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Hospital menus are profoundly important to meet the nourishment needs of patients. So, this study is conducted to determine the nutrient adequacy of adult patients’ normal diet menus. Methods: An evaluation of 30-day fixed menus consisting of 4 dishes was conducted in four different public hospitals in Ankara, the capital of Türkiye. Mean adequacy ratio (MAR) and nutrient adequacy ratio (NAR) were used to examine the sufficiency of nutrients and meals. Results: For all the hospitals, MAR value was found higher than %85. However, nutrient adequacy ratio of dietary fiber, calcium and magnesium were lower than the other nutrients. It was determined that total fat, saturated fat, salt and cholesterol (except hospital D) contents were high according to the recommended values. Nevertheless, these fixed menus supplied 75% daily fiber on average. Hospital A and D menus met calcium requirements by 73% and 67%, respectively. While hospital D menus met magnesium (76%) and potassium (67%) requirements moderately, other hospitals approached 100% sufficiency for potassium. It is remarkable that in all the hospitals the amount of fruits seemed very low, up to 34%. Conclusion: As the hospital meal is an essential part of in-patients’ institutional care and nutritional support, the nutrient contents of menus should be monitored for nutritional requirements and, if necessary, there should be initiatives and arrangements in standard recipes to reduce salt and fat contents.

Introduction: Hyponatremia is one of the common electrolyte abnormalities in intensive care unit settings. Hyponatremia may lead to an increased hospital stay, morbidity and mortality. Hyponatremia can occur due to a variety of iatrogenic as well as part of complex disease processes during hospital admission. The objective of this study was to find the prevalence of hyponatremia in patients admitted to the intensive care unit of a tertiary care centre. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in the intensive care unit of a tertiary care centre for a duration of six months from 12 August 2015 to 11 January 2016. Ethical approval was taken from the Institutional Review Committee (Reference number: 124/6-11-E/072/073). Data was collected from hospital records. Patients with abnormal serum sodium levels after admission to the intensive care unit were included in the study. Hyponatremia was defined as a serum sodium level less than 135 mEq/L. Convenience sampling methods were used. Point estimate and 95% Confidence Interval were calculated. Results: Among 102 patients, the prevalence of hyponatremia was found to be 21 (20.59%) (12.74-28.44, 95% Confidence Interval). Conclusions: The prevalence of hyponatremia in patients admitted to the intensive care unit was higher than in other studies conducted in similar settings.

The term "abnormal pressure natriuresis" refers to a subnormal effect of a given level of blood pressure (BP) on sodium excretion. It is widely believed that abnormal pressure natriuresis causes an initial increase in BP to be sustained. We refer to this view as the "pressure natriuresis theory of chronic hypertension." The proponents of the theory contend that all forms of chronic hypertension are sustained by abnormal pressure natriuresis, irrespective of how hypertension is initiated. This theory would appear to follow from "the three laws of long-term arterial pressure regulation" stated by Guyton and Coleman more than 3 decades ago. These "laws" articulate the concept that for a given level of salt intake, the relationship between arterial pressure and sodium excretion determines the chronic level of BP. Here, we review and examine the recent assertion by Beard that these "laws" of long-term BP control amount to nothing more than a series of tautologies. Our analysis supports Beard's assertion, and also indicates that contemporary investigators often use tautological reasoning in support of the pressure natriuresis theory of chronic hypertension. Although the theory itself is not a tautology, it does not appear to be testable because it holds that abnormal pressure natriuresis causes salt-induced hypertension to be sustained through abnormal increases in cardiac output that are too small to be detected.

ABSTRACT: Primary adipsia is a rare condition in which there is failure in the activation threshold of the hypothalamic osmoreceptors, leading to osmolality imbalance. Here, we reported the case of a Pit Bull dog with an altered level of consciousness (started after weaning) and adipsia. There was an increase in plasma osmolality (444 mOsm/kg), sodium (223.7 mg/dL), and chlorine (173 mg/dL) levels. Based on the suspicion of primary adipsia, water was administered via a nasogastric tube, with clinical improvement. The owner was instructed to supply water with food. Eight months after discharge, the dog returned with parvovirus and died. In the anatomopathological examination, no structural changes were observed in the central nervous system. To our knowledge, this is the first report of hypernatremia due to adipsia in a Pit Bull dog, showing that this is a differential diagnosis that should be considered in this breed.

