Hemoglobin A1c Is a Predictor of New Insulin Dependence After Partial Pancreatectomy: A Multi-Institutional Analysis.

Background: Pancreatic diseases have long been associated with impaired glucose control. This study sought to identify the incidence of new insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) after pancreatectomy and the predictive accuracy of hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) or blood glucose.

Methods: Patients who underwent partial pancreatectomy and had preoperative HbA1c available at two academic institutions were assessed for new IDDM on discharge in relation to complication rates and survival.

Delayed Processing of Secretin-Induced Pancreas Fluid Influences the Quality and Integrity of Proteins and Nucleic Acids.

Objectives: Endoscopic pancreatic function tests are used to diagnose pancreatic diseases and are a viable source for the discovery of biomarkers to better characterize pancreatic disorders. However, pancreatic fluid (PF) contains active enzymes that degrade biomolecules. Therefore, we tested how preservation methods and time to storage influence the integrity and quality of proteins and nucleic acids.

Long-Term Assessment of Pancreatic Function After Pancreatectomy for Cystic Neoplasms.

Background: With advances in cross-sectional imaging, pancreatic cysts are more frequently diagnosed and have become a common indication for pancreatectomy. The impact of pancreatectomy in these patients is important. The purpose of this study was to assess short-term outcomes, long-term nutritional status, quality of life (QOL), and pancreas function after pancreatectomy for cystic neoplasms.

Evidence Versus Practice in Early Drain Removal After Pancreatectomy.

Background: Early drain removal when postoperative day (POD) one drain fluid amylase (DFA) was ≤5000 U/L reduced complications in a previous randomized controlled trial. We hypothesized that most surgeons continue to remove drains late and this is associated with inferior outcomes.

Methods: We assessed the practice of surgeons in a prospectively maintained pancreas surgery registry to determine the association between timing of drain removal with demographics, comorbidities, and complications.

SRC-3 inhibition blocks tumor growth of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a highly malignant and lethal disease with few treatment options. Steroid receptor coactivator-3 (SRC-3, also known as NCOA3, AIB1, pCIP, ACTR, RAC3, TRAM1) sits at the nexus of many growth signaling pathways and has been pursued as a therapeutic target for breast, prostate and lung cancers. In this study, we find that SRC-3 is overexpressed in PDAC and inversely correlates with patient overall survival.

Standard Operating Procedures for Biospecimen Collection, Processing, and Storage: From the Consortium for the Study of Chronic Pancreatitis, Diabetes, and Pancreatic Cancer.

High-quality and well-annotated biorepositories are needed to better understand the pathophysiology and biologic mechanisms of chronic pancreatitis (CP) and its consequences. We report a methodology for the development of a robust standard operating procedure (SOP) for a biorepository based on the experience of the clinical centers within the consortium to study Chronic Pancreatitis, Diabetes and Pancreas Cancer Clinical Centers (CPDPC), supported by the National Cancer Institute and the National Institute for Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases as a unique multidisciplinary model to study CP, diabetes, and pancreatic cancer in both children and adults. Standard operating procedures from the CPDPC centers were evaluated and consolidated.

Venous thrombosis following pancreaticoduodenectomy with venous resection.

Background: Addition of en bloc segmental venous reconstruction (VR) to pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) for venous involvement of pancreatic tumors increases the complexity of the operation and may increase complications. The long-term mesenteric venous patency rate and oncologic outcome has not been well defined.

Methods: Our prospective database was reviewed to assess 90-day postoperative outcomes for patients who underwent PD or PD + VR (September 2004-June 2016).

Sequential drain amylase to guide drain removal following pancreatectomy.

Background: Although used as criterion for early drain removal, postoperative day (POD) 1 drain fluid amylase (DFA) ≤ 5000 U/L has low negative predictive value for clinically relevant postoperative pancreatic fistula (CR-POPF). It was hypothesized that POD3 DFA ≤ 350 could provide further information to guide early drain removal.

Methods: Data from a pancreas surgery consortium database for pancreatoduodenectomy and distal pancreatectomy patients were analyzed retrospectively.

A Prospective Randomized Multicenter Trial of Distal Pancreatectomy With and Without Routine Intraperitoneal Drainage.

Objective: The objective of this study was to test the hypothesis that distal pancreatectomy (DP) without intraperitoneal drainage does not affect the frequency of grade 2 or higher grade complications.

Background: The use of routine intraperitoneal drains during DP is controversial. Prior to this study, no prospective trial focusing on DP without intraperitoneal drainage has been reported.

Delayed gastric emptying following pancreaticoduodenectomy: Incidence, risk factors, and healthcare utilization.

Aim: To characterize incidence and risk factors for delayed gastric emptying (DGE) following pancreaticoduodenectomy and examine its implications on healthcare utilization.

Methods: A prospectively-maintained database was reviewed. DGE was classified using International Study Group of Pancreatic Surgery criteria.

Nutritional and Metabolic Derangements in Pancreatic Cancer and Pancreatic Resection.

