Objective: To describe screen-detected fasting and post-load glucose abnormalities and the body mass index (BMI) profile among adolescents and young adults evaluated in Hyderabad, and to examine age- and sex-related patterns. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 300 participants aged 17–28 years assessed between December 2016 and June 2019 at Bhaskar General Hospital and selected engineering colleges in Hyderabad. Fasting blood glucose (FBG), 2-h glucose after a recorded 75-g oral glucose load, height, weight, and BMI were evaluated. FBG ≥100 mg/dL, 2-h glucose ≥140 mg/dL, and BMI ≥23 kg/m² were treated as screening thresholds. Group differences were examined using Chi-square tests and one-way analysis of variance. Results: Among 300 participants, 174 (58.0%) were female. FBG was <100 mg/dL in 209 (69.7%), 100–125 mg/dL in 82 (27.3%), and ≥126 mg/dL in 9 (3.0%); 91 participants had FBG ≥100 mg/dL (30.3%, 95% confidence interval [CI] 25.4–35.8%). Post-load glucose was ≥140 mg/dL in 26 (8.7%, 95% CI 6.0–12.4%). BMI was ≥23 kg/m² in 77 (25.7%, 95% CI 21.1–30.9%). Mean FBG and post-load glucose differed across age groups (p=0.028 and p=0.002, respectively). Post-load abnormality also varied by age (Chi-square=6.73, p=0.035). Conclusion: Screen-detected glucose abnormalities and elevated BMI were relatively common among the young participants. Higher glucose values were mainly observed in the older age group, while no meaningful difference was seen between males and females. The findings point to the value of early metabolic screening in adolescents and young adults.
Schizophrenia is a chronic psychiatric disorder characterized by disturbances in cognition, perception, emotion, and behavior that significantly impair functional outcomes and quality of life. Over centuries, the understanding and treatment of schizophrenia have evolved remarkably, progressing from mystical and supernatural interpretations to evidence-based pharmacological interventions. This review aims to comprehensively summarize the historical evolution of schizophrenia pharmacotherapy, examine the mechanisms and clinical utility of antipsychotic medications, and discuss current therapeutic challenges together with emerging treatment strategies. A comprehensive narrative review was conducted using literature retrieved from PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Google Scholar, and ScienceDirect. Peer-reviewed articles published from January 1950 to December 2025 were considered, while historically significant publications before 1950 were included where appropriate. Literature addressing the historical development of schizophrenia, pharmacological interventions, neurobiological mechanisms, clinical management, treatment-resistant schizophrenia, precision psychiatry, and emerging therapeutic approaches was critically evaluated and synthesized. Historical treatment approaches evolved from spiritual and humoral theories to biological models following the establishment of modern psychiatry. The discovery of chlorpromazine revolutionized schizophrenia management and established dopamine receptor antagonism as the cornerstone of antipsychotic therapy. First-generation antipsychotics effectively controlled positive symptoms but were associated with significant extrapyramidal adverse effects. The development of second-generation antipsychotics expanded therapeutic options through combined dopaminergic and serotonergic modulation, improving tolerability while partially addressing negative symptoms. Nevertheless, persistent cognitive impairment, treatment resistance, metabolic complications, and medication non-adherence remain major clinical challenges. Recent advances in glutamatergic modulation, neuroinflammation, pharmacogenomics, neuromodulation, artificial intelligence, and precision psychiatry provide promising opportunities for individualized therapeutic interventions. The evolution of schizophrenia pharmacotherapy reflects continuous progress in understanding the neurobiology of psychosis. Although current antipsychotic therapies substantially improve symptom control and reduce relapse, considerable unmet clinical needs persist. Future therapeutic strategies integrating novel pharmacological targets, biomarker-guided precision medicine, digital health technologies, and multidisciplinary interventions may significantly improve long-term outcomes and quality of life for individuals with schizophrenia.
