Search Results (541)

Regional background concentrations of 10 priority potential pollutants (Hg, Cd, Zn, Pb, Cu, Cr, Co, Ni, Fe, and Mn) were established for the first time in the water and bottom sediments of 18 lakes in the Central Baraba Lowland. Comparison of natural and technogenic limnosystems using three normalization standards (regional background concentrations (RBC), upper continental crust (UCC), and Post-Archean Australian shale (PAAS)) showed that the choice of reference fundamentally influences enrichment/depletion interpretations. Concentration coefficients for Mg, Si, Sr, Pb, and Mn are standard-independent (“stable”), whereas those for Cd, Sb, Cr, Cu, and Hg are standard-dependent (“unstable”) and require explicit specification of the reference. Despite similar bulk sediment geochemistry, spheroidal and irregular Si–Fe slag particles found in technogenic limnosystems provide direct mineralogical evidence of aerotechnogenic input. Alkaline, bicarbonate-sodium waters act as an effective geochemical barrier, sequestering elements in the solid phase and supporting self-purification. Sapropels meet Class I of State Standard GOST R 54000-2010 for all elements except Zn (Class II), confirming their resource potential under proper quality control. Future work should expand the list of analytics and include all components (water, sediments, biota, and catchment soils) to build a comprehensive model of limnosystem functioning under anthropogenic load. Full article

Background: Bicarbonate mineral waters have been reported to modulate biliary dynamics. Prior symptom-based data with Aqua 3 suggested digestive benefits, but objective confirmation is still lacking. Aims: We sought to evaluate the effect of Aqua 3 on gallbladder motility in fasting healthy adults, compared with an oligomineral water. Methods: In this randomized, crossover study, twenty healthy volunteers underwent two ultrasound sessions after an overnight fast and the ingestion of 500 mL of either Aqua 3 (bicarbonate-rich mineral water) or oligomineral water. Gallbladder volume was measured at baseline and after 10, 20, 30, and 60 min. Primary endpoint was the maximum observed ejection fraction. Results: Bicarbonate-rich mineral water induced a rapid increase in ejection fraction: peaking at 10 min, persisting at 20 min and attenuating by 30 min. At 60 min, gallbladder refilling exceeded baseline. Oligomineral water produced only modest early emptying at 10 min, no significant change at 20 min, and progressive refilling thereafter. Throughout the observation period, ejection fraction was significantly higher after bicarbonate than oligomineral water. Maximum observed ejection fraction was significantly greater with bicarbonate than oligomineral water, occurring most frequently at 10 min for both waters. Conclusions: Because the study compared Aqua 3 with one selected oligomineral water and the two waters differed in several chemical–physical characteristics, including bicarbonate, free CO₂, calcium, magnesium, and sodium, the observed response cannot be attributed exclusively to the bicarbonate content and should be interpreted as an effect of Aqua 3. This rapid and sustained effect is potentially useful in the clinical setting to improve early phases of postprandial digestion and providing a mechanistic rationale for the previously reported digestive benefits of bicarbonate-rich mineral water. These results describe an acute physiological effect and require confirmation in larger studies, including postprandial settings and clinical populations, before therapeutic implications can be drawn. Full article

To investigate how sodium bicarbonate concentrations (0, 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50 mM) modulate the turbidity and molecular interactions of pork myosin, the pH, turbidity, particle size, active and total thiol content, surface hydrophobicity, rheology properties, and chemical forces were analyzed. Results revealed that increasing sodium bicarbonate concentration from 0 to 50 mM significantly elevated (p < 0.05) pH, surface hydrophobicity, apparent viscosity, active thiol content, and storage modulus (G′), while significantly reducing (p < 0.05) turbidity, mean particle size, gel whiteness, and ionic bonding strength. The alkalinization-induced pH reduced protein turbidity and enhanced molecular unfolding, thereby exposing hydrophobic regions and reactive thiol groups; this promoted hydrophobic interactions and facilitated disulfide bond formation during heat-induced gelation. Consequently, higher sodium bicarbonate levels (40 and 50 mM) markedly strengthened intermolecular forces and improved the rheological performance of the resulting myosin gels. Full article

