Abstract  The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of adding antibiotics, probiotics, prebiotics, symbiotic and sodium gluconate for swine from 28 to 142 days of age, corresponding to the nursery, growing and finishing phases. One hundred and sixty-eight piglets were used weaned at 21 days in a randomized complete design in 42 pens with four male piglets in each experimental unit with six replications and seven treatments: control basal feed; basal feed + antibiotic; basal feed + probiotic; basal feed + prebiotic; basal feed + probiotic + prebiotic (symbiotic); basal feed + sodium gluconate; basal feed + sodium gluconate + probiotic. The animals performance differed among he treatments and was best in the animals that received feed with additive from 28 to 142 days of age. Among the feeds with additive, symbiotic was more efficient, presenting the best results in weight gain and feed conversion. Similarly, the addition of sodium + probiotic, prebiotic and probiotic in the feeds was more efficient than antibiotic addition. The use of the evaluated additives substituting the antibiotics did not harm the or the intestinal morphometry. The combination of probiotic and prebiotic (symbiotic) improves the swine performance in the nursery, growing and finishing phases.

Abstract  An in vitro model was used to simulate the intestinal permeation of calcium ions depending on the type of salt (carbonate, fumarate, citrate, or gluconate), its concentration (1.0, 2.5, 5.0, or 10 mM/l), and pH (1.3, 4.2, 6.2, or 7.5). To simulate the conditions for calcium permeation in a patient in a fasting state, the solutions were placed in contact with segments of small intestine of pig: stomach, duodenum, jejunum, and ileum. The percent permeation, its rate, and half-time were measured in each case. In all cases, the maximum permeation was seen at 1 mM concentration, depending on pH: 100% for carbonate at pH 1.3; 82% for fumarate, pH 6.2; 79.5% for citrate at pH 4.2, and 81% for gluconate at pH 7.4. The maximum rate of permeation (% h(-1)) was also observed at 1 mM: 2.16 for carbonate at pH 1.3, 0.29 for fumarate at pH 6.2, 0.26 for citrate at pH 4.2, and 0.28 for gluconate at pH 7.4. The shortest half-time permeation (t (1/2), h) for 1 mM solutions depended also on pH (in parentheses): carbonate 0.3 (1.3), fumarate 2.4 (6.2), citrate 2.6 (4.2), and gluconate 2.5 (7.4). The results suggest that calcium carbonate and citrate can be recommended to patients with normal gastric acidity and hyperacidity while fumarate and gluconate to patients with hypoacidity.

Abstract  Calcium supplementation is widely used in deficiency status and as an adjuvant in the treatment of osteoporosis. The objective of this study was to compare the oral bioavailability of calcium from tablets containing calcium fumarate to that of calcium gluconate. Twelve healthy volunteers participated in the study. Single-dose, two-treatment, two-sequence-crossover, randomized design test methodology was applied. The tablets were prepared by direct compression and were subjected to tests: drug content, hardness, friability, disintegration time and in vitro dissolution studies. The preparations were compared using pharmacokinetic parameters such as the area under the plasma concentration - time curve AUC((0-11)), peak plasma concentration C(max), time to reach maximum plasma concentration T(max). No statistically significant difference was observed for any of the parameters, and the 90% confidence intervals calculated for the ratio of the logarithmically transformed AUC((0-11)) values of both formulations were within the bioequivalence limit of 0.80-1.25. It can be concluded that the two tablet preparations of calcium are likely to be bioequivalent.

Abstract  Investigations of the effects of plasma calcium concentration on the relationship between biliary secretion of bile acid and calcium were performed in normocalcemic, calcium gluconate-induced hypercalcemic, thyroparathyroidectomy-induced hypocalcemic (TPTX) rats, and TPTX rats that received calcium gluconate to maintain normocalcemia. Studies were done at normal bile flow and at sodium taurocholate-stimulated bile flow. The results showed that biliary calcium secretion, which could occur in the absence of parathyroid hormone and calcitonin, was dependent mainly on plasma calcium concentration and was only partly influenced by bile acid secretion. Concerning the route of biliary calcium secretion, 80% was by the transcellular pathway and 20% was by the paracellular pathway. During theophylline-stimulated bile-acid-independent bile flow, the increase in bile-acid-independent calcium was found to be secreted by both pathways.

