RESUMO
Background: The correlation between plasma C-reactive protein (CRP) and aggression in schizophrenia has recently become an area of interest. As an acute phase reactant, neuro-immuno-modulatory and neurohumoral functions of CRP might have a role in understanding causation of aggression in disease and this may have implications in therapeutic intervention. Aims: To assess aggression and plasma CRP in patients with schizophrenia and to compare aggression in patients with normal and elevated CRP. Methods and Material: A hospital-based cross-sectional study was carried out over a period of one year (2019-2020). Patients of schizophrenia as per International Classification of Diseases 10 were selected. Modified Overt Aggression Scale was applied, and plasma CRP levels were estimated in the selected patients. Statistical Analysis: Mean aggression scores were compared in patients with normal and elevated CRP. And aggression scores were correlated with plasma CRP levels. Results: Mean aggression score (22.93 ± 2.80) was significantly (P < .001) higher in patients with elevated CRP. There is a positive correlation (r = 0.855, P < .001) between aggression and plasma CRP. Conclusion: Patients with elevated CRP were more aggressive compared to the patients with normal CRP.
RESUMO
BACKGROUND: The therapeutic approaches for the management of topical infections have always been a difficult approach due to lack of efficacy of conventional topical formulations, high frequency of topical applications and non-patient compliance. The major challenge in the management of topical infections lies in antibiotic resistance which leads to severe complications and hospitalizations resulting in economic burden and high mortality rates. METHODS: Topical delivery employing lipid-based carriers has been a promising strategy to overcome the challenges of poor skin permeation and retention along with large doses which need to be administered systemically. The use of lipid-based delivery systems is a promising strategy for the effective topical delivery of antibiotics and overcoming drug-resistant strains in the skin. The major systems include transfersomes, niosomes, ethosomes, solid lipid nanoparticles, nanostructured lipid carriers, microemulsion and nanoemulsion as the most promising drug delivery approaches to treat infectious disorders. The main advantages of these systems include lipid bilayer structure which mimics the cell membrane and can fuse with infectious microbes. The numerous advantages associated with nanocarriers like enhanced efficacy, improvement in bioavailability, controlled drug release and ability to target the desired infectious pathogen have made these carriers successful. CONCLUSION: Despite the number of strides taken in the field of topical drug delivery in infectious diseases, it still requires extensive research efforts to have a better perspective of the factors that influence drug permeation along with the mechanism of action with regard to skin penetration and deposition. The final objective of the therapy is to provide a safe and effective therapeutic approach for the management of infectious diseases affecting topical sites leading to enhanced therapeutic efficacy and patient-compliance.