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Diabetologia 2018 Dec 14. Epub 2018 Dec 14.

Institute of Cellular Medicine, Faculty of Clinical Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.

Diabetologia 2018 Dec 14. Epub 2018 Dec 14.

Department of Medicine, Division of Diabetes, Endocrinology, and Metabolism, 7465 Medical Research Bldg IV, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, 2215 Garland Avenue, Nashville, TN, 37232-0475, USA.

Over the last two decades, improved access to human islets and the development of human islet distribution networks have enabled the use of millions of human islets in hundreds of scientific research projects, leading to a dramatic increase in our understanding of human islet biology. Here we discuss recent scientific advances as well as methodological and experimental challenges that impact human islet quality, experimental outcomes and the reporting of human islets used in scientific publications. In a survey of over 200 scientific publications with human islet experimentation, we found that the reporting of critical information was quite variable, sometimes obscure, and often failed to adequately outline the experiments and results using human islets. Read More

Eur J Radiol Open 2019 5;6:1-8. Epub 2018 Dec 5.

Dept of Surgery and Urology, Danderyd University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.

Background: Ablation therapies for tumours are becoming more used as ablation modalities evolve and targeting solutions are getting better. There is an increasing body of long-term results challenging resection and proving lower morbidities and costs. The aim of this paper is to share the experiences from a high-volume centre in introducing computer assisted targeting solutions and efficient ablation modalities like microwave generators and irreversible electroporation. Read More

Oncoimmunology 2019 10;8(1):e1523096. Epub 2018 Nov 10.

TRON - Translational Oncology, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany.

In healthy tissue, the tight junction protein Claudin 18.2 (CLDN18.2) is present only in the gastric mucosa. Read More

Mol Clin Oncol 2018 Dec 4;9(6):651-655. Epub 2018 Oct 4.

First Department of Pathology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece.

Neuroendocrine tumors (NETs), belong to a group of neoplasms that arise from neuroendocrine cells and express markers such as synaptophysin and chromogranin A. The digestive system (DS) is the most common site of NET development. The World Health Organization classification divides NETs into low grade (G1-G2) tumors (NETs) and high grade carcinomas [neuroendocrine carcinomas (NECs)], based on mitotic index and histological criteria. Read More

Oncotarget 2018 Nov 16;9(90):36102-36109. Epub 2018 Nov 16.

Emory Institute for Drug Development, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA.

Synthetic monocarbonyl analogs of curcumin (MACs) are cytotoxic against several cancers including head and neck cancer, pancreatic cancer, colon cancer, and breast cancer. Mechanisms of action include depolarization of the mitochondrial membrane potential and inhibition of NF-κB, leading to apoptosis. We previously demonstrated that UBS109 (MAC), has preventive effects on bone loss induced by breast cancer cell lines. Read More

Radiol Case Rep 2019 Mar 7;14(3):320-323. Epub 2018 Dec 7.

University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA.

One of the rare complications of low-grade pancreatic neoplasms is fistulization into nearby structures. This often does not present clinically, but is incidentally identified in patients who have been imaged serially to monitor the progression of the disease. In this report, we present an uncommon complication of an intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm, which developed a spontaneous gastropancreatic fistula in a patient who was conservatively managed. Read More

Oncol Lett 2018 Dec 27;16(6):7295-7301. Epub 2018 Sep 27.

Department of Pancreatic and Thyroidal Surgery, Shengjing Hospital Affiliated to China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning 110000, P.R. China.

Pancreatic cancer is an aggressive type of cancer with a poor prognosis, short survival rate and high mortality. Therefore, understanding the molecular mechanism underlying the aggressive growth of pancreatic cancer is of importance. An increasing number of studies suggest that numerous microRNAs (miRNAs/miRs) are associated with the tumorigenesis, progression and prognosis of tumors. Read More

Oncol Lett 2018 Dec 9;16(6):7158-7165. Epub 2018 Oct 9.

Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong 266003, P.R. China.

