Role of Treg/Th17 Imbalance, Microbiota and miRNAs in Pancreatic Cancer: Therapeutic Options.

Pancreatic cancer is one of the most lethal kinds of cancer; numerous patients die from it every year all over the word. Fewer than 5% of people with pancreatic cancer survive death and recover. Recent evidence suggests that inflammation parameters, such as Th17 cells and Tregs, affect the progression and even the diagnosis and treatment of pancreatic cancer. In the inflammation process, T lymphocytes play an essential role in inflammation intensity, and related cytokines modulate immune responses in the tumor microenvironment. Their function is to establish a balance between destructive inflammation and defense against tumor cells via immune system, and Treg/Th17 imbalance is a common problem in this cancer. The role of microbiota in the development of some cancers is clear; microbiota may also be involved in the pancreatic cancer development. All risk factors for pancreatic cancer, such as chronic pancreatitis-related to microbiota, influence the acute or chronic immune response. Some evidence has been presented regarding the role of the immune response in carcinogenesis. In addition, miRNAs are very important in suppressing and stimulating the growth of cancer cells, and a variety of them have been identified. Some miRNAs are abnormally expressed in many cancers and have main roles as post-transcriptional regulators. They show oncogenic or tumor-suppressive functions by binding to marked mRNAs. In this review, we highlight recent findings regarding the role of Treg/Th17 imbalance, microbiota functions, and miRNAs performance in pancreatic cancer. We also present the evidence regarding therapeutic options.

ChIP-cloning analysis uncovers centromere-specific retrotransposons in Brassica nigra and reveals their rapid diversification in Brassica allotetraploids.

Centromeres are indispensable functional units of chromosomes. The evolutionary mechanisms underlying the rapid evolution of centromeric repeats, especially those following polyploidy, remain unknown. In this study, we isolated centromeric sequences of Brassica nigra, a model diploid progenitor (B genome) of the allopolyploid species B. juncea (AB genome) and B. carinata (BC genome) by chromatin immunoprecipitation of nucleosomes containing the centromere-specific histone CENH3. Sequence analysis detected no centromeric satellite DNAs, and most B. nigra centromeric repeats were found to originate from Tyl/copia-class retrotransposons. In cytological analyses, six of the seven analyzed repeat clusters had no FISH signals in A or C genomes of the related diploid species B. rapa and B. oleracea. Notably, five repeat clusters had FISH signals in both A and B subgenomes in the tetraploid B. juncea. In the tetraploid B. carinata, only CL23 displayed three pairs of signals in terminal or interstitial regions of the C-derived chromosome, and no evidence of colonization of CLs onto C-subgenome centromeres was found in B. carinata. This observation suggests that centromeric repeats spread and proliferated between genomes after polyploidization. CL3 and CRB are likely ancient centromeric sequences arising prior to the divergence of diploid Brassica which have detected signals across the genus. And in allotetraploids B. juncea and B. carinata, the FISH signal intensity of CL3 and CRB differed among subgenomes. We discussed possible mechanisms for centromeric repeat divergence during Brassica speciation and polyploid evolution, thus providing insights into centromeric repeat establishment and targeting.

Short- and Long-Term Outcomes of Laparoscopic Organ-Sparing Resection for Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Neoplasms.

BACKGROUND: Pancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms (PNENs) are rare neoplasms associated with a long life expectancy after resection. In this setting, patients may benefit from laparoscopic organ-sparing resection. Studies of laparoscopic organ-sparing resection for PNENs are limited. The aim of this study was to evaluate the short- and long-term outcomes of laparoscopic organ-sparing resection for PNENs. METHODS: A retrospective study was performed for patients with PNENs who underwent laparoscopic organ-sparing pancreatectomy between March 2005 and May 2018. The patients' demographic data, operative results, pathological reports, hospital courses and morbidity, mortality, and follow-up data (until August 2018) were analysed. RESULTS: Thirty-five patients were included in the final analysis. There were 9 male and 26 female patients, with a median age of 46 years (range 25-75 years). The mean BMI was 24.6 ± 3.3 kg/m2. Nine patients received laparoscopic enucleation (LE), 20 received laparoscopic spleen-preserving distal pancreatectomy (LSPDP), and 6 received laparoscopic central pancreatectomy. The operative time, intraoperative blood loss, transfusion rate, and postoperative hospital stay were 186.4 ± 60.2 min, 165 ± 73.0 ml, 0 days, and 9 days (range 5-23 days), respectively. The morbidity rate, grade ≥ III complication rate, and grade ≥ B pancreatic fistula rate were 34.2%, 11.4%, and 8.7%, respectively, with no mortality. The rate of follow-up was 94.3%, and the median follow-up time was 55 months (range 3-158 months). One patient developed recurrence 36 months after LE and was managed with surgical resection. The other patients survived without metastases or recurrence during the follow-up. One patient had diabetes after LSPDP, and no patients had symptoms of pancreatic exocrine insufficiency. Nineteen patients who underwent LSPDP (16 with the Kimura technique and 3 with the Warshaw technique) were followed. Normal patency of the splenic artery and vein was observed in 14 and 14 patients within 1 month of surgery and in 15 and 14 patients 6 months or more after the operation, respectively. Partial splenic infarction was observed in 3 patients within 1 month of surgery and in no patients 6 months or more after the operation. Three patients eventually developed collateral venous vessels around the gastric fundus and reserved spleen, with one case of variceal bleeding. CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopic organ-sparing resection for selected cases of PNENs is safe and feasible and has favourable short- and long-term outcomes.

