was finer and more dispersed than when tap water was used. For formula reconstitution and milk dilution, a benefit, in terms of solute/electrolyte balance, appears to be conferred on infants by the improved rheological characteristics of modified milks reconstituted or diluted with this bottled mineral water.


Subject(s)
Infant Formula , Infant Nutritional Physiological Phenomena , Milk , Mineral Waters/administration & dosage , Animals , Humans , Infant , Infant, Newborn , Osmolar Concentration
3.
J Pediatr ; 137(4): 504-9, 2000 Oct.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-11035829

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Children with phenylalanine-hydroxylase deficiency (type-I hyperphenylalaninemia, HPA) follow a low-phenylalanine diet, severely restricted in animal foods and long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFA). Consequently, they have a poor LCPUFA status, particularly for docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). DHA is relevant to visual and neural development. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of a 12-month supplementation with LCPUFA in a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in treated children with HPA. STUDY DESIGN: Twenty children with well-controlled HPA were randomly allocated to receive either a fat supplement (supplying 26% as fatty acids including DHA, 8%) or a placebo. The fatty acid composition of erythrocyte lipids and the visual evoked potentials were measured at baseline and after 12 months of supplementation. Reference data were obtained from healthy children of comparable age. RESULTS: At baseline children with HPA had a poorer DHA status and prolonged P100 wave latencies than the reference group. At the end of the trial the LCPUFA group showed a significant increase in DHA levels of erythrocyte lipids. In the LCPUFA group P100 wave latency decreased and was negatively associated with the DHA changes. CONCLUSIONS: A balanced dietary supplementation with LCPUFA in children with HPA is associated with an increase of the DHA pool and improved visual function.


Subject(s)
Dietary Supplements , Fatty Acids, Unsaturated/pharmacology , Fatty Acids/metabolism , Phenylalanine Hydroxylase/deficiency , Phenylalanine/blood , Vision, Ocular/drug effects , Child , Double-Blind Method , Female , Humans , Male , Vision, Ocular/physiology
4.
Scand J Urol Nephrol ; 33(1): 42-8, 1999 Feb.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-10100363

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to compare the efficacy and safety of different doses of DDAVP spray treatment (20 to 40 mcg/day) in patients with primary monosymptomatic nocturnal enuresis (defined as three or more wet nights per week). MATERIAL AND METHODS: 237 patients (152 males, 75 females; age range 5-17 years), with no infections or organic abnormalities of the urinary apparatus and no neurological disorders, were admitted into the trial. The experimental design was planned as an "open study" with five different treatments schedules (5 groups). The daily doses of DDAVP at bedtime in groups 1 and 2 were 20 and 30 mcg, respectively, for 6 weeks. In groups 3 and 4 the daily doses for the first 2 weeks were 20 and 30 mcg, respectively, and then, after a washout period of 2 weeks, the daily doses for the two groups were 30 and 20 mcg, respectively. A dose-response study (20 to 40 mcg/day) was carried out in group 5. RESULTS: DDAVP spray therapy in primary monosymptomatic nocturnal enuresis was found to be resolutive in 70-75% of treated patients. No difference in response was found between the patients treated with the daily dose of 20 and those on 30 mcg. No important reactions were observed in patients treated with DDAVP spray at the different daily dose (20 to 40 mcg) or for different periods of time (up to 6 weeks). CONCLUSIONS: DDAVP spray therapy at a dose of 20 mcg/day was effective in 70-75% of primary monosymptomatic nocturnal enuretics. In non-responders the daily dose of DDAVP should be increased to 30 to 40 mcg.


