Background
Patients with schizophrenia suffer from diffuse cognitive impairment and high prevalence of cardiovascular metabolic risks, associated with poor clinical outcomes. We aimed in this study to test the presence of cognitive impairment in a sample of patients with schizophrenia, and evaluate its possible relations to patients’ metabolic profile. We recruited forty patients diagnosed with schizophrenia and their matched controls from the inpatient departments and outpatient services from January to December 2016. Schizophrenia diagnosis was confirmed by the ICD10 criteria checklist. Symptoms profile and severity were assessed by the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale. Cognitive profile was assessed through (1) Trail Making Test, Parts A and B and (2) Wechsler Memory Scale-Revised Visual Reproduction Test. Metabolic profile was assessed by measuring the body mass index, fasting blood glucose, and lipid profile. SPSS (V. 22.0, IBM Corp., USA, 2013) was used for data analysis.
Results
The patients group had a significantly higher means in the speed of processing, executive function, attention, and working memory scores on TMT-A (p = 0.0), TMT-B (p = 0.00), and WMS-R (p = 0.029) and significantly higher FBG levels (p = 0.00). Correlation studies showed that the increase in patients’ age, illness duration, treatments, number of hospitalizations, number of episodes and of ECT sessions received, symptoms severity, and deficits in cognitive function scores was associated with higher BMI and FBG.
Conclusions
Patients with schizophrenia have a higher prevalence of cognitive impairment and vascular risk factors than the general population. Close monitoring and early management of these risk factors can promote better cognitive abilities and overall functions.
Bonding agents, as a paramount component in the composite solid rocket propellant, effectively enhance the interactions between polybutadiene matrix and oxidizer. It mainly affects the processing ability, mechanical behavior, and aging. Bonding agent plays the role of an anonymous soldier to defeat stresses produced by loading conditions, changes in the environmental condition, and transportation of composite propellant. The role and the mechanism of aziridine type bonding agents are discussed focusing on a novel MST aziridine bonding agent (Tris-(2-methyl-1-aziridinyl) phosphine oxide (MAPO) plus Stearic acid plus Tartaric acid) (poly (isopropylamine N(2-methyl-1-aziridinyl) phosphine oxide octadecanoic)-co-(isopropylamine tartrate)). Preparation of composite solid propellant samples containing the same weight percentage of different bonding agents is conducted. Mechanical properties and aging behavior for the prepared samples were monitored to extract the impact of bonding agent type. Mechanical properties of the bonding agents were recorded at three different temperatures in order to simulate various environmental conditions. Results of stress-strain responses during uniaxial tensile tests showed that MST bonding agent has the strongest interaction with solid particles reaches a value of 50.4 % strain and 8.052 Kg/cm2 stress at normal conditions. Compared to MT-4 (produced from the reaction of 2 moles MAPO plus 0.7-mole Adipic acid and 0.3-mole Tartaric acid) and MAPO, MST improved the aging behavior.
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