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Food Chem 2021 Mar 29;356:129723. Epub 2021 Mar 29.

Federal Institute of Education, Science and Technology of Amazonas, Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil. Electronic address:

Theobroma speciosum, known as "cacauí" in Brazil, is considered a prominent unconventional food plant. The objective of this work was to evaluate the chemical profiles, antioxidant capacity and minerals of the aqueous extract and fractions from its flowers. The identified compounds were sugars, organic acids and phenolics compounds such as citric, malic and protocatechuic acids, quercetin, quercetin pentoside and quercetin-3-O-glucoside. Read More

Drugs Real World Outcomes 2021 Apr 8. Epub 2021 Apr 8.

Department of Medical, Surgical and Neuroscience Sciences, University of Siena, Siena, Italy.

Objective: The primary objectives of this prospective cross-sectional study were to estimate the prevalence of drug-related long QT syndrome (LQTS) and the prevalence of use of QT-prolonging drugs in older patients admitted to an internal medicine unit.

Methods: We screened consecutive patients hospitalized in an internal medicine unit over a 2-year period. A 12-lead electrocardiogram using an electrocardiograph with automated measurement of QT interval was recorded. Read More

J Res Med Sci 2020 26;25:106. Epub 2020 Nov 26.

Department of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.

Background: Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is one of the common gastrointestinal diseases with various side effects. Proton pump inhibitor (PPI) drugs are widely used for their treatment and long-term ingestion, which results in an electrolyte imbalance. This study investigates the changes in serum magnesium, calcium, sodium, and potassium after long-term use of omeprazole in children. Read More

Environ Toxicol Chem 2021 Apr 5. Epub 2021 Apr 5.

School of Geography, Geology and the Environment, Keele University, Keele, ST5 5BG, UK.

Water treatment residuals (WTRs), by-products of drinking water clarification, are increasingly recycled to land to promote circular economy and reduce disposal costs, yet there is a lack of published literature on their effects on soil ecology. In the present study, the effects of WTRs on earthworm growth, soil respiration, and soil porewater chemistry are investigated throughout a seven-week outdoor mesocosm trial. WTRs derived from both aluminium and iron coagulants were applied to a loam soil at 0-20 % (w/w). Read More

Heliyon 2021 Mar 19;7(3):e06533. Epub 2021 Mar 19.

Department of Food Science & Technology, Federal University of Technology, Akure, P.M.B. 704, Akure 340284, Nigeria.

The rate of micronutrient deficiency has been on an increase since the last decade and the utilization of bio-fortified crops could help to alleviate this deficiency and food insecurity in Africa especially in Nigeria. The aim of this study was to compare the biochemical and antioxidant properties of cream-fleshed and orange-fleshed sweet potato. The varieties of OFSP used in this study were mother's delight (MDP) and king J (KJP) orange-fleshed sweet potato while the other variety was cream-fleshed sweet potato (CFSP). Read More

J Chem Phys 2021 Mar;154(12):124707

Institute of Laser Engineering, Osaka University, 2-6 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan.

We report on the potential of the potassium magnesium fluoride (KMgF) crystal as a fast-response scintillator with tunable cross-luminescence (CL) emission wavelength through high-pressure applications. By performing first-principles density functional theory calculations using the Perdew-Burke-Ernzerhof (PBE) hybrid functional including exact exchange (PBE0) and Green's function and screened Coulomb interaction approximation as implemented in the Vienna Ab initio Simulation Package using plane-wave basis sets within the projector-augmented wave method, we identify the specific valence-to-core band transition that results in the experimentally observed CL emission at 148 nm (8.38 eV) and 170 nm (7. Read More

Biomolecules 2021 Mar 5;11(3). Epub 2021 Mar 5.

Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA 23529, USA.

Prostate apoptosis response-4 (Par-4) is a proapoptotic tumor suppressor protein that has been linked to a large number of cancers. This 38 kilodalton (kDa) protein has been shown to be predominantly intrinsically disordered in vitro. In vivo, Par-4 is cleaved by caspase-3 at Asp-131 to generate the 25 kDa functionally active cleaved Par-4 protein (cl-Par-4) that inhibits NF-κB-mediated cell survival pathways and causes selective apoptosis in tumor cells. Read More

Genes (Basel) 2021 Mar 5;12(3). Epub 2021 Mar 5.

Department of Nephrology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Long-quan Branch, Longquan 323716, China.

