1,721,291 research outputs found
Is diabetes mellitus a risk factor for pancreatic cancer?
No full textThe relationship between diabetes mellitus and the risk of pancreatic cancer has been a matter of study for a long period of time. The importance of this topic is due to two main causes: the possible use of recent onset diabetes as a marker of the disease and, in particular, as a specific marker of pancreatic cancer, and the selection of a population at risk for pancreatic cancer. Thus, we decided to make an in-depth study of this topic; thus, we carried out an extensive literature search in order to re-assess the current knowledge on this topic. Even if diabetes is found a decade before the appearance of pancreatic cancer as reported in meta-analytic studies, we cannot select those patients already having non detectable pancreatic cancer, at least with the imaging and biological techniques available today. We believe that more studies are necessary in order to definitively identify diabetes mellitus as a risk factor for pancreatic cancer taking into consideration that approximately 10 years are needed to diagnose symptomatic pancreatic cancer. At present, the answer to the as to whether diabetes and pancreatic cancer comes first similar to the adage of the chicken and the egg is that diabetes is the egg. © 2013 Baishideng. All rights reserved
Quality of life in patients with long-standing chronic non-pathological pancreatic hyperenzymemia
No full textBackground Chronic non-pathological pancreatic hyperenzymemia is a benign condition characterized by the persistent elevation of serum pancreatic enzymes without morphological alterations of the pancreas. No information is available regarding the quality of life of these subjects. Aim To evaluate the physical, mental and psychological status of these subjects using SF-12 Health Survey questionnaire and the 12-item General Health Questionnaire. Methods Fifty-one consecutive subjects having long-standing chronic non-pathological pancreatic hyperenzymemia (duration: 11.0 years, range 5-21) were studied. The Italian version of the SF-12 questionnaire and the General Health Questionnaire were compiled by the subjects studied. Results Regarding the SF-12 questionnaire, the physical component scores and the mental component scores were 50.1 ± 8.0 and 44.7 ± 11.7, respectively and these figures were not statistically different from those of reference Italian population. Regarding the psychological status, seven subjects (13.7%) had non-psychotic-psychiatric problems. No statistical differences in the physical component score, mental component score and general health questionnaire were found between patients having non-familial or familial chronic non-pathological pancreatic hyperenzymemia. Conclusions Subjects with long-standing chronic non-pathological pancreatic hyperenzymemia had a quality of life no different from that of the Italian population. The explanation provided by the physician regarding the benignity of long-standing chronic non-pathological pancreatic hyperenzymemia is enough to reassure this type of patient
Inflammation and Pancreatic Cancer: Recent Development with Focusing on Potential New Drug Targets
No full textChronic inflammation has been identified as a significant factor in the carcinogenesis of various tumors, including pancreatic cancer. Both hereditary and classical forms of chronic pancreatitis are associated with an increased risk of developing pancreatic cancer. Cytokines and other mediators of the inflammatory process together with an upregulation of pro-inflammatory pathways play a pivotal role in oncogenesis' stimulation, tumor growth and metastasis. The presence of a strong desmoplastic reaction within and around pancreatic cancer cells renders the proteolytic degradation of extracellular matrix components an essential process for tumor invasion and metastasis. Various classes of proteases produced by the pancreatic acinar cells are involved in these proteolytic events. The multiple link between inflammation and pancreatic cancer may represent the basis for a novel antineoplastic strategy. Cytokines, proteases, reactive-oxygen-species, cyclooxygenase-2, nuclear-factor-κB and perixosome proliferator-activated receptor-γ may be a new molecular targets useful for therapeutic purpose
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