Objective: To investigate the effect of a probiotic milk product containing the culture CAUSIDO 1 and of two alternative products on risk factors for cardiovascular disease in overweight and obese subjects. Design: An 8 week randomized, double-blind, placebo-and compliance-controlled, parallel study. Subjects: Seventy healthy, weight-stable, overweight and obese (25.0`BMI`37.5 kgam 2 ) males (n 20) and females (n 50), 18 ± 55 y old, were randomly assigned into ®ve groups. Intervention: Four groups consumed 450 ml fermented milk products (yoghurt) daily. Group 1: a yoghurt fermented with two strains of Streptococcus thermophilus and two strains of Lactobacillus acidophilus (StLa). Group 2: a placebo yoghurt fermented with delta-acid-lactone (PY). Group 3: a yoghurt fermented with two strains of Streptococcus thermophilus and one strain of Lactobacillus rhamnosus (StLr). Group 4: a yoghurt fermented with one strain of Enterococcus faecium and two strains of Streptococcus thermophilus (CAUSIDO 1 culture), GAIO 1 (G). The dietary composition of the yoghurt was otherwise similar. The ®fth group was given two placebo pills (PP) daily. Results: When comparing all ®ve treatment groups, unadjusted for changes in body weight, no statistical effects were observed in week 8 in the G-group on low density lipoproteins (LDL)-cholesterol (P 0.29). After adjustment for small changes in body weight, LDL-cholesterol decreased by 8.4% (0.26 AE 0.10 mmolal; P`0.05) and ®brinogen increased (0.74AE 0.32 mmolal; P`0.05) after 8 weeks in the G-group. This was signi®cantly different from the group consuming chemically fermented yoghurt and the group consuming placebo pills (P`0.05). After 8 weeks, systolic blood pressure was signi®cantly more reduced in the StLa and Ggroup compared to StLr. No other differences were found. Conclusion: The CAUSIDO 1 culture reduced LDL-cholesterol and increased ®brinogen in the overweight subjects at a 450 ml consumption daily for 8 weeks. The effect on LDL-cholesterol con®rms previous studies. An immunostimulation by one of the strains in the product might explain the effect on ®brinogen in the G-group.

BCG vaccination poses a risk to infants perinatally infected with HIV and to other primary immunodeficient children. The proposed pediatric BCG disease classification reflects clinically relevant disease categories in HIV-infected children. The suggested diagnostic and treatment guidelines should improve existing case management and surveillance. Prospective evaluation of management strategies for BCG disease in HIV-infected and HIV-uninfected children is essential.

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