Background/Aims: Epidemiological, animal and human studies have indicated that selenium deficiency is a risk factor for death from malignant diseases. The mechanisms that could modify selenium status may, therefore, be of particular interest in hemodialysis patients, considering their high cancer mortality rates. We aimed at evaluating the effect of hemodialysis with polysulfone membranes on selenium status. Methods: Twenty- eight chronically dialyzed patients and 32 age-matched healthy controls were enrolled in the study. Serum and dialysis fluid selenium concentrations, serum total protein, and hemoglobin concentrations and serum glutathione peroxidase activity were determined before and after the hemodialysis procedure. Results: The (mean ± SD) serum selenium and total protein concentrations and glutathione peroxidase activities were significantly (p < 0.05) higher in healthy controls (75.9 ± 8.3 µg/l, 78 ± 6 g/l, and 23.8 ± 4.8 mU/20 µl, respectively) than in the patients. There was no significant difference between serum selenium concentration before (63.6 ± 11.6 µg/l) and after (64.4 ± 11.4 µg/l) hemodialysis sessions, although hemoglobin and total serum protein concentrations and serum glutathione peroxidase activities increased (from 98.5 ± 1.3 to 114.8 ± 1.5 g/l, from 64 ± 8 to 71 ± 9 g/l, and from 16.8 ± 1.8 to 18.9 ± 1.9 mU/20 µl, respectively) significantly (p < 0.05) during hemodialysis, indicating hemoconcentration. The selenium concentration doubled, and protein appeared in the dialysates during dialysis session. The correlation of the selenium concentrations with the protein concentrations in the dialysate is significant (p < 0.01) with a Spearman R value of 0.97. Conclusion: The results of the present study suggest that selenium is lost through the pores of polysulfone membranes during hemodialysis which is associated with their protein permeability.

Aim-To study the bioavailability of selenium enriched yeast in preterm infants living in a low selenium area (Hungary). Methods-Thirty six preterm infants were randomly assigned to two groups at birth with respect to selenium supplementation. In the supplemented group (n=18) infants received 4.8 mg of selenium enriched yeast containing 5 µg selenium daily. Results-In the supplemented group the serum selenium concentration increased from 36.1(±12.8) µg/l to 43.5 (7.9) µg/l and in the non-supplemented group it decreased from 34.4 (20.4) µg/l to 26.1 (16.6) µg/l from birth in two weeks. No complications or side eVects as a result of supplementation were observed. Conclusions-Selenium enriched yeast is a safe and an eVective form of short term enteral selenium supplementation for preterm infants. (Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonatal Ed 1998;78:F225-F226)

Our objective was to investigate symptoms of depression in early rheumatoid arthritis (eRA) patients, and follow them longitudinally during a 3-year prospective study of 73 Hungarian and 45 Austrian early rheumatoid arthritis patients. Compared to validated national population data, mild symptoms of depression were detected in Hungarian early rheumatoid arthritis patients, which were independent of corticosteroid use. In the Hungarian subgroup, the Beck Depression Inventory scores were found to be stable during follow-up. Except at the baseline visit, depressive symptoms and functional status, as measured by the Health Assessment Questionnaire, were correlated. Significant differences were detected between Austrian and Hungarian patients despite of their geographical and cultural proximity. The mean depression score was higher in the Hungarian when compared to the Austrian patients. Depression is an important feature of early rheumatoid arthritis. Studies assessing depression in rheumatoid arthritis patients must be based on validated national data of normal population.

There are no data in the literature on effects of supplementing infants with yeast-selenium. We therefore studied the impact of selenium-enriched yeast on the serum selenium concentration of preterm infants living in a selenium-low area (Hungary). Twenty-eight preterm infants with a mean +/- SD birthweight of 962 +/- 129 g and a gestational age of 27 +/- 1 weeks were randomized into two groups at birth with respect to selenium supplementation. In the supplemental group (n = 14) infants received 4.8 mg yeast containing 5 microgram selenium daily with naso-gastric drip during the first 14 postnatal days. The nonsupplemented infants were used as a reference group. In the supplemented group the serum selenium concentration increased from 32.1 +/- 8.5 microgram/l to 41.5 +/- 6.5 microgram/l and in the nonsupplemented group it decreased from 25.9 +/ 6.8 microgram/l to 18.2 +/- 6.4 microgram/l within two weeks. The serum glutathione peroxidase activity increased from 2.97 +/- 0.73 U/20 microliter to 6.42 +/- 3.11 U/20 microliter in the supplemented group, and it did not change significantly (from 3.53 +/- 0.94 U/20 microliter to 3.85 +/- 0.95 U/20 microliter) in the nonsupplemented group. We did not observe any complications or side effects in connection with enteral yeast-selenium supplementation. It is concluded that selenium-enriched yeast is a safe and an effective form of short term enteral selenium supplementation for preterm infants.