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Background: A new commercially available sodium bicarbonate (SB) supplement claims to limit gastrointestinal (GI) discomfort and increase extracellular buffering capacity. To date, no available data exists to substantiate such claims. Therefore, the aim of this study was to measure blood acid–base balance and GI discomfort responses following the ingestion of SB using the novel "Bicarb System" (M-SB). Twelve well-trained male cyclists completed this randomised crossover designed study. Maximal oxygen consumption was determined in visit one, whilst during visits two and three participants ingested 0.3 g∙kg−1 BM SB using M-SB (Maurten, Sweden) or vegetarian capsules (C-SB) in a randomised order. Finger prick capillary blood samples were measured every 30 min for pH, bicarbonate (HCO3−), and electrolytes (potassium, chloride, calcium, and sodium), for 300 min. Visual analogue scales (VAS) were used to assess GI symptoms using the same time intervals. Results: Peak HCO3− was 0.95 mmol∙L−1 greater following M-SB (p = 0.023, g = 0.61), with time to peak HCO3− achieved 38.2 min earlier (117 ± 37 vs. 156 ± 36 min; p = 0.026, r = 0.67) and remained elevated for longer (p = 0.043, g = 0.51). No differences were observed for any electrolytes between the conditions. Aggregated GI discomfort was reduced by 79 AU following M-SB (p < 0.001, g = 1.11), with M-SB reducing stomach cramps, bowel urgency, diarrhoea, belching, and stomach-ache compared to C-SB. Conclusions: This is the first study to report that M-SB can increase buffering capacity and reduce GI discomfort. This presents a major potential benefit for athletes considering SB as an ergogenic supplement as GI discomfort is almost eliminated. Future research should determine if M-SB is performance enhancing. Key Points: The novel 'Bicarb System' (M-SB) reduced, and almost eliminated the gastrointestinal (GI) discomfort compared to vegetarian capsules (C-SB). The changes in acid-base balance following ingestion of M-SB were significantly greater compared to C-SB. It is unkown if this would translate to increased performance benefits, however, and the next step therefore is to determine the performance responses from M-SB. The increase in HCO3− was sustained >5 mmol L−1 HCO3− for longer with M-SB ingestion versus C-SB. This might suggest there is an "ergogenic window", and ingestion timing could therefore be flexible prior to exercise. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Studies regarding salivary biochemical parameters and dental caries in adult people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) are scanty. Aim: To investigate salivary biochemical parameters and dental caries in adult PLWHA who are on antiretroviral therapy (ART) and compare the findings with people negative for HIV infection. Methods: The study included 50 HIV positive individuals as a test group (TG) and 50 HIV negative individuals as a control group (CG). Dental examination was performed according to WHO guidelines to assess DMFT. Digital panoramic radiographs were taken to detect additional infectious foci. Non-stimulated saliva was collected between 9 and 12 a. m for 5 min to evaluate 18 biochemical parameters and salivary flow rate (SFR). Parametric and non parametric tests were used according to data distribution. The level of significance was set at p < 0.05%. Results: Patients' mean ages and M/F sex ratios for TG and CG were 38.80 ± 9.69 y/o. vs. 37.98 ± 13.47 y/o. and 3.54 vs. 2.33, respectively. Higher means of decayed teeth were recorded in TG, 4.47 ± 3.00 vs. 3.88 ± 2.81 in CG with no significant difference (p = 0.41). Means of filled teeth were significantly lower in TG 2.38 ± 2.16 vs. 4.16 ± 3.35 in CG (p = 0.01), respectively. No statistical significant difference was noted in DMFT indices between the 2 groups (8.04 ± 6.90 vs. 8.52 ± 6.24, p = 0.71). The following salivary parameters were significantly lower in TG compared to CG, respectively: mean SFR 0.44 ± 0.18 ml/min vs. 0.61 ± 0.26 ml/min; median levels of sodium and chlorides, 4 mmol/L and 13.5 mmol/L vs. 9 mmol/L and 19 mmol/L (p < 0.001) and uric acid, 103.50 mmol/L vs. 163 (p = 0.009). However, higher median levels were recorded with calcium, 1.09 mmol/L vs. 0.54 (p < 0.001) and sIgA 23 mg/dl vs. 5 mg/dl (p < 0.001). In TG, a positive correlation was found between DC, potassium, urea, and chlorides (p < 0.05). Salivary renal and hepatic biomarkers were comparable between the two groups. Conclusions: PLWHA have shown an alteration in some salivary parameters, more decayed teeth and less filled teeth. Preventive measures should be implemented to lower dental caries and enhance accessibility to oral care services. In addition, saliva can be utilized to monitor oral and general health status among PLWHA on ART. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: It has been found that so many biochemical materials, including electrolytes, remain remarkably stable after death while others show varying degrees of change; hence, the analysis of electrolytes in vitreous humour has great medico-legal importance. Method: 95 autopsies were studied by making a puncture 5-6 mm away from the limbus by using a 10 ml sterile syringe and 20 gauze needles. Aspirated vitreous was poured into a rubber stopped vial. The collected fluid was sent to the biochemistry department for electrolyte analysis. The analysis was carried out using the iron selective electrode method, and the results were noted and compared. Results: The PM interval for 27 cases (28.4%) was < 12 hours, 32 cases (33.6%) was between 12-24 hours, and 36 cases (37.8%) was >24 hours. In the study of different electrolytes, the sodium chloride value remained insignificant, but the potassium value had a highly significant p value (p<0.001). The highest mean value of potassium 10.62 (±1.90) in accidental falls and least in snake bite deaths was 6.7 (±0.23). Conclusion: The present pragmatic study has proved that vitreous potassium is the single best parameter to estimate and predict post mortem death accurately. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exercise-associated muscle cramps (EAMCs) are thought to be caused by dehydration and/or electrolyte losses. In this multicenter, cross-sectional study, the authors determined whether sweat rates (SRs), sweat electrolyte concentrations, or sweat electrolyte content differed in athletes with (i.e., crampers) and without (i.e., noncrampers) a history of EAMCs and whether these variables could predict EAMC-prone athletes. Male and female collegiate athletes (N = 350) from 11 sports with (n = 245) and without (n = 105) a self-reported history of EAMCs completed a typical exercise or conditioning session. SRs, calculated from body mass, and posterior forearm sweat were analyzed for sweat sodium concentration ([Na+]sw), sweat potassium concentration ([K+]sw), and sweat chloride concentration ([Cl-]sw). The authors used SRs and sweat electrolyte concentrations to calculate sweat electrolyte content lost. Within each gender, no differences in SRs (204 males, p = .92; 146 females, p = .24); [Na+]sw (191 males, p = .55; 126 females, p = .55); Na+sw content (191 males, p = .59; 126 females, p = .20); [K+]sw (192 males, p = .57; 126 females, p = .87); K+sw content (192 males, p = .49; 126 females, p = .03); [Cl-]sw (192 males, p = .94; 77 females, p = .57); and Cl-sw content (192 males, p = .55; 77 females, p = .34) occurred between crampers and noncrampers. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis revealed that sweat electrolyte content and SRs were predictive of EAMC-prone athletes in American football (area under curve = 0.65-0.72, p ≤ .005), but not in any other sport. EAMCs may not be solely caused by fluid or electrolyte losses in most athletes. Fluid and electrolyte replacement may help American footballers. Clinicians should individualize fluid and electrolyte replacement and understand different etiologies for EAMCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rationale: Previous phase 3 trials showed that treatment with lumacaftor/ivacaftor was safe and efficacious in people aged ⩾2 years with cystic fibrosis (CF) homozygous for the F508del mutation in CFTR (CF transmembrane conductance regulator) (F/F genotype). Objectives: To assess the safety, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics of lumacaftor/ivacaftor in children aged 1 to <2 years with the F/F genotype. Methods: This open-label, phase 3 study consisted of two parts (part A [n = 14] and part B [n = 46]) in which two cohorts were enrolled on the basis of age (cohort 1, 18 to <24 mo; cohort 2, 12 to <18 mo). For the 15-day treatment period in part A, the lumacaftor/ivacaftor dose was based on weight at screening. Pharmacokinetic data from part A were used to determine dose-based weight boundaries for part B (24-wk treatment period). Measurements and Main Results: The primary endpoint of part A was pharmacokinetics, and the primary endpoint for part B was safety and tolerability. Secondary endpoints for part B were absolute change in sweat chloride concentration from baseline at Week 24 and pharmacokinetics. Analysis of pharmacokinetic data from part A confirmed the appropriateness of part B dosing. In part B, 44 children (95.7%) had adverse events, which for most were either mild (52.2% of children) or moderate (39.1% of children) in severity. The most common adverse events were cough, infective pulmonary exacerbation of CF, pyrexia, and vomiting. At Week 24, mean absolute change from baseline in sweat chloride concentration was -29.1 mmol/L (95% confidence interval, -34.8 to -23.4 mmol/L). Growth parameters (body mass index, weight, length, and associated z-scores) were normal at baseline and remained normal during the 24-week treatment period. Improving trends in some biomarkers of pancreatic function and intestinal inflammation, such as fecal elastase-1, serum immunoreactive trypsinogen, and fecal calprotectin, were observed. Conclusions: Lumacaftor/ivacaftor was generally safe and well tolerated in children aged 1 to <2 years with the F/F genotype, with a pharmacokinetic profile consistent with studies in older children. Efficacy results, including robust reductions in sweat chloride concentration, suggest the potential for CF disease modification with lumacaftor/ivacaftor treatment. These results support the use of lumacaftor/ivacaftor in this population. Clinical trial registered with www.clinicaltrials.gov (NCT03601637). