RNA-based gene therapy has been widely used for various diseases, and extensive studies have proved that suitable delivery routes greatly help the development of RNA therapeutics. Identifying a safe and effective delivery system is key to realizing RNA therapeutics' clinical translation. Inhalation is a non-invasive pulmonary delivery modality that can enhance the retention of therapeutic agents in the lungs with negligible toxicity, thereby improving patient compliance. Inhaled RNA therapeutics are increasingly becoming an area of focus for researchers; however, only several clinical trials have explored inhaled delivery of RNA for pulmonary diseases. This review presents an overview of recent advances in inhaled delivery systems for RNA therapeutics, including viral and nonviral systems, highlighting state of the art regarding inhalation in the messenger RNA (mRNA) field. We also summarize the applications of mRNA inhalants in infectious and other lung diseases. Simultaneously, the research progresses on small interfering RNAs (siRNAs), antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs), and different types of RNA are also discussed to provide new strategies for developing RNA inhalation therapy. Finally, we clarify the challenges inhaled RNA-based therapeutics face before their widespread adoption and provide insights to help advance this exciting field to the bedside.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the effect of orexin-A-mediated regulation of ionotropic glutamate receptors for promoting motor function recovery in rats with spinal cord injury (SCI). METHODS: Thirty-six newborn SD rats (aged 7-14 days) were randomized into 6 groups (n=6), including a normal control group, a sham-operated group, and 4 SCI groups with daily intrathecal injection of saline, DNQX, orexin-A, or orexin-A+DNQX for 3 consecutive days after PCI. Motor function of the rats were evaluated using blood-brain barrier (BBB) score and inclined plane test 1 day before and at 1, 3, and 7 days after SCI. For patch-clamp experiment, spinal cord slices from newborn rats in the control, sham-operated, SCI, and SCI+orexin groups were prepared, and ventral horn neurons were acutely isolated to determine the reversal potential and dynamic indicators of glutamate receptor-mediated currents under glutamate perfusion. RESULTS: At 3 and 7 days after SCI, the orexin-A-treated rats showed significantly higher BBB scores and grip tilt angles than those with other interventions. Compared with those treated with DNQX alone, the rats receiving the combined treatment with orexin and DNQX had significantly higher BBB scores and grip tilt angles on day 7 after PCI. In the patch-clamp experiment, the ventral horn neurons from SCI rat models exhibited obviously higher reversal potential and greater rise slope of glutamate current with shorter decay time than those from sham-operated and orexin-treated rats. CONCLUSIONS Orexin-A promotes motor function recovery in rats after SCI possibly by improving the function of the ionotropic glutamate receptors.
Animals ; Spinal Cord Injuries/drug therapy* ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Receptors, Ionotropic Glutamate/metabolism* ; Recovery of Function/drug effects* ; Orexins/pharmacology* ; Male ; Female ; Animals, Newborn ; Neuropeptides/pharmacology* ; Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins/pharmacology*

Compared with conventional transdermal drug delivery systems, dissolving microneedles significantly enhance drug bioavailability by penetrating the stratum corneum barrier and achieving intradermal drug delivery. In order to improve the transdermal bioavailability of dexmedetomidine hydrochloride, in this study, a novel microneedle delivery system was developed for dexmedetomidine hydrochloride based on 3D printing combined with micro-molding. By systematically optimizing the microneedle geometrical parameters, array arrangement, and preparation process parameters, we determined the optimal ratio of drug-carrying matrix as 15% PVP (polyvinyl pyrrolidone) K90. The microneedles exhibited significant drug loading gradients, with mean content of (209.99±27.56) μg/patch, (405.31±30.31) μg/patch, and (621.61±34.43) μg/patch. They showed a regular pyramidal structure under SEM and handheld electron microscopy, and their mechanical strength allowed effective penetration into the stratum corneum. The surface contact angles were all < 90°, indicating excellent hydrophilicity. The microneedles dissolved completely within 10 min after skin insertion, achieving a cumulative release rate of 90% (Higuchi model, r=0.996) during 2 hours of in vitro transdermal permeation. The cytotoxicity test and hemolysis test verified good biocompatibility. Pharmacodynamic evaluation showed that the microneedle group demonstrated pain-relieving effect within 15 min, with the pain threshold at the time point of 60 min being 3 times that in the transdermal cream group. The microneedle system developed in this study not only offers an efficient drug delivery option for patients but also establishes an innovative platform for rapid percutaneous delivery of hydrophilic drugs, demonstrating significant potential in perioperative pain management.
Dexmedetomidine/pharmacokinetics* ; Printing, Three-Dimensional ; Needles ; Drug Delivery Systems/methods* ; Administration, Cutaneous ; Animals ; Microinjections/instrumentation* ; Skin Absorption ; Skin/metabolism*

