Pathophysiology of severe gallstone pancreatitis:A new paradigm

Severe gallstone pancreatitis(GSP)refractory to maximum conservative therapy has wide clinical variations,and its pathophysiology remains controversial.This Editorial aimed to investigate the pathophysiology of severe disease based on Opie’s theories of obstruction,the common channel,and duodenal reflux and describe its types.Severe GSP might be a hybrid disease with pathology polarized between acute cholangitis with mild pancreatitis(biliary type)and necrotizing pancreatitis uncomplicated with biliary tract disease(pancreatic type),in which hepatobiliary and pancreatic lesion severity is inversely related to the presence or absence of impacted ampullary stones.Severe GSP is caused by stones that are persistently impacted at the ampulla with biliopancreatic obstruction(biliary type),and probably,stones that are either temporarily lodged at the duodenal orifice or passed into the duodenum,thereby permitting reflux of bile or possible duodenal contents into the pancreas(pancreas type).When the status of the stones and the presence or absence of impacted ampullary stones with biliopancreatic obstruction are determined,the clinical course and outcome can be predicted.Gallstones represent the main cause of acute pancreatitis globally,and clinicians are expected to encounter GSP more often.Awareness of the etiology and pathogenesis of severe disease is mandatory.

Evaluating the accuracy of American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy guidelines in patients with acute gallstone pancreatitis with choledocholithiasis

BACKGROUND Acute gallstone pancreatitis(AGP) is the most common cause of acute pancreatitis(AP) in the United States. Patients with AGP may also present with choledocholithiasis. In 2010, the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy(ASGE) suggested a management algorithm based on probability for choledocholithiasis, recommending additional imaging for patients at intermediate risk and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography(ERCP) for patients at high risk of choledocholithiasis. In 2019, the ASGE guidelines were updated using more specific criteria to categorize individuals at high risk for choledocholithiasis. Neither ASGE guideline has been studied in AGP to determine the probability of having choledocholithiasis.AIM To determine compliance with ASGE guidelines, assess outcomes, and compare 2019 vs 2010 ASGE criteria for suspected choledocholithiasis in AGP.METHODS We conducted a retrospective cohort study of 882 patients admitted with AP to a single tertiary care center from 2008-2018. AP was diagnosed using revised Atlanta criteria and AGP was defined as the presence of gallstones on imaging or with cholestatic pattern of liver injury in the absence of another cause. Patients with chronic pancreatitis and pancreatic malignancy were excluded as were those who went directly to cholecystectomy prior to assessment for choledocholithiasis. Patients were assigned low, intermediate or high risk based on ASGE guidelines. Our primary outcomes of interest were the proportion of patients in the intermediate risk group undergoing magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography(MRCP) first and the proportion of patients in the high risk group undergoing ERCP directly without preceding imaging. Secondary outcomes of interest included outcome differences based on if guidelines were not adhered to. We then evaluated the diagnostic accuracy of 2019 in comparison to the 2010 ASGE criteria for patients with suspected choledocholithiasis. We performed the t test or Wilcoxon rank sum test, as appropriate, to analyze if there were outcome differences based on if guidelines were not adhered to. Kappa coefficients were calculated to measure the degree of agreement between pairs of variables.RESULTS In this cohort, we identified 235 patients with AGP of which 79 patients were excluded as they went directly to surgery for cholecystectomy without prior MRCP or ERCP. Of the remaining 156 patients, 79 patients were categorized as intermediate risk and 77 patients were high risk for choledocholithiasis according to the 2010 ASGE guidelines. Among 79 intermediate risk patients, 54(68%) underwent MRCP first whereas 25 patients(32%) went directly to ERCP. For the 54 patients with intermediate risk who had MRCP first, 36 patients had no choledocholithiasis while 18 patients had evidence of choledocholithiasis prompting ERCP. Of these patients, ERCP confirmed stone disease in 11 patients. Of the 25 intermediate risk patients who directly underwent ERCP, 18 patients had stone disease. One patient with a normal ERCP developed post ERCP pancreatitis. Patients undergoing MRCP in this group had a significantly longer length of stay(5.0 vs 4.0 d, P = 0.02). In the high risk group, 64 patients(83%) had ERCP without preceding imaging, of which, 53 patients had findings consistent with choledocholithiasis, of which 13 patients(17%) underwent MRCP before ERCP, all of which showed evidence of stone disease. Furthermore, all of these patients ultimately had an ERCP, of which 8 patients had evidence of stones and 5 had normal examination.RESULTS Our cohort also demonstrated that 58% of all 156 patients with AGP had confirmed choledocholithiasis(79% of the high risk group and 37% of the intermediate group when risk was assigned based on the 2010 ASGE guidelines). When the updated 2019 ASGE guidelines were applied instead of the original 2010 guidelines, there was moderate agreement between the 2010 and 2019 guidelines(kappa = 0.46, 95%CI: 0.34-0.58). Forty-two of 77 patients were still deemed to be high risk and 35 patients were downgraded to intermediate risk. Thirty-five patients who were originally assigned high risk were reclassified as intermediate risk. For these 35 patients, 26 patients had ERCP findings consistent with choledocholithiasis and 9 patients had a normal examination. Based on the 2019 criteria, 9/35 patients who were downgraded to intermediate risk had an unnecessary ERCP with normal findings(without a preceding MRCP).CONCLUSION Two-thirds in intermediate risk and 83% in high risk group followed ASGE guidelines for choledocholithiasis. One intermediate-group patient with normal ERCP had post-ERCP AP, highlighting the risk of unnecessary procedures.

