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Santiago Jiménez-Marrero,1,2 Miguel Cainzos-Achirica,1– 4 David Monterde,5 Luis Garcia-Eroles,5 Cristina Enjuanes,1,2 Sergi Yun,1,2,6 Alberto Garay,1,2 Pedro Moliner,1,2 Lidia Alcoberro,1,2 Xavier Corbella,2,6,7 Josep Comin-Colet1,2,8 1Community Heart Failure Program, Department of Cardiology, Bellvitge University Hospital, L’Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain; 2Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL), L’Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain; 3Johns Hopkins Ciccarone Center for the Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, MD, USA; 4School of Medicine and Health Sciences, International University of Catalonia, Barcelona, Spain; 5Healthcare Information and Knowledge Unit, Catalan Health Service, Barcelona, Spain; 6Department of Internal Medicine, Bellvitge University Hospital, L’Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain; 7Hestia Chair in Integrated Health and Social Care, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universitat Internacional de Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain; 8Department of Clinical Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, SpainCorrespondence: Josep Comin-ColetHospital Universitari de Bellvitge, Department of Cardiology, 19th Floor, Feixa Llarga s/n, 08907 Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, SpainTel +34932607078Email jcomin@bellvitgehospital.catBackground: The aims of the present analysis are to estimate the prevalence of five key chronic cardiovascular, metabolic and renal conditions at the population level, the prevalence of renin–angiotensin–aldosterone system inhibitor (RAASI) medication use and the magnitude of potassium (K+) derangements among RAASI users.Methods and Results: We used data from more than 375,000 individuals, 55 years of age or older, included in the population-based healthcare database of the Catalan Institute of Health between 2015 and 2017. The conditions of interest were chronic heart failure (CHF), chronic kidney disease (CKD), diabetes mellitus, ischemic heart disease and hypertension. RAASI medications included angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, angiotensin II receptor blockers, mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (MRAs) and renin inhibitors. Hyperkalemia was defined as K+ levels > 5.0 mEq/L and hypokalemia as K+ < 3.5 mEq/L. The prevalence of chronic cardiovascular, metabolic and renal conditions was high, and particularly that of hypertension (prevalence ranging from 48.2% to 48.9%). The use of at least one RAASI medication was almost ubiquitous in these patients (75.2– 77.3%). Among RAASI users, the frequency of K+ derangements, mainly of hyperkalemia, was very noticeable (12% overall), particularly in patients with CKD or CHF, elderly individuals and users of MRAs. Hypokalemia was less frequent (1%).Conclusion: The high prevalence of K+ derangements, and particularly hyperkalemia, among RAASI users highlights the real-world relevance of K+ derangements, and the importance of close monitoring and management of K+ levels in routine clinical practice. This is likely to benefit a large number of patients, particularly those at higher risk.Keywords: chronic heart failure, chronic kidney disease, heart failure, hyperkalemia, hypertension, potassium

Apple tree has been experimentally grown Brazilian tropical semiarid. In these new regions, fertilizing management research for N and K is crucial to reach apple high yields. Therefore, an experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of N and K fertilizing on fruit production, leaf chlorophyll and N and K nutritional status of apple cv. ‘Julieta’ grown in Brazilian tropical semiarid. The experimental design used was randomized blocks with treatments disposed in a factorial arrangement (4 x 4) referring to nitrogen doses (30, 60, 90, and 120 g of N plant-1) and potassium doses (30, 60, 90, and 120 g of K2O plant-1), with three replications and three plants in each parcel. ‘Julieta’ apple trees propagated by grafting (with ‘M9 filter and Maruba rootstock) and transplanted in 2013 were used in this study. The following variables were evaluated: i) fruit production (kg plant-1); ii) number of fruits (in a plant); iii) leaf chlorophyll index (‘a’, ‘b’, and total); and iv) leaf N and K concentrations (g kg-1). N and K doses effects depend on the consecutive production cycles of apple cv. ‘Julieta’ grown in tropical semiarid. An adequate N supply is very important for the subsequent production cycle. K fertilization until 120 g plant-1 of K2O is not enough to supply K demand of apple cv. ‘Julieta’ grown in tropical semiarid. In tropical semiarid, 60-90 g plant-1 of N through fertirrigation is enough for ‘Julieta’ apple production.

