gistfile1.php

<?php
/**
 * Implementation of hook_translated_menu_link_alter()
 */
function MODULENAME_menu_translated_menu_link_alter(&$item, $map) {
  $num_unapproved = db_result(db_query("SELECT count(*) FROM {node} WHERE status = '0' AND type = 'NODETYPE'"));
  if ($num_unapproved > 0 && $item['mlid'] == '2101') {
    $item['localized_options']['attributes']['class'] = 'attention';
  }
}