Pancreatic cancer is an aggressive malignancy with a poor prognosis. The disease and its treatment can cause significant nutritional impairments that often adversely impact patient quality of life (QOL). The pancreas has both exocrine and endocrine functions and, in the setting of cancer, both systems may be affected.

Pancreatic endometrial cyst mimics mucinous cystic neoplasm of the pancreas.

Pancreatic cysts include a variety of benign, premalignant, and malignant lesions. Endometrial cysts in the pancreas are exceedingly rare lesions that are difficult to diagnose pre-operatively. This report describes the findings in a 43-year-old patient with a recent episode of acute pancreatitis who presented with a large cyst in the tail of the pancreas.

Incorporation of Procedure-specific Risk Into the ACS-NSQIP Surgical Risk Calculator Improves the Prediction of Morbidity and Mortality After Pancreatoduodenectomy.

Objective: This multicenter study sought to evaluate the accuracy of the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program's (ACS-NSQIP) surgical risk calculator for predicting outcomes after pancreatoduodenectomy (PD) and to determine whether incorporating other factors improves its predictive capacity.

Background: The ACS-NSQIP surgical risk calculator has been proposed as a decision-support tool to predict complication risk after various operations. Although it considers 21 preoperative factors, it does not include procedure-specific variables, which have demonstrated a strong predictive capacity for the most common and morbid complication after PD - clinically relevant pancreatic fistula (CR-POPF).

Ampullary Cancers Harbor ELF3 Tumor Suppressor Gene Mutations and Exhibit Frequent WNT Dysregulation.

The ampulla of Vater is a complex cellular environment from which adenocarcinomas arise to form a group of histopathologically heterogenous tumors. To evaluate the molecular features of these tumors, 98 ampullary adenocarcinomas were evaluated and compared to 44 distal bile duct and 18 duodenal adenocarcinomas. Genomic analyses revealed mutations in the WNT signaling pathway among half of the patients and in all three adenocarcinomas irrespective of their origin and histological morphology.

The Characterization and Prediction of ISGPF Grade C Fistulas Following Pancreatoduodenectomy.

Introduction: International Study Group of Pancreatic Fistula (ISGPF) grade C postoperative pancreatic fistulas (POPF) are the greatest contributor to major morbidity and mortality following pancreatoduodenectomy (PD); however, their infrequent occurrence has hindered deeper analysis. This study sought to develop a predictive algorithm, which could facilitate effective management of this challenging complication.

Methods: Data were accrued from 4301 PDs worldwide.

Antiproliferative effects and mechanisms of liver X receptor ligands in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma cells.

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is difficult to detect early and is often resistant to standard chemotherapeutic options, contributing to extremely poor disease outcomes. Members of the nuclear receptor superfamily carry out essential biological functions such as hormone signaling and are successfully targeted in the treatment of endocrine-related malignancies. Liver X receptors (LXRs) are nuclear receptors that regulate cholesterol homeostasis, lipid metabolism, and inflammation, and LXR agonists have been developed to regulate LXR function in these processes.

The value of drains as a fistula mitigation strategy for pancreatoduodenectomy: something for everyone? Results of a randomized prospective multi-institutional study.

Background: A recent randomized, controlled trial investigating intraperitoneal drain use during pancreatoduodenectomy (PD) had a primary goal of assessing overall morbidity. It was terminated early with findings that routine elimination of drains in PD increases mortality and the severity and frequency of overall complications. Here, we provide a follow-up analysis of drain value in reference to clinically relevant postoperative pancreatic fistula (CR-POPF).

A randomized prospective multicenter trial of pancreaticoduodenectomy with and without routine intraperitoneal drainage.

Objective: To test by randomized prospective multicenter trial the hypothesis that pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) without the use of intraperitoneal drainage does not increase the frequency or severity of complications.

Background: Some surgeons have abandoned the use of drains placed during pancreas resection.

Methods: We randomized 137 patients to PD with (n = 68, drain group) and without (n = 69, no-drain group) the use of intraperitoneal drainage and compared the safety of this approach and spectrum of complications between the 2 groups.

Treatment of bacteriobilia decreases wound infection rates after pancreaticoduodenectomy.

Background: Although mortality following pancreaticoduodenectomy is decreasing, postoperative morbidity remains high. It was hypothesized that culture-directed treatment of bacteriobilia would decrease the incidence of infectious complications following pancreaticoduodenectomy.

Methods: In a retrospective study of 197 pancreaticoduodenectomy patients, those in the control group (n = 128, 2005-2009) were given perioperative prophylactic antibiotics, whereas those in the treatment group (n = 69, 2009-2011) were continued on antibiotics until intraoperative bile culture results became available.

Teen sexting and its association with sexual behaviors.

Objective: To examine the prevalence of sexting behaviors as well as their relation to dating, sex, and risky sexual behaviors using a large school-based sample of adolescents.

Design: Data are from time 2 of a 3-year longitudinal study. Participants self-reported their history of dating, sexual behaviors, and sexting (sent, asked, been asked, and/or bothered by being asked to send nude photographs of themselves).