Abstract: Treatment or prophylaxis of depressed or inadequate intracellular pyridoxal phosphate levels in a human or animal patient resulting from a condition, wherein the pyridoxine (PN)--pyridoxal phosphate (PLP) pathway is disturbed by cellular defects and concomitant enzyme deficiencies. These may be due to genetic causes or cell immaturity, as occurs in infants and in diseases resulting in erythrocytes destruction. In infants it was found, for the first time, that this leads to elevated homocysteine levels.The deficiencies are counteracted by the administration of pyridoxal or a precursor of pyridoxal which in vivo, once it has entered the bloodstream, is rapidly convened into pyridoxal without the intervention of oxidase or oxygen, optionally and preferably without the intervention of kinase and/or of PN in slow-release form and at a daily dosage rate not exceeding 0.7 mg/kg/day in the long term.

Abstract: Treatment or prophylaxis of depressed or inadequate intracellular pyridoxal phosphate levels in a human or animal patient resulting from a condition, wherein the pyridoxihe (PN)--pyridoxal phosphate (PLP) pathway is disturbed or insufficient, either by chemical factors as occur in physiological shock myocardial, infarction, release of polyamines or toxins by cell death or microbes, vitamin B6 antagonistic drugs; or by enzymatic insufficiencies inherent in the cells of a patient caused by genetic lack of oxidase or genetic oxidase polymorphism; cellular immaturity of premature infants; in conditions involving anemia, destruction of erythrocytes (e.g. malaria, biliary fever). The deficiencies are counteracted by the administration of pyridoxal or a precursor of pyridoxal which in vivo, once it has entered the bloodstream, is rapidly converted into pyridoxal without the intervention of oxidase or oxygen, optionally and preferably without the intervention of kinase.

Abstract: The invention relates to new pharmaceutical compositions comprising bismuth in the form of water-soluble proteinaceous complexes which are reversibly precipitable by alcohol, nondialysable and in which the bismuth is strongly bound. Preparations comprising the complexes are therapeutically useful for treating and prophylaxis against ulcers and inflammations, in particular of the gastro-intestinal tract. Altered soluble globular proteins, particularly enzymes are a preferred ligand. The preferred complexes are formed by the reaction of soluble proteinaceous material with a soluble source of bismuth in aqueous solution at up to 60.degree. C. and pH 9-10. The formation of the complexes may be tested for by alcohol precipitation and/or gel filtration. These methods may also be used to concentrate the complexes.