Karyotypes and Distribution of Tandem Repeat Sequences in Brassica nigra Determined by Fluorescence in situ Hybridization.

Whole-genome shotgun reads were analyzed to determine the repeat sequence composition in the genome of black mustard, Brassica nigra (L.) Koch. The analysis showed that satellite DNA sequences are very abundant in the black mustard genome. The distribution pattern of 7 new tandem repeats (BnSAT13, BnSAT28, BnSAT68, BnSAT76, BnSAT114, BnSAT180, and BnSAT200) on black mustard chromosomes was visualized using fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). The FISH signals of BnSAT13 and BnSAT76 provided useful cytogenetic markers; their position and fluorescence intensity allowed for unambiguous identification of all 8 somatic metaphase chromosomes. A karyotype showing the location and fluorescence intensity of these tandem repeat sequences together with the position of rDNAs and centromeric retrotransposons of Brassica (CRB) was constructed. The establishment of the FISH-based karyotype in B. nigra provides valuable information that can be used in detailed analyses of B. nigra accessions and derived allopolyploid Brassica species containing the B genome.

Comparison of clinical outcomes and quality of life between laparoscopic and open central pancreatectomy with pancreaticojejunostomy.

BACKGROUND: The studies comparing laparoscopic and open central pancreatectomy with pancreaticojejunostomy are limited. This study aimed to compare clinical outcomes and quality of life of patients undergoing laparoscopic and open central pancreatectomy with pancreaticojejunostomy. METHODS: Between December 1997 and December 2015, patients who underwent central pancreatectomy with pancreaticojejunostomy were reviewed. Patients were divided into 2 groups as laparoscopic central pancreatectomy (LCP) and open central pancreatectomy (OCP). Data considered for comparison analysis were patient demographics, intraoperative variables, morbidity, postoperative hospital stay, mortality, pathologic findings, and quality of life (SF-36 questionnaire). RESULTS: Thirty-six patients (17 LCP and 19 OCP) were included in the final analysis. Baseline characteristics were similar in the 2 groups. The operating time (280.4 ± 33.6 vs. 290.5 ± 62.5 min, p = 0.455) were similar between two groups. LCP group showed significantly lower estimated blood loss (76.4 ± 70.3 vs. 390.3 ± 279.0 ml, p = 0.001), shorter first flatus time (2.4 ± 0.9 vs. 3.9 ± 1.3 days, p = 0.001), and shorter diet start time (4.1 ± 2.2 vs. 6.1 ± 2.4 days, p = 0.030). However, the postoperative hospital stay was not significantly different between two groups (15.6 ± 12.1 vs. 24.0 ± 27.5 days, p = 0.347). Postoperative outcomes, including morbidity (58.8 vs. 52.6%, p = 0.749), pancreatic fistula rates (≥grade B: 17.6 vs. 36.8%, p = 0.106), and mortality, were similar in the 2 groups. The median follow-up period was 45 months (range 4-216 months). No local recurrence or distant metastasis was detected in either group. On the follow-up survey, the total quality of life score (702.9 ± 47.9 vs. 671.8 ± 94.1), physical health score (353.9 ± 24.8 vs. 326.6 ± 67.6) and mental health score (349.0 ± 26.5 vs. 345.2 ± 34.6) were higher in the LCP group compared with the OCP group. However, these differences were not statistically significant (p > 0.05). The score in role physical (100 vs. 73.1 ± 4.8, p = 0.042) was significantly higher in LCP group, and not statistically significant in other areas (p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: LCP with pancreaticojejunostomy is safe and feasible for benign or borderline malignant lesions in the pancreatic neck and proximal body. Compared to OCP, LCP is associated with lower estimated blood loss, faster recovery, and better quality of life.

