Search Our Scientific Publications & Authors

Life Sci 2018 Dec 11. Epub 2018 Dec 11.

Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Institute of Acute Abdominal Diseases of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Tianjin Nankai Hospital, Tianjin 300100, China; Nankai Clinical College, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300107, China. Electronic address:

Aims: Pancreatic stellate cells (PSCs) play a critical role in the development of pancreatic fibrosis. Any agents that can affect PSC activation could become potential candidates for treating pancreatic fibrosis. FTY720 can attenuate chronic pancreatic fibrosis by suppressing T-cell infiltration, but its effect on PSCs remains unknown. Read More

Mol Cell Endocrinol 2018 Dec 11. Epub 2018 Dec 11.

The Dumont-UCLA Transplant Center, Department of Surgery, Division of Liver and Pancreas Transplantation, David Geffen School of Medicine at University of California, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA. Electronic address:

Nanomedicine 2018 Dec 11. Epub 2018 Dec 11.

Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA. Electronic address:

Pancreatic cancer is a highly lethal malignancy. Lack of early diagnostic markers makes timely detection of pancreatic cancer a highly challenging endeavor. Exosomes have emerged as information-rich cancer specific biomarkers. Read More

J Gastroenterol Hepatol 2018 Dec 14. Epub 2018 Dec 14.

Clinical Trial Service Unit & Epidemiological Studies Unit (CTSU), Nuffield Department of Population Health|, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.

We aimed to review the epidemiologic literature examining lifestyle, metabolic risk factors, and blood-based biomarkers including multi-omics (genomics, proteomics, and metabolomics) and to discuss how these predictive markers can inform early diagnosis of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). A search of the PubMed database was conducted in June 2018 to review epidemiologic studies of (1) lifestyle and metabolic risk factors for PDAC, genome-wide association studies (GWAS), and risk prediction models incorporating these factors and (2) blood-based biomarkers for PDAC (conventional diagnostic markers, metabolomics, and proteomics). Prospective cohort studies have reported at least twenty possible risk factors for PDAC, including smoking, heavy alcohol drinking, adiposity, diabetes, and pancreatitis, but the relative risks (RR) and population attributable fractions of individual risk factors are small (mostly <10%). Read More

Curr Opin Gastroenterol 2018 Dec 12. Epub 2018 Dec 12.

Pancreato-Biliary Endoscopy Division and Endosonography Division, Pancreas Translational and Clinical Research Centre, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Vita Salute San Raffaele University, Milan.

Purpose Of Review: Alcohol is a type I carcinogen and the WHO stated that it caused 5% of all deaths in 2016, of which 13% because of cancers. Among digestive tract cancers, this association is clear for esophageal, liver and colorectal cancer, and more debated for gastric and pancreatic cancer. The present review will revise recent evidence on epidemiologic association and mechanisms linking alcohol with the risk of esophageal, gastric, colorectal and pancreatic cancers. Read More

J Oncol Pract 2018 Dec 14:JOP1800349. Epub 2018 Dec 14.

MedStar-Georgetown Surgical Outcomes Research Center; MedStar-Georgetown University Hospital; Medstar-Washington Hospital Center; Georgetown-Howard Universities Center for Clinical and Translational Science, Washington, DC; and MedStar Health Research Institute, Hyattsville, MD.

Purpose:: Surgery continues to be the dominant therapy for the management of retroperitoneal soft-tissue sarcoma (RPS). Many groups advocate performing these resections at high-volume hospitals (HVHs), given their complexity. We therefore sought to explore whether RPS surgery has indeed begun to regionalize to HVHs in the same manner as pancreatic cancer (PC) surgery during the last decade. Read More

FASEB J 2018 Dec 14:fj201801292R. Epub 2018 Dec 14.

Department of Clinical Biochemistry and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel.

Chronic exposure of pancreatic β cells to high concentrations of free fatty acids leads to lipotoxicity (LT)-mediated suppression of glucose-stimulated insulin secretion. This effect is in part caused by a decline in mitochondrial function as well as by a reduction in lysosomal acidification. Because both mitochondria and lysosomes can alter one another's function, it remains unclear which initiating dysfunction sets off the detrimental cascade of LT, ultimately leading to β-cell failure. Read More

Klin Lab Diagn 2018 ;63(1):44-50

The Federal state budget educational institution of higher education "The St. Petersburg state pediatric medical university" of Minzdrav of Russia, 194100, St. Petersburg, Russia.

