Complications of Gastrostomy Tubes in Patients With Head and Neck Cancer.

Objectives: Head and neck cancers (HNCs) include various malignant tumors of the upper aerodigestive tract. Due to their anatomical location, HNCs can cause obstruction, odynophagia, or trismus, leading to dysphagia. In addition, this patient group may be vulnerable to treatment side effects both by surgery and oncological treatment, exposing the patients to an even higher risk of malnutrition.

A Critical Appraisal of Contemporary and Novel Biomarkers in Pheochromocytomas and Adrenocortical Tumors.

Pheochromocytomas/Paragangliomas (PPGLs) and adrenocortical tumors are rare neoplasms with significant heterogeneity in their biologic and clinical behavior. Current diagnostic and predictive biomarkers include hormone secretion, as well as histopathological and genetic features. PPGL diagnosis is based on biochemical measurement of catecholamines/metanephrines, while histopathological scoring systems have been proposed to predict the risk of malignancy.

[Endoscopic sutures offer more surgical options].

Endoscopic sutures can be used in various clinical situations where closure or fixation is needed. Stents that migrate and dislocated probes can be fixated by endoscopic sutures. The sutures can be used to stop gastrointestinal bleeding.

Effectiveness of percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

Background: Weight loss and dysphagia are frequent features of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and influence prognosis. The aim of this study was to determine complications and outcomes in patients with percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) insertion in a high-volume center.

Methods: A single center retrospective study on a prospectively collected cohort of 187 consecutive patients who have undergone PEG placement due to ALS was performed.

Clinical importance of main pancreatic duct variants and possible correlation with pancreatic diseases.

Except for pancreas divisum (PD), the prevalence of anatomic variants of the main pancreatic duct (MPD) seems to be insufficiently investigated. To date, their role in the occurrence of pancreatic exocrine insufficiency (PEI) and morphological changes suggestive of chronic pancreatitis (CP) has remained unclear. A systematic review was performed, searching MEDLINE and Web of Science, limited to articles published between 1960 and 1 June 2019.

Increased autophagy/mitophagy levels in primary tumours of patients with pancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms.

Background/aims: We assessed the levels of autophagy and mitophagy, that are linked to cancer development and drug resistance, in well differentiated pancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms (PanNENs) and correlated them with clinico-pathological parameters.

Methods: Fluorescent immunostaining for the autophagy markers LC3Β and p62/or LAMP1 was performed on 22 PanNENs and 11 controls of normal pancreatic tissues and validated through Western blotting. Autophagy quantitative scoring was generated for LC3B-positive puncta and analysed in relation to clinico-pathological parameters.

Chronic pancreatitis and the heart disease: Still terra incognita?

Background: It has been suggested that chronic pancreatitis (CP) may be an independent risk factor for development of cardiovascular disease (CVD). At the same time, it seems that congestive heart failure (CHF) and CP share the responsibility for the development of important clinical conditions such as sarcopenia, cachexia and malnutrition due to development of cardiac cachexia and pancreatic exocrine insufficiency (PEI), respectively.

Aim: To explore the evidence regarding the association of CP and heart disease, more specifically CVD and CHF.

Gastric neuroendocrine neoplasms type 1: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: To date, the histopathological parameters predicting the risk of lymph node (LN) metastases and local recurrence, associated mortality and appropriateness of endoscopic or surgical resection in patients with gastric neuroendocrine neoplasms type 1 (GNENs1) have not been fully elucidated.

Aim: To determine the rate of LN metastases and its impact in survival in patients with GNEN1 in relation to certain clinico-pathological parameters.

Methods: The PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, Web of Science and Scopus databases were searched through January 2019.

Synaptic Vesicle Protein 2 and Vesicular Monoamine Transporter 1 and 2 Are Expressed in Neuroblastoma.

Neuroblastoma (NB), the most common extracranial cancer in childhood, exhibits neuroendocrine (NE) differentiation. Two well-established NE markers, chromogranin A (CgA) and synaptophysin (syn), are used in the histopathological diagnostics. Our aims were to explore if the NE markers synaptic vesicle protein 2 (SV2) and vesicular monoamine transporter 1 (VMAT1) and 2 (VMAT2) also are expressed in human NB and if so, evaluate their usefulness in NB histopathological diagnostics.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging or Endoscopic Ultrasonography for Detection and Surveillance of Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Neoplasms in Patients with Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia Type 1?

