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Background and Objectives: Deep seawater has been shown to restore pancreatic function in obese diabetic mice and considerably improve the homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance, total cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol concentrations in patients with impaired fasting glucose or glucose tolerance. In this study, the effect of 12-week daily consumption of magnesium (Mg2+)-containing deep seawater mineral extracts on blood glucose concentration and insulin metabolism-associated indicators was investigated in patients with impaired glucose tolerance. Materials and methods: In this 12-week randomized, double-blind trial, patients (n = 37) with impaired glucose tolerance consumed deep seawater mineral extracts. Changes in blood glucose concentration and related indicators were compared between the treatment group and placebo group (n = 38). Results: The fasting insulin, C-peptide, homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance, quantitative insulin sensitivity check index, homeostatic model assessment of beta-cell function, and Stumvoll insulin sensitivity index values in the deep seawater mineral extract group showed improvements compared with the placebo group. However, no significant differences between groups were observed in fasting blood glucose, postprandial blood glucose, glycated hemoglobin, or incremental area under the curve values. Conclusions: Oral supplementation with deep seawater mineral extracts enriched in Mg2+ markedly improves insulin sensitivity in patients with pre-diabetes. This study illustrates the potential clinical application of natural Mg2+ from deep seawater to alleviate insulin resistance in patients with pre-diabetes. Trial registration: This trial was retrospectively registered with Clinical Research information Service (CRIS), No. KCT0008695, on 8 August 2023.

This study evaluated the adherence of bacteria, calcium, and magnesium to three different ureteral stents after endoscopic surgery for urinary calculi. We randomly assigned 61 patients requiring the insertion of ureteral stents after urinary calculi treatment into three groups: Percuflex with a coating composition of Hydroplus ( n  = 21); Tria with a coating composition of Percushied ( n  = 22); and InLay Optima, which had a proprietary pHreeCoat coating ( n  = 18). All stents were removed and evaluated 1 month after treatment. The primary outcome was biomineral attachment to the ureteral stent. Calcium and magnesium contents were measured using atomic absorption spectrometry after the stent had been vortexed in a solution of saline and hydrochloric acid at pH 2. Bacteria were measured through flow cytometry of the washing solution collected by decantation after stent fragments had been immersed and vortexed in a saline solution. Median amounts of calcium and magnesium adhered to Percuflex were significantly higher than those adhered to Tria and InLay Optima. The median number of bacteria adhered was also highest in Percuflex compared to that in the other two groups, although without a statistically significant difference. These findings suggest that selecting stents with superior coating materials enhances patient outcomes and reduces stent-related complications.

Purpose This randomised controlled trial assessed the acute and long-term effects of daily supplementation of kanuka honey, formulated with cinnamon, chromium and magnesium on glucose metabolism, weight and lipid parameters in individuals with type 2 diabetes. Methods Twelve individuals with type 2 diabetes received 53.5 g of a formulated honey and a control (non-formulated) kanuka honey in a random order for 40 days, using cross-over design. Fasting glucose, insulin, HbA1c, lipids and anthropometric measures were measured at baseline and end of treatment. A meal tolerance test was performed at baseline to assess acute metabolic response. Results There was no statistically significant difference in acute glucose metabolism between treatment groups, as measured by the Matsuda index and AUC for glucose and insulin. After the 40-day intervention with honey, fasting glucose did not differ significantly between the two treatments (95 % CI −2.6 to 0.07). There was no statistically significant change in HbA1c or fasting insulin. There was a statistically significant reduction in total cholesterol by −0.29 mmol/L (95 % CI −0.57 to −0.23), LDL cholesterol by −0.29 mmol/L (95 % CI −0.57 to −0.23) and weight by −2.2 kg (95 % CI −4.2 to −0.1). There was a trend towards increased HDL and reduced systolic blood pressure in the intervention treatment. Conclusion The addition of cinnamon, chromium and magnesium supplementation to kanuka honey was not associated with a significant improvement in glucose metabolism or glycaemic control in individuals with type 2 diabetes. Use of the formulated honey was associated with a reduction in weight and improvements in lipid parameters, and should be investigated further.

