A chatbot-based intervention with ELME to improve stress and health-related parameters in a stressed sample: Study protocol of a randomised controlled trial.

Background: Stress levels in the general population had already been increasing in recent years, and have subsequently been exacerbated by the global pandemic. One approach for innovative online-based interventions are "chatbots" - computer programs that can simulate a text-based interaction with human users via a conversational interface. Research on the efficacy of chatbot-based interventions in the context of mental health is sparse. The present study is designed to investigate the effects of a three-week chatbot-based intervention with the chatbot ELME, aiming to reduce stress and to improve various health-related parameters in a stressed sample. Methods: In this multicenter, two-armed randomised controlled trial with a parallel design, a three-week chatbot-based intervention group including two daily interactive intervention sessions via smartphone (á 10-20 min.) is compared to a treatment-as-usual control group. A total of 130 adult participants with a medium to high stress levels will be recruited in Germany. Assessments will take place pre-intervention, post-intervention (after three weeks), and follow-up (after six weeks). The primary outcome is perceived stress. Secondary outcomes include self-reported interoceptive accuracy, mindfulness, anxiety, depression, personality, emotion regulation, psychological well-being, stress mindset, intervention credibility and expectancies, affinity for technology, and attitudes towards artificial intelligence. During the intervention, participants undergo ecological momentary assessments. Furthermore, satisfaction with the intervention, the usability of the chatbot, potential negative effects of the intervention, adherence, potential dropout reasons, and open feedback questions regarding the chatbot are assessed post-intervention. Discussion: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first chatbot-based intervention addressing interoception, as well as in the context with the target variables stress and mindfulness. The design of the present study and the usability of the chatbot were successfully tested in a previous feasibility study. To counteract a low adherence of the chatbot-based intervention, a high guidance by the chatbot, short sessions, individual and flexible time points of the intervention units and the ecological momentary assessments, reminder messages, and the opportunity to postpone single units were implemented. Trial registration: The trial is registered at the WHO International Clinical Trials Registry Platform via the German Clinical Trials Register (DRKS00027560; date of registration: 06 January 2022). This is protocol version No. 1. In case of important protocol modifications, trial registration will be updated.

Measurement procedure for glucose in serum using liquid chromatography isotope dilution--tandem mass spectrometry (LC-ID-MS/MS).

BACKGROUND: We developed and validated a measurement procedure for glucose using liquid chromatography-isotope dilution tandem mass spectrometry. The proposed method is intended to be used for setting target values in EQAS samples and for certification of glucose reference materials, including those in biological matrices. METHODS: Serum samples were spiked with internal standard 13C6 D-glucose. Protein precipitation was performed with ethanol. The samples were vortexed and centrifuged. An aliquot of the supernatant was evaporated to dryness, the residue dissolved in elution buffer and injected into the LC-MS/MS system. Measurements were performed in the positive ion mode monitoring the Cs+ adducts for glucose at m/z 313 --> 132.9 and m/z 319 --> 132.9 for the internal standard. RESULTS: The coefficient of variation (CV) of the measurement procedure for lyophilized, liquid, and fresh serum samples was between 0.27 and 1.77%. The bias from certified target values for NIST reference materials was < or = 0.62%. A Deming regression comparison demonstrated a good correlation of results obtained with the proposed LC-ID-MS/MS method and target values obtained in the internationally accepted IFCC-RELA ring trial using JCTLM-recognized reference measurement procedures. CONCLUSIONS: The proposed LC-ID-MS/MS measurement procedure with traceability to SI units shows excellent accuracy and precision and is suitable for use as reference measurement procedure for certification of target values in lyophilized and fresh serum samples.

[The White man's burden - a case study caught between bipolar affective disorder and Huntington's disease]. / White Man's Burden - Im Grenzgebiet zwischen bipolarer affektiver Störung und Huntington-Erkrankung.

We report upon a case of a 55 year old patient with a bipolar affective disorder, presenting herself with a depressive symptomatology in addition to a severe motor perturbation. The main emphasis upon admittance was perfecting and improving her latest medication. Four weeks prior to her stay at our clinic a thorough neurological examination had taken place in terms of an invalidity pension trial which did not result in any diagnostic findings. Therefore a neurological disease seemed at first highly unlikely. Even though the prior testing was negative, the ensuing neurological examination at our clinic resulted in movement disorders very much indicative of Huntington's Disease. A detailed investigation in regards to the particular family history of the patient was positive for Huntington's Disease. However, whether the patient's mother had also been a genetic carrier of Huntington's Disease was still unknown at the time the patient was admitted to our clinic. It was nevertheless discovered that her mother had also suffered from a bipolar affective disorder. A genetic testing that followed the neurological examination of the patient proved positive for Huntington's Disease. Neuro-imaging resulted in a bicaudate-index of 2.4 (the critical value is 1.8). In a clinical psychological test battery the ensuing results were highly uncommon for patients with solely a bipolar affective disorder people. Under the medical regimen of Quetiapine, Citalopram and Tiaprid the patient's mood could be stabilized and there was some improvement of her motor pertubation.

