Roles of lncRNAs in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma: Diagnosis, treatment, and the development of drug resistance.

BACKGROUND: Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is one of the most lethal cancers, primarily due to its late diagnosis, high propensity to metastasis, and the development of resistance to chemo-/radiotherapy. Accumulating evidence suggests that long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are intimately involved in the treatment resistance of pancreatic cancer cells via interacting with critical signaling pathways and may serve as potential diagnostic/prognostic markers or therapeutic targets in PDAC. DATA SOURCES: We carried out a systematic review on lncRNAs-based research in the context of pancreatic cancer and presented an overview of the updated information regarding the molecular mechanisms underlying lncRNAs-modulated pancreatic cancer progression and drug resistance, together with their potential value in diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment of PDAC. Literature mining was performed in PubMed with the following keywords: long non-coding RNA, pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, pancreatic cancer up to January 2022. Publications relevant to the roles of lncRNAs in diagnosis, prognosis, drug resistance, and therapy of PDAC were collected and systematically reviewed. RESULTS: LncRNAs, such as HOTAIR, HOTTIP, and PVT1, play essential roles in regulating pancreatic cancer cell proliferation, invasion, migration, and drug resistance, thus may serve as potential diagnostic/prognostic markers or therapeutic targets in PDAC. They participate in tumorigenesis mainly by targeting miRNAs, interacting with signaling molecules, and involving in the epithelial-mesenchymal transition process. CONCLUSIONS: The functional lncRNAs play essential roles in pancreatic cancer cell proliferation, invasion, migration, and drug resistance and have potential values in diagnosis, prognostic prediction, and treatment of PDAC.

Spontaneous healing after conservative treatment of isolated grade IV pancreatic duct disruption caused by trauma: A case report.

BACKGROUND: Trauma is a common cause of pancreatic duct disruption. Surgical treatment is recommended in current clinical guidelines for adult pancreatic injury because non-surgical treatments have higher risks of serious complications or even death compared with surgical treatment. CASE SUMMARY: A 22-year-old woman was admitted to Tiantai People's Hospital of Zhejiang Province after 1-h duration of abdominal pain and distension following trauma. The diagnosis was "traumatic pancreatic rupture". The patient's symptoms were not severe, her vital signs were stable, and signs of peritonitis were not obvious. Therefore, conservative treatment could be considered, with the possibility of emergency surgery if necessary. After 2 mo of conservative treatment with duct drainage, the pancreatic duct healed spontaneously with no significant complications. CONCLUSION: We report a case of pancreatic duct disruption in the head and neck caused by trauma that was treated conservatively and healed spontaneously, providing a new choice for clinical practice. For isolated pancreatic injury with rupture of the pancreatic duct in the head and neck, conservative treatment under close observation is feasible.

[Efficacy of chitosan and hyaluronidase on skin damage caused by docetaxel extravasation in rats].

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE: Docetaxel extravasating into the surrounding tissues may lead to severe skin damage. No guideline for handling docetaxel extravasation has been proposed till now. This study was to explore the efficacy of chitosan and hyaluronidase on skin damage caused by docetaxel extravasation in a rat model. METHODS: A docetaxel extravasation model was established in both lower extremities of 30 Sprague-Dawley rats. The rats were divided into 6 groups and received chitosan embrocation, hyaluronidase injection, hyaluronidase injection plus chitosan embrocation, saline embrocation, or saline injection, or received no treatment as control. The occurrence rate and extent of skin damage, and the healing time were observed and compared. RESULTS: The occurrence rate of skin damage was significantly lower in hyaluronidase group and hyaluronidase plus chitosan group than in chitosan group, saline embrocation group, saline injection group, and control group (30% and 20% vs. 90%, 100%, 90% and 100%, P<0.05). The healing time was significantly shorter in hyaluronidase group and hyaluronidase plus chitosan group than in chitosan group, saline embrocation group, saline injection group, and control group [(12.00+/-3.00) days and (9.50+/-2.12) days vs. (18.33+/-2.00) days, (23.70+/-2.41) days, (18.44+/-2.01) days and (25.70+/-2.26) days, P<0.01], and was significantly shorter in chitosan group than in saline embrocation group and control group (P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Hyaluronidase alone or hyaluronidase plus chitosan could decrease the occurrence rate of skin damage caused by docetaxel extravasation in rats, and shorten the healing time. Chitosan embrocation can improve the damage healing, but cannot decrease the occurrence rate of skin damage.