Our aim was to compare the clinical utility of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and Endoscopic Ultrasonography (EUS) in identifying Pancreatic Neurondocrine Neoplasms (PanNENs) and monitoring size alterations in Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia type 1 (MEN1) patients. Thirty-one MEN1 patients with PanNENs and concurrent screening by EUS and abdominal MRI were included and 129 pancreatic lesions were detected in total. MRI detected fewer lesions than EUS (n=73 vs.

Endocrine paraneoplastic syndromes in patients with neuroendocrine neoplasms.

Objective: Our aim was to assess the prevalence of endocrine paraneoplastic syndromes (EPNS) in neuroendocrine neoplasms (NENs) and estimate its impact on patient outcomes.

Design: This is a retrospective analysis of 834 patients with NENs (611 gastrointestinal, 166 thoracic, 57 of unknown and various other primary origin). We included 719 consecutive NEN patients treated at EKPA-Laiko Hospital, Athens, Greece and 115 patients with lung carcinoid (LC) treated at Uppsala University Hospital, Uppsala, Sweden.

Lung Carcinoids: Long-Term Surgical Results and the Lack of Prognostic Value of Somatostatin Receptors and Other Novel Immunohistochemical Markers.

Background/aims: Lung carcinoids (LCs) are often diagnosed at an early stage and surgical intervention becomes the next phase of treatment. To date, there is lack of long-term follow-up data after surgery and prognostication based on WHO classification criteria and evolving prognostic markers, particularly the expression of somatostatin receptors (SSR).

Methods: We included 102 consecutive patients (72 women; age at baseline 51 ± 16 years [mean ± SD]) with LCs, who underwent thoracic surgery (n = 99) and/or laser treatment (n = 8).

Upfront surgery of small intestinal neuroendocrine tumors. Time to reconsider?

Small intestinal neuroendocrine tumors (SI-NETs) may demonstrate a widely variable clinical behavior but usually it is indolent. In cases with localized disease, locoregional resective surgery (LRS) is generally indicated with a curative intent. LRS of SI-NETs is also the recommended treatment when symptoms are present, regardless of the disease stage.

Can insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), IGF-1 receptor connective tissue growth factor and Ki-67 labelling index have a prognostic role in pulmonary carcinoids?

Introduction: Altered expression of Insulin-like Growth Factor-1 (IGF-1), its receptor (IGF-1R), Connective Tissue Growth Factor (CTGF) and Hypoxia Inducible Factor-1 (HIF-1), has been implicated in tumorigenesis. So far, these factors have not been studied systematically in Pulmonary Carcinoids (PCs).

Aims: To examine IGF-1, IGF-1R, CTGF and HIF-1 expression in PCs, and assess their prognostic value over established factors.

Clinical prediction rule to determine the need for repeat ERCP after endoscopic treatment of postsurgical bile leaks.

Background And Aims: In patients who have undergone ERCP with biliary stenting for postsurgical bile leaks, the optimal method (ERCP or gastroscopy) and timing of stent removal is controversial. We developed a clinical prediction rule to identify cases in which a repeat ERCP is unnecessary.

Methods: Population-based study of all patients who underwent ERCP for management of surgically induced bile leaks between 2000 and 2012.

Differential diagnosis between pancreatic neuroendocrine and solid pseudopapillary neoplasms on endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration. An immunohistochemical study.

Objectives: To evaluate the role of applying a limited panel of immunohistochemical stains on the cellblock preparation from samples obtained by endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) in the aim of differentiating solid pseudopapillary neoplasms (SPNs) from neuroendocrine tumors (NETs). 

Methods: We retrospectively retrieved all the EUS-FNAs of the pancreas that have a diagnosis of NET or SPN that were performed at 2 tertiary care hospitals in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia from May 2004 to December 2014. Diff-Quik, Papanicolaou, and Immunohistochemistry stains on cellblock preparations were performed.

Histidine decarboxylase and urinary methylimidazoleacetic acid in gastric neuroendocrine cells and tumours.

Aim: To study histidine decarboxylase (HDC) expression in normal and neoplastic gastric neuroendocrine cells in relationship to the main histamine metabolite.

Methods: Control tissues from fundus (n = 3) and corpus (n = 3) mucosa of six patients undergoing operations for gastric adenocarcinoma, biopsy and/or gastric surgical specimens from 64 patients with primary gastric neuroendocrine tumours (GNETs), as well as metastases from 22 of these patients, were investigated using conventional immunohistochemistry and double immunofluorescence with commercial antibodies vs vesicular monoamine transporter 2 (VMAT-2), HDC and ghrelin. The urinary excretion of the main histamine metabolite methylimidazoleacetic acid (U-MeImAA) was determined using high-performance liquid chromatography in 27 of the 64 patients.