Biological toxins are toxic molecules produced by specific microorganisms,plants or animals.Due to their wide range of sources and high toxicity,the availability of protein and non-protein toxins is becoming increasingly important,some of which are used for military purposes and developed as biotoxin warfare agents.In this paper,the classification and mechanism of action of biological toxins are discussed.In addition,the strategies for prevention and control of biological toxins as well as their therapeutic applications are reviewed.

Objective:To evaluate and compare dermoscopic features of toenail psoriasis and fingernail psoriasis.Methods:Between June 2020 and January 2022, 61 patients with confirmed toenail psoriasis and 80 with confirmed fingernail psoriasis were enrolled from the Department of Dermatology of Peking University First Hospital. Dermoscopy was performed on 139 affected toenails and 158 affected fingernails among the psoriasis patients, and dermoscopic characteristics were analyzed between the two groups by using the chi-square test.Results:The most common dermoscopic feature of nail psoriasis was pitting (223/297, 75.08%), followed by splinter haemorrhages (164/297, 55.22%), subungual hyperkeratosis (133/297, 44.78%), oil drop sign (126/297, 42.42%), complete onycholysis (121/297, 40.74%), linear margin of the proximal onycholysis (107/297, 36.03%) and linear erythema at the margin of the onycholysis (77/297, 25.93%). Compared with the patients with fingernail psoriasis, those with toenail psoriasis more commonly presented with subungual hyperkeratosis (81[58.27%] vs. 52[32.91%], P < 0.001), punctate/blocky haemorrhages (22[15.83%] vs. 11[6.96%], P < 0.05), longitudinal striae (34[24.46%] vs. 10[6.33%], P < 0.001), longitudinal nail splitting (24[17.27%] vs. 9[5.70%], P < 0.01), brown discoloration (14[10.07%] vs. 2[1.27%], P < 0.01), transverse grooves (17[12.23%] vs. 1[0.63%], P < 0.001) and leukonychia (10[7.19%] vs. 1[0.63%], P < 0.01) ; compared with the patients with toenail psoriasis, those with fingernail psoriasis more commonly presented with splinter haemorrhages (100[63.29%] vs. 64[46.04%], P < 0.01), oil drop sign (81[51.27%] vs. 45[32.37%], P < 0.01), linear erythema at the margin of the onycholysis (55[34.81%] vs. 22[15.83%], P < 0.001), partial onycholysis (50[31.65%] vs. 19[13.67%], P < 0.001) and red spots in the lunula (36[22.78%] vs. 12[8.63%], P < 0.01) . Conclusion:The dermoscopic features of toenail psoriasis were quite different from those of fingernail psoriasis, and features such as subungual hyperkeratosis, longitudinal streaks, and brown discoloration were more commonly presented in patients with toenail psoriasis.

