Collaborative assembly-mediated siRNA delivery for relieving inflammation-induced insulin resistance

Obesity plays a primary causative role in insulin resistance and hyperglycemia that contributes to type 2 diabetes.Excess lipid storage in the liver renders activation of the resident macrophages and chronic secretion of inflammatory mediators,therefore causing or aggravating insulin resistance.Herein,we develop collaborative assemblies using a“one-pot”synthesis method for macrophage-specific delivery of small interfering RNAs(siRNAs)that target the inflammatory proteins.Ternary nanocomplex(NC)composed of the siRNA molecule,a synthetic thiol-bearing methacrylated hyaluronic acid(sm-HA)and protamine forms through an electrostatic-driven physical assembly,which is chemically crosslinked to acquire the collaboratively assembled nanocapsule(cNC)concurrently.The obtained cNC displays significantly higher stability than NC.Functional moieties as flexible assembly units can be easily equipped on cNC for long circulation,active targeting,or controlled siRNA release.cNC-F decorated with folic acid,a macrophage-targeting ligand promotes the siRNA accumulation in the activated macrophages in the liver of the obese mouse model.cNC-F loaded with siRNA targeting inflammatory indicators efficiently control the macrophage inflammatory response by reducing the expression of the inflammatory proteins(>40%reduction)and ameliorating the insulin resistance symptoms of the obese mice.

Influence of physical properties of carrier on the performance of dry powder inhalers

Dry powder inhalers(DPIs) offer distinct advantages as a means of pulmonary drug delivery and have attracted much attention in the field of pharmaceutical science. DPIs commonly contain micronized drug particles which, because of their cohesiveness and strong propensity to aggregate, have poor aerosolization performance. Thus carriers with a larger particle size are added to address this problem. However, the performance of DPIs is profoundly influenced by the physical properties of the carrier, particularly their particle size, morphology/shape and surface roughness. Because these factors are interdependent, it is difficult to completely understand how they individually influence DPI performance.The purpose of this review is to summarize and illuminate how these factors affect drug–carrier interaction and influence the performance of DPIs.

Synergistic immunoreaction of acupuncture-like dissolving microneedles containing thymopentin at acupoints in immune-suppressed rats

Dissolving microneedles carried drug molecules can effectively penetrate the stratum corneum of skin to improve the transdermal drug delivery. The traditional Chinese medicine acupuncture is based on the needle stimulation at a specific location(acupoint) to generate and transmit biochemical and physiological signals which alter the pathophysiological state of patients. However, the pain associated with conventional acupuncture needles and the requirement of highly trained professionals limit the development of acupuncture in non-Asian countries. The purpose of this study is to investigate whether the dissolving microneedles can be utilized as a self-administered painless replacement for acupuncture and locally released drug molecules can achieve expected therapeutic outcomes. Immunosuppressive rats were treated with acupuncture at Zusanli(ST36) acupoint using microneedles containing thymopentin.The immune functions and psychological mood of the immunosuppressed animals were examined. The proliferation of splenocytes was examined by CCK-8 assay. CD4 and CD8 expression patterns in spleen cells were detected by flow cytometry. The current study showed that use of either microneedles containing thymopentin or conventional acupuncture both resulted in immune cell proliferation, which was confirmed by flow cytometry. Furthermore, either conventional acupuncture or microneedles were able to effectively mitigate the anxiety caused by immune-suppression when applied on the ST36.

Incidence of Macrosomia in Rural Areas—Henan Province,China,2013–2017

Introduction:Macrosomia has short-term and long-term adverse health effects and is thus an important public health concern.Recent decades have witnessed increasing incidence of macrosomia in many countries.Methods:The present study used a large population-based birth cohort study to depict incidence of macrosomia among live births in rural areas of Henan Province of China from 2013 to 2017.Results:Among the 1,262,916 births,82,353 were cases of macrosomia.The overall incidence of all types of macrosomia,of macrosomia with birth weight<4,500 g,and of macrosomia with birth weight≥4,500 g were 6.52%,5.30%,and 1.22%,respectively.From 2013 to 2017,the incidence of macrosomia decreased by 31.3%from 7.96%in 2013 to 5.47%in 2017(X^(2)_(trend)=946.96,P_(trend)<0.001).Male infants and infants≥42 gestational weeks had significantly higher incidence of macrosomia than that of female infants and infants<42 gestational weeks(P<0.001).Conclusion:Gestational weight control through nutrition management and physical activities during pregnancy are needed to reduce incidence of macrosomia.

Trends of Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes in a High Prevalence Region of Birth Defects——Shanxi Province,China,2007-2019

Summary What is already known about this topic?Shanxi Province in northern China has been identified as a region with the highest prevalence of birth defects nationwide.With large amounts of financial support devoted for prevention and related interventions for birth defects,huge progress has been made as a 60% decrease in its prevalence was observed from 2009 to 2014.

Trends in the Prevalence of Cognitive Impairment Among Older Adults Aged 65 to 105 Years—China,2002–2018

Introduction:This study aims to analyze trends and subgroup differences in the prevalence of cognitive impairment among older Chinese adults aged 65–105 years from 2002 to 2018.Methods:Data were drawn from six waves of the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey(CLHLS).Cognitive function was measured using the Chinese version of the Mini-Mental State Examination(CMMSE).Cognitive impairment was determined by the total CMMSE score and educational attainment of participants.The generalized estimating equation(GEE)models with a logistic link and binominal distribution were performed to assess the secular trend in the prevalence.Results:The prevalence of cognitive impairment among older adults aged 65–105 years decreased from 3.44%[95%confidence interval(CI):3.15%–3.73%]in 2002 to 2.41%(95%CI:2.17%–2.65%)in 2018 in China.The prevalence was slightly higher in women than in men in 2002(3.71%vs.3.13%,P<0.05),and there was no significant difference between women and men in 2018(2.60%vs.2.21%,P=0.12).Rural older adults had a higher prevalence of cognitive impairment before 2014,but their urban counterparts had a higher prevalence in 2018(2.75%vs.2.06%,P<0.05).The GEE regression model showed that each successive year was associated with a 3%reduction in the odds of the prevalence of cognitive impairment[odds ratio(OR)=0.97;95%CI:0.97–0.97;P<0.05].Conclusions:The prevalence of cognitive impairment among Chinese older adults aged 65–105 years declined slowly from 2002 to 2018.The gender,urban-rural,age,and regional differences in the prevalence of cognitive impairment changed over time.

Adverse Childhood Experiences and Depressive Symptoms Trajectories Among Middle-Aged and Elderly—China,2011–2018

Summary What is already known about this topic?Previous studies in western populations have found consistent relationships between adverse childhood experiences and the development of mood and anxiety disorders,especially depressive symptoms in adolescence and adulthood.What is added by this report?This study used a longitudinal design and analytic method to model depressive symptom trajectories from 2011 to 2018 among the middle-aged and elderly in China.This study also investigated the association between adverse childhood experiences and adulthood depressive symptoms in the Chinese population.What are the implications for public health practice?Future public policy could consider early prevention and intervention on adverse childhood experiences to prevent adult depressive symptoms.Besides,it is essential to create safe,stable,and nurturing environments for children’s development.