Glyoxalase 1: Emerging biomarker and therapeutic target in cervical cancer progression.

INTRODUCTION: Cervical cancer presents a significant global health challenge, disproportionately impacting underserved populations with limited access to healthcare. Early detection and effective management are vital in addressing this public health concern. This study focuses on Glyoxalase-1 (GLO1), an enzyme crucial for methylglyoxal detoxification, in the context of cervical cancer. METHODS: We assessed GLO1 expression in cervical cancer patient samples using immunohistochemistry. In vitro experiments using HeLa cells were conducted to evaluate the impact of GLO1 inhibition on cell viability and migration. Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) and gene set variation analysis were utilized to investigate the role of GLO1 in the metabolism of cervical cancer. Additionally, public microarray data were analyzed to determine GLO1 expression across various stages of cervical cancer. RESULTS: Our analysis included 58 cervical cancer patients, and showed that GLO1 is significantly upregulated in cervical cancer tissues compared to normal cervical tissues, independent of pathological findings and disease stage. In vitro experiments indicated that GLO1 inhibition by S-p-bromobenzylglutathione cyclopentyl diester decreased cell viability and migration in cervical cancer cell lines. Analyses of scRNA-seq data and public gene expression datasets corroborated the overexpression of GLO1 and its involvement in cancer metabolism, particularly glycolysis. An examination of expression data from precancerous lesions revealed a progressive increase in GLO1 expression from normal tissue to invasive cervical cancer. CONCLUSIONS: This study highlights the critical role of GLO1 in the progression of cervical cancer, presenting it as a potential biomarker and therapeutic target. These findings contribute valuable insights towards personalized treatment approaches and augment the ongoing efforts to combat cervical cancer. Further research is necessary to comprehensively explore GLO1's potential in clinical applications.

Human Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Alveolar Organoids: Cellular Heterogeneity and Maturity.

Chronic respiratory diseases such as idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and respiratory infections injure the alveoli; the damage evoked is mostly irreversible and occasionally leads to death. Achieving a detailed understanding of the pathogenesis of these fatal respiratory diseases has been hampered by limited access to human alveolar tissue and the differences between mice and humans. Thus, the development of human alveolar organoid (AO) models that mimic in vivo physiology and pathophysiology has gained tremendous attention over the last decade. In recent years, human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) have been successfully employed to generate several types of organoids representing different respiratory compartments, including alveolar regions. However, despite continued advances in three-dimensional culture techniques and single-cell genomics, there is still a profound need to improve the cellular heterogeneity and maturity of AOs to recapitulate the key histological and functional features of in vivo alveolar tissue. In particular, the incorporation of immune cells such as macrophages into hPSC-AO systems is crucial for disease modeling and subsequent drug screening. In this review, we summarize current methods for differentiating alveolar epithelial cells from hPSCs followed by AO generation and their applications in disease modeling, drug testing, and toxicity evaluation. In addition, we review how current hPSC-AOs closely resemble in vivo alveoli in terms of phenotype, cellular heterogeneity, and maturity.

Therapeutic and Preventive Effect of Orally Administered Prebiotics on Atopic Dermatitis in a Mouse Model.

