In the 17th century the notion of nutrition and diet changed in northern European countries. First chemical experiments fostered the idea that salts resulted from a union of acids and bases. Digestion was no more regarded as a process of cooking but a succession of fermentations controlled by a balanced production of acids and alkali. Life seemed to depend on the equilibrium of acids and alkali...

OBJECTIVE The present study was undertaken to study the frequency of electrolyte imbalance in children with diarrhoea and the relationship between electrolyte abnormalities and mortality. MATERIALS AND METHODS This is a retrospective, observational hospital based study. Fifty seven children admitted to paediatric ward with diarrhoea and dehydration was evaluated for electrolyte and acid base ...

Background: Potassium (K + ) is the major intracellular cation, with 98% of the total pool being located in the cells at a concentration of 140–150 mmol/l, and only 2% in the extracellular fluid, where it ranges between 3.5 and 5 mmol/l. A fine regulation of the intracellular-extracellular gradient is crucial for life, as it is the main determinant of membrane voltage; in fact, acute changes of...

Sir,—I read Dr Paymaster's letter (1978) with interest as I have encountered similar difficulties with the Cape Waine, Mark III Anaesthetic Machine. Here again there is a "push-pull" switch situated on the front panel of the machine for the delivery of emergency oxygen. This button has been left pushed to the "on" position after use and this has not been noticed by another anaesthetist using th...

Humans generally consume a diet that generates metabolic acids leading to a reduction in the concentration of systemic bicarbonate and a fall in pH. In vitro experiments indicate that this metabolic acidosis causes a release of calcium from bone that initially is simply due to physicochemical dissolution of the mineral. On a more chronic basis metabolic acidosis alters bone cell function; there...

We searched for novel Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cell mutants defective in peroxisome biogenesis by an improved method using peroxisome targeting sequence (PTS) of Pex3p (amino acid residues 1–40)-fused enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP). From mutagenized TKaEG3(1–40) cells, the wild-type CHO-K1 stably expressing rat Pex2p and of rat Pex3p(1–40)-EGFP, numerous cell colonies resistant to...

In domestic animals, acid-base balance may be influenced by nutrition. The major research effort in this area has been made on the prevention of hypocalcemic postparturient paresis in dairy cows. This disorder is caused by the sudden increase of calcium secretion into the colostrum. The manipulation of the dietary cation-anion difference makes it possible to maintain the cows in metabolic acido...

Background: Intravenous fluids (IVF) are frequently utilized to restore intravascular volume in patients with distributive and hypovolemic shock. Although the benefits of the appropriate use of fluids in intensive care units (ICUs) and hospitals are well described, there is growing knowledge regarding the potential risks of volume overload and its impact on organ failure and mortality. To avoid...

1 Metabolic acidosis is a wellrecognized component of chronic renal failure (CRF). Metabolic acidosis in renal failure results primarily from the limited ability of failing kidneys to excrete hydrogen ions and regenerate bicarbonate. Normal acid-base balance is maintained by a combination of tubular reabsorption of filtered bicarbonate and excretion of hydrogen ions with ammonia and urinary buf...