Proposal of the term “gallstone cholangiopancreatitis” to specify gallstone pancreatitis that needs urgent endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography

Opie’s“pancreatic duct obstruction”and“common channel”theories are generally accepted as explanations of the mechanisms involved in gallstone acute pancreatitis(AP).Common channel elucidates the mechanism of necrotizing pancreatitis due to gallstones.For pancreatic duct obstruction,the clinical picture of most patients with ampullary stone impaction accompanied by biliopancreatic obstruction is dominated by life-threatening acute cholangitis rather than by AP,which clouds the understanding of the severity of gallstone AP.According to the revised Atlanta classification,it is difficult to consider these clinical features as indications of severe pancreatitis.Hence,the term“gallstone cholangiopancreatitis”is suggested to define severe disease complicated by acute cholangitis due to persistent ampullary stone impaction.It incorporates the terms“cholangitis”and“gallstone pancreatitis.”“Cholangitis”refers to acute cholangitis due to cholangiovenous reflux through the foci of extensive hepatocyte necrosis reflexed by marked elevation in transaminase levels caused by persistent ampullary obstruction.“Gallstone pancreatitis”refers to elevated pancreatic enzyme levels consequent to pancreatic duct obstruction.This pancreatic lesion is characterized by minimal or mild inflammation.Gallstone cholangiopancreatitis may be valuable in clinical practice for specifying gallstone AP that needs urgent endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography with endoscopic sphincterotomy.

Treatment strategy for gallstone pancreatitis and the timing of cholecystectomy

AIM:To reviewed the literature and evaluated the scope and timing of the application of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography(ERCP)/endoscopic sphincterotomy(ES)and cholecystectomy.METHODS:A pooled odds ratio(OR)and a pooled mean difference with the 95%CI were used to assess the enumeration data of included studies.A pooled weighted mean difference(WMD)and a pooled mean difference with the 95%CI were used to assess the measurement data of included studies.Statistical heterogeneity was tested with theχ2 test.According to forest plots,heterogeneity was not significant,so the fixed effect model was adopted.The significance of the pooled OR was determined by the Z test and statistical significance was considered at P<0.05.RESULTS:Data were collected from two studies(353patients,142 in the early cholecystectomy group and211 in the delayed cholecystectomy group)regarding the length of hospital stay[The WMD was-2.87(95%CI:-3.36--2.39,P<0.01).Data were collected from four studies(618 patients,211 in the early cholecystectomygroup and 408 in the delayed cholecystectomy group)regarding perioperative complications(OR=0.94,95%CI:0.41-2.12,P>0.05).Data were collected from four studies(618 patients,211 in the early cholecystectomy group and 408 in the delayed cholecystectomy group)on the number of patients who underwent ERCP±ES postoperatively(OR=0.80,95%CI:0.45-1.41,P>0.05).CONCLUSION:Cholecystectomy offers better protection than ES against further bouts of pancreatitis in patients with gallstone pancreatitis,although ES is an acceptable alternative.

