Search Our Scientific Publications & Authors

Tierarztl Prax Ausg K Kleintiere Heimtiere 2018 Oct 12;46(5):309-314. Epub 2018 Dec 12.

Cobalamin is a member of the B-group of vitamins and a cofactor for metabolic processes like nucleic acid synthesis, amino acid synthesis, and the citric acid cycle. Mammals are unable to synthesize cobalamin and therefore rely on adequate food intake. Cobalamin absorption is a complex process in the stomach, duodenum, and ileum, requiring a functional exocrine pancreas. Read More

Endocr Rev 2018 Dec 12. Epub 2018 Dec 12.

Division of Metabolism, Endocrinology, and Nutrition, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA.

Pancreatic islet transplantation has become an established approach to β-cell replacement therapy for the treatment of insulin deficient diabetes. Recent progress in techniques for islet isolation, islet culture, and peri-transplant management of the islet transplant recipient have resulted in substantial improvements in metabolic and safety outcomes for patients. For patients requiring total or sub-total pancreatectomy for benign disease of the pancreas, isolation of islets from the diseased pancreas with intrahepatic transplantation of autologous islets can prevent or ameliorate post-surgical diabetes, and for patients previously experiencing painful recurrent acute or chronic pancreatitis, quality-of-life is substantially improved. Read More

J Natl Cancer Inst 2018 Dec 12. Epub 2018 Dec 12.

Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD.

Background: Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) identify associations of individual single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) with cancer risk but usually only explain a fraction of the inherited variability. Pathway analysis of genetic variants is a powerful tool to identify networks of susceptibility genes.

Methods: We conducted a large agnostic pathway-based meta-analysis of GWAS data using the summary-based adaptive rank truncated product method to identify gene sets and pathways associated with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) in 9040 cases and 12 496 controls. Read More

Jpn J Clin Oncol 2018 Dec 12. Epub 2018 Dec 12.

Department of Clinical Genetics, Yokohama City University Hospital, Yokohama, Japan.

Background: Application of next-generation DNA sequencing (NGS) has recently become increasingly common in the field of clinical oncology in several countries around the world. In Japan also, a system for applying NGS to routine clinical practice is gradually being established. During this process, we introduced in Japan the tumor-profiling MSK-IMPACT (Memorial Sloan Kettering-Integrated Mutation Profiling of Actionable Cancer Targets) assay. Read More

Dig Surg 2018 Dec 12:1-8. Epub 2018 Dec 12.

Department of General and Pancreatic Surgery, The Pancreas Institute, University of Verona Hospital Trust, Verona,

Background: The prevalence of symptoms in pancreatic cystic neoplasms (PCNs) is mainly based on retrospective surgical series. The aim of this study is to describe the actual prevalence of symptoms in PCNs under surveillance.

Methods: Patients with PCNs under surveillance observed from 2015 to 2017 were submitted to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and a specific interview. Read More

Stem Cell Reports 2018 Dec;11(6):1551-1564

Diabetes Research Group, BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, BC V5Z 4H4, Canada; Departments of Surgery and Cellular and Physiological Sciences, University of British Columbia, 950 28(th) Avenue West, Vancouver, BC V5Z4H4, Canada. Electronic address:

Human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) are a potential unlimited source of insulin-producing β cells for diabetes treatment. A greater understanding of how β cells form during embryonic development will improve current hESC differentiation protocols. All pancreatic endocrine cells, including β cells, are derived from Neurog3-expressing endocrine progenitors. Read More

Rev Gastroenterol Peru 2018 Jul-Sep;38(3):297-300

Hospital Guillermo Kaelin de la Fuente. Lima, Perú; Universidad San Ignacio de Loyola, Lima, Perú.

Primary gastric choriocarcinoma (PGC) is an extremely rare and highly invasive tumor with rapid hematogenous spread. We present the case of a 57-year-old female patient who started with hematemesis and progressive episodes of melena, weight loss and epigastralgia. It is derived from the National Institute of Neoplastic Diseases where gastroscopy and biopsy are performed. Read More

J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr 2018 Dec 11. Epub 2018 Dec 11.

Center for Pancreatic Diseases.