Background: Caffeine and sodium bicarbonate can individually enhance exercise performance, but whether their combined use provides additional benefits and how it affects physiological responses and gastrointestinal (GI) tolerability remain unclear. Objective: This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the effects of combined caffeine and sodium bicarbonate (CAF + SB) supplementation on exercise performance, physiological responses, and GI tolerability, and to determine whether it provides additional benefits compared with placebo or either supplement alone. Methods: PubMed, Web of Science, and SPORTDiscus were systematically searched from inception to 18 July 2026. Continuous outcomes were pooled using random-effects models and expressed as mean differences (MDs) or ratios of means (RoMs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs), as appropriate. Within-participant correlations in crossover trials were accounted for, and robustness was examined using leave-one-out analyses and alternative correlation coefficients. Rating of perceived exertion (RPE) and GI symptoms were synthesized narratively. Results: Thirteen crossover trials were included. Compared with placebo, CAF + SB supplementation increased mean power (MD = 8.43 W, 95% CI = 1.85 to 15.00, p = 0.012) and reduced time-trial completion time (RoM = 0.984, 95% CI = 0.970 to 0.998, p = 0.022), corresponding to an estimated reduction of 1.6%. However, both findings were sensitive to the exclusion of individual studies in leave-one-out analyses, indicating limited robustness. CAF + SB did not significantly improve mean power compared with caffeine or sodium bicarbonate alone. Compared with placebo, CAF + SB increased blood HCO₃⁻ and post-exercise lactate concentrations, although the HCO₃⁻ evidence was limited by heterogeneity or few studies. Narrative findings showed no consistent effect on RPE or GI tolerability. Conclusions: CAF + SB supplementation may produce modest improvements in selected exercise-performance outcomes compared with placebo, but these findings are not robust because their statistical significance depends on individual studies. Current evidence does not establish an additional performance benefit over caffeine or sodium bicarbonate alone. The observed physiological responses do not, by themselves, demonstrate superior performance, and the gastrointestinal tolerability of CAF + SB remains uncertain. Full article

Growing interest in waste valorization and sustainable cleaning products motivated the development and characterization of an eco-friendly powder detergent based on soap derived from waste cooking oil and enriched with juniper essential oil. Waste sunflower oil was pretreated and, together with coconut oil, subjected to cold saponification; the resulting soap base was incorporated at 30% into a detergent formulated with sodium carbonate, sodium bicarbonate, sodium percarbonate and natural zeolite. The raw materials—waste sunflower oil, coconut oil, clinoptilolite and juniper essential oil—were characterized using physicochemical analyses: DSC for coconut oil and Raman spectroscopy for oils, XRF for zeolite, and physicochemical analysis and GC-FID for the essential oil. The soap exhibited pH 9.93, 14.8% moisture, 24 cm foam capacity, and a 3.0 g/min dissolution rate, versus pH 9.33, 10.5% moisture, 12 cm foam capacity, and 1.0 g/min dissolution rate for the detergent. In vitro antibacterial activity was assessed against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus by agar well diffusion. At 500 mg/mL, inhibition zones reached 8.53 and 17.00 mm for the soap and 7.47 and 15.03 mm for the detergent. Two-way ANOVA confirmed significant effects of sample type and concentration (p < 0.001), with the strain being the dominant source of variation (η²_p = 0.983); both products reached 71.0–87.7% of a commercial reference and were more effective against S. aureus. Antibacterial activity decreased significantly with decreasing concentration (p < 0.001 for all pairwise comparisons), while both formulations showed greater efficacy against S. aureus than against E. coli. The results demonstrate the potential for valorizing waste cooking oil into functional cleaning products and highlight the possibility of contribution of juniper essential oil to the antimicrobial performance of the formulations, supporting the development of sustainable and environmentally compatible detergent products within a circular economy approach. Full article

