Related Experiment Videos

Low plasma selenium concentrations in critically ill children: the interaction effect between inflammation and

Simone Brasil de Oliveira Iglesias, Heitor Pons Leite, Angela Tavares Paes

    Critical Care (London, England)
    |June 3, 2014
    PubMed

    Insights

    Low plasma selenium in critically ill children is linked to both malnutrition and inflammation. The interaction between these factors is key for understanding selenium status and guiding supplementation decisions.

    Area of Science:

    • Pediatric Critical Care
    • Nutritional Biochemistry
    • Clinical Chemistry

    Background:

    • Low plasma selenium is common in critically ill patients, but its causes (systemic inflammation vs. nutritional deficiency) are unclear.
    • Understanding factors associated with low selenium is crucial for managing critically ill children.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To determine factors associated with low plasma selenium in critically ill children.
    • To investigate the interplay between inflammatory response and nutritional status in selenium levels.

    Main Methods:

    • Prospective study of 173 critically ill children.
    • Measured plasma selenium, C-reactive protein (CRP), and nutritional status.
    • Analyzed data using Binomial Generalized Estimating Equations, considering correlations between admission and 5th-day measurements.

    Main Results:

    • Malnutrition and elevated CRP levels were significantly associated with low plasma selenium.
    • A significant interaction was found between malnutrition and CRP levels.
    • The impact of malnutrition on low selenium was more pronounced at lower CRP levels (<40 mg/L).

    Conclusions:

    • The interaction between inflammatory response magnitude and malnutrition significantly affects plasma selenium concentrations.
    • Plasma selenium interpretation in critically ill patients requires consideration of both inflammation and nutritional status.
    • This interaction is important for decisions regarding selenium supplementation in systemic inflammation.
    Abstract

    Related Concept Videos

    Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Distribution01:17

    Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Distribution

    Drug distribution in the pediatric population exhibits unique challenges and considerations due to the physiological differences between children, particularly neonates and infants, and adults. A crucial aspect of pediatric pharmacology is understanding how these differences impact the pharmacokinetics of various drugs, necessitating age-specific dosing strategies to ensure efficacy and safety.Neonates and infants have a higher total body water content, ~75%–90% of their body weight,...
    552
    Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Overview and Drug Absorption01:23

    Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Overview and Drug Absorption

    Understanding the physiological differences in the pediatric population is crucial for effective pharmacotherapy. Neonates, infants, and children exhibit significant variations in gastric pH, gastric emptying time, intestinal transit time, and biliary function. These variations profoundly affect oral drug absorption, necessitating a nuanced approach to pediatric dosing.Neonates present with a unique physiological profile, having a gastric pH greater than 4 and faster and more irregular gastric...
    960
    Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Metabolism01:24

    Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Metabolism

    In pediatric care, understanding the nuances of hepatic drug metabolism is crucial, as it significantly differs from that of adults. This divergence is primarily due to the developmental stage of drug-metabolizing enzymes, which affects how medications are processed in the body. In neonates, for instance, the activity of Phase I enzymes—critical for the initial breakdown of drugs—is markedly reduced, functioning at just 20–40% of the levels seen in adults. This reduction poses...
    409
    Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Excretion01:26

    Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Excretion

    In pediatric medicine, understanding the renal function and drug elimination nuances is crucial for administering safe and effective treatments. Newborns, in particular, display markedly slower renal functions than adults, profoundly affecting how drugs are cleared from their bodies. This slower drug clearance requires clinicians to extend the dosing intervals for many medications to prevent drug accumulation and toxicity while ensuring therapeutic efficacy.One key area where these adjustments...
    404
    Serum Studies: Renal Function Tests01:24

    Serum Studies: Renal Function Tests

    Renal function tests are crucial for assessing kidney health, monitoring disease progression, and evaluating the kidneys' efficiency in waste elimination, fluid balance, and electrolyte regulation. These tests offer critical insights into kidney function, even though routine measurements may appear normal until there is a significant decline in the glomerular filtration rate or GFR. Typically, signs of kidney impairment only become evident when the GFR falls to about 50% of its normal level.
    673
    Drug Dosing in Renal Diseases: Measurement of Serum Creatinine Concentration and Clearance01:25

    Drug Dosing in Renal Diseases: Measurement of Serum Creatinine Concentration and Clearance

    In healthy individuals, serum creatinine levels remain stable due to a balance between its constant production—primarily from muscle metabolism—and renal excretion. Creatinine is freely filtered by the glomeruli, making it a valuable marker for estimating renal function. When the glomerular filtration rate (GFR) decreases, the kidneys can only eliminate less creatinine, causing serum levels to rise.Serum creatinine concentration is widely used to estimate creatinine clearance...
    369