Laparoscopic versus open enucleation for pancreatic neoplasms: clinical outcomes and pancreatic function analysis.

BACKGROUND: The studies comparing laparoscopic enucleation (LE) with open enucleation (OE) are limited. This study aimed to compare perioperative outcomes of patients undergoing LE and OE and to assess the pancreatic function after LE. METHODS: Between February 2001 and July 2014, patients who underwent enucleation were reviewed. Patients were divided into two groups as LE and OE. Data considered for comparison analysis were patient demographics, intraoperative variables, morbidity, postoperative hospital stay, mortality, pathologic findings, and long-term follow-up (including pancreatic function). RESULTS: Thirty-seven patients (15 LE and 22 OE) were included in the final analysis. Baseline characteristics were similar in the two groups. LE group showed significantly shorter operating time (118.2 ± 33.1 vs. 155.2 ± 44.3 min, p = 0.009), lower estimated blood loss (80.0 ± 71.2 vs. 195.5 ± 103.4 ml, p = 0.001), shorter first flatus time (1.8 ± 1.0 vs. 3.4 ± 1.8 days, p = 0.004), shorter diet start time (2.4 ± 1.0 vs. 4.4 ± 2.0 days, p = 0.001), shorter postoperative hospital stay (7.9 ± 3.4 vs. 11.2 ± 5.7 days, p = 0.046). Postoperative outcomes, including morbidity (40.0 vs. 45.5 %, p = 1.000), grade B/C pancreatic fistula rates (20.0 vs. 13.6 %, p = 0.874), and mortality, were similar in the two groups. The median follow-up period was 47 months (range 7-163 months). No local recurrence or distant metastasis was detected in either group. Only one patient (4.8 %) underwent OE developed new-onset diabetes, in comparison with none in the LE group. One patient (7.1 %) had weight loss and received pancreatic enzyme supplementation in the LE group, in comparison with two patients (9.5 %) in the OE group. CONCLUSIONS: LE is a safe and feasible technique for the benign or low malignant-potential pancreatic neoplasms. Compared to OE, LE had shorter operating time, lower estimated blood loss, and faster recovery. LE could preserve the pancreatic function as the OE.

Systematic review and meta-analysis of safety and efficacy of laparoscopic resection for gastrointestinal stromal tumors of the stomach.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of laparoscopic resection for gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) of the stomach with systematic review and meta-analysis. METHODS: The literature database before March, 2014 was extensively searched to retrieve the comparative studies of laparoscopic (LAP) and open resection (OPEN) for GISTs with a relevance of study goal. The inclusion and exclusion criteria were formulated. After a quality evaluation, the data were extracted. The Cochrane collaboration RevMan5.1 version software was used for meta-analysis. RESULTS: There are nineteen studies meeting the inclusion criteria for meta-analysis. The total sample size of these studies was 1,060 cases. The operation time was similar between the two groups [weighted mean difference (WMD) -7.20 min, 95 % confidence interval (CI) -25.65 to 11.25, P = 0.44)]. Compared to OPEN, however, LAP experienced less blood loss (WMD -54.21 ml, 95 % CI -82.65 to -25.77, P < 0.01), earlier time to flatus (WMD -1.34 days, 95 % CI -1.62 to -1.06, P < 0.01) and oral diet (WMD -1.80 days, 95 % CI -2.18 to -1.42, P < 0.01), shorter hospital stay (WMD -3.68 days, 95 % CI -4.52 to -2.85, P < 0.01) and decrease in overall complications [relative risk (RR) 0.51, 95 % CI 0.32-0.80, P < 0.01)]. In addition, the long-term follow-up result shows that there is no significant difference in the two groups of patients. CONCLUSION: Laparoscopic resection for gastric GISTs is a safe and feasible procedure with less blood loss, less overall complications and quicker recovery. The long-term survival situation of patients mainly depends on the tumor itself risk, and laparoscopic surgery will not increase the risks of tumor relapse and metastasis.