Purslane (Portulaca oleracea L.) is a nutritious leafy vegetable rich in phenolic compounds, vitamins, minerals, and dietary fiber. However, pesticide residues remaining after cultivation may pose risks to human health, making effective post-harvest decontamination treatments necessary. This study investigated the effects of different washing treatments 5% sodium bicarbonate (SB), 5% acetic acid (AA), 5% citric acid (CA), a mixture containing 2.5% acetic acid and 2.5% citric acid (AA-CA), tap water washing (TW), and ultrasound-assisted washing for 5, 10, and 15 min (US-5′, US-10′, and US-15′, respectively) on pesticide residue reduction and quality characteristics of purslane. This study used an artificial surface contamination model with a 4 h holding period before washing. Residue analyses of acetamiprid, cypermethrin, imidacloprid, and propargite were performed by LC-MS/MS and GC-MS/MS using the QuEChERS extraction method. The antioxidant capacity and total phenolic content of the SB sample were significantly lower than those of the other treatments. Color analysis showed significantly higher ΔE* values in the SB sample. Acidic treatments generally resulted in higher TA% and lower pH and chlorophyll contents than the other treatments. Depending on the pesticide and washing treatment, residue reduction efficiencies ranged from 6.33% to 72.22%. Ultrasound-assisted washing (UAW) provided a favorable balance between residue reduction and preservation of several quality attributes, including total phenolic content (TPC), antioxidant capacity, total flavonoid content (TFC), color, and chlorophyll contents in purslane. These results indicate that ultrasound-assisted washing, particularly the 5 min treatment, provided a favorable balance between pesticide residue reduction and preservation of several quality attributes; however, longer ultrasound exposure was associated with deterioration of some quality characteristics, particularly firmness and weight loss. Full article

Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) are crucial for determining effective interventions but are costly, time-consuming, and complex. Electronic health records (EHRs) offer the potential to enhance research using clinical data, reducing costs and improving efficiency. We evaluated the accuracy of EHR-derived phenotypes for endpoint identification versus RCT-outcome ascertainment in the PRESERVE trial (NCT01467466), comparing sodium bicarbonate vs. sodium chloride and oral acetylcysteine vs. placebo in preventing serious adverse outcomes and contrast-associated acute kidney injury (CIAKI) after angiography. PRESERVE outcomes were compared with EHR data from the Veterans Affairs Corporate Data Warehouse. Real-world data (RWD) phenotypes captured serious adverse events within 90 days post-angiography, including death, dialysis need, and persistent kidney decline. Sensitivity, specificity, and percent agreement were calculated using trial outcomes as the gold standard. Among 4,196 PRESERVE patients, 95% had outcomes assessed. RWD outcomes showed mixed accuracy: 100% sensitivity/specificity for death; high sensitivity for primary composite events (71.2%), dialysis (75.0%), and hospitalization (78.1%); and low sensitivity for CIAKI (45.8%) and persistent kidney decline (40.5%). Substituting RWD outcomes into primary analysis produced conclusions matching the RCT conclusions. EHR phenotypes can substitute for traditional outcome collection, given adequate planning and validation. Despite variable accuracy, RWD outcomes yielded similar conclusions to RCTs, supporting their use for trial efficiency and reducing costs. Full article

