Paediatric drugs
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Probiotics, defined as microbial cell preparations or components of microbial cells that have a beneficial effect on the health and well being of the host, have traditionally been used to treat and prevent a variety of infections. Beneficial effects of probiotics in acute infectious diarrhea in children seem to be: (i) moderate; (ii) strain-dependent; (iii) dose dependent; (iv) significant in watery diarrhea and viral gastroenteritis, but non-existent in invasive, bacterial diarrhea; and (v) more evident when treatment with probiotics is initiated early in the course of disease. Three large, randomized controlled trials (RCTs) provide evidence of a very modest effect (statistically significant, but of questionable clinical importance) of some probiotic strains (Lactobaccillus GG, Lactobaccillus reuteri, Bifodobacterium lactis) on the prevention of community-acquired diarrhea. ⋯ Only very few probiotic strains have been tested rigorously in RCTs. Many questions remain to be answered. Future clinical trials should evaluate carefully selected, precisely defined probiotic strains and address clinically important endpoints.
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The management of pain in the palliative care of children is somewhat different from that in adults. It also differs in approach from the management of other types of acute and chronic pain in childhood. Whereas once opioids were thought to be highly dangerous drugs, unsuitable for use in children, they have now taken their place as the mainstay for provision of good analgesia to manage moderate-to-severe pain in both malignant and non-malignant life-limiting conditions. ⋯ On saying that, early research in children does suggest some significant differences in opioid pharmacokinetics, particularly with respect to morphine clearance, which seems to be faster in adults. Thus, the use of opioids in pediatric palliative care presents some unique challenges. Confident and rational use of opioids by pediatricians, illustrated by the WHO guidelines, is essential for the adequate management of pain complicating the palliative phase in children with life-limiting conditions.
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Cystic fibrosis (CF) lung disease is characterized by chronic endobronchial infection resulting in progressive pulmonary destruction; this is a major cause of mortality and morbidity. Neutrophils are the primary effector cells responsible for the progressive deterioration of lung function. Peptido-leukotriene B4 antagonists, new anti-inflammatory agents that block the neutrophil-dominated inflammation, could have had the potential for long-term use. ⋯ Montelukast treatment decreased serum and sputum levels of eosinophil cationic protein and interleukin-8 (IL-8), decreased sputum levels of myeloperoxidase, and increased serum and sputum levels of IL-10 (p < 0.001 for all) compared with placebo. To date, clinical experience and research data on the anti-inflammatory effects of leukotriene receptor antagonists in CF are limited. Multicenter trials with longer observation periods and greater patient numbers are needed to prove the hypothesis that leukotriene receptor antagonists have the potential to ameliorate CF lung disease with long term use.