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Background and aims: Potassium (K), Calcium (Ca), and magnesium (Mg) are essential nutrients for plant and animal growth. The ratio of K/(Ca + Mg) in forage is considered as an indicator of grass tetany. While atmospheric nitrogen (N) deposition is declining or projected to decline in many countries, it remains unknown whether historical N inputs would have legacy effects on K, Ca, and Mg nutrition in soil and plants. Methods: After the cessation of 6-yr N addition with wide-ranging rates, we measured the concentrations of K, Ca, and Mg in soil and plants in a temperate steppe of northern China during three successive years from 2016 to 2018. Results: Soil K/(Ca + Mg) ratios were increased by historical N addition across the three years. Soil K/(Ca + Mg) ratios were higher than 0.08, indicating potential occurrence of grass tetany for ruminants. Plant mineral concentrations and K/(Ca + Mg) ratios at the plant community level showed no variation with increasing historical N addition rates in all the three years, except for the increasing K and Ca concentrations in 2017. All plant functional types showed strong stoichiometric homeostasis with respect to nutrient concentrations, which contributed to the stable forage K/(Ca + Mg) ratio under the N-induced increasing soil K/(Ca + Mg) ratio. Conclusion: Our results highlight the critical role of stoichiometric homeostasis in maintaining forage non-N mineral nutrition of natural grasslands under the background of soil nutritional alterations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Aluminium intoxication is poorly documented in ruminants and its symptomatology, compatible with grass tetany caused by hypomagnesaemia, is the most documented clinical manifestation of acute intoxication. However, there is no documented evidence of chronic aluminium intoxication in cattle. In a 50 dairy cow Belgian herd, excessive uterine bleeding at calving and decreased milk production were reported. The results of various analyses on 10 sick cows were compared with 10 healthy cows from another herd. The investigations of sick animals showed anaemia, marginal hypozincaemia, subclinical ketosis, hypomagnesaemia and a high aluminium/creatinine ratio (urinary excretion). The mixed ration contained a high level of aluminium. Based on the results and suspicion of chronic aluminium poisoning, it was advised to measure the soil pH, add salts to the ration to chelate the aluminium and support the cows with mineral supplements and propylene glycol. A visit was carried out 2 years later. The situation had improved, but all of the cows examined had subclinical ketosis. The grass silage had high aluminium and butyric acid concentrations. Aluminium could be incriminated in different stages, but it was probably not the only culprit. Chronic poisoning with metals and pollutants should be the focus of veterinary attention in the coming years. In ruminants, the main documented clinical manifestation of aluminium (Al) intoxication is similar to grass tetany. In a 50 dairy cow Belgian herd, the farmer reported excessive uterine bleeding at calving and decreased milk production. Dairy cows received a mixed ration (MR) with high Al concentration (453 ppm/kg of dry matter (DM)). Various analyses were sampled from 10 sick cows and compared with 10 healthy cows (from another herd). Sick cows presented anaemia and marginal hypozincaemia and 6/10 showed subclinical ketosis. Their urine analysis revealed hypomagnesaemia and a high Al/creatinine ratio. It was advised to determine soil pH, add salts to the ration to chelate the Al and support cows with mineral supplements and propylene glycol. A visit was carried out 2 years later and highlighted an improvement in the situation, but all examined animals presented subclinical ketosis. Grass silage Al content remained high (700 ppm/kg DM), as did butyric acid concentration (11.22 g/kg DM). Al could be incriminated at different stages: micronutrient deficiencies, anaemia and negative energy balance. However, Al was probably not the only culprit. This case report is a concern for future years in these areas due to droughts, scarcity of forage and an increase in contaminated soil ingestion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Magnet Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum L.), HiMag tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.), and Mgwell orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L.) are the first cultivars bred for higher magnesium uptake (high-Mg) to reduce grass tetany risk for ruminants. The experiment was conducted to evaluate whether magnesium (Mg) uptake efficiency by high-Mg cultivars is limited to specific phosphorus (P) levels, and to optimize P level for individual selections of high-Mg grasses in nutrient culture. The high-Mg cultivars were compared with two existing commercial cultivars viz., Tachiwase and Waseyutaka, of Italian ryegrass, Kentucky-31 (Ky-31) and Fawn of tall fescue, and Akimidori and Okamidori of orchardgrass, respectively. One-month aged seedlings were grown in controlled conditions with three P treatments of 0.1, 1, and 5 mM for 10 days and nutrient contents were determined. Increasing P fertilization increased shoot weights of the grasses. Shoot potassium (K) content of the high-Mg cultivars was lower than the commercial cultivars. In contrast, the high-Mg cultivars were consistently higher in shoot calcium (Ca) and Mg contents when compared to the commercial cultivars, irrespective of species, over P fertilization. While the shoot Mg and Ca contents increased, the K content and K/(Ca + Mg) decreased with increasing P fertilization, regardless of cultivars. Across the P levels, the high-Mg cultivars always showed a K/(Ca + Mg) value lower than 2.2, a safer value for grass tetany in ruminants. Irrespective of grass species, increasing P level reduced the K/(Ca + Mg) and the value became lowest at 5 mM P level. The highest relative range for shoot Mg content was obtained in 5 mM P level for Italian ryegrass (37.6%), tall fescue (30.1%), and orchardgrass (47.9%). Our results indicate the effectiveness of using 5 mM P level for screening high-Mg cool-season grass seedlings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hypomagnesaemia (grass tetany) is a metabolic disorder of ruminants due to a reduced dietary intake of magnesium (primary deficiency), incorrect digestibility or associated metabolic factors reducing Mg intake (secondary deficiency). Grass tetany is a production disease responsible for important economic losses in beef herds from Argentina. Several factors influence the development of grass tetany in cattle, including physiological status, weather, soil and forage. This research described a retrospective analysis over the past 20 years, revising the cases of beef cattle clinical hypomagnesaemia registered at the Veterinary Diagnostic Service in INTA Balcarce, Argentina. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Grass tetany is a metabolic disorder in cattle and sheep due to low magnesium deficiency in the blood. The main cause of this disorder is the imbalance between the nutrient concentrations of the grasses grazing on the grassland. Therefore, it has become a necessity to know the macro nutrient concentration of grasses growing naturally in grasslands and their ratio to each other. In order to prevent this disease that threatens animal health, grass tetany risk situations in grasslands should be determined and appropriate fertilization programs specific to the region should be developed accordingly. In this article, the causes of grass tetany were evaluated by considering plant-soil-animal interactions, and grass tetany risk status of grasslands in our country was compared in line with previous studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: A 61-year-old male patient presented with cerebellar syndrome, which had progressively worsened for 10 days, followed by a tonic-clonic seizure. Phenomenology Shown: Blood analysis showed severe hypomagnesemia and a brain MRI showed T2 hyperintensity in the cerebellar hemispheres (Figure 1). Therefore, the final diagnosis was cerebellar syndrome and epileptic seizures secondary to severe hypomagnesemia. Educational Value: In cases of subacute onset of ataxia, the possibility of ataxia secondary to hypomagnesemia should be considered, as it can be diagnosed with a basic blood test and there are potentially life-threatening outcomes in the absence of treatment, with a reversible course following early supplementation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Breeding cool-season (C3) grasses with higher magnesium (Mg) content is a promising attempt for reducing grass tetany hazard in ruminants. Faster methods for plant mineral analyses could increase the number of individual plants screened for higher Mg content (High-Mg). This study evaluates the effectiveness of energy dispersive X-ray microanalysis (EDX) as well as energy reflectance X-ray spectrometry (XRF) for screening high-Mg grass genotypes. The approach was verified by using two tall fescue cultivars