human
***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: UNLABELLED The aim of the study is to compare the role of killed ( KP ) Lactobacillus acidophilus with living ( LP ) in reducing incidence of sepsis ( NS ) and necrotizing enterocolitis ( NEC ) in neonates . R and omized double blind placebo study , included 150 neonates admitted to NICU at day 1 , sixty received oral ( LP ) and 60 received ( KP ) and 30 received placebo .  One gram of stools was collected on admission , at day 7 , at end of the study , as well as on suspected NEC or NS and was sent for culture . RESULTS LP and KP were preventive factors for NEC with absolute risk reduction ( AAR ) 16 , 15 % , respectively and 18 % for NS compared to placebo .  Incidence of NEC and NS did not differ significantly between neonates supplemented with LP and those with KP . Preterm neonates supplemented with KP showed significantly lower incidence of NEC compared to placebo , while incidence of NS showed no significant difference between both groups . There is significant reduction in NS and NEC among neonates with positive Lactobacillus colonization of gut compared to those none colonized at day 7 ( 27.9 vs. 85.9 % , 0 vs. 7.8 % ) and at day 14 ( 48.7 vs. 91.7 % for NS and 0 vs. 20.8 % for NEC ) . Overall comparison between the three groups showed statistical significant reduction in the incidence of NEC . Present conclusions are that early gut colonization with beneficial bacteria lowers the incidence of NEC and NS . KP retained similar benefits to live bacteria ABSTRACT The gastrointestinal microbiota of preterm infants in a neonatal intensive care unit differs from that of term infants . In particular , the colonization of preterm infants by bifidobacteria is delayed . A double-blind , placebo-controlled , r and omized clinical study was performed on 69 preterm infants to investigate the role of Bifidobacterium lactis Bb12 supplementation in modifying the gut microbiota . Both culture-dependent and culture-independent approaches were used to study the gut microbiota . Bifidobacterial numbers , determined by fluorescence in situ hybridization , were significantly higher in the probiotic than in the placebo group ( log10 values per g of fecal wet weight : probiotic , 8.18 + 0.54 [ st and ard error of the mean ] ; placebo , 4.82 + 0.51 ; P < 0.001 ) . A similar trend for bifidobacterial numbers was also obtained with the culture-dependent method . The infants supplemented with Bb12 also had lower viable counts of Enterobacteriaceae ( log10 values of CFU per g of fecal wet weight : probiotic , 7.80 + 0.34 ; placebo , 9.03 + 0.35 ; P = 0.015 ) and Clostridium spp . ( probiotic , 4.89 + 0.30 ; placebo , 5.99 + 0.32 ; P = 0.014 ) than the infants in the placebo group . Supplementation of B. lactis Bb12 did not reduce the colonization by antibiotic-resistant organisms in the study population . However , the probiotic supplementation increased the cell counts of bifidobacteria and reduced the cell counts of enterobacteria and clostridia BACKGROUND It is known that the bifidobacteria flora play important roles in mucosal host defense and can prevent infectious diseases . Because bacterial population s develop during the first day of life , the authors examined whether the early administration of bifidobacteria has a positive effect on the health of low birth weight infants . METHODS The effects of oral administration of Bifidobacterium breve ( B. breve ) supplements were studied in a controlled trial with low birth weight infants ( average birth weight 1489 g ) . The infants were divided into three groups : Group A and B received a dose of 1.6 x 10(8 ) cells of B. breve supplement twice a day , commencing either from several hours after birth ( group A ) or 24 h after birth ( group B ) . Group C , the control group , received no supplement . RESULTS There were no significant differences in birth weight , treatment with antibiotics , and the starting time of breast-feeding among the three groups . A Bifidobacterium-predominant flora was formed at an average of 2 weeks after birth in group A and at an average of 4 weeks after birth in group B , while no Bifidobacterium was isolated in eight out of 10 infants in group C during the observation period of 7 weeks . In comparison between group A and B , Bifidobacterium was detected significantly earlier in group A , and the number of Enterobacteriaceae present in the infants at 2 weeks after birth was significantly lower in group A. CONCLUSION The results of the present study suggest that very early administration of B. breve to low birth weight infants is useful in promoting the colonization of the Bifidobacterium and the formation of a normal intestinal flora Necrotizing enterocolitis ( NEC ) continues to be a major cause of morbidity and mortality in premature infants . Although the pathogenesis of NEC remains unclear , abnormal bacterial colonization has been postulated as playing a central role . Various factors impact bacterial colonization following delivery . Compared to term infants , the bacterial colonization pattern in prematurely born infants is markedly different , with a greater predilection for colonization with pathogenic bacteria . Probiotic and prebiotic administration offers the opportunity to manipulate the intestinal bacterial environment , favoring the growth of commensal bacteria . Experimental data from animal studies and data from human trials suggest that probiotics decrease the incidence of NEC . These preliminary studies support the need for a large , r and omized , controlled trial to further investigate the role of probiotics in the prevention of NEC Background : Nosocomial infections endanger preterm infants . Objective : The aim of the present controlled r and omized trial was to investigate whether Bifidobacterium lactis reduces the incidence of nosocomial infections in infants with very low birth weight ( VLBW ; < 1,500 g ) < 30 weeks of gestation . Patients and Methods : In a r and omized controlled trial , 183 VLBW infants < 30 weeks of gestation were stratified according to gestational age ( 23–26 and 27–29 weeks ) and early antibiotic therapy ( days 1–3 , yes or no ) and r and omly assigned to have their milk feedings supplemented with B. lactis ( 6 × 2.0 × 109 CFU/kg/day , 12 billion CFU/kg/day ) or placebo for the first 6 weeks of life . Primary outcome was the ‘ incidence density ’ of nosocomial infections defined as periods of elevated C-reactive protein ( > 10 mg/l ) from day 7 after initiation of milk feedings until the 42nd day of life ( number of nosocomial infections/total number of patient days ) . The main secondary outcome was necrotizing enterocolitis ( NEC ; ≧stage 2 ) . Results : There were 93 infants in the B. lactis group and 90 in the placebo group . There was no significant difference between the two groups with regard to the incidence density of nosocomial infections ( 0.021 vs. 0.016 ; p = 0.9 , χ2 test ) . There were 2 cases of NEC in the B. lactis group and 4 in the placebo group . None of the blood cultures grew B. lactis . Conclusion : In the present setting , B. lactis at a dosage of 6 × 2.0 × 109 CFU/kg/day ( 12 billion CFU/kg/day ) did not reduce the incidence density of nosocomial infections in VLBW infants . No adverse effect of B. lactis was observed BACKGROUND Saccharomyces boulardii ( SB ) is a yeast that acts both as a probiotic and as a polyamine producer . Probiotics prevent the overgrowth of pathogens in the gut while polyamines enhance intestinal maturation . The aim of this r and omized study was to investigate the ability of SB to modify the gut microbial ecology and its function . METHODS A total of 87 healthy babies with gestational age 28 - 32 weeks were studied . They were r and omly assigned to receive a preterm formula to which SB or maltodextrins was added for 30 days . Evaluations were made on the following : SB tolerance and weight gain , faecal flora analysis , intestinal D-xylose absorption and faecal lipid excretion . RESULTS SB was well tolerated by the infants . There was no difference in weight gain between the two groups . Median log of colony forming units per gram of faeces for Escherichia coli and enterococci was significantly lower in the SB group [ E. coli : 2.67 ( 0.045 ) vs. 2.75 ( 0.058 ) , P<0.001 ; enterococci : 2.14 ( 0.359 ) vs. 2.19 ( 0.138 ) , P<0.05 ] . On the other h and , the number of bifidobacteria and staphylococci in the stools was significantly higher in the SB group [ bifidobacteria : 2.65 ( 0.083 ) vs. 2.27 ( 0.075 ) , P<0.001 ; staphylococci : 1.23 ( 0.869 ) vs. 0.6 ( 0.281 ) , P<0.001 ] . D-Xylose and lipid absorption was not improved by SB [ median blood D-xylose : 1.5 ( 0.4 ) mmol/l vs. 1.35 ( 0.3 ) mmol/l , P>0.1 ; median stool steatocrit : 64 % ( 3.05 % ) vs. 65 % ( 2.72 % ) P>0.5 ] . CONCLUSIONS An SB-supplemented formula is well tolerated by preterm infants , it has a beneficial effect on stool flora bringing it closer to that of breast fed babies but it does not improve D-xylose or lipid gut absorption The objectives of this study were to determine whether or not the probiotic Lactobacillus GG can colonise the immature bowel of premature infants and if so , does colonisation result in a reduction of the size of the bowel reservoir of nosocomial pathogens such as enterobacteriaceae , enterococci , yeasts or staphylococci , and does colonisation with Lactobacillus GG have any effect on the clinical progress and outcome . Twenty preterm infants with a gestational age of 33 weeks or less who were resident on a neonatal unit were studied from the initiation of milk feeds until discharge . The infants were r and omised to receive either milk feeds or milk feeds supplemented with Lactobacillus GG 10(8 ) colony forming units twice a day for two weeks . The clinical features of the two groups of infants were similar . Orally administered Lactobacillus GG was well tolerated and did