PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

I Lombeck

Publications and source records attributed to I Lombeck.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Selenium status in Sudanese children with protein-calorie malnutrition.

In 68 Sudanese children with severe protein-energy malnutrition, age 1-4 years, the selenium status was investigated and the results were compared with those of healthy Sudanese and German children. The median selenium content in plasma of healthy Sudanese children (x = 59 micrograms/L) and with those of marasmus (x = 57 micrograms/L) were found to be in the same range. It was lower than in healthy German children (x = 82 micrograms/L). Patients with marasmic kwashiorkor exhibited still lower values (x = 42 micrograms/L. Within each group of malnourished children (marasmus, marasmic kwashiorkor, kwashiorkor) there were patients with low and with "normal" selenium values (taking the values of healthy German children as normal). Hair selenium values were not different between marasmic Sudanese children and healthy German children, probably due to reduced hair growth in malnourished children. Plasma glutathione peroxidase activity was reduced concomitantly with plasma selenium in the patients with protein-calorie malnutrition. There was a good correlation between plasma selenium and plasma glutathione peroxidase activity. A follow-up study showed that plasma selenium decreased during rehabilitation in those patients who had a "normal" value before treatment. This is probably due to the low selenium content of the two dietary formulae used, which contained 18 and 25 micrograms/L Se of formula,. It remains questionable whether the low selenium states and low selenium intake exhibit a healthy risk inhibiting further rehabilitation of the patients with severe protein-calorie malnutrition.

Child, Preschool↗

A screening method for the evaluation of selenium status.

A screening test for the estimation of the Se content in whole blood was developed. Blood was administered on to filter paper, dried at room temperature and circles of 28 mm circumference cut out. The blood volume corresponding to the stained circle amounted to 17.0 +/- 1.4 microL. The Se content was estimated by atomic absorption spectrophotometry + hydride generation technique after stepwise digestion of the blood stained filter papers. Precision (within-run 6.3%) and recovery rate (102%) were good. The screening test was used for samples from Magnesia, an area on the east coast of Greece, and Ningxia, a rural area in northeast China. The blood Se content was significantly lower in Greek mothers after birth than in Chinese mothers. Greek newborns had higher blood Se than their mothers. Greek infants showed a drastic decline in the blood Se values within the airst 4 months of life. The screening method showed good practicability in testing the blood Se content in samples from different areas of the world.

Capillaries↗

Variables influencing cadmium concentrations in hair of pre-school children living in different areas of the Federal Republic of Germany.

The influence of several factors on cadmium (Cd) concentrations in the hair of 474 pre-school children was examined. The study was performed in an industrial (Duisburg) and rural area (Westfalen) of the (FRG). Season, sex, hair color, and place of residence were found to be the main factors influencing Cd levels in hair. Concentrations of Cd in samples obtained during summer were on the average nearly twice as high as those sampled during winter (geometric means: 116.1 vs. 63.7 ng/g). Boys had more Cd in their hair than girls (111.5 vs. 74.0 ng/g). Cd levels in hair decreased from red to blond, to brown, and black hair. Children living in Duisburg had more Cd in their hair than those from rural areas (103.9 vs. 77.0 ng/g). Cd content in hair was inversely related to age.

Cadmium↗

Hair zinc of young children from rural and urban areas in North Rhine-Westphalia, Federal Republic of Germany.

Hair zinc levels were estimated by atomic absorption spectrophotometry in 474 children, aged 3-7 years, from 11 kindergartens in a highly industrialized and polluted area (Duisburg) and 8 kindergartens in a rural area of North Rhine-Westphalia. The mean hair zinc level amounted to 118 micrograms/g, increasing between the 4th and 7th year of life. At all ages the values from the urban toddlers were lower than from rural toddlers, and in both regions they were higher in winter than in summer. Children with frequent upper respiratory tract infections (greater than 6 infections/year) showed significantly lower zinc hair values, independent of their age. Low hair zinc values (below 70 micrograms/g) were frequently found, raising the question as to whether this is a normal, age-related phenomenon, or whether it indicates a suboptimal zinc status of young children from North Rhine-Westphalia.