having known differences in magnesium (Mg) content, viz. HiMag (high-Mg cultivar) and Ky-31 (control cultivar). We assumed that cultivars with known variation in Mg concentrations could provide a test for the applicability of the new methodology in finding naturally occurring high and low Mg containing grass genotypes. Plants samples included a population of 8 plants consisting of four harvests for three years and were analyzed for Mg, calcium (Ca), and potassium (K) by EDX and ERF, and data were verified with atomic absorption spectrometry wet (AAS). While observing the frequency distribution for different nutrient concentrations, HiMag tall fescue showed higher Mg and lower K concentrations than that of Ky-31. There was positive linear relationship between AAS and EDX estimated Mg, Ca and K (r = 0.88, 0.62 and 0.89, respectively), indicating close agreement between AAS and EDX estimation. Also, there was a positive linear relationship between AAS and XRF, as the r values were 0.87, 0.65 and 0.88 for Mg, Ca, and K, respectively. The tetany ration was established for EDX and XRF and the results were dependable with wet chemistry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lime and gypsum application is one strategy for correcting soil acidity and improving soil fertility. However, soil compaction in no-till systems can influence these dynamics. This study aimed to assess the effect of lime and gypsum application under different soil compaction levels on soybean yield and soil chemical attributes. The application of lime and gypsum under artificial compaction levels and the movement of exchangeable calcium (Ca2+), magnesium (Mg2+), potassium (K+), and soil pH were monitored in the 0–0.05, 0.05–0.10, 0.10–0.20, and 0.20–0.40 m soil layer depths. Soybean grain yield was not influenced by the gypsum and lime applications and artificial compaction levels. In the 0.05–0.1, 0.1–0.2, and 0.2–0.4 m soil layers, the exclusive surface application of lime was effective in increasing the soil pH. Ca2+ and Mg2+ carbonates had low solubility and mobility in the soil; however, a rapid reaction to the surface over a relatively short period was observed. K+ concentration in the 0–0.05 m soil layer did not vary after the gypsum and lime applications. Therefore, the superficial application of lime is effective in acidity correction in no-till systems when the soil is not compacted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The effects of thymectomy on late-onset non-thymomatous myasthenia gravis (NTMG) remain controversial. The objective of this study was to conduct a systematic review in order to answer two questions pertinent to late-onset NTMG: (1) do patients with late-onset NTMG experience the same effects from thymectomy as their early-onset counterparts? (2) Compared with conservative treatment, does thymectomy have any benefits for late-onset NTMG patients?Methods: We searched the PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library databases for studies published from January 1, 1950 to March 10, 2021. Outcomes were measured via clinical stable remission/pharmacological remission (CSR/PR) and improvement rates. We used Stata software to analyze the data.Results: We ultimately included a total of 12 observational articles representing the best evidence answering the questions of our study objective. Of these, nine studies, which included 896 patients overall (766 early-onset and 230 late-onset), compared postoperative outcomes between early- and late-onset NTMG. The remaining three articles, which included 216 patients (75 in the thymectomy group and 141 in the conservative-treatment group), compared thymectomy with conservative treatment for late-onset NTMG. The early- versus late-onset NTMG studies demonstrated that patients in the former category were 1.95× likelier than their late-onset counterparts to achieve clinical remission (odds ratio [OR] 1.95; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.39-2.73; I2 = 0%). No difference was seen in improvement or remission + improvement rates between these two groups. When comparing thymectomy with conservative treatments in late-onset NTMG patients, neither did we observe any difference in CSR/PR.Conclusion: We found that late-onset NTMG patients had a lower chance of achieving CSR after thymectomy than early-onset patients. Thymectomy in late-onset NTMG also yielded no benefit to CSR or PR compared with conservative treatments. In late-onset NTMG patients, thymectomy should therefore be performed with caution, and the appropriate cutoff between early- and late-onset MG should be further explored in order to tailor and execute the proper therapeutic strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Low levels of serum magnesium perturb renal tubular cell function and lymphocytes, resulting in renal deterioration and an imbalance in mononuclear cells. This study investigated the mechanism and influence of hypomagnesemia in patients with connective tissue disease. Methods: We retrospectively evaluated patients with connective tissue disease and available serum magnesium data who visited Keio University Hospital in 2019. Patients were divided into two groups: those with (serum magnesium < 1.8 mg/dl) and those without hypomagnesemia; their rates of hospitalization for severe infection and cumulative renal deterioration were compared. Patients' fractions of lymphocytes and natural killer and dendritic cell subsets, as measured by fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) analysis, were also compared. Results: Among 284 patients, hypomagnesemia was detected in 63 (22.2%). Multivariate analysis revealed that the use of proton pump inhibitors [odds ratio (OR), 1.48; p = 0.01] and tacrolimus (OR, 6.14; p < 0.01) was independently associated with hypomagnesemia. In addition, the renal deterioration rate was significantly higher in tacrolimus and/or proton pump inhibitor users with hypomagnesemia (p = 0.01). The hospitalization rate for severe infection was also higher in patients with hypomagnesemia (p = 0.04). FACS analysis showed lower CD8+ T cell, CD19+ B cell, natural killer cell, and dendritic cell counts in patients with hypomagnesemia (p = 0.03, p = 0.02, p = 0.02, and p = 0.03, respectively). Conclusion: The use of tacrolimus and proton pump inhibitors may be associated with hypomagnesemia and lead to poor renal outcomes and severe infection in patients with connective tissue disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the elemental status of the hair of adolescent girls in the Orenburg region (n=120) with different levels of body mass index was studied and their average daily diet was evaluated. A nutrition assessment program was used to study the diet. Estimation of the element status was carried out through the study of the chemical composition of the hair by ICP-AES and ICP-MS. It was found that there was a general imbalance of elements in the diet of all of the studied groups, and students with obesity had lower consumption levels of all elements, except Mg and Se. Similarly, obese students had lower levels of all elements in their hair except Se, P, and Zn. Thus, changes in the level of body mass index, as well as geochemical features of the territory of the Orenburg region, affect the content of most macro- and microelements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Muscle cramp is a painful, involuntary muscle contraction, and that occurs during or following exercise is referred to as exercise-associated muscle cramp (EAMC). The causes of EAMC are likely to be multifactorial, but dehydration and electrolytes deficits are considered to be factors. This study tested the hypothesis that post-exercise muscle cramp susceptibility would be increased with spring water ingestion, but reduced with oral rehydration solution (ORS) ingestion during exercise. Methods: Ten men performed downhill running (DHR) in the heat (35–36 °C) for 40–60 min to reduce 1.5–2% of their body mass in two conditions (spring water vs ORS) in a cross-over design. The body mass was measured at 20 min and every 10 min thereafter during DHR, and 30 min post-DHR. The participants ingested either spring water or ORS for the body mass loss in each period. The two conditions were counter-balanced among the participants and separated by a week. Calf muscle cramp susceptibility was assessed by a threshold frequency (TF) of an electrical train stimulation to induce cramp before, immediately after, 30 and 65 min post-DHR. Blood samples were taken before, immediately after and 65 min after DHR to measure serum sodium, potassium, magnesium and chroride concentrations, hematocrit (Hct), hemoglobin (Hb), and serum osmolarity. Changes in these varaibles over time were compared between conditions by two-way repeated measures of analysis of variance. Results: The average (±SD) baseline TF (25.6 ± 0.7 Hz) was the same between conditions. TF decreased 3.8 ± 2.7 to 4.5 ± 1.7 Hz from the baseline value immediately to 65 min post-DHR for the spring water condition, but increased 6.5 ± 4.9 to 13.6 ± 6.0 Hz in the same time period for the ORS condition (P < 0.05). Hct and Hb