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Urology Annals 2024To determine the utilization of barley and parsley for managing urolithiasis among the Saudi Arabian population.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the utilization of barley and parsley for managing urolithiasis among the Saudi Arabian population.
METHODS
This is a prospective cross-sectional survey-based study. The survey comprised questions about the use of barley, parsley, and other therapies for managing urolithiasis. A WhatsApp® message with the link to the study survey was sent out to family, friends, patients, and other acquaintances residing in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA).
RESULTS
A total of 1014 respondents completed the survey, of which 44.8% indicated that they utilized barley, 38.3% stated that they used parsley, and 4.2% indicated that they utilized other non-medical remedies to treat or prevent kidney stones. In contrast, only 29.5% stated that they utilized potassium citrate and/or magnesium citrate, and only 14.4% indicated that they consumed greater amounts of water to treat or prevent kidney stones.
CONCLUSION
Our study findings indicate that among the Saudi Arabian population, non-conventional therapies such as barley and parsley are more commonly utilized for managing urolithiasis rather than established therapies such as increasing water intake and the use of potassium-citrate/ magnesium-citrate. There is a need to conduct large-scale clinical studies to evaluate the efficacy and safety of barley, parsley, and other non-conventional therapies for treating urolithiasis.
PubMed: 38818429
DOI: 10.4103/ua.ua_142_22 -
Aging Cell May 2024ATP citrate lyase (ACLY) inhibitors have the potential of modulating central processes in protein, carbohydrate, and lipid metabolism, which can have relevant...
ATP citrate lyase (ACLY) inhibitors have the potential of modulating central processes in protein, carbohydrate, and lipid metabolism, which can have relevant physiological consequences in aging and age-related diseases. Here, we show that hepatic phospho-active ACLY correlates with overweight and Model for End-stage Liver Disease score in humans. Wild-type mice treated chronically with the ACLY inhibitor potassium hydroxycitrate exhibited delayed early mortality. In AML12 hepatocyte cultures, the ACLY inhibitors potassium hydroxycitrate, SB-204990, and bempedoic acid fostered lipid accumulation, which was also observed in the liver of healthy-fed mice treated with potassium hydroxycitrate. Analysis of soleus tissue indicated that potassium hydroxycitrate produced the modulation of wound healing processes. In vivo, potassium hydroxycitrate modulated locomotor function toward increased wire hang performance and reduced rotarod performance in healthy-fed mice, and improved locomotion in mice exposed to cardiotoxin-induced muscle atrophy. Our findings implicate ACLY and ACLY inhibitors in different aspects of aging and muscle regeneration.
PubMed: 38760909
DOI: 10.1111/acel.14205 -
Urology Case Reports May 2024Uric acid is one of the few kidney stone minerals that can dissolve using oral alkalinization therapies such as potassium citrate. We report an obese female whose...
Uric acid is one of the few kidney stone minerals that can dissolve using oral alkalinization therapies such as potassium citrate. We report an obese female whose recalcitrant uric acid stones were eliminated using the weight loss medication phentermine/topiramate (Qsymia), a metabolic stimulant and carbonic anhydrase inhibitor. Pre- and post-dissolution 24-h urine studies and computed tomography images are included with a proposed mechanism of action of this medication. This is the first description of a non-alkaline oral therapy used alone for uric acid stone dissolution. Additional investigation of this medication in obese or diabetic uric acid stone formers is warranted.
PubMed: 38756527
DOI: 10.1016/j.eucr.2024.102748 -
Journal of Pharmaceutical Health Care... May 2024Fruits and vegetables are abundant in alkali precursors and effectively reduce the Potential Renal Acid Load (PRAL) from diet. Oral alkali supplements are supposed to...
BACKGROUND
Fruits and vegetables are abundant in alkali precursors and effectively reduce the Potential Renal Acid Load (PRAL) from diet. Oral alkali supplements are supposed to exert comparable alkalizing effects on the human body, and have been shown to beneficially affect bone and kidney health. A comparative analysis of the available dietary alkali supplements in Germany was performed, contrasting their potential PRAL-lowering potential.
METHODS
We reviewed the currently available dietary citrate-based alkali supplements sold in Germany with a special focus on their mineral content, their PRAL-lowering potential and other characteristics inherent to each product. Supplements containing either potassium-, calcium- or magnesium citrate or any combination of these organic salts were reviewed. The total alkali load (TAL) was calculated based on the recommended daily dosage (RDD).
