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Abstract

T. Nasu and M. Ooshima

Department of Veterinary Pharmacology, Faculty of Agriculture, Yamaguchi University, Yamaguchi, Japan
In a 123 mM Li⁺ medium where all the external Na⁺ had been replaced by Li⁺, 60 mM K⁺ did not elicit any tonic contraction in the presence of 2.5 mM Ca²⁺ in taenia coli of a guinea pig. However, we found that 5 mM Mn²⁺ could induce a significant increase in tonic contraction in the 123 mM Li⁺ medium (+ 60 mM K⁺). In the absence of Ca²⁺, 5 mM Mn²⁺ could also induce a tension development in 123 mM Li+ medium (+ 60 mM K⁺). The tension by Mn²⁺ in 123 mM Li⁺ medium (+ 60 mM K⁺, Ca²⁺-free) was small. However, in Na⁺- and Ca²⁺-deficient surrounding, as external Li⁺ concentration decreased to 105 mM and 90 mM, the tension development induced by 5 mM Mn²⁺ became progressively greater. It is probable that a higher concentration of Li⁺ has greater inhibitory actions on cytosolic contractile apparatus. Phlorizin, a blocker of Na⁺-coupled glucose cotransporter, did not affect the contractions induced by 5 mM Mn²⁺ in 90, 105 or 123 mM Li⁺ medium (Ca²⁺-free, + 60 mM K⁺) in taenia coli. Presumably, this indicates that Na⁺/glucose cotransporter does not participate during contractions induced by 5 mM Mn²⁺ in Na⁺-deficient, Li⁺ medium. It is, therefore, possible that Li⁺ can not substitute for Na⁺ during the contraction due to Mn²⁺ in Na⁺-free medium.Correspondence to:
Prof. T. Nasu
Department of Veterinary Pharmacology, Faculty of Agriculture, Yamaguchi University, Yamaguchi 753, Japan
Email: nasu@yamaguchi-u.ac.jp

Abstract

Z.I. Khan¹, A. Hussain², M. Ashraf² and L.R. McDowell³

¹Department of Biological Sciences, University of Sargodha, Pakistan, ²Department of Botany, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan and ³Department of Animal Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
The purpose of the study was to evaluate and compare mineral concentrations of 7 minerals in 3 classes of grazing sheep. Blood mineral concentrations were determined in 3 classes of sheep consuming the same pastures in the province of Punjab, Pakistan. Blood plasma was obtained 8 times after an interval of 20 days during the dry and wet seasons (4 times per season) from 10 of each of lactating, non-lactating and male sheep. Prominent effects of seasons and animal class were observed in plasma Ca for all classes. Plasma Ca concentrations of all sheep classes were higher in the dry season than those in the wet season. Plasma Mg concentrations in lactating sheep were slightly lower than those of other two classes of sheep during both seasons. Seasonal influence in all cases was prominent with regard to Mg concentration. Significant differences were found for plasma Cu. Higher plasma Cu was found in lactating sheep than in male or non-lactating sheep during both seasons. For Fe, there were seasonal differences with lower concentrations in the dry season. Lactating sheep had the highest plasma Fe during the dry season of all sheep classes. Plasma Zn concentrations were affected by season and animal class. During wet season, plasma Zn was lower than in dry season in all classes of sheep. Plasma Mn was affected by season and sheep class. In dry season, plasma Mn in all classes of animals was higher than in wet season, with lactating animals having the high concentrations followed by non-lactating and male animals. Plasma Se was higher during the dry season than that during the wet season in all classes of animals. Plasma Se was higher in male sheep followed by non-lactating and lactating sheep during both seasons. Overall, mineral status, except for Ca and Mg, during different seasons and in different animal classes was considered adequate. The adequacy of the mineral status was, in part, due to the provided supplementary mineral mixture. Therefore, mineral supplementation is continually needed to maintain adequate plasma mineral concentrations and overall productivity of sheep.Correspondence to:
Z.I. Khan, MD
Department of Botany, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad-Pakistan, 38040 Faisalabad, Pakistan
Email: drzafar10@hotmail.com