PURPOSE: Recently, interest is increasing in using prebiotics, which are nutrient ingredients of live microorganism that improve the intestinal environments by promoting the growth of beneficial gut microflora. Although numerous studies have demonstrated the beneficial effects of probiotics on atopic dermatitis (AD) development, few have examined preventive and therapeutic effects of prebiotics on the onset and progression of AD. METHODS: In this study, we investigated therapeutic and preventive effect of prebiotics, including ß-glucan and inulin, using an oxazolone (OX)-induced AD-like mouse model. Prebiotics were orally administered 2 weeks after the end of sensitization period (therapeutic study) and 3 weeks before the initial sensitization (prevention study). The physiological and histological alterations in the skin and gut of the mice were investigated. RESULTS: In the therapeutic study, the severity of skin lesions and inflammatory responses were effectively reduced after administering ß-glucan and inulin, respectively. The expression level of calprotectin was significantly decreased by approximately 2-fold (P < 0.05) in the skin and gut of prebiotics-treated mice compared to the control. In addition, epidermal thickness and the number of infiltrated immune cells were markedly reduced in the dermis of prebiotics-treated mice compared with to those in the OX-induced mice (P < 0.05). These findings were same as in the prevention study. Importantly, pre-administration of ß-glucan and inulin prevented the progression of AD by promoting the growth of good bacteria in the gut of OX-induced AD mice. However, the co-administration of ß-glucan and inulin did not show enhanced preventive effects on these alterations. CONCLUSIONS: Prebiotics has a therapeutic effect on AD in OX-induced AD mouse model. Moreover, our study suggests that prebiotics prevents the development of AD and this effect is associated with a change in gut microbiome.

Propensity score matching analysis of perioperative outcomes including quality of life after multi-port vs. single port laparoscopic cholecystectomy: a nationwide prospective multicenter study in Korea.

INTRODUCTION: The usefulness of single-port laparoscopic cholecystectomy (SPLC) as compared to multi-port laparoscopic cholecystectomy (MPLC) remains controversial. Between SPLC and MPLC, we compared outcomes, especially subjective aspects, such as quality of life (QoL). MATERIAL AND METHODS: This multi-center study, involving 20 institutions from 2016 to 2017, enrolled 2507 patients who underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Various perioperative outcomes, pain assessed by the numeric rating scale (NRS) score, and QoL evaluated by the gastrointestinal QoL index (GIQLI) questionnaire, were compared between the two procedures. We generated balanced groups after propensity score matching (PSM) using preoperative factors that influence the decision to perform MPLC or SPLC. RESULTS: MPLC and SPLC were performed in 2176 and 331 patients, respectively. Nine hundred and twelve and 329 patients, respectively, were selected from the two groups by PSM. Operation time was longer and surgical difficulty was lower in SPLC. There were no significant differences in most outcomes, including biliary complications. Significant superiority of SPLC over MPLC was shorter hospitalization, lower NRS score, and favorable GIQLI. CONCLUSIONS: From nationwide prospective data, SPLC showed outcomes comparable to MPLC. In SPLC, morbidity was not high and postoperative QoL was favorable. In the future, more implementations and studies are needed to ensure the safety and feasibility of SPLC.

Generation of ints14 Knockout Zebrafish using CRISPR/Cas9 for the Study of Development and Disease Mechanisms.

INTS14/VWA9, a component of the integrator complex subunits, plays a pivotal role in regulating the fate of numerous nascent RNAs transcribed by RNA polymerase II, particularly in the biogenesis of small nuclear RNAs and enhancer RNAs. Despite its significance, a comprehensive mutation model for developmental research has been lacking. To address this gap, we aimed to investigate the expression patterns of INTS14 during zebrafish embryonic development. We generated ints14 mutant strains using the CRISPR/Cas9 system. We validated the gRNA activity by co-injecting Cas9 protein and a single guide RNA into fertilized zebrafish eggs, subsequently confirming the presence of a 6- or 9-bp deletion in the ints14 gene. In addition, we examined the two mutant alleles through PCR analysis, T7E1 assay, TA-cloning, and sequencing. For the first time, we used the CRISPR/Cas9 system to create a model in which some sequences of the ints14 gene were removed. This breakthrough opens new avenues for in-depth exploration of the role of ints14 in animal diseases. The mutant strains generated in this study can provide a valuable resource for further investigations into the specific consequences of ints14 gene deletion during zebrafish development. This research establishes a foundation for future studies exploring the molecular mechanisms underlying the functions of ints14, its interactions with other genes or proteins, and its broader implications for biological processes.

Comparison of Short-Term Surgical Outcomes According to Immediately Postoperative Serum Glucose Level in Non-Diabetic Pancreatic Resection Patients.