RESULTS
Sixteen supplements with a mean alkali powder content of 220.69 ± 111.02 g were identified. The mean magnesium content per RDD was 239.93 ± 109.16 mg. The mean potassium and median calcium content were 550 ± 325.58 mg and 280 (240) mg, respectively. Median TAL was 1220 (328.75) mg. The PRAL-lowering potential from a single RDD ranged from - 51.65 mEq to -8.32 mEq. Substantial price differences were found, and the mean price of the examined supplements was 16.67 ± 5.77 Euros. The median price for a 1 mEq PRAL-reduction was 3.01 (3.14) cents, and ranged from 0.77 cents to 10.82 cents.
CONCLUSIONS
Noticeable differences between the identified alkali supplements were encountered, warranting an individual and context-specific approach in daily clinical practice.
PubMed: 38730472
DOI: 10.1186/s40780-024-00342-0 -
Insects Apr 2024In this study, the changes in the conventional nutrient and mineral compositions as well as the metabolomics characteristics of the red palm weevil (RPW) Olivier...
Combined Analysis of Metabolomics and Biochemical Changes Reveals the Nutritional and Functional Characteristics of Red Palm Weevil (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) Larvae at Different Developmental Stages.
In this study, the changes in the conventional nutrient and mineral compositions as well as the metabolomics characteristics of the red palm weevil (RPW) Olivier (Curculionidae: Coleoptera) larvae at early (EL), middle (ML) and old (OL) developmental stages were investigated. Results showed that the EL and ML had the highest content of protein (53.87 g/100 g dw) and fat (67.95 g/100 g), respectively, and three kinds of RPW larvae were all found to be rich in unsaturated fatty acids (52.17-53.12%), potassium (5707.12-15,865.04 mg/kg) and phosphorus (2123.87-7728.31 mg/kg). In addition, their protein contained 17 amino acids with the largest proportion of glutamate. A total of 424 metabolites mainly including lipids and lipid-like molecules, organic acids and their derivatives, organic heterocycle compounds, alkaloids and their derivatives, etc. were identified in the RPW larvae. There was a significant enrichment in the ABC transport, citrate cycle (TCA cycle), aminoacyl-tRNA biosynthesis, and mTOR signaling pathways as the larvae grow according to the analysis results of the metabolic pathways of differential metabolites. The water extract of EL exhibited relatively higher hydroxyl, 2,2-diphenyl-1-pyrroline hydrochloride (DPPH) and 2,2'-azobis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) radical-scavenging ability with the EC values of 1.12 mg/mL, 11.23 mg/mL, and 2.52 mg/mL, respectively. These results contribute to a better understanding of the compositional changes of the RPW larvae during its life cycle and provide a theoretical grounding for its deep processing and high-value utilization.
PubMed: 38667424
DOI: 10.3390/insects15040294 -
American Journal of Kidney Diseases :... Apr 2024Most previous studies of the relationship between urinary factors and kidney stone risk have either assumed a linear effect of urinary parameters on kidney stone risk or...
RATIONALE & OBJECTIVE
Most previous studies of the relationship between urinary factors and kidney stone risk have either assumed a linear effect of urinary parameters on kidney stone risk or implemented arbitrary thresholds suggesting biologically implausible "all-or-nothing" effects. In addition, little is known about the hierarchy of effects of urinary factors on kidney stone risk. This study evaluated the independent associations between urine chemistries and kidney stone formation and examined their magnitude and shape.
STUDY DESIGN
Prospective cohort study.
SETTING & PARTICIPANTS
We analyzed 9,045 24-hour urine collections from 6,217 participants of the Health Professionals Follow-Up Study and Nurses' Health Studies I and II.
EXPOSURE
Urine volume and pH, and concentrations of calcium, citrate, oxalate, potassium, magnesium, uric acid, phosphorus, and sodium.
OUTCOME
Incident symptomatic kidney stones.
ANALYTICAL APPROACH
Multivariable logistic regression analysis incorporating restricted cubic splines to explore potentially nonlinear relationships between urinary factors and the risk of forming a kidney stone. Optimal inflection point analysis was implemented for each factor, and dominance analysis was performed to establish the relative importance of each urinary factor.
