Pancreatic Cancer: A Review of Risk Factors.

Pancreatic adenocarcinoma is one of the most lethal types of gastrointestinal cancer despite the latest medical advances. Its incidence has continuously increased in recent years in developed countries. The location of the pancreas can result in the initial symptoms of neoplasia being overlooked, which can lead to a delayed diagnosis and a subsequent reduction in the spectrum of available therapeutic options.

Quantitative Magnetic Resonance Cholangiopancreatography Scoring and Its Predictive Value for Outcomes in Adults with Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis.

Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) is an immune-mediated disease that has an unfavorable prognosis and needs a liver transplant (LT). The aim of this paper was to show the usefulness of the Majoie classification on magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) images in assessing the prognosis in adult patients with PSC. Our work presents a retrospective monocentric study performed on 64 adult patients with PSC of the large bile ducts.

Impact of Serum Glucose Levels on Outcomes in Acute Pancreatitis: A Retrospective Analysis.

: The risk of developing glycemic dysregulation up to overt diabetes mellitus (DM) after an episode of acute pancreatitis (AP) is increasingly being analyzed. We aimed to assess the changes in serum glucose levels associated with the first episode of AP, as well as the impact of dysglycemia on outcomes such as the severity of inflammation, the length of hospitalization, mortality, and the persistence of hyperglycemia at follow-up. : All patients experiencing their first episode of AP, who presented to the Emergency Room (ER) between 1 January 2020 and 31 December 2023, were retrospectively included.

Introducing Colorectal Cancer Screening in Romania - Preliminary Results from the Regional Pilot Programs (ROCCAS).

Background And Aims: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third cause of cancer-related death worldwide. Screening programs can reduce CRC mortality rates by up to 60%. In line with the European Union recommendations, Romania started the first four regional pilot screening programs in 2020 (the ROCCAS II projects).

Prognostic Value of Circulating Cell-Free DNA Concentration and Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio in Patients with Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma: A Prospective Cohort Study.

Circulating cell-free DNA (ccfDNA) quantity correlates with the clinical characteristics and prognosis of various cancer types. We investigated whether ccfDNA levels and the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) have prognostic value in patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Peripheral blood was collected from 82 patients with PDAC prior to any diagnostic procedure or the administration of chemotherapy.

Normal Values of High Resolution Anorectal Manometry in 132 Romanian Healthy People.

Background And Aims: The primary method for assessing anorectal function is high resolution anorectal manometry (HRAM). It is a useful tool in the diagnosis of different anorectal functional disorders such as fecal incontinence or dyssynergia. The aim of the present study was to propose a new set of normal values to be used in practice for East-European individuals, as it was proven that the results are highly influenced by race and sociocultural status.

Improving primary prophylaxis of variceal bleeding by adapting therapy to the clinical stage of cirrhosis. A competing-risk meta-analysis of individual participant data.

Background & Aims: Non-selective β-blockers (NSBBs) and endoscopic variceal-ligation (EVL) have similar efficacy preventing first variceal bleeding. Compensated and decompensated cirrhosis are markedly different stages, which may impact treatment outcomes. We aimed to assess the efficacy of NSBBs vs EVL on survival in patients with high-risk varices without previous bleeding, stratifying risk according to compensated/decompensated stage of cirrhosis.

Real-Life Results of Palliative Chemotherapy in Metastatic Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma.

Purpose: To assess the efficacy of FOLFIRINOX(FFX), gemcitabine-based regimens (GB), and gemcitabine monotherapy (Gem) in patients with metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (mPDAC).

Methods: This is a retrospective study that included 83 patients with mPDAC treated with first-line chemotherapy (L1) with either FFX, GB or Gem between 2015 and 2017. Progression-free survival (PFS) for L1 and second-line chemotherapy (L2) (PFS-L1 and PFS-L2) and overall survival (OS) were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method.

Endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration pancreatic adenocarcinoma samples yield adequate DNA for next-generation sequencing: A cohort analysis.

Background: Genetic tests are increasingly performed for the management of unresectable pancreatic cancer. For genotyping aimed samples current guidelines recommend using core specimens, although based on moderate quality evidence. However, in clinical practice among the endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) guided tissue acquisition methods, fine needle aspiration (FNA) is the most widely performed.

Fatigue Is Associated with Anxiety and Lower Health-Related Quality of Life in Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease in Remission.

Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) are chronic conditions with an unpredictable course and a remitting-relapsing evolution. Fatigue is a frequent complaint in patients with IBD, affecting approximately half of the newly diagnosed patients with IBD. The aim of this study was to analyze fatigue in patients with IBD in remission.

