Efficacy of Bifidobacterium breve CECT7263 for infantile colic treatment: an open-label, parallel, randomised, controlled trial.

Infantile colic is a prevalent condition characterised by excessive crying with no effective treatment available. We aimed to evaluate the efficacy of Bifidobacterium breve CECT7263 and a combination of this and Lactobacillus fermentum CECT5716 versus simethicone in reducing the daily time spent crying in colicky infants. A multicentre randomised, open-label, parallel, controlled trial of 28 days was performed in 150 infants who were diagnosed with colic according to the Rome III criteria and who randomly received simethicone (80 mg/day; Simethicone group), B. breve CECT7263 (2×108 cfu/day, Bb group), or a combination of L. fermentum CECT5716 and B. breve CECT7263 (1×108 cfu/day per strain, Bb+Lf group). The main outcomes were minutes of crying per day and the percentage of reduction in daily crying from baseline. Data were analysed per intention to treat. All treatments significantly decreased the daily crying time at the end of the intervention (P-time <0.001). However, the infants in the Bb group had significantly decreased crying time from the first week of the study (P<0.05), whereas the Bb+Lf group and the simethicone group had significantly decreased crying time from the second week (P<0.05). The percentage of reduction in the minutes of crying from baseline in the Bb group was significantly higher than that in the Simethicone group every week of the intervention (-40.3 vs -27.6% at 1-week; -59.2 vs -43.2% at 2-weeks; -64.5 vs -53.5% at 3-week and -68.5 vs -59.5% at 4-weeks, P<0.05). Additionally, in the Bb group, infants had better night sleep, and parents reported a more positive mood at the end of the intervention. All the products used in the study were safe and well tolerated. In conclusion, the breastmilk-isolated probiotic strain B. breve CECT7263 is a safe and effective treatment for infantile colic, presenting an earlier and more robust effect than the reference prescribed drug, simethicone.

[Bone maturity evaluation by automatized metric measurements]. / Evaluación de la maduración ósea mediante mediciones métricas automatizadas.

OBJECTIVES: Precision and rapidity of computerised procedures facilitate bone maturity evaluation by measuring bone images. In this paper we analysed the adequacy of several of these measures to evaluate growth or bone maturity. MATERIAL AND METHODS: To determine growth or maturity indicating parameters, two hundred X-rays of the left hands and wrists of 2 to 18 years old children were examined by an automated image analysis procedure (IMAGO-2). Children were examined every six months (18 to 36 months) obtaining several auxological data (weight, height, bone maturity, TW2 methods, etc.). The relationship between the automated indicating parameters of maturity or growth and the auxological data were studied (linear correlation and multiple regression). RESULTS: All parameters correlate with the chronological age. The area parameter presents the highest coefficient of correlation with weight and Speed of Growth. The perimeter presents the best correlation with Height and bone maturity (TW2). Variations in some separation measurements from the circular ones relate well with auxological data changes. CONCLUSIONS: It is difficult to categorically catalogue one measurement as the only and exclusive indicator of maturity or growth. The studied parameters correlate best with bone maturity (TW2) when compared with those of the auxological data (weight, height) which could indicate their usefulness to evaluate bone maturity.

Evaluación de la maduración ósea mediante mediciones métricas automatizadas / Bone maturity evaluation by automazed metric measurements

Objetivos : La precisión y rapidez de los procedimientos informáticos facilita la valoración de la maduración ósea por mediciones en las imágenes óseas. En este trabajo hemos analizado la adecuación de algunas de estas medidas para la valoración del crecimiento o la maduración ósea. Material y métodos: Se estudian 200 radiografías de mano y muñeca izquier das de niños y niñas de edades comprendidas entre 2 y 18 años por un procedimiento automatizado de análisis de imagen (IMAGO-2) determinando parámetros indicadores de crecimiento o maduración. Los niños fueron examinados semestralmente (18 a 36 meses) obteniéndose varios datos auxológicos (peso, talla, maduración ósea, método TW2, etc.). Se estudia (por análisis de correlación lineal y regresión múltiple) la relación entre los parámetros automatizados indicadores de maduración o crecimiento y los datos auxológicos. Resultados Todos los parámetros se correlacionan con la edad cronológica. El parámetro área presenta los mayores coeficientes de correlación respecto al peso y a la velocidad de crecimiento. El perímetro presenta la mejor correlación con la talla y la maduración ósea (TW2). Las variaciones en algunas de las mediciones de la separación de la forma circular se relacionan con los cambios en los datos auxológicos. Conclusiones Es difícil catalogar categóricamente a una medida como indicador exclusivo de maduración o de crecimiento. Los parámetros estudiados se correlacionan mejor con la maduración ósea (TW2) que con otros datos auxológicos (peso o talla), lo que podría indicar su utilidad para la valoración de la maduración ósea (AU)

[Automated system of bone maturity evaluation applied to the Tanner-Whitehouse 2 method]. / Sistema automatizado de evaluación de la maduración ósea aplicado al método Tanner-Whitehouse 2.

OBJECTIVE: Employing automated methods of image analysis to determine bone maturity helps to avoid subjectivity, reduce the execution time and to increase continuity in maturity scales. We have studied bone maturity by the Tanner-Whitehouse method (TW2) and by image analysis based on Fourier transformation. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Bone maturity (BM) was evaluated in 200 X-rays of the left hand and wrist from 45 children between 2 and 18 years of age employing the TW2 method, manual or traditional, to determine the state of maturity of each bone. At the same time, BM was evaluated by using an automated form of a recognizance program (IMAGO 2). As a standard we used the schemes of the phases described in the TW2 method. The image of the bone in question captured by a video camera after digitalization was classified by statistical comparison of its Fourier coefficient matrix with that previously determined by each of the standard schemes. Manual and computerized bone age concordance was also studied. RESULTS: The computerized procedure showed a tendency to give lower values than the manual procedure. There were no significant differences between mean phases when calculated by both methods (manual and computerized) for the radius and the fifth metacarpal. The least degree of concordance was observed in the third metacarpal and phalanges. We found better concordance in the carpal bones than in the phalanges. This concordance was lower than that found in the radius and fifth metacarpal. The worst results were observed in the carpus and large bones and the best results were observed in the semilunar and scaphoid bones. CONCLUSIONS: Divergence in the reproducibility between this computerized system and others (CASES method) are probably related to the differences between the digitalization process and the standard images used.