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Background and Purpose: Oxygen free radicals appear in the early phase of acute pancreatitis followed by an imbalance between the oxygen and anti-oxygen system. Sodium selenite may play an important role in the reduction of radicals in experimental pancreatitis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of selenium in a clinical prospective trial., Patients and Methods: 70 patients with acute pancreatitis were prospectively allocated to a selenium and a placebo group. Clinical and paraclinical parameters were investigated with a follow-up of 90 days after hospital stay., Results: The clinical course of the two treatment groups did not show statistically significant differences. Five patients in the selenium and three patients in the placebo group died. Depending on selenium therapy, antioxidant substances were presented in higher levels. All 17 clinical parameters showed no statistical significance., Conclusion: Substitution of sodium selenite has no beneficial effect on the clinical outcome of patients with acute pancreatitis.

Patients and Method: In 29 women with the necessity to terminate pregnancy via Cesarean section, lipid peroxidation and antioxidative state were investigated before and 24 hours after the surgical intervention as well as after substitution of antioxidants and trace elements., Results: The results indicate that administration of antioxidants protects at least partially from consequences of surgically induced oxidative burden.

Patients and Method: 17 patients (8 female, 9 male; age 8.2 +/- 3.7 years) with phenylketonuria under phenylalanin restricted diet were investigated prior to and after 3 months of selenium substitution (sodium selenite, 115 micrograms Se/m2 BSA/d). Different parameters in blood were determined: selenium, glutathione peroxidase (Gpx) activity, thyroid hormones, blood cell count, lymphocytic antigen expression, muscle function and -enzymes, cardiac ultrasound., Results: The main significant results of selenium substitution are: increased plasma-selenium, blood cell selenium, plasma-Gpx activity and left ventricular cardiac index as well as decreased plasma thyroxin, free thyroxin, reverse triiodthyronin, total cholesterol, mean erythrocyte and thrombocyte volume and lymphocytic CD2 expression., Conclusion: The data indicate metabolic and functional signs of selenium deficiency in patients with phenylketonuria without selenium substitution. We conclude that, despite of lacking clinical symptoms, a selenium supply in phenylketonuria patients under diet is necessary and should be performed with usefull peroral sodium selenite (115 micrograms Se/m2 BSA/d) initially, followed by a dosage between 30 and 60 micrograms Se/m2 BSA/d).

In cystic fibrosis (CF) patients the antioxidative-oxidative balance is chronically disturbed. Free radicals were generated by bronchial-pulmonal infection and additional exist a deficiency of antioxidative substances by enteral malabsorption especially vitamin E and selenium. Because selenium is an essential content of glutathione peroxidase, which is acting in cytosol and cell membranes, for the present we tested a selenium therapy (peroral sodium selenite 155 micrograms (Se/m2 BSA/d i. e. 4 micrograms Se/kg/d; 4 fold of recommended supply) in 32 CF patients. After three months of this therapy we have seen positive metabolic (normalized content of plasma-selenium, -glutathione peroxidase), endocrine (enhanced efficacy of thyroid hormones, mild increased IgF-I reduced LDL-chol) and clinical consequences (enhanced left ventricular cardiac output), but in three patients side effects (anorexia, nausea, mild hair loss) were observed. Longtime sodium selenite therapy only with 60 micrograms Se/m2 BSA/d over 1 year, stabilized the favourable influences without side effects. For CF patients therefore we recommend a sodium selenite substitution therapy, the best in combination with vitamin E.

In women with normal pregnancy and with pathological pregnancy (pregnancy-induced hypertension, fetal growth retardation, hepatosis) trace elements concentrations (Fe++, Cu++, Zn++, Mg++) were determined in serum and erythrocytes. The concentrations were partly decreased or increased in both serum and erythrocytes, but these changes were not significant. Thus, the analyses of trace element concentrations can not be used as a marker of the investigated pathological events of pregnancy.

In the course of normal pregnancy the selenium concentration in serum decreases significantly. The selenium concentration is enhanced in pregnant women with intrauterine growth retardation or hepatosis and unchanged in those with pregnancy-induced hypertension in comparison with healthy pregnant women. In our investigations no changes of the intracellular selenium concentrations in erythrocytes were measured in normal as well as in pathological pregnancy.

Serum concentrations of thiobarbituric acid reagible substance (TBARS) as indicator of lipid peroxidation, alpha-tocopherol and selen have been investigated in women with normal pregnancy and patients suffered from pregnancy-induced hypertension. In the group of patients with pregnancy-induced hypertension we observed an increase in serum concentration of TBARS, where as the serum concentrations of alpha-tocopherol and selen were unchanged. There was no correlation between increase in TBARS concentration and the severity of hypertension.

