Pancreatic cancer is an

Pancreatic adenocarcinoma accounts for nearly 90-95% of exocrine malignant tumors of the pancreas. Traditionally, overexpressed proteins/epitopes such as CA 19-9, CA-50, CEA, and many others were being used as pancreatic cancer tumor markers. The main utility of these biomarkers was in the diagnosis of pancreatic cancer as well as to assess response to chemotherapy and to determine prognosis and to predict tumor recurrence. However, these markers had significant limitations such as lack of sensitivity, false-negative results in certain blood groups, as well as false-positive elevation in the presence of obstructive jaundice. To circumvent these limitations, an extraordinary amount of research is being performed to identify an accurate tumor marker or a panel of markers that could aid in the management of the pancreatic cancer. Although this research has identified a large number and different variety of biomarkers, few hold future promise as a preferred marker for pancreatic cancer. This review provides an insight into exciting new areas of pancreatic biomarker research such as salivary, pancreatic juice, and stool markers that can be used as a noninvasive test to identify pancreatic cancer. This manuscript also provides a discussion on newer biomarkers, the role of microRNAs, and pancreatic cancer proteomics, which have the potential to identify a preferred tumor marker for pancreatic adenocarcinoma. This review further elaborates on important genetic changes associated with the development and progression of pancreatic cancer that holds the key for the identification of a sensitive biomarker and which could also serve as a therapeutic target.

Although diabetes mellitus (DM) and pancreatic cancer (PC) are intricately linked, a comprehensive review addressing the impact of DM on PC prognosis and surgical outcomes is lacking. PubMed search was performed (1980-2012) using keywords "pancreatic cancer", "diabetes mellitus", "glucose intolerance", "pancreatic resection", "prognosis", and "post-operative outcomes". The search results were analyzed to determine the strength of association between DM and PC and to assess the impact of DM on PC prognosis and postoperative outcomes. Thirty-one studies involving 38,777 patients were identified. Patients with non-insulin-dependent DM have 1.5-2 fold increased relative risk of developing PC. Non-insulin-dependent DM is identified in 25.7% of patients with PC compared to 10.4% age-matched controls (95% confidence interval, 1.5-4.7; P < 0.0001). Patients with PC are more likely to have a diagnosis of new-onset DM than age-matched controls (14.7% vs 2.7%; P < 0.0001). Patients with PC with DM have a significantly lower overall survival than those without DM (14.4 vs 21.7 months; P < 0.001). The presence of DM significantly increases overall postoperative complication rates (45.6% vs 35.6%; P < 0.008). Patients with new-onset non-insulin-dependent DM are at a higher risk of developing PC and have a worse long-term survival and a higher rate of postoperative complications.

Acute mesenteric ischemia is commonly treated by surgical exploration and open thrombectomy. Very few reports describe using newer, minimally invasive methods which utilize catheter-based mechanical and pharmacological thrombolysis. Herein, we report a case of acute superior mesenteric embolism successfully treated with AngioJet hydrodynamic mechanical thrombectomy and EKOS catheter pharmacological thrombolysis. A 76-year-old man with new onset atrial fibrillation presented with abdominal pain of 48 hours duration. Subsequent contrast computed tomography scan of the abdomen revealed a filling defect in the superior mesenteric artery (SMA), suggestive of an acute embolus, which was confirmed by SMA angiogram. The AngioJet aspiration device was used for hydrodynamic suction thrombectomy. The repeat angiogram demonstrated only a partial restoration of blood flow, and thus the EKOS tissue plasminogen activator catheter was left in the SMA for continuous thrombolysis. The patient underwent continuous thrombolysis for two days, with two subsequent sessions of angiography. Thereafter, the patient improved symptomatically and serum lactate was normalized. In conclusion, the AngioJet suction thrombectomy and pharmaco-mechanical thrombolysis using the EKOS catheter is associated with minimal morbidity and can be rapidly performed. It may be used as an alternative to open surgical thrombectomy in selected cases of acute SMA embolism.