The fifth basic taste called ‘umami’ was recently recognized by studies related to monosodium glutamate (MSG), and this has attracted attention for enhancing the flavor of foods and because it contains only one-third the sodium of table salt, being an important option for reducing sodium intake by the population. This study evaluated the holistic perception of consumers about the MSG through the modern sensory techniques Word Association and Cata (Check All That Apply). Also a paired comparison was applied to define the consumers’ gustatory perception. Two stimuli were applied on Word Association, one using the trademark Sazón/Ajinomoto and another containing only monosodium glutamate. In general, consumers associated MSG with salt, seasoning, meal and tasty. Age and stimuli caused different effects on the associations. Health-related terms were more related to older consumers. Cata results revealed the knowledge and consumption habits regarding MSG 79% of consumers perceived the umami flavor on the paired comparison.

The current study was conducted to evaluate the effect of different salicylic acid levels on salinity tolerance of barley as a factorial experiment based on a completely randomized design in the controlled conditions in College of Agriculture, Shiraz University, in 2013. In this study, the effects of four salicylic acid concentrations (0.0, 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5 mM) were examined on growth, yield, yield components, ions content, and activity of antioxidant enzymes of barley (cv. Reyhane) under five salt stress conditions (tapwater as control, 5, 10, 15 and 20 dS m-1). The results showed that salt stress caused a significant reduction in plant height (%41.1), leaf area (%23.4), grain number per ear (%19.5), dry weight (%26.8), grain yield (%34.6), and shoot potassium concentration (%28.2). Furthermore, salinity significantly increased shoot sodium concentration (%239.4), activity of catalase (%46.0), superoxide dismutase (%256.6), and peroxidase (%760.3). Salicylic acid, depending on the concentration, had a positive effect on growth and other measured traits, with the highest effect found in 1.0 and 1.5 mM salicylic acid in most cases. The interactions also showed that salicylic acid application and increase of its concentration compensated for some negative impact of salt stress on growth, yield, ions content and activities of antioxidant enzymes. By contrast, 0.5 mM salicylic acid had no significant effect. Overall, the result of this study indicated that exogenous application of salicylic acid increases salinity tolerance of barley, with a change in sodium/potassium absorption, as well as, an increase in the activity of antioxidant enzymes.

The present paper briefly discusses the impacts of introducing dual-purpose (DP) crops as a grazing resource into what were previously pasture-only grazing systems. The emphasis is on the high-value crops wheat and canola, since these have the greatest potential to increase profits by providing both winter grazing and a high-value grain or seed crop at harvest. A major potential impact of grazing on such crops is that the reduction in grain yield caused by grazing offsets the value of the grazing obtained. The paper shows that this is not the case and that if crop grazing is performed correctly, there will be minimal impact on grain or seed yield; yield may even be increased. 'Correctly' in this context refers mainly to the timely removal of livestock from the crop. Increases in grain yield after grazing arise principally from the conservation of soil water from the winter period through to the grain-ripening stage. The paper emphasises that although the digestibility and crude protein content of DP crops are high, the use of long-season bread wheats as a grazing resource requires that system managers pay greater attention to the sodium and magnesium status of the grazing livestock. This is because of the often high potassium and very low sodium concentrations of wheat forage, which leads to high potassium : sodium ratios in the rumen and reduced absorption of dietary magnesium. Supplementation with sodium and/or magnesium has significantly increased the liveweight gain of stock grazing wheat, but is contra-indicated when grazing canola. The paper also considers the interaction between the amount of