[Experience with selenium used to recover adrenocortical function in patients taking glucocorticosteroids long].

AIM: To study the effect of selenium on adrenocortical function in patients taking glucocorticosteroids (GCS) long. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The study included 56 patients who had been long taking oral GCS for the underlying disease. Adrenocortical function was evaluated by a short synacthen test; adrenal insufficiency (mean cortisol level 8.2 microg/dl) was identified in 52 patients. A study group of patients (n = 35) was given selenium 200 microg/day. A control group (n = 17) with the detected adrenal insufficiency did not take it. All the patients (n = 52) continued to receive standard therapy for the underlying disease, including oral GCS. RESULTS: Adrenal function was reexamined 6 months later; the two paired-samples t-test indicated a statistically significant increase in cortisol levels up to 23.20 +/- 4.2 microg/dl (p < or = 0.05) in the patient group receiving selenium in addition to the basic therapy. In the control group, the function did not recover (cortisol levels were 8.6 and 9.8 microg/dl at baseline and at 6 months, respectively; p < or = 0.05). CONCLUSION: The experience with selenium 200 microg/day given long to patients with adrenal insufficiency caused by the long-term use of GCS shows that the agent is effective in recovering adrenocortical function.

[Assessment of some oxidative stress parameters in bronchial asthma patients beyond add-on selenium supplementation].

The goal of this study was to investigate the effect of selenium deficit replenishment in patients with bronchial asthma (BA) on manifestations of oxidative stress and conditions of the antioxidant system (AOS). The need of correction of selenium deficit in BA-patient is determined by the increased needs in antioxidants due to chronic inflammatory process responcible for pathogenesis of BA. Latvia and also Eastern Finland, Byelorussia, some regions of Ukraine, some regions of the NorthWestern Russia, New Zealand belong to endemic areas with marked selen deficit in soils and foodstuff. Twenty patients (7 men and 13 women) with selen deficit and verified diagnosis of BA have been examined. In addition to basic therapy all patients received organic selenium SelenoPRECISE, ("PharmaNord") 200 microg daily for 16 weeks. This caused statistically significant increase of plasma selenium from 50.94+/-7.58 microg/l to 63.59+/-10.87 microg/l (p<0.001), the increase of selenium-dependent glutathione peroxidase (from 38.64+/-10.72 U/g Hb to 58.57+/-14.64 U/g Hb, p<0.001). Treatment of patients with selenium also normalized parameters charecterizing oxidative stress (chemiluminescence). The use of selenium in addition to basic therapy allows to abolish or alternate manifestations of oxidative stress by correcting the antioxidant system.

[External respiration function and quality of life in patients with bronchial asthma in correction of selenium deficiency].

AIM: To examine the effect of selenium (Se) adjuvant therapy on external respiration function (ERF) and quality of life (QOL) in bronchial asthma (BA) patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 26 patients with BA received standard therapy and adjuvant 200 mcg/day selenium (SelenoPRECISE, PharmaNord, Denmark) for 16 weeks. ERF was estimated by FEV1 and FVC, QOF--by the response to Juniper Adult Asthma Quality of life Short Questionnaire (AQLQ-S) at initiation and end of the study. Difference with the baseline was assessed using Paired Samples T-Test, SPSS 14.0. RESULTS: Paired-samples T-test showed that FVC increased significantly from 76.5 +/- 23.8% to 81.8 +/- 23.2% (p = 0.015). FEV1 showed a significant increase from 62.3 +/- 29.6% to 67.7 +/- 28.1% (p = 0.018). Total AQLQ score elevated from 3.25 to 4.71 (p = 0.01). CONCLUSION: Correction of Se deficiency in BA patients on standard therapy improves ERF and BA-related QOL. Mechanisms of a protective Se action are involved in antioxidant defense by means of Se participation in enzymatic detoxication of peroxides and a stabilizing effect on biomembranes.

[Arrhythmia associated with continuous cardiac pacing]. / Narusheniia ritma pri postoiannoi élektrokardiostimuliatsii.

The incidence and diagnostic criteria of heart rhythm disorders associated with a permanent pacemaker were assessed on the basis of data, obtained at a single electrocardiography in 1165 patients and continuous ECG recording in 49 patients. A high (94.4%) incidence of the spontaneous and induced rhythm competition at asynchronous stimulation has been demonstrated, indicating that the use of this stimulation regimen should be abandoned. The inhibition of a unipolar pacemaker by myopotentials at regular physical activity is rather uncommon and has no clinical value. VVI stimulation is often (45.2%) associated with variants of escape-capture bigeminy.

[Clinical trial of the operation of a Soviet apparatus for controlling implanted pacemakers]. / Klinicheskii opyt ékspluatatsii otechestvennoi apparatury dlia kontrolia implantirovannykh élektrokardiostimuliatorov.

The paper deals with an experience in applying Soviet equipment for monitoring implanted pacemakers on the basis of 616 observations on the implanted system of heart stimulation performed for 18 months. It presents an analysis of clinical signs of 48 disturbances found in the stimulation system, a discussion of diagnostic criteria for such disturbances as exhaustion of a source of pacemaker power supply, disorders in the electronic circuit, a break in an electrode, a dislocation of the endocardial electrode, an increase in the stimulation threshold. It has been concluded that the use of Soviet apparatus for monitoring implantable pacemakers makes it possible to reveal the very fact of disorder in the stimulation system effectively and to assess its character precisely.