Persistent Detwinning of Iron-Pnictide EuFe_{2}As_{2} Crystals by Small External Magnetic Fields

Our comprehensive study on EuFe_{2}As_{2} reveals a dramatic reduction of magnetic detwinning fields compared to other AFe_{2}As_{2} (A=Ba, Sr, Ca) iron pnictides by indirect magnetoelastic coupling of the Eu^{2+} ions. We find that only ∼0.1  T are sufficient for persistent detwinning below the local Eu^{2+} ordering; above T_{Eu}=19  K, higher fields are necessary. Even after the field is switched off, a significant imbalance of twin domains remains constant up to the structural and electronic phase transition (190 K). This persistent detwinning provides the unique possibility to study the low temperature electronic in-plane anisotropy of iron pnictides without applying any symmetry-breaking external force.

High thiamine diphosphate concentrations in erythrocytes can be achieved in dialysis patients by oral administration of benfontiamine

OBJECTIVE

The influence of either orally administered S-benzoylthiamine-O-monophosphate (benfotiamine) or thiamine nitrate on the thiamine status was tested in a randomised, two-group comparison study in 20 end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients. Main outcome measures were the pharmacokinetics of thiamine diphosphate (TDP) in blood, the in vitro erythrocyte transketolase activity, its activation coefficient (alpha-ETK) and the TDP concentration in erythrocytes.

METHODS

After ingestion of a single dose of either 100 mg thiamine nitrate (corresponding to 305 micromol thiamine) or 100 mg benfotiamine (corresponding to 214 micromol thiamine), the blood levels of thiamine phosphate esters were analysed by means of high-performance liquid chromatography for a 24-h period. The TDP concentration in erythrocytes was calculated using the haematocrit and TDP concentration in blood. Erythrocyte transketolase activity and alpha-ETK were measured before and 10 h after administration. The pharmacokinetics of TDP in blood were compared with healthy subjects of other studies retrieved from database query.

RESULTS

Regarding the blood concentrations of TDP, the patients with ESRD had a 4.3 times higher area under the concentration time curve after benfotiamine administration than after thiamine nitrate. After benfotiamine administration, the peak plasma concentration of TDP exceeded that in healthy subjects by 51%. In the ESRD patients, after 24 h, the mean TDP concentration in erythrocytes increased from 158.7+/-30.9 ng/ml initially to 325.8+/-50.9 ng/ml after administration of benfotiamine and from 166.2+/-51.9 ng/ml to 200.5+/-50.0 ng/ml after thiamine nitrate administration. The ratio between the maximum erythrocyte TDP concentration and basal concentration was 2.66+/-0.6 in the benfotiamine group and 1.44+/-0.2 in the group receiving thiamine nitrate (P < 0.001). After 24 h, it was 2.11+/-0.4 and 1.23+/-0.2, respectively. The transketolase activity increased from 3.54+/-0.7 microkat/l initially to 3.84+/-0.6 microkat/l after benfotiamine intake (P = 0.02) and from 3.71+/-0.8 microkat/l to 4.02+/-0.7 microkat/l after thiamine nitrate intake (P = 0.08). Likewise, alpha-ETK decreased from initially 1.10+/-0.07 to 1.04+/-0.04 (P = 0.04) and from 1.12+/-0.05 to 1.08+/-0.06 (P = 0.09). After 24 h, the phosphorylation ratio in whole blood decreased from 12.9+/-6.9 initially to 5.6+/-3.2 after benfotiamine administration (P = 0.02) and from 13.5+/-7.3 to 9.0+/-4.8 (P = 0.03) after administration of thiamine nitrate. No correlation between erythrocyte TDP concentration and transketolase activity and/or alpha-ETK was observed in ESRD patients, either before or 10 h after administration.

CONCLUSION

Compared with thiamine nitrate, the oral administration of benfotiamine leads to higher TDP concentrations in erythrocytes accompanied with a significant improvement of the erythrocyte transketolase activity in ESRD patients.

Alteration of thiamine pharmacokinetics by end-stage renal disease (ESRD)

OBJECTIVE

In a comparative study with 20 end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients the pharmacokinetics of two therapeutically used thiamine (vitamin B1) preparations were assessed.

SUBJECTS, MATERIAL AND METHODS

After a single oral dose of either 100 mg benfotiamin (S-benzoylthiamine-o-monophosphate, BTMP) or 100 mg thiamine mononitrate (TN), blood levels of thiamine phosphate esters were analyzed by HPLC after precolumn derivatization to thiochrome phosphate esters for a 24-hour period.

