Significant Association between Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder and Atopic Dermatitis-a Retrospective Population-Based Case-Control Study

Introduction: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a global health problem. There are no data on the association of AD with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).Objectives: This study aimed to map a wide spectrum of different diseases among patients with atopic dermatitis compared to healthy controls in the Region of Jonkoping County, Sweden with special focus on OCD.Methods: We conducted a retrospective case control study from January 1st 2013 until December 31st 2021 using an electronic medical records database covering the entire population of the County of Jonkoping. ICD-10 codes were used to identify patients with AD. Individuals without AD served as controls. A total number of 398,874 citizens under the age of 90 was included in this study and among these 2,946 individuals were diagnosed with AD. Regression analysis was performed to describe the risk for comorbidities in patients with AD compared to controls, adjusted for age and gender. Results: We found an association between obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) in patients with AD (adjusted odd ratio 2.0, 95% confidence interval 1.5-2.7, p<0.001). Other results are in the line with other studies.Conclusion: Pointing to previous studies, the cause of AD and OCD share several gene-environmental mechanisms and this association should be further studied on larger populations. The results of the present study underline the need for dermatologists to be aware of OCD and to screen for this condition in AD patients because early diagnosis and treatment may improve outcome

Feasibility Study of Mesoporous Silica Particles for Pulmonary Drug Delivery : Therapeutic Treatment with Dexamethasone in a Mouse Model of Airway Inflammation

Diseases in the respiratory tract rank among the leading causes of death in the world, and thus novel and optimized treatments are needed. The lungs offer a large surface for drug absorption, and the inhalation of aerosolized drugs are a well-established therapeutic modality for local treatment of lung conditions. Nanoparticle-based drug delivery platforms are gaining importance for use through the pulmonary route. By using porous carrier matrices, higher doses of especially poorly soluble drugs can be administered locally, reducing their side effects and improving their biodistribution. In this study, the feasibility of mesoporous silica particles (MSPs) as carriers for anti-inflammatory drugs in the treatment of airway inflammation was investigated. Two different sizes of particles on the micron and nanoscale (1 mu m and 200 nm) were produced, and were loaded with dexamethasone (DEX) to a loading degree of 1:1 DEX:MSP. These particles were further surface-functionalized with a polyethylene glycol-polyethylene imine (PEG-PEI) copolymer for optimal aqueous dispersibility. The drug-loaded particles were administered as an aerosol, through inhalation to two different mice models of neutrophil-induced (by melphalan or lipopolysaccharide) airway inflammation. The mice received treatment with either DEX-loaded MSPs or, as controls, empty MSPs or DEX only; and were evaluated for treatment effects 24 h after exposure. The results show that the MEL-induced airway inflammation could be treated by the DEX-loaded MSPs to the same extent as free DEX. Interestingly, in the case of LPS-induced inflammation, even the empty MSPs significantly down-modulated the inflammatory response. This study highlights the potential of MSPs as drug carriers for the treatment of diseases in the airways