Structural chokepoints determine the resilience of agri-food supply chains in the United States.

The agricultural and food systems of the United States are critical for ensuring the stability of both domestic and global food systems. Thus, it is essential to understand the structural resilience of the country's agri-food supply chains to a suite of threats. Here we employ complex network statistics to identify the spatially resolved structural chokepoints in the agri-food supply chains of the United States.

Liver resection modulates hepatic chemokine levels in breast cancer.

Background: Resection of metastatic hepatic tumors of breast cancer may result in the acceleration of hepatic and extrahepatic tumor progression due to the microenvironmental circulation of chemokines. This study aimed to investigate the effect of hepatectomy on a large panel of chemokines, liver regeneration, and myeloid cell levels in an experimental breast cancer model.

Methods: The 4T1 breast cancer cells were inoculated, and 30% to 40% hepatectomy was performed.

Prognostic and predictive value of tumoral DNA damage repair protein expression in patients with resected pancreatic cancer.

Objective: DNA damage repair (DDR) gene mutations gained interest in the treatment of metastatic pancreatic cancer (PC) patients, but their relevance in adjuvant setting is not well characterized. We assessed the prognostic and predictive potential of tumoral expression of DDR proteins along with clinical and tumor characteristics in patients with resected PC.

Patients And Methods: Patients with PC who underwent pancreatic resection in our institution between 2005 and 2017 were retrospectively retrieved.

Differential expansion of circulating human MDSC subsets in patients with cancer, infection and inflammation.

Background: Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSC) are a functional myeloid cell subset that includes myeloid cells with immune suppressive properties. The presence of MDSC has been reported in the peripheral blood of patients with several malignant and non-malignant diseases. So far, direct comparison of MDSC across different diseases and Centers is hindered by technical pitfalls and a lack of standardized methodology.

Human splenic polymorphonuclear myeloid-derived suppressor cells (PMN-MDSC) are strategically located immune regulatory cells in cancer.

In contrast to the mouse, functional assets of polymorphonuclear myeloid-derived suppressor cells (PMN-MDSC) in the human spleen remain to be better elucidated. Here, we report that the spleen in gastric and pancreatic cancer adopts an immune regulatory character, harbors excessive amount of PMN-MDSC, and anatomically enables their interaction with T cells. Compared to the peripheral blood, the spleen from cancer patients contained significantly higher levels of low-density PMN-MDSC, but not early-stage MDSC (e-MDSC) and monocytic-MDSC (M-MDSC).

CD66b monocytes represent a proinflammatory myeloid subpopulation in cancer.

Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSC) populate the peripheral blood and contribute to immune regulation in cancer. However, there is limited knowledge on the myeloid cell types with proinflammatory capacities that may serve as opponents of MDSC. In the circulation of cancer patients, a monocyte subpopulation was identified with a specific immunophenotype and transcriptomic signature.

Cyst of the canal of nuck: A rare cause of inguinal swelling in women.

Among various reasons of swellings in the female inguinal region nuck canal cysts are rare entities. Abnormal persistence of procesus vaginalis opening cause this formation. Presentation at adults can lead misdiagnosis.

Analysis of and in saliva of colorectal cancer patients.

The aim of the study was to examine the prevalence and amount of (), () and () in the saliva of colorectal cancer (CRC) patients and controls. PCR analyses performed in 71 CRC patients and 77 controls. Saliva samples of patients had higher amounts of (p = 0.

Cancer associated fibroblasts sculpt tumour microenvironment by recruiting monocytes and inducing immunosuppressive PD-1 TAMs.

Fibroblasts turn into cancer associated fibroblasts (CAFs) in the tumour microenvironment. CAFs have recently attracted attention for their function as a regulator of immune cell recruitment and function in addition to their tumour-promoting roles. In this study, we aimed to determine the role of CAFs on monocyte recruitment and macrophage polarization in breast cancer.

Impact of repeated abdominal surgery on wound healing and myeloid cell dynamics.

Background: Even though wound dehiscence is a surgical complication, under certain medical conditions, repetition of the laparotomy (LT) (relaparotomy) can become inevitable. In addition to the risks associated with this surgical operation, relaparotomy can interfere with the tissue healing and contribute to the development of chronic wounds.

Methods: In an experimental relaparotomy wounding model, this study investigated the impact of repeated surgery on wound healing and on the immune cells of myeloid origin.

Splenectomy-Induced Leukocytosis Promotes Intratumoral Accumulation of Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cells, Angiogenesis and Metastasis.

Background: Enlargement of the spleen is commonly observed in animal models of cancer. Here, in a breast cancer model, it was aimed to determine the effect of splenectomy on circulating and tumor-infiltrating myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs), tumor angiogenesis, and metastasis.

Methods: Mice were inoculated with 4T1 breast cancer cells and underwent splenectomy or sham laparotomy.