colonise the bowel of premature infants . However , colonisation with Lactobacillus GG did not reduce the faecal reservoir of potential pathogens and there was no evidence that colonisation had any positive clinical benefit for this particular group of infants BACKGROUND Preterm infants have increased intestinal permeability which can render them susceptible to infections from enterobacteriae . OBJECTIVES The primary objective was to investigate whether probiotic administration to preterm infants decreases intestinal permeability . Secondary outcomes studied were : somatic growth , tolerance , rates of sepsis and necrotizing enterocolitis . METHODS In a prospect i ve r and omized case-control study 41 stable preterm infants of 27 to 36 weeks gestation and 34 matched comparison infants consecutively admitted to the neonatal unit were studied . The study group received a preterm formula supplemented with Bifidobacter lactis ( 2 x 10(7 ) cfu/g of dry milk ) while the control group received the same formula but without supplementation .  Intestinal permeability was measured within two days of birth and then seven and thirty days later using the sugar absorption test . Additionally anthropometric parameters were recorded throughout the study as well as acceptance and tolerance of the formula . RESULTS All infants tolerated the study formula well . Median counts of stool bifidobacteria and lactulose/mannitol ratios at baseline were comparable . After 7 days of supplementation median bifidobacteria counts were significantly higher in the study group than in the control group ( p=0.0356 ) and they remained higher to the end of the study ( p at day 30=0.075 ) . The L/M ratio in the study group was significantly lower at day 30 of the study as compared to the control group ( p=0.003 ) . Head growth was significantly higher in the study group ( p=0.001 ) . CONCLUSIONS The administration of a bifidobacter supplemented infant formula decreases intestinal permeability of preterm infants and leads to increased head growth Studies were carried out on premature infants in the neonatal intensive care unit to determine the effect of feeding of lactobacilli on colonization of the gastrointestinal tract by antibiotic-resistant gram-negative enteric organisms . Thirty premature infants were matched by birth weight and gestational age , r and omized and fed double blind either 
    Output:
    
agent
There was no difference in mortality caused by NEC .
In premature newborns , the use of probiotics is effective as a prophylaxis for NEC and its complications
***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: UNLABELLED The aim of the study is to compare the role of killed ( KP ) Lactobacillus acidophilus with living ( LP ) in reducing incidence of sepsis ( NS ) and necrotizing enterocolitis ( NEC ) in neonates . R and omized double blind placebo study , included 150 neonates admitted to NICU at day 1 , sixty received oral ( LP ) and 60 received ( KP ) and 30 received placebo .  One gram of stools was collected on admission , at day 7 , at end of the study , as well as on suspected NEC or NS and was sent for culture . RESULTS LP and KP were preventive factors for NEC with absolute risk reduction ( AAR ) 16 , 15 % , respectively and 18 % for NS compared to placebo .  Incidence of NEC and NS did not differ significantly between neonates supplemented with LP and those with KP . Preterm neonates supplemented with KP showed significantly lower incidence of NEC compared to placebo , while incidence of NS showed no significant difference between both groups . There is significant reduction in NS and NEC among neonates with positive Lactobacillus colonization of gut compared to those none colonized at day 7 ( 27.9 vs. 85.9 % , 0 vs. 7.8 % ) and at day 14 ( 48.7 vs. 91.7 % for NS and 0 vs. 20.8 % for NEC ) . Overall comparison between the three groups showed statistical significant reduction in the incidence of NEC . Present conclusions are that early gut colonization with beneficial bacteria lowers the incidence of NEC and NS . KP retained similar benefits to live bacteria ABSTRACT The gastrointestinal microbiota of preterm infants in a neonatal intensive care unit differs from that of term infants . In particular , the colonization of preterm infants by bifidobacteria is delayed . A double-blind , placebo-controlled , r and omized clinical study was performed on 69 preterm infants to investigate the role of Bifidobacterium lactis Bb12 supplementation in modifying the gut microbiota . Both culture-dependent and culture-independent approaches were used to study the gut microbiota . Bifidobacterial numbers , determined by fluorescence in situ hybridization , were significantly higher in the probiotic than in the placebo group ( log10 values per g of fecal wet weight : probiotic , 8.18 + 0.54 [ st and ard error of the mean ] ; placebo , 4.82 + 0.51 ; P < 0.001 ) . A similar trend for bifidobacterial numbers was also obtained