Pathophysiological significance of gallbladder volume changes in gallstone diseases

AIM: To study the pathophysiological significance of gallbladder volume (GBV) and ejection fraction changes in gallstone patients.METHODS: The fasting GBV of gallstone patients with acute cholecystitis (n = 99), chronic cholecystitis (n = 85) and non-gallstone disease (n = 240) were measured by preoperative computed tomography. Direct saline injection measurements of GBV after cholecystectomy were also performed. The fasting and postprandial GBV of 65 patients with gallstones and chronic cholecystitis and 53 healthy subjects who received health examinations were measured by abdominal ultrasonography. Proper adjustments were made after the correction factors were calculated by comparing the preoperative and postoperative measurements. Pathological correlations between gallbladder changes in patients with acute calculous cholecystitis and the stages defined by the Tokyo International Consensus Meeting in 2007 were made. Unpaired Student's t tests were used. P < 0.05 was deemed statistically significant. RESULTS: The fasting GBV was larger in late stage than in early/second stage acute cholecystitis gallbladders (84.66 ± 26.32 cm 3 , n = 12, vs 53.19 ± 33.80 cm 3 , n = 87, P = 0.002). The fasting volume/ejection fraction of gallbladders in chronic cholecystitis were larger/lower than those of normal subjects (28.77 ± 15.00 cm 3 vs 6.77 ± 15.75 cm 3 , P < 0.0001)/(34.6% ± 10.6%, n = 65, vs 53.3% ± 24.9%, n = 53, P < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: GBV increases as acute cholecystitis progresses to gangrene and/or empyema. Gallstone formation is associated with poorer contractility and larger volume in gallbladders that contain stones.

Clinical effects of phospholipase D2 in attenuating acute pancreatitis

BACKGROUND The objective of the current study was to elucidate the clinical mechanism through which phospholipase D2(PLD2)exerted a regulatory effect on neutrophil migra-tion,thereby alleviating the progression of acute pancreatitis.AIM To elucidate the clinical mechanism through which PLD2 exerted a regulatory effect on neutrophil migration,thereby alleviating the progression of acute pan-creatitis.METHODS The study involved 90 patients diagnosed with acute pancreatitis,admitted to our hospital between March 2020 and November 2022.A retrospective analysis was conducted,categorizing patients based on Ranson score severity into mild(n=25),moderate(n=30),and severe(n=35)groups.Relevant data was collected for each group.Western blot analysis assessed PLD2 protein expression in patient serum.Real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction was used to evaluate the mRNA expression of chemokine receptors associated with neutrophil migration.Serum levels of inflammatory factors in patients were detected using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.Transwell migration tests were conducted to compare migration of neutrophils across groups and analyze the influence of PLD2 on neutrophil migration.RESULTS Overall data analysis did not find significant differences between patient groups(P>0.05).The expression of PLD2 protein in the severe group was lower than that in the moderate and mild groups(P<0.05).The expression level of PLD2 in the moderate group was also lower than that in the mild group(P<0.05).The severity of acute pancreatitis is negatively correlated with PLD2 expression(r=-0.75,P=0.002).The mRNA levels of C-X-C chemokine receptor type 1,C-X-C chemokine receptor type 2,C-C chemokine receptor type 2,and C-C chemokine receptor type 5 in the severe group are significantly higher than those in the moderate and mild groups(P<0.05),and the expression levels in the moderate group are also higher than those in the mild group(P<0.05).The levels of C-reactive protein,tumor necrosis factor-α,interleukin-1β,and interleukin-6 in the severe group were higher than those in the moderate and mild groups(P<0.05),and the levels in the moderate group were also higher than those in the mild group(P<0.05).The number of migrating neutrophils in the severe group was higher than that in the moderate and mild groups(P<0.05),and the moderate group was also higher than the mild group(P<0.05).In addition,the number of migrating neutrophils in the mild group combined with PLD2 inhibitor was higher than that in the mild group(P<0.05),and the number of migrating neutrophils in the moderate group combined with PLD2 inhibitor was higher than that in the moderate group(P<0.05).The number of migrating neutrophils in the severe group+PLD2 inhibitor group was significantly higher than that in the severe group(P<0.05),indicating that PLD2 inhibitors significantly stimulated neutrophil migration.CONCLUSION PLD2 exerted a crucial regulatory role in the pathological progression of acute pancreatitis.Its protein expression varied among patients based on the severity of the disease,and a negative correlation existed between PLD2 expression and disease severity.Additionally,PLD2 appeared to impede acute pancreatitis progression by limiting neutrophil migration.