RESULTS

The pharmacokinetic parameters AUC0-24h, Cmax and tmax of the benfotiamin group in whole blood and plasma exceeded significantly those in the TN group. Only 1.0 vs. 0.6% of the administered dose were excreted in urine in the BTMP group and TN group, respectively. A high cellular efficacy, as was concluded from the short-term stimulation of the thiamine-dependent transketolase activity in erythrocytes (ETKA), was assessed for BTMP as well as TN. The activation coefficient (ETK-AC) decreased significantly from 1.10 to 1.04 vs. 1.12 to 1.07 in both the BTMP as well as TN groups, respectively. In addition, a high transfer rate to thiamine diphosphate (TDP) was observed in the patients after ingestion of BTMP. The TDP concentration in whole blood increased by 2.6 and 1.4 times from baseline levels to Cmax in the BTMP and TN groups, respectively. The AUC0-24h of TDP in whole blood after BTMP ingestion exceeded those after TN ingestion by 420%.

CONCLUSION

These findings justify the therapeutic application of BTMP in ESRD, because a high intracellular concentration of TDP may protect against numerous adverse effects of uremia in the long run.

Altered instantaneous and calcium-modulated oscillatory PTH secretion patterns in patients with secondary hyperparathyroidism

The relative contributions of increased parathyroid cell mass and altered control mechanisms of parathyroid hormone (PTH) secretion in secondary hyperparathyroidism are still controversial. In this study, endogenous pulsatile PTH secretion was analyzed by the multiparameter deconvolution technique to differentiate alterations in cell mass-dependent (PTH burst mass) and regulation-dependent (frequency, synchrony, calcium responsiveness) PTH release in uremic patients. PTH concentration versus time profiles were obtained in 13 uremic and 16 healthy adults under baseline conditions and during acute hypo- and hypercalcemia. Plasma PTH half-life was increased in patients compared with control subjects (4.7+/-1.9 versus 2.6+/-0.1 min, P < 0.005). The baseline PTH secretion rate was elevated eightfold in the patients as a result of an increased PTH mass secreted per burst (17.1+/-4.7 versus 2.0+/-0.4 pM, P = 0.0001), higher burst frequency (8.0+/-0.3 versus 6.8+/-0.3 h(-1), P < 0.01), and a higher tonic secretion rate (343+/-99 versus 30+/-4 pM/h, P = 0.0001). Acute hypocalcemia elicited an immediate, frequency- and amplitude-mediated selective increase in the pulsatile secretory component, which was fractionally weaker in patients (+595%) than control subjects (+1755%, P < 0.001). The acceleration and the amplification of PTH bursts were 35 and 60% lower in the patient group. Acute hypercalcemia suppressed total PTH secretion by 79% in control subjects but only by 63% in patients (P < 0.002). PTH burst frequency was reduced during hypercalcemia by 30% in control subjects, but remained unchanged in patients. In conclusion, uremic hyperparathyroidism is mediated by a marked increase in glandular secretion, but also by reduced PTH elimination. The increased spontaneous PTH burst frequency and the blunted responsiveness to changes in Ca2+ indicate partial uncoupling of hyperplastic parathyroid glands from the physiologic regulatory mechanisms that direct pulsatile PTH release.

[Bremen nose ointment--a new boric acid-free nasal ointment]

Drug treatment containing boric acid, has not been permitted with the exception of ophthalmological preparations, since 1.6.1981. Attention is brought to possible complications during treatment with the well-known boric acid containing Wittmaack'sche Nasensalbe. In preparing a new unguent for the nose we took Chlorhexidindiacetat as an antiseptic. The antibacterial and toxicological features of Chlorhexidindiacetat are mentioned. Different therapeutical possibilities of this new nose unguent are listed.

[A rare case of maxillary sinus sarcoidosis (author's transl)]

We describe a 36 year old man who underwent three Caldwell-Luc operations during a five year period. Following the first operation, a persistent induration of the cheek was noted, and was found to be sarcoidosis histologically after the third operation. Since sarcoidosis is uncommonly found in the region of the maxillary sinus, its occurrence might be considered due to either irritation (such as seen with foreign body reaction) or result from the preceding surgical trauma. The etiology, symptomatology, and therapy of sarcoidosis is surveyed.