The tumor microenvironment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a complex system, involving mutual promotion and inhibition between cells and molecules. It results in alterations to inflammatory-associated factors, including a decrease in interleukin (IL)-2 and an increase in tumor necrosis factor, together with a characteristic elevation of IL-6. Following the synthesis and release of IL-6, HCC is stimulated through IL-6 binding to the IL-6 receptor (IL-6R). Read More

Sci Rep 2018 Dec 13;8(1):17814. Epub 2018 Dec 13.

Department of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism, University of Wisconsin-Madison, and the William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital, Madison, WI, USA.

Type 2 diabetes is an age-and-obesity associated disease driven by impairments in glucose homeostasis that ultimately result in defective insulin secretion from pancreatic β-cells. To deconvolve the effects of age and obesity in an experimental model of prediabetes, we fed young and aged mice either chow or a short-term high-fat/high-sucrose Western diet (WD) and examined how weight, glucose tolerance, and β-cell function were affected. Although WD induced a similar degree of weight gain in young and aged mice, a high degree of heterogeneity was found exclusively in aged mice. Read More

Nat Commun 2018 Dec 13;9(1):5298. Epub 2018 Dec 13.

State Key Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, Institute of Hematology and Hospital of Blood Disease, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Tianjin, 300020, China.

To balance immunity and tolerance, the endogenous pool of Foxp3 regulatory T (T) cells is tightly controlled, but the underlying mechanisms of this control remain poorly understood. Here we show that the number of T cells is negatively regulated by the kinase Lkb1 in dendritic cells (DCs). Conditional knockout of the Lkb1 gene in DCs leads to excessive T cell expansion in multiple organs and dampens antigen-specific T cell immunity. Read More

J Natl Compr Canc Netw 2018 Dec;16(12):1468-1475

Division of Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, and Department of Clinical Science, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas.

Preoperative therapy is being increasingly used in the treatment of resectable pancreatic cancer. Because there are only limited data on the optimal preoperative regimen, we compared overall survival (OS) between preoperative chemotherapy (CT) and preoperative chemoradiotherapy (CRT) in resectable pancreatic adenocarcinoma. Patients receiving preoperative therapy and resection for clinical T1-3N0-1M0 adenocarcinoma of the pancreas were identified in the National Cancer Database for 2006 through 2012. Read More

J Natl Compr Canc Netw 2018 Dec;16(12):1424-1428

Division of Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgical Pathology, Department of Medical Oncology, and Division of Gastroenterology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) represent 1% of alimentary tract neoplasms. Up to 90% of GISTs are driven by activating mutations in tyrosine kinase or α genes. Imatinib mesylate is a tyrosine kinase inhibitor that has recently been used in a neoadjuvant role for locally advanced GIST. Read More

Clin Res Hepatol Gastroenterol 2018 Dec 10. Epub 2018 Dec 10.

Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, 238 Jiefang Road, Wuhan city, Hubei province 430060, PR China. Electronic address:

Objectives: The aim of this study was to compare the prognostic value of inflammation-based prognostic markers with the more mature scoring system BISAP in patients with AP and identify the best predictors.

Patients And Methods: We retrospectively analysed the data of patients with AP who were treated in our hospital from January 2017 to March 2018 and compared the prognostic value of these inflammation-based prognostic markers with the BISAP score in patients with AP.

Results: Higher BISAP score, NLR, PLR, ACC, and BUN gradually increased (all P < 0. Read More

Int J Hyg Environ Health 2018 Dec 10. Epub 2018 Dec 10.

Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and Health Risk Assessment, Guangdong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Environmental and Health Risk Assessment, Department of Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China. Electronic address:

Background: Residing in greener places may be protective against diabetes mellitus (DM) but evidence is scarce and comes mainly from developed countries.

Objectives: To investigate associations of residential greenness with DM prevalence and glucose-homeostasis markers in Chinese adults and whether these associations were mediated by air pollution, physical activity, and body mass index.

Methods: In 2009, a total of 15,477 adults from the cross-sectional 33 Communities Chinese Health Study provided blood samples and completed a questionnaire. Read More

Mol Ther 2018 Nov 17. Epub 2018 Nov 17.