[Single-incision laparoscopic surgery with self-made port for totally extraperitoneal hernioplasty: a report of 7 cases].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the feasibility of single-incision laparoscopic totally extraperitoneal hernioplasty (SILS-TEP) with self-made port for repairing of inguinal hernia. METHODS: SILS-TEP was performed in 7 inguinal hernia patients (9 sides) with conventional laparoscopic instruments and self-made port, which composed of a wound retractor, surgical gloves and 3 ordinary trocars. The clinical data and follow-up results of 7 cases were retrospectively collected and analyzed. RESULTS: The self-made port was applied for SILS-TEP uneventfully without the need of additional ports in all 7 patients (9 inguinal hernias). The median operating time was 90. 0 (70-125) min, intraoperative blood loss was 10. 0 (5. 0-20. 0) mL and postoperative hospital stay was 2.0 (2. 0-4. 0) d. The median pain scores of visual analog scale (VAS) at 6 h,12 h, 24 h and 14 d were 3(2~4), 2(1~2), 1(0~2) and 0(0~1), respectively. There were no intraoperative complications reported, and all patients were satisfied with wound healing. No hernia recurrence was observed during the 3-months of follow-up. CONCLUSION: Our initial experiences show that SILS-TEP with self-made port is a safe and feasible surgery, which can simplify the procedure with available equipments and reduce the cost, therefore can be applied in grass-root hospitals.

Histone deacetylases inhibitor trichostatin A increases the expression of Dleu2/miR-15a/16-1 via HDAC3 in non-small cell lung cancer.

Histone deacetylases (HDACs) inhibitor is a promising new approach to the treatment of lung cancer therapy via inhibiting cell growth and inducing apoptosis. miR-15a and miR-16-1 are important tumor suppressors through modulating B cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2), Cyclin D1, D2, and others. However, whether HDACs inhibitor modulates the expression of miR-15a/16-1 in lung cancer is still unknown. The purpose of our study was to identify a new miRNA-mediated mechanism which plays an important role in the anti-cancer effects of HDACs inhibitor. We found HDACs inhibitors trichostatin A (TSA) and sodium butyrate upregulated the expression of miR-15a/16-1, residing in the host tumor suppressor Dleu2 gene, through increasing the histone acetylation in the region of Dleu2/miR-15a/16-1 promoter in lung cancer cells. Moreover, among class Ι HDACs subtypes, only knockdown of HDAC3 by specific siRNA increased the hyperacetylation of Dleu2/miR-15a/16-1 promoter region and finally resulted in the upregulation of miR-15a/16-1. Furthermore, overexpression of miR-15a/16-1, which were always deleted or downregulated in lung cancer cells, effectively suppressed cell growth and reduced colony formation. Finally, TSA reduced the expression of Bcl-2, an important survival protein in lung cancer cells, partly through upregulation of miR-15a/16-1. Therefore, this offers a therapeutic strategy that lung cancer patients who exhibit low level of miR-15a/16-1 or high activity of HDACs may benefit from HDACs inhibitor-based therapy.

[Effects of obesity on the lipid and glucose metabolism in female rats].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of obesity on the lipid and glucose metabolism in female rats. METHODS: The litter size was adjusted to 4 pups per litter for the small litter (SL, treatment group) and 12 neonates per dam in the normal litter (NL, controls) at postnatal day 0. Body weights were measured weekly. At the age of 6 weeks, bilateral ovariectomy was performed. The blood levels of free fat acid, triglyceride, total cholesterol, free blood glucose and free insulin were evaluated. The muscular expression of AMP-activated protein kinase was detected by immune staining. RESULTS: As compared to normal litters, the levels of fat acid, triglyceride, total cholesterol, free blood glucose and free insulin significantly increased. The muscular activity of AMP-activated protein kinase decreased. All difference were statistically significant (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Obesity in early life has obvious effects on the lipid and glucose metabolism in female rats.

[Organization, function and genetic controlling of synaptonemal complex].

The synaptonemal complex (SC) is a super protein lattice that connects paired homologous chromosomes in most meiotic systems. This special organization is related to the meiosis processes such as homologous chromosomes pairing, synapsis, recombination, segregation, etc. Flaws of it would lead the meiocytes to apoptosis, which contributes to sterility. In recent years, the study of this complex has been a hotspot in meiosis research, but little was known about its exact mechanism. This review summarized the organization, function, and genetics of this complex with recent advances. Prospects of its further study were also briefly discussed..

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.

