ENDOSCOPIC PANCREATIC STENTING IN CHRONIC PANCREATITIS WITH DUCTAL DILATION PROXIMAL TO A STRICTURE: A SAFE and EFFECTIVE PROTOCOL

After removal of intraductal stones, a 10‐Fr or 7‐Fr pancreatic stent was placed in 16 patients with upstream ductal dilation proximal to a stricture of the main pancreatic duct. Stents were removed after a mean duration of 52.5 days. Nine patients underwent repeated stenting. About one year after removal of the initial stent, when the remaining upstream ductal dilation was found on follow‐up pancreatograms, the next stent was replaced. Repeated stenting improved outflow of pancreatic juice more effectively than one‐time stenting. Correlation between long‐term pain relief without recurrence of intraductal stones and reduction of duct diameter was also shown. Stent occlusion was observed in 14 of 30 stents. Stent occlusion was frequently associated with recurrence of pancreatitis and intraductal stones, and was also associated with morphologic changes in the pancreatic ductal system. Although there were no significant differences between stent patency of the initial stents and that of the next stents, stent patency of 10‐Fr stents was superior to that of 7‐Fr stents. 10‐Fr stents should be removed within 8 weeks and 7‐Fr stents should be removed within 4 weeks for the prevention of stent occlusion. Repeated stenting with short‐term stenting is therefore considered a safe and effective protocol of endoscopic pancreatic stenting.     

Regulation of β-cell mass and function by the Akt/protein kinase B signalling pathway

The insulin receptor substrate-2/phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) pathway plays a critical role in the regulation of β-cell mass and function, demonstrated both in vitro and in vivo . The serine threonine kinase Akt is one of the promising downstream molecules of this pathway that has been identified as a potential target to regulate function and induce proliferation and survival of β cells. Here we summarize some of the molecular mechanisms, downstream signalling pathways and critical components involved in the regulation of β-cell mass and function by Akt.     

胰、胆疾病患者血清GLS含量测定

目的　研究胰、胆疾病患者血清GLS含量及其临床意义。方法　测定胰、胆癌症与非癌患者GLS含量 ,然后分组统计分析。结果　胰癌组GLS(973± 32 2mg/L)显著高于胰脏非癌组 (5 75± 2 18)和糖尿病组 (5 37± 87) ;胆道癌组GLS(90 8± 2 73)显著高于胆道非癌组 (5 2 1± 10 9)。该五组GLS阳性率 (>6 6 0mg/L)依次为 93.8%、2 6 .7%、4 .1%、85 .7%、9.3% ;胰、胆癌症组均显著高于非癌疾病组。结论　胰、胆癌症患者血清GLS显著增加 ;测定GLS对癌症诊断具有显著临床意义     

Adenocarcinoma of the Ampulla of Vater: T-Stage,Chromosome 17p Allelic Loss,and Extended Pancreaticoduodenectomy are Relevant Prognostic Factors

Objective To evaluate the prognostic significance of different clinico-pathological and molecular factors, and to compare survival after standard and extended pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) in ampulla of Vater adenocarcinoma (AVAC). Summary Background Data There are discordant data on factors affecting prognosis, and hence therapeutic choices, in AVAC. Patients and Methods Clinical-pathological factors were evaluated in 59 patients, subjected to PD for AVAC; in 42 subjects information on chromosome 17p and 18q allelic losses (LOH) and microsatellite instability (MSI) was also available. The association between survival and type of PD was investigated in the 25 patients operated between 1990 and 2001 (16 standard and nine extended). Results The overall 5- and 10-year tumor-related survival rates were 46% and 33%, respectively. Sixteen patients had T-stages 1–2, 14 T-stage 3, and 29 T-stage 4 cancers. Chromosome 17p and 18q LOH were detected in 23 (55%) and 15 cases (36%), respectively, and in 12 cases (29%) coexisted. Five cases were MSI-positive (12%). At univariate analysis, poor survival was associated with cancer ulceration (P = 0.051), poor differentiation (P = 0.008), T-stage 4 (P < 0.001), nodal metastases (P = 0.004), chromosome 17p (P < 0.001) and 18q LOH (P = 0.002), and absence of MSI (P = 0.009). At multivariate analysis, only T-stage (P = 0.002) and 17p LOH (P = 0.001) were independent predictors of survival. All patients with MSI-positive cancers were long-survivors (>12 yrs), whereas only 30% of MSI-negative cancer patients survived at 5 years. Extended pancreaticoduodenectomy was associated with a 3-year disease-related survival higher than standard resection (83% vs 31%; P = 0.018). Conclusion MSI and chromosome 17p status allow to better define prognosis within ampullary cancers at the same stage. Surgery alone resulted curative in MSI-positive cancer patients, whereas it was inadequate in patients showing allelic losses, who might benefit from adjuvant therapy. In this observational study, extended PD was associated with increased survival compared to standard procedures. Presented at the 2006 Annual Meeting of the American Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Association, Miami Beach, Florida, March 9–12, 2006     

介入化疗结合立体适形放射治疗晚期胰腺癌的临床观察

探讨晚期胰腺癌的介入化疗加立体适形放射治疗的临床疗效。先选择性胰腺动脉化疗,药物:CF 300 mg、5-FU 1 000~1 500 mg、DDP 60~80 mg和健择1.2~2.0 g,共4次。介入化疗后或两次介入之间行立体定向放射治疗,放疗采用4~6个适形野,总剂量为35~45 Gy,4~8 Gy/次,每周3次,21例患者CR率42.85%(9/21),PR率42.85%(9/21),SD 4.76%(1/21),PD 9.52%(2/21),总有效率(CR PR)85.70%(18/21)。初步研究结果提示,主观指标评估,2例临床症状完全消失,17例主观症状有所改善。介入化疗结合立体放射治疗晚期胰腺癌不失为临床选用的治疗手段。     

