Probiotics, a word of Greek origin composed of "pro" (promoting) and "biotic "(life), have been defined by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) as "live microorganisms, which, when administered in adequate amounts, confer a health benefit on the host". Over 500 different types of bacteria reside in the human digestive system. In recent years, the study of intestinal microbiota and therefore the use of probiotics have been extensively studied in promoting health, as well as in treating several diseases and not solely regarding the gastrointestinal system. This book summarises the more recent knowledge about intestinal microbiota, its pathological correlations and the use of probiotics in children for the maintenance, recovery, and strengthening of healthy strains at the expense of bad ones.

Paediatric gastrointestinal endoscopy has been greatly improving since its introduction and it is continuously evolving due to the tools' improvement and the specific training of the staff. Currently this technique can be performed in children of all age including preterm infants. This book illustrates the specific performance techniques of gastrointestinal endoscopy in pediatric age both with regard to diagnosis of gastrointestinal pathologies and their operative use in the upper and lower gastrointestinal tract. One of the most famous international paediatric endoscopists tells us the history of pediatric GI endoscopy, its achievements, and where it is going. Moreover in the first part of the book the preparatory stages to gastrointestinal endoscopy are widely discussed. Afterwards, specific chapters discuss the examination of the ileum with new instruments from single- and double-balloon enteroscopy, to wireless capsule endoscopy. Furthermore some authoritative authors illustrate the management of GI endoscopy in particular situations such as cystic fibrosis, gastrointestinal tumours, graft-versus host disease, and some others deal with the management of complications that can occur during endoscopic procedures. Finally a special focus is given on endoscopic ultrasound and the application of new optical techniques, fields continuously evolving both in technology tools and in diagnostic applications mainly in the paediatric age.