Division of Pharmacoengineering and Molecular Pharmaceutics, Center for Nanotechnology in Drug Delivery, Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; UNC & NCSU Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA. Electronic address:

Local immunomodulation can be a promising strategy to augment the efficacy and decrease off-target toxicities associated with cancer treatment. Pancreatic cancer is resistant to immunotherapies due to the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment. Herein, we investigated a therapeutic approach involving delivery of a short interfering double-stranded RNA (dsRNA), specific to Bcl2, with 5' triphosphate ends, by lipid calcium phosphate nanoparticles, in an orthotopic allograft KPC model of pancreatic cancer. Read More

BMB Rep 2018 Dec 14. Epub 2018 Dec 14.

Department of Cardio-Thoracic Surgery, Affiliated Zhoushan Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Zhoushan 316000, China.

Serine protease inhibitor Kazal type 1 (SPINK1) plays a role in protecting the pancreas against premature activation of trypsinogen and is involved in cancer progression. SPINK1 promoted LAC cells growth, migration, and invasion. Mechanistically, we found that SPINK1 promoted LAC cells migration and invasion via up-regulating matrix metalloproteinase 12 (MMP12). Read More

BMC Med Imaging 2018 Dec 13;18(1):52. Epub 2018 Dec 13.

Medicover Medical Centre, Münsterplatz 6, 89073, Ulm, Germany.

Background: The aims of this study were to establish shear wave elastography of the pancreas by comparing measurements in patients with type 1 diabetes (T1D) and healthy volunteers and to consider whether this method could contribute to the screening or prevention of T1D.

Methods: This pilot study included 15 patients with T1D (10 men, 5 women) and 15 healthy volunteers (10 men, 5 women) as controls. Measurements were performed with a Siemens Acuson S3000 (Siemens Healthcare, Erlangen, Germany) using a 6C1 convex transducer and the Virtual Touch™ tissue quantification (VTQ) method. Read More

Molecules 2018 Dec 11;23(12). Epub 2018 Dec 11.

School of Cancer and Pharmaceutical Science, King's College London, 150 Stamford Street, London SE1 9NH, UK.

As a part of our ongoing research on endophytic fungi, we have isolated a sesterterpene mycotoxin, fusaproliferin (FUS), from a strain, which is associated with the plant Schott. FUS showed rapid and sub-micromolar IC against pancreatic cancer cell lines. Time-dependent survival analysis and microscopy imaging showed rapid morphological changes in cancer cell lines 4 h after incubation with FUS. Read More

Biomedicines 2018 Dec 11;6(4). Epub 2018 Dec 11.

Fondazione Novara Sviluppo, 28100 Novara, Italy.

The human body is naturally colonized by a huge number of different commensal microbial species, in a relatively stable equilibrium. When this microbial community undergoes dysbiosis at any part of the body, it interacts with the innate immune system and results in a poor health status, locally or systemically. Research studies show that bacteria are capable of significantly influencing specific cells of the immune system, resulting in many diseases, including a neoplastic response. Read More

Molecules 2018 Dec 11;23(12). Epub 2018 Dec 11.

Laboratori d'Enginyeria de Proteïnes, Departament de Biologia, Facultat de Ciències, Universitat de Girona, Campus de Montilivi, Maria Aurèlia Capmany 40, 17003 Girona, Spain.

Ribonucleases are proteins whose use is promising in anticancer therapy. We have previously constructed different human pancreatic ribonuclease variants that are selectively cytotoxic for tumor cells by introducing a nuclear localization signal into their sequence. However, these modifications produced an important decrease in their stability compromising their behavior in vivo. Read More

Molecules 2018 Dec 10;23(12). Epub 2018 Dec 10.

Department of Pharmacy, University "G. d'Annunzio" of Chieti-Pescara, 66100 Chieti, Italy.

Due to renewed interest in the cultivation and production of Italian L., we proposed a multi-methodological approach to explore chemically and biologically both the essential oil and the aromatic water of this plant. We reported the chemical composition in terms of cannabinoid content, volatile component, phenolic and flavonoid pattern, and color characteristics. Read More

Biomolecules 2018 Dec 10;8(4). Epub 2018 Dec 10.