RESULTS
Each urinary factor was significantly associated with stone formation except for urine pH. Higher urinary levels of calcium, oxalate, phosphorus, and sodium were associated with a higher risk of stone formation whereas higher urine volume, uric acid, citrate, potassium, and magnesium were associated with a lower risk. The relationships were substantially linear for urine calcium, uric acid, and sodium. By contrast, the magnitudes of the relationships were modestly attenuated at levels above the inflection points for urine oxalate, citrate, volume, phosphorus, potassium, and magnesium. Dominance analysis identified 3 categories of factors' relative importance: higher (calcium, volume, and citrate), intermediate (oxalate, potassium, and magnesium), and lower (uric acid, phosphorus, and sodium).
LIMITATIONS
Predominantly White participants, lack of information on stone composition.
CONCLUSIONS
Urine chemistries have complex relationships and differential relative associations with the risk of kidney stone formation.
PLAIN-LANGUAGE SUMMARY
Kidney stones are common and likely to recur. Certain urinary factors play a role in the development of stones, but their independent roles, relative importance, and shapes of association with stone formation are not well-characterized. We analyzed 24-hour urine collections from individuals with and without kidney stones. Stones were less likely in those with higher urine volume, citrate, potassium, magnesium, and uric acid and were more likely in those with higher calcium, oxalate, phosphorus, and sodium. The acidity of the urine was not related to stones. The urinary parameters showed different degrees of relative importance, with calcium, volume, and citrate being greatest. All parameters exhibited a linear or close-to-linear shape of association with stone formation.
PubMed: 38583757
DOI: 10.1053/j.ajkd.2024.02.010 -
Medicine Mar 2024Vonoprazan, a novel acid suppressant and the first potassium-competitive acid blocker, has the potential to enhance the eradication rate of Helicobacter pylori due to...
Comparison of vonoprazan-based dual therapy with vonoprazan-based bismuth quadruple therapy for treatment-naive patients with Helicobacter pylori infection: A propensity score matching analysis.
Vonoprazan, a novel acid suppressant and the first potassium-competitive acid blocker, has the potential to enhance the eradication rate of Helicobacter pylori due to its robust acid-suppressing capacity. This study aimed to compare the efficacy of vonoprazan-based dual therapy (vonoprazan-amoxicillin, VA) with vonoprazan-based bismuth quadruple therapy (VBQT) as a first-line treatment for H pylori infection. This retrospective single-center non-inferiority study was conducted in China. Treatment-naive H pylori-positive patients aged 18 to 80 received one of the 2 treatment regimens at our center. The VA group received vonoprazan 20 mg twice daily and amoxicillin 1000 mg 3 times daily for 14 days, whereas the VBQT group received vonoprazan 20 mg, amoxicillin 1000 mg, clarithromycin 500 mg, and bismuth potassium citrate 220 mg twice daily for 14 days. The eradication rate was evaluated 4 to 6 weeks after treatment using the carbon-13/14 urea breath test. Propensity score matching was used to analyze eradication rates, adverse events (AEs), and patient compliance between the 2 groups. Initially, 501 patients were included, and after propensity score analysis, 156 patients were selected for the study. Intention-to-treat analysis showed eradication rates of 87.2% (95% CI, 79.8-94.6%) for the VA group and 79.5% (95% CI, 70.5-88.4%) for the VBQT group (P = .195). Per-protocol analysis demonstrated rates of 94.4% (95% CI, 89.2-99.7%) for the VA group and 96.8% (95% CI, 92.4-100%) for the VBQT group (P = .507). Non-inferiority was confirmed between the 2 groups, with P values < .025. The VA group showed a lower rate of AEs (10.3% vs 17.9%, P = .250) compared to the VBQT group. There were no significant differences in patient compliance between the 2 groups. In treatment-naive patients with H pylori infection, both the 14-day VA and VBQT regimens demonstrated comparable efficacy, with excellent eradication rates. Moreover, due to reduced antibiotic usage, lower rate of AEs, and lower costs, VA dual therapy should be prioritized.
Topics: Humans; Helicobacter Infections; Bismuth; Helicobacter pylori; Retrospective Studies; Propensity Score; Proton Pump Inhibitors; Drug Therapy, Combination; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Amoxicillin; Clarithromycin; Treatment Outcome; Pyrroles; Sulfonamides
PubMed: 38457567
DOI: 10.1097/MD.0000000000037476 -
Drugs in R&D Mar 2024Potassium bismuth citrate is a gastric mucosal protector and a key drug for treating peptic ulcers.
BACKGROUND
Potassium bismuth citrate is a gastric mucosal protector and a key drug for treating peptic ulcers.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the pharmacokinetic characteristics and safety of 120-mg bismuth potassium citrate formulations administered orally under fasting conditions in healthy Chinese subjects.