Introduction: Acute pancreatitis (AP) is understudied in the pediatric population despite increasing incidence. Although many cases are mild and resolve with supportive care, severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) can be associated with significant morbidity and mortality. There is a lack of pediatric-specific predictive tools to help stratify risk of SAP in children. Read More

Pancreas 2019 Jan;48(1):126-130

Objectives: The relative rarity of hypertriglyceridemia (HTG) as the etiology for acute pancreatitis (AP) delays the final diagnosis of hypertriglyceridemia-induced AP (HTG-AP). This study aimed to explore the diagnostic and prognostic value of pseudohyponatremia in this clinical entity.

Methods: We retrospectively compared 140 patients with HTG-AP and 266 patients of AP of other etiologies. Read More

Pancreas 2019 Jan;48(1):99-106

From the Departments of Surgery.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic and prognostic impact of systemic inflammatory markers for IPMN with high-grade dysplasia (HGD)/invasive carcinoma.

Methods: Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), derived NLR, platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio, and C-reactive protein-to-albumin ratio were compared across the different histological grades of 205 IPMN cases. We also tested the diagnostic performance for IPMN with HGD/invasive carcinoma. Read More

Pancreas 2019 Jan;48(1):94-98

From the Department of Oncology, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD.

Objectives: IQ motif containing GTPase-activating protein 1 (IQGAP1) acts as a scaffold for aberrant mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling driven by KRAS mutations in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). We determined the role of IQGAP1 in clonogenic growth and metastasis in PDAC.

Methods: We inhibited IQGAP1 expression using shRNA and assessed clonogenic growth, cell migration, and MAPK signaling in vitro and tumor initiation and metastasis in vivo. Read More

Pancreas 2019 Jan;48(1):49-54

Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan.

Objective: Autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP) has the potential to transform into chronic pancreatitis with pancreatic stone involvement. This retrospective investigation sought to clarify the risk factors for stone formation in type 1 AIP.

Methods: Questionnaires on patients with type 1 AIP were sent to 22 high-volume medical centers across Japan to compare the clinical features of patients with and without pancreatic stone formation. Read More

J Cardiovasc Med (Hagerstown) 2018 Dec 11. Epub 2018 Dec 11.

Department of Medicine, Bluhm Cardiovascular Institute, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois.

: Patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) undergoing evaluation for kidney and/or pancreas transplantation represent a population with unique cardiovascular (CV) profiles and unique therapeutic needs. Coronary artery disease (CAD) is common in patients with ESRD, mediated by both the overrepresentation and higher prognostic value of traditional CV risk factors amongst this population, as well as altered cardiovascular responses to failing renal function, likely mediated by dysregulation of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) and abnormal calcium and phosphate metabolism. Within the ESRD population, obstructive CAD correlates highly with adverse coronary events, including during the peri-transplant period, and successful revascularization may attenuate some of that increased risk. Read More

Endocr Relat Cancer 2019 Feb;26(2):227-239

Department of Oncology, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway.

Peptide receptor radionuclide therapy (PRRT) is an established treatment of metastatic neuroendocrine tumors grade 1-2 (G1-G2). However, its possible benefit in high-grade gastroenteropancreatic (GEP) neuroendocrine neoplasms (NEN G3) is largely unknown. We therefore aimed to assess the benefits and side effects of PRRT in patients with GEP NEN G3. Read More

Physiol Genomics 2018 Dec 12. Epub 2018 Dec 12.

Department of Pediatrics, Medical College of Wisconsin, United States.

Although cystic fibrosis (CF) is attributed to dysfunction of a single gene, the relationships between the abnormal gene product and development of inflammation and progression of lung disease are not fully understood, limiting our ability to predict an individual patient's clinical course and treatment response. To better understand CF progression, we characterized the molecular signatures of CF disease status using plasma-based functional genomics. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from healthy donors were cultured with plasma samples from CF patients (n=103) and unrelated, healthy controls (n=31). Read More

Arq Gastroenterol 2018 Jul-Sep;55(3):237-241

Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Department of Bacteriology and Virology, Shiraz, Iran.

Background: Cancers are one of the most important causes of death in the world. According to their high incidence and mortality, gastrointestinal cancers have particular importance among other cancers.

Objective: Therefore, this study was conducted to investigate the mortality change trends of gastrointestinal cancers in Iran. Read More

Arq Gastroenterol 2018 Jul-Sep;55(3):230-236

Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Departamento de Saúde Coletiva, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Saúde Coletiva, Natal, RN, Brasil.

Background: Pancreatic cancer is one of the main cancer-related causes of death in developed countries, and one of the most lethal malignant neoplasms. This type of cancer is classified as the ninth most frequent in the world.

