Ex-Vivo 3D Cellular Models of Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma: From Embryonic Development to Precision Oncology.

Pancreas is a vital gland of gastrointestinal system with exocrine and endocrine secretory functions, interweaved into essential metabolic circuitries of the human body. Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) represents one of the most lethal malignancies, with a 5-year survival rate of 11%. This poor prognosis is primarily attributed to the absence of early symptoms, rapid metastatic dissemination, and the limited efficacy of current therapeutic interventions.

Resilience in Rectal Cancer Treatment: Lessons from the COVID-19 Era in Czech Republic.

Introduction: The management of patients with COVID-19 infection has placed great pressure on the healthcare systems around the world. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the treatment outcomes of patients with rectal cancer by comparing them to those of patients with the same diagnosis in the pre-pandemic period.

Methods: Retrospective data analysis of patients undergoing multimodal treatment for rectal cancer at the four university hospitals during the COVID-19 pandemic (2020-2021) and the 2-year pre-pandemic period (2018-2019).

Type 1 Autoimmune Pancreatitis in Europe: Clinical Profile and Response to Treatment.

Background & Aims: Autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP) is an immune-mediated disease of the pancreas with distinct pathophysiology and manifestations. Our aims were to characterize type 1 AIP in a large pan-European cohort and study the effectiveness of current treatment regimens.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed adults diagnosed since 2005 with type 1 or not-otherwise-specified AIP in 42 European university hospitals.

Strain Energy and Entropy Based Scaling of Buckling Modes.

A new utilization of entropy in the context of buckling is presented. The novel concept of connecting the strain energy and entropy for a pin-ended strut is derived. The entropy of the buckling mode is extracted through a surrogate model by decomposing the strain energy into entropy and virtual temperature.

Serum concentrations of proinflammatory biomarker interleukin-6 (IL-6) as a predictor of postoperative complications after elective colorectal surgery.

Background: The aim of this prospective study was to evaluate the role of serum IL-6 as a potential predictive biomarker of postoperative complications (POC) in elective colorectal surgery.

Method: A total of 115 patients underwent colorectal surgery for malignancy. IL-6 was measured on the first and third postoperative days (POD1, POD3), and C-reactive protein (CRP) was measured on the POD3.

Morphine Analgesia, Cannabinoid Receptor 2, and Opioid Growth Factor Receptor Cancer Tissue Expression Improve Survival after Pancreatic Cancer Surgery.

Pancreatic cancer (PDAC) has a poor prognosis despite surgical removal and adjuvant therapy. Additionally, the effects of postoperative analgesia with morphine and piritramide on survival among PDAC patients are unknown, as are their interactions with opioid/cannabinoid receptor gene expressions in PDAC tissue. Cancer-specific survival data for 71 PDAC patients who underwent radical surgery followed by postoperative analgesia with morphine ( = 48) or piritramide ( = 23) were therefore analyzed in conjunction with opioid/cannabinoid receptor gene expressions in the patients' tumors.

16S rRNA gene primer choice impacts off-target amplification in human gastrointestinal tract biopsies and microbiome profiling.

16S rRNA amplicon sequencing or, more recently, metatranscriptomic analysis are currently the only preferred methods for microbial profiling of samples containing a predominant ratio of human to bacterial DNA. However, due to the off-target amplification of human DNA, current protocols are inadequate for bioptic samples. Here we present an efficient, reliable, and affordable method for the bacteriome analysis of clinical samples human DNA content predominates.

Management of pheochromocytomas and paragangliomas: Review of current diagnosis and treatment options.

Pheochromocytomas (PCCs) are rare neuroendocrine tumors derived from the chromaffin cells of the adrenal medulla. When these tumors have an extra-adrenal location, they are called paragangliomas (PGLs) and arise from sympathetic and parasympathetic ganglia, particularly of the para-aortic location. Up to 25% of PCCs/PGLs are associated with inherited genetic disorders.

Lack of Association between Epidermal Growth Factor or Its Receptor and Reflux Esophagitis, Barrett's Esophagus, and Esophageal Adenocarcinoma: A Case-Control Study.

The epidermal growth factor () and its receptor () gene-gene interactions were shown to increase the susceptibility to esophageal cancer. However, the role of the EGF/EGFR pathway in the development of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and its complications (reflux esophagitis (RE), Barrett's esophagus (BE), and esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC)) remains unclear. This association study is aimed at investigating functional and gene polymorphisms, their mRNA expression in esophageal tissues, and EGF plasma levels in relation to RE, BE, and EAC development in the Central European population.

Influence of bacteriobilia on postoperative complications in patients with periampullary tumors.

Background: Periampullary tumours (PAT) may cause obstruction of distal choledochus. The bile stasis is a risk factor for microbial colonisation of bile (bacteriobilia), cholangitis, hepatic insufficiency and coagulopathy. PAT obstruction can be managed surgically or non-operatively - by inserting a biliary drain or stent (BDS).

Silver-Based Dressings in the Prevention of the Incisional Surgical Site Infection: A Prospective Multicenter Observational Controlled Trial.

A new silver-based dressing has been designed to reduce surgical sited infections. A prospective multicenter observational study was conducted from January 2020 to October 2021. Patients with and without silver-based dressing after surgical incision were observed and their data analyzed.

The Use of Confocal Laser Endomicroscopy in Diagnosing Barrett's Esophagus and Esophageal Adenocarcinoma.

