Genomic Landscape of Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors and Implications for Clinical Practice.

Pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (pNETs) are the second most prevalent neoplasms of the pancreas with variable prognosis and clinical course. Our knowledge of the genetic alterations in patients with pNETs has expanded in the past decade with the availability of whole-genome sequencing and germline testing. This review will focus on potential clinical applications of the genetic testing in patients with pNETs.

New-onset diabetes is a predictive risk factor for pancreatic lesions in high-risk individuals: An observational cohort study.

Background And Objectives: Pancreatic cancer (PC) is the third cause of cancer-related deaths. Early detection and interception of premalignant pancreatic lesions represent a promising strategy to improve outcomes. We evaluated risk factors of focal pancreatic lesions (FPLs) in asymptomatic individuals at hereditary high risk for PC.

Germline Testing Identifies Pathogenic/Likely Pathogenic Variants in Patients with Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors.

Ten percent of pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (pNET) are related to inherited syndromes (MEN1, MEN4, VHL, NF1, and TSC). Growing evidence suggests that clinically sporadic pNETs can also harbor germline pathogenic variants. In this study, we report the prevalence of pathologic/likely pathologic (P/LP) germline variants in a high-risk cohort and an unselected cohort.

Impact of high neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio on survival in hospitalized cancer patients with COVID-19.

Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) has been studied as a prognostic factor for mortality in COVID-19 patients. Our study aimed to evaluate the association between NLR at COVID-19 diagnosis and survival during the following 90 days in hospitalized patients with solid cancer. Between May 2020 and June 2021, 120 patients were included in a retrospective cohort study.

Genetics of Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors.

Pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (pNETs) represent a relatively rare disease; however, the incidence has been increasing during the last 2 decades. Next generation sequencing has greatly increased our understanding of driver mutations in pNETs. Sporadic pNETs have consistently presented with mutations in MEN1, DAXX/ATRX, and genes related to the mammalian target of rapamycin pathway.

The Evolving Paradigm of Germline Testing in Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma and Implications for Clinical Practice.

Identification of deleterious germline mutations in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) patients can have therapeutic implications for the patients and result in cascade testing and prevention in their relatives. Universal testing for germline mutations is now considered standard of care in patients with PDAC, regardless of family history, personal history, or age. Here, we highlight the commonly identified germline mutations in PDAC patients as well as the impact of multigene panel testing.

Exercise-induced engagement of the IL-15/IL-15Rα axis promotes anti-tumor immunity in pancreatic cancer.

Aerobic exercise is associated with decreased cancer incidence and cancer-associated mortality. However, little is known about the effects of exercise on pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA), a disease for which current therapeutic options are limited. Herein, we show that aerobic exercise reduces PDA tumor growth, by modulating systemic and intra-tumoral immunity.

Targets and Strategies for Cancer Immunoprevention.

The immune system plays a key role in cancer prevention, initiation, and progression. Antitumoral immune responses can be boosted by harnessing antitumorigenic immune activators and/or blocking tumorigenic proinflammatory factors. Here we define these targets as well as the strategies that could be developed for effective cancer immunoprevention.

Mechanisms of Antitumor Immunity and Immunosurveillance.

The immune system has a well-defined role in all stages of carcinogenesis. The current chapter presents a discussion of various constituents of immunity involved in tumorigenesis along with their mechanisms, forming the basis for immunoprevention and immunotherapy.

Antibiotic use influences outcomes in advanced pancreatic adenocarcinoma patients.

Recent studies defined a potentially important role of the microbiome in modulating pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) and responses to therapies. We hypothesized that antibiotic usage may predict outcomes in patients with PDAC. We retrospectively analyzed clinical data of patients with resectable or metastatic PDAC seen at MD Anderson Cancer from 2003 to 2017.

Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia as Presenting Symptom of Hodgkin Lymphoma.

Autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA) is related to an underlying condition in an estimated 50 to 60%, while the remaining is idiopathic, as a result of a combination of immune activation, deficiency, or dysregulation. AIHA is associated with viral infections, autoimmune disorders, immunodeficiencies, lymphoproliferative disorders, and pregnancy. AIHA has predictive properties and may be a harbinger of future lymphoproliferative disorders in up to 20% of AIHA cases.

Modified gemcitabine plus nab-paclitaxel regimen in advanced pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.

Background: Gemcitabine (GEM) plus nab-paclitaxel (NabP) (GEM 1000 mg/m IV over 30 minutes + NabP 125 mg/m IV given days 1, 8, and 15 every 28 days) is one of the two standard of care combination therapies for metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Our cancer center has utilized GEM-NabP given every two-weeks due to tolerability and patient convenience. Here, we review the safety and efficacy of this modified regimen.

Current Imaging Modalities for assessing Ocular Blood Flow in Glaucoma.

Unlabelled: Glaucoma may be caused by an interplay of elevated intraocular pressure (IOP), vascular, genetic, anatomical, brain, and immune factors. The direct assessment of ocular hemodynam-ics offers promise for glaucoma detection, differentiation, and possibly new treatment modalities. All the methods currently in use to measure ocular blood flow have inherent limitations and measure different aspects of ocular blood flow.

Aqueous Angiography with Fluorescein and Indocyanine Green in Bovine Eyes.

Purpose: We characterize aqueous angiography as a real-time aqueous humor outflow imaging (AHO) modality in cow eyes with two tracers of different molecular characteristics.

Methods: Cow enucleated eyes ( = 31) were obtained and perfused with balanced salt solution via a Lewicky AC maintainer through a 1-mm side-port. Fluorescein (2.

Aqueous Humor Outflow Structure and Function Imaging At the Bench and Bedside: A Review.

Anterior segment glaucoma clinical care and research has recently gained new focus because of novel imaging modalities and the advent of angle-based surgical treatments. Traditional investigation drawn to the trabecular meshwork now emphasizes the entire conventional aqueous humor outflow (AHO) pathway from the anterior chamber to the episcleral vein. AHO investigation can be divided into structural and functional assessments using different methods.

Aqueous Angiography-Mediated Guidance of Trabecular Bypass Improves Angiographic Outflow in Human Enucleated Eyes.

Purpose: To assess the ability of trabecular micro-bypass stents to improve aqueous humor outflow (AHO) in regions initially devoid of AHO as assessed by aqueous angiography.

Methods: Enucleated human eyes (14 total from 7 males and 3 females [ages 52-84]) were obtained from an eye bank within 48 hours of death. Eyes were oriented by inferior oblique insertion, and aqueous angiography was performed with indocyanine green (ICG; 0.

How 'Drug Aware' are our Glaucoma Patients?

Background: Poor knowledge, attitude and self-care practices (KAP) as regards medication compliance is a major concern in the management of glaucoma. This study aims to evaluate the knowledge, attitude regarding eyedrop instillation and self-care practices pertaining to eyedrops in diagnosed glaucoma patients.

Methods: In this cross-sectional, open-ended questionnaire-based study, 101 consecutive glaucoma patients on medication were recruited from an urban tertiary care hospital of North India.