How to design magneto-based total analysis systems for biomedical applications.

This article reviews recent developments on magnetoresistive detection of magnetic beads or nanoparticles by nanoscale sized sensors. Sensors are analyzed from an experimental and a numerical point of view in respect to their capability to either localize the position of a single magnetic particle or to detect the number of particles in a certain range. Guidelines are shown up on how to extend single sensors to sensor arrays with very high spatial resolution and how to modify the sensor shape in order to provide long distance measurements. Further, sensors in biological lab-on-a-chip environments are discussed. The magnetic ratchet and a gravitation based microfluidic component are reviewed as important tools to position and, therefore, detect biological components in continuous-flow devices.

A systematic study of the clinical and biochemical expression of variegate porphyria in a large South African family.

BACKGROUND: Variegate porphyria (VP) is an autosomal dominant disorder associated with deficient haem synthesis. Recent reports indicate that the clinical penetrance of VP may have been overestimated in studies which predated the availability of DNA-based testing for VP. OBJECTIVES: To undertake a study specifically designed to assess the clinical and biochemical penetrance of VP in a kindred characterized by gene status. METHODS: We studied a large family carrying the South African founder mutation which is known to result in almost complete haplodeficiency. All informative members were tested for the R59W mutation. Biochemical evidence of porphyria was sought by porphyrin analysis and by plasma fluorescence scanning. The presence of clinically expressed porphyria was assessed using a structured questionnaire and telephone or personal interview. RESULTS: Of 62 informative subjects, 33 had inherited the mutation. Of 28 adults, one subject had experienced a single acute attack. She and a further 10 subjects had experienced photosensitivity. The frequency of acute attacks in this family is therefore 4% (95% confidence interval, CI 1-18%), and of photosensitivity is 39.3% (95% CI 24-58%). The sensitivity and specificity of porphyrin analysis in this family were 0.46 (95% CI 0.30-0.64) and 1.00 (95% CI 0.85-1.00), respectively, and for plasma scanning the values were 0.85 (95% CI 0.58-0.96) and 1.00 (95% CI 0.72-1.00), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The clinical penetrance of VP in our family is approximately 40%. Many more subjects with VP are diagnosed in an asymptomatic phase than previously, and the acute attack is now an uncommon manifestation of VP. Plasma scanning is more sensitive than faecal porphyrin analysis, but neither is sufficiently sensitive for the detection of carrier status.

Influence of cyanoacrylate on the efficiency of forensic PCRs.

Cyanoacrylate ester (CA) is commonly used by criminalists to detect latent fingerprints on smooth surfaces. We investigated whether this treatment has an influence on a subsequent DNA typing of biological stains, and on the efficiency of three different forensic PCRs (mtDNA, Y-STR determination and the Profiler Plus kit). Using fluorescence labeled primers and an automated detection system, we could show that the presence of CA led to weaker PCR products. Depending on the DNA extraction method the amplification results were significantly weaker compared to untreated controls. To simulate forensic cases we prepared blood and saliva stains on glass slides, extracted the DNA using two different methods and compared the signal intensities of the amplified DNA fragments. Depending on the extraction methods, the presence of CA significantly hampered the amplification of DNA from small stains whereas there was virtually no difference comparing the amplification results of DNA extracted from bigger stains.

The determination of free and protein-bound haemoglobin in plasma using a combination of HPLC and absorption spectrometry.

