Study of serum and lymphocyte potassium and magnesium levels in acute myocardial infarction with or without tachy arrhythmia

The work showed significant lowering of serum level and significant raising of lymphocytic content of potassium and magnesium [Mg] in patients with acute myocardial infarction [AMI] in comparison with control subjects. The arrhythmic group patients had significant lowering of serum Mg, while the reduction in serum potassium was insignificant in comparison with patients without arrhythmia. The Mg lymphocytic level was significantly lower in the arrhythmic group compared to the non-arrhythmic group. On the other hand the lymphocytic content of potassium was significantly higher in the group with arrhythmia compared to those without arrhythmia. It was also shown that the occurrence of arrhythmia could not necessarily be predicted by serum cation levels. Only the lymphocyte level as previously suggested reflects more accurately the concentration in the cardiac interstitium, thus the lymphocytic cations may be checked immediately following AMI to avoid magnesium deficiency which cannot be revealed by low serum levels and may manifest itself with serious tachyarrhythmia without warning

Study of hemorheological parameters in healthy elderly and those with minor psychic disorders

This study included 20 male individuals aged between 61 and 80 years. Eight of them were suffering from minor psychic disorders in the form of anxiety and depression. The rest [12 subjects] were healthy, except for mild dyspepsia or arthralgia. The work included also 7 young healthy controls. All individuals were subjected to determination of rheological parameters including RBCs deformability index [filterability], hematocrit%, relative blood viscosity and plasma fibrinogen. The results showed that each subgroup of senescents had significant reduction of deformability in comparison with young controls, however the other subgroup with psychic disorders showed more significant reduction of deformability. Although the hematocrit% did not show any significant changes, both blood viscosity and plasma fibrinogen showed significant elevated values. It was concluded that aging per se is able to cause significant rheological changes which might lead to functional disorders as anxiety and depression or to organic impairment including a great deal of thrombotic risk factors, infarctions, and at least impaired issue perfusion. It was suggested that counteraction of altered rheological blood factors, might be helpful in ameliorating many diseases typical of aging and should allow elderly people to remain healthy and active much longer