Trace element signature of subduction-zone fluids, melts and supercritical liquids at 120-180 km depth.

Fluids and melts liberated from subducting oceanic crust recycle lithophile elements back into the mantle wedge, facilitate melting and ultimately lead to prolific subduction-zone arc volcanism. The nature and composition of the mobile phases generated in the subducting slab at high pressures have, however, remained largely unknown. Here we report direct LA-ICPMS measurements of the composition of fluids and melts equilibrated with a basaltic eclogite at pressures equivalent to depths in the Earth of 120-180 km and temperatures of 700-1,200 degrees C.

Parthenolide and sulindac cooperate to mediate growth suppression and inhibit the nuclear factor-kappa B pathway in pancreatic carcinoma cells.

Activation of the transcription factor nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kappa B) has been implicated in pancreatic tumorigenesis. We evaluated the effect of a novel NF-kappa B inhibitor, parthenolide, a sesquiterpene lactone isolated from the herb feverfew, in three human pancreatic tumor cell lines (BxPC-3, PANC-1, and MIA PaCa-2). Parthenolide inhibited pancreatic cancer cell growth in a dose-dependent manner with substantial growth inhibition observed between 5 and 10 micromol/L parthenolide in all three cell lines.

Pancreaticoduodenectomy: a 20-year experience in 516 patients.

Hypothesis: Pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) is a safe procedure for a variety of periampullary conditions.

Design: Retrospective review of a prospectively collected database.

Setting: Academic tertiary care hospital.

Feature synergy depends on feature contrast and objecthood.

Pairs of texture figures, defined by contrast in spatial frequency, orientation or both cues (redundant texture definition) had to be detected within a homogeneous Gabor field. In line with expectation we find better detection performance for arrangements with higher feature contrast along the border where the figures abut. Redundantly defined figures show synergy, a significant performance increase compared to the prediction of independent processing of orientation and spatial frequency cues.

Mucin secreting cystic lesions of the pancreas: treatment by enucleation.

Ninety per cent of pancreatic cysts are inflammatory pseudocysts. The other 10 per cent are congenital or neoplastic and include congenital true cysts, retention cysts, lymphoepithelial cysts, the mucinous cystadenoma, mucinous cystadenocarcinoma, and serous microcystic cystadenomas and the more recently described intraductal papillary mucin-secreting neoplasms. The advent of computerized tomographic scanning, endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), and endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) has brought many of these lesions to light when they are minimally symptomatic or are incidentally found while investigating unrelated problems.

Multiple anticancer effects of blocking MEK-ERK signaling in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background: Human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is associated with increased expression and activity of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling intermediates (ie, MEK, ERK).

Study Design: We determined the effects of MEK-ERK signaling on proliferation, cell cycle, apoptosis, and tumorigenicity of HCC in vitro. HCC cell lines were treated with MEK enzyme-specific inhibitors, PD098059 and U0126, and ERK1,2 oligonucleotide antisense.

Novel combination of cyclooxygenase-2 and MEK inhibitors in human hepatocellular carcinoma provides a synergistic increase in apoptosis.

Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and ERK-MAPK mitogenic signaling pathways are important in human hepatocellular carcinoma. We investigated the effect of COX-2 inhibition on ERK-MAPK signaling and the effect of combining MEK (MAPK kinase) and COX-2 inhibitors in human hepatocellular carcinoma in vitro. COX and ERK expression were determined by immunoblot in HepG2 and Hep3B cells.

Analysis of Ki-67 antigen expression, DNA proliferative fraction, and survival in resected cancer of the pancreas.

Background: Prognostic markers for pancreas cancer, such as CEA, CA19-9, ploidy analysis, and S-phase determination using flow cytometry, have not been consistently predictive. We chose to evaluate nuclear proliferation, as measured by the MIB-1 monoclonal antibody and digital image analysis, as a prognostic marker in pancreatic carcinoma, and compare the findings with DNA ploidy and S-phase analysis. MIB-1 identifies the Ki67 antigen present in nuclei of cells in all phases of the cell cycle except G0.

MEK inhibition of pancreatic carcinoma cells by U0126 and its effect in combination with sulindac.

Objectives: The MAP kinase kinase (MEK)-extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) pathway is critical for cell growth and survival. In the current study, we examined the effect of inhibiting the MEK-ERK pathway in pancreatic tumor cells with the MEK-specific inhibitor U0126. In addition, we investigated whether the MEK-ERK pathway influenced the response of pancreatic cancer cells to nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).

Preoperative predictors of malignancy in pancreatic intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms.

Hypothesis: Malignant intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMNs) can be predicted before surgery.

Design: Retrospective review of a prospectively collected database.

Setting: Academic, urban, tertiary care hospital.

Inhibition of the phosphatidylinositol 3'-kinase signaling pathway increases the responsiveness of pancreatic carcinoma cells to sulindac.

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) may be effective treatment for pancreatic cancer. We have previously demonstrated that NSAIDs suppress pancreatic cell growth in vitro by inhibiting cell cycle progression but have little effect on apoptosis. In fact, we have shown that NSAIDs, in some instances, increase Akt phosphorylation in human pancreatic carcinoma cells suggesting activation of the phosphatidylinositol 3'-kinase (PI3K)-Akt survival (antiapoptotic) pathway.

Cryoablation of unresectable pancreatic cancer.

Background: Most patients with pancreatic cancer are not candidates for curative resection. The goal of this study was to evaluate the safety of an intraoperative ultrasound-guided cryosurgical procedure in a phase I study of unresectable pancreatic cancer.

Methods: From March 1995 to March 1999, 10 cryosurgeries using intraoperative ultrasound were performed on 9 patients with unresectable cancers at laparotomy.