[The pairing, synapsis and recombination of meiosis in plant].

Meiosis is the crucial step for sexual reproduction, while the pairing, synapsis and recombination are the key events in this process and have become the hotspots in meiosis studies. In recent years, with the development of the molecular biology and cell biology, associated with the mutant screened from mutant libraries, much advances were achieved in pairing, synapsis and recombination of meiosis in plant. In this review, we have gave an overview of the genes identification in this field and further studies of its molecular mechanism in plant.

Computational fluid dynamic study of multiple sequential coronary artery bypass anastomoses in a native coronary stenosis model.

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study was to evaluate the hemodynamic characteristics of multiple sequential coronary artery bypass grafting using a computational fluid dynamics study. METHODS: First anastomosis was configured into parallel and diamond anastomoses, and the second anastomosis was set as end-side anastomosis. The anastomosis incision lengths were fixed at 2 mm. Various combinations of the degree of first and second stenoses were studied. The diameter of both the native and graft vessels was set at 2 mm. The inlet boundary condition was set by a sample of the transient time flow measurement, which was measured intraoperatively. RESULTS: Both swirl and stagnation were observed at the outlets of the stenosis and the anastomosis sites. When the severity of the second stenosis was larger than that of the first, the flow at the outlet of the second stenosis was more unstable. Higher wall shear stress and larger oscillatory shear index regions were observed when the severe stenosis was bypassed by the first anastomosis, especially with diamond anastomoses. Less energy loss and higher energy efficiency were present when the vessel with more severe stenosis was bypassed as the second anastomosis. Energy loss was lower and energy efficiency was higher with parallel anastomosis than diamond anastomosis when the severity of the two stenoses was the same. CONCLUSIONS: It is ideal to bypass the less severe stenosis vessel first with a parallel anastomosis method when employing multiple sequential bypass grafting. This improves hemodynamic stability and energy efficiency, according to a computational fluid dynamics model.

Surgical Treatment of Port-Site Metastases After Laparoscopic Radical Resection of Gastrointestinal Tumors.

Aim: This study was performed to investigate the feasibility of surgical treatment of port-site metastasis after laparoscopic radical resection of gastrointestinal tumors. Patients and Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data and follow-up data of 8 patients with port-site metastases after gastrointestinal cancer resection in our hospital from January 2014 to January 2018. Results: Six of port-site metastases occurred within 6 months after gastrointestinal tumor resection, one of port-site metastases occurred in 10 months after the operation, and one of port-site metastases occurred in 30 months after the operation. Any metastasis to the abdominal cavity or distant metastasis was ruled out before the surgical treatment of the port-site metastases, and all patients recovered well after the extended operation. No incisional infection or incisional hernia occurred. By December 2019, 4 patients had died (they had survived for 12, 13, 18, and 24 months, respectively) and 5 patients had survived. The follow-up duration ranged from 19 to 28 months. Conclusions: Surgical resection of port-site metastases is not difficult because of their superficial location. Surgical treatment can improve the prognosis of patients without abdominal metastasis or distant metastasis/recurrence.

[Biosynthesis, catabolism and related signal regulations of plant chlorophyll].

Plant photosynthesis is determined by chlorophyll (Chl) metabolism, which is an important factor of determining crop yield. The genes involved in Chl biosynthesis, catabolism, and related signal regulations are numerous, and the mutation of any of them may change the pigment level, causing abnormalities in leaf color and even inducing individual death. Spontaneous or artificial mutants are necessary for functional analysis of Chl related genes. At present, Chl mutants are widely used in foundational research and production practice. This article reviews the latest research progress in this field.

Computational fluid dynamic study of different incision length of coronary artery bypass grafting in a native coronary stenosis model.

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study was to evaluate hemodynamic patterns in end-side coronary artery bypass grafting with different anastomosis length by computational fluid dynamic study in the native coronary stenosis model. METHODS: The fluid dynamic computations were carried out using ANSYS CFX. Incision length was set to be 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 mm. The angle between the two blood vessels corresponded to the length of the incision. Native vessels were set to be 90% stenosis. The radius of both native and graft vessels was set to be 2 mm. The inlet boundary condition was set by the sample of the transient time flow which was measured intraoperatively. RESULTS: The energy efficiency was higher and energy loss was lower when the anastomosis length was longer until 8 mm. However, energy efficiency was lowest and energy loss was highest in the 10-mm model. In the 10-mm incision model, the streamline showed the scanty bypass flow in the bottom. Vortex showed that only 10-mm model showed the vortex just distal to the stenosis in the native inlet, and more vortex in native outlet than other length models. The oscillatory shear index (OSI) was higher in the outlet top in all models. And only 10-mm model showed high oscillatory index just distal to the stenosis. CONCLUSIONS: In the end-side anastomosis, an anastomosis length of 8 mm was the ideal length with less flow complexity, low OSI, and less energy loss and high energy efficiency in the native 90% stenosis model.