with the culture-dependent method . The infants supplemented with Bb12 also had lower viable counts of Enterobacteriaceae ( log10 values of CFU per g of fecal wet weight : probiotic , 7.80 + 0.34 ; placebo , 9.03 + 0.35 ; P = 0.015 ) and Clostridium spp . ( probiotic , 4.89 + 0.30 ; placebo , 5.99 + 0.32 ; P = 0.014 ) than the infants in the placebo group . Supplementation of B. lactis Bb12 did not reduce the colonization by antibiotic-resistant organisms in the study population . However , the probiotic supplementation increased the cell counts of bifidobacteria and reduced the cell counts of enterobacteria and clostridia BACKGROUND It is known that the bifidobacteria flora play important roles in mucosal host defense and can prevent infectious diseases . Because bacterial population s develop during the first day of life , the authors examined whether the early administration of bifidobacteria has a positive effect on the health of low birth weight infants . METHODS The effects of oral administration of Bifidobacterium breve ( B. breve ) supplements were studied in a controlled trial with low birth weight infants ( average birth weight 1489 g ) . The infants were divided into three groups : Group A and B received a dose of 1.6 x 10(8 ) cells of B. breve supplement twice a day , commencing either from several hours after birth ( group A ) or 24 h after birth ( group B ) . Group C , the control group , received no supplement . RESULTS There were no significant differences in birth weight , treatment with antibiotics , and the starting time of breast-feeding among the three groups . A Bifidobacterium-predominant flora was formed at an average of 2 weeks after birth in group A and at an average of 4 weeks after birth in group B , while no Bifidobacterium was isolated in eight out of 10 infants in group C during the observation period of 7 weeks . In comparison between group A and B , Bifidobacterium was detected significantly earlier in group A , and the number of Enterobacteriaceae present in the infants at 2 weeks after birth was significantly lower in group A. CONCLUSION The results of the present study suggest that very early administration of B. breve to low birth weight infants is useful in promoting the colonization of the Bifidobacterium and the formation of a normal intestinal flora Necrotizing enterocolitis ( NEC ) continues to be a major cause of morbidity and mortality in premature infants . Although the pathogenesis of NEC remains unclear , abnormal bacterial colonization has been postulated as playing a central role . Various factors impact bacterial colonization following delivery . Compared to term infants , the bacterial colonization pattern in prematurely born infants is markedly different , with a greater predilection for colonization with pathogenic bacteria . Probiotic and prebiotic administration offers the opportunity to manipulate the intestinal bacterial environment , favoring the growth of commensal bacteria . Experimental data from animal studies and data from human trials suggest that probiotics decrease the incidence of NEC . These preliminary studies support the need for a large , r and omized , controlled trial to further investigate the role of probiotics in the prevention of NEC Background : Nosocomial infections endanger preterm infants . Objective : The aim of the present controlled r and omized trial was to investigate whether Bifidobacterium lactis reduces the incidence of nosocomial infections in infants with very low birth weight ( VLBW ; < 1,500 g ) < 30 weeks of gestation . Patients and Methods : In a r and omized controlled trial , 183 VLBW infants < 30 weeks of gestation were stratified according to gestational age ( 23–26 and 27–29 weeks ) and early antibiotic therapy ( days 1–3 , yes or no ) and r and omly assigned to have their milk feedings supplemented with B. lactis ( 6 × 2.0 × 109 CFU/kg/day , 12 billion CFU/kg/day ) or placebo for the first 6 weeks of life . Primary outcome was the ‘ incidence density ’ of nosocomial infections defined as periods of elevated C-reactive protein ( > 10 mg/l ) from day 7 after initiation of milk feedings until the 42nd day of life ( number of nosocomial infections/total number of patient days ) . The main secondary outcome was necrotizing enterocolitis ( NEC ; ≧stage 2 ) . Results : There were 93 infants in the B. lactis group and 90 in the placebo group . There was no significant difference between the two groups with regard to the incidence density of nosocomial infections ( 0.021 vs. 0.016 ; p = 0.9 , χ2 test ) . There were 2 cases of NEC in the B. lactis group and 4 in the placebo group . None of the blood cultures grew B. lactis . Conclusion : In the present setting , B. lactis at a dosage of 6 × 2.0 × 109 CFU/kg/day ( 12 billion CFU/kg/day ) did not reduce the incidence density of nosocomial infections in VLBW infants . No adverse effect of B. lactis was observed BACKGROUND Saccharomyces boulardii ( SB ) is a yeast