Transfer RNA-derived small RNA serves as potential non-invasive diagnostic marker and a novel therapeutic target for acute pancreatitis

Transfer RNA(tRNA)-derived fragments,a new type of tRNA-derived small RNA(tsRNA),can be cleaved from tRNA by enzymes to regulate target gene expression at the transcriptional and translational levels.tsRNAs are not only degradation fragments but also have biological functions,including those in immune inflammation,metabolic disorders,and cell death.tsRNA dysregulation is closely associated with multiple diseases,including various cancers and acute pancreatitis(AP).AP is a common gastrointestinal disease,and its incidence increases annually.AP development is associated with tsRNAs,which regulate cell injury and induce inflammation,especially pyroptosis and ferroptosis.Notably,serum tRF36 has the potential to serve as a non-invasive diagnostic biomarker and leads to pancreatic acinar cell ferroptosis causing inflammation to promote AP.We show the characteristics of tsRNAs and their diagnostic value and function in AP,and discuss the potential opportunities and challenges of using tsRNAs in clinical applications and research.

Maternal and fetal death associated with acute pancreatitis during pregnancy:A case report

BACKGROUND Acute pancreatitis in pregnancy is a rare but serious condition that can lead to high maternal mortality and fetal loss.Instances of pregnancy complicated by severe acute pancreatitis,particularly with subsequent respiratory and cardiac arrest,are rarely reported.CASE SUMMARY We present the case of a 35-year-old woman,at 36+5 weeks of gestation,who presented with paroxysmal epigastric pain accompanied by low back pain,nausea,and vomiting.According to the clinical symptoms,B-ultrasound imaging and biochemical indicators,the patient was diagnosed with acute pancreatitis and initially managed conservatively.However,3 hours after admission,the patient experienced respiratory and cardiac arrest,and the fetus died.In this case,the adverse outcomes occurred due to the lack of aggressive fluid resuscitation and an active surgical intervention.CONCLUSION Implementing aggressive fluid resuscitation to sustain tissue perfusion,alongside the proactive evaluation of pharmacological agents that suppress gastric acid secretion and inhibit pancreatic enzyme activity,may be beneficial in mitigating the risk of a severely adverse prognosis.Effective management of acute pancreatitis during pregnancy requires careful timing of surgical intervention,a thorough evaluation of the risks and benefits regarding the continuation or termination of pregnancy,and a focus on safeguarding both maternal and fetal health.

Persistent challenges in the diagnosis of acute pancreatitis due to primary hyperparathyroidism during pregnancy

In this manuscript,we provide critical commentary on the systematic review by Augustin et al,which investigated acute pancreatitis induced by primary hyperparathyroidism during pregnancy.Although this is an infrequent complication,it poses severe risks to both maternal and fetal health.Due to its infrequent occurrence in clinical practice,this review is based on an analysis of individual case reports over the past 55 years.While this is not the first study to utilize this sampling method for primary hyperparathyroidism-induced acute pancreatitis,it is unique in that it has a sufficiently large sample size with statistically significant results.Our discussion focuses on the diagnostic challenges associated with this condition,which are grounded in the mechanisms of parathyroid hormone secretion and variations in serum calcium levels.We also address the limitations of the current review and suggest potential strategies to increase diagnostic accuracy and improve health outcomes for both mothers and fetuses during pregnancy.

Common bile duct stump stones and recurrent acute pancreatitis after Roux-en-Y choledochojejunostomy in a child:A case report

BACKGROUND Pancreaticobiliary maljunction(PBM)is a rare congenital abnormality in pancreaticobiliary duct development.PBM is commonly found in children,and it often leads to acute pancreatitis and other diseases as a result of pancreaticobiliary reflux.Roux-en-Y choledochojejunostomy is a common surgical method for the treatment of PBM,but there are several associated complications that may occur after this operation.CASE SUMMARY The patient,a 12-year-old female,was hospitalized nearly 20 times in 2021 for recurrent acute pancreatitis.In 2022,she was diagnosed with PBM and underwent laparoscopic common bile duct resection and Roux-en-Y choledochojejunostomy in a tertiary hospital.In the first year after surgery,the patient had more than 10 recurrent acute pancreatitis episodes.After undergoing abdominal computed tomography and other examinations,she was diagnosed with“residual bile duct stones and recurrent acute pancreatitis”.On January 30,2024,the patient was admitted to our hospital due to recurrent upper abdominal pain and was cured through endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography.CONCLUSION This article reports a case of a child with distal residual common bile duct stones and recurrent acute pancreatitis after Roux-en-Y choledochojejunostomy for PBM.The patient was cured through endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography.