胰腺闭合性损伤的外科诊治探讨

目的探讨胰腺闭合性损伤诊断和外科处理的方法。方法分析20例胰腺闭合性损伤的诊断，手术处理和预后。结果17例治愈，死亡3例，死亡率15，并发胰瘘2例，假性囊肿2例，腹腔脓肿1例。结论CT、B超及血淀粉酶检查对胰腺损伤仍具有一定的诊断价值。术中关键是保持警觉，按胰腺损伤情况选择适当的术式。     

Assessment of the quality of life in chronic pancreatitis using Sf-12 and EORTC Qlq-C30 questionnaires

BACKGROUND: SF-12 Health Survey, and European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of life Questionnaire-C30 are the two main questionnaires proposed and validated for assessing the quality of life in chronic pancreatitis. AIMS: To evaluate the role of the information furnished by both the SF-12 Health Survey and European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of life Questionnaire-C30 questionnaires, and to determine which of these two questionnaires may be considered more efficacious, in clinical practice, in describing the quality of life of patients with chronic pancreatitis. PATIENTS: We studied 163 consecutive patients with proven chronic pancreatitis. METHODS: The Italian version of the SF-12 Health Survey and the Italian neutral version of the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of life Questionnaire-C30 Version 3.0 questionnaires were administered. RESULTS: Pancreatic pain was the only clinical variable able to significantly impair the SF-12 Health Survey component summaries as well as all domains of the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of life Questionnaire-C30, while body mass index was positively related to the physical component summary-12 and to the domains of the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of life Questionnaire-C30. A high level of reliability of the domains/scores of the two questionnaires in evaluating the quality of life in patients with chronic pancreatitis was found and two main factors were identified. These two factors were mainly related to the two SF-12 Health Survey summary components. CONCLUSIONS: From a practical point of view, the SF-12 Health Survey is more reliable and easier to use in routine clinical practice than the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of life Questionnaire-C30.     

胰腺分裂与慢性胰腺炎的病因学关系及发病机制

目的:探讨胰腺分裂(PD)在慢性胰腺炎病因学中的作用及其发病机制。方法:将32只犬随机分为4组(每组8只)。Ⅰ组:部分结扎背-腹胰管间的交通支。Ⅱa组:切断并结扎交通支。Ⅱb组:在背胰管注入小乳头前2mm处将其切断并结扎断端。Ⅲ组:假手术对照组,除不结扎交通支外,其余操作同上。于手术前检测各组犬血清磷脂酶(PLA2)和淀粉酶(Ams)活性及背、腹胰管基础压并在胰泌素激发后15、30、45、60和90分钟各测压一次。于术后180天再行胰胆管测压和造影并观察背、腹胰和十二指肠乳头的病理改变。结果:⑴Ⅰ、Ⅱa组和Ⅱb组术后5-80天血清PLA2和Ams活性显著升高。⑵处死时Ⅰ、Ⅱa组腹胰管和Ⅱb组背、腹胰管压力在激发后30-60分钟显著高于注药前(P<0.01);在60分钟后,前两组压力恢复到术前水平(P>0.05),而Ⅱb组仍较高(P<0.05),该组压力在90分钟后恢复正常。⑶光镜:Ⅱb组犬背、腹胰小叶间或/和胰管周围显著纤维组织增生,腺细胞结构破坏和炎细胞浸润。Ⅰ和Ⅱa组腹胰见轻度上述改变。⑷电镜:Ⅰ、Ⅱa组腹胰和Ⅱb组背、腹胰腺细胞粗面内质网脱颗粒、融合和扩张。酶原颗粒减少,线粒体肿张。Ⅰ和Ⅱa组背胰及Ⅲ组背、腹胰未见异常。结论:PD是慢性胰腺炎的病因学因素之一,其引发胰腺炎的机制是在胰液分泌的高峰期副乳头功能性梗阻。     

Surgical management of endocrine tumor of the pancreas in Japan

Endocrine tumor of the pancreas is potentially malignant. A multicenter analysis of these tumors was conducted to clarity the present status of their surgical management and the subsequent long-term surgical results. The Japan pancreatoduodenectomy (JPD) study group carried out the study; 368 patients were enrolled and variables related to tumor characteristics, surgery, and survival were retrospectively analyzed. There were 222 patients with functioning tumor and 143 patients with nonfunctioning tumor. Malignant tumor was found in 140 of 368 (38%) of the patients, and 63/140 (45%) of these patients had metastatic lesion; the most common site of the metastasis was liver 34/136 (25%), followed by regional lymph nodes 26/136 (19%). Pancreatic resection was performed in 91% of patients with nonfunctional tumor and in 83% of those with malignant tumor, and 73% of the pancreatic resections were done with lymph node dissection. The overall 5-year actuarial survival rate was 76% in patients with malignant tumor. The actuarial 5-year survival rate was 93% in the patients without metastasis and 83% in patients who received curative resection. Multivariate analysis showed that the presence or absence of synchronous metastasis was the sole significant prognostic factor. The results suggest that: (i) malignant endocrine tumor of the pancreas is a curable malignancy when pancreatic resection with lymph node dissection is adopted and (ii) that synchronous metastasis is the dominant prognostic factor. This study was carried out as a group project. The authors' institutions are as follows