Host and immunosuppression-related factors influencing fibrosis occurrence post liver transplantation.

Post liver transplantation (LT) fibrosis has a negative impact on graft function. Cytokine production in the host immune response after LT may contribute to the variable CYP3A-dependent immunosuppressive drug disposition, with subsequent impact on liver fibrogenesis, together with host-related factors. We aimed to investigate whether the cytochrome P4503A5*3 (CYP3A5*3) or TBX21 genotypes impact post-LT liver fibrogenesis.

Functional bowel disorders with diarrhoea: Clinical guidelines of the United European Gastroenterology and European Society for Neurogastroenterology and Motility.

Irritable bowel syndrome with diarrhoea (IBS-D) and functional diarrhoea (FDr) are the two major functional bowel disorders characterized by diarrhoea. In spite of their high prevalence, IBS-D and FDr are associated with major uncertainties, especially regarding their optimal diagnostic work-up and management. A Delphi consensus was performed with experts from 10 European countries who conducted a literature summary and voting process on 31 statements.

The Impact of Pancreatic Exocrine Diseases on the β-Cell and Glucose Metabolism-A Review with Currently Available Evidence.

Pancreatic exocrine and endocrine dysfunctions often come together in the course of pancreatic diseases as interdependent manifestations of the same organ. However, the mechanisms underlying the bidirectional connection of the exocrine and endocrine pancreas are not fully understood. In this review, we aimed to synthetize the current knowledge regarding the effects of several exocrine pancreatic pathologies on the homeostasis of β-cells, with a special interest in the predisposition toward diabetes mellitus (DM).

Liquid Biopsy in Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Esophagus and of the Head and Neck.

Squamous cell carcinomas of the esophagus (ESCC) and of the head and neck (HNSCC) are two neoplasms that share common risk factors and have the same embryological origin, but a very different prognosis, the 5-year survival of HNSCC being almost double (40-50%) compared to the 5-year survival of ESCC (20%). Current guidelines emphasize the importance of screening for ESCC in patients diagnosed with head and neck cancers. A liquid biopsy is a novel tool for diagnosis, prognostic stratification, and personalized therapy.

Health-Related Quality of Life in Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease in Clinical Remission: What Should We Look For?

Background and Objectives: Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) are chronic conditions with an unpredictable evolution that can have a negative impact on patients’ quality of life (QoL). Even though patients in remission have a better QoL compared to patients with active disease, they still have a lower QoL compared to healthy people. The aim of this study is to identify the factors that are associated with a lower QoL in patients with IBD in clinical remission, in a tertiary IBD center in Romania.

Romanian Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Treatment of GERD-induced Respiratory Manifestations.

Background And Aims: Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a common condition present in daily practice with a wide range of clinical phenotypes. In this line, respiratory conditions may be associated with GERD. The Romanian Societies of Gastroenterology and Neurogastroenterology, in association with the Romanian Society of Pneumology, aimed to create a guideline regarding the epidemiology, diagnosis and treatment of respiratory conditions associated with GERD.

Assessment of Sarcopenia Related Quality of Life Using SarQoL® Questionnaire in Patients With Liver Cirrhosis.

Introduction: Sarcopenia, malnutrition, physical deconditioning, and frailty contribute to a significantly altered quality of life (QoL) in patients with cirrhosis and sarcopenia.

Aim: To investigate the sarcopenia-linked alterations of QoL by SarQoL® questionnaire in patients with end-stage liver disease.

Methods: Consecutive patients with liver cirrhosis, admitted to our department between May and August 2021, completed the SarQoL® questionnaire by themselves.

Genetic and Life Style Risk Factors for Recurrent Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Following Liver Transplantation.

Recurrent or non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)/non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) following liver transplantation (LT) is a frequent event being increasingly recognized over the last decade, but the influence of recurrent NASH on graft and patient outcomes is not yet established. Taking into consideration the long term survival of liver transplanted patients and long term complications with associated morbidity and mortality, it is important to define and minimize risk factors for recurrent NAFLD/NASH. Metabolic syndrome, obesity, dyslipidemia, diabetes mellitus are life style risk factors that can be potentially modified by various interventions and thus, decrease the risk of recurrent NAFLD/NASH.

Exosomes as prognostic biomarkers in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma-a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Extensive research is focused on the role of liquid biopsy in pancreatic cancer since reliable diagnostic and follow-up biomarkers represent an unmet need for this highly lethal malignancy. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis on the prognostic value of exosomal biomarkers in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). MEDLINE, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science, and CENTRAL were systematically searched on the 18th of January, 2021 for studies reporting on the differences in overall (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) in PDAC patients with positive vs negative exosomal biomarkers isolated from blood.