Etoposide-loaded lipopolymer nanoparticles promote Smac minetic activity against inhibitor of apoptosis protein for glioblastoma treatment.

Encapsulated BV6 and SM164, two bivalent second mitochondria-derived activator of caspase (Smac) mimetics, in etoposide (ETO)-lipopolymer nanoparticles (NPs) have been developed to deplete inhibitor of apoptosis proteins (IAP), impair DNA, and produce antagonistic effects on glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) in nude mice. The NPs, composed of cocoa butter (CB) and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), were stabilized by glycerol monostearate and Pluronic F-127, and grafted with transferrin (Tf) and wheat germ agglutinin (WGA) to dock the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and degenerated dopaminergic neurons. The dual-targeting NPs increased the BBB permeability of BV6, SM164 and ETO via recognizing Tf receptor (TfR) and N-acetylglucosamine that are abundantly expressed on brain microvascular endothelial cells.

Prognostic factors in severe dengue patients: A multi-center retrospective cohort study.

Background/purpose: Early detection of severe dengue (SD) and appropriate management are crucial in reducing the case fatality rate. The objective of this study was to investigate the clinical characteristics of SD and identify independent risk factors associated with mortality among SD patients.

Methods: A retrospective study was conducted at two medical center hospitals between 2002 and 2019, involving patients aged ≧18 years with laboratory-confirmed SD.

[Development and validation of a risk prediction model for early postoperative high intraocular pressure after implantation of posterior chamber intraocular lens].

To develop and validate a predictive model for assessing the risk of early postoperative high intraocular pressure (HIOP) following posterior chamber intraocular lens implantation. The clinical data of patients who underwent posterior chamber intraocular lens implantation at the Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine between May 2023 and April 2024 were retrospectively reviewed. Patients were divided into a modeling group and a validation group with a 7∶3 ratio using computerized random allocation.

Evaluation of AI-based auto-contouring tools in radiotherapy: A single-institution study.

Background: Accurate delineation of organs at risk (OARs) is crucial yet time-consuming in the radiotherapy treatment planning workflow. Modern artificial intelligence (AI) technologies had made automation of OAR contouring feasible. This report details a single institution's experience in evaluating two commercial auto-contouring software tools and making well-informed decisions about their clinical adoption.

Real-world efficacy and safety of universal 8-week glecaprevir/pibrentasvir in patients with chronic hepatitis C with early chronic kidney disease or pre-end-stage renal disease: Insights from a nationwide hepatisis C virus registry in Taiwan.

An 8-week regimen of glecaprevir/pibrentasvir is recommended for treatment-naïve patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC). In alignment with the Taiwanese government's objective to eliminate hepatitis C by 2025, this study aimed to provide real-world evidence on the use of this regimen in treatment-naïve patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) by using data from the Taiwan Association for the Study of the Liver HCV Registry (TACR). CKD was defined by an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) of <60 mL/min/1.