Background Surgery is the main modality of cure for solid cancers and was prioritised to continue during COVID-19 outbreaks. This study aimed to identify immediate areas for system strengthening by comparing the delivery of elective cancer surgery during the COVID-19 pandemic in periods of lockdown versus light restriction. Methods This international, prospective, cohort study enrolled 20 006 adult (≥18 years) patients from 466 hospitals in 61 countries with 15 cancer types, who had a decision for curative surgery during the COVID-19 pandemic and were followed up until the point of surgery or cessation of follow-up (Aug 31, 2020). Average national Oxford COVID-19 Stringency Index scores were calculated to define the government response to COVID-19 for each patient for the period they awaited surgery, and classified into light restrictions (index <20), moderate lockdowns (20–60), and full lockdowns (>60). The primary outcome was the non-operation rate (defined as the proportion of patients who did not undergo planned surgery). Cox proportional-hazards regression models were used to explore the associations between lockdowns and non-operation. Intervals from diagnosis to surgery were compared across COVID-19 government response index groups. This study was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov , NCT04384926 . Findings Of eligible patients awaiting surgery, 2003 (10·0%) of 20 006 did not receive surgery after a median follow-up of 23 weeks (IQR 16–30), all of whom had a COVID-19-related reason given for non-operation. Light restrictions were associated with a 0·6% non-operation rate (26 of 4521), moderate lockdowns with a 5·5% rate (201 of 3646; adjusted hazard ratio [HR] 0·81, 95% CI 0·77–0·84; p<0·0001), and full lockdowns with a 15·0% rate (1775 of 11 827; HR 0·51, 0·50–0·53; p<0·0001). In sensitivity analyses, including adjustment for SARS-CoV-2 case notification rates, moderate lockdowns (HR 0·84, 95% CI 0·80–0·88; p<0·001), and full lockdowns (0·57, 0·54–0·60; p<0·001), remained independently associated with non-operation. Surgery beyond 12 weeks from diagnosis in patients without neoadjuvant therapy increased during lockdowns (374 [9·1%] of 4521 in light restrictions, 317 [10·4%] of 3646 in moderate lockdowns, 2001 [23·8%] of 11 827 in full lockdowns), although there were no differences in resectability rates observed with longer delays. Interpretation Cancer surgery systems worldwide were fragile to lockdowns, with one in seven patients who were in regions with full lockdowns not undergoing planned surgery and experiencing longer preoperative delays. Although short-term oncological outcomes were not compromised in those selected for surgery, delays and non-operations might lead to long-term reductions in survival. During current and future periods of societal restriction, the resilience of elective surgery systems requires strengthening, which might include...

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Although ϳ1 million islets exist in the adult human pancreas, current pancreas preservation and islet isolation techniques recover <50%. Presently, cadaveric donors remain the sole source of pancreatic tissue for transplantation. Brain death is characterized by activation of proinflammatory cytokines and organ injury during preservation and reperfusion. In this study, we assessed the effects of brain death on islet isolation yields and functionality. Brain death was induced in male 250-to 350-g Lewis rats by inflation of a Fogarty catheter placed intracranially. The rats were mechanically ventilated for 2, 4, and 6 h before removal of the pancreas (n ‫؍‬ 6). In controls, the catheter was not inflated (n ‫؍‬ 6). Shortly after brain death induction, a significant increase in serum tumor necrosis factor-␣ (TNF-␣), interleukin (IL)-1␤, and IL-6 was demonstrated in a time-dependent manner. Upregulation of TNF-␣, IL-1␤, and IL-6 mRNA was noted in the pancreas. Brain death donors presented lower insulin release after glucose stimulation assessed by in situ perfusion of the pancreas. Islet recovery was reduced in brain death donors compared with controls (at 6 h 602.3 ؎ 233.4 vs. 1,792.5 ؎ 325.4 islet equivalents, respectively; P < 0.05). Islet viability assessed in dissociated islet cells and in intact cultured islets was reduced in islets recovered from brain death donors, an effect associated with higher nuclear activities of NF-B p50, c-Jun, and ATF-2. Islet functionality evaluated in vitro by static incubation and in vivo after intraportal transplantation in syngeneic streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats was significantly reduced in preparations obtained from brain death donors. In conclusion, brain death significantly reduced islet yields and functionality. These observations may lead to strategies to reduce the effects of brain death on pancreatic islets and improve the results in clinical transplantation.