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nasal ions environment plays a crucial role in maintaining nasal physiology and supports olfactory transmission. Addressing the limited research on nasal ion levels and their association with olfactory function, paper-based sensors were developed for determination of sodium, potassium, calcium and chloride in the nasal mucus of healthy volunteers and patients with olfactory dysfunction. Multi-walled carbon nanotubes and carbon quantum dots from beetroot were incorporated into paper substrate where sensors were designed with ion association complexes for sodium, potassium, calcium and chloride enhancing the recognition sensing capabilities. The sensors composition was optimized, including ion-exchange materials and plasticizers, to enhance sensitivity and selectivity. The performance of the sensors is evaluated based on Nernstian slope, dynamic range, detection limit and response time. Selectivity of the sensors was tested and the results demonstrated high selectivity for the target ions. The sensors were successfully determined sodium, potassium, calcium and chloride levels in nasal mucus of healthy volunteers and patients with olfactory dysfunction. The results revealed elevated calcium levels in patients with olfactory dysfunction, highlighting associated diagnostic implications. This suggests that the proposed sensors could serve as a diagnostic tool for olfactory evaluation, particularly in resource-constrained settings where access to advanced diagnostic tools is limited., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relations that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Road salt poses a threat to the quality of soils and water resources. Wetlands located in salt contaminated areas are at risk of experiencing lower plant and animal species diversity. Therefore, it is critical to understand how modifications to salt application rates and hydrological events impact wetland water quality. Here, we use chloride mass flux, discharge, groundwater chloride concentration, meteorological, and salt application data from 2012-2020 to estimate chloride accumulation and outflux rates in the Kampoosa Bog subwatersheds, located in Stockbridge and Lee, Massachusetts, and bordered by major highways (Interstate-90 and U.S. Route 7). We also investigate the correlation between wetland size and chloride retention rate. During the 2018-2019 period, mean annual chloride application rates in the major watershed increased from 363000 kg/year (2012-2017) to 479000 kg/year. This led to a net chloride accumulation (KB100 subwatershed: 339000 kg; KB150 subwatershed: 188000 kg) and increased groundwater chloride concentrations in the fen. Chloride outflux from these subwatersheds was primarily driven by discharge. We found that the relationship between wetland percent cover and chloride retention is complex. Although the percent wetland cover is greater in the KB100 main wetland region compared to the KB150 subwatershed, high precipitation in 2018 resulted in similar chloride retention efficiencies (~26%). During the drier year (2019), chloride retention was higher in the wetland region due to its gentle slopes which promote water accumulation and consequently higher evaporation rates which lowers discharge and chloride outfluxes. The chloride steady-state concentration analysis also suggests that there is potential for chloride accumulation to continue because the watershed has not yet reached steady-state chloride concentrations. Without major modifications to salting practices, chloride concentrations will continue increasing and potentially promote the re-growth of invasives (Phragmites) and continued growth of salt tolerant species (Typha angustifolia/xglauca) that diminish plant diversity., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright: © 2024 Ndlovu et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.)

Groundwater is a vital source of water for human and agricultural use in many parts of the world. The purpose of this research was to establish the quality of groundwater in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, as well as the human health concerns associated with it. We collected and examined groundwater samples for pH, EC, TDS, CaCO 3 , fluoride (F - ), chloride (Cl - ), sulfate (SO 4 2- ), and nitrate (NO 3 - ). The ion chromatography conductometric detection method was constructed to determine fluoride, chloride, sulfate, and nitrate in groundwater. The suggested method worked well for the anions that were being studied; it had a high coefficient of determination (r 2  > 0.998) and average recoveries for all analytes that were between 97.5% and 99.0%, with a range of error of 0.77 to 2.37%. Fluoride concentrations were detected between 0.001 and 0.14 mg/L, which are within the acceptable limit by several organizations. Chloride was measured in the range of 17.1 to 966.5 mg/L, with some samples above the limits. The influence on sulfate ranged from 2.0 to 1136.0 mg/L, with several samples exceeding the limits. In contrast, with nitrate levels ranging from 1.4 to 5.0 mg/L, the majority of the samples fall within the acceptable range. The overall intake of fluoride, chloride, sulfate, and nitrate is 0.00605, 138.911, 65.515, and 1.19, respectively, which is lower than the recommended daily consumption except for chloride. The groundwater sample contains fluoride and nitrate with HQ values less than one: 0.000064-0.0641 and 0.033654-0.120192. Humans in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, do not pose a health risk when digesting or absorbing groundwater fluoride or nitrate., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Universal sample preparation for proteomic analysis that enables unbiased protein manipulation, flexible reagent use, and low protein loss is required to ensure the highest sensitivity of downstream liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) analysis. To address these needs, we developed a ZnCl 2 precipitation-assisted sample preparation method (ZASP) that depletes harsh detergents and impurities in protein solutions prior to trypsin digestion via 10 min of ZnCl 2 and methanol-induced protein precipitation at room temperature (RT). ZASP can remove trypsin digestion and LC-MS incompatible detergents such as SDS, Triton X-100, and urea at high concentrations in solution and unbiasedly recover proteins independent of the amount of protein input. We demonstrated the sensitivity and reproducibility of ZASP in an analysis of samples with 1 μg to 1000 μg of proteins. Compared to commonly used sample preparation methods such as SDC-based in-solution digestion, acetone precipitation, FASP, and SP3, ZASP has proven to be an efficient approach. Here, we present ZASP, a practical, robust, and cost-effective proteomic sample preparation method that can be applied to profile different types of samples., Competing Interests: Conflicts of interest The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest with the contents of this article., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Sweat chloride concentration, a diagnostic feature in cystic fibrosis (CF), reflects CF transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) activity. CFTR modulator therapies, especially elexacaftor/tezacaftor/ivacaftor (ETI), has improved CF outcomes. We report nationwide, real-world data on sweat chloride concentration in people with CF (pwCF) with and without modulator therapies. All Danish pwCF with a minimum of one F508del allele were included. Sweat chloride measurements were stratified by genotype and modulator treatment. Differences were assessed using mixed-effects models. We included 977 sweat chloride measurements from 430 pwCF, 71% of which were F508del homozygous. Heterozygous and homozygous ETI-treated pwCF had an estimated mean sweat chloride concentration of 43 mmol/L (95% confidence interval: 39; 48) and 43 mmol/L (39; 47), respectively-48% and 59% lower than those without treatment. High variation in concentrations remained regardless of treatment status. Despite ETI treatment, 27% heterozygous and 23% homozygous pwCF had elevated concentrations (≥60 mmol/L). These real-world data confirm a substantial decrease in sweat chloride concentration during modulator treatment, especially ETI, where mean concentrations halved. However, large variation remained, including persistently high concentrations. These findings emphasize the potential of sweat chloride concentration as a treatment response biomarker and the need to explore its heterogeneity and relationship with clinical outcomes., (© 2024 The Author(s). APMIS published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Scandinavian Societies for Pathology, Medical Microbiology and Immunology.)

