Benefits of oral supplementation with and without synbiotics in young children with acute bacterial infections.

Acutely ill children (n = 129) aged 1-6 years receiving antibiotic therapy were randomized to receive a nutritional supplement with (PS) or without (P) synbiotics or a fruit-flavored drink (D) with their medications. Group PS had significantly greater weight gains (versus D) following antibiotic therapy. The percentages of subjects without bacterial illnesses 14 days following antibiotic therapy were as follows: 94.3% (PS), 87.8% (D), and 80.6% (P). PS (vs D) significantly increased fecal Lactobacillus in a subset of subjects. Oral supplements increase energy intake and promote weight gain in acutely ill children receiving antibiotics; synbiotics may confer additional benefits by increasing bifidobacteria levels.

Efficacy of twice-daily dosing of amoxycillin/clavulanate in acute otitis media in children.

Children with acute otitis media (AOM), aged 2-12 years, were randomised to 10 days treatment with amoxycillin/clavulanate (A/C) 70/10 mg/kg/day given b.i.d. (231 patients) or to A/C 60/15 mg/kg/day given t.i.d. (232 patients). Clinical success rates at end of therapy (10-17 days) were 91.8% for the b.i.d. group and 90.5% for the t.i.d. group and at follow-up (28-42 days) were 80.1% for the b.i.d. group and 77.6% for the t.i.d. group, indicating that the b.i.d. regimen was as effective as the t.i.d. regimen. There was no statistically significant difference in incidence of adverse experiences between the two groups. The overall incidence of protocol defined diarrhoea assessed from diary booklets was low, with a lower incidence in the b.i.d. group (6.7%) than in the t.i.d. group (10.3%). Significantly more patients in the b.i.d. group (83.1%) than in the t.i.d. group (72.8%) had at least 80% compliance over a 7-10 day treatment period. A/C given twice or three-times daily was highly effective in the treatment of AOM in children. The two regimens showed equivalent clinical efficacy, both were well tolerated, and there was evidence of improved compliance with the b.i.d. regimen.

[Increase in infections caused by Salmonella enteritidis--causes and possibilities for intervention]. / Zunahme der Infektionen durch Salmonella enteritidis--Ursachen und Interventionsmöglichkeiten.

Recently published data document a worldwide increase of infections of humans and of food contamination by Salmonella enteritidis (SE). The results of our own analyses of animal foods reflect this general trend and indicate a clonal spreading of SE phage type (PT) 4 in animal foods in Northern Bavaria. In humans SE PT 4 shows high invasivity and virulence. In poultry an adaption of certain SE phage types is supposed to have taken place. Those types cause infections of poultry flocks without visible symptoms. Hens do lay eggs during infection, but 1.5-2.0% of them are SE contaminated. Incorrect handling and incorrect processing and use of SE infected hens' eggs and/or of foods prepared with those eggs have caused a great number of infections in humans. The present state of scientific research leads us to assume that the increase in human SE infections is linked to the increase of the SE infections of poultry and hens' eggs. In order to stem further spreading of SE and to improve the protection of the consumer certain measures have to be taken in original/primary production, production and processing of poultry meat and eggs and in handling of eggs in commercial and private kitchens. These measures, which, from a veterinary point of view, should be surveyed and also be taken by the relevant authorities, are described in 5 lists.

Neurological and neuropathological findings in familial erythrophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis.

An infant case of erythrophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis is reported. The disease began at the age of two months with hepatosplenomegaly and intractable fever, and later developed pancytopenia. Splenectomy had to be performed at the age of six months and led to the final diagnosis. After the age of nine months the patient developed progressive neurological signs (loss of visual function convulsions, opisthotonus and CSF pleocytosis). The changes in the CT-scan of the brain were explained by the neuropathologic findings after the death of the patient at the age of 13 months. The markedly atrophic brain showed diffuse and mainly perivascular infiltration of brain and meninges with lympho- and histiocytes and extensive microscopic calcification.

[Myositis ossificans progressiva (M.o.p.)--a morphological and biochemical study (author's transl)]. / Myositis ossificans progressive (M.o.p.). Eine morphologische und biochemische Studie.

In a two-year-old girl suffering from myositis ossificans progressiva a biopsy specimen from a soft tissue tumor was examined by electron microscopy and by collagen electrophoresis (SDS-Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis). Electron microscopic findings of the biopsy specimen showed that the collagen appeared to be similar to type II collagen which can be found for example in hyaline cartilage however collagen electrophoresis revealed neither any certain signs of type II collagen nor any different proportion of type I and type III collagen compared to a healthy child.