Gitelman syndrome (GS) and Bartter syndrome (BS) type III are both rare, recessively inherited salt-losing tubulopathies caused by and mutations, respectively. We described a 48-year-old male patient with fatigue, carpopedal spasm, arthralgia, hypokalemic alkalosis, mild renal dysfunction, hypomagnesemia, hypocalciuria, hyperuricemia, normotension, hyperreninemia and chondrocalcinosis in knees and Achilles tendons. His parents are first cousin. Read More

Metabolites 2021 Mar 29;11(4). Epub 2021 Mar 29.

Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Taneja College of Pharmacy, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33612, USA.

Kvβ subunits belong to the aldo-keto reductase superfamily, which plays a significant role in ion channel regulation and modulates the physiological responses. However, the role of Kvβ2 in cardiac pathophysiology was not studied, and therefore, in the present study, we hypothesized that Kvβ2 plays a significant role in cardiovascular pathophysiology by modulating the cardiac excitability and gene responses. We utilized an isoproterenol-infused mouse model to investigate the role of Kvβ2 and the cardiac function, biochemical changes, and molecular responses. Read More

Int J Environ Res Public Health 2021 Mar 20;18(6). Epub 2021 Mar 20.

Department of Food Market and Consumer Research, Institute of Human Nutrition Sciences, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, 07-787 Warsaw, Poland.

The aim of our study was to analyse vegetables, potatoes and their products as sources of energy and nutrients in the average diet in Poland. Representative data of the 2016 Household Budget Survey from 36,886 households were used. This is the largest study sample in Poland, so we generalized the conclusions to the whole population using the statement 'average diet'. Read More

J Clin Med 2021 Mar 1;10(5). Epub 2021 Mar 1.

Nephrology Unit Policlinico Umberto I Hospital, 00185 Rome, Italy.

The impressive estimated number of chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients in the world justifies any possible effort at implementing preventive measures of disease progression. Renal insufficiency is associated with significant changes in the electrolyte handling and body balance of sodium, potassium, phosphate, magnesium, and calcium, all of which are biologically vital molecules. Dietary habits could contribute significantly to the optimal management of possible derangements. Read More

Molecules 2021 Mar 9;26(5). Epub 2021 Mar 9.

Department of Commodity Science and Food Analysis, The Faculty of Food Sciences, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, 10-719 Olsztyn, Poland.

Due to the different levels of bioactive compounds in tea reported in the literature, the aim of this study was to determine whether commercially available leaf teas could be an important source of phenolics and selected minerals (copper, manganese, iron, zinc, magnesium, calcium, sodium, potassium) and if the differences in the content of these components between various types of tea are significant. It was found that both the amount of these compounds in tea and the antioxidant activity of tea infusions were largely determined by the origin of tea leaves as well as the processing method, which can modify the content of the studied components up to several hundred-fold. The group of green teas was the best source of phenolic compounds (110. Read More

Int J Environ Res Public Health 2021 Mar 17;18(6). Epub 2021 Mar 17.

Department of Green Technology, Faculty of Engineering, University of Southern Denmark, Campusvej 55, 5230 Odense, Denmark.

Manure and digestate liquid fractions are nutrient-rich effluents that can be fractionated and concentrated using membranes. However, these membranes tend to foul due to organic matter, solids, colloids, and inorganic compounds including calcium, ammonium, sodium, sulfur, potassium, phosphorus, and magnesium contained in the feed. This review paper is intended as a theoretical and practical tool for the decision-making process during design of membrane-based systems aiming at processing manure liquid fractions. Read More

Foods 2021 Mar 10;10(3). Epub 2021 Mar 10.

Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies (DiSTABiF), University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, Via Vivaldi 43, 81100 Caserta, Italy.

Chickpea ( L.) from Valle Agricola is a legume cultivated in Southern Italy whose intake is strictly linked to rural traditions. In order to get new biochemical insight on this landrace and to promote its consumption and marketing, nutritional values (moisture content, total proteins, lipids, total and free amino acids) and metabolic traits are deeply investigated. Read More

Biol Trace Elem Res 2021 Apr 2. Epub 2021 Apr 2.

Neuroscience Research Institute, Peking University, Beijing, 100191, People's Republic of China.