Abstract

S. Gasser, E. Scherr and R. Gasser

WG of Experimental Cardiology, Department of Cardiology, University Department of Internal Medicine, Graz, Austria
It has been argued that a rise in free, unbound intracellular magnesium (Mg²⁺_i) could be beneficial during myocardial ischemia, effecting the regulation of certain enzymes, the rectification of channels as well as intracellular Na⁺ and Ca²⁺. Mg²⁺ is a cofactor of the Na/K-ATPase, it competes with Ca²⁺ at the contractile apparatus etc. However, all of these properties are confined to the intracellular site. The present study investigates the effect of pH upon intracellular concentrations of Mg²⁺. Here we studied Mg²⁺_i with Mg²⁺-selective microelectrodes (ETH 7025) in isolated guinea pig papillary muscle. Free intracellular Mg²⁺_i in guinea pig papillary muscle was 0.73 ± 0.08 (n = 7, ± SEM) in the same type of tissue. These values are similar to those assessed earlier in sheep Purkinje fibre and ferret papillary muscle. In the present experiments we also changed extracellular pH from 7.4 – 6.4 and back to 7.4. In the same experiments, pHi has been measured using a pH-sensitive microelectrode in order to assess the change of pHi brought about by changing extracellular pH. This manoeuver led to a change of pHi from a resting level of 7.19 ± 0.03 (n = 7, ± SEM) to 6.81 ± 0.06 (n = 7, ± SEM). These changes of pH_i led to a small but consistant rise of intracellular Mg²⁺. In 7 experiments Mg²⁺_i rose by 0.19 ± 0.06 mM (± SEM) from an initial value of 0.73 ± 0.21 mM. The small rise of Mg²⁺_i is likely to result from ionized Mg²⁺ being liberated from the Mg-ATP complex. Interestingly, despite pH had remained low, after about 7 min Mg²⁺_i returned to normal levels. This observation indicates that intracellular regulation of Mg²⁺_i is slow but operational at even very small changes of Mg²⁺_i suggesting that Mg²⁺_i levels are regulated within a very narrow band in order to guarantee its multifaceted intracellular biological activity.Correspondence to:
Prof. R. Gasser, MD, DPhil (Oxon)
WG of Experimental Cardiology, Department of Cardiology, University Department of Internal Medicine, Auenbruggerplatz 15, 8036 Graz, Austria
Email: robert.gasser@meduni-graz.at

Abstract

J. Kvicala¹, V. Zamrazil¹, J. Nemecek¹ and M. Anke²

¹Institute of Endocrinology, Prague, Czech Republic and ²Friedrich Schiller University, Jena, Germany
Selenium status of inhabitants of the Czech Republic is very low according to studies in the 1990s, especially in southern parts of the republic. It is documented in more regions that intake of Se by seniors is lower then by adults in working age. Object of this study was to assess daily Se intake by seniors of South Bohemia. Time-dependent increase of urine Se concentrations in the course of the long-term Se supplementation by various Se species is presented in the second part of the study. 495 analyses of Se in the urine of seniors living in South Bohemia were used for Se intake calculation by the use of both Se concentration and Se daily excretion. Urine Se was detected by fluorimetry as complex with 2,3-diaminonaphtalene after wet ashing, SRM 3149 (selenium- NIST) was used for calibration, and Lyphocheck urine metal control (human) was used for quality assurance. Calculated daily Se intake was under 25 mg (24 mg and 21.5 mg, resp.). After supplementation by 100 mg of both inorganic and organically bound Se daily, concentration of Se in urine as well as its excretion increased rapidly to double in a fortnight and reached the peak in 6 months with a small decrease in the course of the next 6 months. In conclusion, Se intake of South Bohemia seniors is very low and part of them does not reach even WHO basal requirements. Unsatisfactory Se status may be changed in a short time by the use of dietary Se supplements.Correspondence to:
Dr. J. Kvicala
Institute of Endocrinology, Narodni 8, 11694 Praha 1, Czech Republic
Email: jkvicala@endo.cz

Abstract

R. Van Cauwenbergh¹, D. Bosscher¹, H. Robberecht¹,², V. Van Vlaslaer² and N. Hermans¹

¹Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Antwerp, Laboratory of Nutrition and Functional Food Science, ²Plantijn Hogeschool, Antwerp, Belgium
Daily dietary sodium (Na) and potassium (K) intake in healthy toddlers in the Antwerp region of Belgium, aged 2 – 3 years, have been evaluated by duplicate portion sampling. The elemental content was analyzed by atomic absorption spectrometry after acid destruction and heating in a microwave oven. Mean sodium intake (2,381 ± 694 mg/d) was very high compared with and far above the population reference intake (PRI) for Belgium or the recommended dietary allowance (RDA) value (330 mg/d). For potassium, mean intake (2,563 ± 567 mg/d) was higher than in most other countries and 2.5 times more than the PRI range for Belgium (800 – 1,000). The intake of Na and K by the healthy toddler population in the Antwerp region seems to be too high for both elements, especially for sodium.Correspondence to:
Dr. H. Robberecht
Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Antwerp, Laboratory of Nutrition and Functional Food, Science, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Antwerp, Belgium
Email: labrom@ua.ac.be