Clinical study of neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio and platelet-tolymphocyte ratio in hypertriglyceridemia-induced acute pancreatitis and acute biliary pancreatitis with persistent organ failure

BACKGROUND The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio(NLR)and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio(PLR)are novel inflammatory indicators that can be used to predict the severity and prognosis of various diseases.We categorize acute pancreatitis by etiology into acute biliary pancreatitis(ABP)and hypertriglyceridemia-induced acute pancreatitis(HTGP).AIM To investigate the clinical significance of NLR and PLR in assessing persistent organ failure(POF)in HTGP and ABP.METHODS A total of 1450 patients diagnosed with acute pancreatitis(AP)for the first time at Shanxi Bethune Hospital between January 2012 and January 2023 were enrolled.The patients were categorized into two groups according to the etiology of AP:ABP in 530 patients and HTGP in 241 patients.We collected and compared the clinical data of the patients,including NLR,PLR,and AP prognostic scoring systems,within 48 h of hospital admission.RESULTS The NLR(9.1 vs 6.9,P<0.001)and PLR(203.1 vs 160.5,P<0.001)were significantly higher in the ABP group than in the HTGP group.In the HTGP group,both NLR and PLR were significantly increased in patients with severe AP and those with a SOFA score≥3.Likewise,in the ABP group,NLR and PLR were significantly elevated in patients with severe AP,modified computed tomography severity index score≥4,Japanese Severity Score≥3,and modified Marshall score≥2.Moreover,NLR and PLR showed predictive value for the development of POF in both the ABP and HTGP groups.CONCLUSION NLR and PLR vary between ABP and HTGP,are strongly associated with AP prognostic scoring systems,and have predictive potential for the occurrence of POF in both ABP and HTGP.

Visceral adipose tissue predicts severity and prognosis of acute pancreatitis in obese patients

Acute pancreatitis is a common systemic inflammatory disease, manifested by a spectrum of severity, ranging from mild in the majority of patients to severe acute pancreatitis. Patients with severe acute pancreatitis suffer from severe local and systemic complications and organ failure, leading to a poor prognosis. The early recognition of the severe condition is important to improve prognosis. Obesity has risen in tandem with an increase in the severity of acute pancreatitis in recent years. Studies have revealed that adipose tissue, particularly visceral adipose tissue is associated with the prognosis of acute pancreatitis. This review discussed the role of visceral adipose tissue in obese patients with acute pancreatitis and explored the possible mechanism involved.

Early systemic anticoagulation reduces hospital readmission in acute necrotizing pancreatitis patients:A retrospective cohort study

Background:Early systemic anticoagulation(SAC)is a common practice in acute necrotizing pancreatitis(ANP),and its impact on in-hospital clinical outcomes had been assessed.However,whether it affects long-term outcomes is unknown.This study aimed to evaluate the effect of SAC on 90-day readmission and other long-term outcomes in ANP patients.Methods:During January 2013 and December 2018,ANP patients admitted within 7 days from the onset of abdominal pain were screened.The primary outcome was 90-day readmission after discharge.Cox proportional-hazards regression model and mediation analysis were used to define the relationship between early SAC and 90-day readmission.Results:A total of 241 ANP patients were enrolled,of whom 143 received early SAC during their hospitalization and 98 did not.Patients who received early SAC experienced a lower incidence of splanchnic venous thrombosis(SVT)[risk ratio(RR)=0.40,95%CI:0.26-0.60,P<0.01]and lower 90-day readmission with an RR of 0.61(95%CI:0.41-0.91,P=0.02)than those who did not.For the quality of life,patients who received early SAC had a significantly higher score in the subscale of vitality(P=0.03)while the other subscales were all comparable between the two groups.Multivariable Cox regression model showed that early SAC was an independent protective factor for 90-day readmission after adjusting for potential confounders with a hazard ratio of 0.57(95%CI:0.34-0.96,P=0.04).Mediation analysis showed that SVT mediated 37.0%of the early SAC-90-day readmission causality.Conclusions:The application of early SAC may reduce the risk of 90-day readmission in the survivors of ANP patients,and reduced SVT incidence might be the primary contributor.