The aim of the study was to develop a method for the determination of haemoglobin in plasma suitable for use to set target values for external quality assessment schemes for this analyte using commercially available test kits and equipment. In the early phase of the method development it became clear that the use of a single method, namely HPLC, would not be possible. However, by combining HPLC and absorption spectrophotometry, both qualitative and quantitative rapid determinations of protein-bound and free haemoglobin were able to be performed on equipment present in most routine clinical chemistry laboratories. The separation of protein-bound and free haemoglobin could be carried out using commercial HPLC equipment for the determination of haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) without modification of the conditions used. Instead of haemolysed blood, the same volume of plasma (10 microl) was injected. The eluate was not discarded, but collected in 1-minute fractions so that the void volume (protein-bound Hb) and the haemoglobin peaks (free Hb) were available for the colorimetric determination of haemoglobin using the pseudoperoxidase activity of the haem moiety on hydrogen peroxide and a chromogen (3,3',5,5'-tetramethylbenzidine) in concentrated acetic acid and optimal determination at 600 nm. (In this publication at 578 nm due to the use of a spectrophotometer with Hg-discharge lamp and filter). The appearance of a blue colour in the reaction tube or cuvette indicated the presence of haemoglobin. The use of the above chromogen, with its absorption maximum around 600 nm excluded interference from serum components such as bilirubin, which may interfere in the conventional method often used to determine plasma haemoglobin. The method can be used quantitatively by including an aqueous human haemoglobin standard in the run. This elutes from the HPLC column only as free haemoglobin in the concentration range from 0.1 to 10 g/l. Addition of human haemoglobin to haemoglobin-free plasma resulted in the binding of all Hb to plasma proteins up to a concentration between 2 and 3 g/l (void-volume fraction). At higher concentrations free Hb appeared in the 3-5 minute fractions. These observations agree with published data on the scavenging capacity of plasma for Hb released from erythrocytes. The method is rapid, (HPLC-run maximally 6 min, quantitative colorimetric results 5-10 min) precise (inter-assay coefficients of variation < 8%) and suitable for answering the question as to whether the protein-binding (scavenging) system which prevents the nephro- and cerebrotoxic effects of haemoglobin has been saturated or not, an important question in patients with acute haemolysis problems. A qualitative result is obtainable within 10 minutes of injecting the sample into the HPLC-system. The use of this assay in controlling blood transfusion and haemolytic events arising from surgery, intravascular haemolytic bacteria or artificial heart valves can help in rapid corrective action, if needed.

Identification of the first variegate porphyria mutation in an indigenous black South African and further evidence for heterogeneity in variegate porphyria.

Variegate porphyria is an autosomal dominant disorder of haem metabolism resulting from reduced levels of the penultimate enzyme in the pathway, protoporphyrinogen oxidase. Here we investigate the molecular basis of variegate porphyria in four non-R59W South African families. We report the identification of the first mutation in the protoporphyrinogen oxidase gene in a black South African individual (V290M). In addition, we document three further mutations, a missense mutation (L15F), a deletion followed by a substitution [c769delG;770T > A], and a nonsense mutation (Q375X), in individuals of European or mixed ancestry. Our data provide further evidence of genetic heterogeneity in South Africa.

Homozygous variegate porphyria in South Africa: genotypic analysis in two cases.

Variegate porphyria is an autosomal dominant disorder of heme metabolism which results from decreased activity of the enzyme protoporphyrinogen oxidase. Clinically, the disease manifests postpubertally and is characterized by photocutaneous sensitivity and/or acute neurovisceral crises. However, in homozygous variegate porphyria, onset of the disease usually occurs in infancy with severe skin manifestations. The molecular basis of variegate porphyria in two severely affected probands in two South African families is described. Mutation detection included combined SSCP-heteroduplex analysis followed by direct sequencing. The unrelated probands both had the common R59W mutation while the other lesion was Y348C or R138P (both novel mutations), causing homozygous variegate porphyria.

Evaluation of the LIAISON thyroid chemiluminescence immunoassays.

