biosyn Corp.

This study will be performed to determine whether selenium replacement reduces 28-day mortality of severe sepsis and septic shock patients, and to investigate whether selenium replacement contributes differently to the mortality reduction of the patients according to their initial serum selenium level.

The incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is rising worldwide.One important etiology is a chronic inflammation due to hepatitis c (hcv) infection. Over the steps of a chronic inflammation over the stadium of cirrhosis of the liver it is possible that neoplastic nodules appear in the liver which can rise up to a HCC. In the pathogenesis of HCC oxidative stress seems to play an important role and as selenium is a key micronutrient in this process its levels could differ between the different stages of disease in hcv- infected patients. The aim of this trial is to examine these differences.

Severe sepsis and septic shock are diseases of infectious origin with a high risk of death. The purpose of this study is to determine whether the intravenous application of selenium (given as sodium-selenite) can reduce mortality in patients with severe sepsis or septic shock. Additionally, it is investigated, whether the measurement of procalcitonin - a marker of infection - can be used to guide anti-infectious measures in this disease.