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Clinical studies indicate that significant loss of functional islet mass occurs in the peritransplant period. Islets are injured as a result of detrimental effects of brain death, pancreas preservation, islet isolation, hypoxia, hyperglycemia, and immune-mediated events. In addition, recent studies demonstrated that islets are injured as a result of their exposure to blood and of activation of intrahepatic endothelial and Kupffer cells, resulting in inflammation and thrombosis. Activated protein C (APC) is an anticoagulant enzyme that also exerts anti-inflammatory and antiapoptotic activities by acting directly on cells. Here, we report that exogenous administration of recombinant murine APC (mAPC) significantly reduced loss of functional islet mass after intraportal transplantation in diabetic mice. Animals given mAPC exhibited better glucose control, higher glucose disposal rates, and higher arginine-stimulated acute insulin release. These effects were associated with reduced plasma proinsulin, intrahepatic fibrin deposition, and islet apoptosis early after the transplant. In vitro and in vivo data demonstrated that mAPC treatment was associated with a significant reduction of proinflammatory cytokine release after exposure of hepatic endothelial cells to islets. mAPC treatment also prevented endothelial cell activation and dysfunction elicited by intrahepatic embolization of isolated islets inherent to pancreatic islet transplantation (PIT). This study demonstrates multiple remarkable beneficial effects of mAPC for PIT and suggests that APC therapy may enhance the therapeutic efficacy of PIT in diabetic patients.

Background: Bile duct injury is a complex and serious complication whose frequency has not diminished. A bilidigestive anastomosis (Roux-en-Y hepaticojejunostomy) is usually needed after complex injuries. Placement of an anastomotic stent is a matter of debate and to our knowledge there is no study that compares the results between stenting and not stenting the anastomosis.

Summary There is increasing interest in tacrolimus‐minimization regimens. ASSET was an open‐label, randomized, 12‐month study of everolimus plus tacrolimus in de‐novo renal‐transplant recipients. Everolimus trough targets were 3–8 ng/ml throughout the study. Tacrolimus trough targets were 4–7 ng/ml during the first 3 months and 1.5–3 ng/ml (n = 107) or 4–7 ng/ml (n = 117) from Month 4. All patients received basiliximab induction and corticosteroids. The primary objective was to demonstrate superior estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR; MDRD‐4) at Month 12 in the tacrolimus 1.5–3 ng/ml versus the 4–7 ng/ml group. Secondary endpoints included incidence of biopsy‐proven acute rejection (BPAR; Months 4–12) and serious adverse events (SAEs; Months 0–12). Statistical significance was not achieved for the primary endpoint (mean eGFR: 57.1 vs. 51.7 ml/min/1.73 m2), potentially due to overlapping of achieved tacrolimus exposure levels (Month 12 mean ± SD, tacrolimus 1.5–3 ng/ml: 3.4 ± 1.4; tacrolimus 4–7 ng/ml: 5.5 ± 2.0 ng/ml). BPAR (months 4–12) and SAE rates were comparable between groups (2.7% vs. 1.1% and 58.7% vs. 51.3%; respectively). Everolimus‐facilitated tacrolimus minimization, to levels lower than previously investigated, achieved good renal function, low BPAR and graft‐loss rates, and an acceptable safety profile in renal transplantation over 12 months although statistically superior renal function of the 1.5–3 ng/ml tacrolimus group was not achieved. (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT00369161) is registered at http://www.clinicaltrials.gov.

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