The LIAISON thyroid hormone assays TSH, FT4, FT3, T4 and T3 were evaluated by determining the imprecision, the reference ranges, the functional sensitivity (TSH), the dilution characteristics (accuracy) (FT4, FT3), and the recovery after spiking (TSH, T4, T3). Furthermore, inter-method comparisons were performed with following methods: Elecsys (Roche Diagnostics; TSH), AxSYM (Abbott Diagnostics; TSH, FT4, FT3, T4), ACS:180 (Bayer Diagnostics; all analytes), Amerlex-M (Johnson & Johnson; T4) and LISO-Phase (Techno Genetics; FT4). The fully automated LIAISON random access analyser is based on microparticle immunoassays and chemiluminescence. The coefficients of variation (CV) of intra-assay imprecision were between 0.2-6.0%, except for the control sample with extremely low TSH concentrations and low T3 concentrations. Inter-assay imprecision was performed by measuring controls covering the measuring range over a period of 9 to 20 days, with CVs ranging from 2.3-16.0%. The suitability of the sample material was determined by analysing serum and samples treated with EDTA, citrate or heparin in parallel. The results showed good correlations of the thyroid hormone concentrations between serum and plasma samples except for LIAISON FT3, for which lower results were observed with EDTA-plasma. The regression analysis of correlation studies gave slopes from 0.849 to 0.957 for TSH, from 1.023 to 1.375 for FT4, from 0.670 to 0.911 for FT3, from 0.917 to 1.166 for T4 and 1.00 for T3 depending on the concentration range and the method of comparison. The LIAISON FT4 assay showed a trend towards higher values in the high concentration range when compared with the ACS:180. The ranges of thyroid hormone concentrations determined in serum taken from apparently healthy subjects were found to be in accordance with published data. The clinical sample study confirmed that the LIAISON thyroid hormone assays are sensitive methods for the differentiation of euthyroid subjects and patients with hyper- and hypothyroidism. In conclusion, the automated thyroid hormone immunoassays on the random-access LIAISON immunoassay analyser proved to be very satisfactory, both from the analytical and the clinical point of view.

Visible-light detoxification and charge generation by transition metal chloride modified titania.

Amorphous microporous metal oxides of titanium (AMM-Ti) modified with chlorides of PtIV, IrIV, RhIII, AuIII, PdII, CoII, and NiII have been prepared by the sol-gel method and characterized by various surface analytical methods. These hybrid AMM-Ti powders are catalysts for the photodegradation of 4-chlorophenol (4-CP) in aqueous solution when illuminated with visible (lambda > or = 400 or 455 nm) or UV (lambda > or = 335 nm) light. The initial rate depends on the dopant level and is highest at 3.0% Pt in the case of PtIV/AMM-Ti. When employed in a photoelectrochemical cell, the activity spectrum of the photocurrent extends downward to about 600 nm, as does the photodegradation of 4-CP. It is suggested that the metal salt acts as a redox-active chromophore, transmitting the photogenerated charges to the amorphous matrix.

[Effect of preventive selenium administration on development of ERCP-induced acute pancreatitis]. / Einfluss einer prophylaktischen Selensubstitution auf die Entwicklung der ERCP-bedingten akuten Pankreatitis.

BACKGROUND: Sodium selenite may play a role in reduction of enhanced oxygen free radicals in the early phase of experimental acute pancreatitis. The aim of the study was to determine whether ERCP induced pancreatitis can be used as a human model for early acute pancreatitis and if a prophylactic antioxidant therapy with sodium selenite or a prophylactic antibiotic therapy has a beneficial effect on the clinical outcome in patients with ERCP. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Sixty patients were randomly allocated in 3 groups: A (n = 20, sodium selenite i.v. 1 day before ERCP 1 mg bolus/2 x 1 mg infusion); B (n = 20, metronidazole 0.5 g/ofloxacin 0.2 g before and 6 hours after ERCP); C (n = 20, controls, no prophylaxis). Various labor parameters and physical complaints after ERCP were determined. RESULTS: Patients with an antibiotic prophylaxis or with a sodium selenite substitution had no less physical complaints or pancreatitis than the controls. Seven patients (= 11.7%) developed a pancreatitis after ERCP. Concentration of zinc, copper, manganese, vitamin A and E did not differ significantly between the various groups. CONCLUSION: A prophylactic substitution with sodium selenite or prophylactic antibiotic therapy with metronidazole/ofloxacin has no beneficial effect on the clinical outcome in patients with ERCP.

New results concerning the behavior of cellulose acetate in solutions and films by means of CD measurements.

Cellulose acetate (DS = 2.45) was extensively investigated by Circular Dichroism (CD) in acetonitrile and dioxane. We found great differences between the CD spectra of a 1 wt % acetonitrile solution and the corresponding dioxane solution of cellulose acetate (CA) indicating that the macromolecules exist in those solutions in different molecular arrangements (e.g., persistence length, solvatation shell). The resulting morphologies could be transformed reversibly into each other, as we found by measuring the CA in mixtures of both solvents. Solid CA films show discernible CD spectra depending on the solvent they were evaporated from. In this way, we prepared solid films of the same polysaccharide owning different chiral properties. Furthermore, changes in the spectra occurred with increasing CA concentration. Basing upon our findings, some general statements concerning the polymer behavior of CA are possible.

Identification and characterisation of a deletion (537delAT) in the protoporphyrinogen oxidase gene in a South African variegate porphyria family.