did not change significantly (P > 0.05) for both conditions, but osmolarity decreased (P < 0.05) only for the spring water condition. Serum sodium and chloride concentrations decreased (< 2%) at immediately post-DHR for the spring water condition only (P < 0.05). Conclusions: These results suggest that ORS intake during exercise decreased muscle cramp susceptibility. It was concluded that ingesting ORS appeared to be effective for preventing EAMC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nephrotoxicity is a serious side effect of cisplatin. Magnesium supplement can reduce this side effect, although previous studies demonstrated the effect on cisplatin - induced nephrotoxicity (CIN), with some showing no effect. This study aimed to summarize the effect of magnesium supplement on CIN. We systematically searched PubMed, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, Scopus, EMBASE and www.clinicaltrial.gov for all relevant studies. All clinical studies comparing the risk of CIN in patients who received magnesium supplement and the control groups were included. Our primary outcome examined the occurrence of severe nephrotoxicity. The secondary outcome was the occurrence of all grades of nephrotoxicity and changes in serum creatinine (SCr) and creatinine clearance (CrCl). Random-effects model was used to determine pooled effect size for nephrotoxicityrelated outcomes. A total of 4,053 studies were retrieved but only 12 studies were included. Nine studies were retrospective observational studies, while two studies were randomized controlled trials and one study was prospective study. All studies were conducted with patients that had solid tumors and receiving cisplatin >50 mg/m2/cycle. Meta-analysis indicated that magnesium supplementation could reduce the occurrence of severe CIN in the first cycle and all other cycles of cisplatin-based chemotherapy (RR 0.19, 95%CI; 0.11 - 0.33 and RR 0.28, 95%CI; 0.19 - 0.43, respectively). Similarly, changes in SCr and CrCl in the magnesium-supplemented group were significantly lower than those in the control group for both the first cycle and all other cycles (p<0.001). With the current evidence, magnesium supplementation possesses a protective effect for CIN, especially for severe nephrotoxicity. Oncologists may well consider supplementing magnesium for patients who are treated with cisplatin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purification and characterization of PGM (Phosphoglucomutase) from Cordyceps militaris (C. militaris) was investigated. PGM was purified using a combination of ultrafiltration, salting-out and ion exchange chromatography resulting in 4.23-fold enhancement of activity with a recovery of 20.01%. Molecular mass was 50.01 kDa by SDS-PAGE. The optimal activity was achieved at pH 7.5 and 30 °C with NADPH as substrate. The results showed that SDS, DTT Li+, Cu2+, Na+, Mn2+ and Al3+ were effective PGM inhibitors; whereas glycerol, Zn2+, Mg2+, Ca2+, Fe2+ and Fe3+ could enhance the activity of PGM, and the Km and Vmax values were 11.62 mmol/L and 416.67 U/mL, respectively. At the same time, qRT-PCR was used to test the changes of mRNA transcription level of PGM gene encoding under two fermentation conditions: basic medium and optimized medium. The relative quantitative results of PGM target genes resulting in 2.60-fold enhancement than the control group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objectives of the present prospective cohort study were to identify risk factors for inflammatory diseases in Holstein-Gyr crossbred dairy cows and characterize the associations of those diseases with pregnancy per embryo transfer (ET). Diseases were diagnosed in the first 60 d postpartum in 252 primiparous and 481 multiparous cows. Uterine diseases (UTD) included retained placenta, metritis, clinical endometritis, and subclinical endometritis. Nonuterine diseases (NUTD) included mastitis, lameness, pneumonia, and displaced abomasum. Blood was sampled on d 0, 1, and 2 postpartum and analyzed for concentrations of haptoglobin, fatty acids, total Ca (tCa), P, and Mg, and again on d 8 postpartum and analyzed for concentration of β-hydroxybutyrate. The association between concentrations of metabolites in serum and inflammatory diseases was determined. Cows received a timed ET program starting 28 ± 3 d postpartum with first ET at 46 ± 3 d postpartum using fresh in vitro-produced embryos. Pregnancy was diagnosed on d 31 and 59 of presumptive gestation. Overall, 63.3% of the cows were diagnosed with UTD and 20.6% with NUTD. The risk factors for UTD included season of calving, parity group, calving problems, days with subclinical hypocalcemia, and serum concentrations of haptoglobin and Mg, whereas the risk factors for NUTD were parity group and serum Mg concentration. Cows that developed UTD had increased concentrations of haptoglobin on d 2 and fatty acids on d 1 and 2, and reduced concentrations of tCa on d 1 and 2 and of P and Mg on d 2 postpartum compared with cows without UTD. Cows that developed NUTD had increased concentrations of fatty acids on d 0 to 2 postpartum, and decreased concentrations of tCa and P on d 0 and 1, and of Mg on d 1 and 2 postpartum compared with cows without NUTD. Cows that developed NUTD had a 340-kg reduction in milk yield in the first 60 d postpartum. Inflammatory diseases were associated with lesser body condition score and increased loss of body condition in the first 70 d postpartum. Maintenance of pregnancy after ET was reduced in UTD cows following the first (41.7 vs. 25.4%) or all ET (46.4 vs. 36.2%), whereas maintenance of pregnancy was reduced in NUTD cows only at the second ET (39.0 vs 25.9%). The reduced pregnancy maintenance in UTD cows combined with a reduced 21-d service rate (61.9 vs. 54.8%) decreased the 21-d cycle pregnancy rate (28.6 vs. 19.9%) and the hazard of pregnancy to 300 d postpartum by 35%, resulting in an extra 32 d open. In conclusion, inflammatory diseases depressed fertility in dairy cows receiving ET, with the greatest impact observed in UTD cows. This suggests that local inflammation of the uterus impairs maintenance of pregnancy in dairy cows following ET. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Magnesium (Mg) deficiency (known as grass tetany) is a serious metabolic disorder that affects grazing ruminants. We tested whether Mg-fertiliser can increase Mg concentration of Italian ryegrasses (Lolium multiflorum L.) including a cultivar (cv. Bb2067; 'Magnet'), bred to accumulate larger concentrations of Mg. Methods: Under controlled environment (CE) conditions, three cultivars (cv. Bb2067, cv. Bb2068, cv. RvP) were grown in low-nutrient compost at six fertiliser rates (0–1500 μM MgCl2.6H2O). Under field conditions, the three cultivars in the CE condition and cv. Alamo were grown at two sites, and four rates of MgSO4 fertiliser application rates (0–200 kg ha−1 MgO). Multiple grass cuts were taken over two-years. Results: Grass Mg concentration increased with increasing Mg-fertiliser application rates in all cultivars and conditions. Under field conditions, cv. Bb2067 had 11–73% greater grass Mg concentration and smaller forage tetany index (FTI) than other cultivars across the Mg-fertiliser application rates, sites and cuts. Grass dry matter (DM) yield of cv. Bb2067 was significantly (p < 0.05) smaller than cv. Alamo. The effect of Mg-fertiliser rate on DM yield was not significant (p ≥ 0.05). Conclusions: Biofortification of grass with Mg through breeding and agronomy can improve the forage Mg concentration for grazing ruminants, even in high-growth spring grass conditions when hypomagnesaemia is most prevalent. Response to agronomic biofortification varied with cultivar, Mg-fertiliser rate, site and weather. The cost:benefit of these approaches and farmer acceptability, and the impact on cattle and sheep grazing on grasses biofortified with Mg requires further investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hypomagnesemia and hypermagnesemia could have serious implications and possibly lead to progress from a mild form to a severe outcome of Covid-19. Susceptibility of subjects with low magnesium status to develop and enhance this infection is possible. There is little data on the magnesium status of patients with Covid-19 with different degrees of severity. This study was conducted to evaluate prevalence of dysmagnesemia in a prospective Covid-19 cohort study according to the severity of the clinical manifestations and to identify factors associated. Serum magnesium was measured in 300 of 549 patients admitted to the hospital due to severe Covid-19. According to the WHO guidelines, patients were classified as moderate, severe, or critical. 48% patients had a magnesemia below 0.75 mmol/L (defined as magnesium deficiency) including 13% with a marked hypomagnesemia (<0.65 mmol/L). 