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of hydration status on the change in sweat sodium (Na + ), chloride (Cl - ), and potassium (K + ) concentrations during exercise-heat stress. Fifteen subjects (Six female, nine male; 29 ± 9 y; 71 ± 14 kg) completed 90 min of cycling (81% HR max ) in the heat (~33°C, 42% rh) with fluid replacement to maintain euhydration (EUH) or without fluid to dehydrate to 2.4 ± 0.4% body mass loss (DEH). Sweat was collected from the forehead (FH), right scapula (SCAP), and left (LVFA) and right (RVFA) ventral forearms using the absorbent pad technique at the beginning (0-30 min) and end of exercise (60-90 min). Sweat was analyzed for Na + , Cl - , and K + concentrations using ion chromatography. Data are reported as mean ± SD or median ± IQR. There were no differences (Paired t-tests or Wilcoxon signed-rank tests) between EUH and DEH in the change in sweat Na + (FH: 24.3 ± 21.5 vs. 30.8 ± 22.4 mmol/L; SCAP: 9.7 ± 6.2 vs. 9.6 ± 8.2 mmol/L; LVFA: 7.5 ± 6.0 vs. 5.6 ± 5.9 mmol/L; RVFA: 8.2 ± 8.6 vs. 7.8 ± 5.2 mmol/L), sweat Cl - , or sweat K + at any site (p = 0.07-0.99). The change in sweat electrolyte concentrations during 90 min of exercise in the heat was not significantly influenced by mild dehydration in recreational to moderately-trained male and female athletes., (© 2024 The Author(s). Physiological Reports published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of The Physiological Society and the American Physiological Society.)

Background: Acrolein, an aldehyde in smoke from tobacco products, inhibits CFTR function in vitro. Ivacaftor is an FDA-approved potentiator that improves mutant CFTR function. This human clinical study investigated the relationship between two urinary markers of tobacco smoke exposure - the acrolein metabolite 3-HPMA and the nicotine metabolite NNAL - and sweat chloride response to ivacaftor in the G551D Observational Trial (GOAL)., Methods: 3-HPMA (low: <50th centile; moderate: 50-75th centile; high: >75th centile) and NNAL (detectable/undetectable) in GOAL samples was quantified with LC-MS/MS. Self-report of tobacco smoke exposure (Y/N) served as a subjective measure. Change in sweat chloride from pre- to 6 months post-ivacaftor treatment (ΔSC) was the primary CFTR-dependent readout., Results: The sample included 151 individuals, mean age 20.7 (SD 11.4) years, range 6-59 years. Smoke exposure prevalence was 15 % per self-reports but 27 % based on detectable NNAL. 3-HPMA was increased in those reporting tobacco smoke exposure (607 vs 354 ng/ml, p = 0.008), with a higher proportion of smoke-exposed in the high- vs low-acrolein group (31 % vs 9 %, p=0.040). Compared to low-acrolein counterparts, high-acrolein participants experienced less decrease in sweat chloride (-35.2 vs -48.2 mmol/L; p = 0.020) and had higher sweat chloride values (50.6 vs 37.6 mmol/L; p = 0.020) 6 months post-ivacaftor. The odds of ivacaftor-mediated potentiation to near normative CFTR function (defined as SC 6mo <40 mmol/L) was more than twice as high in the low-acrolein cohort (OR: 2.51, p = 0.026)., Conclusions: Increased urinary 3-HPMA, an acrolein metabolite of tobacco smoke, is associated with a diminished sweat chloride response to ivacaftor potentiation of CFTR function., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest None., (Copyright © 2024 European Cystic Fibrosis Society. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: Aim of this study was to identify risk factors for a progression to cystic fibrosis (CF) in individuals detected as CF Screening Positive, Inconclusive Diagnosis (CFSPID)., Methods: This is a systematic review through literature databases (2015-2023). Blood immunoreactive trypsinogen (b-IRT) values, CFTR genotype, sweat chloride (SC) values, isolation of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (Pa) from respiratory samples, Lung Clearance Index (LCI) values in CFSPIDs who converted to CF (CFSPID > CF) and age at CF transition were assessed., Results: Percentage of CFSPID > CF varies from 5.3 % to 44 %. Presence of one CF-causing CFTR variant in trans with a variant with variable clinical consequences (VVCC), an initial SC ≥ 40 mmol/L, an increase of SC > 2.5 mmol/L/year and recurrent isolation of pseudomonas aeruginosa (Pa) from airway samples could allow identification of subjects at risk of progression to CF., Conclusions: CFSPIDs with CF causing variant/VVCC genotype and first SC in the higher borderline range may require more frequent and prolonged clinical follow-up., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Background and Objectives: Mineral and drinking waters are categorized bottled waters in the national standard of Iran and use of bottled waters is most linked to their health issues. Anions such as nitrite, nitrate, fluoride, chloride, sulfate and phosphate are important in assessing source and time of contamination in the purification water industry. National and international standards have been set and justified for the permissible levels for the highlighted anions. Materials and Methods: Totally, 168 minerals and drinking bottled water samples from the Iranian markets were collected under ideal sampling conditions and analyzed using ion chromatography (IC) featured with a conductivity detector. Results: Results showed that four anions, including nitrate, fluoride, chloride and sulfate, in all samples were detectable with mean values of 0.131, 6.77, 25.109 and 20.97 ppb, respectively, which were lower than the maximum standard levels. Nitrate and phosphate were not detected in 86% of the samples and included very low levels in other samples. Conclusions: It can be concluded that the anions are reliable sources of contamination and their monitoring is necessary for the product safety and consumer health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rationale: The cystic fibrosis (CF) modulator drug, elexacaftor/tezacaftor/ivacaftor (ETI), proved highly effective in controlled clinical trials for individuals with at least one F508del allele, which occurs in at least 85% of people with CF. Objectives: PROMISE is a postapproval study to understand the broad effects of ETI through 30 months' clinical use in a more diverse U.S. patient population with planned analyses after 6 months. Methods: Prospective, observational study in 487 people with CF age 12 years or older with at least one F508del allele starting ETI for the first time. Assessments occurred before and 1, 3, and 6 months into ETI therapy. Outcomes included change in percent predicted FEV1 (ppFEV1), sweat chloride concentration, body mass index (BMI), and self-reported respiratory symptoms. Measurements and Main Results: Average age was 25.1 years, and 44.1% entered the study using tezacaftor/ivacaftor or lumacaftor/ivacaftor, whereas 6.7% were using ivacaftor, consistent with F508del homozygosity and G551D allele, respectively. At 6 months into ETI therapy, ppFEV1 improved 9.76 percentage points (95% confidence interval [CI], 8.76 to 10.76) from baseline, cystic fibrosis questionnaire-revised respiratory domain score improved 20.4 points (95% CI, 18.3 to 22.5), and sweat chloride decreased -41.7 mmol/L (95% CI, -43.8 to -39.6). BMI also significantly increased. Changes were larger in those naive to modulators but substantial in all groups, including those treated with ivacaftor at baseline. Conclusions: ETI by clinical prescription provided large improvements in lung function, respiratory symptoms, and BMI in a diverse population naive to modulator drug therapy, using existing two-drug combinations, or using ivacaftor alone. Each group also experienced significant reductions in sweat chloride concentration, which correlated with improved ppFEV1 in the overall study population. Clinical trial registered with www.clinicaltrials.gov (NCT NCT04038047). