Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics ª 2007 The Authors 871 Journal compilation ª

SUMMARY Aim To review evidence for the effectiveness of Lactobacillus GG (LGG) in treating acute infectious diarrhoea in children. Methods The following electronic databases were searched through August 2006 for studies relevant to acute infectious diarrhoea and LGG: MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL and The Cochrane Library; additional references were obtained from reviewed articles. Only randomized-controlled trials (RCTs) were included. Results Eight RCTs (988 participants) met the inclusion criteria. Compared with controls, LGG had no effect on the total stool volume (two RCTs, n = 303). However, LGG was associated with a significant reduction in diarrhoea duration (seven RCTs, 876 infants, weighted mean difference, WMD )1.1 days (95% confidence interval, CI )1.9 to )0.3), particularly of rotavirus etiology (WMD )2.1 days, 95% CI )3.6 to )0.6), risk of diarrhoea >7 days (one RCT, n = 287, relative risk 0.25, 95% CI 0.09-0.75) and duration of hospitalization (three RCTs, n = 535, WMD )0.58, 95% CI )0.8 to )0.4; significance was lost in the random effect model). There was no reduction in the number of stools at any time interval. Conclusions The use of LGG is associated with moderate clinical benefits in the treatment of acute diarrhoea in children. These findings should be interpreted with caution due to the important methodological limitations and heterogeneity of most of the studies

Distress in Infants and Young Children: Don't Blame Acid Reflux

8sinoneThe role of gastroesophageal reflux (GER) causing distress in infants is controversial but acid inhibitors are often empirically prescribed. We evaluated the relation between distress assessed by the Face, Legs, Activity, Cry, Consolability (FLACC) scale and GER in infants.noneSalvatore, Silvia; Pagliarin, Federica; Huysentruyt, Koen; Bosco, Annalisa; Fumagalli, Letizia; Van De Maele, Kristel; Agosti, Massimo; Vandenplas, YvanSalvatore, Silvia; Pagliarin, Federica; Huysentruyt, Koen; Bosco, Annalisa; Fumagalli, Letizia; Van De Maele, Kristel; Agosti, Massimo; Vandenplas, Yva

Early Life Exposure to Antibiotics and Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Systematic Review

We systematically reviewed evidence from observational studies on the associations between autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and early-life antibiotic exposure. Eleven articles were included in the review. Prenatal antibiotic exposure was associated with a slightly increased risk of ASD in two cohort studies on overlapping populations and in one case–control study; in three other case–control studies, no significant association was found. One cohort study found a slightly reduced risk of ASD after postnatal antibiotic exposure, while two other cohort studies on overlapping populations and three case–control studies reported an increased risk. Meta-analysis of the eligible studies showed no significant associations. Current data are conflicting and do not conclusively support the hypothesis that early-life antibiotic exposure is associated with subsequent ASD development