The purpose of study is to establish features of autoimmune reaction of children with Crohn's disease. The sampling included 62 patients aged from 2 to 17 years with diagnosis of Crohn's disease. The evaluation was carried out concerning concentration in blood serum of immunoglobulins IgA, IgM, IgG, IgЕ, antibodies to Saccharomyces cerevisiae (ASCA) classes IgA, IgG и IgЕ, antibodies to Candida albicans classes IgA, IgM, IgG и IgЕ, anti-neutrophilic cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA) to myeloperoxidase (MPO), to proteinase 3 (PR3), anti-nuclear antibodies (ANA), antibodies to DNAds, DNAss (to double-helical and single-stranded DNA), antibodies to antigens of small and large intestines, pancreas, circulating immune complexes. Read More

Am J Transplant 2018 Dec 14. Epub 2018 Dec 14.

Diabetes Research Institute, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy.

Islet autotransplantation is particularly attractive to prevent diabetes after extended pancreatectomy for benign or borderline/malignant pancreas disease. Between 2008 and 2018, 25 patients underwent left extended pancreatectomy (>60%) and islet autotransplantation for neoplasm located in the pancreatic neck or proximal body. Overall, disease-free and diabetes-free survivals were estimated and compared with those observed in 68 non diabetic patients who underwent distal pancreatectomy for pancreatic neoplasms without islet autotransplantation. Read More

Mol Genet Genomic Med 2018 Dec 13. Epub 2018 Dec 13.

Department of Molecular Biology, Instituto Nacional de Cardiología Ignacio Chávez, Mexico City, Mexico.

Background: The aim of this study was to establish the association of two polymorphisms of the β-defensin 1 gene (DEFB1, OMIM#602056) with the risk of developing type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in a group of Mexican patients.

Methods: The 5'UTR -20 G/A, and -44 C/G polymorphisms of DEFB1 gene were genotyped by 5' exonuclease TaqMan assays in a group of 252 patients with T2DM and 522 healthy control.

Results: Under dominant and additive models adjusted for the risk factors, the C allele of the -44 C/G polymorphism was associated with increased risk of T2DM (OR = 1. Read More

J Dig Dis 2018 Dec 14. Epub 2018 Dec 14.

Department of Gastroenterology, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China.

Sinistral portal hypertension (SPH), also known as left-sided portal hypertension, accounts for 5% of all portal hypertension (PH) cases. SPH is commonly secondary to acute or chronic pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer and rarely secondary to peritoneal inflammatory disease, abdominal tumors or diseases of the spleen . Splenic marginal zone lymphoma (SMZL) is a rare type of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma that originates from the lymphocytes of the splenic white pulp. Read More

APMIS 2019 Jan 22;127(1):27-32. Epub 2018 Nov 22.

Department of Pathology, Copenhagen University Hospital Rigshospitalet, København, Denmark.

Intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMNs) are precursor lesions of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Current edition of WHO Classification of Tumors of the Digestive System recognizes four different subtypes (gastric, intestinal, pancreatobiliary, and oncocytic) and recommends analysis of mucin expression (MUC1, MUC2, MUC5AC, MUC6) as well as evaluation of architectural and cell differentiation patterns for correct classification. However, there is no consensus on MUC1 expression of IPMN-lesions in the literature. Read More

Proteomics Clin Appl 2018 Dec 13:e1800046. Epub 2018 Dec 13.

R. Casadonte, J. Kriegsmann, Proteopath GmbH, Trier, Germany.

Purpose: To define proteomic differences between pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (pDAC) and pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor (pNET) by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry imaging (MALDI MSI).

Experimental Design: 93 pDAC and 126 pNET individual tissues were assembled in tissue microarrays and analyzed by MALDI MSI. The cohort was separated in a training (52 pDAC and 83 pNET) and validation set (41 pDAC and 43 pNET). Read More

Transpl Infect Dis 2018 Dec 12:e13037. Epub 2018 Dec 12.

Division of Infectious Diseases, Carver College of Medicine University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA.

Q fever is uncommon in solid organ transplant (SOT) recipients. We describe a case of granulomatous lung disease as an unusual presentation of chronic Q fever in a kidney-pancreas transplant recipient. This article is protected by copyright. Read More

Curr Protoc Cell Biol 2018 Dec 12:e82. Epub 2018 Dec 12.

Section of Islet Cell and Regenerative Biology, Joslin Diabetes Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.

Traditionally, studies of cells and tissues have been performed on isolated primary cells or immortalized cell lines by culturing them in 2D culture dishes or flasks. However, a caveat regarding 2D culture is that the cells poorly recapitulate their in vivo counterparts, mainly due to a lack of 3D cell-cell and cell-extracellular matrix interactions. In recent years, the development of in vitro organoids as 3D culture has gained substantial attention as a model to study different tissues. Read More

Cancer Sci 2018 Dec 12. Epub 2018 Dec 12.

Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, the Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310009, China.

B7-H5 and its cognate receptor CD28H, are T lymphocyte second signaling transduction molecules. Here we aim to explore the function of this pathway in pancreatic cancer in vitro and in vivo, and evaluated the clinical significance in 136 patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma enrolled from January 2012 to February 2017 in our hospital. Surgical tumor specimens were collected for immunohistochemical staining to evaluate B7-H5 expression. Read More

J Cell Biochem 2018 Dec 11. Epub 2018 Dec 11.

Stem Cell Technology Research Center, Tehran, Iran.

Combination of adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ADSCs) and synthetic materials in terms of pancreatic tissue engineering can be considered as a treatment of diabetes. This study aimed to evaluate the differentiation of human ADSCs to pancreatic cells on poly-l-lactic acid/polyvinyl alcohol (PLLA/PVA) nanofibers as a three-dimensional (3D) scaffold. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) were characterized for mesenchymal surface markers by flow cytometry. Read More

Aliment Pharmacol Ther 2019 Jan;49(1):116-117

Department of Liver, Biliary Tract and Pancreas Diseases, Fujita Health University School of Medicine, Aichi, Japan.

J Vet Intern Med 2018 Dec 11. Epub 2018 Dec 11.

Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado.

Background: Acute pancreatitis in dogs is an under-diagnosed disease. Current diagnostic methods are insufficient at identifying sequelae and lack prognostic capability. Computed tomographic angiography (CTA) is accurate for diagnosis and prognostication of pancreatitis in humans. Read More

J Cell Biochem 2018 Dec 11. Epub 2018 Dec 11.

Laboratory of Tropical Biomedicine and Biotechnology, School of Tropical Medicine and Laboratory Medicine, Hainan Medical University, Haikou, China.

Background: Trigger transposable element-derived 1 (TIGD1), a human species-specific gene, was identified as a cell cycle-related differentially expressed gene during the formation of liver cancer. As far as we know, there are no reports about the function of TIGD1. This study aimed to explore the expression of TIGD1 in human cancers and establish whether elevated TIGD1 can be used as a prognostic cancer biomarker and its potential role in cancer. Read More

J Cell Biochem 2018 Dec 11. Epub 2018 Dec 11.

Biomedical Health Sciences Department, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, USA.

Distal regulatory elements influence the activity of gene promoters through chromatin looping. Chromosome conformation capture (3C) methods permit identification of chromatin contacts across different regions of the genome. However, due to limitations in the resolution of these methods, the detection of functional chromatin interactions remains a challenge. Read More

J Cell Mol Med 2018 Dec 8. Epub 2018 Dec 8.

Departments of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China.

HOXA transcript at the distal tip (HOTTIP) has been shown to be up-regulated in a variety of cancers and is identified as an oncogenic long noncoding RNA. However, the biological role of HOTTIP in liver fibrosis is unclear. Here, we reported that HOTTIP was specifically overexpressed in activated hepatic stellate cells (HSCs). Read More

BMC Gastroenterol 2018 Dec 14;18(1):187. Epub 2018 Dec 14.

Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, China.

Background: The role of progesterone receptor (PR) has been reported in a series of pancreatic cysts. However, the relationship between PR and prognosis of solid pseudopapillary neoplasm of the pancreas (SPNP) has not been elucidated so far. The aim of our study was to evaluate the prognostic value of PR in SPNP. Read More

Diabetes Technol Ther 2018 Dec 14. Epub 2018 Dec 14.

1 Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Background: There is an unmet need for a modular artificial pancreas (AP) system for clinical trials within the existing regulatory framework to further AP research projects from both academia and industry. We designed, developed, and tested the interoperable artificial pancreas system (iAPS) smartphone app that can interface wirelessly with leading continuous glucose monitors (CGM), insulin pump devices, and decision-making algorithms while running on an unlocked smartphone.

Methods: After algorithm verification, hazard and mitigation analysis, and complete system verification of iAPS, six adults with type 1 diabetes completed 1 week of sensor-augmented pump (SAP) use followed by 48 h of AP use with the iAPS, a Dexcom G5 CGM, and either a Tandem or Insulet insulin pump in an investigational device exemption study. Read More

J Cardiol Cases 2010 Oct 24;2(2):e59-e62. Epub 2010 Mar 24.

Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Nantan General Hospital, 25, Yagi-Ueno, Yagi-cho, Nantan city, Kyoto 629-0197, Japan.

A 45-year-old woman complaining of consciousness disturbance demonstrated multiple brain infarctions. Echocardiogram showed vegetation on the posterior mitral leaflet. Infectious endocarditis was initially suspected and we started empirical antibiotics. Read More

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