Figs are a rich source of several different minerals and fibres. We studied the effect of the consumption of dried California Mission figs on mineral and nutrient levels, as well as the effect of the addition of figs to a self-selected habitual diet on dietary patterns. A crossover randomized controlled trial study design in which participants with a mean of age of approximately 56 years were randomly assigned to eat either their usual diet for 5 weeks or to add dried California Mission figs (120 g/d) to their usual diet for 5 weeks, after which they crossed over to the other group for an additional 5 weeks. Six 24 h dietary recalls and four blood samples were obtained from each participant. Loma Linda University School of Public Health, USA. A follow-up study using data collected from eighty-eight American males and females from September to December 2008. Diets reported in the 24 h dietary recall during the fig-supplemented diet period were significantly higher in Ca and K in the dietary and total phase (P value<0·05). Nevertheless, data on mineral levels in the body gathered by means of biochemical analyses from blood samples were nearly the same for both the figs-added and the participants' standard diet. The estimated displacement suggests that eating figs resulted in the elimination of 4% of desserts, 5% of vegetables, 10% of dairy products, 23% of grain products and 168% of beverages from other sources that participants would otherwise consume. Based on 24 h dietary recalls, the daily consumption of figs may increase the intake of several different minerals. However, mineral levels in blood samples were not altered significantly.

Chronic exposure to insufficient levels of magnesium (Mg) in drinking water increases the risk of magnesium deficiency and its association with hypertension, dyslipidemia and type 2 diabetes mellitus. The aim of the study was to assess the potential association of mineral contents in drinking water with blood pressure and other components of metabolic syndrome (MetS) (BMI as measure of obesity, triglycerides, glucose, and insulin resistance, index-HOMA IR), in a healthy population. This study was conducted in three randomly selected municipalities (Pozarevac, Grocka and Banovci), and recruited 90 healthy blood donors, aged 20–50 years. The Pozarevac area had a four times higher mean Mg level in drinking water (42 mg L−1) than Grocka (11 mg L−1). Diastolic blood pressure was lowest in subjects from Pozarevac. Serum Mg (sMg) was highest, and serum Ca2+/Mg (sCa/Mg) lowest in subjects from Pozarevac, and after adjustment for confounders (age, gender, BMI), only total cholesterol and sMg levels were independent predictors of diastolic blood pressure, sMg levels were independent predictors of triglycerides, and sCa/Mg predicted glucose levels. These results suggest that Mg supplementation in areas of lower magnesium levels in drinking water may be an important measure in the prevention of hypertension and MetS in general.

The incompleteness of electrolyte utilization during hypokinesia and electrolyte supplementation is the defining factor of electrolyte metabolic changes, yet the effect of electrolyte supplementation and HK upon electrolyte utilization is poorly understood. To determine the influence of magnesium (Mg 2+) supplementation and hypokinesia (diminished movement) on magnesium utilization, we investigated the use of Mg 2+ supplementation to establish its effect upon muscle Mg 2+ content and Mg2 2+ losses. This study was conducted in 40 physically healthy male volunteers during a pre-experimental period of 30 d and an experimental period of 364 d. Subjects were equally divided into four groups: unsupplemented control subjects (UCSs), unsupplemented experimental subjects (UESs), supplemented control subjects (SCSs), and supplemented experimental subjects (SESs). A daily supplementation of 3.0 mmol of magnesium-chloride per kilogram of body weight was given to subjects in the SCS and SES groups. Muscle Mg 2+ content decreased ( P < 0.05) and plasma Mg 2+ concentration and Mg 2+ loss in urine and feces increased ( P < 0.05) in the SES and UES groups compared with their pre-experimental levels and values in their respective control groups (SCS and UCS). Muscle Mg 2+ content decreased more ( P < 0.05) and plasma Mg 2+ concentration and Mg 2+ loss in urine and feces increased more ( P < 0.05) in the SES group than in the UES group.The muscle Mg 2+ content and plasma Mg 2+ level and Mg 2+ losses did not change in the control groups. Daily Mg 2+ supplementation during prolonged hypokinesia decreases more muscle Mg 2+ content and Mg 2+-deficient muscle increases more Mg 2+ loss in healthy subjects indicating lower Mg 2+ utilization with than without Mg 2+ supplementation.