Abstract  Whether ingested calcium is absorbed more efficiently from freely water-soluble calcium salts than from poorly soluble salts is unclear. It is also unknown whether calcium is absorbed better from dairy products than from calcium salts. Using a method by which the net absorption of calcium can be accurately measured after a single dose, we studied eight healthy fasting subjects after they took a 500-mg dose of calcium from each of five calcium salts with various degrees of water solubility and from milk. The order of administration of the agents given was randomly determined. The mean (+/- SEM) net calcium absorption, in decreasing order of the solubility of the salts, was 32 +/- 4 percent from calcium acetate, 32 +/- 4 percent from calcium lactate, 27 +/- 3 percent from calcium gluconate, 30 +/- 3 percent from calcium citrate, and 39 +/- 3 percent from calcium carbonate. The differences in absorption were not statistically significant according to analysis of variance. On the basis of in vitro solubility experiments in acid mediums, we hypothesize that acid dissolution in the gastrointestinal tract may be responsible for the similar absorption of calcium from salts with widely different water solubilities. Calcium absorption from whole milk (31 +/- 3 percent) was similar to absorption from calcium salts. We conclude that calcium absorption from carbonate, acetate, lactate, gluconate, and citrate salts of calcium, and from whole milk, is similar in fasting healthy young subjects. Further study will be required to determine whether the results would be different in older subjects, with a higher dose of calcium, or if the calcium was ingested with food.

Abstract  Renal calcification was produced in mice by the administration of parathyroid extract or 10% calcium gluconate. The pattern of renal calcification produced by parathyroid extract differed from that produced by calcium gluconate in four respects: (1) Calcified and (2) necrotic renal tubular epithelial cells formed the background for most of the calcification. This was seen especially at the corticomedullary junction. In addition, there was (3) depletion of alkaline phosphatase activity and (4) thickening of the renal tubular basement membranes in the affected areas. The last two alterations are considered to be nonspecific and secondary to the necrosis of renal tubular epithelial cells. It is suggested that parathyroid extract has a direct effect on renal tubular epithelium and that the calcification is not related either to the hypercalcemia produced by parathyroid extract or the action of parathyroid extract on renal tubular basement membrane. In addition, we found no evidence to support the hypothesis that polysaccharide delivered to the kidney as the result of the action of the parathyroid extract elsewhere in the body, was altered so that it becomes calcifiable.

Abstract  The metabolism of gluconate is well characterized in prokaryotes where it is known to be degraded following phosphorylation by gluconokinase. Less is known of gluconate metabolism in humans. Human gluconokinase activity was recently identified proposing questions about the metabolic role of gluconate in humans. Here we report the recombinant expression, purification and biochemical characterization of isoform I of human gluconokinase alongside substrate specificity and kinetic assays of the enzyme catalyzed reaction. The enzyme, shown to be a dimer, had ATP dependent phosphorylation activity and strict specificity towards gluconate out of 122 substrates tested. In order to evaluate the metabolic impact of gluconate in humans we modeled gluconate metabolism using steady state metabolic network analysis. The results indicate that significant metabolic flux changes in anabolic pathways linked to the hexose monophosphate shunt (HMS) are induced through a small increase in gluconate concentration. We argue that the enzyme takes part in a context specific carbon flux route into the HMS that, in humans, remains incompletely explored. Apart from the biochemical description of human gluconokinase, the results highlight that little is known of the mechanism of gluconate metabolism in humans despite its widespread use in medicine and consumer products.

Abstract  A long-term toxicity experiment was carried out in rats fed a diet containing 40% canned meat treated with either 0-5 or 0.02 % sodium nitrite with or without glucono-8-1actone. This experiment, in which special attention was paid to the detection of a possible carcinogenic effect, was designed to study the possible formation of nitrosamines from nitrite and the secondary amines present in meat, under the conditions of an acid pH and pasteurization. The parameters studied included haematology, clinical biochemistry, histopathology, a-foetoprotein in the serum and the DNA content of the liver cell nuclei. There was no evidence of any preneoplastic change or tumour formation that could be attributed to the feeding of this canned meat.

Abstract  Potassium is a shortfall nutrient according to the 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Only 3% of Americans meet the recommended Adequate Intake of 4700 mg/d for potassium. Bioavailability of potassium has not been considered in setting requirements as no food has been tested. Among adult potato consumers potatoes provide 19-20% of potassium in the diet. The aim of this study was to compare bioavailability and dose response of potassium from non-fried white potatoes with skin with potassium gluconate. Thirty five healthy, normotensive men and women with a mean age of 29.7 (+/- 11.2) years and BMI of 24.3 (+/- 4.4) kg/m2 (mean +/- (SD)) were enrolled in this single-blind, cross-over, randomized controlled trial. Participants were randomized to 1 of 8 interventions of potassium: 0 (control repeated twice), 720 (~18.5), 1440 (~37), 2160 (~55.5) mg/day (mEq/day) consumed as a potassium gluconate supplement or white potato with skin added to the basal diet containing ~2300 mg/day (~60 mEq/day) potassium. Bioavailability of potassium was determined from AUC of serial blood draws and cumulative urinary excretion. Serum potassium AUC increased with dose (p<0.0001) and did not differ due to source (p=0.52). Cumulative 24 h urinary potassium also increased with dose (p<0.0001) and was greater with potato than supplement (p<0.0001). There were no significant sex differences. Bioavailability of potassium is as high from potatoes as from supplements. Future studies that include fecal potassium measurements will be necessary to determine whether retention varies due to source. This research was funded by the Alliance for Potato Research and Education.

