The optimal conditions for the binding of cardiac glycosides, such as ouabain, to Na+, K+-ATPase in vitro are the simultaneous presence of ATP, Na+ and Mg++ or the presence of inorganic phosphate (Pi) and Mg++ (Reference 1). It has been postulated that in vitro binding of ouabain in the presence of ATP, Na+ and Mg++ reflects the binding of cardiac glycosides t o this enzyme system in intact ani...

BACKGROUND/AIMS This study investigated the antiviral effects of tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) monotherapy in nucleos(t)ide analogue (NA)-naive and NA-experienced chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients. METHODS CHB patients treated with TDF monotherapy (300 mg/day) for ≥12 weeks between December 2012 and July 2014 at a single center were retrospectively enrolled. Clinical, biochemical, and ...

BACKGROUND Although socioeconomic status (SES) may affect food and nutrient intakes, few studies have reported on sodium (Na) and potassium (K) intakes among individuals with various SESs in Japan. We investigated associations of SES with Na and K intake levels using urinary specimens in a representative Japanese population. METHODS This was a cross-sectional study of 2,560 men and women (the...

In ninety-four Dutch nulliparous women the effects of a low-Na diet in pregnancy on blood pressure, energy and nutrient intake, Ca metabolism, Zn and Mg status and body composition were studied longitudinally. The women were randomly divided into an intervention group (n 41), which used a low-Na diet (mean urinary Na excretion 61 mmol/24 h) from week 14 of pregnancy until delivery and a control...

Concentrations of the macronutrients (K, Ca, Mg, Na, P and S) and micronutrients (Fe, B, Zn, Mn and Cu) in whole fruit, pulp, rind and albedo of fruit from young and mature 'Bellamy' navel orange trees were measured at fortnightly intervals during fruit development. The general order of abundance of the macronutrients were K > Ca > Mg ˆ P > S > Na and the abundance of the micronutrients followe...

X-ray microanalysis is commonly applied in biomaterials research to study changes in biomaterial composition, calcifications, or to identify particulates in tissue that has been in contact with biomaterials. Studies where the effect of biomaterials on the naturally occurring elements in the cells are studied are rare. Exposure to or contact with biomaterials may give rise to several cellular re...

Background: There is controversy whether management of blood cholesterol should be based or not on LDL-cholesterol (LDL-c) target concentrations. Objectives: To compare the estimated impact of different lipid-lowering strategies, based or not on LDL-c targets, on the risk of major cardiovascular events in a population with higher cardiovascular risk. Methods: We included consecutive individ...

Previous investigations on the effects of monovalent cations on the gene activities (formation of puffs) of polytene chromosomes utilized whole salivary glands or nuclei and suggested that the K/Na ratio in the nuclear sap was of primary importance in influencing gene activities. To determine whether these effects of ions were direct or indirect, we have employed isolated polytene chromosomes i...