Variegate porphyria is an autosomal dominant disorder of haem metabolism resulting from a partial decrease in protoporphyrinogen oxidase activity. Variegate porphyria is highly prevalent in South Africa, the result of a founder effect now confirmed genetically as a single point mutation (R59W) which has been described in nearly all South African variegate porphyria patients studied. Only two other mutations (H20P, R168C) have been reported in South Africa. We utilised simultaneous, single-stranded conformational polymorphism and heteroduplex analysis, and direct sequencing to identify a further mutation; a 2 bp deletion in exon 6 which results in a premature stop codon 11 codons downstream from the mutation and is the first reported deletion in the protoporphyrinogen oxidase gene in a South African family. The familial segregation of this mutation strongly suggests that it is the disease causing mutation for variegate porphyria in this family. This further evidence for allelic heterogeneity limits the utility of tests for the R59W mutation in the diagnosis of variegate porphyria in South Africa.

Antibodies against the GB virus C envelope 2 protein before liver transplantation protect against GB virus C de novo infection.

GB virus C (GBV-C) is a newly discovered RNA virus related to the Flaviviridae family. Although GBV-C is not yet associated with any cause of liver disease, a humoral immune response against the GBV-C envelope 2 (E2) protein has been observed. Therefore, we studied the prevalence and clinical relevance of GBV-C RNA and anti-E2 antibodies in patients undergoing orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT). In addition, we tested whether the prevalence of anti-E2 antibodies may protect against GBV-C infection. Of the 182 liver recipients included in this study, 117 of these were evaluated for GBV-C recurrence or de novo infection. GBV-C RNA was detected in sera or plasma using single-tube, reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction, and anti-E2 antibody was detected by enzyme immunoassay (EIA). Cumulative patient and graft survival was tested by using Kaplan-Meier analysis. The independence of prognostic values was assessed by using Cox regression analysis. Before OLT, GBV-C RNA and anti-E2 were detected in 4.0% to 28.6% and 10.0% to 68.8%, respectively, of patients suffering from different forms of chronic liver diseases. GBV-C reinfection after OLT was determined in 85.7%. Of the patients without evidence of exposure to GBV-C before OLT, 30 of 65 (46.2%) became GBV-C RNA positive after OLT. None of the 38 patients who were anti-E2 antibody positive before OLT became GBV-C RNA positive after OLT. Neither patient nor graft survival was significantly affected by the presence of either GBV-C RNA or anti-E2 antibody before OLT. Our data indicate that 1) GBV-C RNA positive patients have a high risk of reinfection after OLT, and 2) the presence of anti-E2 antibodies before OLT is associated with an absence of GBV-C infection after OLT, which may indicate a protective role of anti-E2 antibodies.

GB virus C/hepatitis G virus infection: a favorable prognostic factor in human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients?

To investigate a possible influence of GB virus C (GBV-C) in immunocompromised patients, the prevalences of GBV-C RNA and anti-E2 antibody in 197 human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients and in 120 control blood donors were studied. GBV-C RNA was detected in 33 of 197 HIV-infected patients (16.8%) compared with 1 in 120 blood donors (0.8%) (P < .001). Previous exposure to GBV-C (anti-E2 antibody-positive) was shown in 56.8% of HIV patients and in 9% of blood donors. GBV-C viremia was not associated with hepatitis. Despite approximately equal duration of HIV infection in all subgroups, the CD4 cell counts were significantly higher in GBV-C-viremic patients (344 cells/microL) compared with exposed (259 cells/microL) and unexposed (170 cells/microL) patients (P = .017 and P < .001). Furthermore, Kaplan-Meier analysis demonstrated significantly better cumulative survival in GBV-C RNA-positive HIV-infected patients, suggesting that GBV-C might be a favorable prognostic factor in HIV disease.

Variegate porphyria in South Africa, 1688-1996--new developments in an old disease.

Variegate porphyria, an autosomal dominant inherited trait resulting in decreased activity of protoporphyrinogen oxidase, the penultimate haem biosynthetic enzyme, is characterised clinically by photosensitive skin disease and a propensity to acute neurovisceral crises. The disease has an exceptionally high frequency in South Africa, owing to a founder effect. The specific mutation in the protoporphyrinogen oxidase gene sequence which represents this founder gene has been identified. Genetic diagnosis is therefore now possible in families in whom the gene defect is known. However, the exact nature and degree of activity of the porphyria can only be determined by detailed quantitative biochemical analysis of excreted porphyrins. The relative contributions of the acute attack and the skin disease to the total disease burden of patients with variegate porphyria is not static, and in South Africa there have been significant changes over the past 25 years, with fewer patients presenting with acute attacks, leaving a greater proportion to present with skin disease or to remain asymptomatic with the diagnosis being made in the laboratory. The most common precipitating cause of the acute attack of VP is administration of porphyrinogenic drugs. Specific suppression of haem synthesis with intravenous haem arginate is the most useful treatment of a moderate or severe acute attack. Although cutaneous lesions are limited to the sun-exposed areas, management of the skin disease of VP remains inadequate.