In the present study, the potential applications of Cu thin films and Ag/Cu bilayer thin films obtained by the pulsed laser deposition (PLD) technique are investigated in terms of the physicochemical effects resulting from their interaction with an aqueous solution containing Reactive Blue 21 (RB21) dye and sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO₃). The thin-film deposition process was carried out using a Q-switched Nd:YAG laser system operating at a wavelength of λ = 532 nm, with a pulse duration of τ = 10 ns, a repetition rate of ν = 10 Hz, a pulse energy of E = 180 mJ, a laser spot diameter of d = 336 μm, and an angle of incidence of α = 45°. Two types of thin films were prepared: a Cu thin film and an Ag/Cu bilayer thin film. The thermal effects induced by the interaction of the laser beam with the target materials were investigated by numerical simulations performed in COMSOL, allowing the evaluation of melt-phase formation for each material separately and providing a better understanding of the morphology and topography of the deposited thin films. The simulation results were validated through scanning electron microscopy (SEM) observations and surface roughness analyses. The two thin films were subsequently treated with an aqueous solution containing 10 g/L RB21 dye and 10 g/L NaHCO₃. Physicochemical analyses performed after treatment, including scanning electron microscopy (SEM), optical microscopy (OM), profilometry, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) and UV–Vis spectroscopy, revealed significant degradation of the RB21 dye accompanied by corrosion of the thin films, with the corrosion process being more pronounced in the case of the Cu thin film. The obtained results indicate that the method analyzed in this study may represent an alternative approach for the decomposition of recalcitrant organic dyes using thin Cu films, without relying on conventional photocatalytic processes. Equally important are the potential applications of the RB21/NaHCO₃ solution as an etching and patterning medium for thin Cu layers, while the Ag overlayer may provide a protective effect during such processes. These findings may contribute to the development of novel fabrication techniques for optoelectronic components, including solar cells, photovoltaic windows, and other industrial and laboratory applications. Full article

Background: Caffeine and sodium bicarbonate (SB) are widely used ergogenic supplements that influence exercise performance through distinct physiological mechanisms and may differentially modulate exercise-related metabolic responses. Whether their co-ingestion provides benefits beyond either supplement alone remains uncertain. This study evaluated the incremental effects of caffeine and SB co-ingestion within trials specifically designed to investigate the combined supplementation strategy. Methods: A systematic review and Bayesian arm-based multilevel network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials published up to May 2026 was conducted. Eligible studies investigated acute caffeine–SB co-supplementation and, where available, included caffeine-only and SB-only arms, with placebo as the common reference. Exercise performance was the primary outcome; blood lactate, blood pH, blood bicarbonate, and rating of perceived exertion were secondary outcomes. Effects were estimated using Hedges’ g, Bayesian credible intervals, and SUCRA rankings. Results: Thirteen studies involving 181 participants met the eligibility criteria. Within this co-supplementation trial network, caffeine (g = 0.21), SB (g = 0.21), and co-ingestion (g = 0.28) produced small but credible improvements in exercise performance relative to placebo. However, comparisons among active conditions provided no clear evidence that co-ingestion was superior to either supplement alone. SB increased blood pH (g = 0.95) and blood lactate (g = 1.13), whereas caffeine reduced blood bicarbonate (g = −0.89). Co-ingestion elicited the largest increase in blood lactate (g = 1.75), but this response was not accompanied by a proportionally greater improvement in performance. Exploratory analyses suggested possible variation in supplementation responses according to training status. Conclusions: Within trials designed to evaluate caffeine–SB co-supplementation, the caffeine-only, SB-only, and combined conditions showed small improvements in exercise performance relative to placebo. However, co-ingestion elicited more pronounced metabolic responses without a clear performance advantage over either component alone, and the mechanisms underlying this divergence remain uncertain. Full article

Intracranial hypertension is a major modifiable pathway of secondary brain injury after acute neurological insults. Osmotherapy is an early cornerstone of tiered intracranial pressure management. Hypertonic saline and mannitol reliably reduce intracranial pressure through osmotic reduction in brain water, with additional haemodynamic and rheological effects. However, neither agent has shown consistent improvement in survival or long-term neurological recovery. Current practice is therefore guided by physiological rather than patient-centred outcomes. This review summarises the physiological basis, clinical evidence, and practical limitations of conventional osmotherapy, and explores investigational chloride-free osmotherapies including sodium lactate, sodium bicarbonate, sodium ascorbate, and sodium acetate. Chloride-free therapies aim to preserve sodium-driven osmotic efficacy while reducing chloride exposure or targeting metabolic and oxidative pathways implicated in secondary brain injury. At present, evidence is limited to small physiological trials, retrospective cohort studies, and mechanistic human studies. Future progress requires large collaborative trials that combine pragmatic treatment comparisons with multimodal neuromonitoring, biochemical safety endpoints and patient-centred outcomes. Full article