Child↗

Trans fatty acid content of selected brands of West German nut-nougat cream.

The fatty acid composition including trans fatty acids of 12 brands of nut-nougat creams were analyzed by capillary gas chromatography. The creams consisted mainly of sugar and partially hydrogenated vegetable oil. The lipid content, which was quantified gravimetrically, amounted to between 30 and 38.2% in the different brands. The fatty acid composition varied considerably between the different creams. Linoleic acid, the major polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA), ranged from 12 to 39%. Palmitic acid (16:0), which was the main fatty acid, varied from 9 to 27%. The total trans fatty acid content of the 12 creams ranged from 0.9 to 12.3%. Only two of the creams contained less than 1% of trans fatty acids; 18:1t was the trans fatty acid found in the greatest amounts, whereas 16:1t and 14:1t were only found in trace amounts. Three samples had amounts of 18:2tt, 18:2ct, and 18:2tc between 0.7 and 1.06%; only small amounts of linoleate isomers were detected in the other creams. Our results show that trans fatty acids are present in every brand of chocolate cream tested. Since the potential risk of arteriosclerosis and cancer resulting from the consumption of trans fatty acids is not yet clear, different ways of production should be used in order to eliminate them from the creams that are a preferred bread spread of infants and children.

Cacao↗

Acute selenium poisoning of a 2-year-old child.

After ingestion of an unknown amount of a gun blueing compound containing selenious acid (11 ml from the bottle fluid were missing, equivalent to 2.9 g Se) a 2-year-old girl suffered from continuous hyper-salivation, vomiting, diarrhoea, restlessness and muscle spasm. Blood pressure and pulse rate were increased. Symptomatic treatment was performed by parenteral fluid administration. The plasma Se concentration was increased to 20 times normal 5 h after ingestion. Erythrocyte Se exceeded plasma Se, 24 h after intoxication. Urinary Se excretion decreased parallel to the plasma Se concentration. Ten weeks later, the Se content of hair had risen to 10 times normal. The plasma glutathione peroxidase activity showed only a slight increase during the first 36 h, erythrocyte glutathione peroxidase, catalase and superoxide dismutase activities were not significantly altered. The child fully recovered.

Child, Preschool↗

Increased manganese content and reduced arginase activity in erythrocytes of a patient with prolidase deficiency (iminodipeptiduria).

Manganese was measured in blood of a patient with prolidase deficiency by neutron activation analysis. The manganese content of packed blood cells was 48.9 ng/g wet weight (controls 18.4 +/- 4.3 ng/g wet weight). It was proportionately increased in whole blood, whereas the serum manganese concentration was unchanged. The erythrocyte arginase activity was reduced to 46% of the mean control value. The reduced activities of two manganese-dependent enzymes, prolidase and arginase in erythrocytes in combination with an increased manganese content cannot be explained at the moment and leads to the speculation that manganese is inaccessible for enzyme activation.

Adult↗

Selenium intake of infants and young children, healthy children and dietetically treated patients with phenylketonuria.

In 20 healthy infants and children, 5-20 months old, the Se intake was estimated by analysing food samples by instrumental neutron activation analysis. The intake was calculated by weighing the portions offered and actually consumed. The median Se content of the food amounted to 27 ng/g wet weight (gww) and median daily Se intake to 33.5 micrograms. The Se intake was not equally distributed over the day. About 50% of the daily Se intake was derived from the supper. The main Se sources (41%) for young children were cereal paps. Commercially available meals (30 ng/g) contained less Se than home-made ones (50 ng/g). In nine dietetically treated patients with phenylketonuria the median Se intake amounted only to 6.9 micrograms/day corresponding to a mean Se content of the diet of 7.9 ng/g. The main Se source in the diet was vegetables (36.3%) and 20% derived from their protein supplements. The Se intake of young children, healthy or dietetically treated, cannot be calculated accurately from tables but must be estimated by measuring the Se content of the local food because cereals and vegetables--the main Se sources--exhibit great regional variations.