Objective: Analyze temporal trends for pancreatic cancer in Brazil in the period 2000-2014 and calculate mortality projections for the period 2015-2029. Read More

Chin Med J (Engl) 2018 Dec;131(24):2947-2952

Department of General Surgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100730, China.

Background: Plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 (PAI-1) was previously established to impact several phenotypes in many kinds of cancer, including pancreatic cancer. However, its prognostic significance in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) needs support of further evidence. This study was designed to address the issue. Read More

J Cancer Res Ther 2018 Dec;14(Supplement):S1129-S1134

Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Kanagawa Cancer Center, Yokohama, Japan.

Background: The factors associated with the survival and prognosis of peritoneal cytology (CY)-positive pancreatic cancer patients who undergo curative resection followed by adjuvant chemotherapy have not been established.

Patients And Methods: Both overall survival (OS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS) were examined in 23 peritoneal CY-positive pancreatic cancer patients who underwent curative resection followed by adjuvant chemotherapy between 2005 and 2015.

Results: When the length of OS was evaluated using a log-rank test, significant differences were observed in the number of metastatic lymph nodes. Read More

J Cancer Res Ther 2018 Dec;14(Supplement):S1019-S1023

Department of Hepatobiliary Pancreatic Surgery, Henan Provincial People's Hospital, Zhengzhou 450003, China.

Aims: The aim of this study is to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of Appleby operation for carcinoma of the body and tail of pancreas.

Materials And Methods: From March 2010 to February 2015, Appleby operation was performed in 17 patients with carcinoma of the body and tail of pancreas. The values of fasting plasma blood, body weight (BW), visual analog pain intensity scale (VAS score), and the quality of life indices were evaluated before and 1 day, 1, 2, 6 weeks after surgery. Read More

J Cancer Res Ther 2018 Dec;14(Supplement):S948-S956

Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang 330006, China.

Objective: Sorafenib, an oral vascular endothelial growth factor receptor tyrosine-kinase inhibitor, has become a cornerstone in the treatment of various malignancies. However, concerns have arisen regarding the risk of hemorrhage with sorafenib use. Nevertheless, the contribution of sorafenib to hemorrhage and the underlying risk factors remains unclear. Read More

Cell Mol Gastroenterol Hepatol 2018 Oct 28;7(1):233-234. Epub 2018 Oct 28.

Department of Surgery, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee. Electronic address:

Semin Oncol 2018 Aug 24;45(4):236-248. Epub 2018 Oct 24.

Mayo Clinic Cancer Center, Rochester, MN, USA. Electronic address:

Lu-DOTATATE peptide receptor radionuclide therapy (PRRT) is now approved for patients with advanced gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (NET), and it is therefore important to understand the efficacy and safety of PRRT in this patient population. PRRT efficacy and safety outcomes have frequently been summarized for patient populations with gastroenteropancreatic NET, but not specifically in patients with pancreatic NET (panNET). The pivotal phase 3 trial of Lu-DOTATATE PRRT in NET was restricted to patients with a midgut primary site. Read More

Curr Radiopharm 2018 Dec 11. Epub 2018 Dec 11.

Department of Nuclear Medicine, S. Andrea Hospital, La Spezia. Italy.

Objective: Neuroendocrine neoplasms (NENs) are generally defined as rare and heterogeneous tumors. The gastrointestinal system is the most frequent site of NENs localization, however they can be found in other anatomical regions, such as pancreas, lungs, ovaries, thyroid, pituitary, and adrenal glands. Neuroendocrine neoplasms have significant clinical manifestations depending on the production of active peptide. Read More

Cardiovasc Hematol Agents Med Chem 2018 Dec 11. Epub 2018 Dec 11.

Faculty of Sciences and Techniques Errachidia, Moulay Ismail University, BP 509, Boutalamine, 52000. Errachidia. Morocco.

Objective: The present study was carried out in order to evaluate the antidiabetic and antihyperlipidemic potential of flavonoid-rich extract of Tamarix articulata (FRETA) in both normal and streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats.

Material And Methods: Normal and diabetic rats were treated with the FRETA for 7 days. At the end of treatment, a range of parameters were tested including blood lipid profile, histopathological changes in both liver and pancreas and oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). Read More

Pharmacogenomics 2018 Dec 12. Epub 2018 Dec 12.