9.6% had values equal to or higher than 0.95 mmol/L. Serum magnesium concentrations were significantly lower in female than in male (0.73 ± 0.12 vs 0.80 ± 0.13 mmol/L), whereas the sex ratio M/F was higher in severe and critical form (p<0.001). In a bivariate analysis, the risk of magnesium deficiency was significantly and negatively associated with infection severity (p<0.001), sex ratio (M/F, p<0.001), oxygenotherapy (p<0.001), stay in critical care unit (p=0.028), and positively with nephropathy (p=0.026). Logistic regression analysis revealed that the strongest predictors of magnesium deficiency were female sex (OR=2.67, p<0.001) and nephropathy (OR=2.12, p=0.032) and after exclusion of sex ratio, the severity of infection (OR=0.46, p=0.04 and OR=0.39 p=0.01), for critical and moderate forms, respectively. This transversal study reveals a high prevalence of hypomagnesemia in hospitalized patients for Covid-19, while high-level serum magnesium concentration was more prevalent in critical form. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Familial hypomagnesemia with hypercalciuria and nephrocalcinosis (FHHNC) is an autosomal recessive tubulopathy characterized by excessive urinary wasting of magnesium and calcium, bilateral nephrocalcinosis, and progressive chronic renal failure in childhood or adolescence. FHHNC is caused by mutations in CLDN16 and CLDN19, which encode the tight‐junction proteins claudin‐16 and claudin‐19, respectively. Most of these mutations are missense mutations and large deletions are rare. Methods: We examined the clinical and biochemical features of a Spanish boy with early onset of FHHNC symptoms. Exons and flanking intronic segments of CLDN16 and CLDN19 were analyzed by direct sequencing. We developed a new assay based on Quantitative Multiplex PCR of Short Fluorescent Fragments (QMPSF) to investigate large CLDN16 deletions. Results: Genetic analysis revealed two novel compound heterozygous mutations of CLDN16, comprising a missense mutation, c.277G>A; p.(Ala93Thr), in one allele, and a gross deletion that lacked exons 4 and 5,c.(840+25_?)del, in the other allele. The patient inherited these variants from his mother and father, respectively. Conclusions: Using direct sequencing and our QMPSF assay, we identified the genetic cause of FHHNC in our patient. This QMPSF assay should facilitate the genetic diagnosis of FHHNC. Our study provided additional data on the genotypic spectrum of the CLDN16 gene. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Few studies have investigated the association of magnesium levels with incident peripheral artery disease (PAD) despite emerging evidence of magnesium contributing to vascular calcification. Moreover, no data are available on whether the magnesium–PAD relationship is independent of or modified by kidney function. Methods A cohort of 11 839 participants free of PAD in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study at Visit 2 (1990–92) was studied. We investigated the association of serum magnesium and other bone–mineral metabolism markers [calcium, phosphorus, intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH) and intact fibroblast growth factor-23] with incident PAD using multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression. Results Over a median of 23 years, there were 471 cases of incident PAD. The hazard ratio for incident PAD in Quartile 1 (<1.5 mEq/L) versus Quartile 4 (>1.7 mEq/L) of magnesium was 1.96 (95% confidence interval 1.40–2.74) after adjustment for potential confounders. Lower magnesium levels were associated with greater incidence of PAD, particularly in those with estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) ≥60 mL/min/1.73 m2 (n  = 11 606). In contrast, the association was largely flat in those with eGFR <60 mL/min/1.73 m2 (n  = 233) with P-for-interaction 0.03. Among bone–mineral metabolism markers, only higher iPTH showed an interaction with kidney function (P-for-interaction 0.01) and iPTH >65 pg/mL was significantly related to PAD only in those with eGFR <60 mL/min/1.73 m2. Conclusions Lower magnesium was independently associated with incident PAD, but this association was significantly weaker in those with reduced kidney function. In contrast, higher iPTH levels were particularly related to PAD risk in this clinical population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Hypomagnesemia is known to impede hypocalcemia correction. This prospective observational study aimed to evaluate the impact of serum magnesium levels on the development of refractory hypocalcemia, which remains a concerning problem after total thyroidectomy (TT). Subjects and Methods: Consecutive subjects (n = 312; mean age = 38.4 [range: 13–83] years; M:F = 62:250) undergoing TT for benign or malignant thyroid diseases were evaluated for serum corrected-calcium (8.4–10.4 mg/dL), magnesium (1.7–2.4 mg/dL), intact parathormone (iPTH), and 25-hydroxycholecalciferol (25OHD) levels preoperatively, at 48-h and 6-month post-TT. Results: Postoperatively, 98 subjects (31.4%) exhibited transient hypocalcemia, 96 (30.8%) had hypomagnesemia, and 52 (16.7%) had refractory hypocalcemia. Preoperatively, 38 subjects (12.2%) had asymptomatic hypocalcemia and 77 (24.7%) had hypomagnesemia. In multivariate logistic regression analysis, independent risk factors of transient hypocalcemia were hyperthyroidism (odd's ratio [OR]: 5.6), 48-h iPTH (OR: 3.2), 48-h magnesium (OR: 2.7), preoperative 25OHD (OR: 0.96), and preoperative calcium (OR: 0.5; each P < 0.01). In receiver-operating characteristic analysis, percent calcium decline and 48-h magnesium reliably predicted transient hypocalcemia with a threshold of 10.5% and 1.9 mg/dL, respectively. Area under curve, sensitivity, and specificity were 0.822, 82.7%, and 72.9%; and 0.649 (each P < 0.001), 68.4%, and 63.1%, respectively. Conclusion: Serum magnesium below 1.9 mg/dL had 2.7 times higher odds of developing transient hypocalcemia post-TT. Hypomagnesemia and percent calcium decline >10.5% within 48-h post-TT are associated with refractory hypocalcemia, which necessitates correction of both the deficiencies for prompt resolution of symptoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In December 2019, the viral pandemic of respiratory illness caused by COVID-19 began sweeping its way across the globe. Several aspects of this infectious disease mimic metabolic events shown to occur during latent subclinical magnesium deficiency. Hypomagnesemia is a relatively common clinical occurrence that often goes unrecognized since magnesium levels are rarely monitored in the clinical setting. Magnesium is the second most abundant intracellular cation after potassium. It is involved in >600 enzymatic reactions in the body, including those contributing to the exaggerated immune and inflammatory responses exhibited by COVID-19 patients.Methods: A summary of experimental findings and knowledge of the biochemical role magnesium may play in the pathogenesis of COVID-19 is presented in this perspective. The National Academy of Medicine's Standards for Systematic Reviews were independently employed to identify clinical and prospective cohort studies assessing the relationship of magnesium with interleukin-6, a prominent drug target for treating COVID-19.Results: Clinical recommendations are given for prevention and treatment of COVID-19. Constant monitoring of ionized magnesium status with subsequent repletion, when appropriate, may be an effective strategy to influence disease contraction and progression. The peer-reviewed literature supports that several aspects of magnesium nutrition warrant clinical consideration. Mechanisms include its "calcium-channel blocking" effects that lead to downstream suppression of nuclear factor-Kβ, interleukin-6, c-reactive protein, and other related endocrine disrupters; its role in regulating renal potassium loss; and its ability to activate and enhance the functionality of vitamin D, among others.Conclusion: As the world awaits an effective vaccine, nutrition plays an important and safe role in helping mitigate patient morbidity and mortality. Our group is working with the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics to collect patient-level data from intensive care units across the United States to better understand nutrition care practices that lead to better outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study reported clinical characteristics and the results of gene mutation analysis of 3 Chinese patients with Gitelman syndrome (GS). Three patients manifested with normal blood pressure, recurrent hypokalemia, and metabolic alkalosis. Only case 2 had obvious hypomagnesemia. Gene sequencing showed a compound heterozygous mutation in SCL12A3 in case 1 and a homozygous mutation in SCL12A3 in case 2. Heterozygous mutations in SCL12A3 and CLCNKB were found in case 3. Then, the literature was reviewed. The keyword "Gitelman syndrome" was inputted into the PubMed, Wanfang Database, and CNK to search all Chinese patients with GS diagnosed by gene mutations and to extract complete clinical data from December 1998 to 2018. Finally, a total of 124 cases of GS were included. No significant differences in the levels of serum potassium and magnesium were observed among the different gene mutations, and the serum magnesium levels in adults were lower than those of the juvenile. GS with reduced blood magnesium had a serious clinical phenotype. Therefore, GS