Infant formula with cow's milk fat and prebiotics affects intestinal flora, but not the incidence of infections during infancy in a double-blind randomized controlled trial.

Background: The postnatal intestinal colonization of human milk-fed and formula-fed infants differs substantially, as does the susceptibility to infectious diseases during infancy. Specific ingredients in human milk, such as prebiotic human milk oligosaccharides and a specifically structured fat composition with high proportion of beta-palmitic acid (beta-PA) promote the growth of intestinal bifidobacteria, which are associated with favorable effects on infants' health. The present study investigates whether addition of prebiotic galactooligosaccharides (GOS) in combination with higher amounts of beta-PA from cow's milk fat in infant formula positively affects gut microbiota and the incidence of infections in formula-fed infants.

Adequacy and safety of α-lactalbumin-enriched low-protein infant formula: A randomized controlled trial.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to demonstrate suitability and safety of an infant formula enriched with α-lactalbumin with a reduced protein content of 1.89 g protein/100 kcal.

Methods: This was a randomized, double-blind controlled trial with 80 healthy newborn infants who were assigned to receive either an isocaloric low- or high-protein content formula (1.

Evaluation of biochemical markers and bone mineral density in patients with chronic kidney disease stage 5D at the start of hemodialysis treatment.

Background: Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) have significant disorders of bone and mineral metabolism. In addition, they can also develop other bone disorders including osteoporosis. This study evaluated the bone mineral density (BMD) of patients at the start of hemodialysis treatment as well as the relationship between BMD and possible risk factors or biochemical markers.

Sensitivity to antibiotics of Clostridium difficile toxigenic nosocomial strains.

Clostridium difficile is the etiological agent of diarrhoea and colitis, especially in elderly patients. The incidence of these diseases has increased during the last 10 years. Emergence of so-called hypervirulent strains is considered as one of the main factors responsible for the more severe disease and changed profile of sensitivity to antimicrobial agents.

Persistence with first line anticholinergic medication in treatment-naïve overactive bladder patients.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the persistence of first line anticholinergic medication use by patients with overactive bladder (OAB). Data from a hospital outpatient database were matched with information obtained by a telephone survey of patients to determine which patients discontinued use of anticholinergic medication and to identify the reasons underlying discontinuation.

Material And Methods: The study group included 377 OAB patients (52 men, 325 women) with a mean age of 60.

Cap-assisted water immersion for minimal sedation colonoscopy: prospective, randomized, single-center trial.

Background And Aim: Water immersion insertion is able to reduce discomfort and need for sedation during colonoscopy. A cap attached to the colonoscope tip may improve insertion during air insufflation colonoscopy. According to several reports, both techniques alone may result in higher detection of neoplastic lesions.

Combination of water immersion and carbon dioxide insufflation for minimal sedation colonoscopy: a prospective, randomized, single-center trial.

Objective: Water immersion insertion and carbon dioxide (CO2) insufflation, as alternative colonoscopic techniques, are able to reduce patient discomfort during and after the procedure. We assessed whether the combination of water immersion and CO2 insufflation is superior in efficacy and patient comfort to other colonoscopic techniques.

Methods: In a prospective, randomized study, a total of 420 patients were randomized to either water immersion insertion and CO2 insufflation during withdrawal (water/CO2), water insertion and air insufflation during withdrawal (water/air), CO2 insufflation during both insertion and withdrawal (CO2/CO2), or air insufflation during both insertion and withdrawal (air/air).

[Low response rate to a vaccination against hepatitis B in patients with end-stage liver disease].

Hepatitis B vaccination was started in 41 patients with end-stage liver disease who were liver transplant candidates. Patients received three 20 microg or, starting from 1999, 40 microg doses of recombinant vaccine at 0, 2 and 4 weeks. Blood samples were obtained 4 weeks after vaccination or each revaccination; patients without protective hepatitis B surface antibodies (anti-HBs) were once or repeatedly revaccinated.