Department of Oncology, Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry, Palacky University Olomouc, University Hospital Olomouc, Czech Republic.

Pancreatic carcinoma is usually diagnosed late when treatment options are limited and is considered a chemo-resistant malignancy. However, early stage, good performance status and specific patient subgroup are thought to have a more favorable prognosis. Search for novel molecular biomarkers, which could predict treatment resistance, represents a major opportunity, but also a challenge in further research. Read More

Expert Opin Investig Drugs 2018 Dec 12. Epub 2018 Dec 12.

d Early Phase Therapeutics Program , University of Arizona Cancer Center , Tucson AZ , USA .

Introduction: Prognosis remains dismal for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Genomics and proteomics has depicted heterogeneity in PDAC. Collectively, this information could be useful in improving diagnosis, prognosis, modalities of therapy, treatment responses, deciphering drug resistance and new drug development. Read More

Diabetes Ther 2018 Dec 11. Epub 2018 Dec 11.

Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA.

Introduction: iGlarLixi is a titratable, fixed-ratio combination of insulin glargine (100 units/mL) and lixisenatide (33 μg/mL). This review evaluates the overall safety and adverse event (AE) profile of iGlarLixi in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Methods: We collated patient-level data from the phase 2 LixiLan proof-of-concept trial and the phase 3 LixiLan-L (insulin-experienced patients) and LixiLan-O (insulin-naïve patients) trials to evaluate AEs associated with iGlarLixi. Read More

Pathol Oncol Res 2018 Dec 11. Epub 2018 Dec 11.

Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Sher-I-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences, Soura, Srinagar, Kashmir, 190011, India.

Sonic hedgehog (SHH) is a secreted protein which functions in autocrine or paracrine fashion on target cells to activate hedgehog (HH) signalling cascade responsible for growth and proliferation. This study is an attempt to understand the expression dynamics of SHH protein in colon, rectal and pancreatic cancers. Protein expression of SHH was studied by Western Blotting in the histologically confirmed colon, rectum and pancreatic cancer tissue samples along with their adjacent normal tissues. Read More

Ann Surg Oncol 2018 Dec 11. Epub 2018 Dec 11.

Department of Surgical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1400 Pressler, Unit 1484, Houston, TX, USA.

Introduction: Patients with locally advanced pancreatic cancer (LAPC) represent a challenging group to treat, given the involvement of major vascular structures. In selected patients with favorable biology, temporary mesocaval shunt can facilitate the resection and allow for a safer procedure with enhanced exposure to the superior mesenteric vessels.

Methods: We present a video of a pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) with temporary mesocaval shunt with left internal jugular (LIJ) vein conduit. Read More

Abdom Radiol (NY) 2018 Dec 11. Epub 2018 Dec 11.

Shanghai Institute of Medical Imaging, No. 180 Fenglin Road, Xuhui District, Shanghai, 200032, China.

Purposes: Predictive factors of lymph node metastasis (LNM) in pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (pNETs) are not well established. We sought to identify the value of MR imaging features in preoperatively predicting the lymph node metastasis of pNETs.

Materials And Methods: In this study, we enrolled 108 consecutive patients with pNETs between January 2009 and June 2018. Read More

Acta Diabetol 2018 Dec 11. Epub 2018 Dec 11.

Laboratory of Mineralized Tissues, Center for Translational and Clinical Research, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Salata 11, Zagreb, Croatia.

Aims: Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) are involved in the development and homeostasis of multiple organs and tissues. There has been a significant focus on understanding the role of BMPs in pancreatic β-cell dysfunction associated with type 2 diabetes (T2D). Our objective was to investigate the relationship between BMP6 and glucose homeostasis. Read More

Endosc Int Open 2018 Dec 10;6(12):E1454-E1461. Epub 2018 Dec 10.

Department of Medicine, Asahikawa Medical University, Asahikawa, Hokkaido 078-8510, Japan.

 Despite advances in the diagnosis of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA), histological evaluation of small and poorly defined masses in the pancreas is uncomfortable and unsafe.  We herein report a case of early stage PDA, in which multiple KRAS mutations were detected in the pancreatic juice preoperatively. A small hypoechoic area adjacent to the portal vein was detected through endoscopic ultrasound in the pancreatic body. Read More

Biomed Res Int 2018 12;2018:7465435. Epub 2018 Nov 12.

"Biochefa" Pharmaceutical Research and Production Plant, Sosnowiec, Poland.