had a diverse phenotype, and its final diagnosis required genetic profiling. The relationship of gene mutation and clinical phenotype needed further study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Pneumonia, as one of the most common and serious diseases in the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU), is associated with electrolyte imbalance. The prognostic value of pneumonia-associated electrolyte imbalance and its effect on the clinical outcome of admitted patients in PICU was considered as the main scope of this study. Materials and Methods: This prospective observational study was conducted on 8 beds of PICU for two years. In parallel with the routine treatment protocol, the levels of magnesium (Mg), phosphate (P), and calcium (Ca) on the admission day were measured in 240 hospitalized patients with pneumonia. Based on clinical outcomes, patients were categorized into three groups. Finally, the demographic data and electrolyte imbalances were analyzed based on the aim of the study. Results: There were no significant differences regarding age and gender, as well as the percentages of patients with mechanical ventilation and dopamine administration. In addition, no differences were observed in the lengths of mechanical ventilation and dopamine administration among the three groups. Furthermore, the length of PICU and hospital stays was significantly longer in patients either as discharged with the sequel or dead ones. The results further revealed that the scores of the pediatric risk of mortality and sequential organ failure assessment were significantly higher in patients that passed away. Moreover, Ca and Mg deficiencies were significant in patients either as discharge with the sequel or dead ones. Additionally, 16.2% and 25% of patients who discharged with the sequel and passed away showed P deficiency, respectively. Finally, Ca deficiency by 12.39 times increased patients' poor prognostic clinical outcomes. Conclusions: Among primary electrolyte deficiencies, hypocalcaemia can be considered as a prominently poor prognostic factor for clinical outcomes in PICU patients with pneumonia but hypomagnesaemia and hypophosphatemia do not predict clinical outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/purpose: To avoid long-term effects associated with permanent implants, bioresorbable vascular scaffolds were developed, as they provide transient vessel support and disappear thereafter. The aim of the BIOSOLVE-II and -III studies was to assess the safety and performance of a magnesium-based sirolimus-eluting scaffold; we report the clinical outcomes at 3 years, 2 years after scaffold resorption.Methods/materials: BIOSOLVE-II and BIOSOLVE-III are international, prospective multi-center studies, including 184 patients with 189 de novo lesions and stable or unstable angina, or documented silent ischemia. Acute myocardial infarction, 3-vessel coronary artery disease, and heavily calcified lesions were excluded. Antiplatelet therapy was recommended for 6 months.Results: Patients were 65.5 ± 10.8 years old, and lesions were 12.1 ± 4.5 mm long and located in vessels with a diameter of 2.7 ± 0.4 mm. More than half of the lesions (56.5%) were type B2/C lesions. At 2 years, 92.5% (160/173) of patients were symptom-free and 91.5% (151/165) at 3 years; all the other patients had stable angina. At 3 years, target lesion failure occurred in 11 patients (6.3%), consisting of 4 cardiac deaths (2.3%), one target-vessel myocardial infarction (0.6%), and 6 clinically driven target lesion revascularizations (3.4%). There was no definite or probable scaffold thrombosis.Conclusion: In a low-risk patient population, treatment with a sirolimus-eluting magnesium bioresorbable scaffold can be considered safe, in particular with no definite or probable scaffold thrombosis.Annotated Table Of Contents: BIOSOLVE-II and -III are prospective, international, multi-center studies including 184 patients with de novo lesions. At 3 years, target lesion failure was 6.3%, consisting of 4 cardiac deaths (2.3%), one target-vessel myocardial infarction (0.6%), and 6 clinically driven target lesion revascularizations (3.4%). There was no definite or probable scaffold thrombosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Given the beneficial effect of MgSO4 on the cardiovascular system, this study was designed to investigate the effect of MgSO4 administration on suppressing some atherosclerotic risk factors in moderate coronary artery disease patients with one or two atherosclerotic vessels. Patients and Methods: In a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial study, 64 patients with moderate coronary artery disease (55– 69% stenosis) were selected according to angiography findings. Patients were divided into four groups including patients with one or two atherosclerotic vessels treated with MgSO4 (Mg-treated-VR1, Mg-treated-VR2, respectively), placebo treated patients with one or two atherosclerotic vessels (Control-VR1, Control-VR2, respectively). The patients received either placebo or MgSO4 supplement capsule containing 300 mg MgSO4 for six months on a daily basis. ESR, Ca/Mg ratio, urine Mg level, serum Mg, fibrinogen, homocysteine, uric acid, Na, K, Ca, CRP, T3, T4, TSH, BUN, and Cr concentrations were measured at baseline and every three months. Results: Serum T3, Ca, K, homocysteine, CRP, and Mg concentrations were significantly improved in Mg-treated groups compared to placebo groups. Conclusion: The results of this study showed that despite the slight change in serum magnesium level, oral administration of MgSO4for six months could slightly reduce the serum levels of some inflammatory and vascular factors in moderate coronary artery disease patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI) is one of the leading cause of death in children under 5 years old around the world between 1980 and 2016. Distinguishing between viral and bacterial infection is challenging when children suffered from LRTI in the absence of pathogen detection. The aim of our study is to analyze the difference of serum β2-microglobulin (β2-MG) between viral LRTI and bacterial LRTI in children. Methods: This retrospective study included children with LRTI caused by a single pathogen from Yancheng Third People's Hospital, Yancheng, China, between January 1, 2016 and December 31, 2019. Participants were divided into the younger group (1 year old ≤ age < 3 years old) and the older group (3 years old ≤ age < 5 years old) for subgroup analysis. Results: A total of 475 children with LRTI caused by common respiratory pathogens were identified. In the younger group as well as the older group, the serum level of β2- MG in respiratory syncytial virus, influenza A virus and influenza B virus groups were significantly increased compared to that in the Mycoplasma pneumoniae group. Compared with Streptococcus pneumoniae infection group, the serum β2-MG level of respiratory syncytial virus, influenza A virus and influenza B virus groups were significantly higher in children between 1 and 3 years old. Conclusions: The serum β2-MG may distinguish viral infection from bacterial infection in children with LRTI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Verbascoside is a compound that belongs to a group of natural substances present in plants used in traditional medicine. It possesses multiple biological capabilities including anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial and anti-tumour properties. Aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of verbascoside in two different concentrations (1 g/kg-LVB and 2 mg/kg-HVB in food mixture) on selected parameters of mineral profiles in rabbit blood. In our study the experiment lasted for 120 days and was executed on 45 New Zealand rabbit bucks. The average age of animals was 1 year±2 month. Rabbits were divided into three homogenous groups-first being the control group fed with a feed without any additives (control); LVB group with 5 mg/kg and HVB group supplemented with 10 mg/kg of verbascoside. In our experiment verbascoside did not cause significant changes in parameters of mineral profile in rabbit blood. Levels of sodium in control group were 135.22 mmol/l. The levels of Na in LVB reached 135.64 mmol/l and in HVB group 134.74 mmol/l. Potassium analysis shown concentrations in the range of 4.32 mmol/l-4.68 mmol/l with the lowest concentration in control group. The concentrations of Ca have remained almost unchanged compared to the control group with LVB group having the same concentration of 3.49 mmol/l and HVB group-3.48 mmol/l. Chlorides concentrations ranged from 106.05 mmol/l to 160.61 mmol/l and did not show any significant changes. Magnesium blood levels in our experiment did not show any significant changes either and ranged from 1.32 mmol/l to 1.34 mmol/l. We can state that verbascoside had no effect on mineral profile parameters in rabbit blood, but it has to be emphasized that its effect is more focused on different functions in various targeted organs as stated above. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A 90 days study was undertaken to evaluate the effect of green tea (Camellia sinensis) on disease resistance and hematology of common carp (Cyprinus carpio). The test diets was prepared by incorporating green tea powder at 0.5, 1, 1.5 and 2 g/kg basal diet. The hemato-biochemical indices were examined before and after fish were challenged against Aeromonas hydrophila pathogen containing 3.16 × 107 CFU/ml. There were significantly higher number of erythrocytes, leucocytes, haemoglobin value in pre challenge. Leucocytes significantly increased (p < 0.05) in both pre and post challenge. The serum protein content was significantly (p < 0.05) increased for fish fed with 1 g/kg green tea. However, feeding of green tea incorporated diet resulted reduction in serum glucose, serum magnesium and serum cholesterol level in fish. No mortality was observed in 1 g/kg and 1.5 g/kg green tea incorporated diet fed fishes after challenged against Aeromonas hydrophila. These results indicated that green tea leaf powder stimulates the immunity and makes common carp more resistant to bacterial infection (A. hydrophila). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High lamb mortality continues to be a significant economic and welfare problem within the Australian sheep industry, with 20–30% of lambs born in commercial flocks dying mostly within 3 days of birth. Clinical hypocalcaemia and hypomagnesaemia cause ewe mortality, and, subsequently, either fetal or lamb death, but it is not known whether subclinical deficiencies of calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg) compromise lamb survival. This review considers the potential mechanisms through which Ca and Mg deficiencies may influence lamb survival, and factors influencing the risk of deficiency. Pastures grazed by lambing ewes may be marginal in calcium (Ca; <4 g/kg DM) and magnesium (Mg; <0.9 g/kg DM) but also have a high dietary cation–anion difference (>12 meq/100 g DM) and high concentrations of potassium (K; >30 g/kg DM) and nitrogen. In young cereal crops, sodium concentrations are also often low (<0.9 g/kg DM). This combination of minerals and other nutrients creates an imbalance in supply and increases susceptibility to acute Ca (hypocalcaemia) and Mg (hypomagnesaemia) deficiency. Calcium is required for smooth muscle function and has a direct role in uterine contraction, so may influence the duration of parturition. Low Ca and Mg intake both influence insulin release and sensitivity, low Mg results in poor glycaemic control and insulin resistance by impairing both insulin secretion and its action on peripheral tissues, also potentially altering the duration of parturition as well as risk of metabolic disease. Magnesium is also a neuroprotectant that slows the neuronal damage during hypoxia and has been linked with thermogenesis in offspring and increased immunoglobulins in colostrum. These functions indicate potential importance in improving the ease of parturition and improved ability of the newborn lamb to thermoregulate and survive after birth. Subclinical Ca and Mg deficiencies commonly occur in 20% of lambing ewes grazing temperate pastures, so further studies are warranted to investigate whether correction of these deficiencies can improve lamb survival. Lamb mortality is the largest source of reproductive wastage in sheep. This review examines potential mechanisms by which subclinical calcium or magnesium deficiencies may cause lamb mortality. Grazing ewes commonly experience subclinical deficiencies so further research is needed to clarify whether correction of these can improve lamb survival. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Keywords: Calcium; phosphorus; magnesium; varying levels; apparent digestibility EN Calcium phosphorus magnesium varying levels apparent digestibility INTRODUCTION For optimal performance of dairy animals, appropriate supply of minerals in diet needs to be considered (Kronqvist, 2011). Phosphorus absorption is affected by multiple factors including total P intake, source of P, the Ca: P ratio, and dietary Ca, Mg and fat levels (Ekelund, et al., 2003). Schneider et al. (1985) found that when animals were offered P deficient diets, high levels of Ca reduced the absorption of P, due to reduction in rumen P solubility and also due to less P availability in the lower GIT. In contrast, Feng et al. (2015) reported lowest P digestibility in steers fed 0.15% dietary P. Similarly, Geisert et al. (2010) reported very low P digestibility in steers fed with 0.12% dietary P. Ternouth (1990) explained that slight reduction of P digestibility at very low dietary P levels can be attributed to the compromised microbial P requirements. [Extracted from the article]

Calcium is an essential element for plants' survival and ability to deal with environmental stresses. However, it can cause cell death due to cellular disequilibrium. Serpentine plants are sensitive to high concentrations of Ca2+, which induces lethal symptoms, especially under environmental stress. In this study, the direct effects of Ca2+ on cell death were investigated in cell cultures of Alyssum inflatum , a serpentine plant native to Western Iran, and results were compared to a non-serpentinitic congeneric species A. saxatile. The results were also compared to the effects of Mg2+ treatments in both species, as another determinative factor in serpentinite soil is high Mg2+ content. Plasma membrane permeability, reactive oxygen species (ROS), and malondialdehyde (MDA) production were measured as physiological cell injury indices. In A. inflatum higher levels of ROS and MDA were observed in Ca2+-treated cells (5 mM or more), while in A. saxatile they were measured in Mg2+-treated cells (5 mM or more). In serpentine species, results indicated that cell death by Ca2+ was more intensive than the cell death by Mg2+, which were observed with less intensity in non-serpentine plants. Microscopic studies showed that cell death occurred via apoptosis-like programmed cell death (AL-PCD). Therefore, Ca2+ sensitivity and AL-PCD as mechanistic reasons for their non-serpentine intolerance would be a crucial consideration in cellular researches concerning serpentine plants, which could be employed in green technologies such as phytoremediation. • AL-PCD is the cell death type that occurs via Ca2+ sensitivity. • The proposed strong antioxidant system in serpentine plants is not effective enough in preventing oxidative stress. • Mg2+ is not as effective in cell death than Ca2+ that emphasizes Ca2+-dependent cell signaling cascades in cell death. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In boundary line analysis a biological response (e.g., crop yield) is assumed to be a function of a variable (e.g., soil nutrient concentration), which limits the response in only some subset of observations because other limiting factors also apply. The response function is therefore expressed by an upper boundary of the plot of the response against the variable. This model has been used in various branches of soil science. In this paper we apply it to the analysis of some large datasets, originating from commercial farms in England and Wales, on the recorded yield of wheat and measured concentrations of soil nutrients in within‐field soil management zones. We considered boundary line models for the effects of potassium (K), phosphorus (P) and magnesium (Mg) on yield, comparing the model with a simple bivariate normal distribution or a bivariate normal censored at a constant maximum yield. We were able to show, using likelihood‐based methods, that the boundary line model was preferable in most cases. The boundary line model suggested that the standard RB209 soil nutrient index values (Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board, nutrient management guide (RB209), 2017) are robust and apply at the within‐field scale. However, there was evidence that wheat yield could respond to additional Mg at concentrations above index 0, contrary to RB209 guidelines. Furthermore, there was evidence that the boundary line model for yield and P differs between soils at different pH and depth intervals, suggesting that shallow soils with larger pH require a larger target P index than others. Highlights: Boundary line analysis is one way to examine how soil variables influence crop yield in large datasets.We showed that boundary line models could be applied to large datasets on soil nutrients and crop yield.The resulting models are consistent with current practice for P and K, but not for Mg.Models suggest that more refined recommendations for P requirement could be based on soil pH and depth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Magnesium deficiency, a common finding in critically ill patients, is associated with increased need for respiratory support, increased duration of ICU stay and mortality. The primary objective of our study is to assess the prevalence of hypomagnesaemia in critically ill children (requiring inotropic support, respiratory support, and fluid resuscitation) on admission in the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU). The secondary objective is to evaluate its relationship with the length of