Essential metal elements (EMEs) have essential roles in neurological development and maintenance of human homeostasis. We performed a case-control study to explore association between the risk of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and the 11 EMEs [Calcium (Ca), potassium (K), magnesium (Mg), sodium (Na), manganese (Mn), selenium (Se), cobalt (Co), Molybdenum (Mo), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), and iron (Fe)] in serum. Ninety-two autistic subjects (cases) and age-sex-matched healthy subjects (controls = 91) from Beijing, China were recruited. Read More

Clin Exp Nephrol 2021 Apr 1. Epub 2021 Apr 1.

Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, 7146864685, Shiraz, Iran.

Background And Objective: Renal toxicity has limited gentamicin use in clinical practice. The aim of the present clinical trial was to assess the possible nephroprotective effects of pentoxifylline (PTX) against gentamicin nephrotoxicity.

Materials And Methods: A multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial was conducted on patients who had the indication for systemic gentamicin for at least 7 days. Read More

Nutr Neurosci 2021 Mar 29:1-10. Epub 2021 Mar 29.

Neurology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt.

Background: Anecdotal reports have proposed that diet might influence the occurrence of seizures.

Objectives: Our objectives were to assess nutritional status in a sample of patients with epilepsy and to investigate the impact of nutrition on epilepsy control.

Patients And Methods: One hundred and fifty patients with epilepsy participated in the study. Read More

NPJ Clean Water 2020 Apr;3:20

Gangarosa Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA.

This study explores the associations of drinking rainwater with mineral intake and cardiometabolic health in the Bangladeshi population. We pooled 10030 person-visit data on drinking water sources, blood pressure (BP) and 24-h urine minerals. Fasting blood glucose (FBG) was measured in 3724 person-visits, and lipids in 1118 person-visits. Read More

Ecotoxicol Environ Saf 2021 Jun 25;215:112149. Epub 2021 Mar 25.

Department of Botany and Microbiology, College of Science, King Saud University, 11451 Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

The aim of present work was to evaluate the effects of titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO NPs) on rice's growth (Oryza sativa L.) and nutrient availability under different soil textures. Greenhouse experiment was carried out with three soil textures (sandy loam, silt loam and silty clay loam) and two concentrations of TiO NPs (500, 750 mg kg). Read More

Ann Emerg Med 2021 04;77(4):442-444

Department of Emergency Medicine, McGovern Medical School at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX.

Data Brief 2021 Apr 23;35:106901. Epub 2021 Feb 23.

Institute of Marine Sciences, School of Biological Sciences, University of Portsmouth, Ferry Road, Portsmouth PO4 9LY, United Kingdom.

The present Data In Brief methodological paper details the acquisition, mining and pre-processing of elemental concentration data in marine sediments (coastal and open sea) of Southern England, presented and discussed in the co-submitted Environment International paper entitled: "Three decades of trace element sediment contamination: the mining of governmental databases and the need to address hidden sources for clean and healthy seas" [1]. Elemental sediment concentration data were obtained from the two main UK environmental sources, i.e. Read More

Front Plant Sci 2021 5;12:636484. Epub 2021 Mar 5.

Centre of Excellence for Biodiversity and Molecular Plant Breeding (CoE CroP-BioDiv), Zagreb, Croatia.

Micronutrient malnutrition is one of the main public health problems in many parts of the world. This problem raises the attention of all valuable sources of micronutrients for the human diet, such as common bean ( L.). Read More

Sci Total Environ 2021 Apr 7;764:142823. Epub 2020 Oct 7.

Soil Erosion Laboratory, Department of Geography, Universidade Estadual do Centro-Oeste, UNICENTRO, Street Simeão Camargo Varela de Sá, 03 Mailbox, 3010, 85040-080 Guarapuava, Paraná, Brazil. Electronic address:

Several studies have demonstrated the effects of slash-and-burn agriculture on soil chemical properties immediately or short-term after burning. This study aims to answer if: a) the slash-and-burn system affects soil chemical properties; b) management effects remain in a fallow chronosequence; and if c) these effects are restricted to the soil surface. The study was developed in the south-eastern region of the state of Paraná, located in southern Brazil. Read More

PLoS One 2021 23;16(3):e0248485. Epub 2021 Mar 23.

Centre for Forest Research and Institute for Systems and Integrative Biology, Laval University, Québec, Canada.

Prokaryotic communities play key roles in biogeochemical transformation and cycling of nutrients in the productive mangrove ecosystem. In this study, the vertical distribution of rhizosphere bacteria was evaluated by profiling the bacterial diversity and community structure in the rhizospheres of four mangrove species (Sonneratia alba, Rhizophora mucronata, Ceriops tagal and Avicennia marina) from Mida Creek and Gazi Bay, Kenya, using DNA-metabarcoding. Alpha diversity was not significantly different between sites, but, significantly higher in the rhizospheres of S. Read More

Ann Noninvasive Electrocardiol 2021 Mar 23:e12842. Epub 2021 Mar 23.