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Saliva biomarkers could be easily used as a noninvasive alternative tool for diagnosing cystic fibrosis (CF) disease. In this study, the significance of changes in salivary compositions in patients with CF was systematically reviewed. Methods. An electronic search was utilized to include studies published in English, with case-control, cohort, or cross-sectional design. The evaluated salivary components were extracted and summarized. The included studies were assessed using the Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology checklist. Results. Out of 498 identified studies, nine met the eligibility criteria. Salivary electrolytes showed a substantial alteration in the CF group, especially with chloride and sodium. Total protein concentration was higher in patients with CF. However, SCN– concentration was lower in patients with CF. In addition, a reduction in the salivary flow rate and amylase levels was found in patients with CF. Conclusion. Alterations in salivary biomarkers among patients with CF could be used as a promising diagnostic tool for cystic fibrosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Topics in Exercise Science and Kinesiology Volume 3: Issue 1, Article 8, 2022. Extremely high heat stress environmental conditions in sub-Saharan Africa influences sports performance. The aim of this study was to assess physical changes and physiological responses associated with wearing judogi during 8 weeks training session in a hot environment. In this quasi-experimental study, trained male judokas (20.06 ± 1.24 years old), were assessed before and after a training session, while either wearing a judogi (experimental group n = 12) or cotton tee shorts (control group n = 12). All athletes completed testing and were evaluated for anthropometric, physiological and urine parameters. A significant decrease in body mass (BM) (P.02) was observed in the experimental group but not the control group. In contrast, VO2max was significantly improved in the control group (p = 0.018). Special Judo Fitness Test indicators of athletes in the experimental group were lower than those in the control group (p<0.01) after the 8 weeks training. In addition, significant decreases in sodium (Na+) (p = 0.005), potassium (K+) (p<0.001) and chloride (Cl-) (p<0.001) ion concentration were found in athletes in the experimental group. Body mass, fitness and hydroelectrolytic parameters decreased during those 24 training sessions in judogi wearing athletes. Wearing a judogi and training in open environments in a hot environment impairs judo performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Cystic fibrosis (CF) screen-positive infants with an inconclusive diagnosis (CFSPID) are infants in whom sweat testing and genetic analysis does not resolve a CF diagnosis. Lack of knowledge about the health outcome of these children who require clinical follow-up challenges effective consultation. Early predictive biomarkers to delineate the CF risk would allow a more targeted approach to these children. METHODS: Prospective, longitudinal, multicenter, Canada-wide cohort study of CF positive-screened newborns with 1 to 2 cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator gene variants, of which at least 1 is not known to be CF-causing and/or a sweat chloride between 30 and 59 mmol/L. These were monitored for conversion to a CF diagnosis, pulmonary, and nutritional outcomes. RESULTS: The mean observation period was 7.7 (95% confidence interval 7.1 to 8.4) years. A CF diagnosis was established for 24 of the 115 children with CFSPID (21%) either because of reinterpretation of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator genotype or because of increase in sweat chloride concentration ≥60 mmol/L. An initial sweat chloride of ≥40 mmol/l predicted conversion to CF on the basis of sweat testing. The 91 remaining children with CFSPID were pancreatic sufficient and showed normal growth until school age. Pulmonary function as well as lung clearance index in a subgroup of children with CFSPID were similar to that of healthy controls. CONCLUSIONS: Children with CFSPID have good nutritional and pulmonary outcomes at school age, but rates of reclassifying the diagnosis are high. The initial sweat chloride test can be used as a biomarker to predict the risk for CF in CFSPID. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Owing to the biological significance of Cl - in cells, several chemical fluorescent probes and biosensors have been constructed to monitor this anion in the cytosol and subcellular organelles. However, a fluorescent probe for the selective detection of nuclear Cl - has not been described thus far. In the current study, we developed the first nuclear Cl - -selective biosensor, Cl-YFP-NLS, whose fluorescence was effectively quenched by this anion, and demonstrated that it is an efficient and powerful tool for determining the levels of nuclear Cl - . The results of cell studies using Cl-YFP-NLS as the probe suggested that the level of Cl - in the nucleus is lower than that in the cytosol. In addition, Cl-YFP-NLS along with lysosomal (Lyso-MQAE) and mitochondrial Cl - -selective fluorescent probes (Mito-MQAE) were utilized to determine the effects of various substances on the levels of Cl - in subcellular organelles. The results showed that lysosomotropic agents decrease the lysosomal Cl - concentration and increase the levels of mitochondrial and nuclear Cl - . Also, observations suggested that substances capable of inducing mitochondrial outer membrane permeabilization without inducing lysosomal membrane permeabilization increase mitochondrial and nuclear Cl - concentrations but they do not affect the level of lysosomal Cl - . Moreover, a substance directly disrupting nuclear pore complexes increased the level of nuclear Cl - and did not change the levels of lysosomal and mitochondrial Cl - . Finally, nucleus-affecting substances that cause deoxyribonucleic acid damage and activate p53 and Bax increased the levels of mitochondrial and nuclear Cl - without influencing the level of lysosomal Cl - .

Cyanobacterial blooms have been a growing problem in water bodies and attracted attention from researcher and water companies worldwide. Different treatment methods have been researched and applied either inside water treatment plants or directly into reservoirs. We tested a combination of coagulants, polyaluminium chloride (PAC) and iron(III) chloride (FeCl 3 ), and ballasts, luvisol (LUV) and planosol (PLAN), known as the 'Floc and Sink' technique, to remove positively buoyant cyanobacteria from a tropical reservoir water. Response Surface Methodology (RSM) based on Central Composite Design (CCD) was used to optimize the two reaction variables - coagulant dosage (x 1 ) and ballast dosage (x 2 ) to remove the response variables: chlorophyll-a, turbidity, true color, and organic matter. Results showed that the combination of LUV with PAC effectively reduced the concentration of the response variables, while PLAN was ineffective in removing cyanobacteria when combined to PAC or FeCl 3 . Furthermore, FeCl 3 presented poorer floc formation and lower removal efficiency compared to PAC. This study may contribute to the theoretical and practical knowledge of the algal biomass removal for mitigating eutrophication trough different dosages of coagulants and ballasts., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors have no conflict of interest to report., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background and Objectives: Gingival retraction is a critical pre-impression procedure in fixed prosthodontics, crucial for exposing tooth margins and ensuring accurate impressions for restorations like crowns and bridges. This study aimed to evaluate the absorptive capacity of different gingival retraction cords. Materials and Methods: Ninety samples each of Ultrapak (Ultradent, South Jordan, UT, USA) #00, braided cord, coreless thread, and monofilament thread (totaling 270 samples) were immersed in 0.9% NaCl, 10% aluminum chloride, and 12.7% ferrous sulfate solutions for 120, 300, and 1200 s. The liquid absorption capacity was measured using a gravimetric method, and the data were analyzed using an F-test, setting the significance threshold at p < 0.05. Results: The results revealed statistically significant differences in absorption, particularly for aluminum chloride and ferric sulfate ( p < 0.001). Ultrapak demonstrated the highest absorption, followed by the coreless cotton thread, while the monofilament thread absorbed the least, especially at 1200 s. Conclusions: These findings indicate that Ultrapak's superior absorption could enhance moisture control during procedures, highlighting the importance of selecting an appropriate retraction cord for optimal clinical outcomes. Further research is needed to confirm these findings in a clinical setting.