Determination of ferritin is suitable for estimation of iron stores as well as for diagnosis of iron deficiency during pregnancy. It shall be used preventively in the 20th gestational week and to control treatment. Determinations of serum iron concentration, iron binding capacity and partial transferrin saturation are less suitable. Substitution of iron should start when a sufficient compensation of the iron deficiency is still possible. For this purpose Vitaferro is a suitable drug.

Submandibular saliva from 111 persons was collected and the secretion rate was determined before and after stimulation with Ascorvit. Analyses from Na, K, Ca, Mg and Zn were carried out by atomic absorptions spectroscopy respectively by flame emission analysis.

In the present investigation the contents of sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, iron, copper, and zinc were determined in ashes of cadaver material from great saphenous veins and arteries.

A contribution concerning distribution and elimination of magnesium sulphate in pregnant women with preterm labour and fetal retardation is given. From the kinetic parameters calculated a dosage regimen is recommended. To describe the physiologic magnesium level in plasma by a two-compartment model a kind of "continuous infusion" was assumed.

Inorganic phosphate stimulates the release of Mg++ from liver mitochondria, depending on concentration; a concentration as low as 0.1 mM phosphate is already effective. The process is dependent on the electron transfer of the respiratory chain, and its rate is highest under conditions of endogenous respiration and with ascorbate and TMPD as substrates, respectively. The phosphate stimulated release of Mg++ is followed, with a pronounced delay, by a Ca++ efflux and a swelling of mitochondria. Addition of EGTA strongly reduced the rate of Mg++ liberation in the presence and absence of inorganic phosphate. Exogenous Ca++ is able to abolish the EGTA effect. ADP and ATP inhibit the phosphate stimulated release of Mg++. Phosphoenol pyruvate and free fatty acids enhance the rate of Mg++ and Ca++ efflux from the mitochondria. The results permit the conclusion that inorganic phosphate, Ca++ and various metabolites of the cell metabolism influence the Mg++ distribution between the extra- and intramitochondrial space, thus controlling the permeability of the mitochondrial inner membrane for monovalent cations.

The concentrations of electrolytes Na, K, Ca, Mg, and Cl and trace elements Cu and Zn were determined in the lumbar cerebrospinal fluids of forty patients with multiple sclerosis. Metal ion concentrations were measured using atomic absorption spectroscopy and flame photometry, respectively. Compared with corresponding values obtained from a control group, statistically significant increases in concentration of Na, Cl, Ca, and Zn have been found. Also reported are the results of determinations of ion concentrations in cerebrospinal fluids obtained from patients suffering from diseases other than multiple sclerosis. Possible causes of deviations from the norm are discussed.

39 pregnant women, hemoglobin in serum less than or equal to 6,80 mmol/l were treated with Vitaferro, Folicombin and additional vitamins. Test groups were formed by means of randomisation. Hematological and clinicochemical parameters were measured before, as well as 2 and 6 weeks after starting treatment and the results were evaluated.--In the diagnosis of iron deficiency anemia in pregnancy serum iron concentration and iron-binding capacity are sufficient. The diagnosis is proved by an increase of the serum hemoglobin 2 weeks after starting therapy. For the total number of patients an increase of hemoglobin could be proved 2- and 6 weeks after starting therapy. However, the 3 chosen therapeutic methods did not show any differences in statistically proved values in form of therapeutic results. This is, in our view, due to given deviation and the specific character of the test group. During pregnancy iron deficiency anemia should be treated by doses more than 100 mg iron per day. Normalization of the hemoglobin under iron substitution is no indication for immediate interruption of the treatment.

In this paper we represent results concerning pharmacokinetics and bioavailability of iron after the oral application of Vitaferro to women in the second half of pregnancy suffering or not from anaemia in comparison to nonpregnant women. The significance of different parameters used to proof an iron deficiency is discussed. In all pregnant probands the bioavailability of Vitaferro is about twice as high as in nonpregnant women. Also the parameters of elimination refer to an enhanced retention of iron during pregnancy. We conclude from our investigations that an iron deficiency may be diagnosed well by the determination of haemoglobin values, iron concentration in serum, binding capacity and resorption of iron. During pregnancy the preparation Vitaferro is well resorbed and does not cause incompatibilities. Thus it is suitable for the treatment of anaemia during pregnancy.

The analysis of the elements iron, zinc, copper, and magnesium in the serum allows no assertion on diagnosis and course of the adeno- and squamous cell carcinoma in the lung to the present date.