Department of Medical Engineering, Yawatahama City General Hospital, Ehime, Japan.

An elderly Japanese woman developed acute decompensated heart failure caused by persistent atrial fibrillation (AF) and left ventricular systolic dysfunction. Approximately 6 days after starting intravenous administration of amiodarone (600 mg/day) for maintaining sinus rhythm after cardioversion of AF, electrocardiograms revealed a prolonged QT interval associated with torsade de pointes (TdP). The amiodarone-induced TdP disappeared after intravenous administration of landiolol plus magnesium and potassium, without discontinuation of amiodarone or overdrive cardiac pacing, although the prolonged QT interval persisted. Read More

Front Aging Neurosci 2021 3;13:641222. Epub 2021 Mar 3.

Division of Cardiovascular Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, Centre for Advanced Discovery & Experimental Therapeutics, School of Medical Sciences, The University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester, United Kingdom.

Several studies of Parkinson's disease (PD) have reported dysregulation of cerebral metals, particularly decreases in copper and increases in iron in substantia nigra (SN). However, few studies have investigated regions outside the SN, fewer have measured levels of multiple metals across different regions within the same brains, and there are no currently-available reports of metal levels in Parkinson's disease dementia (PDD). This study aimed to compare concentrations of nine essential metals across nine different brain regions in cases of PDD and controls. Read More

J Clin Hypertens (Greenwich) 2021 Mar 18. Epub 2021 Mar 18.

Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Medicine, Jichi Medical University School of Medicine, Shimotsuke, Tochigi, Japan.

Hypertension is an insidious disease which predisposes to cardiovascular complications and if not treated properly can lead to various serious complications. Economic limitations, having additional benefits with few or almost no side effects have made non-pharmacological management of hypertension an attractive approach for dealing with hypertension, in developed and developing countries alike. A MEDLINE search was done for relevant references with emphasis on original studies, randomized controlled trials, and meta-analyses for this review paper. Read More

Sci Rep 2021 Mar 18;11(1):6368. Epub 2021 Mar 18.

Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education for Solid Waste Treatment and Resource Recycle, Southwest University of Science and Technology, Mianyang, 621010, Sichuan, China.

Separation effects of sodium polyacrylate (PAAS) and gum Arabic (GA) on flotation of chalcopyrite and magnesium silicate minerals using potassium butyl xanthate (PBX) as collector were investigated by micro-flotation experiments, zeta potential, Infrared spectral (IR), SEM-EDS, XPS analysis and copper sulphide ore beneficiation test. The micro-flotation experiments and zeta potential measurements showed that combined depressant consisting of PAAS and GA could efficiently reduce the recoveries of mixed minerals of serpentine and talc more than 25%, while that of chalcopyrite remained above 70% at pH 9.2. Read More

Regen Biomater 2021 Feb 3;8(1):rbaa048. Epub 2020 Dec 3.

Department of Orthopedics, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430060, China.

Incorporating bioactive substances into synthetic bioceramic scaffolds is challenging. In this work, oxygen-carboxymethyl chitosan (O-CMC), a natural biopolymer that is nontoxic, biodegradable and biocompatible, was introduced into magnesium potassium phosphate cement (K-struvite) to enhance its mechanical properties and cytocompatibility. This study aimed to develop O-CMC/magnesium potassium phosphate composite bone cement (OMPC), thereby combining the optimum bioactivity of O-CMC with the extraordinary self-setting properties and mechanical intensity of the K-struvite. Read More

Sci Rep 2021 Mar 17;11(1):6130. Epub 2021 Mar 17.

Innovative Solutions for Decision Agriculture Ltd (iSDA), Harpenden, United Kingdom.

Soil property and class maps for the continent of Africa were so far only available at very generalised scales, with many countries not mapped at all. Thanks to an increasing quantity and availability of soil samples collected at field point locations by various government and/or NGO funded projects, it is now possible to produce detailed pan-African maps of soil nutrients, including micro-nutrients at fine spatial resolutions. In this paper we describe production of a 30 m resolution Soil Information System of the African continent using, to date, the most comprehensive compilation of soil samples ([Formula: see text]) and Earth Observation data. Read More