Chemical coagulation has gained recognition as an effective technique to enhance the removal efficiency of pollutants in wastewater prior to their entry into a constructed wetland (CW) system. However, its potential impact on the chemical and microbial properties of soil and plant systems within CWs requires further research. This study investigated the impact of using ferric chloride (FeCl 3 ) as a pre-treatment stage for dairy wastewater (DWW) on the chemical and microbial properties of water-soil-plant systems of replicated pilot-scale CWs, comparing them to CWs treating untreated DWW. CWs treating amended DWW had better performance than CWs treating raw DWW for all water quality parameters (COD, TSS, TP, and TN), ensuring compliance with the EU wastewater discharge directives. Soil properties remained mostly unaffected except for pH, calcium and phosphorus (P), which were lower in CWs treating amended DWW. As a result of lower nitrogen (N) and P loads, the plants in CWs receiving FeCl 3 -amended DWW had lower N and P contents than the plants of raw DWW CWs. However, the lower loads of P into amended DWW CWs did not limit the growth of Phragmites australis, which were able to accumulate trace elements higher than CWs receiving raw DWW. Alpha and Beta-diversity analysis revealed minor differences in community richness and composition between both treatments, with only 3.7% (34 genera) showed significant disparities. Overall, the application of chemical coagulation produced superior effluent quality without affecting the properties of soil and plant of CWs or altering the functioning of the microbial community., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests: Ahmed Mohammad reports financial support was provided by Teagasc. If there are other authors, they declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Background: Sweat chloride (SC) concentrations in people with cystic fibrosis (PwCF) reflect relative CF transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) protein function, the primary CF defect. Populations with greater SC concentrations tend to have lesser CFTR function and more severe disease courses. CFTR modulator treatment can improve CFTR function within specific CF genotypes and is commonly associated with reduced SC concentration. However, SC concentrations do not necessarily fall to concentrations seen in the unaffected population, suggesting potential for better CFTR treatment outcomes. We characterized post-modulator SC concentration variability among CHEC-SC study participants by genotype and modulator., Methods: PwCF receiving commercially approved modulators for ≥90 days were enrolled for a single SC measurement. Clinical data were obtained from chart review and the CF Foundation Patient Registry (CFFPR). Variability of post-modulator SC concentrations was assessed by cumulative SC concentration frequencies., Results: Post-modulator SC concentrations (n = 3787) were collected from 3131 PwCF; most (n = 1769, 47 %) were collected after elexacaftor/tezacaftor/ivacaftor (ETI) treatment. Modulator use was associated with lower SC distributions, with post-ETI concentrations the lowest on average. Most post-ETI SC concentrations were <60 mmol/L (79 %); 26 % were <30 mmol/L. Post-ETI distributions varied by genotype. All genotypes containing at least one F508del allele had individuals with post-ETI SC ≥60 mmol/L, with the largest proportion being F508del/minimal function (31 %)., Conclusions: Post-modulator SC concentration heterogeneity was observed among all genotypes and modulators, including ETI. The presence of PwCF with post-modulator SC concentrations within the CF diagnostic range suggests room for additional treatment-associated CFTR restoration in this population., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 European Cystic Fibrosis Society. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

We assessed the hydrochemistry of 15 watersheds in the Halton Region, southern Ontario, in high resolution (n > 500 samples across n > 40 streams) to characterize water quality dynamics and governing controls on major and trace element concentrations in this rapidly urbanizing region. In 2022, major water quality parameters were generally in line with historic monitoring data yet significantly different across catchments, e.g., in specific conductance, turbidity, phosphate and chloride, and trace element concentrations. Distinct hydrochemical signatures were observed between urban and rural creeks, with urban stream sections and sites near the river mouths close to Lake Ontario having consistently higher chloride (up to 700 mg/L) and occasional enrichment in nutrients levels (up to 8 and 20 mg/L phosphate and nitrate, respectively). Particularly upper reaches exhibited hydrochemical signatures that were reflective of the catchment surface lithologies, for instance through higher dissolved Ca to Mg ratios. Unlike for chloride and phosphate, provincial water quality guidelines for trace elements and heavy metals were seldom surpassed (on < 10 occasions for copper, zinc, cadmium, and uranium). Concentrations of other trace elements (e.g., platinum group elements or rare earth elements) were expectedly low (< 0.3 µg/L) but showed spatiotemporal concentration patterns and concentration-discharge dynamics different from those of the major water quality parameters. Our results help improve the understanding of surface water conditions within Halton's regional Natural Heritage Systems and demonstrate how enhanced environmental monitoring can deliver actionable information for watershed decision-making., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.)

Hyperglycemic emergencies frequently lead to acute kidney injury (AKI) and require treatment with large amount of intravenous fluids. However, the effects of chloride loading on this population have not yet been investigated. We conducted a multicenter, retrospective, cohort study in 21 acute-care hospitals in Japan. The study included hospitalized adult patients with diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) and hyperosmolar hyperglycemic syndrome (HHS) who had AKI upon arrival. The patients were classified into high and low chloride groups based on the amount of chloride administered within the first 48 h of their arrival. The primary outcome was recovery from AKI; secondary outcome was major adverse kidney events within 30 days (MAKE30), including mortality and prolonged renal failure. A total of 390 patients with AKI, including 268 (69%) with DKA and 122 (31%) with HHS, were included in the study. Using the criteria of Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes, the severity of AKI in the patients was Stage 1 (n = 159, 41%), Stage 2 (n = 121, 31%), and Stage 3 (n = 110, 28%). The analysis showed no significant difference between the two groups in recovery from AKI (adjusted hazard ratio, 0.96; 95% CI 0.72-1.28; P = 0.78) and in MAKE30 (adjusted odds ratio, 0.91; 95% CI 0.45-1.76; P = 0.80). Chloride loading with fluid administration had no significant impact on recovery from AKI in patients with hyperglycemic emergencies.Trial Registration This study was registered in the UMIN clinical trial registration system (UMIN000025393, registered December 23, 2016)., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Società Italiana di Medicina Interna (SIMI).)

Background Breast milk feedings are the optimal feeding choice for premature infants. Clinicians depend on accurate nutrient profiles of the breast milk in order to make informed decisions regarding the need for nutrient supplementation. Existing data for nutrient composition of preterm breast milk are dated and not representative of the current population of women delivering prematurely in the United States. Objectives The purpose of this prospective, longitudinal, single-center observational study was to measure the macronutrient and micronutrient composition of breast milk expressed by mothers, including women who self-identify as black, delivering preterm infants at ≤33 completed weeks of gestation. Methods We collected breast milk samples from mothers of preterm infants admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit at Augusta University Medical Center from January 2019 through November 2019. Mother's milk samples were collected on postpartum days 7, 14, 21, and 28 and analyzed for macronutrients (energy, fat, protein, and carbohydrates) and micronutrients (sodium, potassium, chloride, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, vitamin D, and zinc). Results Thirty-eight mothers, mean age 27 ± 5.1 y and majority black (66%), provided milk for the study. The mean estimated gestational age and birth weight were 28.2 ± 2.8 weeks of gestation and 1098 ± 347 g, respectively, with 42% of mothers in the cohort delivering before week 28 of pregnancy. Differences in protein, sodium, potassium, calcium, phosphorus, and zinc concentrations based on race, day, and milk volume were identified. Dilution effects for protein, sodium, chloride, and vitamin D concentrations over time were identified. Conclusions Our study is among the first to characterize breast milk composition from women who delivered extremely preterm infants and adds to the evidence that race, gestational age, and volume influence the composition of preterm mother's milk. These factors should be considered when designing mother's milk–based