Effects of fluvastatin therapy on lipids, antioxidants, oxidation of low density lipoproteins and trace metals.

OBJECTIVE: Oxidation of low density lipoproteins (LDL) is thought to be an important step in the development of atherosclerosis. Trace metals are involved in oxidative processes. It was of interest to determine whether lipid-lowering therapy with fluvastatin, a potent HMGCoA reductase inhibitor, affected LDL oxidation and trace metal levels. METHODS: Twenty hypercholesterolemic patients were treated with fluvastatin (40 mg twice daily) or placebo for 8 weeks in a double-blind, randomized study. LDL composition, antioxidants and oxidizability as well as plasma zinc, copper, selenium and manganese concentrations were investigated. RESULTS: After fluvastatin treatment, total cholesterol was reduced by 24%, triglycerides fell by 26% and plasma Zn fell by 8%. Cu, Se and Mn changed insignificantly. LDL were separated by ultracentrifugation. LDL were reduced by 18%, LDL-C by 29% and LDL-TG by 19%. The concentrations of alpha-tocopherol and retinol in LDL changed insignificantly. LDL preparations were incubated with copper ions (204 mumol.1(-1) LDL-C/3.2 mumol.1(-1) Cu) and formation of conjugated dienes was monitored at 234 nm for 5 h. Treatment with fluvastatin caused a reduction of diene production by 16% and of diene production rate by 14%, effects being significantly different from placebo (P = 0.02). The change of the lagtime did not reach significance; however, it was positively correlated with the change in LDL alpha-tocopherol. In the placebo group, no significant effects were observed. CONCLUSION: Fluvastatin therapy had lipid-lowering and antioxidative effects.

[Effect of selenium administration on various laboratory parameters in patients with acute pancreatitis]. / Einfluss einer Selensubstitution auf verschiedene Laborparameter bei Patienten mit akuter Pankreatitis.

BACKGROUND: Recent studies presented evidence that activation of oxygen derived free radicals occurs in patients with acute pancreatitis. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of sodium selenite as a possible antioxidant therapy in acute pancreatitis. PATIENTS AND METHOD: 16 patients with moderate form of acute pancreatitis received a high dose of sodium selenite. Selenium in serum and whole blood, zinc, copper, manganese, superoxid dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (Gpx) and malondialdehyde (MDA) were determined (before selenium substitution, 3 days later, 8 days later, before demission). No selenium deficiency could be detected before selenium substitution. RESULT: The selenium therapy caused a significant increase in selenium, a moderate increase in activity of Gpx, a significant decrease in activity of MDA, whereas SOD remained unchanged. CONCLUSION: Concerning the particular point of view of "deficiency management", there is no need of selenium substitution in patients with a moderate form of acute pancreatitis in our region. The highly normal selenium concentration we established by our therapy is possibly connected with a decrease of the oxidative stress in acute pancreatitis. More clinical follow-up studies with more patients, who have different grades of severity of the acute pancreatitis, and besides that a control group of patients without selenium substitution, are necessary for evaluating the clinical relevance of our results.

[Reference values for blood and serum selenium in the Dresden area]. / Referenzwerte von Selen in Blut und Serum im Raum Dresden.

BACKGROUND: To ensure a correct interpretation of patient's data the regional differences in the supply with selenium have to be taken into consideration. PATIENTS AND RESULTS: In 256 healthy women and men from the area of Dresden aged 20 to 62 years the selenium reference values were examined in blood serum by 1.09 +/- 0.17 (0.75 to 1.43) and in whole blood by 1.29 +/- 0.21 (0.87 to 1.71) mumol/l. There was no dependence upon age and sex and no influence of alcohol, tobacco and vegetarian diet was found. Consumption of beer yeast and frequent fish meals caused improvement of the selenium status. CONCLUSION: In area of Dresden, similar to the whole of Germany, a marginal selenium supply exists. Therefore it is of high importance to consider a balanced nutrition and to control the selenium status especially in serious acute diseases and in intensive care.