Exercise physiology in Colombian Creole Horses remains poorly characterized despite the breed’s extensive use in athletic activities. The objective of this study was to evaluate exercise-induced changes in blood biochemical and gas parameters and to determine whether these responses differed according to sex, geographic origin, or gait modality. An analytical observational study with repeated measures was conducted in 76 athletic CCHs. Blood samples were obtained from the jugular vein at rest and immediately after exercise to measure acid–base indicators (pH, carbon dioxide pressure, bicarbonate), electrolytes (sodium, potassium, calcium, chloride), and metabolic variables (glucose, lactate, creatinine). Within-subject comparisons were performed to quantify exercise-induced changes, and subgroup analyses were conducted by sex, geographic region, and gait modality. Exercise resulted in physiologically consistent responses, including a mild reduction in pH (−0.01), decreases in carbon dioxide pressure (−2.39 mmHg) and bicarbonate (−1.7 mmol/L), and a moderate increase in lactate (+2.96 mmol/L), indicating exercise-associated metabolic acidosis and anaerobic metabolism. Glucose and creatinine also increased modestly, while electrolyte concentrations remained relatively stable. No meaningful differences were detected between sexes or geographic regions. As expected, gait modality significantly influenced acid–base responses, with horses performing trocha exhibiting greater reductions in carbon dioxide pressure and bicarbonate. These findings indicate that gait type modulates the magnitude of exercise-induced acid–base responses in Colombian Creole Horses. Full article

Background: Accurate assessment of extubation readiness in mechanically ventilated children remains difficult because successful sustained breathing depends on the interaction of respiratory, metabolic, inflammatory, neurological, and cardiovascular factors. This study developed and internally validated machine-learning models for predicting 48 h extubation success using routinely available pre-extubation data. Methods: Of 1097 total PICU admissions, 341 mechanically ventilated children treated between 2021 and 2026 constituted the final analytic cohort. The primary outcome was survival without reintubation during the first 48 h after planned extubation. Demographic, clinical, laboratory, blood gas, illness severity, and ventilator variables were evaluated. Logistic Regression, Random Forest, Gradient Boosting, and Support Vector Machine models were assessed using stratified 5-fold cross-validation. Unsupervised k-means clustering was performed to identify physiological phenotypes. Results: Extubation was successful in 298 children (87.4%) and failed in 43 (12.6%). Failure was associated with higher oxygenation index, lactate, procalcitonin, C-reactive protein, PaCO₂, pSOFA, PEEP, and rapid shallow breathing index, together with lower arterial pH, bicarbonate, ionized calcium, hemoglobin, albumin, sodium, and Glasgow Coma Scale scores. Random Forest yielded the numerically highest discrimination, with an AUC of 0.983 (95% CI, 0.971–0.993), a sensitivity of 0.980, a specificity of 0.814, an accuracy of 0.959, and a Brier score of 0.032. Arterial pH, the oxygenation index, bicarbonate, ionized calcium, procalcitonin, lactate, and PaCO₂ showed the highest Random Forest Gini importance scores. Clustering identified a low-severity phenotype (n = 302; 97% success; 0% mortality) and a high-severity phenotype (n = 39; 10% success; 100% mortality). Conclusions: Multidimensional machine-learning models predicted 48 h pediatric extubation success with strong internal discrimination. Prospective multicenter external validation is required before clinical implementation. Full article

