Pancreatic Elastography Predicts Endoscopic Secretin-Pancreatic Function Test Result in Patients With Early Changes of Chronic Pancreatitis: A Prospective, Cross-Sectional, Observational Study.

Introduction: The endoscopic pancreatic function test (ePFT) has been proposed for the evaluation of patients with suspected early chronic pancreatitis (CP) in the appropriate clinical context, but the cost and duration of the test limit its clinical applicability. Pancreatic secretion decreases as pancreatic fibrosis develops in CP. Pancreatic fibrosis can be quantified by endoscopic ultrasound-elastography (EUS-E).

Noninvasive early detection of colorectal cancer by hypermethylation of the LINC00473 promoter in plasma cell-free DNA.

Background: Current noninvasive assays have limitations in the early detection of colorectal cancer. We evaluated the clinical utility of promoter methylation of the long noncoding RNA LINC00473 as a noninvasive biomarker to detect colorectal cancer and associated precancerous lesions.

Methods: We evaluated the epigenetic regulation of LINC00473 through promoter hypermethylation in colorectal cancer cell lines using bisulfite genomic sequencing and expression analyses.

Endoscopic Pancreatic Drainage Improves Exocrine Pancreatic Function in Patients With Unresectable Pancreatic Cancer: A Double-Blind, Prospective, Randomized, Single-Center, Interventional Study.

Objectives: Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency is a frequent and clinically relevant complication of pancreatic cancer probably secondary to pancreatic duct obstruction. We aimed at evaluating the impact of endoscopic pancreatic drainage on pancreatic function in patients with unresectable pancreatic cancer.

Methods: A double-blind, prospective, randomized, single-center, interventional study was designed.

Endoscopic ultrasound-based multimodal evaluation of the pancreas in patients with suspected early chronic pancreatitis.

Background: Diagnosis of early chronic pancreatitis is a clinical challenge and hindered by the lack of a gold standard. Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) and the endoscopic pancreatic function test (ePFT) are the most sensitive morphological and functional methods in this setting. EUS-elastography allows for the quantification (strain ratio) of pancreatic fibrosis, and the dynamic evaluation of the main pancreatic duct compliance provides additional information.

A Novel Saliva-Based miRNA Signature for Colorectal Cancer Diagnosis.

Salivary microRNAs (miRNAs) are of high interest as diagnostic biomarkers for non-oral cancer. However, little is known about their value for colorectal cancer (CRC) detection. Our study aims to characterize salivary miRNAs in order to identify non-invasive markers for CRC diagnosis.

Circulating microRNAs as Promising Biomarkers in Colorectal Cancer.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common cancers and a leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Despite numerous advances in therapeutic approaches, this cancer has a poor prognosis when it is diagnosed at late stages. Therefore, the scientific effort is nowadays directed towards the development of new non-invasive and dynamic biomarkers to improve the survival expectancy of CRC patients.

Human salivary microRNAs in Cancer.

Circulating microRNAs (miRNAs) have emerged as excellent candidates for cancer biomarkers. Several recent studies have highlighted the potential use of saliva for the identification of miRNAs as novel biomarkers, which represents a great opportunity to improve diagnosis and monitor general health and disease. This review summarises the mechanisms of miRNAs deregulation in cancer, the value of targeting them with a therapeutic intention and the evidence of the potential clinical use of miRNAs expressed in saliva for the detection of different cancer types.

Advanced imaging of colorectal cancer: From anatomy to molecular imaging.

Unlabelled: Imaging techniques play a key role in the management of patients with colorectal cancer. The introduction of new advanced anatomical, functional, and molecular imaging techniques may improve the assessment of diagnosis, prognosis, planning therapy, and assessment of response to treatment of these patients. Functional and molecular imaging techniques in clinical practice may allow the assessment of tumour-specific characteristics and tumour heterogeneity.

A clinical model for predicting lymph node metastasis in submucosal invasive (T1) colorectal cancer.

Background: No single histopathological feature of submucosal invasive colorectal cancer (T1-CRC) can reliably predict the risk for lymph node metastasis (LNM).

Aim: The purpose of the study was to develop a prediction model of LNM in T1-CRC.

Methods: Ninety-seven surgically resected T1-CRC at our institution were retrospectively evaluated.

[Basiliximab in the treatment of acute steroid-resistant rejection after liver transplantation].

We present the case of a liver transplant recipient with alcoholic liver cirrhosis and early-stage hepatocellular carcinoma who developed biopsy-proven acute steroid-resistant rejection 3 months after liver transplantation. After the failure of immunosuppressive therapy with intravenous boluses of 6-methyl-prednisolone and switching of the immunosuppressive regimen to tacrolimus plus mycophenolate mofetil, two doses of intravenous basiliximab were administered four days apart. Clinical, analytical, and biopsy-proven histological response was complete.

Endoscopic ultrasonography of the pancreas as an indirect method to predict pancreatic exocrine insufficiency in patients with chronic pancreatitis.

Objectives: Functional evaluation of the pancreas is hindered by invasiveness and/or methodological difficulties. Endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) provides with highly accurate images of pancreatic ducts and parenchyma. The aim of the study was to analyze the probability of pancreatic exocrine insufficiency (PEI) according to EUS criteria in patients with a diagnosis of chronic pancreatitis.

[An approximation to familial colorectal cancer].

Colorectal cancer is one of the most common neoplasms in western countries and is a worldwide public health problem. A substantial number of cases show familial aggregation of the disease, termed familial colorectal cancer to distinguish it from well-established hereditary forms. The present review discusses current knowledge of the underlying genetic causes, the most appropriate screening strategies and the potential prognostic implications of this entity.