feeds for premature infants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The sweat chloride test (ST) is the gold standard for cystic fibrosis (CF) diagnosis in symptomatic patients, within the newborn screening and in the follow-up of CF patients during molecular therapies. However, false positives have been reported in patients with different diseases. We describe and discuss 4 cases due to different clinical conditions in which we recorded false positive ST, and the test remained altered for a period of varying length. Cases presentation: Case 1: Eight months old female child suffering from constipation, recurrent vomiting and failure to thrive, family history of recurrent pancreatitis without mutations in the PRSS1 and SPINK1 genes. Both ST and fecal elastase were altered although no CFTR gene mutations were found. Due to rapid clinical deterioration, celiac disease was suspected and diagnosed by laboratory tests and intestinal biopsy. After 2 weeks of gluten-free diet ST and fecal elastase normalized. Case 2: 14 months old male suffering from bilateral renal dysplasia, episodes of metabolic alkalosis, recurrent respiratory infections and recurrent vomiting. The child had more ST positives, but no CFTR mutations were found. During follow-up, he developed sensorineural hearing loss and an atrial septic defect was found. Finally, a diagnosis of Klinefelter was made, but the ST normalized several years later. Case 3 and 4: Two boys with stubborn constipation and fecal occlusion treated with Poly Ethylene Glycol (PEG) with salts showed pathological ST. The test returned normal a few days after stopping treatment. Conclusions: We hypotesized the possible causes of ST alteration in these conditions: in celiac disease it could be due to a transient dysregulation of the aquaporins, rapidly reversed by the diet; in Klinefelter, it may be due to stable pubertal hypoandrogenism; while, the PEG formulation itself contains salts that can temporarily alter ST. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Wales has an immunoreactive trypsin (IRT)-DNA cystic fibrosis (CF) newborn screening (NBS) programme. Most CF NBS false negative cases are due to an IRT concentration below the screening threshold. The accuracy of IRT results is dependent on the quality of the dried bloodspot (DBS) sample. The aim of this study was to determine the cause of false negative cases in CF NBS and their relationship to DBS quality.Design: Longitudinal birth cohort.Setting: Wales 1996-2016.Patients: Children with CF.Interventions: Identification of all CF patients with triangulation of multiple data sources to detect false negative cases.Main Outcome Measures: False negative cases.Results: Over 20 years, 673 952 infants were screened and 239 were diagnosed with CF (incidence 1:2819). The sensitivity of the programme was 0.958, and positive predictive value was 0.476. Eighteen potential false negatives were identified, of whom eight were excluded: four screened outside Wales, two had complex comorbidities, no identified cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) variants on extended analysis and thus not considered to have CF and two were diagnosed after their 16th birthday. Of the 10 false negatives, 9 had a low DBS IRT and at least one common CFTR variant and thus should have received a sweat test under the programme. DBS cards were available for inspection for five of the nine false negative cases-all were classified as small/insufficient or poor quality.Conclusions: The majority of false negatives had a low bloodspot IRT, and this was associated with poor quality DBS. The optimal means to improve the sensitivity of our CF NBS programme would be to improve DBS sample quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: There is interest in including recommendations for the replacement of the sodium lost in sweat in individualized hydration plans for athletes. Purpose: Although the regional absorbent-patch method provides a practical approach to measuring sweat sodium losses in field conditions, there is a need to understand the variability of estimates associated with this technique. Methods: Sweat samples were collected from the forearms, chest, scapula, and thigh of 12 cyclists during 2 standardized cycling time trials in the heat and 2 in temperate conditions. Single measure analysis of sodium concentration was conducted immediately by ion-selective electrodes (ISE). A subset of 30 samples was frozen for reanalysis of sodium concentration using ISE, flame photometry (FP), and conductivity (SC). Results: Sweat samples collected in hot conditions produced higher sweat sodium concentrations than those from the temperate environment (P = .0032). A significant difference (P = .0048) in estimates of sweat sodium concentration was evident when calculated from the forearm average (mean ± 95% CL; 64 ±12 mmol/L) compared with using a 4-site equation (70 ± 12 mmol/L). There was a high correlation between the values produced using different analytical techniques (r2 = .95), but mean values were different between treatments (frozen FP, frozen SC > immediate ISE > frozen ISE; P < .0001). Conclusion: Whole-body sweat sodium concentration estimates differed depending on the number of sites included in the calculation. Environmental testing conditions should be considered in the interpretation of results. The impact of sample freezing and subsequent analytical technique was small but statistically significant. Nevertheless, when undertaken using a standardized protocol, the regional absorbent-patch method appears to be a relatively robust field test. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Studies have shown complications of normal saline infusion because of its high-chloride content. Therefore, in the present study, we aimed to explore whether the use of low- versus high-chloride solutions benefited the unselected and specifically perioperative patients and was associated with different outcomes. Methods. Studies on the use of low- versus highchloride content intravenous solutions for perioperative patients, published up to July 15, 2019, were systematically reviewed, and primary and secondary outcomes were quantitatively summarized. Results. A total of 14 eligible randomized controlled trials with 943 perioperative patients were included. Five studies reported all-cause mortality, and eight studies provided detailed data on renal replacement therapy (RRT). The pooled result suggested no statistically significant difference in the effect of lowversus high-chloride solutions on all-cause mortality (risk ratio ðRRÞ = 1:39; 95%confidence interval ðCIÞ = 0:23-8.26) and RRT (RR = 1:05; 95%CI = 0:63-1.76). The pooled results on acute kidney injury (AKI) and the use of allogenic blood transfusion (P > 0:05) were similar. Conclusion. Among specific perioperative patients, the use of low- versus high-chloride content intravenous solutions did not reduce the all-cause mortality, risk of severe AKI, or rate of RRT use. Further large randomized clinical trials are needed to confirm or refute this finding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exposure to airborne disinfection by-products, especially trichloramine (TCA), could cause various occupational health effects in indoor swimming pools. However, TCA concentration measurements involve specialized analysis conducted in specific laboratories, which can result in significant costs and time constraints. As an alternative, modeling techniques for estimating exposures are promising in addressing these challenges. This study aims to predict airborne TCA concentrations in indoor swimming pools using a mathematical model, the well-mixed box model, found in the IHMOD tool, freely available on the American Industrial Hygiene Association website. The model's predictions are compared with TCA concentrations measured during various bather load scenarios. The research involved conducting 2-hr successive workplace measurements over 16- to 18-hr periods in four indoor swimming pools in Quebec, Canada. TCA concentrations were estimated using the well-mixed box model, assuming a homogeneous mixing of air within the swimming pool environment. A novel approach was developed to estimate the TCA generation rate from swimming pool water, incorporating the number of swimmers in the model. Average measured concentrations of TCA were 0.24, 0.26, 0.14, and 0.34 mg/m 3 for swimming pools 1, 2, 3, and 4, respectively. The ratio of these measured average concentrations to their corresponding predicted values ranged from 0.51 to 1.30, 0.67 to 1.04, 0.57 to 1.14, and 0.68 to 1.49 for the respective swimming pools. In a worst-case scenario simulating the swimming pool at full capacity (maximum bathers allowed), TCA concentrations were estimated as 0.23, 0.36, 0.14, and 0.37 mg/m 3 for swimming pools 1, 2, 3, and 4. Recalculated concentrations by adjusting the number of swimmers so as not to exceed the recommended occupational limit concentration of 0.35 mg/m 3 gives a maximum number of swimmers of 63 and 335 instead of currently 80 and 424 for swimming pools 2 and 4, respectively. Similarly, for swimming pools 1 and 3, the maximum number of swimmers could be 173 and 398 (instead of the current 160 and 225, respectively). These results demonstrated that the model could be used to estimate and anticipate airborne TCA levels in indoor swimming pools across various scenarios.