grazing provided directly by the crop(s), relative to the possibly increased grazing available from the pasture component of the system, due to 'pasture spelling' while livestock are grazing the crop. Data are presented to show that, overall, the introduction of crop grazing into a previously pasture-based system greatly increases the total amount of grazing obtained. In addition, of the total extra grazing obtained in crop-pasture versus pasture-only systems, up to 40% has been found to come from spelled pasture. This has major implications for the management of the total system. The paper concludes by suggesting that, in the future, research on crop-pasture systems should continue, but should pay greater attention to the grazing of DP crops by cattle and particularly by breeding livestock. In addition, there is a need for much better data on the contribution of crop residues to the total grazing system, plus data on the effects of the introduction of DP crops on the wool production of the total grazing system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To study the variation in Serum Sodium and Potassium concentration in Pre-eclampsia and Normotensive pregnant ladies. Study Design: Cross-sectional study. Place and Duration of the Study: Combined Military Hospital, Kharian District Gujrat Pakistan, from Jun 2020 to Jan 2021. Methodology: The study population Comprosed of 80 pre-eclamptic and 80 normotensive pregnant women recruited consecutively at their first, third trimester, and prenatal visits. Serum Sodium and Potassium were analysed using Ericson Photometer. Results: When the two Groups were compared, in the Normotensive Group, the mean Sodium concentration of 132±4.490 mEq/dl was significantly less than the Pre-eclampsia Group of 139.1±3.909 mEq/dl. On the contrary, mean Serum Potassium concentration was significantly less in Pre-eclampsia 3.54±0.511 mmol/L compared to the Normotensive Group to 4.0±0.513 mmol/L. Conclusion: High levels of Sodium and low level of Potassium were observed in the Pre-eclampsia Group. There may be a causal relationship between electrolyte fluctuations and Pre-eclampsia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Smelting of sulphur-rich metallic ores in Sudbury, Ontario, Canada, has caused acidification and metal contamination of thousands of lakes in the region. Recent reductions in smelter emissions have resulted in much ecological recovery, but the recovery of Daphnia species has been poor. To determine if Cu and Ni toxicity could explain differences in daphniid recovery among lakes, we compared results of 14 d static with renewal bioassays in waters from Blue Chalk Lake, an uncontaminated reference lake 200 km from Sudbury, and from five Sudbury lakes ranging in distance from the smelters and varying in metal and cation concentrations. We spiked Blue Chalk Lake water with Cu and Ni to levels resembling those of the Sudbury lakes and also tested the lake waters for toxicity. Survival of Daphnia pulex, D. pulicaria and D. mendotae decreased monotonically with increasing metal concentrations in the spiked Blue Chalk Lake treatments, falling from 90% in the controls to 0% at the two highest Cu and Ni levels, reflecting levels of Middle and Hannah lakes. In contrast, survival in waters collected from the actual Sudbury lakes did not monotonically track their total metal concentrations. Rather, survival fell to 0% in Clearwater Lake water, a lake with intermediate metal contamination (8.9 and 79.9 μg L–1 of Cu and Ni, respectively) vs 70-100% in the other lakes. We performed an additional assay with Clearwater Lake waters increasing its Ca and Na concentrations, singly and in combination to levels that reflected the levels in Middle Lake. The survival of the four daphniid species increased from 0% up to 80-100% with added Ca and from 0% to 60-90% with added Na. Lipid-ovarian indices had a similar trend to survival for D. mendotae and D. pulicaria in Bioassay 1, varying with the cation concentrations in the lakes for the daphniids in Bioassay 2. The bioassays results imply that regional recovery patterns of daphniids in Sudbury lakes cannot be understood without as a minimum considering both metal and base cation concentration differences among lakes, and give an indication of differences among Daphnia species to cope with metal stress.

