The use of probiotics in pediatric gastroenterology: a review of the literature and recommendations by Latin-American experts.

OBJECTIVE: The stability and composition of intestinal flora plays a vital role in human wellbeing throughout life from as early as birth. Over the past 50 years, several studies have been conducted to evaluate the effect of probiotic administration in pediatric gastroenterology. This document aims to provide a recommendation score on probiotic utilization in pediatric gastroenterology, together with a review of current knowledge concerning its benefits, tolerability, and safety. STUDY DESIGN: Published literature was selected without study design restriction: clinical guidelines, meta-analyses, randomized controlled trials (RCTs), cohort studies, outcomes research and case-controlled studies were selected using the following MESH-validated terms: probiotics, diarrhea, acute diarrhea, antibiotic-associated diarrhea, traveler's diarrhea, bacterial diarrhea, nosocomial diarrhea, prophylactic diarrhea, Helicobacter pylori infection, colic, infantile colic, necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), inflammatory bowel disease, constipation, and allergy. Once the validity and the quality of results were evaluated, a recommendation score and level of evidence were assigned for pediatric gastrointestinal-related conditions, according to the updated Evidence-Based Medicine guidelines: 1a for systematic review (SR) of RCTs, 1b for individual RCT, 1c for SR and individual RCT, 2a for SR of cohort studies, 2b for individual cohort studies, 2c for outcomes research, and 3a for SR of case-control studies. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: The Latin American Expert group consensus recommends the use of the following probiotics for pediatric gastrointestinal conditions: prevention of acute infectious diarrhea (AID): 1b for Bifidobacterium lactis, Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG), and L. reuteri; prevention of nosocomial diarrhea: 1 b for B. lactis Bb12, B. bifidum, LGG and Streptococcus thermophiles; treatment of AID: 1a for LGG and S. boulardii, 1b for L. reuteri; prevention of antibiotic-associated diarrhea: 1b for LGG and S. boulardii; prevention of traveler's diarrhea: 1b for S. boulardii; prevention of infantile colic: 1a for L. reuteri DSM 17938; treatment of infantile colic: 1b for L. reuteri DSM 17938; prevention of NEC: 1a for B. breve, mixtures of Bifidobacterium and Streptococcus, LGG, L. acidophilus and L. reuteri DSM 17938; induction and maintenance of remission in ulcerative colitis: 1b for VSL#3; improving symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome: 2c for LGG and VSL#3.

El niño que no progresa de peso / Failure to thrive

Entre el 8 y 10% de los niños atendidos en atención primaria, presentan una falta de progreso en el peso. El diagnóstico diferencial incluye ingesta calórica inadecuada, inadecuada absorción y metabolismo aumentado. Se reconoce a un niño que no sube de peso por su historia alimentaria, historia médica, historia social, historia familiar y evaluación del apetito. Entre las diferentes causas de falla para crecer están baja talla constitucional, abuso sexual, maltrato infantil, depresión postparto, enfermedad celíaca y esofagitis eosinofílica, entre otros. Entre los pilares en el manejo del niño que no progresa de peso están enfoque terapéutico, apoyo nutricional, hábitos dietéticos y manejo especializado.

Between 8 and 10% of children seen in primary care, have a lack of progress in weight. The differential diagnosis includes inadequate caloric intake, inadequate absorption and increased metabolism. It is recognized that a child does not gain weight by diet history, medical history, social history, family history and evaluation of appetite. Among the various causes of failure to thrive are constitutional short stature, sexual abuse, child abuse, postpartum depression, celiac disease and eosinophilic esophagitis, among others. Among the mainstays in the management of child weight are not progressing therapeutic approach, nutritional support, dietary habits and specialized management.

Relationship between Helicobacter pylori virulence factors and regulatory cytokines as predictors of clinical outcome.

Helicobacter pylori infection is highly prevalent in Chile (73%). Usually a minority of infected patients develops complications such as ulcers and gastric cancer that have been associated with the presence of virulence factors (cagA, vacA) and host T helper response (Th1/Th2). Our aim was to evaluate the relationship between strain virulence and host immune response, using a multiple regression approach for the development of a model based on data collected from H. pylori infected patients in Chile. We analyzed levels of selected cytokines determined by ELISA (interleukin (IL)-12, IL-10, interferon (IFN)-gamma and IL-4) and the presence of cagA and vacA alleles polymorphisms determined by PCR in antral biopsies of 41 patients referred to endoscopy. By multiple regression analysis we established a correlation between bacterial and host factors using clinical outcome (gastritis and duodenal ulcer) as dependent variables. The selected model was described by: clinical outcome=0.867491 (cagA)+0.0131847 (IL-12/IL-10)+0.0103503 (IFN-gamma/IL-4) and it was able to explain over 90% of clinical outcomes observations (R(2)=96.4). This model considers that clinical outcomes are better explained by the interaction of host immune factors and strain virulence as a complex and interdependent mechanism.

Ulcera péptica en pediatría: experiencia de 10 años / Peptic ulcer in pediatrics: a 10-year experience

Se describe una revisión retrospectiva de 32 casos de úlcera péptica en los últimos 10 años del hospital Luis Calvo Mackenna. Treinta y uno confirmados por endoscopía o estudio radiológico o ambos y uno durante una intervención quirúrgica por perforación duodenal. Desde que se comenzó a utilizar fibroscopía digestiva en 1978, se produjo un aumento significativo del número de casos diagnosticados. Veinticinco pacientes sufrían úlceras crónicas y siete úlceras agudas. Las crónicas se presentaron en 23 pacientes mayores de 6 años y 2 en menores de esta edad. Todas las agudas ocurrieron en menores de 6 años y con mayor frecuencia durante el post operatorio inmediato de la reparación de una coartación de la aorta. Ambos tipos de lesiones se encontraron con mayor frecuencia en el duodeno que en el estómago, y afectan al sexo masculino más que al femenino en una proporción de 1,8:1. En 74% de los pacientes con úlcera crónica habían familiares directos con antecedentes de la misma enfermedad. Todos los pacientes con úlcera aguda presentaron hemorragia digestiva al comienzo de la enfermedad, en cambio los pacientes con úlcera crónica presentaron dolor abdominal recurrente con mayor frecuencia que hemorragia digestiva. Los estudios de acidez gástrica en 11 pacientes con úlcera crónica mostraron valores de débito basal y máximo más elevado que los encontrados en 12 niños con dolor abdominal recurrente sin úlcera comprobada. De 25 casos con úlcera crónica, 19 tuvieron sólo una crisis (76%) y 6 tuvieron dos o más (24%). Ricibiero tratamiento médico exclusivo 21 pacientes y 4 debieron ser operados (16%)