Objective: To verify the rate and predictors of 'quantity not sufficient' (QNS) among Brazilian infants younger than 3 months with positive newborn screening (NBS) for cystic fibrosis (CF)., Design: Prospective, population-based study., Setting: Public Statewide Newborn Screening Programme where the incidence rate of CF is ≈1:11 000., Patients: Subjects with positive two-tiered immunoreactive trypsinogen., Interventions: Sweat induction and collection were performed in the same facility; one sweat sample was obtained per individual., Main Outcome Measures: The QNS rate and its predictors; analysis corresponded to the day of sweat collection., Results: Among the 975 participants, QNS rates for 10 and 15 µL were 3.6% (95% CI 2.5% to 4.9%) and 8.3% (95% CI 6.6% to 10.2%). Infants weighing >3056 and >3845 g and with gestational age higher than 37 weeks had a greater likelihood (5.5 and 6.7, and 2.7 and 5.8 times more, respectively) of avoiding QNS than their peers., Conclusion: QNS rates fulfilled the requirements, but predictors differed from those recommended by the Cystic Fibrosis Foundations guidelines., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2024. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

The oral cavity is one of the most complex microbial environments; however, the complex nature of the salivary microbiota and the level of inorganic anions in the saliva of subjects with and without gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) are poorly understood. The primary goals of this pilot research were to assess differences in salivary bacterial community composition and inorganic anion concentrations between patients with GERD and GERD-free people. Thus, the salivary microbiota within both groups was dominated by these genera: Streptococcus, Prevotella, Porphyromonas, Veillonella, Neisseria, Haemophilus, Fusobacterium, Rothia, and Leptotrichia. However, the relative abundances of the genera Actinomyces, Atopobium, Stomatobaculum, Ruminococcaceae_[G-2], Veillonella, and Leptotrichia were significantly higher in the saliva samples of patients with GERD, while the genera Porphyromonas, Gemella, Peptostreptococcus, and Neisseria were less abundant in this group. The concentrations of chloride, phosphate, and sulphate ions in the human saliva varied among all subjects and sampling time. These results broaden our knowledge of the salivary microbial community composition and chemistry of saliva of patients with GERD and GERD-free individuals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) films containing the mercaptan methyltin (S), zinc stearate (Z) and dipentaerythritol (D) additives were prepared. The thermal degradation kinetics of the films were investigated by nonisothermal thermogravimetry and TG–FTIR techniques. Using the nonmodel method and the Kissinger, the Friedman, the Kissinger–Akahira–Sunose and the Flynn–Wall–Ozawa methods, the average apparent activation energies of the PVC–SZD films in the first and second thermal decomposition stages obtained were 127.5 and 261.6 kJ mol−1, respectively. Compared with the experimental master plot by the generalized master plot, the experimental and theoretical master plots on the master plot of θ/θ0.5 versus α show that the thermal degradation of PVC-SZD film conforms to the chemical reaction F1.5 mechanism model. TG–FTIR analysis showed that the infrared vibration peaks ordered from strong to weak after adding SZD components were: νCO2 (638 °C) > ν(–COOR) (275 °C) > νHCl (299 °C). The thermal degradation of the film did not show hydroxyl or moisture formation compared to the blank. The removal of carboxyl groups of plasticizer dioctyl terephthalate (DOTP) in PVC was significantly inhibited, and the CO2 gas released by thermal degradation was reduced by 85.2%. This suggests that SZD has a strong interaction with the ester groups in DOTP, and there is the possibility of generating a more stable carboxyl group-containing metal complex, which creates favorable conditions for the recovery of DOTP. When the heating rates were 2.5, 5.0, 10 and 20 °C min−1, the lowest temperatures at which the conversions reached 5 and 10% were 226.1 °C and 239.1 °C, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of γ-radiation on the extraction properties of two functionalized calixarenes (p-tert-butyl-thiacalix[4]arene and p-tert-butylcalix[8]arene) is studied. The most characteristic products of the irradiated extractants interaction with diluent are identified by mass spectrometry. Extraction ability of studied calixarenes towards cesium and americium before and after irradiation is evaluated. Quantitative analysis of chloride and sulfate ions after irradiation is performed to estimate the radiological degradation degree of components. Irradiation has different effect on p-tert-butyl-thiacalix[4]arene and p-tert-butylcalix[8]arene extraction ability towards americium, which may be due to the nature and extraction ability of radiolysis products, and practically does not affect cesium extraction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The solidification of heavy metals and the separation-recycling of chloride salts are effective approaches for the safe disposal of municipal solid waste incineration (MSWI) fly ash. This study achieved the solidification of the excessive heavy metal Cd by transforming MSWI fly ash into a solidified body mainly composed of ettringite, while also purifying the calcium and sulfate ions in the chloride solution. The research results demonstrate that the introduction of aluminum ions rapidly decreases the pH value of the MSWI fly ash reaction system. By adjusting the reaction system to a pH value of 11.50, the conversion rate of calcium ions reaches 99.68%, the separation rate of chloride reaches 95.99%, and the solidification rate of heavy metal Cd reaches 98.92%. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations indicate that the vacancy formation at the Ca-2 position of ettringite and Cd entering the vacancy has a higher probability. The combination of DFT calculations and experiments validates that heavy metal Cd leads to charge redistribution, increased interplanar spacing, and decreased thermal stability of ettringite. The concentration of calcium ions in the solution decreases to 22.64 mg/L, achieving efficient recovery of sodium chloride and potassium chloride in a shorter process. The ettringite-based solidified body contains 0.87% chloride ions, showing potential for resource utilization in cement-based materials., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Waterwashing is an important pretreatment method for the reuse of municipal solid waste incineration (MSWI) fly ash. However, the presence of high levels of chlorides and small amounts of sulfides in the waterwashing solution makes it difficult to treat and reuse. Therefore, in this study, a calcium sulfate- Friedel's salt precipitation method was used to dechlorinate and desulfurize in the MSWI fly ash washing solution. This paper mainly focused on the chloride removal, and the effects of factors such as reagent ratios, temperature, and reaction time on chloride removal rate and the two-stage dechlorination and desulfurization process were optimized. The experimental results indicated that when the ratio in the first stage was n(Ca):n(Al):n(Cl) = 3:1.5:1, and in the second stage, n(Ca):n(Al):n(Cl) = 8:4:1, a chloride removal rate of up to 90.5% and a sulfide removal rate of over 99.88% could be obtained. The deposited particles were analyzed by using FE-SEM, XRD, and FTIR to investigate their size, morphology, phase composition, and functional groups. The study revealed that excessively high or low reagent ratios could reduce the interlayer spacing of Friedel's salt. Additionally, high temperatures led to the decomposition of Friedel's salt, and the dechlorination efficiency was affected., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: To perform a systematic review and meta-analysis to determine the power of salivary electrolytes for the diagnosis of Sjögren's disease (SjD)., Methods: A literature search was conducted (last search March 2023) using PubMed and Web of Science and completed with a manual search. Articles were screened for reports of human salivary ion concentrations, comparing SjD patients with healthy controls and/or sicca patients. Articles not using the SjD classification criteria or performing the classification as part of the experimental design were excluded. Forest plots were used to present the meta-analyses results for each ion, distinguishing between salivary type (unstimulated and stimulated whole saliva, submandibular/sublingual and parotid saliva)., Results: A total of 21 out of 722 articles were eligible for inclusion. For SjD patients a significant increase in salivary ion concentration was observed for sodium, chloride and calcium when comparing to healthy controls. Significant differences between SjD and sicca patients were noted for sodium, chloride, phosphate, calcium, phosphate, nitrite and nitrate. Stimulated whole saliva showed larger variability in results between studies in comparison to other types of saliva (unstimulated whole saliva, submandibular/sublingual saliva and parotid saliva)., Conclusions: Despite differences in saliva type, salivary ion levels could be utilised for the screening for SjD. Making use of chloride in combination with sodium would be most promising for distinguishing SjD patients from healthy controls and adding phosphate to potentially make a distinguishment with sicca patients. Unstimulated whole saliva should be the first choice when testing salivary ion concentrations.

