Response to alendronate in osteoporotic women previously treated with pamidronate.

Introduction: Different bisphosphonates have been shown to increase bone mineral density (BMD) and reduce the risk of fracture in osteoporotic patients. It is unclear how shifting from a treatment with one bisphosphonate to another will influence the evolution of BMD and bone turnover.

Methods: In the present study, we followed BMD (DXA, Hologic QDR1000) of the lumbar spine (BMDL) and of the total hip (BMDH), bone alkaline phosphatase (Ostase, Hibritech), and urinary collagen cross links (pyridinoline, deoxypyridinoline, Biorad) in 39 patients treated with IV pamidronate (60 mg/3 months) since at least 2 years and who were shifted to oral alendronate (10 mg/day, n=18) or left to IV pamidronate (n=21) for 2 more years.

Zinc supplementation increases bone alkaline phosphatase in healthy men.

Zinc takes part in the metabolism of bone as a constituent of the matrix and as an activator of several metallo-enzymes. Animal in vitro and in vivo studies strongly suggest that zinc supplementation could stimulate bone formation and inhibit bone resorption but data in humans remain rare. The biological effects of 50 mg zinc given orally as gluconate in 20 healthy male volunteers were investigated in a 12 weeks double-blind placebo-controlled randomized trial.

Selenium supplementation in rheumatoid arthritis investigated in a double blind, placebo-controlled trial.

Introduction: Selenium is an essential trace element with antioxidant properties. Trials with selenium have been conducted in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) to correct impaired selenium status and increase defences against deleterious oxidant species.

Aim Of The Study: To investigate in a double blind multi-centric placebo-controlled study the effects of selenium supplementation in RA.

Recent developments in lipid emulsions: relevance to intensive care.

For years, intravenous lipid supply has been considered as a means of providing an efficient fuel to many tissues of the body and of preventing or correcting essential fatty acid deficiency. The potential for lipid emulsions to modulate cell function via their content of specific fatty acids and of liposoluble vitamins has not received much attention yet. Soybean [long-chain triglycerides (LCT)] emulsions provide a valuable source of energy, but they are excessively rich in omega-6 essential fatty acids (FAs).

Effects of zinc supplementation on the phagocytic functions of polymorphonuclears in patients with inflammatory rheumatic diseases.

The phagocytosis of blood polymorphonuclear cells (PMNs) was measured by cytofluorometry in 22 patients with inflammatory rheumatic diseases before and after a 60-day treatment with 45 mg zinc daily or a placebo, and the values were compared with those obtained in a group of healthy subjects. Plasma zinc was lower than controls before supplementation and phagocytosis assessed by the percentage of PMNs exhibiting phagocytic activity was significantly impaired. Zinc supplementation increased the percentage of phagocytic PMNs and the mean phagocytic activity, particularly in subjects with initial low phagocytosis.