Long-term CO2 enrichment (1,000 μmol mol-1) leads to photosynthetic acclimation in cucumber. Here, through hydroponic experiments in an open-top climate chamber system, we investigated key photosynthetic parameters of cucumbers using potassium stimulation (120 or 240 mg L-1). Short-term CO2 enrichment (less than 25 days) significantly increased the net photosynthetic rate in cucumber. However, long-term CO2 enrichment (43 d) led to photosynthetic acclimation and decrease in stomatal conductance. The increase in potassium alleviated the decrease in photosynthetic rate and stomatal conductance, which reduced photosynthetic acclimation. In addition, 13C isotope tracing showed that under CO2 enrichment, plants with higher potassium concentrations showed higher sink/source and flow/source ratios of photosynthetic assimilative C (δ13C) abundance. Moreover, the abnormal accumulation of soluble carbohydrates and starch resulted in photosynthetic acclimation in cucumber. Increasing potassium significantly reduced the accumulation of soluble carbohydrates and promoted the transport of soluble carbohydrates to the sink, which alleviated photosynthetic acclimation.

Introduction : Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA),a common emergency encountered in children is characterized by deranged acid-base status and a myriad of electrolyte disturbances. Objective : This study was done with the objective of determining the effect of serum sodium and potassium levels on prognosis of children with DKA. Methods : This cross-sectional study was done in the pediatric intensive care unit of a tertiary care center, from January 2015 to September 2015. Children diagnosed with DKA were included in the study. Convenient sample size was adopted. In a structured proforma, demographic and medical history was noted. Serum sodium and potassium were determined by Ion Selective Electrode method at the time of diagnosis and 12 hourly, till resolution of acidosis. The clinical outcome of the child, the duration of insulin infusion and hospital stay were noted. Association between dependent and independent variables was determined by chi-square test and level of significance was fixed at 5%. Results : Thity three patients were included. The mortality rate was 13%. Twenty (60%) patients required insulin infusion for less than 24 hours and 18 (62%) stayed in hospital for less than 2 weeks. Hyperkalemia at presentation was significantly associated with mortality, hyponatremia at the time of admission was found to be significantly associated with prolonged hospital stay and abnormal sodium and potassium levels persisting at the end of 24 hours was significantly associated with need for prolonged insulin infusion. Conclusion : Presence of hyperkalemia and hyponatremia at admission and persistence of abnormal serum sodium and potassium levels beyond 24 hours are poor prognostic markers in children with DKA.

In individuals with renal insufficiency, hyperkalaemia is one of the most common electrolyte imbalances, whereas it is uncommon in healthy people. When potassium is given or combined with a potassium-sparing diuretic, it happens quickly. It usually does not produce any signs and symptoms and is identified with normal blood investigations. Hyperkalemia causes faulty heart conduction and muscle weakness, among other symptoms. Muscle weakness as a clinical manifestation, on the other hand, is infrequent in clinical practise. This could be due to the fact that cardiac symptoms frequently appear earlier than weakness of muscles, necessitating the implementation of suitable interventions even before potassium concentration reaches a level that causes weakness. We present a case in which a patient with renal insufficiency had acute weakness of muscles as a result of extreme hyperkalaemia that acquired fast recovery after potassium and potassium-sparing diuretic administration.