hospital stay and mortality. Methods: This prospective observational study was conducted in the PICU of a tertiary care hospital. In this study, serum magnesium levels at admission were measured along with other laboratory tests, after informed consent. Serum magnesium levels were assayed in our laboratory. The normal range of serum magnesium in our lab is 1.7-2.7 mg/dl. During admission in PICU, there was follow-up for ionotrope administration, need for mechanical ventilation, APACHE II score, PICU length of stay and mortality. Results: In this study, 350 critically ill children requiring hemodynamic / respiratory support were chosen. However, 83 children were excluded from study as they were discharged against medical advice. The prevalence of hypomagnesemia in this study was 43.4%. There was no significant association between hypomagnesemia, duration of hospital stay and mortality. Conclusion: Hypomagnesaemia is a common finding in critically ill paediatric patients, however there is no significant association noted in regards to length of hospital stay, duration of mechanical ventilation, inotropic support and mortality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Preeclampsia is a syndrome characterized by pregnancy induced hypertension and proteinuria with high prevalence rate in India. Aim of the study is to estimate serum cations in normal and preeclampsia pregnancy women. Materials and Method: Serum calcium, magnesium, zinc and copper were measured by spectrophotometric method and sodium and potassium using ion selective electrodes in 40 preeclamptic women matched for gestational age with 40 normal pregnant women. The statistical analysis .was done using unpaired “t” test, chi square test and odds ratio. Results: The preeclamptic women demonstrated a significantly lower serum calcium, zinc, magnesium and sodium levels compared to normal pregnant women. Copper levels was higher than the normal range in both the groups and the difference between the groups remained insignificant. Decreased serum zinc and calcium were found to be the most significant risk factors for elevation of blood pressure in preeclampsia patients. Conclusion: Current study demonstrates that decreased cations in the plasma may be one of the primary causes for elevation of blood pressure in preeclampsia patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Magnesium (Mg) has important effects on maize growth, and the application of Mg fertilizer with straw return inevitably has an impact on Mg absorption in maize. RESULTS: A two‐year field trial was conducted to investigate the effects of Mg fertilizers with straw return on Mg accumulations, partitioning and remobilization in maize (Zea mays L.) in northeast China. The treatments included: (i) JM3 (straw + Mg fertilizer), (ii) JM0 (straw + no Mg fertilizer), (iii) WM3 (no straw + Mg fertilizer), and (iv) WM0 (no Mg fertilizer + no straw). The results showed that the highest Mg accumulation stage in maize was prominent between the tasseling stage (VT) and blister stage (R2), and JM3 treatment accumulated 13.3% and 26.6% more Mg on average than those of the WM3 and WM0, respectively. Magnesium remobilization in distinct organs was highest in JM3 and there were significant differences between treatments. The total contribution to the grain for the JM3 treatment was higher by 6.0% and 17.9% on average than those for the WM3 and WM0, respectively. The grain yield of JM3 treatment was 0.5% and 5.3% higher than that of WM3 and WM0, respectively. CONCLUSION: Generally, these outcomes indicated that there was an interaction between Mg fertilizer and maize straw. The application of Mg fertilizer significantly promoted the accumulation, distribution to the maize organs, and the remobilization of Mg. The combination of straw return and Mg application further increased the accumulation of Mg in the grain. And all these lead to an increase in yield. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A trial was conducted to assess the effects of phytase supplementation and substitute Vitamin D3 resource with Panbonis - a herbal vitamin D3 source- (PAN) on performance, some carcass characteristics, tibia and serum parameters of broiler chickens. For this purpose, 11200 one-day-old, mixed sex (5600 male, 5600 female) Ross-308 chicks were administered 7 different diets based on corn, soybean and wheat throughout the 41-day trial. Dietary treatments; control group as T1 (5000 IU vitamin D3), T2 (T1 + 500 FTU g-1 phytase), T3 (3000 IU vitamin D3 + 500 FTU g-1 phytase + 100 mg kg-1 PAN) and T4 (3000 IU vitamin D3 + 500 FTU g-1 phytase + 200 mg kg-1PAN) were prepared to contain recommended levels of Ca-P however T5, T6 and T7 were formulated from T2, T3 and T4, respectively, by reducing 18% of Ca and P concentrations. When overall results considered, there was no significant difference among treatments in terms of final live weight, mortality, weight gain, European Production Efficiency Factor (EPEF) and carcass parameters and mortality (P>0.05). While birds consuming diets containing phytase exhibited better FCR than control group without phytase (P<0.05), no additional improvement was obtained with PAN supplementation compared to other treatments without control group. Additionally partial replacement of PAN for synthetic form had no significant effect on tibia parameters and serum Ca, P levels even though serum Mg (in chicks fed sufficient Ca-P) and calcitriol were increased. These results indicate that PAN could replace some part of synthetic vitamin D3 without any adverse effect in broiler chickens. However, substitution rate of PAN in Ca and P deficient diets should be carefully studied more due to possible adverse effects on feed intake (12-41d) and weight gain (12-41d) as observed in the present study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The introduction of whole grain rye flour with the addition of organic tobacco seed flour (Oriental variety) yields bread with health benefits, which enriches the range of bread types in the country. The purpose of the study is to study the physicochemical and mineral composition of the original flours for bread production. The study found that the protein content of organic whole grain rye flour was 10.30% and that of organic tobacco flour was 23.90%. In terms of fat in organic rye flour (2.29%), and the inclusion of organic flour from tobacco seed (35.97% fat) leads to an increase in the fat content of the flour mixture. The amount of fiber in organic rye flour (8.00%) and in organic flour from tobacco seed (22.10%) makes this flour mixture suitable for use for bread with health benefits. The energy value of organic whole grain rye flour is 400 kcal/100 g product, and that of tobacco seed bio flour is 500 kcal/100 g product. With regard to Fe in organic flour, rye flour is 35.2 mg/kg, in organic flour from tobacco seed is 142 mg/kg. Mg shows significant differences in the flours used: rye 1127 mg/kg, and tobacco 3843 mg/kg. The flour mixture is rich in Fe and Mg, with good baking properties and is suitable for the production of bread intended for people with specific health needs - patients with type 2 diabetes, people actively sports, and for prophylactic purposes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: Populus can tolerant high concentration Al stress. However, the mechanisms of Mg alleviation to Al toxicity in populus remain unknown. Methods: In the present study, adequate Mg was supplied to poplar under high concentration Al toxicity stress, and the pH gradients of root surface, Mg and Al uptake from root apex were detected using electrophysiological analysis, fluorescence staining, etc. Furthermore, auxin distribution and transport dynamic kinetics in root tips were also detected. Results: In the present study, we found that adequate supply of Mg alleviated high concentration Al toxicity to populus root growth. Mg promoted the pH gradients of root surface in populus, leading to alkalization in the root transition zone, which prevented Al toxicity to root elongation. The auxin distribution in root tips of populus was detected using DR5:GFP reporter. The transport and distribution of polar auxin in root transition zone were inhibited by Al toxicity, but partially alleviated by Mg supply. Further electrophysiological experiments using auxin transporter mutant pin-formed 2 (pin2) showed that Mg alleviated Al toxicity by PIN2-based polar auxin transport, which regulated root surface alkalization in the transition zone. Transcriptomic analysis and yeast complementation experiments using mrs2 mutants also reveals same relationships among Mg, auxin and Al. Conclusions: The present study suggests that Mg promotes polar auxin transport and distribution, which leads to the elevated root surface pH regulation, and further alleviates the Al toxicity. Our results partially clarify the mechanism of Mg in alleviating the toxicity of high concentration Al in woody plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims. To identify the common and specific molecular mechanisms of three well- defined subtypes of endometriosis (EMs): ovarian endometriosis (OE), peritoneal endometriosis (PE), and deep infiltrating endometriosis (DIE). Methods. Four microarray datasets: GSE7305 and GSE7307 for OE, E-MTAB-694 for PE, and GSE25628 for DIE were downloaded from public databases and conducted to compare ectopic lesions (EC) with eutopic endometrium (EU) from EMs patients. