by Xiao Gang. / Thesis (M.Sc.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1998. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 91-99). / Abstract also in Chinese. / ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS --- p.i / SUMMARY --- p.1 / Chapter 1 --- LITERATURE REVIEW / Chapter 1.1 --- MAGNESIUM --- p.3 / Chapter 1.1.1 --- GENERAL FUNCTION OF MAGNESIUM --- p.3 / Chapter 1.1.2 --- ABSORPTION AND METABOLISM OF MAGNESIUM --- p.6 / Chapter 1.1.3 --- CLINICAL ASPECTS --- p.8 / Chapter 1.1.4 --- METHODS OF DETERMINATION OF MAGNESIUM --- p.11 / Chapter 1.2 --- ZINC --- p.13 / Chapter 1.2.1 --- GENERAL FUNCTION OF ZINC --- p.13 / Chapter 1.2.2 --- ABSORPTION AND METABOLISM OF ZINC --- p.14 / Chapter 1.2.3 --- CLINICAL ASPECTS --- p.16 / Chapter 1.2.4 --- ASSESSMENT OF THE BODY ZINC STATUS --- p.19 / Chapter 1.2.5 --- METHODS OF DETERMINATION OF ZINC --- p.20 / Chapter 1.3 --- COPPER --- p.21 / Chapter 1.3.1 --- GENERAL FUNCTION OF COPPER --- p.21 / Chapter 1.3.2 --- ABSORPTION AND METABOLISM OF COPPER --- p.21 / Chapter 1.3.3 --- CLINICAL ASPECT --- p.25 / Chapter 1.3.4 --- LABORATORY ASSESSMENT OF COPPER STATUS --- p.28 / Chapter 1.3.5 --- METHODS FOR THE DETERMINATION OF COPPER --- p.29 / Chapter 1.4 --- SELENIUM --- p.31 / Chapter 1.4.1 --- GENERAL FUNCTION OF SELENIUM --- p.31 / Chapter 1.4.2 --- ABSORPTION AND METABOLISM OF SELENIUM --- p.31 / Chapter 1.4.3 --- CLINICAL ASPECTS --- p.34 / Chapter 1.4.4 --- ASSESSMENT --- p.36 / Chapter 1.4.5 --- METHODS OF DETERMINATION OF SELENIUM --- p.37 / Chapter 1.5 --- INTRODUCTION TO ATOMIC ABSORPTION SPECTROPHOTOMETRY --- p.38 / Chapter 1.5.1 --- PRINCIPLE OF AAS --- p.38 / Chapter 1.5.2 --- INSTRUMENTATION --- p.39 / Chapter 2 --- INTRODUCTION --- p.43 / Chapter 2.1 --- TRACE ELEMENT DEFICIENCY IN HOSPITAL PATIENT --- p.43 / Chapter 2.2 --- MICRONUTRIENT DEFICIENCY AMONG PATIENTS WITH ACUTE MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION --- p.44 / Chapter 2.2.1 --- MAGNESIUM DEFICIENCY --- p.44 / Chapter 2.2.2 --- CHANGE OF ZINC AND COPPER IN AMI --- p.47 / Chapter 2.2.3 --- SELENIUM DEFICIENCY --- p.50 / Chapter 2.3 --- OBJECTIVES OF THIS PROJECT --- p.52 / Chapter 3 --- MATERIALS AND METHODS / Chapter 3.1 --- PATIENTS SELECTION --- p.53 / Chapter 3.1.1 --- CONTROL GROUP --- p.53 / Chapter 3.1.2 --- AMI GROUP --- p.53 / Chapter 3.1.3 --- DIGOXIN TREATMENT GROUP --- p.54 / Chapter 3.2 --- ANALYTIC METHODS --- p.55 / Chapter 3.2.1 --- DETERMINATION OF SERUM Magnesium --- p.55 / Chapter 3.2.2 --- DETERMINATION OF SERUM ZINC --- p.57 / Chapter 3.2.3 --- DETERMINATION OF SERUM COPPER --- p.60 / Chapter 3.2.4 --- DETERMINATION OF SERUM SELENIUM --- p.63 / Chapter 4 --- RESULTS --- p.68 / Chapter 4.1 --- RESULTS OF EVALUATION OF ANALYTICAL --- p.68 / Chapter 4.1.1 --- RESULTS OF METHODS EVALUATION OF SERUM ZINC ASSAY --- p.68 / Chapter 4.1.2 --- RESULTS OF METHODS EVALUATION OF SERUM COPPER ASSAY --- p.71 / Chapter 4.1.3 --- RESULTS OF METHODS EVALUATION OF SERUM SELENIUM ASSAY --- p.73 / Chapter 4.2 --- RESULTS OF PATIENTS STUDY --- p.76 / Chapter 4.2.1 --- CONTROL GROUP --- p.76 / Chapter 4.2.2 --- PATIENTS WITH ACUTE MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION I DEMOGRAPHIC DATA --- p.77 / Chapter 4.2.3 --- DIGOXIN GROUP --- p.83 / Chapter 5 --- DISCUSSION --- p.85 / Chapter 5.1 --- AMI PATIENTS AND TRACE ELEMENT STATUS --- p.85 / Chapter 5.2 --- MAGNESIUM AND ZINC STATUS IN PATIENTS RECEIVING DIGOXIN TREATMENT --- p.88 / REFERENCE --- p.91 / LIST OF TABLES --- p.99 / LIST OF TABLES --- p.102 / TABLES & FIGURES