In order to examine the interactive effects of strontium and cholecalciferol in broiler nutrition a total of 288 male broiler chickens were fed over 28 days, eight different diets with six replicates comprising of two levels of vitamin D (5000 and 10 000 IU/kg) and four levels of strontium (0, 400, 800 and 1200 mg/kg) provided as strontium carbonate. Vitamin D and strontium produced a significant interaction on growth and feed efficiency with the addition of higher levels of vitamin D ameliorating the negative effects of strontium at 1200 mg/kg. The higher level of vitamin D also improved bodyweight gain (P < 0.05), had no effect on tibia bone composition but reduced calcium, phosphorus, potassium and magnesium retention (P < 0.05). Strontium supplementation produced no advantage to chicken performance but changed tibia bone composition. It was found that calcium and sodium maintained a ratio of ~30 : 1 in tibia bone. Vitamin D and strontium produced a significant physiological interaction and further research is required to elucidate optimum levels of supplementation for commercial broiler chicken production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Halophytes are defined as plants that are adapted to live in soils containing high concentrations of salt and benefiting from it, and thus represent an ideal model to understand complex physiological and genetic mechanisms of salinity stress tolerance. It is also known that oxidative stress signalling and reactive oxygen species (ROS) detoxification are both essential components of salinity stress tolerance mechanisms. This paper comprehensively reviews the differences in ROS homeostasis between halophytes and glycophytes in an attempt to answer the questions of whether stress-induced ROS production is similar between halophytes and glycophytes; is the superior salinity tolerance in halophytes attributed to higher antioxidant activity; and is there something special about the specific ‘pool’ of enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants in halophytes. We argue that truly salt-tolerant species possessing efficient mechanisms for Na+ exclusion from the cytosol may not require a high level of antioxidant activity, as they simply do not allow excessive ROS production in the first instance. We also suggest that H2O2 ‘signatures’ may operate in plant signalling networks, in addition to well-known cytosolic calcium ‘signatures’. According to the suggested concept, the intrinsically higher superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels in halophytes are required for rapid induction of the H2O2 ‘signature’, and to trigger a cascade of adaptive responses (both genetic and physiological), while the role of other enzymatic antioxidants may be in decreasing the basal levels of H2O2, once the signalling has been processed. Finally, we emphasize the importance of non-enzymatic antioxidants as the only effective means to prevent detrimental effects of hydroxyl radicals on cellular structures. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Although not essential for most plants, sodium (Na+) can be beneficial to plants in many conditions, particularly when potassium (K+) is deficient. As such it can be regarded a ‘non-essential’ or ‘functional’ nutrient. By contrast, the many salinized areas around the globe force plants to deal with toxicity from high levels of Na+ in the environment and within tissues. Progress has been made in identifying the relevant membrane transporters involved in the uptake and distribution of Na+. The latter is important in the context of mitigating salinity stress but also for the optimization of Na+ as an abundantly available functional nutrient. In both cases plants are likely to require mechanism(s) to monitor Na+ concentration, possibly in multiple compartments, to regulate gene expression and transport activities. Extremely little is known about whether such mechanisms are present and if so, how they operate, either at the cellular or the tissue level. This paper gives an overview of the regulatory and potential sensing mechanisms that pertain to Na+, in both the context of salt stress and Na+ as a nutrient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND In the Genetic Epidemiology Network of Salt Sensitivity (GenSalt) study, we observed that blood pressure (BP) responses to dietary sodium and potassium interventions and the cold pressor test (CPT) varied greatly among individuals. We conducted a replication study to confirm our previous findings among 695 study participants. METHODS The dietary intervention included a 7-day low sodium (51.3 mmol/day), a 7-day high sodium (307.8 mmol/day), and a 7-day high sodium with potassium supplementation (307.8 mmol sodium and 60 mmol potassium/day). BP measurements were obtained during the baseline and each intervention phase. During the CPT, BP was measured before and at 0, 1, 2, and 4 minutes after the participants immersed their right hand in ice water for 1 minute. RESULTS Systolic and diastolic BP responses (mean ± SD (range), mm Hg) were 8.1±8.4 (−39.1 to 18.2) and −3.5±5.1 (−25.1 to 11.1) to low sodium, 9.1±8.4 (−13.3 to 33.1) and 4.0±5.4 (−16.0 to 20.7) to