Biolasol is a newly developed solution for storing the liver, pancreas, kidneys, and heart by simple hypothermia. It exhibits high efficacy in maintaining structural and functional integrity of the graft prior to its transplantation. The solution was modified by the addition of ascorbic acid (0. Read More

Biomed Res Int 2018 14;2018:7375169. Epub 2018 Nov 14.

Department of Emergency Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, No. 17 Yongwai Street, Nanchang, Jiangxi Province 330006, China.

Introduction: Pretreatment platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) has been considered a prognostic factor in various cancers. However, the application of PLR in the assessment of patients with cholangiocarcinoma remains controversial. This study aimed to evaluate the prognostic value of pretreatment PLR in cholangiocarcinoma. Read More

Open Vet J 2018 24;8(4):452-457. Epub 2018 Nov 24.

Laboratoire Vet-Histo, 11B Boulevard Miremonts, 13008 Marseille, France.

A 12-year-old spayed female domestic shorthair cat was evaluated for a 3-week history of abdominal distension. Chyloabdomen secondary to pancreatic carcinoma was diagnosed. The cat was palliatively managed using rutin and a low-fat diet. Read More

Nucl Med Mol Imaging 2018 Dec 20;52(6):473-474. Epub 2018 Oct 20.

2Department of Gastroenterology, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India.

Groove pancreatitis is a rare form of chronic pancreatitis that affects the groove area adjacent to the second part of the duodenum. Clinical and biochemical features often overlap with other subsets of chronic pancreatitis, while the imaging features resemble that of carcinoma of the head of pancreas. We present a 38-year-old man with abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and loss of weight who underwent F-FDG PET/CT to rule out a pancreatic malignancy. Read More

Nucl Med Mol Imaging 2018 Dec 12;52(6):462-467. Epub 2018 Sep 12.

1Department of Nuclear Medicine, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, 88, Olympic-ro 43-gil, Songpa-gu, Seoul 05505 South Korea.

Diagnosing tumor-induced osteomalacia is often challenging because conventional imaging modalities may fail to locate the responsible tumor. This report describes the ability of Ga-DOTATOC PET/CT to successfully distinguish between the responsible phosphaturic mesenchymal tumor and concurrent lymphoma lesions. A 52-year-old man with bone pain for several years was diagnosed with a vitamin D-resistant hypophosphatemic osteomalacia. Read More

J Oncol 2018 14;2018:6273947. Epub 2018 Nov 14.

Pancreatic Surgery Department, Huashan Hospital Affiliated to Fudan University, Shanghai 200040, China.

Purpose: Nonsurgical therapies, including biotherapy, chemotherapy, and liver-directed therapy, provided a limit survival benefit for PNET patients with hepatic metastases. With the development of liver resection technique, there was a controversy on whether to perform a liver resection for these patients.

Methods: A computerized search was made of the Medline/PubMed, EMbase, Cochrane Library, and SinoMed (CBM) before March 2018. Read More

Cancer Manag Res 2018 23;10:6195-6204. Epub 2018 Nov 23.

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130041, China,

Background: S1 is a novel BH3 mimetic that can induce death in some types of cancer cells, such as melanoma B16, ovarian cancer SKOV3, and U251 glioma cells. S1 inhibits Bcl-2 and Mcl-1 expression and induces cancer cell apoptosis. Cancer cell survival is highly dependent on glucose. Read More

Cancer Manag Res 2018 20;10:6003-6014. Epub 2018 Nov 20.

Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin 130021, People's Republic of China,

Purpose: Liver cancer is a high mortality disease with no curable treatments. Posttranscriptional modifications play essential roles in the occurrence and the progression of liver cancer. EIF2B5 is a subunit of EIF2B that regulates the initiation and the rate of translation and participates in several diseases including tumors. Read More

Cancer Manag Res 2018 20;10:5965-5978. Epub 2018 Nov 20.

Department of Pancreatic and Gastric Surgery, National Cancer Center/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College,

Background: Systemic chemotherapy is the standard treatment for locally advanced and metastatic pancreatic cancer, but there is no consensus on the optimum regimen. We aimed to compare and rank the locally advanced and metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma chemotherapy regimens evaluated in randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in the past 15 years.

Materials And Methods: PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Collaboration database, and ClinicalTrials. Read More

Indian J Surg Oncol 2018 Dec 18;9(4):483-487. Epub 2018 May 18.