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) identified by limma package were divided into two parts: common DEGs among three subtypes and specific DEGs in each subtype, both of which were subsequently performed with the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis. The protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was constructed by common DEGs and five hub genes were screened out from the PPI network. Besides, these five hub genes together with selected interested pathway- related genes were further validated in an independent OE RNA-sequencing dataset GSE105764. Results. A total of 54 EC samples from three EMs subtypes (OE, PE, DIE) and 58 EU samples were analyzed, from which we obtained 148 common DEGs among three subtypes, and 729 specific DEGs in OE, 777 specific DEGs in PE and 36 specific DEGs in DIE. The most enriched pathway of 148 shared DEGs was arachidonic acid (AA) metabolism, in which most genes were up-regulated in EC, indicating inflammation was the most common pathogenesis of three subtypes. Besides, five hub genes AURKB, RRM2, DTL, CCNB1, CCNB2 identified from the PPI network constructed by 148 shared DEGs were all associated with cell cycle and mitosis, and down-regulated in EC, suggesting a slow and controlled proliferation in ectopic lesions. The KEGG pathway analysis of specific DEGs in each subtype revealed that abnormal ovarian steroidogenesis was a prominent feature in OE; OE and DIE seems to be at more risk of malignant development since both of their specific DEGs were enriched in the pathways in cancer, though enriched genes were different, while PE tended to be more associated with dysregulated peritoneal immune and inflammatory microenvironment. Conclusion. By integrated bioinformatic analysis, we explored common and specific molecular signatures among different subtypes of endometriosis: activated arachidonic acid (AA) metabolism-related inflammatory process and a slow and controlled proliferation in ectopic lesions were common features in OE, PE and DIE; OE and DIE seemed to be at more risk of malignant development while PE tended to be more associated with dysregulated peritoneal immune and inflammatory microenvironment, all of which could deepen our perception of endometriosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Latterly, the upsurge in use of antifungal drugs has brought about the emergence of several drug-resistance strains, making it skeptical to continue relying on current therapeutic regime. In the necessity of resistance-free antifungal agent, flavonoids presented possibilities of replacing existing drugs, displaying antifungal activity against pathogenic fungi. Among them, quercetin, one of the most representative flavonoids, exhibited antifungal activity against Candida albicans. To inspect the further understanding regarding quercetin, the antifungal mode of action of quercetin was investigated. In the initial step, the apoptosis was monitored after quercetin treatment. Moreover, intracellular levels of Mg2+ was assessed and was determined that Mg2+ increase occurred under the influence of quercetin. In addition, several features of mitochondrial dysfunction were monitored. Mitochondrial dysfunction triggers decrease in mitochondrial redox levels and leads to disruption in mitochondrial antioxidant system. Increased intracellular ROS and decreased intracellular redox levels were also displayed, indicating the occurrence of overall disruption in antioxidant systems. Sequentially, DNA fragmentation was observed and this DNA damage in turn induces apoptosis. In analyses, hexaamminecobalt(III) chloride (Cohex) was applied to inhibit Mg2+ transport between cytosol and mitochondria. Cohex attenuated the effects induced by quercetin, which demonstrates that the presence of Mg2+ is essential in quercetin-induced apoptosis. • Quercetin induces an increase in intracellular Mg2+ level in C. albicans. • Mg2+ increment induces mitochondrial dysfunctions. • Without Mg2+ increase, quercetin cannot induce apoptosis in C. albicans. • Quercetin induces apoptosis in Candida albicans through mitochondrial dysfunction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Magnesium deficiency is a frequently occurring limiting factor for crop production due to low levels of exchangeable Mg (ex-Mg) in acidic soil, which negatively affects sustainability of agriculture development. How Mg fertilization affects crop yield and subsequent physiological outcomes in different crop species, as well as agronomic efficiencies of Mg fertilizers, under varying soil conditions remain particular interesting questions to be addressed. A meta-analysis was performed with 570 paired observations retrieved from 99 field research articles to compare effects of Mg fertilization on crop production and corresponding agronomic efficiencies in different production systems under varying soil conditions. The mean value of yield increase and agronomic efficiency derived from Mg application was 8.5% and 34.4 kg kg-1 respectively, when combining all yield measurements together, regardless of the crop type, soil condition, and other factors. Under severe Mg deficiency (ex-Mg < 60 mg kg-1), yield increased up to 9.4%, nearly two folds of yield gain (4.9%) in the soil containing more than 120 mg kg-1 ex-Mg. The effects of Mg fertilization on yield was 11.3% when soil pH was lower than 6.5. The agronomic efficiency of Mg fertilizers was negatively correlated with application levels of Mg, with 38.3 kg kg-1 at lower MgO levels (0–50 kg ha-1) and 32.6 kg kg-1 at higher MgO levels (50–100 kg ha-1). Clear interactions existed between soil ex-Mg, pH, and types and amount of Mg fertilizers in terms of crop yield increase. With Mg supplementation, Mg accumulation in the leaf tissues increased by 34.3% on average; and concentrations of sugar in edible organs were 5.5% higher compared to non-Mg supplemented treatments. Our analysis corroborated that Mg fertilization enhances crop performance by improving yield or resulting in favorable physiological outcomes, providing great potentials for integrated Mg management for higher crop yield and quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The availability of nutrients directly affects plant growth and development, with nitrogen being one of the most necessary nutrients in metabolism in general. Using the hypothesis that Anacardium othonianum Rizz. can be physiologically affected by different doses of nitrogen, this study aimed to evaluate aspects of growth, nutrient absorption and enzymatic activity during the production of seedlings of this species in hydroponic cultivation. The doses of 0.0, 2.5, 5.0, 7.5, 10.0, 12.5 and 15.0 mmol l-1 of N were tested. At 120 days after transplanting the seedlings into the nutrient solution, it was observed that doses higher than 10.0 mmol l-1 of N may constitute an excess, negatively affecting the number of leaves and leaf area. The enzymes glutamine synthetase and nitrate reductase showed greater activity in seedlings subjected to 2.5 mmol l-1 of N. Doses higher than this negatively affected the activity of these enzymes, indicating that A. othonianum Rizz. may be a species sensitive to ammonia. Alternatively, the absence of N (0.0 mmol l-1) stimulated root mass accumulation, absorption of K, Mg and B ions, as well as nitric oxide synthesis. The present study contributes to obtain healthy seedlings and to the knowledge of the metabolism aspects of an important Cerrado fruit tree. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Benefits of serial electrocardiographic (ECG) monitoring to detect QT prolongation in patients with hematological malignancies remain unclear. This retrospective, single-center, study evaluated 316 adult acute leukemia and high-risk MDS patients who received 11,775 patient-days of voriconazole prophylaxis during induction chemotherapy. Of these, 37 patients (16.2%) experienced QTc prolongation. Medications associated with QTc prolongation included furosemide, haloperidol, metronidazole, mirtazapine, prochlorperazine, and venlafaxine. Hypokalemia and hypomagnesemia were also significantly associated with QTc prolongation (HR 3.15; p =.003 and HR 6.47, p =.007, respectively). Management modifications due to QTc prolongation included discontinuation of QT prolonging medications (n = 25), more aggressive electrolyte repletion (n = 5), and enhanced ECG monitoring (n = 3). One patient with multiple QT prolonging factors experienced possible Torsades de Pointes. Overall mortality was 15% with no cardiac-related deaths. Serial ECG monitoring during induction chemotherapy can be tailored proportionally to QT-prolonging risk factors. Management should include aggressive electrolyte repletion and avoidance of concurrent QT prolonging medications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]