The crystal structures are reported of the 6,6-di­fluoro-6H-dibenzo[c,e][1,2]oxaborinin-6-ide (or 9,9-di­fluoro-10-oxa-9-boraphenanthren-9-ide) anion with two different cations, namely, potassium 6,6-di­fluoro-6H-dibenzo[c,e][1,2]oxaborinin-6-ide, K+·C12H8BF2O−, (II), featuring a polymeric structure, and bis­(tetra­phenyl­phospho­nium) bis­(6,6-di­fluoro-6H-dibenzo[c,e][1,2]oxaborinin-6-ide) aceto­nitrile tris­olvate, 2C24H20P+·2C12H8BF2O−·3CH3CN, (III), which is composed of discrete cations, anions and aceto­nitrile solvent mol­ecules linked by C—H⋯O, C—H⋯N and C—H⋯F hydrogen bonds. There are only minor differences in the geometrical parameters of the anions in these structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The objective of this work was to characterize 'Cabernet Sauvignon' wines made from grapes cultivated in the region of Bagé, RS, Brazil, during three crop seasons. A randomized complete block design was carried out with three treatments and three replicates.The evaluations were performed for the 2004, 2007, and 2008 growing seasons. 'Cabernet Sauvignon' wines of the 2004, 2008, and 2009 harvests differed for the following parameters: density, alcoholic content, total acidity, pH, reducing sugars, OD 420, 520, and 620, color intensity, total anthocyanins, total polyphenols, sodium, calcium, magnesium, manganese, copper, iron, rubidium, phosphorus, methanol, propanol, 2-methyl-l-propanol, 2, 3 - methyl-l-butanol, and sum of alcohols. 'Cabernet Sauvignon' has potential to be produced in the Bagé region, and to help it to become a wine growing region in Brazil.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of nitrogen fertilization with and without humic acid in barley cultivars on the export of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium grains. The experiment was performed in the city of Guarapuava, PR, during the 2015 and 2016 growing seasons. The experimental design was in RCB in factorial 5 x 2, with the following sowing fertilization (kg ha-1): 0, 100 NPK, 100 NPK+HS, 250 NPK, 250 NPK+HS and two cultivars, BRS Brau and BRS Elis. The dose of 250 kg NPK with humic substance increased the nitrogen export to barley grains, with the highest levels occurring in the BRS Brau cultivar under favorable climatic conditions. Under favorable climatic conditions, the export of phosphorus to barley grains in the agricultural crop was not influenced by the humic substance, with the highest levels occurring in the BRS Brau cultivar. The dose of 100 kg NPK with humic substance increased the export of potassium to barley grains, with the highest levels occurring in the BRS Brau cultivar regardless of climatic condition. There were correlations between nitrogen and phosphorus levels in grains and between phosphorus content and grain yield.

ABSTRACT Background: There is a lack of data regarding hyperkalemia after liver transplantation. Aim: To evaluate the prevalence of hyperkalemia after liver transplantation and its associated factors. Methods: This retrospective cohort study evaluated 147 consecutive post-transplant patients who had at least one year of outpatient medical follow up. The data collection included gender, age, potassium values, urea, creatinine, sodium and medication use at 1, 6 and 12 months after. Hyperkalemia was defined as serum potassium concentrations higher than 5.5 mEq/l. Results: Hiperkalemia was observed in 18.4%, 17.0% and 6.1% of patients 1, 6 and 12 months after tranplantation, respectively. Older age (p=0.021), low creatinine clearance (p=0.007), increased urea (p=0.010) and hypernatremia (p=0.014) were factors associated with hyperkalemia, as well as the dose of prednisone at six months (p=0.014). Conclusion: Hyperkalemia was prevalent in less than 20% of patients in the 1st month after liver transplantation and decreased over time. Considering that hyperkalemia does not affect all patients, attention should be paid to the routine potassium intake recommendations, and treatment should be individualized.

