Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 8, 2026
10:36
Probiotic Studies in Neonatal Mice Using Gavage
Published on: January 27, 2019
21.0K
When can infants and children benefit from probiotics?
1Department of Family Medicine, University of Tennessee, Chattanooga, TN, USA.
The Journal of Family Practice
|January 15, 2017
Summary
Probiotics show promise in alleviating infant colic, eczema, and diarrhea. Emerging research suggests benefits for upper respiratory infections and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) pain.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Gastroenterology
- Immunology
Background:
- Probiotics are live microorganisms that confer a health benefit on the host when administered in adequate amounts.
- Growing interest in the gut microbiome's role in overall health.
Observation:
- Clinical studies are exploring the efficacy of specific probiotic strains.
- Anecdotal evidence and preliminary research suggest potential therapeutic applications.
Findings:
- Probiotics demonstrate potential benefits in managing infant colic.
- Evidence suggests probiotics may help alleviate symptoms of eczema.
- Studies indicate probiotics can be effective for certain types of diarrhea.
- Emerging research points to a role in reducing the incidence or severity of upper respiratory infections.
- Probiotics may offer relief for pain associated with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
Implications:
- Probiotics represent a promising avenue for non-pharmacological interventions.
- Further research is warranted to elucidate mechanisms and optimize strain-specific applications.
- Potential to improve infant and adult health outcomes through microbiome modulation.
Related Concept Videos
01:23Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Overview and Drug Absorption
586
Understanding the physiological differences in the pediatric population is crucial for effective pharmacotherapy. Neonates, infants, and children exhibit significant variations in gastric pH, gastric emptying time, intestinal transit time, and biliary function. These variations profoundly affect oral drug absorption, necessitating a nuanced approach to pediatric dosing.Neonates present with a unique physiological profile, having a gastric pH greater than 4 and faster and more irregular gastric...
586
01:29Drug Dosing: Infants and Children
628
Pediatric patient dosages diverge from adults due to disparities in body surface area, total body water, and extracellular fluid per kilogram of body weight. The dosing regimen considers the variations in pharmacokinetics and pharmacology across distinct age groups, encompassing preterm newborns, infants, young children, older children, and adolescents. Calculation of pediatric patient doses is predicated on determining body surface area, which exhibits a superior correlation with the child's...
628
01:23Anatomy of the Intestines
89.0K
Although digestion of proteins, carbohydrates, and lipids may begin in the stomach, it is completed in the intestine. The absorption of nutrients, water, and electrolytes from food and drink also occurs in the intestine. The intestines can be divided into two structurally distinct organs—the small and large intestines.
Small Intestines
The small intestine is an ~7 meter-long tube with an inner diameter of just 2.5 cm. Since most nutrients are absorbed here, the inner lining of the...
Small Intestines
The small intestine is an ~7 meter-long tube with an inner diameter of just 2.5 cm. Since most nutrients are absorbed here, the inner lining of the...
89.0K
01:26Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Excretion
343
In pediatric medicine, understanding the renal function and drug elimination nuances is crucial for administering safe and effective treatments. Newborns, in particular, display markedly slower renal functions than adults, profoundly affecting how drugs are cleared from their bodies. This slower drug clearance requires clinicians to extend the dosing intervals for many medications to prevent drug accumulation and toxicity while ensuring therapeutic efficacy.One key area where these adjustments...
343
01:24Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Metabolism
304
In pediatric care, understanding the nuances of hepatic drug metabolism is crucial, as it significantly differs from that of adults. This divergence is primarily due to the developmental stage of drug-metabolizing enzymes, which affects how medications are processed in the body. In neonates, for instance, the activity of Phase I enzymes—critical for the initial breakdown of drugs—is markedly reduced, functioning at just 20–40% of the levels seen in adults. This reduction poses...
304
01:29Microorganisms in Medicine and Therapeutics
1.3K
Microorganisms play a fundamental role in vaccine development, gene therapy, and therapeutic production. Their biological properties are harnessed to advance medicine and public health. Beyond immunization, microorganisms contribute to gut health, antibiotic synthesis, and genetic disease treatment.Live Attenuated and Inactivated VaccinesLive attenuated vaccines, such as the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine, utilize weakened forms of pathogens to closely resemble natural infections.
1.3K