Implementation of gastrointestinal function protection in severe acute pancreatitis

Severe acute pancreatitis(SAP)is a serious systemic disease associated with strong local inflammatory reactions and serious systemic pathophysiological disorders caused by trypsin spillover.Patients with SAP are prone to exhibit gastrointestinal dysfunction.Meanwhile,gastrointestinal dysfunction further aggravates the systemic inflammatory response and metabolic abnormalities,resulting in a more critical condition of SAP.Gastrointestinal dysfunction is considered to be the“trigger”of multiple organ dysfunction syndrome[1].Thus,it is important to maintain gastrointestinal homeostasis in the treatment of SAP.

Impact of metabolic syndrome components on clinical outcomes in hypertriglyceridemia-induced acute pancreatitis

BACKGROUND The incidence of hypertriglyceridemia(HTG)-induced acute pancreatitis(AP)is steadily increasing in China,becoming the second leading cause of AP.Clinical complications and outcomes associated with HTG-AP are generally more severe than those seen in AP caused by other etiologies.HTG-AP is closely linked to metabolic dysfunction and frequently coexists with metabolic syndrome or its components.However,the impact of metabolic syndrome components on HTGAP clinical outcomes remains unclear.AIM To investigate the impact of metabolic syndrome component burden on clinical outcomes in HTG-AP.METHODS In this retrospective study of 255 patients diagnosed with HTG-AP at the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University,we collected data on patient demographics,clinical scores,complications,and clinical outcomes.Subsequently,we analyzed the influence of the presence and number of individual metabolic syndrome components,including obesity,hyperglycemia,hypertension,and low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol(HDL-C),on the aforementioned parameters in HTG-AP patients.RESULTS This study found that metabolic syndrome components were associated with an increased risk of various complications in HTG-AP,with low HDL-C being the most significant risk factor for clinical outcomes.The risk of complications increased with the number of metabolic syndrome components.Adjusted for age and sex,patients with highcomponent metabolic syndrome had significantly higher risks of renal failure[odds ratio(OR)=3.02,95%CI:1.12-8.11)],SAP(OR=5.05,95%CI:2.04-12.49),and intensive care unit admission(OR=6.41,95%CI:2.42-16.97)compared to those without metabolic syndrome.CONCLUSION The coexistence of multiple metabolic syndrome components can synergistically worsen the clinical course of HTGAP,making it crucial to monitor these components for effective disease management.

Chaiqin Chengqi Decoction as an adjuvant treatment for mild/moderately severe hypertriglyceridemic acute pancreatitis: A retrospective study

Hypertriglyceridemia is the third leading cause of acute pancreatitis(AP),and its incidence is increasing.Due to its relatively insidious etiology,it is easy to be ignored in the early stages.In China,Chaiqin Chengqi Decoction(CQCQD)has long been employed for treating AP.AIM To evaluate the effectiveness of CQCQD in patients diagnosed with mild/moderately severe hypertriglyceridemic AP(HTG-AP).METHODS In this study,the clinical data of 39 patients with HTG-AP admitted from January 2019 to November 2022 were collected.The changes of blood lipids,gastrointestinal symptoms,and abdominal pain before and after treatment were analyzed and compared between the two groups.RESULTS Twenty patients were treated with the conventional HTG-AP regimen,and 19 patients were additionally treated with CQCQD.After receiving treatment,the triglycerides(TG)level of the CQCQD group was lower than that of the CQCQD group(3.14±0.25 mmol/L vs 4.96±0.47 mmol/L,P<0.01).After 3 d of treatment,the patients in the CQCQD group had more bowel movements than the control group(2.51±0.25 times vs 1.00±0.17 times,P=0.01).The gastrointestinal function of most patients returned to normal,and the acute gastrointestinal injury score was significantly lower than that of the control group(0.11±0.07 vs 0.42±0.11,P<0.01).CONCLUSION In patients with HTG-AP,CQCQD can significantly reduce the TG level,shorten the recovery time of defecation,significantly improve the gastrointestinal function.

Different timing for abdominal paracentesis catheter placement and drainage in severe acute pancreatitis complicated by intraabdominal fluid accumulation