Subject(s)
Deamino Arginine Vasopressin/administration & dosage , Enuresis/drug therapy , Renal Agents/administration & dosage , Administration, Intranasal , Adolescent , Chi-Square Distribution , Child , Child, Preschool , Deamino Arginine Vasopressin/adverse effects , Dose-Response Relationship, Drug , Female , Follow-Up Studies , Humans , Italy , Male , Renal Agents/adverse effects , Time Factors , Treatment Outcome
6.
J Med Screen ; 6(4): 193-4, 1999.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-10693064

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether the introduction of genetic analysis for phenylalanine hydroxylase (PAH) deficiency into regional screening programmes can be supported by the benefit-cost ratio. METHOD: Tests for the genetic PAH locus were carried out in 151 patients with hyperphenylalaninaemia originally from all of the Italian regions. PAH mutations were identified by extraction of genomic DNA from leucocytes (whole blood in EDTA), PAH exon amplification was determined by polymerase chain reaction, restriction enzyme analysis was carried out for some recognised mutations, and DNA sequence analysis for the other mutations. RESULTS: It was found that the eight most common mutations in the population accounted for 49% of the mutant alleles, which is well below the required standard for effective population screening (90%). CONCLUSIONS: Genetic screening for PAH deficiency in Italy does not increase the sensitivity of the methodology and the benefit-cost ratio, and thus provides no advantage, particularly as the correlation between genotype and the metabolic phenotype needed to optimise dietary intervention is still being studied.


Subject(s)
Genetic Carrier Screening , Genetic Testing , Mutation , Phenylalanine Hydroxylase/genetics , Phenylketonurias/diagnosis , Phenylketonurias/genetics , Amino Acid Substitution , Exons , Humans , Infant, Newborn , Italy , Point Mutation , Sensitivity and Specificity , Sequence Deletion
7.
Br J Urol ; 81 Suppl 3: 86-9, 1998 May.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-9634027

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the prevalence of enuresis in schoolchildren in Italy. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The Italian Club of Nocturnal Enuresis promoted a prevalence study of nocturnal enuresis using a self-administered questionnaire in seven cities in Northern, Central and Southern Italy. The association between enuresis and potential risk factors, e.g. a family history of enuresis, stress, socio-economic status and abnormal diurnal voiding habits, was investigated. The perceived impact on the child and on the family was also evaluated. A random-cluster sampling scheme was used to obtain a sample of primary and secondary schoolchildren from each city. One primary school and one secondary school for each socio-economic level was sampled in each city, giving a total of 42 schools surveyed; 9086 children were covered by the survey. In a cluster sampling method, the variance of prevalence is divided into two components, binomial and extra-binomial variability. Both the DSM III and DSM IV definitions of enuresis were used because at present, there is no consensus on the diagnostic criteria. RESULTS: Completed questionnaires were received from 7012 children, an overall response rate of 77.2%. Those aged 6-14 years were analysed, restricting the sample to 6892 children. There were 250 enuretic children using the DSM III definition of enuresis and 112 using the DSM IV definition. The overall prevalence was 3.88% and showed a decreasing trend with increasing age. Bedwetting was more frequent in boys than in girls. The prevalence of enuresis was higher when the child was from a family of low socio-economic status despite the child's age group. The logistic analysis showed that familiality, stress, birthweight, age of attaining diurnal continence, soiling and, for girls, menstruation, were statistically significant variables and thus contributed to predicting the probability of bedwetting, confirming the findings of previous studies. There was a large difference in prevalence using the two DSM definitions; a high percentage of DSM III enuretic children had more than two wet nights per week. CONCLUSION: It is important that a consensus about the 'working definitions' of enuresis is reached to avoid bias in the recruitment step, to carry out comparable epidemiological studies and to obtain adequate therapeutic responses.


Subject(s)
Enuresis/epidemiology , Adolescent , Attitude to Health , Child , Enuresis/psychology , Female , Humans , Italy/epidemiology , Male , Parents/psychology , Prevalence , Risk Factors
8.
J Int Med Res ; 25(5): 275-84, 1997.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-9364290

ABSTRACT

A bottled spring water with a low mineral content was compared with tap water in the reconstitution and/or dilution of five different infant formulas and cows' milk. The osmolality, buffering power and renal solute load potential of the formulas reconstituted with the bottled water were all significantly lower than when tap water was used (P < 0.01). When the bottled water was used to dilute cows' milk, the morphology of milk casein precipitates (after addition of rennet) was finer and more dispersed than when tap water was used. For formula reconstitution and milk dilution, a benefit, in terms of solute/electrolyte balance, appears to be conferred on infants by the improved rheological characteristics of modified milks reconstituted or diluted with this bottled mineral water.