Department of Medical Oncology, Institute of Oncology, Istanbul University, 34452 Fatih/Istanbul, Turkey.

Introduction: Pancreatic cancer (PC) is a lethal malignancy. Various diagnostic, predictive, and prognostic biomarkers have been evaluated. This study was conducted to investigate the serum levels of neural precursor cell expressed developmentally downregulated protein 9 (NEDD9) in patients with PC and the relationship between tumor progression and known prognostic parameters. Read More

Cancers (Basel) 2018 Dec 10;10(12). Epub 2018 Dec 10.

Departments of Hematology-Oncology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at Linkou and Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Taoyaun 333, Taiwan.

Background: Few studies have reported the epidemiology and clinical outcome of venous thromboembolism (VTE) in Asian patients with pancreatic cancer. This study investigated the incidence, risk factors, and clinical outcome of VTE in patients with pancreatic cancer following palliative chemotherapy.

Methods: The medical records of 838 patients with newly diagnosed locally advanced or metastatic pancreatic cancer who underwent palliative chemotherapy between 2010 and 2016 at four institutes in Taiwan were retrospectively reviewed. Read More

Int J Mol Sci 2018 Dec 7;19(12). Epub 2018 Dec 7.

Department of Oncology, University of Torino, 10060 Candiolo, Italy.

The 'onco-receptor' MET (Hepatocyte Growth Factor Receptor) is involved in the activation of the invasive growth program that is essential during embryonic development and critical for wound healing and organ regeneration during adult life. When aberrantly activated, MET and its stroma-secreted ligand HGF (Hepatocyte Growth Factor) concur to tumor onset, progression, and metastasis in solid tumors, thus representing a relevant target for cancer precision medicine. In the vast majority of tumors, wild-type behaves as a 'stress-response' gene, and relies on ligand stimulation to sustain cancer cell 'scattering', invasion, and protection form apoptosis. Read More

Medicine (Baltimore) 2018 Dec;97(49):e13473

Department of Gastroenterology.

Rationale: Pancreatic ductal carcinoma is a hypovascular tumor, and characteristic findings are observed on imaging modalities, such as computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), in most cases.

Patient Concerns: Here we report a case of anaplastic carcinoma of the pancreas (ACP) with characteristics of hypervascular tumor diagnosed by endoscopic ultrasound guided fine needle aspiration (EUS-FNA). A 70-year-old woman was admitted to hospital because of exacerbation of diabetes. Read More

Medicine (Baltimore) 2018 Dec;97(49):e13466

Department of Diagnostic Pathology, Jichi Medical University Hospital.

Little is known concerning the prognostic significance of the degree of lymphatic vessel invasion in pancreatic head cancer. To address this gap in knowledge, we retrospectively examined 60 patients with locally advanced, surgically resectable pancreatic head cancer who underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy and lymph node (LN) dissection.All cases were histopathologically diagnosed as ductal adenocarcinoma, stage II (25 pT3N0 cases, 35 pT3N1 cases). Read More

Medicine (Baltimore) 2018 Dec;97(49):e13243

Institute for Applied Epistemology and Medical Methodology (IFAEMM) at the University of Witten/Herdecke, Freiburg i. Brsg., Germany.

Rationale: Metastatic pancreatic cancer has a dismal prognosis. Many patients seek integrative care as an add-on to their conventional cancer treatment. Viscum album extracts (VAE)-widely used as an adjunct to cancer treatment-have cytotoxic, apoptogenic, and immune stimulatory properties. Read More

Medicine (Baltimore) 2018 Dec;97(49):e13147

Division of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Yonsei University College of Medicine.

Background: Solid pseudopapillary neoplasms (SPNs) of the pancreas are rare tumors considered to be benign although 10% to 15% of SPNs have been reported to be aggressive. Due to its rarity, there have only been a few cases reported regarding the clinical course of patients with aggressive SPNs. The goal of this study is to describe the clinical course of patients diagnosed with aggressive SPNs. Read More

Poult Sci 2018 Dec 13. Epub 2018 Dec 13.

