Frequency of behavioural features among insomniac patients

Background: Insomnia may affect daytime quality of life and have different behavioral symptoms among patients

Objective: To determine the frequency of behavioral and demographic features among insomniac patients

Patients and Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted on patients from southern Punjab, who were insomniac and taking medications from Psychiatric Ward, Nishtar Hospital Multan, from 1[st] January 2010 to 31[st] January, 2011. Data was collected from 417 insomniac patients. A questionnaire was administered targeting insomnia criteria. Confidentiality of information taken was ensured. The data was entered and analyzed by SPSS version 15

Results: A total of 417 patients participated in the study. The age range was 10-80 years, with 52% females, 272 insomniac patients out of 417 [65.2%] were anorexic. 225 [54%] cases were the eldest, among insomnia patients, following were the youngest who were 116 [28%] and the least were in between the eldest and the youngest who were 75 [18%]. 284 [68%] patients complained about the uncontrolled level of anger with destructive behavior

Conclusion: Anorexia, uncontrolled anger, restlessness was found in insomnia. Females, illiterate and elder members of family were more insomniac

Prevalence of hypomagnesaemia in patients with acute myocardial infarction compared with normal subjects

Background: Magnesium, the second most abundant intracellular cation has several clinically important roles in the human ++ body. In addition to energy production and maintenance of electrolyte balance, Magnesium [Mg] is essential for normal ++ neuromuscular functions, excitation contraction coupling, maintenance of vascular tone, blood coagulation, as well as Ca and +++ K transport across the plasma membrane. Mg has also important role to play in cardiovascular homeostasis

Objectives: To ++ find out serum Mg levels in Acute Myocardial Infarction [AMI] patients at presentation to emergency departments and its comparison with normal subjects

Patients and Methods: This was a comparative study, conducted at Punjab Institute of Cardiology, Lahore from June to December 2000. A total of 125 subjects were enrolled for this study, with 88 patients having their first episode of AMI. These patients were divided into three groups A, B and C depending on age. 37 normal subjects were taken as comparative group

Results: There was hypomagnesemia [p< 0.001] in all the sub groups. Our results show that hypomagnesemia is present in all groups and as it is an important risk factor for post AMI complications. The corrective dose should not be empirical but be based on individual patient requirements, as mortality rate due to AMI and its complications is high

Conclusion: Hypomagnesemia was observed in all the sub groups A, B and C. Therefore, it is suggested that serum Magnesium ++ should be estimated in each case of AMI patient and emphasis given to Mg supplementation when needed

Significance of serum magnesium and electrolyte levels in acute myocardial infarction in first six hours

In this study, serum magnesium and Na+ and K+ levels were studied in 88 patients of acute myocardial infarction [AMI] having their first episode and 37 healthy controlled subjects. All the AMI patients met the criteria of JSCC [2000]. They were carefully selected by strict inclusion and exclusion criteria. Patients of AMI were divided into three groups on the basis of their age. Methods:- All the patients were selected from the Emergency Department of Punjab Institute of Cardiology, Lahore. Prior to the starting of specific therapy streptokinase, a detailed history and general physical examination was performed and after meeting the AMI criteria for diagnosis consent proforma was filled, blood samples were collected in each case at the time of admission in the Emergency Ward. At the time of admission, serum magnesium levels were highly significantly lower [P < 0.001] as compared with the control group. Serum potassium levels were non significant [P > 0.05] in patients of AMI under the age of 60 years. While above the age of 60 years the serum potassium levels were significantly lower in the patients of AMI [P<0.05]. Conclusion: - It was concluded from this study that there was statistically significant hypomagnesemia [P<0.001] in the patients of AMI at the time of admission. It was also noted that there was significant hypokalemia in AMI patients [P<0.05] over the age of 60 years

Inheritence of abnormal erythrocyte sodium counter transport in children of parents with essential hypertension

To assess the rate of sodium-counter transport in healthy offsprings of parents suffering from essential hypertension comparing to those with normotensive parents. And see if this marker could be used as a diagnostic marker in essential hypertension. The study was conducted on 15 offspring of normotensive parents [G1], 15 offspring with one hypertensive parent [G2] and 15 offspring of both essential hypertensive parents [G3]. All groups were between 10-20 years of age and with equal gender distribution. All cases were labeled normotensive after taking detailed history, complete physical examination and laboratory investigations. Lithium efflux and maximum rate [Vmax] of lithium- sodium counter transport [a mode of Na- Na counter transport] was measured in red blood cells. There was a highly significant [p<0.001] increase in lithium efflux at two and four hours and non-significant increase at zero hours, in subjects with family history of essential hypertension as compared to that in normotensive offsprings born of normotensive parents. Increase in Vmax of lithium-sodium counter transport of normotensive offsprings with both essential hypertensive parents was highly significant [P<0.001] than that of normotensive offspring with one hypertensive parent and with both normotensive parents. Lithium efflux and Vmax of sodium counter transport is raised in subjects with family history of essential hypertension as compared to those without family history of hypertension And therefore it can be used as a marker for the diagnosis of hypertension

Cystatin C as a new marker of decreased creatinine clearance: a review of the literature

Serum creatinine is ubiquitously used as an indicator for GFR despite the knowledge that the usefulness of serum creatinine as a marker for GFR is limited by, inter alia, the influence of an individual's muscle mass on the production rate of creatinine, by the tubular secretion and reabsorption of creatinine, by the dietary intake of creatine and creatinine, and by analytical difficulties. Several recent studies have compared the use of serum cystatin C and creatinine as markers for GFR as determined by 'golden standard' procedures. In patients with reduced renal function, the plasma level of cystatin C increases reciprocally with the reduction of GFR, suggesting that cystatin C is formed at a constant rate and removed largely by glomerular filtration. Several studies in patients with manifest or subclinical reductions in GFR due to type-2 diabetes mellitus, essential hypertension, non diabetic nephropathies, renal transplant patients and coronary artery disease patients have shown a better correlation of cystatin C and GFR than creatinine and GFR