Search

This article describes silver specimens of the size of tenths to a few millimetres, found in small pegmatites and quartz veinlets of the porphyritic granitoid area in 22 sites in the eastern part of the Variscan granitoid Karkonosze pluton, from 20 of which native silver occurrences were previously not known. The sites are scattered on the whole surface of the granitoid. The native silver occurred in wire, rod, platy, dendritic, anhedral granular and euhedral cubic and octahedral habits; in some specimens twins and fenster faces were also found. Associated with native silver small amounts of acanthite crystallized commonly, sometimes apparently formed by sulphur diffusion into silver. Inclusions of native gold, electrum, galena, chalcopyrite and pyrite occurred in the native silver. The parent fluids of the specimens were epithermal, because the homogenization temperature (Th) of inclusions in quartz, calcite and cleavelandite that were the host minerals of the native silver was generally 91-165°C and for individual samples the Th range was 4-11°C. The total salinity of the fluid was 2.4-7.2 wt. % with Na and Ca (hydro)carbonates as the main dissolved components and admixtures of K, Mg, Fe, Al, S, Cl and F. The parent granitoid contains Ag in trace amounts (0.034-0.056 ppm) and was probably the source of this element for the crystals of native silver. Migration of Ag was made easier by the presence of fluoride ions in fluids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Mortality from myocardial infarction (MI) is determined by patients' ability to prevent it and, in case of its occurrence, to recognise its symptoms and call an ambulance immediately. There is scarce data on rural populations' knowledge of MI, even though they are disadvantaged in access to medical emergency services. Objective: The aim of the study was to investigate the rural patients' awareness of MI risk factors, symptoms, necessity of calling an ambulance in response to MI symptoms, and its determinants. Materials and Methods: An anonymous and voluntary survey was conducted among 194 patients and their caregivers with median age 68 years at a rural non-public healthcare facility in Poland. Results: 60.3% perceive their knowledge of MI as insufficient. Only 26.3% were able to recognise all suggested MI risk factors. 44.8% did not know whether they are at risk of MI. Furthermore, 78% of respondents who had at least three MI risk factors were unaware of being at risk. 45.4% recognised at least three out of four suggested MI symptoms. 76.2% would call an ambulance in response to chest pain suggesting they have MI. Merely 80% were able to provide the emergency phone number. Moreover, among respondents who declared they would not call an ambulance, 38.7% were afraid of in-hospital COVID-19 infection or healthcare system collapse. Conclusions: Rural patients' knowledge of MI risk factors, symptoms, and proper response to them is insufficient. The problem is exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. To improve survival in MI an education campaign is needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Premature coronary artery disease is one of the most pressing global issues in modern cardiology. The aim of the study was to investigate the role of family history of premature cardiovascular disease (CVD) in patients aged < 50 years with myocardial infarction (MI) compared to that in patients aged ≥50 years with MI and to that in young people without MI (no-MI < 50)., Methods: The studied group (MI < 50) consisted of 240 patients aged 26-49 years with MI. The control groups consisted of 240 patients (MI ≥ 50) with MI aged 50-92 years and 240 healthy people aged 30-49 years without a history of MI (no-MI < 50)., Results: There were statistically significant differences between the MI < 50 and MI ≥ 50 and no-MI < 50 groups regarding the family history of premature MI/ischaemic stroke and the percentage of patients with ≥2 relatives affected (10.8, 2.9, and 3.7%, respectively; p < 0.0001). There was a statistically significant difference in the patient age at the first MI occurrence among patients without a family history of premature CVD, those with 1 affected relative, and those with ≥2 affected first-degree relatives (56.6, 48.6 and 41.8 years, respectively) as well as those with affected first- and second-degree relatives (56.5, 50.7 and 47.0 years, respectively)., Conclusions: A younger age of patients with myocardial infarction is associated with a higher number of relatives with a history of premature MI/ischaemic stroke. Thus, the family history of premature atherosclerosis involving not only first- but also second-degree relatives seems to be a valuable factor in CVD risk evaluation in young people.