In order to investigate the effect of addition of nutritional supplements to substrate on yield of oyster mushroom (Pleurotus florida(, an experiment was carried out as completely randomized design in three replicates in 2010 . In this study, three types of nutritional supplements including alfalfa meal, soybean meal and vermicompost, each at three levels (2.5, 5 and 7.5% of wet substrate), were added to wheat straw substrate, and were compared to control. Traits such as preliminary and total yield, biological efficiency, protein content and mineral phosphorus and potassium concentrations were determined. Results indicated that all traits were significantly affected by nutritional supplements (P

Whit the objective to determining the influence of increasing levels of nitrogen and potassium in the growth of onion, was carried an experiment in Pampas de San Juan, Laredo during October 2010 to January 2011. We used certified seed red onion var. "Red Arequipeña". The treatments were the combinations results of 60, 120, 180 and 240 kg N ha-1 and 40, 80 and 160 kg K2O ha-1 , used as a single dose, 80 kg P2O5 ha-1 . The experiment was designed in randomized complete block with 3x4 factorial arrangements with three replications. The results of this research to conclude that the dose of 120 kg N.ha-1 , was obtained a linear response to nitrogen ascendant of 44.9cm in height with 90 days of DDT and 14.2 mm for diameter of the false stem with 60 N.kg-1 to 104 days DDT. There were no responses to potassium in this variable. There were no responses to NxK for the number of leaves.

Application of some compounds stimulating growth and physiological processes may have favourable effect on maize productivity. The study aimed to assess the response of maize germination and initial growth to soil-applied humic substances, and the effect of these substances and foliar potassium fertilizer on the maize grain yield. The study was based on a single-factorial field experiment conducted over 2006-2008 in Poland, (17o35' E; 53o09' N), on soil classified as mesic Typic Hapludalf, in a randomized block design, in four replications. The effect of the following was evaluated: humus preparation Humistar (12% humic acids and 3% fulvic acids), applied pre-sowing into soil, at a rate of 40 dm3 ha-1 (T1), foliar fertilizer Drakar (25.7% K and 3% N), applied at BBCH 16 and 17, at a rate of 2 dm3 ha-1 (T2), combined application of Humistar and Drakar (T3), and the control (T4). Humistar application resulted in an increase in germination energy, but it did not affect germination capacity or seedlings weight of maize. Humistar or Drakar caused an increase in cob weight, grain proportion in the cob weight and grain yield, as compared with the control. The increase in grain yield in individual years of the study after Humistar application ranged from 1.21 to 8.41% (140-620 kg ha-1), whereas after Drakar from 0.35 to 5.8% (40-430 kg ha-1). Combined application of these preparations caused an increase in grain yield on average from the years in relation to control (by 2.1%), but there was no difference in yield as compared with the application of Humistar or Drakar only. Further studies are necessary to evaluate the effect of these preparations in weak soils with low content of organic matter and nutrients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work identifies a function for the Ca2+ sensors CBL1 and CBL9 in pollen germination and tube growth in Arabidopsis. Faithfully regulated expression of CBL1 and CBL9 and targeting of these proteins to the plasma membrane are required for proper pollen germination and tube growth. The function of both proteins likely involves the regulation of K+ homeostasis in these cells.Ca2+ has been established as an important second messenger regulating pollen germination and tube growth. However, to date, only a few signaling components have been identified to decode and relay Ca2+ signals in growing pollen tubes. Here, we report a function for the calcineurin B-like (CBL) Ca2+ sensor proteins CBL1 and CBL9 from Arabidopsis in pollen germination and tube growth. Both proteins are expressed in mature pollen and pollen tubes and impair pollen tube growth and morphology if transiently overexpressed in tobacco pollen. The induction of these phenotypes requires efficient plasma membrane targeting of CBL1 and is independent of Ca2+ binding to the fourth EF-hand of CBL1. Overexpression of CBL1 or its closest homolog CBL9 in Arabidopsis renders pollen germination and tube growth hypersensitive towards high external K+ concentrations while disruption of CBL1 and CBL9 reduces pollen tube growth under low K+ conditions. Together, our data identify a crucial function for CBL1 and CBL9 in pollen germination and tube growth and suggest a model in which both proteins act at the plasma membrane through regulation of K+ homeostasis. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

