Albumin-based delivery systems: Recent advances, challenges, and opportunities.

Albumin and albumin-based biomaterials have been explored for various applications, including therapeutic delivery, as therapeutic agents, as components of tissue adhesives, and in tissue engineering applications. It has been approved as an albumin nanoparticle containing paclitaxel (Abraxane®), as an albumin-binding peptide (Victoza®), and as a glutaraldehyde-crosslinked tissue adhesive (BioGlue®). Albumin is also approved as a supportive therapy for various conditions, including hypoalbuminemia, sepsis, and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).

Study Design and Baseline Characteristics of ALIGN, a Randomized Controlled Study of Atrasentan in Patients With IgA Nephropathy.

Introduction: Endothelin A (ETA) receptor activation is a driver of proteinuria, kidney inflammation, and fibrosis in IgA nephropathy (IgAN). Atrasentan, a selective ETA receptor antagonist, has potential to reduce proteinuria and preserve kidney function in IgAN. ALIGN (NCT04573478) is a phase 3, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial of atrasentan in patients with IgAN at high risk of kidney function loss.

Frailty and comorbidity in older adults with and without diabetes and chronic leg ulcer: A cross-sectional study.

This descriptive, cross-sectional study aimed to identify whether having a chronic leg ulcer (CLU), in addition to diabetes, contributed to frailty in individuals ≥65 years old. It also explored the associations between frailty, pre-frailty and other factors. 125 participants aged ≥65 attending outpatient clinics in Ireland were categorised into three groups: (1) diabetes-only and no CLU, (2) CLU-only and no diabetes, and (3) diabetes and CLU.

Management of Inflammatory Phlegmon in Appendicitis: Comparing the Role of Emergency vs. Interval Appendectomy at a Single Institution.

Background Acute appendicitis remains a common surgical pathology, with the accepted standard of care being appendectomy. However, in cases of acute appendicitis complicated by an inflammatory phlegmon, a dilemma remains regarding the best management options. The aim of our study was to examine the outcomes for patients with an appendiceal phlegmon, comparing emergency appendectomy with those who had initial conservative management followed by subsequent interval appendectomy.

Endothelin receptor antagonists in chronic kidney disease.

Endothelin-1 is a potent vasoconstrictor that has diverse physiological functions in the kidney, including in the regulation of blood flow and glomerular filtration, electrolyte homeostasis and endothelial function. Overexpression of endothelin-1 contributes to the pathophysiology of both diabetic and non-diabetic chronic kidney disease (CKD). Selective endothelin receptor antagonists (ERAs) that target the endothelin A (ET) receptor have demonstrated benefits in animal models of kidney disease and in clinical trials.