Electrolytes, sugar, calories, osmolarity and pH of beverages and coconut water.

Oral rehydration has been recommended in patients with diarrhoea to replace fluid loss from the gastrointestinal tract and reduce the need for intravenous therapy. Beverages (i.e. Cola, Sprite etc.) and coconut water may be used as sources of oral fluid when glucose-electrolyte solution is not available. To evaluate the usefulness and effectiveness of these soft drinks, the basic data such as electrolytes, sugar, calories, osmolarity and pH were determined. The electrolytes of the beverages were significantly lower (p less than 0.001) than the coconut water, especially potassium. The osmolarity of the beverages, which were 693 mOsm/l, was significantly higher (p less than 0.001) than the coconut water (288 mOsm/l); pH of the beverages (3.1) was more acidic (p less than 0.001) than the coconut water (5.4). While the sugar content of the beverages, which were 8.7 gm/dl, was significantly higher (p less than 0.001) than the coconut water (1.1 gm/dl). On comparison, all brands of beverages would give more calories than the coconut water however the coconut water would be absorbed more easily than any brand of soft drink beverage.

Diagnostic significance of pH, lactic acid dehydrogenase, lactate and glucose in pleural fluid.

The pH, lactic acid dehydrogenase, lactate and glucose of pleural fluid simultaneous with serum lactic acid dehydrogenase, blood lactate and glucose were determined in 105 pediatric patients. The patients were classified into groups according to the diagnosis. The pleural fluid of empyema cases was found to have the lowest pH with a mean value of 6.83 (p less than 0.0075). The malignant pleural fluid has a relatively low pH with a mean value of 7.32. The lactic acid dehydrogenase in pleural fluid of empyema cases has the highest mean of 1,470.68 (p less than 0.05). The lactic acid dehydrogenase was found increased in malignancy, tuberculosis and parapneumonic effusion cases. Lactate level was found extremely high in empyema cases with a mean value of 13.68. It was also found extremely high in malignancy, tuberculosis and parapneumonic effusion cases. The glucose level was markedly decreased in empyema cases. There exists correlation of pleural fluid lactate to pH, lactic acid dehydrogenase and glucose, as well as that of pH to lactic acid dehydrogenase.