Abstract

B. Gremmler¹,⁴, K. Kisters², M. Hausberg³, M. Kunert¹ and L.J. Ulbricht¹,⁴

¹Department of Cardiology, Marienhospital Bottrop, ²Department of Medicine, St. Anna Hospital Herne, ³AKTE Arbeitskreis Trace Elements and Electrolytes, ⁴University of Witten/Herdecke, Germany
Background: Abnormalities of diastolic function are first signs of cardiac remodeling in hypertension. Despite sufficient long-term antihypertensive treatment, a diastolic dysfunction concerning left ventricular relaxation is observed in many cases. Doppler echocardiography has become well-accepted as reliable, reproducible and a practical noninvasive method for diagnosis and longitudinal follow-up of patients with these diastolic dysfunctions. Since it was shown that dipyridamole treatment increased vasodilatorstimulated phosphoprotein Ser239phosphorylation (VASP), a benefit concerning diastolic dysfunction could be indirectly possible by dipyridamole-induced endothelial resistance reduction. Methods: Prospective observation of 11 long-term successfully pretreated, hypertensive patients with abnormal relaxation in the mitral inflow velocity curve. Patients with coronary artery disease, reduced cardiac ejection fraction, disease of valves or E-F deceleration time lower than 240 ms were excluded. The measurement of the ratio between peak early flow velocity (E) and peak late transmitral flow velocity (A) (E/A ratio) was carried out before and under additional dipyridamole treatment (200 mg sustained release twice daily). There was no change of continual antihypertensive medication during the observation time (12.6 ± 4.7 d). Results: A significant amelioration of the E/A ratio from 0.68 ± 0.11 to 0.81 ± 0.12 was observed (p = 0.017). No relevant change of blood pressure values was registered. Discussion: The additional treatment of sustained release dipyridamole to the continual antihypertensive medication shows a significant improvement of diastolic dysfunction already in a small patient group. This improvement was demonstrated by analysis of Doppler-echographic measurement (E/A ratio). Since there was no affect concerning blood pressure behavior, a greater clinical observation may be justified.Correspondence to:
Dr. med. B. Gremmler, PD Dr. med. L.J. Ulbricht
Marienhospital, Josef-Albers-Straße 70, 46236 Bottrop
Email: dr.bernhard.gremmler@ t-online.de

Abstract

E. Gonzalez-Reimers¹, M.C. Martín-González¹, L. Galindo-Martín¹,², M.C. Duran-Castellon¹, M.R. Aleman-Valls¹, J. Velasco-Vázquez¹, J.M. Gónzalez-Pérez¹ and F. Barroso-Guerrero³

¹Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital of the Canary Islands, ²Department of Analytical Chemistry , University of La Laguna,
³Department of Pediatiatrics, University Hospital of the Canary Islands, La Laguna, Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain
This study was performed in order to analyze the relationship between hair copper, zinc and iron contents (in 94 individuals) and quality of diet (rich in meat, rich in vegetables, rich in fish, recorded by dietary recall on food consumed in the last 2 weeks), body mass index (BMI), tobacco smoking, and living in rural or urban areas. Hair samples were rinsed in 5 ml acationox 0.1% (Scientific Products, McGraw Park, Illinois, IL, USA), and allowed to dry during one night at 60 °C; once dried, hair samples were rinsed in acetone and allowed to dry again during one night, were later digested in 0.5 ml HCl (Merck p.a., Darmstadt, Germany) and hydrogen peroxide (Merck p.a., Darmstadt, Germany), solutions were quantitatively transferred to volumetric flasks and diluted to 10 ml with ultrapure water (Milli-Q OM-140 deionization system), and Zn, Cu and Fe were determined in these solutions by flame atomic absorption photometry, using a Varian Spectra spectrophotometer (Mulgrave, Victoria, Australia); detection limits for these elements are 0.009 ppm for Zn, 0.026 for Cu and 0.039 for Fe. Those who consumed vegetables frequently showed higher Fe levels. No relation was observed between fish consumption and any of the trace elements analyzed. Obese individuals showed lower copper (p = 0.042) and a trend to lower iron (p = 0.059) levels. In accordance with these results an inverse, significant relationship was observed between BMI and copper (r = –0.21, p = 0.043). A significant correlation was observed between age and hair copper among men (r = –0.54, p < 0.001). No differences were observed between those who lived in rural areas compared with those who lived in urban areas or between smokers and nonsmokers.Correspondence to:
Dr. E. Gonzalez-Reimers
Departamento de Medicina Interna Hospital Universitario de Canarias, La Laguna, Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain
Email: egonrey@ull.es

