Ampullary composite gangliocytoma/neuroma and neuroendocrine tumor management.

Ampullary composite gangliocytoma/neuroma and neuroendocrine tumor (CoGNET), previously called ampullary gangliocytic paragangliomas, is a rare entity, with only few reported cases in the literature. This is a multicentric retrospective cohort study of patients treated with endoscopy or surgery for ampullary CoGNET. A literature review of ampullary CoGNET was also performed.

High prevalence of pancreatic steatosis in pancreatic cancer patients: A meta-analysis and systematic review.

Objective: In the last decade there has been increasing interest in defining pancreatic steatosis (PS) and establishing its association with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). However, no consensus guidelines have yet been published on the management of PS. In this systematic review and meta-analysis performed according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, we investigated the association between PS and PDAC.

Alloplastic Vascular Grafts for Venous Interposition in Pancreatic Surgery: Readily Available and Reliable.

Objective: To investigate patency and clinical outcomes of alloplastic and other venous interposition graft materials in pancreatic surgery.

Background: Vascular pancreatic surgery is increasingly performed for locally advanced pancreatic neoplasms. Different than other centers, we prefer to use alloplastic vascular graft materials for superior mesenteric vein and portal vein interposition in pancreatic surgery.

Who Do We Fail to Rescue after Pancreatoduodenectomy? Outcomes Among >4000 Procedures Expose Windows of Opportunity.

Objective: Our investigation on in-hospital mortality after 4474 pancreatoduodenectomies aimed to identify time-dependent risks as well as windows of opportunity to rescue patients from complications.

Background: Pancreatoduodenectomy is generally considered a safe procedure with a 1-10% perioperative mortality based on complexity and surgical volume. Yet, patients are susceptible for life-threatening complications particularly with extended resections.

Preoperative Surgical or Endoscopic Bile Duct Drainage in Pancreatic Cancer.

Background: Patients with pancreatic cancer and obstructive jaundice routinely undergo endoscopic stent placement (ES). It is well known that ES causes bacterial contamination and infectious complications after pancreatic resection.

Objective: To compare short-term outcomes and survival in patients undergoing pancreatic head resection after preoperative ES vs preoperative surgical drainage (SD) via T-tube insertion.

Manufacturing Autoclave-Grade Thermoset Carbon Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Aerospace Composites without an Autoclave Using Nanoporous Materials.

Composite laminates utilizing autoclave-grade carbon fiber-reinforced plastic (CFRP) prepreg were manufactured using a polymer nanoporous network (NPN) interlayer that generates capillary pressure in lieu of pressure from an autoclave. The polymer nanofiber NPN film is integrated into the interlaminar region and is shown to eliminate voids in a vacuum-bag-only (VBO) curing process. After a preliminary investigation of the effect of NPN thickness on the interlaminar region and performance, an 8 μm thick polymer NPN was selected for a scaled manufacturing demonstration.

Prognostic impact of resection margin status on survival after neoadjuvant treatment for pancreatic cancer: systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: A greater than 1 mm tumour-free resection margin (R0 >1 mm) is a prognostic factor in upfront-resected pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. After neoadjuvant treatment (NAT); however, the prognostic impact of resection margin (R) status remains controversial.

Methods: Randomised and non-randomised studies assessing the association of R status and survival in resected pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma after NAT were sought by systematic searches of MEDLINE, Web of Science and CENTRAL.

Defining oligometastatic pancreatic cancer: a systematic review and critical synthesis of consensus.

Background: Small retrospective series suggest that local consolidative treatment (LCT) may improve survival in oligometastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). However, no uniform definition of oligometastatic disease (OMD) in PDAC exists; this impedes meaningful conclusions.

Patients And Methods: A systematic literature search using PubMed, Web of Science, and Cochrane CENTRAL registries for studies and protocols reporting on definitions and/or LCT of OMD in PDAC was performed.

Patient reported outcomes of duodenum-preserving pancreatic head resection in chronic pancreatitis: high effectivity is impaired by prolonged non-surgical management.

Background: Chronic pancreatitis (CP) causes suffering and socioeconomic burden. This study evaluated perioperative results and patient-reported outcomes (PRO) in CP patients treated with duodenum-preserving pancreatic head resection (DPPHR).

Methods: Data were analyzed of CP patients undergoing DPPHR between 01/2001-10/2014.

Smoking impairs the effect of neoadjuvant FOLFIRINOX on postresection survival in pancreatic cancer.

Introduction: Smoking plays an important role in carcinogenesis, including pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). However, little is known about the association between smoking status and prognosis in resected PDAC.

Methods: All patients who underwent resection for PDAC were identified from two prospective institutional databases.

The Revised R Status is an Independent Predictor of Postresection Survival in Pancreatic Cancer After Neoadjuvant Treatment.

Objective: To investigate the oncological outcomes of patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) who had an R 0 or R 1 resection based on the revised R status (1 mm) after neoadjuvant therapy (NAT).

Background: The revised R status is an independent prognostic factor in upfront-resected PDAC; however, the significance of 1 mm margin clearance after NAT remains controversial.

Methods: Patients undergoing pancreatectomy after NAT for PDAC were identified from 2 prospectively maintained databases.

Retrieval of carbon content and biomass from hyperspectral imagery over cultivated areas.

