Advancing Age as a Risk Factor for Acute Myocardial Infarction

Background: Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is one of the leading causes of death in developed and developing countries. Age is an important non-modifiable risk factor for acute myocardial infarction. Objectives: The objective of the study was to explore the relationship of advancing age with the risk of acute myocardial infarction. Methods: It was a cross-sectional study conducted in 2019 after getting approval from Institutional Review board of University of Health Sciences, Lahore. Written informed consent and thorough history was taken from the study participants. Group 1 included 45 AMI patients aged 20-60 years. Group 2 included 45 healthy individuals aged 20-60 years. Independent sample t test and chi-square tests were applied for analysis of data. Results: Mean age was significantly higher in AMI patients (50.52±7.31) as compared to healthy controls (30.67±7.20). The risk of AMI increases with advancing age (p<0.001, OR= 2.78). Conclusions: Advancing age is an important risk factor for acute myocardial infarction.

New Great Game in Central Asia: Convergence and Divergence Among Russia, China and Usa

Central Asia and Afghanistan has been the hub of international power politics among the big powers. The ―Great Game‖ there came to an end with the disintegration of Soviet Union - creating power vacuum in the region. The big powers rushed to occupy the space so that it may not be occupied by rivals. In this way a competition started among them for different competing interests known as new ―Great Game‖. Geographic and strategic location, energy resources, market and raw material in the region have been driving forces behind the renovated interests of the big powers and their convergence and divergence in the region‘s geopolitics.Through the application of Neo-realist approach, this research has analyzed the significance of the region and competition and cooperation among Russia, China and USA. It has analyzed how big powers interests have converged and diverged in CARs and Afghanistan‘s Geo-politics and the logic behind it. The main factors of divergence among the three are related to energy and its transportation routes, market,raw materials, land route between eastern and eastern world, strategic location and its role in bringing changes in the international system and US penetration into CARs and Afghanistan militarily.It has been concluded by stating that what strategies the big powers are applying for attainment, keeping and enhancement of power. The energy resources of the region are considered the means for achieving these exalted interests. It has also been concluded by stating that though the big powers behave aggressively and self-interestedly with each other but they may have a minimum degree of cooperation to deal with shared concerns such as terrorism, separatism, poverty, smuggling, illiteracy and drug and human trafficking. It has been predicted that hot war among them does not seem possible because their interests are mostly connected with the hydrocarbon resources of the region, its infrastructure, market and raw material. In case of war the infrastructure of the energy resources and market would be destroyed and the region would face destabilization. Furthermore, all the big powers are atomic acting as a deterrent among them. Presently, the region is dominated economically by China and politically by Russia and US is struggling to mitigate the influence of Russia and china in the region. Changing geopolitical scenario of the region and shifts in the loyalties and interests of the CARs and Afghanistan may change it. The CARs to materialize its interests are using strategies such as multi-vector approach, balancing and counterbalancing, playing big powers against each other.