The effect of composition of poly(acrylic acid)-gelatin hydrogel on gentamicin sulphate release: in vitro

Hydrogels based on poly(acrylic acid) and gelatin crosslinked with N,N'-methylene bisacrylamide (0.5mol%) and glutaraldehyde (4%), respectively, forming an interpenetrating network were employed as matrices, for studying the loading and release of gentamicin sulphate. The release kinetics of gentamicin sulphate was evaluated in water (pH approximately 5.8), phosphate buffer (pH 7.4) and citrate buffer (pH 4) at 37+/-0.1 degrees C. The drug release in phosphate buffer was faster as compared to water or citrate buffer. Fitting the data of release studies in Peppas model indicated that the release of drug from full IPNs in phosphate buffer (pH 7.4), water (pH approximately 5.8) and citrate buffer (pH 4) were diffusion controlled. However, semi-IPNs showed both anomalous and Fickian diffusion mechanisms. With increasing gelatin percentage in the polymer, rate of drug release was faster and almost 85% of the loaded drug was released within 7 days in phosphate buffer (pH 7.4).     

Plasma lipoperoxides: a preliminary reference range

We measured lipoperoxides, as malonaldehyde (MDA) by thiobarbituric acid reaction in serum from 80 male and 120 female volunteers to establish reliable reference values and to compare possible sex- and age- related differences. In the present study women had higher MDA concentration in serum than do men (p<0.05) and older subjects had higher values (p<0.05). These age related results support the suggestions that lipid peroxidation increases with increasing age.     

Synthesis and biological activities of 2,6-diaryl-3-methyl-4-piperidone derivatives

In the present study, a new series of 2,6-diaryl-3-methyl-4-piperidones was synthesized by Mannich reaction (condensation) of ethyl-methyl ketone, substituted aromatic aldehydes and ammonium acetate. Oximes and thiosemicarbazone derivatives of 2,6-diaryl-3-methyl-4-piperidones were synthesized by reaction with hydroxylamine hydrochloride and thiosemicarbazide respectively. The chemical structures were confirmed by means of IR, 1H-, 13C-NMR and mass spectral data. The compounds were screened for acute toxicity, analgesic, local anaesthetic and antifungal activity. 2-(4-Methylphenyl)-3-methyl-6-(4-chlorophenyl)-piperidin-4-one 2 exhibited the highest analgesic and local anaesthetic activity. The oximes and thiosemicarbazones were completely devoid of analgesic and local anaesthetic activity. 2-(4-Methylphenyl)-3-methyl-6-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-piperidin-4-oxime 21 and 2-(4-methoxyphenyl)-3-methyl-6-(4-chlorophenyl)-piperidin-4-oxime 17 exhibited potent antifungal activity against Aspergillus niger. Antifungal activity against Candida albicans was observed only with 2-(4-dimethylaminophenyl)-3-methyl-6-(4-chlorophenyl)-piperidin-4-oxime 20. 2,6-Diaryl-3-methyl-4-piperidones did not exhibit antifungal property.     

Kinematics of the human knee using an open chain cadaver model

There continues to be controversy about the kinematics of the human knee. This study used seven knees from cadavers moved by pulling on the quadriceps tendon in an open chain fashion using video motion analysis to determine the instantaneous helical axis of movement. Computed tomography scans of the specimens allowed the axes to be related to condyles. The parameter beta was defined by the relationship of the helical axis to the center of the condyle (pure spinning motion) and the contact point of the condyle on the tibia (pure rolling motion). Axes above the center of the condyle represent countertranslation, those between the center and the contact point combined spinning and rolling, and those below represent concordant translation. If the motion of the knee is guided by the crossed four-bar link then this model, that allows the knee to 'seek its own path' throughout the range of motion, should show the rollback that commonly is thought to be an important feature of knee motion. The results of this study show that the medial side of the knee stays stable in spinning kinematics whereas the lateral side has a rolling motion in full flexion progressing to a spinning motion in midflexion and counter-translation near full extension. The kinematics that would be expected from rollback were not observed.     

Primary Rhabdoid Tumor of the Gallbladder: Report of a Case

A 46-year-old man was operated on for cholelithiasis with chronic cholecystitis. On gross inspection of the resected gallbladder, a slight thickening in the body wall, in an area measuring about 1 × 0.5 cm, was noted. On light microscopic and immunohistochemical examinations, the lesion was diagnosed to be a rhabdoid tumor. After a thorough review of the literature we failed to find any reference to such a lesion in the gallbladder. This is the first known case report of a rhabdoid tumor of the gallbladder. Received: August 6, 2001 / Accepted: January 8, 2002 RID="*" ID="*" Reprint requests to: R. Gondal     

Longitudinal study of symptoms and cognitive function in chronic schizophrenia

There is conflicting evidence of a relationship between changes in symptoms and cognitive functioning in schizophrenia. This study investigated longitudinal changes in psychopathology and cognitive functioning in chronic schizophrenia utilising three different dimensional models of symptomatology. Sixty-two patients diagnosed with DSM-IV schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder were examined on two occasions over a period of 6 months for symptom improvement, measured by Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) [Kay et al., Schizophr. Bull. 13 (1987) 261]. Participants also completed a comprehensive battery of neuropsychological tasks designed to assess attention, verbal and non-verbal memory, psychomotor processing and executive/frontal functioning on both occasions. Twenty-five control subjects were assessed for comparison purposes. Severity of negative symptoms predicted poor neuropsychological performance on IQ, verbal fluency and memory measures at occasion one. However, using regression analyses, significant improvements in symptom ratings over time using two-, three- or five-dimensional models did not predict improvements in any aspect of cognitive functioning measured, except motor speed. The results do not suggest a causal relationship between the course of symptoms and neuropsychological functioning in chronic schizophrenia.     

Neonatal parotitis

Neonatal parotitis is a rare condition. Infection of the parotid glad is more common than that of the submandibular glad. Dehydration is the most important predisposing factor for this. Most common organism responsible for this condition is Staphylococcus aureus. Untreated condition can lead to various complications.     

A comprehensive view of sex-specific issues related to cardiovascular disease

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of mortality in women. In fact, CVD is responsible for a third of all deaths of women worldwide and half of all deaths of women over 50 years of age in developing countries. The prevalence of CVD risk factor precursors is increasing in children. Retrospective analyses suggest that there are some clinically relevant differences between women and men in terms of prevalence, presentation, management and outcomes of the disease, but little is known about why CVD affects women and men differently. For instance, women with diabetes have a significantly higher CVD mortality rate than men with diabetes. Similarly, women with atrial fibrillation are at greater risk of stroke than men with atrial fibrillation. Historically, women have been underrepresented in clinical trials. The lack of good trial evidence concerning sex-specific outcomes has led to assumptions about CVD treatment in women, which in turn may have resulted in inadequate diagnoses and suboptimal management, greatly affecting outcomes. This knowledge gap may also explain why cardiovascular health in women is not improving as fast as that of men. Over the last decades, mortality rates in men have steadily declined, while those in women remained stable. It is also becoming increasingly evident that gender differences in cultural, behavioural, psychosocial and socioeconomic status are responsible, to various degrees, for the observed differences between women and men. However, the interaction between sex-and gender-related factors and CVD outcomes in women remains largely unknown.