The adequate regulation of postoperative serum glucose level (SGL) is widely accepted; however, the effects for non-diabetic patients who underwent major pancreatic surgery have not yet been established. We discerned the relevance of the immediately postoperative SGL to short-term postoperative outcomes from major pancreatic surgery in non-diabetic patients. Between January 2007 and December 2016, 2259 non-diabetic patients underwent major pancreatic surgery at four tertiary medical centers in Republic of Korea. Based on a SGL of 200 mg/dL, patients were classified into two groups by averaging the results of four SGL tests taken on the first day after surgery, and their short-term postoperative outcomes were analyzed. A 1:1 propensity score matching method was conducted to establish the high SGL group (n = 568) and the normal SGL group (n = 568). The high SGL group experienced a significantly higher rate of level C complications in the Clavien-Dindo classification (CDc) than the normal SGL group (24.1% vs. 16.5%, p = 0.002). Additionally, an SGL of more than 200 mg/dL was associated with a significantly high risk of complications above level C CDc after adjusting for other risk factors (hazard ratio = 1.324, 95% confidence interval = 1.048-1.672, p = 0.019). The regulation of SGL of less than 200 mg/dL in non-diabetic patients early after major pancreatic surgery could be helpful for reducing postoperative complications.

Glyoxalase 1 as a Therapeutic Target in Cancer and Cancer Stem Cells.

Methylglyoxal (MG) is a dicarbonyl compound formed in cells mainly by the spontaneous degradation of the triose phosphate intermediates of glycolysis. MG is a powerful precursor of advanced glycation end products, which lead to strong dicarbonyl and oxidative stress. Although divergent functions of MG have been observed depending on its concentration, MG is considered to be a potential anti-tumor factor due to its cytotoxic effects within the oncologic domain. MG detoxification is carried out by the glyoxalase system. Glyoxalase 1 (Glo1), the ubiquitous glutathione-dependent enzyme responsible for MG degradation, is considered to be a tumor promoting factor due to it catalyzing the removal of cytotoxic MG. Indeed, various cancer types exhibit increased expression and activity of Glo1 that closely correlate with tumor cell growth and metastasis. Furthermore, mounting evidence suggests that Glo1 contributes to cancer stem cell survival. In this review, we discuss the role of Glo1 in the malignant progression of cancer and its possible use as a promising therapeutic target for tumor therapy. We also summarize therapeutic outcomes of Glo1 inhibitors as prospective treatments for the prevention of cancer.

Is it worthy to perform total pancreatectomy considering morbidity and mortality?: Experience from a high-volume single center.

Total pancreatectomy (TP) is performed for diseases of the entire pancreas. However, reluctance remains regarding TP because of the fear of high morbidity and mortality. Our retrospective study aimed to evaluate the postoperative outcomes of TP performed at a high-volume single center and to identify the risk factors associated with major morbidities and mortality after TP. A total of 142 patients who underwent elective TP at Samsung Medical Center between 1995 and 2015 were included. TP was usually planned before surgery or decided during surgery [one-stage TP], and there were some completion TP cases that were performed to manage tumors that had formed in the remnant pancreas after a previous partial pancreatectomy [2-stage TP]. The differences between the 1-stage and 2-stage TP groups were analyzed. Chronological comparison was also conducted by dividing cases into 2 periods [the early and late period] based on the year TP was performed, which divided the total number of patients to almost half for each period. Among all TP patients, major morbidity occurred in 25 patients (17.6%), the rate of re-admission within 90-days was 20.4%, and there was no in-hospital and 30-days mortality. Between the 1-stage and 2-stage TP groups, most clinical, operative, and pathological characteristics, and postoperative outcomes did not differ significantly. Chronological comparison showed that, although the incidence of complications was higher, hospitalization was shorter due to advanced managements in the late period. The overall survival was improved in the late period compared to the early period, but it was not significant. A low preoperative protein level and N2 were identified as independent risk factors for major morbidity in multivariable analysis. The independent risk factors for poor overall survival were R1 resection, adenocarcinoma, and high estimated blood loss (EBL). TP is a safe and feasible procedure with satisfactory postoperative outcomes when performed at a high-volume center. More research and efforts are needed to significantly improve overall survival rate in the future.