Abstract

K. Kisters¹, ³, H. Al-Tayer¹, H. Liebscher², M. Cziborra¹, F. Wessels¹, J. Büntzel³, M.Q. Nguyen¹, O. Micke³, F. Tokmak³, B. Gremmler⁴ and M. Hausberg³

¹Medicinal Clinic I, St. Anna Hospital, Herne, ²SHO-Mineralimbalancen, Berlin, ³AKTE, Bielefeld and ⁴Department of Cardiology, Bottrop, Germany
A magnesium deficiency is known to be involved in the pathogenesis of primary hypertension. In patients with essential hypertension intima media thickness is increased in about 70% (ELSA Study). In our study, we investigated 21 patients (10 female, 11 male, average age 56.3 ± 6.6 years) with untreated essential hypertension (Grades I and II according to WHO Guidelines). All patients had a hypomagnesemia in serum (1.57 ± 0.11 mg%). In all patients we found a significant increase in intima media thickness of arteria carotis communis (0.97 ± 0.08 mm; r = – 0.869, p < 0.0001). The results show that a magnesium deficiency in patients with essential hypertension may be of special pathogenetic importance. In addition, the role of magnesium deficiency in the development of arteriosclerosis has to be discussed. Furthermore, we demonstrated a connection between magnesium deficiency and an increased intima media thickness. In this context, calcium antagonist therapy or magnesium supplementation may be of advantage when treating intima media thickness in hypertension.Correspondence to:
Prof. Dr. med. K. Kisters
Medicinal Clinic I, St. Anna Hospital, Hospitalstrasse 19, 44649 Herne, Germany
Email: kisters@annahospital.de

Abstract

Y.G. Zorbas¹, V.A. Deogenov¹, V.J. Kakuris² and V.L. Yerullis¹,²

¹European Foundation of Environmental Sciences, and ²Institute of Occupational Physiology, Athens, Greece
Measuring tissue calcium (Ca²⁺) content, Ca²⁺ absorption, plasma, urinary and fecal Ca²⁺ levels during and after hypokinesia (HK) and Ca²⁺ supplementation was the aim of this study showing if Ca²⁺ deposition could be depressed significantly more with than without Ca²⁺ supplementation, contributing to significantly higher Ca²⁺ losses from the body with tissue Ca²⁺ depletion. Studies were conducted on 408 13-week-old male Wistar rats (370 – 390 g) during nine days pre-HK, 98 days HK and 15 days post-HK periods. Rats were equally divided into four groups: unsupplemented vivarium control rats (UVCR), unsupplemented hypokinetic rats (UHKR), supplemented vivarium control rats (SVCR) and supplemented hypokinetic rats (SHKR). Hypokinetic rats were kept in small individual cages for 98 days which restricted their movements in all directions without hindering food and water intake. Control rats were housed in individual cages for 98 days under vivarium control conditions. All SVCR and SHKR consumed 2.8 mmol calcium lactate per day. Calcium absorption, intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH) levels, and Ca²⁺ levels in muscle, bone, plasma, urine and feces, did not change in SVCR and UVCR compared with their baseline values. During HK, Ca²⁺ absorption, plasma iPTH levels and muscle and bone, Ca²⁺ content decreased significantly (p < 0.05) with time, while plasma Ca²⁺ levels, fecal and urinary Ca²⁺ loss increased significantly (p < 0.05) with time in SHKR and UHKR, compared with their pre-HK values and their respective vivarium controls (SVCR and UVCR). During the initial nine days of post-HK, Ca²⁺ absorption increased significantly (p < 0.05), and plasma, urinary and fecal Ca²⁺ levels decreased significantly (p < 0.05), while muscle and bone Ca²⁺ content and plasma iPTH levels remained significantly (p < 0.05) depressed in SHKR and UHKR compared to their respective vivarium control values; by the 15th day of post-HK period, the measured parameters approached the pre-HK values. During HK and post-HK, Ca²⁺ absorption, iPTH levels and Ca²⁺ levels in muscle, bone, plasma, urine and feces changed significantly (p < 0.05) more with time in SHKR than UHKR. Significantly greater Ca²⁺ loss with significantly lower tissue Ca²⁺ content in SHKR than UHKR showed that Ca²⁺ deposition was decreased more with than without Ca²⁺ supplementation. It was concluded that dissociation between decreased tissue Ca²⁺ content and increased Ca²⁺ losses showed decreased Ca²⁺ deposition as the main mechanism for tissue Ca²⁺ depletion during HK.Correspondence to:
Dr. V.A. Deogenov
European Foundation of Environmental Sciences, Odos Kerasundos 2, GR-162 32 Athens, Greece
Email: vdeogenov@in.gr

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Volume 25, No. 1/2008(1st Quarter)