A questionnaire to assess knowledge of the expected elevation in serum K measurement with different grades of hemolysis was administered to medical technologists working in biochemistry laboratories, hospital physicians and nurses. The questions involved different grades of hemolysis (mild, 1.0, moderate, 2.5 and severe, 5.0 g/L) and different final K measurements (2.9, 4.0, 5.2 and 8.2 mmol/L). Subjects estimated the K concentration in a non-hemolyzed sample for each scenario. Adjustment values (difference between final hemolyzed K concentration and subject's response) were calculated. For the 132 respondees, the mean correct score was 1.7/12. Mean adjustment values were: mild, 0.43 mmol/L (K 2.9), 0.55 (4.0), 0.88 (5.2) and 1.53 (8.2); moderate, 0.85 (2.9), 0.92 (4.0), 1.33 (5.2) and 2.50 (8.2); and severe, 0.93 (2.9), 1.48 (4.0), 1.96 (5.2), 2.96 (8.2). Correct adjustments were: mild, 0.28; moderate, 0.70; and severe, 1.40 mmol/L. Healthcare staff overestimated the effect of hemolysis on potassium measurement and used an incorrect proportional adjustment approach to the problem. Such poor knowledge and faulty thinking could lead to diagnostic delays or misdiagnoses. There is potential for such faulty thinking in all areas of laboratory medicine, and laboratories should review their educational responsibilities and reporting practices in light of this. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plasma aldosterone concentration in the patient with diabetes mellitus. Background. Vascular injury at the microvascular and macrovascular levels plays a crucial role in the patient with diabetes mellitus. Evidence for renin-system activation in many patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus has raised the possibility that aldosterone—widely recognized as a contributor to vascular injury—could play a role. Methods. We examined the state of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) in 58 subjects with type 1 diabetes mellitus and 64 age-matched normal control subjects. All studies were performed on a fixed sodium (200 mmol/day) and potassium (100 mmol/day intake), and samples were drawn at 8:00 a.m. to avoid the influence of circadian rhythms. Results. The patient with diabetes mellitus showed an increase in plasma renin activity (PRA) ( P < 0.01), plasma angiotensin II concentration ( P < 0.01), and plasma aldosterone concentration ( P < 0.001). A striking influence of the angiotensin receptor blocker, candesartan, on plasma aldosterone concentration in the patients with diabetes mellitus suggested strongly that renin-system activation is responsible for the elevated plasma aldosterone concentration. Conclusion. Pharmacologic interruption of the effects of aldosterone at the tissue level could be especially useful in patients with diabetes mellitus. The dose of agents that block the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) should be adjusted to maximize the fall in plasma aldosterone concentration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Along the collecting duct, secretion of ammonium (NH ) is thought to occur through active H+ secretion in parallel with the non-ionic diffusion of ammonia (NH3). Thus NH3 is secreted into the collecting duct lumen down its concentration gradient. Moreover, the low NH permeability and high NH3 permeability observed in collecting duct epithelia minimizes back diffusion of NH . In general, an increase in the NH3 concentration gradient between the interstitium and the collecting duct lumen correlates with increased NH secretion. However, our laboratory and others have shown an important role of direct NH transport by the Na,K-ATPase. As K+ and NH compete for a common extracellular binding site on the Na,K-ATPase, reduced interstitial K+ concentration, such as during hypokalemia, augments NH uptake. Na,K-ATPase-mediated NH uptake provides an important source of H+ for net acid secretion during hypokalemia and contributes to the increase in NH excretion and metabolic alkalosis observed in this treatment model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The simultaneous determination of NH4+ and K+ in solution has been attempted using a potentiometric sensor array and multivariate calibration. The sensors used are rather non-specific and of all-solid-state type, employing polymeric (PVC) membranes. The subsequent data processing is based on the use of a multilayer artificial neural network (ANN). This approach is given the name "electronic tongue" because it mimics the sense of taste in animals. The sensors incorporate, as recognition