Objective To analyze and evaluate the implementation effect of tuberculosis prevention and control program in Wuhan, and to provide reference for scientific formulation of tuberculosis prevention and control measures. Methods Using the National Tuberculosis Information Management System, descriptive statistical analysis was carried out on the medical record information of pulmonary tuberculosis patients registered in Wuhan , 2016 - 2021. Results A total of 34 937 cases of pulmonary tuberculosis were registered in Wuhan , with an average annual incidence rate of 49.85/100 000. The incidence rate showed a downward trend year by year, with a statistically significant difference in 2016—2021 (χ²_trend = 708.387, P<0.001). The patients mainly came from referrals, accounting for 71.86%, and the proportion of referrals varied significantly among different years (χ²=355.541, P<0.001). The diagnosis type was mainly pathogenic negative, accounting for 49.12%. The proportion of pathogenic negative had statistically significant difference among different years (χ²=1 354.830, P<0.001). The proportion of patients cured and completed the course of treatment reached 93.98%, with statistically significant differences in the proportions among different years (cured, χ²=1 080.252, P<0.001; completed the treatment course, χ²= 933.655, P<0.001). The sputum examination rate of newly diagnosed patients in each year reached over 90%, and the overall completion rate reached over 95%. The proportion of positive pathogens showed an increasing trend year by year. Conclusion The overall epidemic situation of tuberculosis in Wuhan is declining year by year, and tuberculosis prevention and control work has achieved remarkable results. Active screening in key areas and populations should be strengthened, and prevention and control strategies should be formulated by emphasizing the key and difficult points.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the palatability and chewability of chewable tablets， and provide reference for the quality evaluation of various types of chewable tablets. METHODS Using self-made Glucosamine hydrochloride chewable tablets as the model drug， the quality test was conducted. The in vitro simulation system for chewable tablets was established by using a texture analyzer and rheometer， and an oral simulation experiment was conducted on chewable tablets. The texture analyzer was used to measure the force required for chewing and simulate the static disintegration process of chewable tablets； the rheometer was adopted to measure the viscoelasticity， thixotropy， and deformability of chewable tablets during the chewing process. RESULTS The disintegration time limit， principal component content， and dissolution of self-made Glucosamine hydrochloride chewable tablets all met the limit requirements. The in vitro simulation results of the texture analyzer showed that self-made chewable tablets were easy to chew in both axial and radial directions， and the force required for chewing was within the range of the chewing force of the teeth； chewable tablets could disintegrate at an appropriate time without being chewed and only taken in the oral cavity. The in vitro simulation results of the rheometer showed that the chewable tablets in the oral cavity exhibited a behavior of elasticity as the main factor and viscosity as the secondary factor through the continuous stirring of the tongue， and the viscosity of the chewable tablets gradually decreased with tongue stirring or tooth chewing； when chewing with teeth， the internal force of the chewing tablets decreased， causing plastic deformation and crushing. After being crushed， the shape couldn’t be restored， making it easy to chew and swallow. CONCLUSIONS The combination of texture analyzer and rheometer can be used to simulate the oral chewing process and evaluate the palatability and chewability of self-made Glucosamine hydrochloride chewable tablets. This model can provide reference for the evaluation of various chewable tablets.

OBJECTIVE To develop the evaluation system for the readability of drug instructions based on Chinese patient needs， and to provide scientific evidence for improving the readability of drug instructions in China. METHODS The literature review and expert consultation were adopted to establish the evaluation index system for the readability of drug instructions. Then， by the analytic hierarchy process， the index weight in the evaluation system was determined， and the evaluation system for the readability of drug instructions was established. Fuzzy comprehensive evaluation was used to test the evaluation system， taking drug instruction of Dexamethasone acetate cream as an example. RESULTS The evaluation system for the readability of drug instructions was established with 5 primary criteria such as text expression， numerical application， content design， behavioral suggestions， and layout design， as well as 17 sub-criteria such as easy-to-understand words and appropriately long sentences. The reliability and validity tests met the requirements. The result of 100 respondents evaluating the readability of the drug instructions of Dexamethasone acetate cream showed that the readability of drug instructions was scored as good as 4.24. CONCLUSIONS Established evaluation system for the readability of drug instructions in the study can be used to evaluate the quality and readability of drug instructions in China.