The quality and quantity of groundwater resources are affected by landuse/landcover (LULC) dynamics, particularly the increasing urbanization coupled with high household wastewater discharge and decreasing open lands. This study evaluates temporal changes of groundwater quality for 2012 and 2019, its relation to Landuse/landcover, and its impact on Peshawar's residents (study area), Pakistan. A total of 105 and 112 groundwater samples were collected from tube wells in 2012 and 2019. Samples were then analyzed for seven standard water quality parameters (i.e., pH, electric conductivity (EC), turbidity, chloride, calcium, magnesium, and nitrate). Patient data for waterborne diseases were also collected for the years 2012 and 2019 to relate the impact of groundwater quality on human health. Landsat satellite images were classified for the years 2012 and 2019 to observe landuse/landcover dynamics concerning groundwater quality. Results manifested a decrease in groundwater quality for the year 2019 compared to 2012 and were more highlighted in highly populated areas. The nitrate concentration level was found high in the vicinity of agricultural areas due to the excessive use of nitrogenous fertilizers and pesticides, and thus the methemoglobinemia patients ratio increased by 14% (48–62% for the year 2012 and 2019, respectively). Besides, Urinary Tract Infections, Peptic Ulcer, and Dental Caries diseases increased due to the high calcium and magnesium concentration. The overall results indicate that anthropogenic activities were the main driver of Spatio-temporal variability in groundwater quality of the study area. The study could help district health administration understand groundwater quality trends, make appropriate site-specific policies, and formulate future health regulations.

Sedimentary rocks examined by the Curiosity rover at Yellowknife Bay, Mars, were derived from sources that evolved from an approximately average martian crustal composition to one influenced by alkaline basalts. No evidence of chemical weathering is preserved, indicating arid, possibly cold, paleoclimates and rapid erosion and deposition. The absence of predicted geochemical variations indicates that magnetite and phyllosilicates formed by diagenesis under low-temperature, circumneutral pH, rock-dominated aqueous conditions. Analyses of diagenetic features (including concretions, raised ridges, and fractures) at high spatial resolution indicate that they are composed of iron- and halogen-rich components, magnesium-iron-chlorine-rich components, and hydrated calcium sulfates, respectively. Composition of a cross-cutting dike-like feature is consistent with sedimentary intrusion. The geochemistry of these sedimentary rocks provides further evidence for diverse depositional and diagenetic sedimentary environments during the early history of Mars.

The extent to which climate change causes significant societal disruption remains controversial. An important example is the decline of the Akkadian Empire in northern Mesopotamia ∼4.2 ka, for which the existence of a coincident climate event is still uncertain. Here we present an Iranian stalagmite record spanning 5.2 ka to 3.7 ka, dated with 25 U/Th ages that provide an average age uncertainty of 31 y (1σ). We find two periods of increased Mg/Ca, beginning abruptly at 4.51 and 4.26 ka, and lasting 110 and 290 y, respectively. Each of these periods coincides with slower vertical stalagmite growth and a gradual increase in stable oxygen isotope ratios. The periods of high Mg/Ca are explained by periods of increased dust flux sourced from the Mesopotamia region, and the abrupt onset of this dustiness indicates threshold behavior in response to aridity. This interpretation is consistent with existing marine and terrestrial records from the broad region, which also suggest that the later, longer event beginning at 4.26 ka is of greater regional extent and/or amplitude. The chronological precision and high resolution of our record indicates that there is no significant difference, at decadal level, between the start date of the second, larger dust event and the timing of North Mesopotamia settlement abandonment, and furthermore reveals striking similarity between the total duration of the second dust event and settlement abandonment. The Iranian record demonstrates this region’s threshold behavior in dust production, and its ability to maintain this climate state for multiple centuries naturally.

We have discovered nine presolar silicate grains from the carbonaceous chondrite Acfer 094. Their anomalous oxygen isotopic compositions indicate formation in the atmospheres of evolved stars. Two grains are identified as pyroxene, two as olivine, one as a glass with embedded metal and sulfides (GEMS), and one as an Al-rich silicate. One grain is enriched in26Mg, which is attributed to the radioactive decay of26Al and provides information about mixing processes in the parent star. This discovery opens new means for studying stellar processes and conditions in various solar system environments.