Therapeutic selenium compositions and the use thereof

Claim 2

A therapeutic method for reducing or inhibiting edema in the skin tissue of humans and for accelerating the recovery thereof, said method comprising administering to said human a composition comprising (i) a water soluble organic or inorganic selenium compound capable of being absorbed by the tissue to be treated to said human said inorganic compound selected from salts wherein the selenium is present in the form of selenate or selenite anions and the cation is pharmaceutically acceptable and said organic compound selected from the group consisting of selenium cystine, selenium methionine and aliphatic mono- and di-selenodicarboxylic acids having about 7 to 11 carbons in the carbon chain, and (ii) a non-toxic pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or diluent therefor; said composition being administered so as to provide the equivalent of 0.05 mg-1.0 mg of elemental selenium per day to the host in single or multiple dose form by means selected from oral, topical, parenteral and intravenous infusion.

Claim 3

The therapeutic method of claim 1 wherein said selenium compound is an inorganic salt.

Claim 4

The therapeutic method of claim 2 wherein said selenium compound is an alkali metal salt.

Claim 5

The therapeutic method of claim 1 wherein said composition is administered topically to the area to be treated.

Claim 6

The therapeutic method of claim 4 wherein the composition is in the form of an ointment, salve or cream.

Claim 7

The therapeutic method of claim 4 wherein said selenium compound is an alkali metal salt.

Claim 8

The therapeutic method of claim 4 wherein said selenium compound is a silver selenate or silver selenite.

Claim 9

The therapeutic method of claim 1 wherein said therapy is administered to provide pre-operative or post-operative therapy for surgical patients to reduce or inhibit edema in skin tissue and to accelerate the recovery thereof.

Claim 12

The method of claim 9 wherein the composition is in the form of an ointment, salve or cream.

Claim 13

The method of claim 9 wherein said selenium compound is an inorganic salt.

Claim 14

The method of claim 9 wherein said selenium compound is an alkali metal salt.

Claim 15

The method of claim 9 wherein said selenium compound is a silver selenate or silver selenite.

Claim 16

A therapeutic method for alleviating irritation and redness in the eyes of humans, said method comprising administering to each eye from 1/20 cc to 1/5 cc of an eye drop solution comprising a water soluble organic or inorganic selenium compound capable of being absorbed by the tissue of the eye being treated, said inorganic compound selected from salts wherein the selenium is present in the form of selenate or selenite anions and the cation is pharmaceutically acceptable and said organic compound selected from the group consisting of selenium cystine, selenium methionine and aliphatic mono- and di-selenodicarboxylic acids having about 7 to 11 carbons in the carbon chain, and wherein said selenium compound is dissolved in a suitably buffered isotonic aqueous solution whereby the concentration of the compound in solution is in the range of about 0.1 mg to 0.5 mg of elemental selenium per cc of solution.

Claim 17

A therapeutic method for alleviating irritation and redness in the eyes of humans, said method comprising administering to each eye from 1/20 cc to 1/5 cc of an eye drop solution comprising a water soluble organic or inorganic selenium compound capable of being absorbed by the tissue of the eye being treated, said inorganic compound selected from salts wherein the selenium is present in the form of selenate or selenite anions and the cation is pharmaceutically acceptable and said organic compound selected from the group consisting of selenium cystine, selenium methionine and aliphatic mono- and di-selenodicarboxylic acids having about 7 to 11 carbons in the carbon chain, and wherein said selenium compound is dissolved in a suitably buffered isotonic aqueous solution whereby the concentration of the compound in solution is in the range of about 0.1 mg to 0.5 mg of elemental selenium per cc of solution.

Claim 18

The therapeutic method of claim 14 wherein said eye drop solution is administered in an amount to provide a daily dosage from about 0.05 to 0.5 mg of elemental selenium.

Claim 19

The therapeutic method of claim 14 wherein said selenium compound is an inorganic salt.

Claim 20

The therapeutic method of claim 14 wherein said selenium compound is an alkali metal salt.

Claim 21

A therapeutic method for reducing or inhibiting ecchymosis in the skin tissue of humans and for accelerating the recovery thereof, said method comprising administering to the host a composition comprising (i) a water soluble organic selenium compound capable of being absorbed by the tissue to be treated of the host, wherein the selenium is present in the form of selenate or selenite anions and the cation is pharmaceutically acceptable and said organic compound selected from the group consisting of selenium cystine, selenium methionine and aliphatic mono- and di-selenodicarboxylic acids having about 7 to 11 carbons in the carbon chain, and (ii) a non-toxic pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or diluent therefor; said composition being administered so as to provide the equivalent of 0.05 mg-1.0 mg of elemental selenium per day to the host in single or multiple dose form by means selected from oral, topical, parenteral, and intravenous infusion.

Claim 22

A therapeutic method for reducing or inhibiting ecchymosis in the skin tissue of humans and for accelerating the recovery thereof, said method comprising administering to the host a composition comprising (i) a water soluble organic selenium compound capable of being absorbed by the tissue to be treated of the host, wherein the selenium is present in the form of selenate or selenite anions and the cation is pharmaceutically acceptable and said organic compound selected from the group consisting of selenium cystine, selenium methionine and aliphatic mono- and di-selenodicarboxylic acids having about 7 to 11 carbons in the carbon chain, and (ii) a non-toxic pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or diluent therefor; said composition being administered so as to provide the equivalent of 0.05 mg-1.0 mg of elemental selenium per day to the host in single or multiple dose form by means selected from oral, topical, parenteral, and intravenous infusion.

Claim 23

A topical therapeutic composition for administration to human skin tissue for the purpose of reducing the severity from and accelerating the recovery from physically induced damage to skin tissue caused by means including burns, said composition being in the form of an ointment, salve or cream and comprising (i) a water soluble organic or inorganic selenium compound capable of being absorbed by the tissue of the host being treated, said inorganic compound selected from salts wherein the selenium is present in the form of selenate or selenite anions and the cation is pharmaceutically acceptable and said organic compound selected from the group consisting of selenium cystine, selenium methionine and aliphatic mono- and di-selenodicarboxylic acids having about 7 to 11 carbons in the carbon chain, and (ii) a non-toxic pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or diluent therefor; wherein the elemental selenium concentration of the composition is about 0.005 to 2 mg. per gram of the total weight of the composition.

Claim 24

A topical therapeutic composition for administration to human skin tissue for the purpose of reducing the severity from and accelerating the recovery from physically induced damage to skin tissue caused by means including burns, said composition being in the form of an ointment, salve or cream and comprising (i) a water soluble organic or inorganic selenium compound capable of being absorbed by the tissue of the host being treated, said inorganic compound selected from salts wherein the selenium is present in the form of selenate or selenite anions and the cation is pharmaceutically acceptable and said organic compound selected from the group consisting of selenium cystine, selenium methionine and aliphatic mono- and di-selenodicarboxylic acids having about 7 to 11 carbons in the carbon chain, and (ii) a non-toxic pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or diluent therefor; wherein the elemental selenium concentration of the composition is about 0.005 to 2 mg. per gram of the total weight of the composition.

Claim 25

The topical composition of claim 19 wherein said selenium compound is an alkali metal salt.

Claim 26

The topical composition of claim 19 wherein said selenium compound is a silver selenate or silver selenite.