Abstract  Aberration yields were determined from Tradescantia micro-spores subjected to 400 r of X-radiation and pre- or post-treated in chemical compounds. In material irradiated at 30[degree] C, the control yielded 0.24 aberrations per cell while material treated in ATP gave 0.14, in potassium gluconate 0.13, and in 6-phosphogluconate 0.12. Material simultaneously treated in ATP and gluconate gave 0.10. Material irradiated at 40[degree] C gave 0.66 for the controls, 0.19 for ATP, 0.21 for gluconate, 0.23 for 6-phosphogluconate, and 0.17 for the simultaneous treatment with ATP and gluconate. Material irradiated at 0.2[degree] C gave 0.14 for the control 0.10 for ATP, 0.11 for gluconate, 0.09 for 6-phosphogluconate, and 0.10 for the simultaneous use of ATP and gluconate. The postirradiative treatment with ATP or gluconate indicated that these compounds act on the recovery mechanism of radiation damage. Both the glycolytic and the hexose monophosphate pathways appear capable of releasing energy for repair from radiation damage. || ABSTRACT AUTHORS: Auth. summ

Abstract  Introduction: The pathophysiology of potassium imbalances has been a dynamic area of medical research over the years. Controversy exists about the effectiveness and safety of various treatment strategies for hyperkalemia. Areas covered: The following discussion reviews potassium homeostasis, highlights common etiologies responsible for hyperkalemia and describes the associated clinical manifestations. An in-depth discussion about treatment strategies focuses on: i) stabilizing myocardial cell membranes, ii) enhancing cellular uptake of potassium and iii) the removal of excess potassium. The data for safety and efficacy of various therapies are reviewed. Expert opinion: Certain aspects of treating hyperkalemia remain controversial. Serum potassium is tightly regulated within a narrow range and precisely assessing the degree of risk associated with a given degree of hyperkalemia can be difficult. For this reason, it's important to individualize treatment strategies. Concerns regarding the risks of calcium administration in patients with digitalis toxicity continue to impact practice patterns for hyperkalemia. A review of the literature in this area allows us to apply reasonable caution in these situations. Finally, reviewing the incidence of adverse events associated with low potassium dialysate solutions provides insight into the safety of this practice.

Abstract  We have previously shown that local infusion of calcium, but not potassium induces acute necrotizing pancreatitis in the cat. In the present experiments the same experimental set up was used in the rat to test the effect of different divalent cations. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In anesthetized rats weighing 250-350g, the inferior splenic artery was intubated at the tail of the pancreas. Retrograde infusion (flow 0.5-l.Omlih) of Mg++ (MgCI), Ca++ (CaGluconate), Ba++ (BaCI), Mn++ (MnCI) (at 0.6mmolkgh. each), Zn++ (ZnCI, at 0.1,0.06.0.01, and0.002, mmolkgh), and NaCl 0.9% was performed. Groups of four animals were treated for three hours. RESULTS: The pancreas of animals treated with Ca-Gluconate and MnCl showed acute necrotizing pancreatitis with necrosis of acinar lobuli, hemorrhage and leucocytic infiltrates only in the perfused region at three hours. Animals treated with BaCl spontaneously died 49215 minutes after starting the experiment. They also showed pancreatitis in the perfused region, but not in the residual pancreas. ZnCl at doses of 0.1 - 0.01 mmolkgh lead to immediate blood-clotting, obstruction of capillaries, and subsequent ischemic necrosis of the pancreas. Lower ZnCl concentrations (0.002 mmolkgh) induced pancreatitis as seen after calcium. MgCl and NaCl infusion did not induce any changes in pancreas histology Serum calcium levels in Ca-treated rats were 4.0k1.6 mol/L (controls: 2.4?0.2), and serum magnesium levels in Mg-treated rats were 2.8?1.2 mom (controls: 1.320.2). CONCLUSIONS: Local infusion of the divalent cations Ca++, Mn++, Ba++. aild Zn++ leads to acute necrotizing pancreatitis in the rat within three hours, whereas Mg++ has no effect on histological appearance.