Biodegradable and hemocompatible alginate/okra hydrogel films with promising stability and biological attributes.

Currently, combinations of natural polymers and semi-synthetic biomolecules have gained attention for food-packaging, drug delivery, coatings, and biomedical applications. In this work, cross-linking property of two biopolymers was employed for the fabrication of hydrogel films. Sodium alginate (SAlg) and Okra gel (OkG) were used in different ratios (95:05, 75:25 and 85:15) to synthesize hydrogel films by solvent-casting method. Formation of the films was confirmed by FTIR and Raman techniques which specified the interaction between biomolecules of SAlg and OkG. XRD pattern has shown the presence of both amorphous and micro-crystalline phases in the hydrogel films and SEM studies have shown porosity, amorphousness and agglomerated morphology. TGA and DSC analyses revealed degradation of the film at 420 °C and stability studies using PBS buffer indicated stability and hydrophilic nature of hydrogel films. In-vitro degradation test was also performed for 10 weeks through the incubation of hydrogel-films in simulated body fluid and the effect of pH and temperature was also studied. Results have shown worth-some influence of okra gel on the fabricated films. Hemolytic and antioxidant activities of the gels were also determined and being non-toxic, all these ratios were found suitable for biomedical applications; especially 85:15 have shown maximum potential.

Cardiovascular risk factors and their management in 1282 adult people with type 1 diabetes.

OBJECTIVE: The mortality rate in people with type 1 diabetes (T1D) is over three-times that of their counterparts without diabetes. The underlying reason for this in the developed world is cardiovascular disease (CVD). Strict control of CVD risk factors, for which guidelines now exist, reduces morbidity and mortality. The objective of this study was to determine if these guidelines are being achieved. RESEARCH DESIGN: Data were collected on 1282 adults with T1D from hospitals in the city of Birmingham, UK. Guidelines were those recommended by Joint British Societies: blood pressure (BP) 130/80 mmHg, total cholesterol (TC) 4 mmol/L, non-smoking status, HbA(1c) 6.5% and body mass index (BMI) 25 kg/m(2). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The mean age was 46 years and duration of diabetes 21 years. Data on CVD risk factors were poorly documented, with a minimally defined dataset of TC, smoking history and HbA(1c) being completely recorded in only 72% of people. CVD risk factor targets were also poorly achieved with only 0.7% of patients achieving all minimal dataset targets. HbA(1c) and TC targets were those most poorly achieved. CONCLUSIONS: This is the largest study of CVD risk factors in the UK and the only one to audit the standard of care provided against recent guidelines published by the joint societies. The results show that CVD risk factors are poorly recorded and sub-optimally managed in adults with T1D. Far more aggressive management is essential if mortality rates for T1D in the UK are to be reduced.