Intraoperative Positive Pancreatic Parenchymal Resection Margin: Is It a True Indication of Completion Total Pancreatectomy after Partial Pancreatectomy for Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma?

BACKGROUND: Total pancreatectomy (TP) can be performed in cases with positive resection margin after partial pancreatectomy for pancreatic cancer. However, despite complete removal of the residual pancreatic parenchyme, it is questionable whether an actual R0 resection and favorable survival can be achieved. This study aimed to identify the R0 resection rate and postoperative outcomes, including survival, following completion TP (cTP) performed due to intraoperative positive margin. METHODS: From 1995 to 2015, 1096 patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma underwent elective pancreatectomy at the Samsung Medical Center. Among these, 25 patients underwent cTP, which was converted during partial pancreatectomy because of a positive resection margin. To compare survival after R0 resection between the cTP R0 and pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) R0 cases, propensity score matching was conducted to balance the baseline characteristics. RESULTS: The R0 rate of cTP performed due to intraoperative positive margin was 84% (21/25). The overall 5-year survival rate (5YSR) in the 25 cTP cases was 8%. There was no difference in the 5YSR between the cTP R0 and cTP R1 groups (9.5% versus 0.0%, p = 0.963). However, the 5YSR of the cTP R0 group was significantly lower than that of the PD R0 group (9.5% versus 20.0%, p = 0.022). There was no distinct difference in postoperative complications between the cTP R0 versus cTP R1 and cTP R0 versus PD R0 groups. CONCLUSIONS: In cases with intraoperative positive pancreatic parenchymal resection margin, survival after cTP was not favorable. Careful patient selection is needed to perform cTP in such cases.

Surgical outcomes and prognostic factors of distal common bile duct adenocarcinoma: chronological analysis in a single high-volume institutional experience.

BACKGROUND: Distal common bile duct (dCBD) cancer is typical indication for pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD). We aimed to retrospectively evaluate surgical outcomes and investigate prognostic factors of dCBD adenocarcinoma for which PD was performed at a single institution. METHODS: We searched consecutive cases of dCBD adenocarcinoma undergone PD at Samsung Medical Center from 1995 to 2018. Cases with distant metastasis or palliative intent were excluded. The year in which the survival rate was dramatically improved was identified and entire years were divided into two periods for comparison. To balance between the two periods, we conducted propensity score matching (PSM) analysis using age, sex, body mass index (BMI), and American Society of Anesthesiologist score. RESULTS: Total of 804 cases were enrolled in this study. The entire period was divided into early period of 18 years and recent period of 6 years. The early and late period included 466 and 338 patients, respectively. As a result of PSM, balanced 316 patients were selected from each of the two periods. Significant improvements in surgical outcomes were identified, including shorter operation time, fewer blood loss, shorter hospitalization, and favorable overall survival. As results of multivariable analysis of independent risk factors for overall survival, older age and advanced N stage were identified, as expected. It was distinct that aggressive surgery and advanced tumor state in the early period and a lower BMI in the late period negatively affected the survival, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Surgical outcomes of dCBD cancer underwent PD was improved. There were few modifiable factors to improve survival and continuous further study is needed to detect dCBD cancer in the early stages.

Effect of Intraoperatively Detected Bacteriobilia on Surgical Outcomes After Pancreatoduodenectomy: Analysis of a Prospective Database in a Single Institute.