Age Factors↗

The selenium content of infant food.

The selenium content of food exhibits great regional differences. Food samples of infants and young children from the North Rhine-Westphalia State in the Fed. Rep. of Germany were analysed by instrumental neutron activation analysis and showed that the average selenium content of local vegetable and fruit is below 5 ng/g wet weight. Only samples of potatoes and bananas exhibit higher selenium contents. The bananas, probably imported from different areas of the world, show an extremely high variance with values between 4 and 164 ng Se/g. Commercially available ready-for-use meals for infants or young children have a low Se content (median 24 ng/g) which is comparable to cow's milk. Besides eggs, cereals enriched with milk and some other cereal products contain more than 100 ng Se/g.

Food Analysis↗

[Scintigraphic diagnosis of multiple pheochromocytomas in childhood with 131I-m-benzylguanidine].

Scintigraphy with 131I-m-BG was used in 4 children with a history of multiple pheochromocytomas in order to localize further catecholamine-producing tumors prior to surgery. We overlook 7 scintigraphies without any side effect. Phenoxybenzamine did not interfere with tracer uptake into tumors. Scintigraphic localization of even smallest extra-adrenal tumors was successful in all cases. In most cases we were dealing with benign pheochromocytomas, but also a ganglioneuroma and metastases of a malignant pheochromocytoma could be revealed. Scintigraphy is a reliable technique for tracing pheochromocytomas and catecholamine-producing ganglioneuromas. It seems to be superior to other non-invasive techniques, furthermore, invasive techniques bearing higher risks may be suspended.

3-Iodobenzylguanidine↗

Zinc status of Libyan children -- a pilot study.

Hair zinc has been investigated in children of North and South Libya. The hair zinc content amounts to 213 +/- 36 micrograms/g in newborns. There is no difference between the values of newborns from North Libya and newborns from South Libya. The hair zinc values decrease during infancy. In toddlers and school-children the hair zinc content is 88 +/- 35 micrograms/g, 89 +/- 25 micrograms/g resp. These values are as low as those reported in American children with low height percentiles or nearly as low as those found in dwarfs with poor zinc status from Egypt and Iran.

Age Factors↗

Hair selenium content during infancy and childhood.

Hair selenium content was estimated by instrumental neutron activation analysis in Libyan infants and children. There was no significant difference between the values of young infants from North and South Libya. The hair selenium content rapidly decreased from 1071 +/- 75 ng/g in newborns to 301 +/- 99 ng/g in 7-10 months old infants in North Libya and to 557 +/- 204 ng/g in South Libya. In North Libya the values of preschool children were 409 +/- 117 ng/g and those of school children 464 +/- 124 ng/g.

Adolescent↗

Exchange transfusion in acute episodes of maple syrup urine disease. Studies on branched-chain amino and keto acids.

Two neonates with maple syrup urine disease were treated by exchange transfusion. Within 15 h blood leucine and KICA concentrations were lowered from 2.6 mM to 1.1 mM using 570 to 620 ml blood per kg body weight. The other branched-chain amino acid/keto acid pairs fell to normal. During exchange transfusion the patient's nitrogen balance seems to be negative. Further exchange transfusion was useless. More importantly the patient should be forced into an anabolic state by high caloric supply or insulin plus glucose treatment. More KICA than leucine was eliminated, however, KICA blood levels remained slightly higher than that of leucine indicating different leucine/KICA equilibria in extravascular compartments than in blood. In a given time interval exchange transfusion was more effective than peritoneal dialysis, probably due to a lack of an additional (peritoneal) membrane. Renal excretion of branched-chain amino and keto acids was very inefficient. The allegedly most toxic metabolite, KICA, had the lowest renal clearance of the branched-chain keto acids.

Amino Acids↗