Somatostatin and dopamine receptor expression in neuroendocrine neoplasms: correlation of immunohistochemical findings with somatostatin receptor scintigraphy visual scores.

Context: The expression of somatostatin (sstr1-5) and dopamine (DR) receptors in neuroendocrine neoplasms (NENs) facilitates diagnosis by tumour visualization with somatostatin receptor scintigraphy (SRS) and directs towards specific treatment with peptide receptor radionuclide therapy (PRRT) with radiolabelled somatostatin analogues.

Objective: To investigate the co-expression of sstrs, D2R in relation to pre-operative SRSs in NENs.

Design: Prospective two-centre study.

Incremental benefit of preoperative EUS for the detection of pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors: a meta-analysis.

Background: Current guidelines recommend CT scan or magnetic resonance imaging as the initial imaging modalities for the work-up of suspected pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (PNETs).

Objective: To determine the incremental benefit of preoperative EUS (IBEUS) for the detection of suspected PNETs after other investigative modalities have been attempted.

Design: This systematic review searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, bibliographies of included articles, and conference proceedings for studies reporting original data regarding the preoperative detection of PNETs.

Expression of Somatostatin Receptors 1-5 and Dopamine Receptor 2 in Lung Carcinoids: Implications for a Therapeutic Role.

Objective: The expression of somatostatin receptors (SSTRs) and dopamine receptor 2 (DR2) in neuroendocrine tumors is of clinical importance as somatostatin analogues and dopamine agonists can be used for their localization and/or treatment. The objective of this study is to examine the expression of the five SSTR subtypes and DR2 in lung carcinoids (LCs).

Methods: We conducted a retrospective study of 119 LCs from 106 patients [typical carcinoids (TCs): n = 100, and atypical carcinoids (ACs): n = 19].

Predictive value of gastrin levels for the diagnosis of gastric enterochromaffin-like cell hyperplasia in patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis.

Aim: Gastrin and chromogranin A (CgA) levels have been tested for the diagnosis of enterochromaffin-like cell hyperplasia (ECLH) in patients with type 1 diabetes and autoimmune atrophic gastritis but not for patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT). The aim of the study was to develop receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves for gastrin and CgA levels and other clinical and biochemical parameters, as means for pretest probability of gastric ECLH in patients with HT.

Methods: A total of 115 patients with HT were prospectively studied for a median period of 4 (2-7) years.

Current concepts in the diagnosis and management of type 1 gastric neuroendocrine neoplasms.

The vast majority of gastrin-related gastrointestinal neuroendocrine neoplasms (GI-NENs) develop in the context of chronic atrophic gastritis (type 1), a condition closely related to autoimmune thyroid diseases. These neoplasms are defined as gastric NENs type 1 (GNEN1) and have recently been shown to constitute the commonest GI-NENs in a prospective study. GNEN1s are usually multiple and follow a relative indolent course, raising questions regarding the extent that such patients should be investigated and the appropriate therapeutic interventions needed.

Metastatic type 1 gastric carcinoid: a real threat or just a myth?

Aim: To describe disease characteristics and treatment modalities in a group of rare patients with metastatic gastric carcinoid type 1 (GCA1).

Methods: Information on clinical, biochemical, radiological, histopathological findings, the extent of the disease, as well as the use of different therapeutic modalities and the long-term outcome were recorded. Patients' data were assessed at presentation, and thereafter at 6 to 12 monthly intervals both clinically and biochemically, but also endoscopically and histopathologically.

Olfactory receptor 51E1 as a novel target for diagnosis in somatostatin receptor-negative lung carcinoids.

Somatostatin receptors (SSTRs) may be used in lung carcinoids (LCs) for diagnosis and therapy, although additional targets are clearly warranted. This study aimed to investigate whether olfactory receptor 51E1 (OR51E1) may be a potential target for LCs. OR51E1 coding sequence was analyzed in LC cell lines, NCI-H727 and NCI-H720.

Olfactory receptor 51E1 protein as a potential novel tissue biomarker for small intestine neuroendocrine carcinomas.

Objective: Late diagnosis hinders proper management of small intestine neuroendocrine carcinoma (SI-NEC) patients. The olfactory receptor, family 51, subfamily E, member 1 (OR51E1) has been reported as a potential novel SI-NEC marker, without protein expression recognition. Thus, we further studied whether the encoded protein may be a novel SI-NEC clinical biomarker.