No abstract

Objective: To evaluate the effect of oral administration of selenium and zinc tablets in patients with cancer of the digestive tract during chemotherapy. Design: A case ± control, randomized study. Setting: Medical Oncology, II University of Naples, Naples, Italy. Subjects: A total of 60 patients (median age 55 y, range 46 ± 61 y) with diagnosis of gut cancer were randomized in 1999. Patients were treated for 60 days with chemotherapy. Interventions: Trace elements were measured by atomic absorption spectroscopy. The nutritional status of the patients was assessed by biochemical and bio-impedance analysis (BIA) parameters in basal condition and after 60 days of treatment. Oral administration of selenium and zinc in oral tablet form for 50 days was Se 200 mgaday (50 mgatablet) and Zn 21 mgaday (7 mgatablet). Results: Both in the basal condition and at 60 days all patients were malnourished. Selenium and zinc concentrations were signi®cantly lower (P`0.01) whereas copper concentration was signi®cantly higher (P`0.01) in cancer patients than in control subjects. However, 21a30 (70%) of those treated with Se and Zn did not showed a further worsening of nutritional status and experienced a signi®cant decrease of asthenia with an increase of appetite. On the other hand, 24a30 (80%) untreated patients had a signi®cant decline of all parameters studied after 60 days (prealbumin, cholesterol, transferrin, P`0.05 vs 0 time; total proteins, albuminaglobulin ratio, P`0.01 vs 0 time; fat-free mass, fat mass, Na aK ratio, body mass index P`0.05 vs 0 time; fat free massafat mass, total body water, extra cellularaintra cellular water, basal metabolic rate: P`0.01 vs 0 time). Conclusions: Data indicate that Se and Zn supplementation may improve the clinical course of general conditions in patients with gut cancer. These effects of Se and Zn require con®rmation in an independent trial of appropriate design before new public health recommendations regarding Se and Zn supplementation can be made.

This study showed that acute intravenous administration of PC in patients with type 2 diabetes with PAD improved PAD-related symptoms as well as glycaemic control.

The work was designed to study the effects of a meat meal on glomerular filtration rate (GFR), renal plasma flow (RPF), and plasma concentrations of glucagon, insulin, growth hormone, renin, aldosterone, total amino acids, and NH3 in healthy humans (H) as well as in patients with Child A liver cirrhosis (LC). The meat meal produced renal hyperaemia and hyperfiltration without changes in the filtration fraction. Fractional Na excretion in urine increased significantly after the meat meal only in LC. Hyperinsulinaemia and hyperglucagonaemia were seen at baseline in LC and were not affected by the meat meal, whereas in H glucagon concentration increased significantly over baseline within 30 min from the meat meal and insulin within 60 min. Growth hormone concentration was normal at baseline in LC and increased significantly 120-180 min after the meal, whereas it was not affected in H. Renin and aldosterone were stable in both H and LC. Plasma amino acid concentration began to increase 60 min after the meat meal, when hyperfiltration was present. The data indicate that in human Child A cirrhosis of the liver renal haemodynamic response to a meat meal is independent of changes in glucagon.