BACKGROUND Non-surgical methods such as percutaneous drainage are crucial for the treatment of patients with severe acute pancreatitis(SAP).However,there is still an ongoing debate regarding the optimal timing for abdominal paracentesis catheter place-ment and drainage.AIM To explore the influence of different timing for abdominal paracentesis catheter placement and drainage in SAP complicated by intra-abdominal fluid accumu-lation.METHODS Using a retrospective approach,184 cases of SAP complicated by intra-abdominal fluid accumulation were enrolled and categorized into three groups based on the timing of catheter placement:group A(catheter placement within 2 d of symptom onset,n=89),group B(catheter placement between days 3 and 5 after symptom onset,n=55),and group C(catheter placement between days 6 and 7 after symptom onset,n=40).The differences in progression rate,mortality rate,and the number of cases with organ dysfunction were compared among the three groups.RESULTS The progression rate of group A was significantly lower than those in groups B and groups C(2.25%vs 21.82%and 32.50%,P<0.05).Further,the proportion of patients with at least one organ dysfunction in group A was significantly lower than those in groups B and groups C(41.57%vs 70.91%and 75.00%,P<0.05).The mortality rates in group A,group B,and group C were similar(P>0.05).At postoperative day 3,the levels of C-reactive protein(55.41±19.32 mg/L vs 82.25±20.41 mg/L and 88.65±19.14 mg/L,P<0.05),procalcitonin(1.36±0.51 ng/mL vs 3.20±0.97 ng/mL and 3.41±0.98 ng/mL,P<0.05),tumor necrosis factor-alpha(15.12±6.63 pg/L vs 22.26±9.96 pg/L and 23.39±9.12 pg/L,P<0.05),interleukin-6(332.14±90.16 ng/L vs 412.20±88.50 ng/L and 420.08±87.65ng/L,P<0.05),interleukin-8(415.54±68.43 ng/L vs 505.80±66.90 ng/L and 510.43±68.23ng/L,P<0.05)and serum amyloid A(270.06±78.49 mg/L vs 344.41±81.96 mg/L and 350.60±80.42 mg/L,P<0.05)were significantly lower in group A compared to those in groups B and group C.The length of hospital stay in group A was significantly lower than those in groups B and group C(24.50±4.16 d vs 35.54±6.62 d and 38.89±7.10 d,P<0.05).The hospitalization expenses in group A were also significantly lower than those in groups B and groups C[2.70(1.20,3.55)ten-thousand-yuan vs 5.50(2.98,7.12)ten-thousand-yuan and 6.00(3.10,8.05)ten-thousand-yuan,P<0.05).The incidence of complications in group A was markedly lower than that in group C(5.62%vs 25.00%,P<0.05),and similar to group B(P>0.05).CONCLUSION Percutaneous catheter drainage for the treatment of SAP complicated by intra-abdominal fluid accumulation is most effective when performed within 2 d of onset.

Computerized tomography-guided therapeutic percutaneous puncture catheter drainage-combined with somatostatin for severe acute pancreatitis: An analysis of efficacy and safety

BACKGROUND Severe acute pancreatitis(SAP),a condition with rapid onset,critical condition and unsatisfactory prognosis,poses a certain threat to human health,warranting optimization of relevant treatment plans to improve treatment efficacy.AIM To evaluate the efficacy and safety of computerized tomography-guided the-rapeutic percutaneous puncture catheter drainage(CT-TPPCD)combined with somatostatin(SS)in the treatment of SAP.METHODS Forty-two SAP patients admitted to The Second Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University from June 2020 to June 2023 were selected.On the basis of routine treatment,20 patients received SS therapy(control group)and 22 patients were given CT-TPPCD plus SS intervention(research group).The efficacy,safety(pancreatic fistula,intra-abdominal hemorrhage,sepsis,and organ dysfunction syndrome),abdominal bloating and pain relief time,bowel recovery time,hospital stay,inflammatory indicators(C-reactive protein,interleukin-6,and pro-calcitonin),and Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation(APACHE)II score of both groups were evaluated for comparison.RESULTS Compared with the control group,the research group had a markedly higher total effective rate,faster abdominal bloating and pain relief and bowel recovery,INTRODUCTION Pancreatitis,an inflammatory disease occurring in the pancreatic tissue,is classified as either acute or chronic and is associated with high morbidity and mortality,imposing a socioeconomic burden[1,2].The pathogenesis of this disease involves early protease activation,activation of nuclear factor kappa-B-related inflammatory reactions,and infiltration of immune cells[3].Severe acute pancreatitis(SAP)is a serious condition involving systemic injury and subsequent possible organ failure,accounting for 20%of all acute pancreatitis cases[4].SAP is also characterized by rapid onset,critical illness and unsatisfactory prognosis and is correlated with serious adverse events such as systemic inflammatory response syn-drome and acute lung injury,threatening the health of patients[5,6].Therefore,timely and effective therapeutic inter-ventions are of great significance for improving patient prognosis and ensuring therapeutic effects.Somatostatin(SS),a peptide hormone that can be secreted by endocrine cells and the central nervous system,is in-volved in the regulatory mechanism of glucagon and insulin synthesis in the pancreas[7].It has complex and pleiotropic effects on the gastrointestinal tract,which can inhibit the release of gastrointestinal hormones and negatively modulate the exocrine function of the stomach,pancreas and bile,while exerting a certain influence on the absorption of the di-gestive system[8,9].SS has shown certain clinical effectiveness when applied to SAP patients and can regulate the severity of SAP and immune inflammatory responses,and this regulation is related to its influence on leukocyte apoptosis and adhesion[10,11].Computerized tomography-guided therapeutic percutaneous puncture catheter drainage(CT-TPPCD)is a surgical procedure to collect lesion fluid and pus samples from necrotic lesions and perform puncture and drainage by means of CT image examination and precise positioning[12].In the research of Liu et al[13],CT-TPPCD applied to pa-tients undergoing pancreatic surgery contributes to not only good curative effects but also a low surgical risk.Baudin et al[14]also reported that CT-TPPCD has a clinical success rate of 64.6%in patients with acute infectious necrotizing pan-creatitis,with nonfatal surgery-related complications found in only two cases,suggesting that this procedure is clinically effective and safe in the treatment of the disease.In light of the limited studies on the efficacy and safety of SS plus CT-TPPCD in SAP treatment,this study performed a relevant analysis to improve clinical outcomes in SAP patients.

