The need for research targeting the link between occupational carcinogens and hepatopancreatobiliary cancers in Africa: A systematic review.

Introduction: Hepatopancreatobiliary (HPB) cancers encompassing malignancies of the liver, pancreas, gall bladder, and bile ducts pose a significant health burden in Africa. While the association of certain occupational carcinogens in cancer is well established globally, their potential role in HPB cancers remains understudied, especially in an African context.

Aim: This systematic review delves into the association between occupational carcinogens and HPB cancer in Africa.

Multisocietal European consensus on the terminology, diagnosis, and management of patients with synchronous colorectal cancer and liver metastases: an E-AHPBA consensus in partnership with ESSO, ESCP, ESGAR, and CIRSE.

Background: Contemporary management of patients with synchronous colorectal cancer and liver metastases is complex. The aim of this project was to provide a practical framework for care of patients with synchronous colorectal cancer and liver metastases, with a focus on terminology, diagnosis, and management.

Methods: This project was a multiorganizational, multidisciplinary consensus.

Proteomic analysis identifies dysregulated proteins and associated molecular pathways in a cohort of gallbladder cancer patients of African ancestry.

Background: Gallbladder cancer (GBC) is a lethal cancer with a poor prognosis. The lack of specific and sensitive biomarkers results in delayed diagnosis with most patients presenting at late stages of the disease. Furthermore, there is little known about the molecular mechanisms associated with GBC, especially in patients of African ancestry.

A surgeon's dress code - the patients' perspective.

Background: The dress code for surgeons has evolved over time from formal suit-and-tie to crisp white coat, and currently to various forms of smart-casual attire; however, there is no stipulated or rigid uniform guideline. It is important to explore and discuss the various forms of attire in relation to patients' ideals and perceptions of a surgeon.

Methods: An observational study in the form of a paper-based questionnaire was carried out at the Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital (CMJAH), Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital (CHBAH) and Wits Donald Gordon Medical Centre (WDGMC).

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma: Prognostic indicators of advanced disease.

Background/objectives: Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is an aggressive malignancy associated with high metastatic risk. Prognosis remains poor even after resection. Previously our group identified biomarkers that improved diagnostic accuracy in PDAC beyond the established diagnostic tumour marker, CA19-9.

Chemokine receptor 8 expression may be linked to disease severity and elevated interleukin 6 secretion in acute pancreatitis.

Background: Acute pancreatitis (AP) is an inflammatory disease, which presents with epigastric pain and is clinically diagnosed by amylase and lipase three times the upper limit of normal. The 2012 Atlanta classification stratifies the severity of AP as one of three risk categories namely, mild AP (MAP), moderately severe AP (MSAP), and severe AP (SAP). Challenges in stratifying AP upon diagnosis suggest that a better understanding of the underlying complex pathophysiology may be beneficial.

Serum Metabolomic and Lipoprotein Profiling of Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma Patients of African Ancestry.

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a lethal cancer with a characteristic dysregulated metabolism. Abnormal clinicopathological features linked to defective metabolic and inflammatory response pathways can induce PDAC development and progression. In this study, we investigated the metabolites and lipoproteins profiles of PDAC patients of African ancestry.

Targeting Growth Factor Signaling Pathways in Pancreatic Cancer: Towards Inhibiting Chemoresistance.

Pancreatic cancer is one of the most deadly cancers, ranking amongst the top leading cause of cancer related deaths in developed countries. Features such as dense stroma microenvironment, abnormal signaling pathways, and genetic heterogeneity of the tumors contribute to its chemoresistant characteristics. Amongst these features, growth factors have been observed to play crucial roles in cancer cell survival, progression, and chemoresistance.

The 'ins and outs' of colonoscopy at Wits Donald Gordon Medical Centre, South Africa: A practice audit of the outpatient endoscopy unit.

Background: In South Africa, there are no national guidelines for the conduct or quality assessment of colonoscopy, the gold standard for investigation and diagnosis of bowel pathology.

Objectives: To describe the clinical profile of patients and evaluate the practice of colonoscopy using procedural quality indicators at the Wits Donald Gordon Medical Centre (WDGMC) outpatient endoscopy unit (OEU).

Methods: We conducted a prospective, clinical practice audit of colonoscopies performed on adults (≥18 years of age).

SWATH-MS based proteomic profiling of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma tumours reveals the interplay between the extracellular matrix and related intracellular pathways.

Pancreatic cancer accounts for 2.8% of new cancer cases worldwide and is projected to become the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths by 2030. Patients of African ancestry appear to be at an increased risk for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), with more severe disease and outcomes.

Immunotherapeutic strategies in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC): current perspectives and future prospects.

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is among the deadliest human malignancies with a dismal prognosis. During PDAC progression, the immune response is affected as cancer cells evade detection and elimination. Recently, there have been advances in the treatment of PDAC using immunotherapy, although a lot more work is yet to be done.

Increased expression of plakoglobin is associated with upregulated MAPK and PI3K/AKT signalling pathways in early resectable pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is one of the most lethal cancer types, and it is associated with a 5-year survival rate of <10% due to limited early detection methods and ineffective therapeutic options. Thus, an improved understanding of the mechanisms involved in the early stages of PDAC tumorigenesis is crucial in order to identify potential novel diagnostic and therapeutic targets. The most common signalling aberrations in PDAC occur in the Wnt/Notch signalling pathway, as well as within the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) pathway and its associated ligands, EGF and transforming growth factor-β.

Standards for reporting on surgery for chronic pancreatitis: a report from the International Study Group for Pancreatic Surgery (ISGPS).

Background: The International Study Group for Pancreatic Surgery provides globally accepted definitions for reporting of complications after pancreatic surgery. This International Study Group for Pancreatic Surgery project aims to provide a standardized framework for reporting of the results of operative treatment for chronic pancreatitis.

Methods: An International Study Group for Pancreatic Surgery project circulation list was created with pre-existing and new members and including gastroenterologists in addition to surgeons.

Targeting gallbladder cancer: a pathway based perspective.

Gallbladder cancer (GBC) has a poor prognosis with a 5-year survival rate suggesting the need for more effective treatment strategies. Studying the cross-talk of several pathways involved in crucial cellular and biological processes such as cell growth, proliferation, migration and apoptosis would prove beneficial in identifying key players of GBC progression and targeting them. This review highlights several pathways known to be dysregulated in GBC onset and progression and describes known and potential targets.

Inflammatory cytokines and combined biomarker panels in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma: Enhancing diagnostic accuracy.

Background: Early diagnosis of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is challenged by the absence of accurate early diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers. CA19-9 is the established, diagnostic tumour marker in PDAC, despite its limitations. Effective primary screening using circulating biomarker panels have only been considered in a handful of studies and we investigated whether combinations of inflammatory cytokines and angiogenic factors in multivariate logistic models could facilitate earlier diagnosis in our South African setting.

Alcoholism and psoriasis-an immunological relationship.

Studies on association of psychiatric diseases and immunopathology has been an area of recent research activities. Alcohol has been implicated in some immune mediated disorders. Observation of occurrence of psoriasis, an immune mediated skin disorder in alcoholic patients has not been reported anywhere in literature.

Is alopecia areata psychosomatic ?

Thirty cases of alopecia Areata from O.P.D.