AUTHORS ' CONCLUSIONS There is no clear evidence that probiotics are more effective than placebo at preventing infantile colic ; however , daily crying time appeared to reduce with probiotic use compared to placebo .
There were no clear differences in adverse effects .
BACKGROUND Infantile colic is typically defined as full-force crying for at least three hours per day , on at least three days per week , for at least three weeks .
Infantile colic affects a large number of infants and their families worldwide .
Its symptoms are broad and general , and while not indicative of disease , may represent a serious underlying condition in a small percentage of infants who may need a medical assessment .
Probiotics are live microorganisms that alter the microflora of the host and provide beneficial health effects .
The most common probiotics used are of Lactobacillus , Bifidobacterium and Streptococcus .
There is growing evidence to suggest that intestinal flora in colicky infants differ from those in healthy infants , and it is suggested that probiotics can redress this balance and provide a healthier intestinal microbiota l and scape .
The low cost and easy availability of probiotics makes them a potential prophylactic solution to reduce the incidence and prevalence of infantile colic .
OBJECTIVES To evaluate the efficacy and safety of prophylactic probiotics in preventing or reducing severity of infantile colic .
Accuracy of data in abstracts of published research articles.
CONTEXT The section of a research article most likely to be read is the abstract , and therefore it is particularly important that the abstract reflect the article faithfully . OBJECTIVE To assess abstract s accompanying research articles published in 6 medical journals with respect to whether data in the abstract could be verified in the article itself . DESIGN Analysis of simple r and om sample s of 44 articles and their accompanying abstract s published during 1 year(July 1 , 1996-June 30 , 1997 ) in each of 5 major general medical journals ( Annals of Internal Medicine , BMJ , JAMA , Lancet , and New Engl and Journal of Medicine ) and a consecutive sample of 44 articles published during 15 months ( July 1 , 1996-August 15 , 1997 ) in the CMAJ . MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE Abstract s were considered deficient if they contained data that were either inconsistent with corresponding data in the article 's body ( including tables and figures ) or not found in the body at all . RESULTS The proportion of deficient abstract s varied widely ( 18%-68 % ) and to a statistically significant degree ( P<.001 ) among the 6 journals studied . CONCLUSIONS Data in the abstract that are inconsistent with or absent from the article 's body are common , even in large-circulation general medical journals
AUTHORS ' CONCLUSIONS There is no clear evidence that probiotics are more effective than placebo at preventing infantile colic ; however , daily crying time appeared to reduce with probiotic use compared to placebo .
There were no clear differences in adverse effects .
BACKGROUND Infantile colic is typically defined as full-force crying for at least three hours per day , on at least three days per week , for at least three weeks .
Infantile colic affects a large number of infants and their families worldwide .
Its symptoms are broad and general , and while not indicative of disease , may represent a serious underlying condition in a small percentage of infants who may need a medical assessment .
Probiotics are live microorganisms that alter the microflora of the host and provide beneficial health effects .
The most common probiotics used are of Lactobacillus , Bifidobacterium and Streptococcus .
There is growing evidence to suggest that intestinal flora in colicky infants differ from those in healthy infants , and it is suggested that probiotics can redress this balance and provide a healthier intestinal microbiota l and scape .
The low cost and easy availability of probiotics makes them a potential prophylactic solution to reduce the incidence and prevalence of infantile colic .
OBJECTIVES To evaluate the efficacy and safety of prophylactic probiotics in preventing or reducing severity of infantile colic .