METHOD
A single-center open two-cycle trial was conducted on 12 healthy subjects who received a single oral dose of 120 mg of bismuth potassium citrate. The plasma concentration of bismuth was determined using a validated inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP‒MS) method. The pharmacokinetic parameters, including maximum serum concentration (C) and area under the curve concentration-time curve (AUC and AUC), and safety were evaluated via noncompartment analysis.
RESULTS
The ratios of the least square geometric mean ratio between the test (T) and reference (R) formulations for C, AUC, and AUC were 44.8%, 55.5%, and 64.4%, respectively; the bilateral 95% confidence intervals (Cis) for these parameters were 20.2-99.6%, 24.1-127.5%, and 23.7-175.0%, respectively, and the non-inferior limits for these parameters were 169.4%, 198.8%, and 200.5%, respectively. The upper limits of the one-sided 97.5% confidence interval for the least squares geometric mean ratio (T/R) were lower than the non-inferior limits. No serious adverse reactions or adverse reactions leading to detachment were observed among the subjects.
CONCLUSION
The concentration of bismuth in the blood of healthy subjects in the T formulation was not greater than that in the R formulation. Similarly, the safety of oral administration of 120 mg of bismuth potassium citrate formulations to healthy subjects was good. The trial registration number (TRN) was [2018] 013, 6 December 2018.
PubMed: 38345697
DOI: 10.1007/s40268-024-00455-9 -
Heliyon Feb 2024A denitrifying bacteria, which we named DNB-15, was screened and isolated from the Shengli Oilfield polymer-containing wastewater. The strain was characterized by 16S...
A denitrifying bacteria, which we named DNB-15, was screened and isolated from the Shengli Oilfield polymer-containing wastewater. The strain was characterized by 16S rDNA analysis and the effects of nutrient substrate type, pH, mineralization and temperature on the activity of the strain were also investigated. The strain was identified as , of which the most efficient carbon source is sodium citrate, the most suitable nitrogen source is potassium nitrate, the suitable temperature for growth is 35~45 °C, the suitable pH range for growth is 7.0~9.0, and the maximal tolerable mineralization is 4 × 10 mg/L. The desulfurization experiment showed that DNB-15 has desulfurization ability to some extent. When the initial sulfide concentration is lower than 50 mg/L, DNB-15 grows rapidly, and the sulfides are removed quickly within 24 h, displaying a sulfur removal rate higher than 99 %; When the initial sulfide concentration is higher than 150 mg/L, the growth of DNB-15 is severely restricted, the desulfurization effect is not obvious, and the desulfurization rate is almost stagnant.
PubMed: 38333781
DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e25135 -
Nutrients Jan 2024Nephrolithiasis is a common urologic manifestation of Crohn's disease. The purpose of this study was to investigate the clinical characteristics, intestinal oxalate...
Nephrolithiasis is a common urologic manifestation of Crohn's disease. The purpose of this study was to investigate the clinical characteristics, intestinal oxalate absorption, and risk factors for urinary stone formation in these patients. In total, 27 patients with Crohn's disease and 27 healthy subjects were included in the present study. Anthropometric, clinical, and 24 h urinary parameters were determined, and the [C]oxalate absorption test was performed. Among all patients, 18 had undergone ileal resection, 9 of whom had a history of urinary stones. Compared to healthy controls, the urinary excretion values of calcium, magnesium, potassium, sulfate, creatinine, and citrate were significantly lower in patients with Crohn's disease. Intestinal oxalate absorption, the fractional and 24 h urinary oxalate excretion, and the risk of calcium oxalate stone formation were significantly higher in patients with urolithiasis than in patients without urolithiasis or in healthy controls. Regardless of the group, between 83% and 96% of the [C]oxalate was detected in the urine within the first 12 h after ingestion. The length of ileum resection correlated significantly with the intestinal absorption and urinary excretion of oxalate. These findings suggest that enteric hyperoxaluria can be attributed to the hyperabsorption of oxalate following extensive ileal resection. Oral supplementation of calcium and magnesium, as well as alkali citrate therapy, should be considered as treatment options for urolithiasis.
Topics: Humans; Oxalates; Crohn Disease; Calcium; Magnesium; Urinary Calculi; Urolithiasis; Hyperoxaluria; Calcium, Dietary; Citrates; Citric Acid
PubMed: 38257157
DOI: 10.3390/nu16020264