elements, neutral carriers belonging to the family of the ionophoric antibiotics. In this work the ANN type is optimized by studying its topology, the training algorithm, and the transfer functions. Also, different pretreatments of the starting data are evaluated. The chosen ANN is formed by 8 input neurons, 20 neurons in the hidden layer and 2 neurons in the output layer. The transfer function selected for the hidden layer was sigmoidal and linear for the output layer. It is also recommended to scale the starting data before training. A correct fit for the test data set is obtained when it is trained with the Bayesian regularization algorithm. The viability for the determination of ammonium and potassium ions in synthetic samples was evaluated; cumulative prediction errors of approximately 1% (relative values) were obtained. These results were comparable with those obtained with a generalized regression ANN as a reference algorithm. In a final application, results close to the expected values were obtained for the two considered ions, with concentrations between 0 and 40 mmol L-1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The yeast Ppz protein phosphatases and the Hal3p inhibitory subunit are important determinants of salt tolerance, cell wall integrity and cell cycle progression. We present several lines of evidence showing that these disparate phenotypes are connected by the fact that Ppz regulates K+ transport. First, salt tolerance, cell wall integrity and cell cycle phenotypes of Ppz mutants are dependent on the Trk K+ transporters. Secondly, Ppz mutants exhibit altered activity of the Trk system, as measured by rubidium uptake. Thirdly, Ppz mutants exhibit altered intracellular K+ and pH, as expected from H+ efflaux providing electrical balance during K+ uptake. Our unifying picture of Ppz phenotypes contends that activation of Trk by decreased Ppz activity results in plasma membrane depolarization (reducing uptake of toxic cations), increased intracellular K+ and turgor (compromising cell integrity), and increased intracellular pH (augmenting the expression of pH-regulated genes and facilitating a-factor recovery). In addition to providing a coherent explanation for all Ppz-dependent phenotypes, our results provide evidence for a causal relationship between intracellular cation homeostasis and a potential cell cycle checkpoint. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Disturbances in potassium homoeostasis presenting as low or high serum potassium are common, especially among hospitalised patients. Given the fact that untreated hypokalaemia or hyperkalaemia is associated with high morbidity and mortality, it is critical to recognise and treat these disorders promptly. In this article, normal potassium homoeostasis is reviewed initially and then a pathophysiological approach to work-up and management of hypokalaemia and hyperkalaemia is presented. Recent advances with respect to the role of kidney in handling of the potassium, the regulation of renal ion transporters in hypokalaemia, and treatment of hypokalaemia and hyperkalaemia will be discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ash (Fraxinus excelsior L.), birch (Betula spp.), hazel (Corylus avellana L.), sessile oak [Quercus petraea (Mattuschka) Liebl.] and sycamore (Acer pseudoplatanus L.) leaf litters from a non-polluted and a heavily sulphur dioxide (SO2)-polluted woodland were fumigated with environmentally-realistic concentrations (0·010- 0·030 μl l-1) of SO2 for 16-68 wk in an open-air field-fumigation experiment. Fumigation markedly increased sulphate and protons in leachates from the litters and decreased calcium and magnesium contents of the leaves. However, there were few differences in the responses between leaf litters from the two woodlands. This was attributed to rapid sulphate wash-out from the litters from the heavily polluted woodland, so that the litters from the two sites quickly reached the same sulphate status. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rates of nutrient uptake are influenced by the transport of ions to roots from the surrounding medium and by the nutrient demand of the plant that is created by its growth. Depending upon the ease with which ions can diffuse through the free space of the root cortex, it is not possible that this could apply to roots growing in soil, also. For the convenience of using simple models, it is assumed that nutrient uptake occurs at the outer surface of a cylindrical root, and not within its cortex. To separate the effects of solute transport and plant demand in a theoretical analysis, it is most convenient to concentrate firstly upon potential inflow rates to an isolated intact root and to consider the plant's demand as infinite.