BACKGROUND: Bacteriobilia, the colonization of bacteria in bile, can be caused by obstructive cholangitis or preoperative biliary drainage (PBD), and is not uncommon condition in patients undergoing pancreatoduodenectomy (PD). This study aims to investigate the effect of intraoperatively detected bacteriobilia on surgical outcomes after PD. METHODS: For patients who underwent PD in Samsung Medical Center between 2018 and 2020, an intraoperative bile culture was performed prospectively, and their clinicopathological data were retrospectively reviewed. Surgical outcomes were compared between the patients, classified according to PBD and bacteriobilia. Logistic regression analysis was performed to identify factors increasing postoperative complications. RESULTS: A total of 382 patients were included, and 202 (52.9%) patients had PBD (PBD group). Bacteriobilia was significantly more common in PBD group comparing to non-PBD group (31.1% vs 75.2%, P < 0.001), but there was no difference in postoperative complications. Among PBD group, there were more patients with major complications and CR-POPF in endoscopic drainage group comparing to percutaneous drainage group (37.9% vs 14.6%, P = 0.002; 17.0% vs 4.2%, P = 0.025, respectively). In multivariable analysis, bacteriobilia increased the risk of wound complications (P = 0.041), but not the risks of other short-term adverse outcomes. CONCLUSION: Bacteriobilia itself does not exacerbate short-term postoperative outcomes after PD except for wound complication. Therefore, surgery could be performed as planned regardless of bacteriobilia, without the need to wait for negative cultures.

Prophylactic octreotide for postoperative pancreatic fistula in patients with pancreatoduodenectomy: Risk-stratified analysis.

BACKGROUND: Postoperative pancreatic fistula is one of the most critical complications following pancreatic surgery. This study aimed to evaluate the utility of selective prophylactic octreotide for patients at high risk of developing postoperative pancreatic fistula. METHODS: From June 2019 to July 2020, 263 patients underwent pancreatoduodenectomy with pancreatojejunostomy at Samsung Medical Center. The individual fistula risk scores were calculated using a previously developed nomogram. The clinicopathological data of the patients were retrospectively reviewed. RESULTS: There were 81 patients in the low-risk group and 182 patients in the high-risk group. No statistically significant differences were found in the rates of clinically relevant postoperative pancreatic fistula between octreotide group and the control group in all patients (15.0% vs 14.7%, P = .963) and in the high-risk group (16.1% vs 23.6%, P = .206). In risk factor analysis, postoperative octreotide was not an independent risk factor for clinically relevant pancreatic fistula in all patients and the high-risk group. Drain fluid amylase levels on the first postoperative day were significantly associated with clinically relevant postoperative pancreatic fistula, regardless of the individual risk. CONCLUSIONS: The selective use of octreotide, even in high-risk patients, showed no protective effect against pancreatic fistula. Therefore, the routine use of postoperative octreotide is not recommended.

Prognosis of pancreatic head cancer with different patterns of lymph node metastasis.

BACKGROUND: The nodal stage of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is revised in the AJCC 8th edition. Studies on the prognosis of PDAC according to lymph node metastasis (LNM) are still ongoing. We attempted to find the patterns of nodal involvement and to reveal its clinical significance to overall survival (OS). METHODS: We analyzed 585 patients who received pancreatic head cancer surgery diagnosed as PDAC from January 2007 to December 2016. Patients were classified into three groups: Group 1 (G1, patients without LNM), Group 2 (G2, those with LNM only in the peripancreatic area), and Group 3 (G3 those with LNM in the other area and/or peripancreatic LNM). Risk factors were analyzed by Cox-regression test and overall survival was compared by Kaplan-Meier analysis. RESULTS: LNM in peripancreatic area was the most common (88.7%). In the multivariate analysis, T stage, nuclear differentiation, adjuvant treatment, and the G2 and G3 were independent risk factors for OS (G2 over G1, HR 1.384, 95% CI 1.046-1.802; P = .036 and G3 over G1, HR 2.383, 95% CI 1.378-4.103; P = .001). G3 showed worse OS than G2 (P = .006). In the N1 status, LNM to the pericholedochal (PC) and superior mesenteric artery (SMA) areas resulted in worse OS than the G2 (P = .011 and P = .019). CONCLUSIONS: We found that LNM beyond the peripancreatic area significantly affects OS in pancreatic head cancer patients. Depending on the station of the LNM, different risk-stratification and treatment strategies will need to be considered.