high sodium, and −4.6±5.8 (−31.8 to 11.6) and −1.9±4.3 (−16.9 to 14.2) to potassium supplementation, respectively (all P < 0.0001 for comparison with each former phase). The mean maximum systolic and diastolic BP responses to the CPT were 16.5±10.5 (−15.3 to 63.3) and 7.6±6.1 (−8.7 to 39.3), respectively (all P < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS Our study indicates that there are large variations in BP responses to dietary sodium and potassium interventions and to the CPT among individuals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) production is a common denominator in a variety of biotic and abiotic stresses, including salinity. In recent years, haem oxygenase (HO; EC 1.14.99.3) has been described as an important component of the antioxidant defence system in both mammalian and plant systems. Moreover, a recent report on Arabidopsis demonstrated that HO overexpression resulted in an enhanced salinity tolerance in this species. However, physiological mechanisms and downstream targets responsible for the observed salinity tolerance in these HO mutants remain elusive. To address this gap, ion transport characteristics (K+ and H+ fluxes and membrane potentials) and gene expression profiles in the roots of Arabidopsis thaliana HO-overexpressing (35S:HY1-1/2/3/4) and loss-of-function (hy-100, ho2, ho3, and ho4) mutants were compared during salinity stress. Upon acute salt stress, HO-overexpressing mutants retained more K+ (less efflux), and exhibited better membrane potential regulation (maintained more negative potential) and higher H+ efflux activity in root epidermis, compared with loss-of-function mutants. Pharmacological experiments suggested that high activity of the plasma membrane H+-ATPase in HO overexpressor mutants provided the proton-motive force required for membrane potential maintenance and, hence, better K+ retention. The gene expression analysis after 12h and 24h of salt stress revealed high expression levels of H+-ATPases (AHA1/2/3) and Na+/H+ antiporter [salt overly sensitive1 (SOS1)] transcripts in the plasma membrane of HO overexpressors. It is concluded that HO modifies salinity tolerance in Arabidopsis by controlling K+ retention via regulation of the plasma membrane H+-ATPase and by altering SOS1 transcript levels in roots. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ofran Y, Lavi D, Opher D, Weiss TA, Elinav E (Hadassah University Hospital, Jerusalem, Israel). Fatal voluntary salt intake resulting in the highest ever documented sodium plasma level in adults (255 mmol L−1): a disorder linked to female gender and psychiatric disorders (Case Report).J Intern Med2004;256: 525–528.Excessive ingestion of salt is a well-recognized cause of hypernatraemia in children, is uncommonly recognized in debilitated elderly persons, but is rarely diagnosed in healthy, independent adults. We report a case of fatal salt poisoning in a 20-year-old lady who suffered of post-natal depression and ingested large quantities of salt as part of exorcism ritual. She presented with the highest ever documented serum sodium level of 255 mmol L−1, associated with severe neurological impairment that was unresponsive to aggressive hypotonic fluid replacement. Post-mortem examination ruled out any other possible probable cause of death. The medical literature was reviewed, and 16 previous cases of severe hypernatraemia in adults secondary to excessive salt ingestion were retrieved. Common features of all reported cases included female gender (95% of cases) and evidence of underlying cognitive or psychiatric disorders (all reported cases). We conclude that women with documented cognitive or psychiatric disorders, in particular depression, are susceptible for psychogenic salt poisoning. Awareness should be raised to the potentially life-risking use of salty beverages as emetics or as part of‘exorcism’ rituals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multivalent ions in solution are known to mediate attraction between two like-charged molecules. Such attraction has proved useful in atomic force microscopy (AFM) where DNA may be immobilized to a mica surface facilitating direct imaging in liquid. Theories of DNA immobilization suggest that either ‘salt bridging’ or fluctuation in the positions of counter ions about both the mica surface and DNA backbone secure DNA to the mica substrate. Whilst both theoretical and experimental evidence suggest that immobilization is possible in the presence of divalent ions, very few studies identify that such immobilization is possible with monovalent ions. Here we present direct AFM evidence of DNA immobilized to mica in the presence of only monovalent ions. Our data depict E. coli plasmid pBR322 adsorbed onto the negatively charged mica both after short (10 min) and long (24 h) incubation periods. These data suggest the need to re-explore current theories of like-charge attraction to include the possibility of monovalent interactions. We suggest that this DNA immobilization strategy may offer the potential to image natural processes with limited immobilization forces and hence enable maximum conformational freedom of the immobilized biomolecule. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: In view of the concept that the urothelium is a functioning epithelium, we investigated the hypothesis that the composition of urine is modified as it passes through the urethra from the urinary bladder to the exterior. Material and Methods: The study was performed in 22 healthy volunteers (13 males, 9 females; mean age 44.6 ± 6.2 years). Vesical and voided urine were collected separately; pH was determined using a pH electrode, osmolality by means of micro-osmometry and electrolytes (Na, K) using flame photometry. Results: Voided urine showed significant increases in pH, osmolality and Na and K concentrations compared to urine contained in the bladder (p < 0.05 for each). Gender and age differences were not significant. Conclusions: Vesical urine undergoes changes in some of its components during its passage through the urethra. These findings presumably indicate that the urethral urothelium is a functioning epithelium and also that voided and vesical urine are not identical. The study raises the question to what extent is the analysis of voided urine representative of that of vesical urine? [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The roles of K+ uptake and loss in the salinity response of the wild type and the salt-tolerant mutant stl2 of Ceratopteris richardii were studied by measuring Rb+ influx and loss and the effects of Na+, Mg2+, Ca2+ and K+ -transport inhibitors. In addition, electrophysiological responses were measured for both K+ and Rb+ and for the effects of Na+ and NH4+ on subsequent K+ -induced depolarizations. stl2 had a 26-40% higher uptake rate for Rb+ than the wild type at 0.5-10 mol m-3 RbCl. Similarly, membrane depolarizations induced by both RbCl and KCl were consistently greater in stl2. In the presence of 0-180 mol m-3 NaCl, stl2 maintained a consistently greater Rb+ influx than the wild type. stl2 retained a greater capacity for subsequent KCl-induced depolarization following exposure to NaCl. Five mol m-3 Mg2+ decreased Rb+ uptake in stl2; however, additional Mg2+ up to 40 mol m-3 did not affect Rb+ uptake further. Ca2+ supplementation resulted in a very minor decrease of Rb+ uptake that was similar in the two genotypes. Tetraethylammonium chloride and CsCl gave similar inhibition of Rb+ uptake in both genotypes, but NH4cl gave substantially greater inhibition in the wild type than in stl2, NH4Cl resulted in a greater memberane depolarization in the wild type and the capacity for subsequent depolarization by KCl was markedly reduced. stl2 exhibited a higher K+ -dependent loss of R+ than wild type but, in the absence of external K+, loss of R+ was equivalent in the two genotypes. Since constitutive K+ contents are nearly identical, we conclude that high K+ influx and loss exact a metabolic cost that is reflected in the inhibition of gametophytic growth. Growth inhibition can be alleviated by reduced supplement K+ or by treatments that slightly reduce K+ influx, such as moderate concentrations of Na+ or Mg2+. We propose that high throughput of K+ allows maintenance of cytosolic K+ under salt stress and that a high uptake rate for K+ results in a reduced capacity for the entrance and accumulation of alternative cations such as Na+ in the cytosol. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Quantification of nutrient and mass loss during composting is neededto understand the composting process, to implement methods for nutrient conservation, and to reduce potential adverse environmental impact. Beef cattle feedlot manure was composted in a windrow on an open concrete area in 1992, 1993, and 1994 to determine the amounts of nutrient, C, and mass loss during composting. The area was enclosed on all sides with a 0.2 m high metal sheet to direct runoff to a fiberglass tank (4000 L) during rainfall. Nutrients in runoff represented combined runoff and leaching losses. Nutrients, C, and mass loss during composting was determined by the difference between the amounts at thebeginning and at the end of the composting. Nitrogen loss during composting ranged from 19 to 42 percent and was related to the initial manure N content. Ammonia volatilization (calculated by difference) accounted for greater than 92 percent of the N loss whereas combined runoff nitrate and ammonium loss was less than 0.5 percent. Mass loss was relatively low (15--20 percent) while C loss ranged from 46 to 62 percent and was basically all through bio-oxidation. Phosphorus runoff loss, the main mechanism for P loss, was low ( less than 2 percent). Manure N/P ratio decreased during composting, indicating a greater soil P buildup potential with compost application. Potassium and Na losses in runoff were high ( greater than 6.5 percent each) in 1992 and 1993; they were low ( less than 2 percent each) in 1994 due to fewer rainfall. Calcium and Mg losses were less than 6 percent each year.Nutrient and salt loss during composting resulted in reduced electrical conductivity of the composted manure. Ammonium and P concentrations in runoff would create surface water pollution if runoff was not diluted with fresh water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]