The test of sweat chloride is routinely performed as a worldwide newborn screening (NBS) to the diagnosis of cystic fibrosis (CF) in infants. However, the available methods for measurement of chloride in sweat suffer from such limitations as either low selectivity and/or requiring relatively large sample size. In this work, we have designed an analytical ruler that can measure chloride ion in sweat and hence can be used for the diagnosis of cystic fibrosis. This micro-pad (μ-PAD) device is fabricated by making hydrophilic micro-channel on a filter paper impregnated with silver dichromate. After addition of chloride ion-containing sweat sample, it moves through the channel, leading to the formation of an AgCl sediment, which deposits as a white color stain, the length of which in the channel being proportional to the amount of chloride ion in sweat. A well-defined linear relation was observed between the length of white color stain and the concentration of chloride ion in the sample solutions with a relative standard deviation of 3.6% (n = 3) for an artificial sweat sample containing 100 mM chloride ion. The possible interfering effects of several different cations and anions on the detection of chloride ion were investigated and the results well-confirmed the selectivity of the proposed method. With the use of only 2.0 μL of the sample solution, the μPAD was able to measure the chloride content of sweat over a concentration range of 20.0–100.0 mM, which covers both the healthy range (˂ 40 mM) and the risky range (˃60 mM) of chloride ion. Analysis of chloride content of sweat samples by the μPAD agreed well with those obtained by a standard electrochemical method (with relative errors of lower than 10%). Image 1 • A novel strategy based on lab on a paper is developed for detection of cystic fibrosis. • Needing low amount of samples, high selectivity, fast response time and of course very low cost. • Analysis is completed within 1 min by dropping 2.0 μL of a sample solution. • The biocompatible colorimetry sensor for determination of chloride ions does not need any electrical based readout. • The μ-PAD sensor offers CF diagnosis in the developing countries and low-resource regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Asparaginases are known to be the cornerstone for the treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and are used for treatment in all pediatric regimens as well as in the majority of adult treatment protocols. Clinical hypersensitivity reactions against commercially available asparaginase have resulted in the failure in treatment of ALL in more than 60% of cases. Thus, it is required to search for serologically different asparaginases from new organisms for patients exhibiting sensitivity to one formulation of asparaginase. Materials & Methods: The experiments were conducted in 250 mL flasks containing 100 mL of M9 broth medium and incubated at 35˚C for 48 h with shaking 100 rpm. The bacterium produced an extracellular asparaginase enzyme in which a heavy metal-rich medium was influenced. Considering this idea, enzyme activity was marked at the presence of metal salts such as FeCl3, ZnCl2, CoCl2, MgCl2, CaCl2, CuSO4, KCl and NaCl with the different concentrations as 0-3% W/V. Results: In this research, we isolated a bacterium belonged to staphylococcus species named strain MGM1 and deposited to NCBI by accession number of KT361190. The results showed that Na+, Fe2+ and K+ were inducted to enzyme production and Zn2+ had no effects on enzyme activity, while Cu2+, Ca2+, and Mg2+ inhibited enzyme activity when their concentrations increased up to 1%. Conclusion: This study aimed to investigate the effects of different ions on the activity of the enzyme in the blood and fluid of the body. Such compounds are vital elements in the blood and therefore, their effect on the enzyme is very important So This experiment suggests that asparaginase could be affected by the metals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The optimal prime solution for the cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) circuit in adult cardiac surgery has not yet been defined. Mannitol is widely used in the priming solution for CPB despite the fact that there is no clear consensus on the role of mannitol in cardiac surgery. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of mannitol in the CPB prime solution.Methods: This prospective, randomized, double-blind study included 40 patients with normal cardiac and renal functions, who underwent coronary artery bypass grafting. One group received a prime based on Ringer's acetate (n = 20), and the other a prime consisting of Ringer's acetate with 200 mL mannitol (n = 20). Changes in osmolality, acid-base status, electrolytes, and renal-related parameters were monitored.Results: No significant differences were found in osmolality between the Ringer's acetate group and the mannitol group at any time. The mannitol group showed a pronounced decrease in sodium, from 138.7 ± 2.8 mmol/L at anaesthesia onset, to 133.9 ± 2.6 mmol/L after the start of CPB (P < .001). No differences were seen in the renal parameters between the groups, apart from a short-term effect of mannitol on peroperative urine production (P = .003).Conclusion: We observed no effects on osmolality of a prime solution containing mannitol compared to Ringer's acetate-based prime in patients with normal cardiac and renal function. The use of mannitol in the prime resulted in a short-term, significant decrease in sodium level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the optimization of the synthesis of 3,7‐bis(N‐methyl‐N‐phenylamino)phenothiazinium chloride with a detailed analysis of reaction parameters, i.e. solvent, temperature, amount of amine, as well as addition of a non‐nucleophilic base, is presented. Spectroscopic, electrochemical and computational data show that the presence of the two phenyl rings, directly bound on the PTZ+ core, inhibits the aggregation ability of the salt at concentrations up to 10–3 M. Furthermore, the introduction of an aromatic group in phenothiazinium‐based molecules appears strategic to introduce other useful functionalities, thus opening new opportunities in the drug design/discovery research field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • Chloride profiles from real structures were analyzed. • High tide is the most aggressive region to reinforced concrete structures. • Wind direction is a more important issue than altimetric structure position. Abstract Real chloride profiles from structures present for more than 40 years in different marine aggressive zones were analyzed in this paper. Concrete cores were extracted in order to determine chlorides concentrations by X-Ray Fluorescence Spectroscopy technique and for determination of concrete properties through mechanical and physical assays. The results obtained by chloride profiles analysis showed that all the structures presented chlorides concentrations higher than 0.05%, in relation to concrete mass, up to 5 cm depth, independently of the marine aggressive zone where the structure was present. Moreover, structures located in splash and tidal zones presented higher chloride concentrations. In this way, structures built near the high tide level presented expressive chloride concentrations on its profiles. Furthermore, it was observed, by the chloride profiles, that the analysis of the structure position in relation to the predominant wind direction is a more important issue in comparison to the analysis of the structure altimetric position in relation to sea level. The presence of coating paint on concrete surface shown that this layer can restrict chloride surface deposition affecting the chloride concentration at the peak, however, the paint layer does not affect the peak position in the profile. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Iron oxychloride is regarded as a promising cathode material for chloride‐ion batteries, owing to its high theoretical capacity and abundant elemental resources. Its cycling stability, however, is limited by the intrinsic low conductivity and large volume change during cycling. Herein, the polyaniline‐intercalated iron oxychloride, in which the interlayer spacing along the b‐axis direction is greatly expanded from 0.79 to 1.4 nm, is developed as a cathode material for chloride‐ion batteries. Benefiting from the uniform expanded laminated structure and high structural integrity, the fully polyaniline‐intercalated iron oxychloride cathode delivers a short activation process, significantly improved charge transfer, and superior cycling stability. For example, a high reversible capacity of 120 mAh g−1, owing to the redox reaction based on chloride ion transfer, is achieved after 50 cycles, showing good capacity retention of 82 %. In contrast, the pure iron oxychloride cathode suffers from severe capacity decay and only 61 mAh g−1 (42 % capacity retention) is kept. This work demonstrates a new strategy for designing high‐performance layered electrodes of chloride ion batteries. Read between the layers: Polyaniline‐intercalated FeOCl (FeOCl/PANI), in which the interlayer spacing along the b‐axis direction is greatly expanded from 0.79 to 1.4 nm, is developed as a cathode material for chloride‐ion batteries. Benefiting from a uniform expanded laminated structure and high structural integrity, fully PANI‐intercalated iron oxychloride cathode delivers a short activation process, significantly improved charge transfer, and superior cycling stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract In cementitious materials exposed to solutions containing chloride, chloride binding typically results from the chemical reactions between chloride ions and aluminate phases to form Friedel's salt, and the interaction between chloride ions and calcium silicate hydrates (C S H). Calcium oxychloride can also form when Ca(OH) 2 in cementitious materials reacts with CaCl 2 solutions. This paper examines the chloride binding of hydrated cement pastes containing fly ash exposed to CaCl 2 solutions of varying concentrations at 5 and 23 °C. Thermogravimetric analysis was used to quantify the chloride binding associated with Friedel's salt and calcium oxychloride. The amount of bound chloride by Friedel's salt is relatively independent of the exposure temperature, and as the chloride concentration [Cl−] increases, it increases until a plateau is reached at [Cl−] greater than 2 M. The addition of fly ash results in an increase in the chloride binding due to Friedel's salt. A lower exposure temperature leads to a greater amount of bound chloride associated with calcium oxychloride. In this study, no chloride binding associated with calcium oxychloride was observed in the cement pastes with 40% and 60% fly ash. The temperature-dependent chloride binding associated with C S H is a significant portion of the total chloride binding (19.8 %–70.8%) when cement pastes are exposed to CaCl 2 solutions. As the replacement level of fly ash increases, the chloride binding by C S H increases first and then decreases. The amount of bound chloride by C S H increases linearly as the pH of the exposure solution decreases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]