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.

Synthesis and Characterization of Polymeric Membranes for Dialysis Application

Membrane is a thin, delicate, flat sheet which acts as a barrier for selective transport of species under the impact of some driving force. Membrane technology has gained important place in industrial and medicinal field because of its easy utility, efficient performance and low cast. Hemodialysis is an extensively used medical therapy for renal failure and dialysis membranes are essential components of a hemodialysis. The essential properties of a dialysis membrane are high mass transfer of toxic solutes (urea and uric acid) to reduce the dialysis time, maximum protein rejection ability and moderate water flux. Protein adsorption or deposition on the surface or in its pores results in reduction in flux, change of selectivity of the membrane and the low toxin elimination. Polymeric membrane fabricated from cellulose, regenerated cellulose and synthetic polymers are well known for dialysis. Asymmetric Cellulose Acetate (CA) membranes were prepared through phase inversion method and they were modified by blending various organic and inorganic additives. The effects of these additives on membrane’s morphology were investigated using Atomic Force Microscopy, Scanning Electron Microscopy, Fourier Transform Infra-Red Spectroscopy and Contact Angle. Fabricated membrane’s performance was studied in terms of pure water flux, porosity, water uptake, BSA rejection and urea clearance tests. Biocompatibility and blood mimic tests were conducted to find the interaction of synthesized membrane towards cell culture and blood comparable fluids. In first part, CA was blended with poly-ethylene glycol (PEG). The membranes were modified by blending CA/PEG casting solution with glycol. The modified membrane showed good selectivity for urea but was not suitable for dialysis operation. Hence, the composition was reformed using Hydroxyapatite particles (inorganic additive). The results showed enhanced BSA rejection and urea clearance but the obtained percentages were low to be utilized in dialysis. The biocompatibility outcomes of CA/PEG/HA membrane make it appropriate for other biomedical applications. In the second part, CA was blended with organic additives including sericine, Poly vinylpyrolidone (PVP) and polyethylene imine (PEI) to improve BSA rejection and Urea clearance of polymeric membrane. These membranes possess moderate pure water flux and hydrophilicity. Performance evaluation investigations confirmed that all these membranes had good pure water flux and BSA rejection above 90%. Membranes fabricated using blend of CA and PEI have highest urea clearance of 67.2%. So, this membrane was selected for further adjustment. During the last part, effect of solvent on CA/PEI dialysis membrane was investigated. Various solvents including acetic acid, formic acid, N, N-Dimethylacetamide (DMAC) and 1-Methyl-2-pyrolidone (NMP) were tested. The performance efficiency of synthesized membranes verified to, when CA was blended with formic acid (F.A) have desired dialysis characteristics. It possesses moderate hydrophilicity, desired pure water flux value, optimum water uptake, above 98% BSA rejection and urea clearance percentage of 69%. The biocompatibility tests were conducted for CA/PEI/FA membrane using MTT (3-(4,5- dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide )assay. It was found that the materials selected for this membrane fabrication were most suitable for dialysis application. Highest cell viability and cellular attachment found in biocompatibility analysis was higher in comparison with commercial dialysis tubing and non-treated control standard. CA/PEI/F.A membrane was further inspected via blood mimic solution to find the performance of membrane commensurate with blood type feed. The up short of the present work is that CA/PEI/F.A membrane is the best possible solution for dialysis. Providing new insight in the dialysis domain; this membrane is not only cost effective but also has high BSA rejection and Urea clearance. Accordingly, biocompatibility and blood mimic results prove it to be the finest device/implant for hemodialyser unit.