Acute pancreatitis with abdominal bloating and distension, normal lipase and amylase: A case report.

RATIONALE: Acute pancreatitis is an inflammatory disorder of the pancreas, and its correct diagnosis is an area of interest for clinicians. In accordance with the revised Atlanta classification, acute pancreatitis can be diagnosed if at least 2 of the following 3 criteria are fulfilled: abdominal pain; serum lipase (or amylase) activity at least 3 times the upper limit of normal; or characteristic findings of acute pancreatitis on contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) or, less often, magnetic resonance imaging or transabdominal ultrasonography. Diagnostic imaging is essential in patients with no or slight enzyme elevation. If enzymes are normal in cases with abdominal distension, there is clinical doubt about the diagnosis of acute pancreatitis, so an early CT scan should be obtained and other life-threatening disorders excluded. PATIENT CONCERNS: A 50-year-old male presented with a 1-day history of abdominal bloating and distension. On physical examination, abdominal bulging and mild epigastric tenderness were detected. Laboratory evaluation showed normal amylase and lipase. There was no abnormality on abdominal ultrasound or CT of the abdomen and pelvis. On the fourth day of admission, CT of the abdomen and pelvis showed a hypodense lesion in the pancreas surrounded by a moderate amount of peripancreatic fluid. DIAGNOSES: In accordance with the revised Atlanta classification, acute pancreatitis was diagnosed, based on the presence of abdominal pain, and the results of the CT scan of the abdomen and pelvis. INTERVENTIONS: The patient was treated with fasting, gastrointestinal decompression bowel rest, intravenous rehydration, and somatostatin. OUTCOMES: After 2 days of treatment, his abdominal distension was significantly relieved, and the patient was discharged on the seventh day of admission. At the 3-month follow-up, the patient had no recurrence of pancreatitis. LESSONS: This case of abdominal distension could not be explained by common causes, such as ascites, bowel edema, hematoma, bowel distension, or ileus, which led us to suspect pancreatitis.

Evolution of Laparoscopic Pancreatic Resections for Pancreatic and Periampullary Diseases: Perioperative Outcomes of 605 Patients at a High-Volume Center.

Background: Laparoscopic pancreatectomy (LP) is increasingly performed with several institutional series and comparative studies reported. We have applied LP to a variety of pancreatic resections since 2004. This article is to report results of 15-year practice of 605 LPs for pancreatic and periampullary diseases. Methods: Patients with benign or malignant diseases in the pancreas and periampullary region, who underwent LP from June 2004 to June 2018, were retrospectively reviewed. The demographics and indications, and intraoperative and perioperative outcomes were evaluated. Results: A total of 605 consecutive LPs were analyzed, including 237 (39.2%) distal pancreatectomy with splenectomy (DPS), 116 (19.2%) spleen-preserving distal pancreatectomy (SPDP), 30 (5.0%) enucleation (EN), 30 (5.0%) central pancreatectomy (CP), 186 (30.7%) pancreatoduodenectomy (PD), and 6 (1.0%) pancreatoduodenectomy with total pancreatectomy (PDTP). The most common pathologic finding was pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas (146, 24.1%). Conversion to open procedure was required in 22 patients (3.6%) (12 with PD, 8 with DPS, 1 with CP, and 1 with PDTP). The mean operative time was 241.5 ± 105.5 minutes (range 50-550 minutes) for the entire population and 367.1 ± 61.8 minutes (range 230-550 minutes) for PD. Clinically significant pancreatic fistula (ISGPF grade B and C) rate was 12.4% for the entire cohort and 16.1% for PD. Rate of Clavien-Dindo III-V complications was 17.4% for the entire cohort and 23.7% for PD. Ninety-day mortality was observed only in the cohort of patients undergoing PD (n = 4). Conclusions: The LP procedure appears to be technically safe and feasible, with an acceptable rate of morbidity when performed at our experienced, high-volume center. However, PD has less favorable outcomes and needs further evaluation.