Genetic and non-genetic risk factors for early-onset pancreatic cancer.

Background: Early-onset pancreatic cancer (EOPC) represents 5-10% of all pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) cases, and the etiology of this form is poorly understood. It is not clear if established PDAC risk factors have the same relevance for younger patients. This study aims to identify genetic and non-genetic risk factors specific to EOPC.

Lack of association of CD44-rs353630 and CHI3L2-rs684559 with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma survival.

Although pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) survival is poor, there are differences in patients' response to the treatments. Detection of predictive biomarkers explaining these differences is of the utmost importance. In a recent study two genetic markers (CD44-rs353630 and CHI3L2-rs684559) were reported to be associated with survival after PDAC resection.

Genetic variability of the ABCC2 gene and clinical outcomes in pancreatic cancer patients.

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) has an extremely poor prognosis, caused by various factors, such as the aggressiveness of the disease, the limited therapeutic options and the lack of early detection and risk markers. The ATP binding cassette subfamily C member 2 (ABCC2) protein plays a critical role in response to various drugs and is differentially expressed in gemcitabine sensitive and resistant cells. Moreover, single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the gene have been associated with differential outcomes and prognosis in several tumour types.

Bilingualism and healthy aging: Aging effects and neural maintenance.

Speaking more than one language is associated with neurocognitive benefits in seniors (Alladi et al. 2013). Few studies however have tested this hypothesis directly by comparing bilingual seniors who vary in chronological age.

Genome-wide association study identifies inversion in the locus to modify risk for alcoholic and non-alcoholic chronic pancreatitis.

Objective: Alcohol-related pancreatitis is associated with a disproportionately large number of hospitalisations among GI disorders. Despite its clinical importance, genetic susceptibility to alcoholic chronic pancreatitis (CP) is poorly characterised. To identify risk genes for alcoholic CP and to evaluate their relevance in non-alcoholic CP, we performed a genome-wide association study and functional characterisation of a new pancreatitis locus.

Semantic interference and its control: A functional neuroimaging and connectivity study.

During picture naming, the ease with which humans generate words is dependent upon the context in which they are named. For instances, naming previously presented items results in facilitation. Instead, naming a picture semantically related to previous items displays persistent interference effects (i.

Papillary cannulation and sphincterotomy techniques at ERCP: European Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ESGE) Clinical Guideline.

This Guideline is an official statement of the European Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ESGE). It provides practical advice on how to achieve successful cannulation and sphincterotomy at minimum risk to the patient. The Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) system was adopted to define the strength of recommendations and the quality of evidence.

Bilingualism provides a neural reserve for aging populations.

It has been postulated that bilingualism may act as a cognitive reserve and recent behavioral evidence shows that bilinguals are diagnosed with dementia about 4-5 years later compared to monolinguals. In the present study, we investigated the neural basis of these putative protective effects in a group of aging bilinguals as compared to a matched monolingual control group. For this purpose, participants completed the Erikson Flanker task and their performance was correlated to gray matter (GM) volume in order to investigate if cognitive performance predicts GM volume specifically in areas affected by aging.

Clinical use of extra-large self-expanding stents.

The aim of this study is to describe our clinical experience with an extra-large self-expandable stent specifically designed to treat aortic lesions (E-XL, Jotec GmbH, Hechingen, Germany), now commercially available in Europe. The E-XL was used at our Institution in 14 patients (mean age, 56±12 years; 9 males) with the following indications: improve proximal fixation (4 cases), type I endoleak (2 cases), aortic dissection with static malperfusion (1 case) and dynamic malperfusion (7 cases). Early results have been shown to be safe and effective in different clinical settings, including in emergency cases.

Regulation of dendritic- and T-cell fate by injury-associated endogenous signals.

Two events characterize tissue injury and sterile inflammation: (1) generation/release of autoantigens, and (2) generation of homeostatic inflammatory signals. Homeostatic signals recruit leukocytes and promote cell migration and division to replace injured cells. Moreover, they activate antigen-presenting phagocytes, in particular, dendritic cells (DCs), in anticipation of microbial invasion.

Adhesive capsulitis of the shoulder in human immunodeficiency virus-positive patients during highly active antiretroviral therapy.

Many adverse events have been described in patients treated with highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). Recently, among these, adhesive capsulitis of the shoulder has been described in some patients using protease inhibitors. We report our experience with 6 human immunodeficiency virus-positive patients in whom adhesive capsulitis of the shoulder developed during HAART.

Tissue factor and CCL2/monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 released by human islets affect islet engraftment in type 1 diabetic recipients.

Islet survival in the early posttransplantation period is likely to be influenced by inflammatory events in and around islets. Twenty-seven human islet preparations were transplanted by 24 infusions into 14 patients with brittle type 1 diabetes under the Edmonton protocol. Patients were monitored for their coagulation [cross-linked fibrin degradation products (XDPs)] and liver function test [aspartate and alanine aminotransferase (AST and ALT)] as markers of early posttransplant complications, and these were correlated with in vitro islet number, purification, volume, monocyte-chemoattractant protein-1 (CCL2/MCP-1) and tissue factor (TF) islet release.