Department of Radiology, GIPMER, New Delhi, India.

Solid pseudopapillary neoplasm is a rare tumor of the pancreas. These tumors are considered to have low malignant potential with good prognosis. Due to its rarity, details about clinical presentation and management of the disease are not very clear. Read More

Am J Gastroenterol 2018 Dec 11. Epub 2018 Dec 11.

Pancreatic Surgery Unit, Humanitas Clinical and Research Center, Milano, Italy.

Introduction: Surveillance programs on high-risk individuals (HRIs) can detect pre-malignant lesions or early pancreatic cancer (PC). We report the results of the first screening round of the Italian multicenter program supported by the Italian Association for the study of the Pancreas (AISP).

Methods: The multicenter surveillance program included asymptomatic HRIs with familial (FPC) or genetic frailty (GS: BRCA1/2, p16/CDKN2A, STK11/LKB1or PRSS1, mutated genes) predisposition to PC. Read More

Cell Death Dis 2018 Dec 11;9(12):1187. Epub 2018 Dec 11.

Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, 200032, China.

Given the dense stroma and poor vascularization, access to nutrients is limited in the microenvironment of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA). PDA cells can efficiently recycle various metabolic substrates through the activation of different rescuing pathways, including the autophagy pathway. However, the precise roles of autophagy in cancer metabolism are not yet fully understood. Read More

EMBO Rep 2018 Dec 11. Epub 2018 Dec 11.

Cellular and Molecular Biomechanics Laboratory, Department of Bioengineering, Imperial College London, London, UK

The mechanical properties of the tumor microenvironment are emerging as attractive targets for the development of therapies. Tamoxifen, an agonist of the G protein-coupled estrogen receptor (GPER), is widely used to treat estrogen-positive breast cancer. Here, we show that tamoxifen mechanically reprograms the tumor microenvironment through a newly identified GPER-mediated mechanism. Read More

Clin Cancer Res 2018 Dec 11. Epub 2018 Dec 11.

Chair, Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Roswell Park Cancer Institute

Purpose: Cancer cells often have deficiencies in cell cycle control mechanisms and could be dependent on specific cell cycle checkpoints to maintain viability. Due to the documented role of KRAS in driving replication stress, we targeted the checkpoint governing DNA replication using CHK1 kinase inhibitors in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) models and examined mechanisms of resistance.

Experimental Design: Single agent efficacy of CHK1 inhibition was investigated in established and primary PDAC lines. Read More

Am J Surg 2018 Nov 28. Epub 2018 Nov 28.

Division of Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, MI, USA. Electronic address:

Background: It is unclear whether placement of operative enteral access (OEA) during pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) correlates with decreased morbidity.

Methods: A retrospective chart review of patients undergoing PD with and without OEA placement between January 2016 and May 2018 was undertaken. Outcomes included length of stay (LOS), 30- and 90-day readmission, initiation of total parenteral nutrition (TPN), postoperative pancreatic fistula (POPF), delayed gastric emptying (DGE), and surgical site infection (SSI). Read More

J Exp Clin Cancer Res 2018 Dec 11;37(1):307. Epub 2018 Dec 11.

Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2-5-1 Shikata-cho, Kita-ku, Okayama, 700-8558, Japan.

Background: The peritoneum is one of the most frequent metastatic sites in pancreatic cancer patients, and peritoneal dissemination makes this disease refractory due to aggressive progression and chemoresistance. Although the role of the tumor microenvironment in cancer development is recognized, the correlation between the peritoneal environment and refractoriness of peritoneal dissemination remains unclear. The intraperitoneal tumor-microenvironment and its potential role in the progression of peritoneal dissemination and chemo-refractoriness, focusing especially on macrophages, were investigated. Read More

J Cardiol Cases 2010 Dec 16;2(3):e144-e146. Epub 2010 Jul 16.

Center for Heart and Vessel Preclinical Studies, St John Hospital and Medical Center, Wayne State University School of Medicine, 22201 Moross Road, Detroit, MI, USA.

A 56-year-old Caucasian male was admitted to our hospital with complaints of shortness of breath, joint aches, and chills in the absence of fever. During his hospitalization, he remained afebrile, but developed multiple episodes of bradycardia and intermittent second degree atrioventricular (AV) block, with both Wenckebach and Mobitz type II episodes. Laboratory evaluation demonstrated a chronically elevated amylase, without any significant electrolyte abnormalities. Read More