Magnesium deficiency in heart failure patients with diabetes mellitus

OBJECTIVE

To assess the serum magnesium level in heart failure patients with diabetes mellitus.

METHODS

A case-control study was conducted at Basic Medical Sciences Institute (BMSI), Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC), Karachi, in collaboration with National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases (NICVD), Karachi, from April 2003 to December 2003. The study included 45 diagnosed cases of heart failure with diabetes mellitus, between the age group 35-65 years. Serum magnesium and glucose levels were estimated and compared by using the student "t" test and p value (<0.01, <0.05, <0.001) were used to analyze the statistical significance.

RESULTS

Out of 45 cases of heart failure, 15 were diabetic. Of these, eleven (73.3%) had low serum magnesium (<1.8 mg/dl), one (6.7%) was within normal range (1.8-2.0 mg/dl) and three (20%) were in the high level range(>2.0 mg/dl).

CONCLUSION

The study showed low serum magnesium level in heart failure patients with diabetes mellitus.

Role of L-carnitine in male infertility

OBJECTIVE

To test the hypothesis that the free L-camitine helps in maintaining normal fertility.

METHODS

The present descriptive study was designed to show comparison of seminal free L-carnitine and sperm quality. Case controlled convenient sampling was used to assess infertile male subjects from fertile. A total of 61 adult males were selected by consent, and were categorized as fertile and infertile on the basis of history and semen analysis. Subjects were selected from Infertility Clinic, Reproductive Health Services Centre of Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre, Karachi. Subject's with history of pelvic surgery, or suffering from diabetes mellitus, thyroid diseases or using steroids, antihypertensives and antipsychotics drugs were excluded from the study. Groups were compared using student's t-test and p < 0.05 was considered as statistically significant.

RESULTS

The mean values of sperm count, total motility and normal morphology of asthenospermic and oligoasthenoteratospermic were found significantly (p < 0.05) lower when compared with fertile (control). When levels of seminal free L-carnitine were compared among groups, the result showed that infertile subjects had significantly lower (P < 0.001) when compared to fertile subjects with lowest concentration in azoospermic group.

CONCLUSION

The results of this study suggested that L-carnitine level in seminal plasma plays an essentialrole in maintaining male fertility. However larger studies on Pakistani population with this approach are warranted.

Serum and CSF immunoglobulins G, A and M in 37 intracranial tumors

OBJECTIVE

To estimate different proteins and immunoglobulins as humoral immune response in patients with intracranial tumours.

METHODS

Cellulose acetate membrane electrophoresis for estimation of different proteins and radialimmunodiffusion (RID) for measurement of serum and CSF immunoglobulins were used.

RESULTS

Thirty seven patients with different types of tumours showed increase in serum alpha II globulin, significant decrease of IgG, in patients when compared with controls, significant decrease of IgG in malignant tumours compared with benign tumours. CSF albumin, gamma globulin, immunoglobulins G,A,and M were increased.

CONCLUSION

Alpha II globulin, steroid therapy and active neoplasia may be responsible for decreased serum immunoglobulins, while raised gamma globulin and immunoglobulins with intact BBB indicates capability of CNS to produce immunoglobulins.

Serum lipoprotein (a) in offspring of patients with premature myocardial infarction

OBJECTIVES

To compare serum Lp(a), lipids: TC, TG and lipoproteins: HDL-C and LDL-C levels of offspring with history of paternal myocardial infarction with the serum levels in offspring without paternal history of myocardial infarction.

SETTING

Basic Medical Sciences Institute, Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre, Karachi.

METHODS

Thirty offspring between the ages of 8-25 years with the history of paternal myocardial infarction were randomly selected from population and were matched with offspring having no history of parental myocardial infarction.

RESULTS

Offspring of fathers who had a myocardial infarction tended to have a significantly raised level of Lp(a) (p < 0.001) compared with those without parental history. None of the other lipoprotein variables we examined exhibited a significant difference between the two groups of subjects.

CONCLUSION

The offspring of fathers with early myocardial infarction have higher mean values of Lp(a) than control subjects suggesting that this lipid variable may strongly predispose to CAD.