Effect of Green Tea Polyphenol Epigallocatechin-3-gallate on the Aggregation of αA(66-80) Peptide, a Major Fragment of αA-crystallin Involved in Cataract Development.

Purpose: Crystallin is a major protein present in eye lens. Peptide fragment αA(66-80) derived from αA-crystallin possesses high aggregation propensity and forms amyloid-like structures. αA(66-80) aggregates are known to interact with soluble crystallins and destabilize native structures that subsequently undergo aggregation.

Balloon-occluded retrograde transvenous obliteration of gastric varices.

Balloon-occluded retrograde transvenous obliteration (BRTO) of gastric varices is an image-guided transcatheter procedure used to treat gastric varices with sclerosants rather than decompression of the portal venous system. The history of its development, relevant portal venous, and systemic venous anatomic considerations, techniques, indications, and early results will be reviewed. In addition, the status of the practice of BRTO in the United States will be discussed.

A phase I study of IMP321 and gemcitabine as the front-line therapy in patients with advanced pancreatic adenocarcinoma.

Purpose: This phase I study was conducted to determine the safety profile and maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of IMP321, a soluble lymphocyte activation gene-3 (LAG-3) Ig fusion protein and MHC Class II agonist, combined with gemcitabine in patients with advanced pancreatic adenocarcinoma.

Patients And Methods: Patients with advanced pancreatic adenocarcinoma were treated with gemcitabine (1,000 mg/m(2))(level 1), gemcitabine (1,000 mg/m(2)) plus IMP 321 at 0.5 mg (level 2) and 2.

Use of multifunctional sigma-2 receptor ligand conjugates to trigger cancer-selective cell death signaling.

One major challenge in the development of cancer therapeutics is the selective delivery of the drugs to their cellular targets. In the case of pancreatic cancer, the σ-2 receptor is a unique target that triggers apoptosis upon activation. We have previously developed a series of chemical compounds with high affinity for the σ-2 receptor and showed rapid internalization of the ligands.

A single-institution review of 157 patients presenting with benign and malignant tumors of the ampulla of Vater: management and outcomes.

Background: Although benign ampullary tumors are removed endoscopically, due to their potential to progress to malignant disease, the favored treatment for adenocarcinoma is pancreaticoduodenectomy. We reviewed our institution's experience in order to identify which patients were at highest risk of disease progression following surgical resection, as well as evaluate whether localized T1 tumors are best treated by pancreaticoduodenectomy.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 157 patients who presented with an ampullary mass, from 2001 to 2010, and identified 51 with benign adenoma and 106 with adenocarcinoma.

Circulating mesothelin protein and cellular antimesothelin immunity in patients with pancreatic cancer.

Purpose: Mesothelin is a glycoprotein expressed on normal mesothelial cells and is overexpressed in several histologic types of tumors including pancreatic adenocarcinomas. A soluble form of mesothelin has been detected in patients with ovarian cancer and malignant mesothelioma, and has prognostic value. Mesothelin has also been considered as a target for immune-based therapies.

Utility of the Gyrus open forceps in hepatic parenchymal transection.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate if the Gyrus open forceps is a safe and efficient tool for hepatic parenchymal transection.

Background: Blood loss during hepatic transection remains a significant risk factor for morbidity and mortality associated with liver surgery. Various electrosurgical devices have been engineered to reduce blood loss.

The effect of mesh reinforcement of a stapled transection line on the rate of pancreatic occlusion failure after distal pancreatectomy: review of a single institution's experience.

Background: Pancreatic occlusion failure (POF) after distal pancreatectomy remains a common source of morbidity. Here, we review our experience with distal pancreatectomy and attempt to identify factors which influence POF rates.

Patients And Methods: One hundred sixty-nine distal pancreatectomies were performed between 2002 and 2007.

Targeting AKT with the proapoptotic peptide, TAT-CTMP: a novel strategy for the treatment of human pancreatic adenocarcinoma.

Pancreatic adenocarcinoma carries an ominous prognosis and has little effective treatment. Several studies have demonstrated that the potently antiapoptotic phosphatidyl inositol 3'-kinase (PI3K)-protein kinase B/AKT pathway is active in pancreas cancer. A recent study identified an endogenous AKT antagonist, carboxyl terminal modulator protein (CTMP).

Sigma-2 receptor ligands potentiate conventional chemotherapies and improve survival in models of pancreatic adenocarcinoma.

Background: We have previously reported that the sigma-2 receptor is highly expressed in pancreas cancer. Furthermore, we have demonstrated that sigma-2 receptor specific ligands induce apoptosis in a dose-dependent fashion. Here, we examined whether sigma-2 receptor ligands potentiate conventional chemotherapies such as gemcitabine and paclitaxel.

Selective sigma-2 ligands preferentially bind to pancreatic adenocarcinomas: applications in diagnostic imaging and therapy.

Background: Resistance to modern adjuvant treatment is in part due to the failure of programmed cell death. Therefore the molecules that execute the apoptotic program are potential targets for the development of anti-cancer therapeutics. The sigma-2 receptor has been found to be over-expressed in some types of malignant tumors, and, recently, small molecule ligands to the sigma-2 receptor were found to induce cancer cell apoptosis.

Paneth cell cryptdins act in vitro as apical paracrine regulators of the innate inflammatory response.

Intestinal-specific antimicrobial alpha-defensins, termed cryptdins, are secreted into the intestinal lumen by mouse Paneth cells in response to microbial pathogens. Cryptdins kill microbes by forming pores in their limiting membranes. The cryptdin isoforms 2 and 3 also can form anion-conductive pores in eukaryotic cell membranes, thus affecting cell physiology.