Objective: The present study aimed to formulate and optimize a boswellic acid-loaded nanoemulgel for enhanced topical anti-inflammatory activity by improving drug solubility, stability, and sustained release using central composite design (CCD). boswellic acid has potent anti-inflammatory activity but is limited by poor aqueous solubility and low skin permeation. Methods: Boswellic acid nanoemulsion was prepared using clove oil, Tween 80, and PEG-40 hydrogenated castor oil by high-speed homogenization followed by probe sonication. A 2-factor, 5-level CCD consisting of 13 experimental runs was employed for optimization using clove oil and PEG- 40 as formulation variables. The optimized nanoemulsion was incorporated into Carbopol 934 gel base to prepare nanoemulgel and evaluated for physicochemical properties, particle size, zeta potential, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), differential scanning calorimeter (DSC), in vitro drug release, release kinetics, and stability studies. Results: The optimized formulation exhibited a particle size of 108.8 nm, polydispersity index of 0.227, and zeta potential of −37.74 mV, confirming nanosized uniformity and stability. The optimized nanoemulsion showed 81.12% entrapment efficiency and 83.46% drug release. The nanoemulgel demonstrated pH 6.8±0.12, viscosity 4865±24 cP, spreadability 6.92±0.18 g·cm/s, and drug content 98.4±0.54%. FTIR and DSC studies confirmed drug compatibility and successful incorporation into the formulation. After incorporation into the Carbopol gel matrix, the optimized nanoemulgel showed a sustained cumulative drug release of 79.1±0.58% over 360 min, following Higuchi release kinetics (R²=0.988). Conclusion: The developed boswellic acid nanoemulgel exhibited satisfactory physicochemical characteristics, good stability, and sustained drug release, indicating its potential as an effective topical anti-inflammatory delivery system with improved therapeutic efficacy and patient compliance.
Objective: An accurate and specific LC-ESI-MS/MS method was established for quantification of Lurbinectedin in K2EDTA plasma smaples. Methods: Chromatography of lurbinectedin and internal standard dasatinib were achieved on Poroshell 120EC-C18 (2.1mm × 75mm, 2.7µm) stationary phase and the mobile phase composition of 0.1% HCOOH in water, methanol, and acetonitrile (10:20:70, v/v/v) at 0.5mL/min flow rate. Lurbinectedin’s MRM transitions were m/z 785.28/743.27and the internal standard's at 488.16/347.12. Results: Developed procedure was linear in the range of 0.9 – 1550ng/mL concentration with >0.9997 r2 value and y = 0.0012x - 0.0007 as linear equation. All of the control solutions exhibited accuracies that fell somewhere in the range of 97.44 to 101.21 percent, according to the calculations that were performed on the concentration levels. When evaluated at MQC, HQC, and LQC concentrations, respectively, lurbinectedin demonstrated a mean recovery of 98.90 percent, 98.14 percent, and 97.62 percent with regard to the concentrations. Conclusion: The process that was developed was successfully verified, and it is now possible to use it for the determination of lurbinectedin in biological samples at companies, forensic labs, quality control labs, and bioavailability studies.
Objectives: The present study aimed to develop and optimize guar gum-based rifaximin microspheres for colon-targeted drug delivery using a 32 factorial design to achieve controlled drug release and improve localized delivery to the colon. Methods: Rifaximin-loaded microspheres were prepared by the emulsion solvent evaporation method using guar gum, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, and ethyl cellulose. A 32 factorial design was employed to investigate the effects of polymer concentration and stirring speed on particle size, entrapment efficiency (EE), and drug release. Preformulation studies, including Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and X-ray diffraction (XRD), were performed to evaluate drug purity and compatibility with excipients. The prepared microspheres were characterized for particle size, EE, micromeritic properties, surface morphology (scanning electron microscopy [SEM]), and in vitro drug release. Results: The optimized formulation (RFX-MS8) exhibited a particle size of 237 nm, EE of 93.93%, cumulative drug release of 94.15%, and a production yield of 86.3%. FTIR, DSC, and XRD analyses confirmed drug–excipient compatibility and preservation of rifaximin crystallinity. SEM demonstrated uniformly spherical, compact microspheres with improved morphology. The optimized formulation also exhibited excellent flow properties, with a Hausner’s ratio of 1.17, Carr’s index of 13.23%, and an angle of repose of 24.11°. Quadratic models were statistically significant (R2=0.9656–0.9956; p<0.05), confirming the significant influence of formulation variables on microsphere characteristics. Conclusion: The optimized guar gum-based rifaximin microspheres demonstrated excellent physicochemical characteristics, high drug entrapment, controlled colon-targeted drug release, and robust statistical optimization, indicating their potential as an effective colon-specific delivery system. Further in vivo pharmacokinetic and therapeutic investigations are warranted to establish their clinical utility for the treatment of colonic disorders.
