Stapled Arterial Divestment in Surgery for Locally Advanced Pancreatic Cancer.

Background: Pancreatic adenocarcinoma has a predisposition to invade the neural tissue surrounding the superior mesenteric artery (SMA). Before the advent of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC), any invasion of this tissue was often considered as unresectable disease. Currently, patients who respond favourably to NAC have potentially resectable disease.

Mass-forming intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma: treatment outcomes after curative-intent resection in an Australian tertiary referral hospital.

Background: Mass-forming intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (MF-ICC) is the second most common primary liver cancer and liver resection offers the best chance of possible cure. This study aimed to assess treatment outcomes and prognostic factors for long-term survival in patients who underwent curative-intent liver resection.

Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on prospectively collected data from patients with MF-ICC managed at the Royal North Shore/North Shore Private Hospital from January 1998 to October 2023.

Building the foundation for a community-generated national research blueprint for inherited bleeding disorders: research priorities for ultra-rare inherited bleeding disorders.

Background: Ultra-rare inherited bleeding disorders (BDs) present important challenges for generating a strong evidence foundation for optimal diagnosis and management. Without disorder-appropriate treatment, affected individuals potentially face life-threatening bleeding, delayed diagnosis, suboptimal management of invasive procedures, psychosocial distress, pain, and decreased quality-of-life.

Research Design And Methods: The National Hemophilia Foundation (NHF) and the American Thrombosis and Hemostasis Network identified the priorities of people with inherited BDs and their caregivers, through extensive inclusive community consultations, to inform a blueprint for future decades of research.

Prospective multicentre randomised controlled trial of the effect of raun Enteroenterostomy in the Reconstruction after Pancreaticoduodenectomy on delayed gastric emptying (DGE): protocol for the BERP study.

Introduction: Despite advances in achieving low mortality rates with pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD), morbidity remains high. A key contributor to this morbidity is delayed gastric emptying (DGE) occurring with an incidence of up to 30%. The utility of a Braun enteroenterostomy (BE) appears promising to reducing the incidence of DGE, but current research is not definitive.

Cancer-associated stroma reveals prognostic biomarkers and novel insights into the tumour microenvironment of colorectal cancer and colorectal liver metastases.

Background And Aims: Cancer-associated stroma (CAS) is emerging as a key determinant of metastasis in colorectal cancer (CRC); however, little is known about CAS in colorectal liver metastases (CRLM). This study aimed to validate the prognostic significance of stromal protein biomarkers in primary CRC and CRLM. Secondly, this study aimed to describe the transcriptome of the CAS of CRLM and identify novel targetable pathways of metastasis.

Using patient-derived xenograft models of colorectal liver metastases to predict chemosensitivity.

Background: Few in vivo models for colorectal cancer have been demonstrated to show external validity by accurately predicting clinical patient outcomes. Patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models of cancer have characteristics that might provide a form of translational research leading to personalized cancer care. The aim of this pilot study was to assess the feasibility of using PDXs as a platform for predicting patient colorectal liver metastases responses, in this case by correlating PDX and patient tumor responses to either folinic acid, fluorouracil plus oxaliplatin or folinic acid, fluorouracil plus irinotecan-based regimens.

Acinar cell density at the pancreatic resection margin is associated with post-pancreatectomy pancreatitis and the development of postoperative pancreatic fistula.

Background: There has been recent evidence supporting post-pancreatectomy pancreatitis as a factor in the development of postoperative pancreatic fistula (POPF). The aims of this study were to evaluate: (i) the correlation of the acinar cell density at the pancreatic resection margin with the intra-operative amylase concentration (IOAC) of peri-pancreatic fluid, postoperative pancreatitis, and POPF; and (ii) the association between postoperative pancreatitis on the first postoperative day and POPF.

Methods: Consecutive patients who underwent pancreatic resection between June 2016 and July 2017 were included for analysis.

Patient-derived xenograft models of colorectal cancer in pre-clinical research: a systematic review.

Aims: We sought to objectively assess the internal and external validity of patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models as a platform in pre-clinical research into colorectal cancer (CRC). Metastatic disease is the most common cause of death from CRC, and despite significant research, the results of current combination chemotherapy and targeted therapies have been underwhelming for most of this patient group. One of the key factors limiting the success of translational CRC research is the biologically inaccurate models in which new therapies are developed.

Resection of colorectal liver metastases and extra-hepatic disease: a systematic review and proportional meta-analysis of survival outcomes.

Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) accounts for 9.7% of all cancers with 1.4 million new cases diagnosed each year.

Human antigen-specific CD4⁺ CD25⁺ CD134⁺ CD39⁺ T cells are enriched for regulatory T cells and comprise a substantial proportion of recall responses.

Human Ag-specific CD4(+) T cells can be detected by their dual expression of CD134 (OX40) and CD25 after a 44 hours stimulation with cognate Ag. We show that surface expression of CD39 on Ag-specific cells consistently identifies a substantial population of CD4(+) CD25(+) CD134(+) CD39(+) T cells that have a Treg-cell-like phenotype and mostly originate from bulk memory CD4(+) CD45RO(+) CD127(low) CD25(high) CD39(+) Treg cells. Viable, Ag-specific CD25(+) CD134(+) CD39(+) T cells could be expanded in vitro as cell lines and clones, and retained high Forkhead Box Protein 3, CTLA-4 and CD39 expression, suppressive activity and Ag specificity.

Customized fenestrated endovascular graft repair of abdominal aortic aneurysm with concomitant horseshoe kidney.

The occurrence of an abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) with horseshoe kidney (HSK) is an uncommon but complex surgical problem. This report outlines three such cases, the particular issues encountered and how customized endovascular grafts were successfully used to overcome them. Case one shows an accessory renal artery arising from the left common iliac artery, case two shows a right accessory renal artery from the AAA sac and case three has the right renal artery coming off the distal abdominal aorta within the sac.

High levels of human antigen-specific CD4+ T cells in peripheral blood revealed by stimulated coexpression of CD25 and CD134 (OX40).

Ag-specific human CD4(+) memory T lymphocytes have mostly been studied using assays of proliferation in vitro. Intracellular cytokine and ELISPOT assays quantify effector cell populations but barely detect responses to certain recall Ags that elicit strong proliferative responses, e.g.

Adamantyl triazoles as selective inhibitors of 11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1.

Adamantyl triazoles were identified as selective inhibitors of 11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 (11beta-HSD1). They are active both in in vitro and in in vivo pharmacodynamic models. The synthesis and structure-activity relationships of these inhibitors are presented.