Adaptation Physiology Group, Wageningen University, PO Box 338, NL-6700AH Wageningen, the Netherlands.

The current study aimed to investigate whether diet density affects growth performance and nutrient digestion during the first wk after hatch and digestive organ weight at 7 d of age. Effects were studied using a dose-response design consisting of 5 dietary fat levels (3.5, 7. Read More

Psychoneuroendocrinology 2018 Dec 6;102:128-138. Epub 2018 Dec 6.

Department of Neurology, First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325000, China. Electronic address:

Maternal environmental factors such as diet have profound effects on offspring development and later health. The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis is an important stress neuroendocrine system that is subject to programming by early life challenges. The present study was further to investigate whether maternal high fat diet (HFD) exposure during rat pregnancy and lactation can alter the HPA axis activity in adult male offspring. Read More

Bioorg Chem 2018 Dec 4;84:384-388. Epub 2018 Dec 4.

Dipartimento di Scienze della Salute, Università "Magna Græcia" di Catanzaro, Viale Europa, Campus Universitario "S. Venuta", Loc. Germaneto, 88100 CZ, Italy.

Phenolic compounds present in extra virgin olive oil have recently attracted considerable attention due to their pharmacological activities. Among them oleacein (3,4-DHPEA-EDA), structurally related to oleochantal (4-HPEA-EDA), is one of the most studied. 3,4-DHPEA-EDA has been synthesized through decarboxylation of demethyloleuropein catalyzed by Er(OTf). Read More

J Oncol Pract 2018 Dec 13:JOP1800315. Epub 2018 Dec 13.

Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY.

Purpose:: A shift in outpatient oncology care from the physician's office to hospital outpatient settings has generated interest in the effect of practice setting on outcomes. Our objective was to examine whether medical oncologists' prescribing of drugs and services for older adult patients with advanced cancer is used more in physicians' offices compared with hospital outpatient departments.

Methods:: This was a retrospective comparative study. Read More

EJNMMI Res 2018 Dec 12;8(1):108. Epub 2018 Dec 12.

Department of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, Lausanne University Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland.

Background: Gastrin-releasing peptide receptor antagonists have promise in theranostics of several highly incident tumours, including prostate and breast. This study presents the first human dosimetry of Ga-NODAGA-MJ9 in the first five consecutive patients with recurrent prostate cancer included in a dual-tracer positron emission tomography (PET) protocol. Five male patients with biochemical relapse of prostate adenocarcinoma underwent four whole-body time-of-flight PET/CT scans within 2 h after tracer injection. Read More

World J Surg 2018 Dec 12. Epub 2018 Dec 12.

Division of Colorectal Surgery, Department of Surgery, National Taiwan University Hospital and College of Medicine, No. 7, Chung-Shan South Road, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC.

Background: The present study is to set up a standardized approach for complete mobilization of colonic splenic flexure using da Vinci Xi robotic system, based on clarification of the mesenteric structures of distal transverse colon.

Methods: The surgical outcomes and relevant anatomic structures of 104 consecutive patients undergoing robotic resection of primary colorectal cancer with the intent of complete mobilization of colonic splenic flexure using da Vinci Xi robotic system were retrospectively reviewed.

Results: Complete mobilization of colonic splenic flexure can be efficiently performed by the Xi robotic system, as demonstrated by short operation time, minimal intra-operative blood loss, and few surgical complications. Read More

J Cancer Res Clin Oncol 2018 Dec 12. Epub 2018 Dec 12.

Department of Science, The Wheatley School, Old Westbury, NY, USA.

Purpose: Mutations in the tumor suppressor gene TP53 are associated with a variety of cancers. Therefore, it is important to know the occurrence and prognostic effects of TP53 mutations in certain cancers.

Methods: Over 29,000 cases from the April 2016 release of the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) TP53 Database were analyzed to determine the distribution of germline and somatic mutations in the TP53 gene. Read More

Oncol Rep 2018 Oct 2. Epub 2018 Oct 2.