Subject(s)
Infant Food/standards , Infant Nutritional Physiological Phenomena/physiology , Milk/standards , Mineral Waters/standards , Analysis of Variance , Animals , Buffers , Caseins/metabolism , Chemical Precipitation , Humans , Hydrogen-Ion Concentration , Infant , Infant, Newborn , Kidney Function Tests , Minerals , Osmolar Concentration , Water Supply/standards
9.
Eur J Pediatr ; 155 Suppl 1: S132-5, 1996 Jul.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-8828629

ABSTRACT

Children treated for phenylketonuria (PKU) have a low intake of whole animal foods. Consequently, the dietary intake of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) is just a few milligrams per day, mostly represented by arachidonic acid (AA). In a consecutive series of studies, we assessed in treated PKU children their long-chain PUFA status, the AA-related eicosanoid synthesis and the effects of specific PUFA supplementations. We found that the good compliance with the dietary regimen negatively influences the long-chain PUFA status and serum eicosanoid release from platelets. Supplementation with either marine or blackcurrant oils modifies the long-chain PUFA status of PKU children without approaching the fatty acid pattern of a healthy control population. Good-compliant PKU patients have diet-related, low levels of circulating long-chain PUFA, whose clinical and functional consequences deserve further investigation. The effects of dietary supplementations with long-chain PUFA of both the n-6 and n-3 series should be carefully evaluated.


Subject(s)
Fatty Acids, Unsaturated/blood , Phenylketonurias/blood , Adolescent , Child , Child, Preschool , Eicosanoids/biosynthesis , Female , Humans , Infant , Male , Phenylketonurias/diet therapy
10.
Epilepsia ; 36(12): 1206-14, 1995 Dec.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-7489698

ABSTRACT

We report an electroclinical and cytogenetic study of 4 patients with Wolf-Hirschhorn syndrome (WHS). In all cases, we observed a stereotyped EEG and clinical picture characterized by generalized or unilateral myoclonic seizures followed later by brief atypical absences. Electrographically, these were accompanied by a sequence of centroparietal or parietotemporal sharp waves; high-voltage wave with a superimposed spike becoming unusual spike-wave complexes, often elicited by eye closure; burst of diffuse spikes and waves; and frequent jerks. This electroclinical pattern is very similar to the one described in Angelman syndrome (AS) in which a defect in GABAA receptor function has been suggested. Moreover, the genes encoding the GABAA receptor subunit have been mapped to the p12-p13 bands of chromosome 4. Even though the deletion in these cases does not encompass the 4p12-p13 region, we suggest that the electroclinical picture common to WHS and AS might represent a characteristic type of epilepsy linked to a common genetic abnormality.


Subject(s)
Angelman Syndrome/diagnosis , Chromosomes/genetics , Electroencephalography , Seizures/diagnosis , Child , Child, Preschool , DNA Damage , Female , Follow-Up Studies , Humans , Male
11.
J Int Med Res ; 22(2): 67-76, 1994.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-8020640

ABSTRACT

Adolescence is an intense anabolic period. The requirement for all nutrients is increased, but particularly that for dietary calcium. A balanced intake of the macronutrients (protein, fats and carbohydrates) is recommended to prevent the chronic degenerative disorders of adulthood. The temporal pattern of the calorie intake also deserves attention since it may affect homeostatic regulation. Adolescents often show disorders of dietary behaviour predisposing them to both obesity and anorexia. Dietary intervention in this age-group should promote the regular consumption of breakfast, a balanced intake of animal and vegetable foods and an increased calcium supply to maximize bone density. Dairy products and vegetables (mainly enriched cereals) constitute the basis of a good diet for adolescents, to supply their needs for growth and for subsequent good health.


Subject(s)
Adolescent Nutritional Physiological Phenomena , Dairy Products , Adolescent , Animals , Bone Development/drug effects , Calcium, Dietary/pharmacology , Eating , Feeding Behavior , Humans , Milk , Obesity/prevention & control
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