that acts both as a probiotic and as a polyamine producer . Probiotics prevent the overgrowth of pathogens in the gut while polyamines enhance intestinal maturation . The aim of this r and omized study was to investigate the ability of SB to modify the gut microbial ecology and its function . METHODS A total of 87 healthy babies with gestational age 28 - 32 weeks were studied . They were r and omly assigned to receive a preterm formula to which SB or maltodextrins was added for 30 days . Evaluations were made on the following : SB tolerance and weight gain , faecal flora analysis , intestinal D-xylose absorption and faecal lipid excretion . RESULTS SB was well tolerated by the infants . There was no difference in weight gain between the two groups . Median log of colony forming units per gram of faeces for Escherichia coli and enterococci was significantly lower in the SB group [ E. coli : 2.67 ( 0.045 ) vs. 2.75 ( 0.058 ) , P<0.001 ; enterococci : 2.14 ( 0.359 ) vs. 2.19 ( 0.138 ) , P<0.05 ] . On the other h and , the number of bifidobacteria and staphylococci in the stools was significantly higher in the SB group [ bifidobacteria : 2.65 ( 0.083 ) vs. 2.27 ( 0.075 ) , P<0.001 ; staphylococci : 1.23 ( 0.869 ) vs. 0.6 ( 0.281 ) , P<0.001 ] . D-Xylose and lipid absorption was not improved by SB [ median blood D-xylose : 1.5 ( 0.4 ) mmol/l vs. 1.35 ( 0.3 ) mmol/l , P>0.1 ; median stool steatocrit : 64 % ( 3.05 % ) vs. 65 % ( 2.72 % ) P>0.5 ] . CONCLUSIONS An SB-supplemented formula is well tolerated by preterm infants , it has a beneficial effect on stool flora bringing it closer to that of breast fed babies but it does not improve D-xylose or lipid gut absorption The objectives of this study were to determine whether or not the probiotic Lactobacillus GG can colonise the immature bowel of premature infants and if so , does colonisation result in a reduction of the size of the bowel reservoir of nosocomial pathogens such as enterobacteriaceae , enterococci , yeasts or staphylococci , and does colonisation with Lactobacillus GG have any effect on the clinical progress and outcome . Twenty preterm infants with a gestational age of 33 weeks or less who were resident on a neonatal unit were studied from the initiation of milk feeds until discharge . The infants were r and omised to receive either milk feeds or milk feeds supplemented with Lactobacillus GG 10(8 ) colony forming units twice a day for two weeks . The clinical features of the two groups of infants were similar . Orally administered Lactobacillus GG was well tolerated and did colonise the bowel of premature infants . However , colonisation with Lactobacillus GG did not reduce the faecal reservoir of potential pathogens and there was no evidence that colonisation had any positive clinical benefit for this particular group of infants BACKGROUND Preterm infants have increased intestinal permeability which can render them susceptible to infections from enterobacteriae . OBJECTIVES The primary objective was to investigate whether probiotic administration to preterm infants decreases intestinal permeability . Secondary outcomes studied were : somatic growth , tolerance , rates of sepsis and necrotizing enterocolitis . METHODS In a prospect i ve r and omized case-control study 41 stable preterm infants of 27 to 36 weeks gestation and 34 matched comparison infants consecutively admitted to the neonatal unit were studied . The study group received a preterm formula supplemented with Bifidobacter lactis ( 2 x 10(7 ) cfu/g of dry milk ) while the control group received the same formula but without supplementation .  Intestinal permeability was measured within two days of birth and then seven and thirty days later using the sugar absorption test . Additionally anthropometric parameters were recorded throughout the study as well as acceptance and tolerance of the formula . RESULTS All infants tolerated the study formula well . Median counts of stool bifidobacteria and lactulose/mannitol ratios at baseline were comparable . After 7 days of supplementation median bifidobacteria counts were significantly higher in the study group than in the control group ( p=0.0356 ) and they remained higher to the end of the study ( p at day 30=0.075 ) . The L/M ratio in the study group was significantly lower at day 30 of the study as compared to the control group ( p=0.003 ) . Head growth was significantly higher in the study group ( p=0.001 ) . CONCLUSIONS The administration of a bifidobacter supplemented infant formula decreases intestinal permeability of preterm infants and leads to increased head growth Studies were carried out on premature infants in the neonatal intensive care unit to determine the effect of feeding of lactobacilli on colonization of the gastrointestinal tract by antibiotic-resistant gram-negative enteric organisms . Thirty premature infants were matched by birth weight and gestational age , r and omized and fed double blind either 
    Output:
    