Department of Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330006, P.R. China.

Kruppel-like factor 9 (KLF9), a transcription factor, is critical for the inhibition of growth and development of tumors, whereas its effects in pancreatic cancer remains unclear. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the expression and functional significance of KLF9 in vitro, by assessing the expression of KLF9 in pancreatic cancer tissue samples and its association with the total survival of patients and clinicopathological data. The levels of KLF9 expression in adjacent tissues and pancreatic cancer tissues were detected using immunohistochemistry. Read More

Oncol Rep 2018 Oct 30. Epub 2018 Oct 30.

Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710061, P.R. China.

The relationship between diabetes mellitus and pancreatic cancer is complex. Diabetes has been postulated to be both an independent risk factor and a consequence of pancreatic cancer. Our previous study confirmed that curcumin plays a vital role in inhibiting the epithelial-mesenchymal transition of pancreatic cancer cells. Read More

Oncol Rep 2018 Nov 2. Epub 2018 Nov 2.

Department of Integrative Medicine Surgery, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, Liaoning 116011, P.R. China.

Acute pancreatitis (AP) is an aseptic inflammation characterized with an annual incidence rate, and ~20% patients progressing to severe AP (SAP) with a high mortality rate. Although Qingyi decoction has been frequently used for SAP treatment over the past 3 decades in clinic, the actual mechanism of its protective effects remains unknown. As the major active ingredient of Qingyi decoction, emodin was selected in the present study to investigate the effect of emodin against severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) in rats through NOD‑like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasomes. Read More

Oncol Rep 2018 Oct 3. Epub 2018 Oct 3.

Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The Second Hospital of Jiaxing, Jiaxing, Zhejiang 314000, P.R. China.

A growing body of evidence confirms that long non‑coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have an important role in biological processes by regulating gene expression at multiple levels. Dysregulated lncRNAs may be potential prognostic biomarkers or targets for the development of cancer treatments. However, the prognostic role of an lncRNA signature in pancreatic cancer has not been investigated. Read More

Chem Sci 2018 Nov 29;9(42):8103-8109. Epub 2018 Aug 29.

Key Laboratory of Flexible Electronics (KLOFE) , Institute of Advanced Materials (IAM) , Nanjing Tech University (NanjingTech) , 30 South Puzhu Road , Nanjing 211800 , China . Email: ; Email:

Emerging treatment approaches, such as gas therapy (GT), photodynamic therapy (PDT) and photothermal therapy (PTT), have received widespread attention. The development of an intelligent multifunctional nano-platform responding to tumor microenvironments for multimodal therapy is highly desirable. Herein, a near-infrared (NIR) light-responsive nitric oxide (NO) photodonor (4-nitro-3-trifluoromethylaniline, NF) and a pH-sensitive group (dimethylaminophenyl) have been introduced into a diketopyrrolopyrrole core (denoted as DPP-NF). Read More

Rare Tumors 2018 5;10:2036361318809183. Epub 2018 Nov 5.

Section of Histopathology, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan.

Background: Serous cystadenomas of pancreas are rare benign epithelial neoplasms, which predominantly occur in the pancreatic body and tail of elderly females. Majority of these tumors have microcystic appearance. Macrocystic and solid variants have also been described. Read More

Oncotarget 2018 Nov 13;9(89):35941-35961. Epub 2018 Nov 13.

Aix-Marseille Univ, INSERM UMR 911, CRO2, Marseille, France.

The microRNA-200 (miR-200) family is frequently down-regulated in tumors, including pancreatic adenocarcinomas (PDACs). In this study we have examined the mechanisms involved in the loss of miR-200s in tumoral pancreatic cells. Whereas miR-200 gene promoters appear methylated in mature miR-200 deficient cell lines, miR-200 precursors are detected in nuclear but not cytoplasmic compartment of these cells, indicating that promoter hypermethylation is not sufficient to explain the deficit of mature miR-200s. Read More

Exp Ther Med 2018 Dec 12;16(6):5350-5358. Epub 2018 Oct 12.

