***TASK*** the task is to summarize an input biomedical literature in six sentences 
    ***INPUT*** the input is a biomedical literature 
    ***OUTPUT*** the output is the summary of an input biomedical literature in six sentences 
    ***DOCUMENTATION*** 
    ***EXAMPLES*** 
    Input: BACKGROUND The gastrointestinal microflora is an important constituent of the gut mucosal defense barrier . We have previously shown that a human intestinal floral strain , Lactobacillus GG ( ATCC 53103 ) , promotes local antigen-specific immune responses ( particularly in the IgA class ) , prevents permeability defects , and confers controlled antigen absorption . OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical and immunologic effects of cow 's milk elimination without ( n = 14 ) and with ( n = 13 ) the addition of Lactobacillus GG ( 5 x 10(8 ) colony-forming units/gm formula ) in an extensively hydrolyzed whey formula in infants with atopic eczema and cow 's milk allergy . The second part of the study involved 10 breast-fed infants who had atopic eczema and cow 's milk allergy . In this group Lactobacillus GG was given to nursing mothers . METHODS The severity of atopic eczema was assessed by clinical scoring . The concentrations of fecal alpha 1- antitrypsin , tumor necrosis factor-alpha , and eosinophil cationic protein were determined as markers of intestinal inflammation before and after dietary intervention . RESULTS The clinical score of atopic dermatitis improved significantly during the 1-month study period in infants treated with the extensively hydrolyzed whey formula fortified with Lactobacillus GG . The concentration of alpha 1-antitrypsin decreased significantly in this group ( p = 0.03 ) but not in the group receiving the whey formula without Lactobacillus GG ( p = 0.68 ) . In parallel , the median ( lower quartile to upper quartile ) concentration of fecal tumor necrosis factor-alpha decreased significantly in this group , from 709 pg/gm ( 91 to 1131 pg/gm ) to 34 pg/gm ( 19 to 103 pg/gm ) ( p = 0.003 ) , but not in those receiving the extensively hydrolyzed whey formula only ( p = 0.38 ) . The concentration of fecal eosinophil cationic protein remained unaltered during therapy . CONCLUSION These results suggest that probiotic bacteria may promote endogenous barrier mechanisms in patients with atopic dermatitis and food allergy , and by alleviating intestinal inflammation , may act as a useful tool in the treatment of food allergy Perinatal administration of the probiotic Lactobacillus rhamnosus strain GG ( ATCC 53103 ) , reduces incidence of atopic eczema in at-risk children during the first 2 years of life ( infancy ) . We have therefore assessed persistence of the potential to prevent atopic eczema at 4 years . Atopic disease was diagnosed on the basis of a question naire and a clinical examination . 14 of 53 children receiving lactobacillus had developed atopic eczema , compared with 25 of 54 receiving placebo  ( relative risk 0.57 , 95 % CI 0.33 - 0.97 ) . Skin prick test reactivity was the same in both groups : ten of 50 children previously given lactobacillus compared with nine of 50 given placebo tested positive . Our results suggest that the preventive effect of lactobacillus GG on atopic eczema extends beyond infancy Over the last two decades the incidence of allergic diseases has increased in industrialized countries , and consequently new approaches have to be explored Objectives : To examine the immunological and clinical influence of 4 months ' feeding with either yoghurt or partially skimmed milk or nothing , on 20 volunteers . Subjects : Thirteen subjects had a demonstrated allergic rhinopathy and seven were healthy subjects and participated as controls . Research design : Either a group of seven or a group of six rhinopathic patients were fed either 450 g yoghurt or 450 g partially skimmed milk , respectively , for 4 months between March and October 1999 . All subjects maintained their usual diet throughout the study .Peripheral blood mononuclear cells ( P BMC ) were isolated before and after the experimental period and cultured for periods of 40 and 64 h. Proliferation index assay and release of IFNγ and IL-4 without and with PHA stimulation were assessed . Allergic rhinopathy was evaluated before and after the 4 months period by performing the nasal functionality tests ( Active Anterior Rhinomanometry , Acoustic Rhinometry ) , the prick test , the nasal specific provocation test ( NPT ) , the dosage of specific IgE blood levels , the evaluation of the symptomatological score and the nasal mucociliary transport test . Results : No significant change of the proliferation index was noted among the three groups . Cultured P BMC of the group fed with yoghurt released more IFNγ and less IL-4 . Cytokine plasma levels were at and remained at basal levels . Prick test , specific serum IgEs and NPT remained immodified . Muco-ciliary transport time ( MCTt ) and symptomatological score showed a definitive improvement after yoghurt feeding . Conclusion : Yoghurt feeding appears to improve or prevent allergic recurrences in rhinopatic patients .Sponsorship : This study was funded , in part , by a grant from Parmalat , Parma , Italy Background : Lactobacillus casei strain Shirota ( LcS ) has been found to exert antiallergic effects in animal experiments , but there is little information about its clinical effects in human patients with allergy . Methods : We performed a r and omized double-blind , placebo-controlled study to investigate the effects of LcS in patients with allergic rhinitis triggered by Japanese cedar pollen ( JCP ) . Participants were asked to drink fermented milk containing LcS ( LcS group ) or placebo ( control group ) for 8 weeks . Clinical symptoms and immunological parameters were compared between the two groups . Results : Symptom-medication scores ( SMS ) worsened in accordance with the increase in the amount of scattered JCP . In terms of the nasal and ocular SMS , there was no significant difference between the LcS group and the placebo group during the ingestion period . In the subgroup of patients with moderate-to-severe nasal symptom scores before starting the ingestion of test sample s , supplementation with LcS tended to reduce nasal SMS . Conclusion : These results indicate that fermented milk containing LcS does not prevent allergic symptoms in patients sensitive to JCP , but may delay the occurrence of allergic symptoms in patients with moderate-to-severe nasal symptom scores 
    Output:
    
concentration of exhaled nitric oxide was significantly greater in children receiving placebo than in those receiving L. rhamnosus strain GG , suggesting the possibility of more underdiagnosed or sub clinical cases of respiratory allergic diseases in the placebo group .
2 years , challenge-proven patients with mild-to-moderate eczema ) improved the eczema score significantly [ 7 ] .
Studies in infants with eczema supplemented with LGG have also shown benefit in decreasing gastrointestinal symptoms [ 8 ] .
To conclude , the available evidence neither supports nor refutes the role of probiotics in the prevention of allergic diseases .
In their informative review , the authors describe that there is no evidence that any probiotics prevent other allergic conditions apart from the eczema-reducing effect of Lactobacillus rhamnosus .