Development and external validation of a nomogram with inflammatory markers for predicting invasiveness of intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm of pancreas.

ABSTRACT: Recent studies have reported that inflammatory markers, such as neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio, and advanced lung cancer inflammation index, are associated with invasiveness of intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm (IPMN). This study aimed to develop and validate a new nomogram that includes inflammatory markers for predicting the invasiveness of IPMN.The data of 365 patients who underwent surgical resection for IPMN at 4 centers between 1995 and 2016 were retrospectively reviewed to develop a new nomogram. For external validation, a separate patient cohort was used. The predictive ability of the nomogram was evaluated using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve.The new nomogram was developed using the following variables which were identified as risk factors for invasive IPMN: body mass index, preoperative serum bilirubin level, carbohydrate antigen 19-9, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio, advanced lung cancer inflammation index, main duct type, presence of solid portion, and tumor size. After external validation, the area under the curve value was 0.649 (95% CI: 0.578-0.720, P < .001).To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first to predict and externally validate the invasiveness in IPMN using inflammatory markers. Further research is necessary to improve predictability of the model for selecting patients for surgical resection.

External validation of risk prediction platforms for pancreatic fistula after pancreatoduodenectomy using nomograms and artificial intelligence.

Purpose: Postoperative pancreatic fistula (POPF) is a life-threatening complication following pancreatoduodenectomy (PD). We previously developed nomogram- and artificial intelligence (AI)-based risk prediction platforms for POPF after PD. This study aims to externally validate these platforms. Methods: Between January 2007 and December 2016, a total of 1,576 patients who underwent PD in Seoul National University Hospital, Ilsan Paik Hospital, and Boramae Medical Center were retrospectively reviewed. The individual risk scores for POPF were calculated using each platform by Samsung Medical Center. The predictive ability was evaluated using a receiver operating characteristic curve and the area under the curve (AUC). The optimal predictive value was obtained via backward elimination in accordance with the results from the AI development process. Results: The AUC of the nomogram after external validation was 0.679 (P < 0.001). The values of AUC after backward elimination in the AI model varied from 0.585 to 0.672. A total of 13 risk factors represented the maximal AUC of 0.672 (P < 0.001). Conclusion: We performed external validation of previously developed platforms for predicting POPF. Further research is needed to investigate other potential risk factors and thereby improve the predictability of the platform.

Stem Cell and Exosome Therapy in Pulmonary Hypertension.

Pulmonary hypertension is a rare and progressive illness with a devastating prognosis. Promising research efforts have advanced the understanding and recognition of the pathobiology of pulmonary hypertension. Despite remarkable achievements in terms of improving the survival rate, reducing disease progression, and enhancing quality of life, pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is not completely curable. Therefore, an effective treatment strategy is still needed. Recently, many studies of the underlying molecular mechanisms and technological developments have led to new approaches and paradigms for PAH treatment. Management based on stem cells and related paracrine effects, epigenetic drugs and gene therapies has yielded prospective results for PAH treatment in preclinical research. Further trials are ongoing to optimize these important insights into clinical circumstances.

Human Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Alveolar Epithelial Cells as a Tool to Assess Cytotoxicity of Particulate Matter and Cigarette Smoke Extract.

Human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) can give rise to a vast array of differentiated derivatives, which have gained great attention in the field of in vitro toxicity evaluation. We have previously demonstrated that hPSC-derived alveolar epithelial cells (AECs) are phenotypically and functionally similar to primary AECs and could be more biologically relevant alternatives for assessing the potential toxic materials including in fine dust and cigarette smoking. Therefore, in this study, we employed hPSC-AECs to evaluate their responses to exposure of various concentrations of diesel particulate matter (dPM), cigarette smoke extract (CSE) and nicotine for 48 hrs in terms of cell death, inflammation, and oxidative stress. We found that all of these toxic materials significantly upregulated the transcription of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-1α, IL-ß, IL-6, and TNF-α. Furthermore, the exposure of dPM (100 µg/mL) strongly induced upregulation of genes related with cell death, inflammation, and oxidative stress compared with other concentrations of CSE and nicotine. These results suggest that hPSC-AECs could be a robust in vitro platform to evaluate pulmotoxicity of various air pollutants and harmful chemicals.