Pastures rich in water-soluble carbohydrates (WSCs) can decrease milk fat concentration in dairy ruminants, associated with rumen pH reduction. To prevent milk fat reduction, sodium bicarbonate was supplemented as a rumen buffer to sheep fed indoors on tetraploid annual ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam. ssp. westervoldicum) herbage rich in WSCs (28% DM). Ten lactating Sarda ewes were assigned to the control group (CNT) or the sodium bicarbonate group (BIC; 25 g/day per ewe before ryegrass feeding). All ewes were housed indoors, machine-milked at 16:30 and 07:30, fed freshly cut ryegrass ad libitum (12:30 to 07:30 of subsequent day), and fed concentrates during milkings. Individual grass, measured with automatic feeders, and concentrate intake were recorded. Total dry matter intake (DMI) (p = 0.03), ryegrass DMI (p = 0.03), milk fat concentration in afternoon (p < 0.01) and morning (p = 0.03) milkings, and afternoon milk fat yield (p = 0.03) were higher in BIC than CNT. Milk yield was unaffected. In conclusion, sodium bicarbonate supplementation can increase milk fat concentration in ewes fed high-WSC herbage, with rapid effect on the rumen. WSC concentration should be considered when formulating rations for pasture-fed dairy sheep and, more generally, dairy ruminants. Full article

Panax notoginseng stems and leaves are abundant agricultural residues generated during root harvest, rich in flavonoids yet remain largely underutilized as a valuable phytochemical source. This study optimized a green steaming-sodium bicarbonate aqueous extraction process via orthogonal design. Optimal conditions (steaming 1 h, 1.0% food-grade NaHCO₃, boiling extraction 2 h, 1:20 g/mL) achieved a solid yield of 13.50 ± 0.41%, significantly higher than conventional water extraction (7.98 ± 0.41%, p < 0.05), demonstrating enhanced recovery of bioactive compounds. The extract exhibited 91.95 ± 0.08% xanthine oxidase inhibition (IC₅₀ = 5.0 mg/mL) with reversible mixed-type inhibition (K_i = 4.99 mg/mL). UHPLC-MS/MS identified 3392 metabolites, predominantly flavonoids, alkaloids, and organic acids with potential XO inhibitory activity. Network pharmacology and molecular docking revealed multi-target interactions involving ADRA2A, ADA, GAA, PNP, and PTGS2 enriched in purine metabolism and AGE-RAGE signaling pathways, with quercetin 3-Gentiobioside exhibiting the strongest binding affinity and favorable ligand-target interactions (ΔG = −12.91 kcal/mol). This eco-friendly strategy employs only pure water and food-grade additives, efficiently concentrating xanthine oxidase inhibitors and offering a clean-label, sustainable approach for high-value utilization of P. notoginseng agricultural residues. These findings provide a pharmacological basis for developing functional foods targeting hyperuricemia and associated metabolic disorders. Full article

Severe metabolic acidosis is a frequent finding in the intensive care unit (ICU) and a critical marker of clinical severity and organ dysfunction, closely linked to acute kidney injury (AKI) due to shared physiological mechanisms and the loss of the kidney’s ability to maintain acid-base homeostasis. Therefore, it represents the biochemical expression of heterogeneous pathophysiological mechanisms related to acid-base balance. These include tissue hypoperfusion, sepsis, mitochondrial dysfunction, accumulation of unmeasured anions, bicarbonate loss, and reduced renal excretion of the acid load. Its presence is associated with increased mortality, greater vasopressor and mechanical ventilation requirements, prolonged ICU stay, and a higher likelihood of renal replacement therapy (RRT). However, pH correction alone does not guarantee clinical improvement. Therefore, contemporary management prioritizes the etiology, severity of the acidemia, and hemodynamic status. In this context, sodium bicarbonate plays a limited and selective role, particularly in severe acidemia with advanced AKI or hyperkalemia, or as temporary supportive therapy while the underlying cause is corrected or extracorporeal support is arranged. Similarly, RRT should be reserved for refractory cases and should not be initiated based solely on isolated pH thresholds. This review analyzes the definition, epidemiology, clinical implications, pathophysiology, and therapeutic strategies for severe metabolic acidosis in critically ill patients, with emphasis on its interaction with AKI, the rational use of bicarbonate, and the timing of RRT initiation. Full article