Multiple Giant Splenic Artery Aneurysms Causing Sinistral (Left-Sided) Portal Hypertension.

Background. Splenic artery aneurysm is the most common type of visceral aneurysms. They are usually asymptomatic and have a potential for rupture and therefore life-threatening hemorrhage.

Intraductal Papillary Mucinous Neoplasm of the Pancreas: Current Perspectives.

In this article, we aimed to review the literature on the clinics and management of intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm (IPMN). Intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm of the pancreas is a mucin-producing cystic mass originating from the pancreatic ductal system. Approximately 25% of the pancreatic neoplasms resected surgically and 50% of pancreatic cysts detected incidentally are IPMNs.

Nonfunctional Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors: Advances in Diagnosis, Management, and Controversies.

In this article, we aimed to review the literature on the clinics and management of nonfunctional pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (NPNET). Pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (PNET) are rare tumors with a <1/100,000 incidence and constitute approximately 2 to 10% of all pancreatic tumors. Nonfunctional PNETs are difficult to detect at early stages since they have no symptoms.

Combined long-term steroid and immunosuppressive treatment regimen in granulomatous mastitis.

Background: Idiopathic granulomatous mastitis (IGM) is a rare benign inflammatory disease of the breast. It is related to various etiological factors. The treatment of IGM is challenging as there is a lack of consensus in the literature and treatment options vary widely.

Abdominal tuberculosis leading to portal vein thrombosis, mimicking peritoneal carcinomatosis and liver cirrhosis.

Abdominal tuberculosis is a rare infectious disease that can involve the peritoneum and lead to portal vein thrombosis and mimic peritoneal carcinomatosis. We report on a 43-year-old male patient with fatigue and progressive weight loss for two years. Ascites was the only pathologic finding in his physical examination and laboratory findings revealed only a mild anaemia with Ca-125 elevation.

Scoring systems in the diagnosis of acute appendicitis in the elderly.

Background: Although special features of acute appendicitis in the elderly have been described in some studies, no studies evaluating the applicability of appendicitis scores exist in the literature. The aim of this study was to compare Alvarado and Lintula scores in patients older than 65 years of age.

Methods: Patients older than 65 years with appendicitis confirmed by pathology report were matched by year of admission with a group of patients admitted to the emergency department with non-specific abdominal pain.

Lymph node surgery in papillary thyroid carcinoma.

Papillary thyroid carcinoma is the most common type of thyroid cancer, and cervical lymph node metastasis of the disease is high. Lymph node surgery of the papillary thyroid carcinoma is controversial because of the good prognosis of the disease. Although controversy continues on prophylactic lymph node dissection, therapeutic lymph node dissection is recommended in all guidelines for patients who have known lymph node metastases.

Intestinal obstructions: what has changed so far?

The aim of this study is to evaluate the changing factors related to surgery in intestinal obstruction. The surgical records of patients who were operated for intestinal obstruction at Hacettepe University Medical School during the years 1980-1985 and 2000-2005 were evaluated retrospectively. There were 92 patients in group I and 185 patients in group II.

The effect of hepatectomy on coagulation: an evaluation by thromboelastography.

Objectives: Liver has a major role in coagulation. The hemostatic derangements measured by the mostly used coagulation parameters as prothrombin time, activated partial thromboplastin time, and thrombocyte count do not always correlate with the bleeding associated with liver diseases and these factors do not measure the thrombotic risks. So, thromboelastography is used in new clinical and laboratory research.

Renal cell carcinoma metastasis to focal nodular hyperplasia focus on liver in a patient with Von Hippel-Lindau disease.

Von Hippel-Lindau disease is an autosomal dominant disorder occurring in 1 of 36,000 births and associated with various tumors and cysts in the central nervous system and other visceral organs. At present, metastasis from renal cell carcinoma (RCC) and neurologic complications are the most common causes of death from Von Hippel-Lindau disease. We report a case of Von Hippel-Lindau disease diagnosed during a screening and was found to have metastasis of RCC to a focal nodular hyperplasia lesion on the liver.

Pancreaticojejunostomy after pancreaticoduodenectomy: results of a new technique.

Background/aims: Pancreaticoduodenectomy is the standard treatment for periampullary tumors. One of the major causes of morbidity after pancreaticoduodenectomy is the failure of the healing at the pancreaticoenteric anastomosis. The aim of this study is to summarize the results of a new technique which is designed to decrease the panreticoje-junostomy anastomotic leakage.

Controversies in periampullary tumors.

Periampullary tumors are one of the most common tumors of the gastrointestinal tract. Despite the increase of 1-5% in five year life expectancy in periampullary tumors prognosis is still poor. The controversies in diagnosis, surgical and adjuvant treatment will be discussed in this article.