Tianjin Institute of Integrative Medicine for Acute Abdominal Diseases, Tianjin Nankai Hospital, Tianjin 300100, P.R. China.

The immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment limits the application of adoptive immunotherapy for solid tumors. Hypoxia is closely associated with the formation of the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment. Hypoxia-inducible factor-1 (HIF-1) is an oxygen-sensitive transcriptional activator that drives the transcription of several immunosuppressive molecules. Read More

J Biosci 2018 Dec;43(5):969-983

Guangdong Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Bioactive Substances, Guangzhou 510006, Guangdong, China.

The study was designed to explore the beneficial effect of Musca domestica larvae extract (MDLE) on a metabolic disorder using a diabetic rat model. Streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats were treated with or without MDLE. Blood glucose, insulin levels, lipid profiles, and oxidative stress markers were measured. Read More

J Biosci 2018 Dec;43(5):921-929

Lianyungang Maternal and Children's Health Hospital, Lianyungang 222001, Jiangsu, China.

5rolGLP-HV is a promising dual-function peptide for the treatment of diabetes and thrombosis simultaneously. For investigating the therapeutic mechanism of 5rolGLP-HV for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), STZ-induced diabetic mice were established and treated with 5rolGLP-HV. The results showed that daily water and food intake, blood glucose, serum and pancreatic insulin levels significantly decreased after 5rolGLP-HV treatment with various oral concentrations, and 16 mg/kg was the optimal dose for controlling diabetes. Read More

J Pharmacol Exp Ther 2018 Dec 12. Epub 2018 Dec 12.

UNC Chapel Hill

Gastrointestinal (GI) cancers like liver, pancreatic, colorectal, and gastric cancer remain some of the most difficult and aggressive cancers. Nanoparticles like liposomes had been approved in the clinic for cancer therapy dating as far back as in 1995. Over the years, liposomal formulations have come a long way, facing several roadblocks, and failures, and advanced by optimizing formulations and incorporating novel design approaches to navigate therapeutic delivery challenges. Read More

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2018 Dec 12. Epub 2018 Dec 12.

Department of General, Visceral, and Pediatric Surgery, University Medical Center Göttingen, 37075 Göttingen, Germany

Molecular subtyping of cancer offers tremendous promise for the optimization of a precision oncology approach to anticancer therapy. Recent advances in pancreatic cancer research uncovered various molecular subtypes with tumors expressing a squamous/basal-like gene expression signature displaying a worse prognosis. Through unbiased epigenome mapping, we identified deltaNp63 as a major driver of a gene signature in pancreatic cancer cell lines, which we report to faithfully represent the highly aggressive pancreatic squamous subtype observed in vivo, and display the specific epigenetic marking of genes associated with decreased survival. Read More

Turk J Gastroenterol 2018 Dec 12. Epub 2018 Dec 12.

Department of Pathology, Wonkwang University School of Medicine and Hospital, Iksan, Republic of Korea.

Zhonghua Wei Zhong Bing Ji Jiu Yi Xue 2018 Nov;30(11):1077-1082

Department of General Surgery, People's Hospital of Qinghai Province, Xining 810007, Qinghai, China (Zhu HH, Zhu WJ, Guo YM); Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Tangshan Gongren Hospital, Tangshan 063000, Hebei, China (Pan MS). Corresponding author: Guo Yamin, Email:

Objective: To observe the indexes of liver injury and the expression of inflammation-related factor interleukin-10 (IL-10) in rats with severe acute pancreatitis (SAP), and to discuss the correlation between the expression of IL-10 and the related factors of liver injury in SAP rats at different altitudes.

Methods: 280 male Wistar rats with SPF grade aged 5 to 6 months were divided into four groups according to random number table with 70 rats in each group, and the rats were placed in different altitudes such as Xi'an (at an altitude of 1 027 m), Xining (at an altitude of 2 260 m), Xinghai (at an altitude of 3 300 m) and Wenquan (at an altitude of 3 950 m). The rats in each altitude were randomly divided into sham operation group (Sham group, n = 10) and SAP 1, 6, 12, 24 hours groups (all n = 15). Read More