Confocal laser endomicroscopy (CLE) is a diagnostic technique that enables real-time microscopic imaging during microscopic examination and evaluation of epithelial structures with 1000-fold magnification. CLE can be used in the diagnosis of various pathologies, in pneumology, and in urology, and it is very widely utilized in gastroenterology, most importantly in the diagnosis of Barrett's esophagus (BE), esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC), biliary strictures, and cystic pancreatic lesions. A literature search was made in MEDLINE/PubMed and Google Scholar databases while focusing on diagnostics using CLE of BE and EAC.

Does Pathological Complete Response after Neoadjuvant Therapy Influence Postoperative Morbidity in Rectal Cancer after Transanal Total Mesorectal Excision?

Purpose: It is still unclear if pathological complete response (pCR) after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (CRT) in patients treated for rectal cancer causes worse postoperative outcomes, especially after transanal total mesorectal excision (TaTME). Worse postoperative outcomes might be an argument for an organ preserving watch and wait strategy in fragile patients and patients with comorbidities. The aim of this study is to evaluate whether patients treated for rectal cancer who had pCR to neoadjuvant therapy develop worse postoperative outcomes after TaTME than patients without complete response.

Autoimmune Diseases of Digestive Organs-A Multidisciplinary Challenge: A Focus on Hepatopancreatobiliary Manifestation.

It is well known that some pathological conditions, especially of autoimmune etiology, are associated with the HLA (human leukocyte antigen) phenotype. Among these diseases, we include celiac disease, inflammatory bowel disease, autoimmune enteropathy, autoimmune hepatitis, primary sclerosing cholangitis and primary biliary cholangitis. Immunoglobulin G4-related diseases (IgG4-related diseases) constitute a second group of autoimmune gastrointestinal, hepatobiliary and pancreatic illnesses.

Causes of Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency Other Than Chronic Pancreatitis.

Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI), an important cause of maldigestion and malnutrition, results from primary pancreatic disease or is secondary to impaired exocrine pancreatic function. Although chronic pancreatitis is the most common cause of EPI, several additional causes exist. These include pancreatic tumors, pancreatic resection procedures, and cystic fibrosis.

Identification of Recessively Inherited Genetic Variants Potentially Linked to Pancreatic Cancer Risk.

Although 21 pancreatic cancer susceptibility loci have been identified in individuals of European ancestry through genome-wide association studies (GWASs), much of the heritability of pancreatic cancer risk remains unidentified. A recessive genetic model could be a powerful tool for identifying additional risk variants. To discover recessively inherited pancreatic cancer risk loci, we performed a re-analysis of the largest pancreatic cancer GWAS, the Pancreatic Cancer Cohort Consortium (PanScan) and the Pancreatic Cancer Case-Control Consortium (PanC4), including 8,769 cases and 7,055 controls of European ancestry.

Role of miR-653 and miR-29c in downregulation of CYP1A2 expression in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a major contributor to the worldwide cancer burden. Recent studies on HCC have demonstrated dramatic alterations in expression of several cytochrome P450 (CYP) family members that play a crucial role in biotransformation of many drugs and other xenobiotics; however, the mechanisms responsible for their deregulation remain unclear.

Methods: We investigated a potential involvement of miRNAs in downregulation of expression of CYPs observed in HCC tumors.

The Role of Circulating MicroRNAs in Patients with Early-Stage Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma.

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is increasing in incidence and is still associated with a high rate of mortality. Only a minority of patients are diagnosed in the early stage. Radical surgery is the only potential curative procedure.

Human Infections by : A Mini-Review and the First Report of a Burn Wound Infection after Accidental Myiasis in Central Europe.

are bacteria that cause rare infections, typically associated with the infestation of an open wound with fly larvae. Here, we present a unique case report of the first isolation from a burn wound with accidental myiasis in a 63-year-old homeless man and a literature review focused on human infections caused by these bacteria. So far, 23 cases of infection with have been reported; in 52% of these, larvae were found in the wound area.

infection and other bacteria in pancreatic cancer and autoimmune pancreatitis.

() is an infectious agent influencing as much as 50% of the world's population. It is the causative agent for several diseases, most especially gastric and duodenal peptic ulcer, gastric adenocarcinoma and mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma of the stomach. A number of other, extragastric manifestations also are associated with infection.

Achalasia and acromegaly: Co-incidence of these diseases or a new syndrome?

Background: Acromegaly is a disorder associated with hypersecretion of growth hormone, most usually caused by a pituitary adenoma. Dysmotility of the gastrointestinal tract has been reported in acromegalic patients. Achalasia is a disorder characterized by aperistalsis of the oesophagus with incomplete lower oesophageal sphincter relaxation and whose aetiology remains unknown.

Global Sensitivity Analysis Based on Entropy: From Differential Entropy to Alternative Measures.

Differential entropy can be negative, while discrete entropy is always non-negative. This article shows that negative entropy is a significant flaw when entropy is used as a sensitivity measure in global sensitivity analysis. Global sensitivity analysis based on differential entropy cannot have negative entropy, just as Sobol sensitivity analysis does not have negative variance.

Gene expression of cytokinesis regulators and has no prognostic role in colorectal and pancreatic cancer.

Colorectal cancer is one of the most common cancers and pancreatic cancer is among the most fatal and difficult to treat. New prognostic biomarkers are urgently needed to improve the treatment of colorectal and pancreatic cancer. Protein regulating cytokinesis 1 (), kinesin family member 14 () and citron Rho-interacting serine/threonine kinase () serve important roles in cytokinesis, are strongly associated with cancer progression and have prognostic potential.