Primary hyperparathyroidism presenting as acute gallstone pancreatitis

Primary hyperparathyroidism （PHPT） is a generalized disorder of calcium metabolism resulting from an abnormally high level of serum calcium and an increased level of parathormone （PTH）. 1,2 Traditionally, symptomatic PHPT patients present with a variety of disorders including fatigue, amyotrophy, memory impairment, emotional instability, hallucination, irritation, loss of consciousness, abdominal distention, nausea,

Comparative transcriptomic analysis reveals the molecular changes of acute pancreatitis in experimental models

BACKGROUND Acute pancreatitis(AP)encompasses a spectrum of pancreatic inflammatory conditions,ranging from mild inflammation to severe pancreatic necrosis and multisystem organ failure.Given the challenges associated with obtaining human pancreatic samples,research on AP predominantly relies on animal models.In this study,we aimed to elucidate the fundamental molecular mechanisms underlying AP using various AP models.AIM To investigate the shared molecular changes underlying the development of AP across varying severity levels.METHODS AP was induced in animal models through treatment with caerulein alone or in combination with lipopolysaccharide(LPS).Additionally,using Ptf1αto drive the specific expression of the hM3 promoter in pancreatic acinar cells transgenic C57BL/6J-hM3/Ptf1α(cre)mice were administered Clozapine N-oxide to induce AP.Subsequently,we conducted RNA sequencing of pancreatic tissues and validated the expression of significantly different genes using the Gene Expression Omnibus(GEO)database.RESULTS Caerulein-induced AP showed severe inflammation and edema,which were exacerbated when combined with LPS and accompanied by partial pancreatic tissue necrosis.Compared with the control group,RNA sequencing analysis revealed 880 significantly differentially expressed genes in the caerulein model and 885 in the caerulein combined with the LPS model.Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes enrichment analysis and Gene Set Enrichment Analysis indicated substantial enrichment of the TLR and NOD-like receptor signaling pathway,TLR signaling pathway,and NF-κB signaling pathway,alongside elevated levels of apoptosis-related pathways,such as apoptosis,P53 pathway,and phagosome pathway.The significantly elevated genes in the TLR and NOD-like receptor signaling pathways,as well as in the apoptosis pathway,were validated through quantitative real-time PCR experiments in animal models.Validation from the GEO database revealed that only MYD88 concurred in both mouse pancreatic tissue and human AP peripheral blood,while TLR1,TLR7,RIPK3,and OAS2 genes exhibited marked elevation in human AP.The genes TUBA1A and GADD45A played significant roles in apoptosis within human AP.The transgenic mouse model hM3/Ptf1α(cre)successfully validated significant differential genes in the TLR and NOD-like receptor signaling pathways as well as the apoptosis pathway,indicating that these pathways represent shared pathological processes in AP across different models.CONCLUSION The TLR and NOD receptor signaling pathways play crucial roles in the inflammatory progression of AP,notably the MYD88 gene.Apoptosis holds a central position in the necrotic processes of AP,with TUBA1A and GADD45A genes exhibiting prominence in human AP.