Spaceborne imaging spectroscopy is a highly promising data source for all agricultural management and research disciplines that require spatio-temporal information on crop properties. Recently launched science-driven missions, such as the Environmental Mapping and Analysis Program (EnMAP), deliver unprecedented data from the Earth's surface. This new kind of data should be explored to develop robust retrieval schemes for deriving crucial variables from future routine missions.

Resected Early-Onset Pancreatic Cancer: Practices and Outcomes in an International Dual-Center Study.

Background: Early-onset pancreatic cancer (EOPC), defined as age ≤ 45 years at diagnosis, accounts for 3% of all pancreatic cancer cases. Although differences in tumor biology have been suggested, available data are sparse and specific treatment recommendations are lacking. This study explores the clinicopathological features and oncologic outcomes of resected EOPC.

Imaging features of intraductal tubulopapillary neoplasm of the pancreas and its differentiation from conventional pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.

Intraductal tubulopapillary neoplasms (ITPN) are rare pancreatic tumors (< 1% of exocrine neoplasms) and are considered to have better prognosis than classical pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). The present study aimed to evaluate imaging features of ITPN in computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging. We performed monocentric retrospective analysis of 14 patients with histopathologically verified ITPN, operated in 2003-2018.

Multi-sensor spectral synergies for crop stress detection and monitoring in the optical domain: A review.

Remote detection and monitoring of the vegetation responses to stress became relevant for sustainable agriculture. Ongoing developments in optical remote sensing technologies have provided tools to increase our understanding of stress-related physiological processes. Therefore, this study aimed to provide an overview of the main spectral technologies and retrieval approaches for detecting crop stress in agriculture.

Assessing Non-Photosynthetic Cropland Biomass from Spaceborne Hyperspectral Imagery.

Non-photosynthetic vegetation (NPV) biomass has been identified as a priority variable for upcoming spaceborne imaging spectroscopy missions, calling for a quantitative estimation of lignocellulosic plant material as opposed to the sole indication of surface coverage. Therefore, we propose a hybrid model for the retrieval of non-photosynthetic cropland biomass. The workflow included coupling the leaf optical model PROSPECT-PRO with the canopy reflectance model 4SAIL, which allowed us to simulate NPV biomass from carbon-based constituents (CBC) and leaf area index (LAI).

Presence of low-grade IPMN at the pancreatic transection margin does not have prognostic significance after resection of IPMN-associated pancreatic adenocarcinoma.

Introduction: Resection margin status is a well-established prognosticator in pancreatic cancer. The prognostic impact of IPMN dysplasia at the pancreatic transection margin in IPMN-associated carcinoma (IPMN-Ca) remains unclear, hence institutional practices on additional resections vary.

Methods: Patients undergoing partial pancreatectomy or attempted partial pancreatectomy converted to total pancreatectomy for IPMN-Ca between 04/2002 and 12/2018 were identified.

Development and validation of the Massachusetts General Hospital/Memorial Sloan Kettering nomogram to predict overall survival of resected patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma treated with neoadjuvant therapy.

Background: Prognostication in patients undergoing resection for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma following neoadjuvant therapy remains challenging. In this study, we aimed to develop and validate a nomogram for the prediction of overall survival of these patients.

Methods: Patients who underwent neoadjuvant therapy followed by surgical resection at the Massachusetts General Hospital were analyzed (training cohort).

Prognostic relevance of the revised R status definition in pancreatic cancer: meta-analysis.

Background: The prognostic impact of margin status is reported with conflicting results after pancreatic cancer resection. While some studies validated an uninvolved resection margin (R0) 1 mm or more of tumour clearance, others have failed to show benefit. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to investigate the effects of margin definitions on median overall survival (OS).

IPMN-associated pancreatic cancer: Survival, prognostic staging and impact of adjuvant chemotherapy.

Background: Intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm (IPMN)-associated carcinoma is a subtype of pancreatic cancer for which prognostic factors, the validity of the AJCC/UICC staging system and the role of adjuvant chemotherapy remain unknown.

Materials And Methods: Clinicopathological, treatment and follow-up data of patients with IPMN-associated carcinoma undergoing resection between 2002 and 2018 were analyzed. Uni- and multivariable survival analyses were performed to identify prognostic factors.

Case Report: A Rare Case of Esophagogastric Junctional Squamous Cell Carcinoma After the Successful Treatment of Neuroendocrine Carcinoma: Clonal Tumor Evolution Revealed by Genetic Analysis.

Neuroendocrine carcinoma (NEC) of the esophagogastric junction (EGJ) is a rare disease with no established treatments. Herein, we describe a case of recurrent squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) after achieving complete response to chemotherapy against NEC of the EGJ. A 67-year-old man was referred to our hospital because of epigastric discomfort.

Prospective trial to evaluate the prognostic value of different nutritional assessment scores for survival in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (NURIMAS Pancreas SURVIVAL).

Background: Malnutrition is associated with poor survival in pancreatic cancer patients. Nutritional scores show great heterogeneity diagnosing malnutrition. The aim of this study was to find the score best suitable to identify patients with malnutrition related to worse survival after surgery for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC).

Agricultural breadbaskets shift poleward given adaptive farmer behavior under climate change.

Modern food production is spatially concentrated in global "breadbaskets." A major unresolved question is whether these peak production regions will shift poleward as the climate warms, allowing some recovery of potential climate-related losses. While agricultural impacts studies to date have focused on currently cultivated land, the Global Gridded Crop Model Intercomparison Project (GGCMI) Phase 2 experiment allows us to assess changes in both yields and the location of peak productivity regions under warming.