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OBJECTIVE: Despite limited safety and efficacy data, inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) are prescribed to premature infants in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). We examined contemporary use and risk factors for ICS use in the NICU. STUDY DESIGN: Infants

[Display omitted] Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) is a chronic inflammatory disease of the esophagus that is immune/antigen-mediated and often requires targeted treatment. In clinical practice, an oral viscous budesonide suspension prepared by adding sucralose to a budesonide suspension for inhalation (Pulmicort®) is used to treat adult EoE and enhance retention in the esophageal mucosa. Inspired by this off-label drug use, oral viscous budesonide solutions (OVBSs) were developed in this study, and their capacities for adhesion, permeation, and stability were explored. Given the insolubility of budesonide as a BCS II drug, we first evaluated its equilibrium solubility and found that Transcutol® HP was an excellent choice for creating an OVBS at a concentration of 0.2 mg/g. The rheological properties of the OVBSs were evaluated with a rheometer, and shear-thinning, which aids in swallowing, was observed. The addition of hydroxyethyl cellulose (HEC) increased the adhesion strength of the preparation, which was associated with the hydration and thickening mechanism. This result was confirmed in a dynamic gelation study and in vitro elution experiment conducted with porcine esophagus tissue. Furthermore, the permeabilities of the OVBSs in the porcine esophagus were evaluated with a Franz diffusion cell device. >80 % of the budesonide was released after 24 h, and the release profile was similar to that of the solution. To explore the storage conditions of OVBSs, critical factors such as pH, content, and impurities were determined. It was found that OVBSs exhibited different behaviors at different pH values and temperatures. Notably, the OVBSs containing 1.7 % HEC could be stored for >6 months at a temperature of 5 °C ± 3 °C and a pH of 4.5 without significant degradation. Overall, this study demonstrated that OVBSs have the potential to adhere to the esophageal mucosa, permeate the tissue, and remain stable during storage. Moreover, OVBSs exhibit a distinct advantage over traditional converted inhalation-to-oral budesonide therapies by enabling flexible dose adjustment in clinical applications, thereby potentially minimizing systemic side effects commonly associated with oral glucocorticoid administration. • Transcutol® HP is a solubilizer that enhances the solubility of budesonide to the desired concentration. • Compared to other dosage forms, the final formulation exhibited a superior mucoadhesive effect, which was directly associated with the amount of HEC added. • The final formulation exhibited release results comparable to those of the regular solution, indicating that the addition of mucoadhesive polymers did not adversely impact budesonide release. • A reliable and easily ingestible OVBS was developed, exhibiting robust stability at pH 4.5 and a temperature of 5 °C ± 3 °C. This ensured a long shelf life for the formulation, guaranteeing long-term storage viability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]