Transverse slices through developing grains of Triticum aestivum cv, SUN 9E 16 d after anthesis were incubated in simple defined media with various radioactive labels. In some enzymic assays slices were pretreated with 2.5% Triton X-100 or with 5% butanol to remove cellular membranes and endogenous substrates. Endogenous potassium leaked from endosperm slices into 30 mol m-3 sucrose while sucrose was converted partly into starch. Exogenous alkali-ions, except Li+, stimulated conversion of sucrose to insoluble matter, specifically to starch with K+, Starch synthetase activity of Trinton-pretreated slices was stimulated by K+ at both high ad low substrate ADPG concentration, but was not affected by phosphate (25 mol m-3). Phosphate in the medium had no effect on incorporation of sucrose or glucose into alcohol insoluble material or starch in fresh slices (internal inorganic phosphate (Pi) concentration was about 11 mol m-3). Three-to four-fold contrasts in internal Pi level, achieved by prolonged preincubations in different media, did not show an inhibition of starch synthesis by Pi. However, phosphate (25 mol m-3) inhibited starch synthesis, that was mediated by ADPG pyrophosphorylase in butanol-pretreated endosperm slices by 15-18%. It is concluded that starch synthesis in wheat endosperm is not regulated directly by apoplastic Pi level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We are facing climate change that is affecting world ecosystem substantially and we need to investigate its effects for the sake of protection and mitigation. According to different IPCC scenarios based on possible emission levels, atmospheric [CO 2 ] which is currently around 400 μmol mol -1 will rise to 421-936 μmol mol -1 by the end of this century unless a strict greenhouse gas mitigation strategy is put forward on global scale (IPCC, 2013). While there are numerous studies on the effects of climate change and rising [CO 2 ] to the plants, it is still not clear how exactly plants respond to this change. The plant-environment interaction consisting very complex facts is the main reason of this challenge. One of the most crucial parts of this is to understand the combined effects of nutrient availabilities and elevated CO 2 levels. Durum wheat ( Triticum durum , Saricanak 98) and bread wheat ( Triticum aestivum , Adana 99) plants were grown with adequate Mg-K and low Mg (75 and 150 μM) and low K (10 and 30 μM) supply in nutrient solution and under three different CO 2 conditions (ambient: 400 μmol mol -1 , elevated: 600 and 900 μmol mol -1 ). When plants were twenty days old gas exchange parameters (using LI-6400 XT, LI-COR Biosciences, Inc. Lincoln, Nebraska, USA), chlorophyll content (using chlorophyll meter SPAD-502, Konica Minolta Sensing Europe B.V.) and specific weight were measured in the second oldest leaves. While shoot and root dry weight was increasing with elevating [CO 2 ] in adequate Mg and K plants, there was a decrement or a very slight increment in Mg and K deficiency treated plants. Photosynthesis rate (μmol CO 2 m -2 s -1 ) increased 18% and 19.6% in Sarıçanak 98 and 15.7% and %15.3 in Adana 99 plants with 600 and 900 ppm CO 2 treatments respectively in the adequate Mg and K treatments, whereas although there was some increment in Mg and K deficient plants with [CO 2 ] elevation it was not important since overall photosynthesis rates were low in these plants in all three [CO 2 ] treatments. Leaf specific weight was much higher in Mg and K deficient plants compare to adequate Mg and K plants which may correspond possible defects in carbohydrate partitioning. Especially in Sarıçanak 98, Mg and K deficient plants specific weight was increasing with the increasing [CO 2 ]. Adana 99 plants showed the same trend although it was not as significant as in Sarıçanak 98 plants. With emphasizing adequate Mg and K nutrition requirement to maintain high photosynthetic efficiency and a balanced export of photo-assimilates to sink organs (Marschner, 1995; Cakmak and Kirkby, 2008), this study points out that this can be even more important under elevated [CO 2 ]. This study was supported by TUBITAK (Project no. 113Z129). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Aldosterone acts to restrain the extracellular potassium (K+) concentration. Blacks have on average lower plasma aldosterone concentrations (PACs) than Whites. Whether this ethnic difference is associated with similar changes in the concentration of K+ is unclear., Methods: Subjects were Blacks and Whites from an observational study of blood pressure regulation. PAC was known to be significantly lower in Blacks than Whites. We sought to test the hypothesis that the concentration of K+ remains constant despite variability in PAC. Initial enrollment took place in childhood in 1986. Some of the original enrollees were studied again in adulthood: 160 healthy Blacks and 271 healthy Whites (ages 5 to 39 years; all were studied as children and as adults)., Results: Plasma renin activity [a biomarker of angiotensin II and, more proximally, extracellular fluid volume (ECFV)] and PAC were lower in Blacks (P < 0.0354 and P < 0.001, respectively, for all ages). At the same time no ethnic difference in levels of K+ was observed regardless of age. Plasma K+ concentration and PAC associated differently based on ethnicity: PAC increased in Blacks by 1.5-2.0 and in Whites by 2.3-3.0 ng/dl per mmol/l increase in K+ (P < 0.001)., Conclusions: Lower aldosterone levels in Blacks did not translate into higher K+ concentrations. We speculate that reaching the right concentration of K+ was an endpoint of aldosterone production in the presence of varying levels of ECFV and angiotensin II., (© American Journal of Hypertension, Ltd 2017. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com)

Aim: While the diuretic action of acute ingestion of alcohol has been studied extensively, the effect of chronic alcohol consumption has received less attention. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of chronic alcohol consumption on the balance of water intake and excretion and certain renal functions in rats during a period of 12 months. Animals and Study Design: Male Wistar rats received either alcohol (15% v/v; group A, n = 65) or tap water (group C, n = 35) as drinking fluid. Urine and faeces were collected from 6 rats of each group during 7 days, at monthly intervals. In further experiments, the animals received a low-protein/high-fat diet with and without alcohol. Results: When the rats were fed the standard diet, 24-hour urine excretion was significantly reduced in group A compared with group C. This difference was even more pronounced when the animals were fed the low-protein/high-fat diet. The reduced urine excretion was not due to lower liquid consumption and the pattern of daily excretion of faeces was comparable with that observed for urine excretion. Both sodium and potassium excretion and the diuretic response to an acute water load were significantly reduced in group A compared with group C. The changes in water balance induced by chronic alcohol consumption were reversible within a few days when the rats received water instead of 15% alcohol. Conclusions: Chronic alcohol consumption has an antidiuretic effect in rats. The percentage of total ingested fluid leaving the body as hidden water loss increases after alcohol consumption by up to 25–26% over control values. Copyright © 2004 S. Karger AG, Basel [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In previous studies, persistently high concentrations of 137Cs in Eriophorum vaginatum plants in the UK uplands have been attributed partly to the efficiency with which they remobilize minerals. The partitioning in the shoots of E. vaginatum of 137Cs from environmental sources was investigated and found to be the same asthat of mobile nutrients, inferring similar relative mobility and remobilization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Evidence of extensive leaching losses of nutrients, particularly of K, suggest that loss of 137Cs by foliar leaching could be considerable and could stimulate further root uptake and redistribution of137Cs in plants. This study investigated the foliar leaching of 137Cs from two deciduous graminoid species, Eriophorum vaginatum and Scirpus caespitosus and one evergreen shrub, Erica tetralix. Plants were labelled with 137Cs via the roots and subjected to a leaching treatment in August and November and changes in both leachate and plant 137Cs activity were determined. Leaching losses were significantly reduced in November compared with August in the deciduous species, but not in the evergreen E. tetralix. A reduction in the total activity of 137Cs of leached plants was observed not only in leaves but also in stems and roots in some instances, suggesting that 137Cs from these organs had been redistributed to replenish that lost by leaching from the leaves. The data suggest that leaching losses were greater from older and senescent leaves than from younger leaves of E. vaginatum. Theextent to which this is an accurate representation of foliar leaching of field-grown plants by rainfall, and the likely fate of 137Cs lost by foliar leaching are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]