Esophageal diverticula are uncommon lesions that are usually classified according to their location (cervical, thoracic, or epiphrenic), or underlying pathogenesis (pulsion or traction), and their morphology (true or false).The majority of esophageal diverticula are acquired lesions that occur predominantly in elderly adults. Pulsion, or false, diverticula are the most commonly encountered type of esophageal diverticula noticed at the level of cricopharyngeus muscle, occur as a localized outpouchings that lacks a muscular coat, and as such their wall is formed entirely by mucosa and submucosa.True, or traction, esophageal diverticulum (TED) is seen in the middle one third of the thoracic esophagus in a peribronchial location, occurs secondary to mediastinal inflammatory lesions such as tuberculosis or histoplasmosis. The resultant desmoplastic reaction in the paraesophageal tissue causes full thickness pinching on the esophageal wall, producing a conical, broad-mouthed true diverticulum. They often project to the right side because subcarinal lymph nodes in this area are closely associated with the right anterior wall of the esophagus.TED usually presents with symptoms such as dysphagia, postural regurgitation, belching, retrosternal pain, heartburn, and epigastric pain. As in patients with pharyngoesophageal (Zenker’s) diverticula, pulmonary symptoms are often present but underestimated in TED patients. These symptoms range from mild nocturnal cough to life-threatening massive aspiration. In this particular report we describe a rare case of TED presenting as a symptomatic upper gastrointestinal bleeding. Diagnostic evaluation of TED includes chest X-ray, barium esophagogram and manometry. A significant proportion of lower esophageal diverticula are associated with motility disorders. Management of TED include treating the underlying cause sometimes a surgical resection of diverticulum along with esophageal myotomy is necessitated in symptomatic patients.

Background: Long-term lithium use in psychiatric patients may lead to lithium associated hyperparathyroidism (LAH). Although anecdotal case reports have appeared, an evidence based algorithm for management of LAH is lacking. Methods: A comprehensive literature search was performed using PubMed with keywords; "lithium" "hypercalcemia" "hyperparathyroidism" "sestamibi" "intra-operative parathyroid hormone (IOPTH) monitoring" "parathyroidectomy" and "medical management". All English language publications addressing etiology and clinical management issues concerning LAH were critically analyzed. Results: Lithium associated hyperparathyroidism occurs in 4.3% -6.3% of chronic lithium users compared to the general population which has an incidence of 0.5% -1%. 194 cases of LAH have been reported which includes 10 patients (5%) treated medically and 170 patients (88%) who underwent parathyroidectomy. No details were available for 14 patients (7%). Among parathyroidectomy patients, 104 (59%) had adenomatous disease and 66 (39%) had multiglandular hyperplasia. Preoperative localization studies were utilized in only 22 patients (13%) and IOPTH monitoring was reported in only 3 studies (32 patients, 19%). Among surgical patients, bilateral neck exploration (BNE) was the most common approach performed in 162 patients (95%); focused neck exploration was utilized in only 8 patients (5%). Parathyroidectomy normalized LAH biochemical changes in nearly all patients (90% -97%) in the early post-operative period, but recurrent hyperparathyroidism occurred in 8% -42% of patients. Conclusion: LAH is an under appreciated and poorly understood endocrine disorder. LAH has a higher incidence of multiglandular disease and bilateral neck exploration is mandatory in majority for disease control. Nonsurgical approaches may be useful in select patients on short-term lithium therapy.

Infradiaphragmatic bronchogenic cysts are uncommon and may become symptomatic secondary to compression of surrounding structures. A complete resection by laparoscopy is feasible and represents a safe and minimally invasive alternative to traditional resection through laparotomy or thoracotomy.

Deep vein thrombosis [DVT] is one of the most dreaded complications in post-operative patients as it is associated with considerable morbidity and mortality. Majority of patients with postoperative DVT are asymptomatic. The pulmonary embolism, which is seen in 10% of the cases with proximal DVT, may be fatal. Therefore it becomes imperative to prevent DVT rather than to diagnose and treat. Only one randomized trial has been reported from India to assess the effectiveness of low molecular weight heparin in preventing post-operative DVT. To assess the risk of DVT in North Indian patients following major abdominal operations and to evaluate the effectiveness of Nadroparin, A Low Molecular Weight Heparin (LMWH) therapy in preventing post-operative DVT. Sixty five patients were randomised preoperatively into Group-I; Nadroparin prophylaxis and Group-II: No prophylaxis. The primary outcome was the occurrence of DVT, diagnosed by bilateral lower limb venogram performed, seven to ten days after operation. Secondary outcome measures included adverse effects of radio-opaque dye, intra-operative blood loss, operating time, postoperative platelet count, intraoperative blood transfusion requirements and the total duration of postoperative bed rest. No case of DVT occurred in either group. There was no statistical difference in the risk of secondary outcome measures in the two groups. DVT was not observed in any of the patients, even with several high risk factors indicating a possible protective mechanism in the North Indian population.