Effect of Cross-Linking and Surface Treatment on the Functional Properties of Electrospun Polybenzimidazole Separators for Lithium Metal Batteries.

In this work, electrospun PBI separators with a highly porous structure and nanofiber diameter of about 90-150 nm are prepared using a multi-nozzle under controlled conditions for lithium metal batteries. Cross-linking with α, α-dibromo-p-xylene and surface treatment using 4-(chloromethyl) benzoic acid successfully improve the electrochemical as well as mechanical properties of the separators. The resulting separator is endowed with high thermal stability and excellent wettability (1080 to 1150%) with commercial liquid electrolyte than PE and PP (Celgard 2400) separators. Besides, attractive cycling stability and rate capability in LiFePO4/Li cells are attained with the modified separators. Prominently, CROSSLINK PBI exhibits a stable Coulombic efficiency of more than 99% over 100 charge-discharge cycles at 0.5 C, which is superior to the value of cells using commercial PE and PP (Celgard 2400) separators. The half cells assembled using the CROSSLINK PBI separator can deliver a discharge capacity of 150.3 mAh g-1 at 0.2 C after 50 cycles corresponding to 88.4% of the theoretical value of LiFePO4 (170 mAh g-1). This work offers a worthwhile method to produce thermally stable separators with noteworthy electrochemical performances which opens new possibilities to improve the safe operation of batteries.

Does Preoperative Acute Pancreatitis Inevitably Delay Pancreatoduodenectomy in Patients with Periampullary Tumors?

Preoperative acute pancreatitis (PAP) in patients with periampullary tumor can cause technical difficulties when performing pancreatoduodenectomy (PD) but perioperative risks of PAP remain unclear. The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of PAP on surgical outcomes and determine the optimal timing of PD. Patients undergoing surgery for periampullary tumors between 2009 and 2018 were included. Simple random sampling (1:4) was performed to compare outcomes between the PAP group and the control group. Operative failure was defined as exploration-only or unwanted total pancreatectomy. The rate of operative failure was higher in the PAP group than in the control group (6.6% vs. 0%, p < 0.001). There was no significant difference in postoperative outcomes including complications or in-hospital mortality between the two groups. Surgical outcomes were compared after dividing PAP groups by intervals (2, 3, or 4 weeks) between the onset of PAP and surgery, and there were no differences between the groups. In conclusion, in spite of the increased risk of operation failure, PD could be performed in PAP patients at comparable rates of postoperative complications. Further study is needed to select patients with PAP in proper conditions for performing PD.

Upfront Surgery and Surgery Following Neoadjuvant Treatment of Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma: A Comparative Analysis of Short-term Postoperative Outcomes.

BACKGROUND/AIM: In cases where neoadjuvant treatment (NAT) is administered, research on short-term postoperative outcomes appears to be insufficient. We compared short-term outcomes of upfront surgery (UpS) cases and NAT cases for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). PATIENTS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 1,228 cases that had elective pancreatectomy at Samsung Medical Center from 2010 to 2020. All cases were classified into resectable pancreatic cancer (RPC) and locally advanced pancreatic cancer (LAPC) according to NCCN guidelines 2017. In each group, factors were compared between the UpS and NAT groups. RESULTS: Rate of vascular resection was higher in the NAT group in RPC, compared to that in the NAT group in LAPC. Short-term postoperative outcomes had no significant differences between the UpS and NAT groups in both RPC and LAPC. CONCLUSION: In the NAT group, there were no significant differences from UpS in terms of short-term postoperative outcomes. Conversion surgery following NAT is a favorable strategy.