Multiblock poly(ether-ester-amide)s based on polyamide-6 and poly(ethylene glycol), 2 Effect of composition and soft-segment length on the structure of poly(ether-ester-amide)s as revealed by X-ray scattering

Isotropic unannealed and annealed melt-pressed and quenched samples of segmented multiblock poly(ether-ester-amide)s based on polyamide-6 and poly(ethylene glycol)s (PEGs) of molecular weights 400 and 1000 with various hard/soft segment weight ratios were investigated. The effect of composition, segment length and annealing temperature on the crystal structure was studied by differential scanning calorimetry, wide-angle and small-angle X-ray scattering. In addition to the γ-phase, one of the unannealed samples having relatively long hard and soft segments exhibits a high amount of α-phase. This is assumed to be due to the high flexibility of the PEG segments, linking the polyamide blocks thus enhancing their mobility. The lack of hydrogen bonds between the PEG segments facilitates crystallization of the polyamide segments in the more perfect α-modification, which is the most pronounced in the above mentioned sample. Part of the α-phase transforms into the α-phase upon annealing in all copolymer samples studied, similarly to polyamide-6.     

Increased erythrocyte stearic acid desaturation in rats with chemically induced colorectal carcinomas

Our previous studies have demonstrated a desaturation of stearic acid related to oleic acid in the lipid layer of erythrocytes in patients with malignancies. This study investigated the stearic acid desaturation in red blood cell membranes of rats during the induction of colorectal tumours. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were injected weekly with dimethylhydrazine (DMH) and sacrificed at 4-week intervals. Blood was withdrawn via heart puncture, collected in EDTA bottle and erythrocytes separated by centrifugation. Total lipid extraction was carried out and analysed with gas liquid chromatography. In the control rats (injected with normal saline) the mean of the stearic to oleic acid ratio in erythrocyte membranes was 2.0±0.3 (n=28, range 1.51–2.62) compared to a mean of 0.94±0.16 (n=0.5–1.23) in tumour bearing rats (p< 0.001). The increased desaturation occurred in parallel with appearance of tumours. These data suggest the regulation of stearic acid desaturation is an important adaptive mechanism of membrane fluidity and could be a useful chemical marker for malignancy.     

Psychiatric morbidity in stroke patients attending a neurology clinic in Nigeria

Back ground

Stroke produces a wide range of mental and emotional disorders. Neuropsychiatric complications associated with stroke may have negative effects on the social functioning, overall quality of life and the recovery of motor functioning of stroke survivors.

Objective

To determine the prevalence and nature of psychiatric morbidity among stroke patients attending neurology outpatient clinic of the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH), Ilorin-Nigeria.

Methods

All patients with stroke aged 18 years and above at an outpatient neurology clinic in Ilorin, Nigeria were assessed for mental and emotional disorders using the Schedule for Clinical Assessment in Neuropsychiatry (SCAN) over one year (March 2009 to February 2010).

Results

Overall prevalence of psychiatric morbidity was 36.0% (30/83) among 83 patients who constituted the study population. Specific diagnoses recorded were depression (19.2%), generalised anxiety disorder (9.6%), harmful alcohol use (2.4%); dementia, somatoform disorder, phobia and delusional disorder each had a prevalence of 1.2%. Clinical and sociodemographic variables were not significantly associated with psychiatric morbidity.

Conclusion

Psychiatric disorders are often associated with stroke. Identifying and treating stroke patients with these psychiatric co-morbidities could thus help to improve the overall quality of life of these patients.     

Alpha 2 interferon in the prevention of N-nitroso-methyl urea induced breast cancer in rats

Human interferons have been shown to be effective treatment for hairy cell leukaemia and are now commercially available. Their role in treatment of solid tumours has yet to be established. This study assessed the value of alpha 2 interferon (IFN) in an experimental breast cancer model. Four groups of female Sprague-Dawley rats were studied. The first received three intravenous injections (7 mg/kg) of N-nitroso-methyl urea (NMU) at weeks 0, 3 and 7. The second received the same NMU dosage regime plus IFN (100,000 IU, twice weekly for 3 weeks). A third received IFN alone and the fourth was a control group receiving three intravenous injections of normal saline. At week 16, 19 of 20 rats in the NMU alone group had developed tumours significantly more than four of 15 rats with tumour in the NMU plus IFN group (P less than 0.001). Both the mean tumour number/rat and the mean tumour weight/rat was significantly more in the NMU group than the NMU plus IFN group P less than 0.05). No rats in the IFN alone or control group developed tumour. These data suggest that IFN prevents carcinogen induced breast cancer in rats. It may have a role in the prevention and treatment of human breast cancer.