• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.35-41
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• 1997

The pancreas is an important organ in the maintenance of zinc homeostasis. Endogenous zinc is con-tinuously secreted via pancreatic exocrine fluid or to a lesser extent in bile. Much of the endogenous secretion must be reabsorbed to sustain zinc homeostasis. The objective of this study was to estimate the relative size of the pancreatic/biliary zinc pool in comparision to the dietary zinc intake, and to study the effect of the phytate and calcium on the zinc homeostasis using a rat model. At the termination of the experiment, pan-creatic/biliary fluid was collected from the rats. Both radioactivity and total zinc were measured and the relative size of the pancreatic/biliary zinc pool was estimated. To determine the effect of phytate and calcium on zinc homeostsis, dietary zinc intake, the amount of zinc in pancreatic.biliary fluid and fecal zinc excretion were measured. The flow rate of pancreatic/biliary fluid, as corrected for tubing constriction, gives the corrected zinc concentration in the pancreatic/biliary fluid was 2.2 times higher than dietary zinc intake. To maintain zinc homeostasis, zinc absorption/reabsorption was very efficient in the current model; 76%, 88% of absorption/reabsorption for low calcium group and high calcium group 81% for phytate group and non-phytate group, respectively.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.145-150
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• 2010

We report the case of a 16-year-old boy with a solid pancreatic mass which proved to be a nonfunctioning, malignant pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor (PNET). In pediatric patients, malignant pancreatic tumors are rare, especially malignant PNET. When dynamic contrast enhanced MRI showed a well enhancing solid pancreatic tumor on arterial and delayed phases and combined with malignant features, such as vascular invasion, invasion of adjascent organs, and lymphadenopathy, we should include malignant pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor in the differential diagnosis of childhood pancreatic tumors.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.2 no.3
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• pp.219-224
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• 1997

The pancreas is an important organ in the maintenance of zine homeostasis. The pancreatic tissue used in this study was obtained from rats fed varying levels of dietary Ca nd phytate followed by intraperitoneal {TEX}${65}^Zn${/TEX} injection. THe objective of this study was to determine the molecular size and distribution of compounds that may represent zinc-binding complexes in pancreatic tissue homogenates. The supernatant of the homogenized pancreatic tissue was separated using a Sephadex G-75 column with Tris buffer at pH 8.1. All subfractions were assayed for zinc, protein and {TEX}${65}^Zn${/TEX} activity. The elution of subfractions from pancreatic tissue homogenates showed a prominent peak corresponding to the high molecular weight protein standard (>66kd). A sall molecular weigth protein (<6.5kd), that was absorbed at 280nm, was also present: prominently in low Ca group, however not much as in high Ca group. These small compounds may combine weakly with zinc in pancreatic tissue an serve as zinc-binding ligands in pancreatic/biliary fluid. In the duodenum, these ligands dissociate zinc into an ionic form which becomes vulnerable to phytate complexation.

• Journal of Digestive Cancer Research
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.127-129
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• 2016

The prognosis for pancreatic cancer patient is very poor. Patients with locally advanced disease have a median survival time of 8 to 12 months, and patients with distant metastases have significantly worse outcomes, with a median survival time of only 3 to 6 months. Approximately 30% of patients with pancreatic cancer present with locally advanced disease defined as unresectable pancreatic cancer without evidence of distant metastatic disease. Primary treatment options in locally advanced pancreatic cancer include chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Here, we reported a patient with locally advanced pancreatic cancer who does not want further chemotherapy because of chemotherapy induced nausea and vomiting. Irreversible electroporation was performed. Irreversible electroporation was well tolerated in this case, and may be a therapeutic modality for selected patients with locally advanced pancreatic cancer.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.38 no.5
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• pp.227-231
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• 2017

Early diagnosis of pancreatic cancer had been considered one of the important barrier for successful therapy since the five year survival rate after treatment of pancreatic cancer was critically low. Nonetheless, patients often miss the golden time of treatment because they rarely visit the hospital until their symptoms are severe. To overcome these problems, a lot of information about the patient's symptoms should be applied as biomarkers for early diagnosis. For this reason, a biomarker for early detection of pancreatic cancer (CA19-9) has been developed as a diagnostic kit. However, since the diagnosis is not accurate enough, pancreatic symptoms (abdominal pain, jaundice, anorexia, diabetes, etc.) and biomarkers (CA19-9) should be considered together. We develop an intelligent diagnostic system that considers CA19-9 and the incidence of pancreatic cancer for pancreatic symptoms that was determined by studying a large number of patient information. It shows a higher accuracy than one using CA19-9 alone. It may increase the survival rate of pancreatic cancer because it can diagnose pancreatic cancer early.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.18
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• pp.7947-7950
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• 2014

Background: Pancreatic cancer is the sixth leading cause of cancer death with an increasing trend in China. Dietary intake is believed to play an important role in pancreatic cancer carcinogenesis. The aim of this paper was to evaluate associations between some dietary factors and risk of pancreatic cancer in a multi-centre case-control study conducted in China. Materials and Methods: Cases (n=323) were ascertained from four provincial cancer hospitals. Controls (n=323) were randomly selected from the family members of patients without pancreatic cancer in the same hospitals, 1:1 matched to cases by gender, age and study center. Data were collected with a questionnaire by personal interview. Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95%CI) were estimated using conditional logistic regression. Results: Tea intake (OR =0.49; 95%CI: 0.30-0.80) was associated with a half reduction in risk of pancreatic cancer. Reduced vegetable consumption (P trend: 0.04) was significant related to pancreatic cancer. Although no significant association was found for meat and fruit, ORs were all above or below the reference group. A protective effect was found for fruit (OR=1.73 for consumption of 1-2 times/week vs more than 3 times/week; 95%CI: 1.05-2.86). A high intake of meat was associated to a higher risk of pancreatic cancer (OR=0.59 for consumption of 1-2 times/week vs. more than 3 times/week; 95%CI: 0.35-0.97). Conclusions: The present study supports fruit consumption to reduce pancreatic cancer risk and indicates that high consumption of meat is related to an elevated risk. Direct inverse relations with tea and vegetable intake were also confirmed.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.373-376
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• 2015

Background: EVA1A (eva-1 homolog A) is a novel gene that regulates programmed cell death through autophagy and apoptosis. Our objective was to investigate the expression profiles and potential role of EVA1A in normal and neoplastic human pancreatic tissues. Materials and Methods: The expression pattern of EVA1A in normal pancreatic tissue was examined by indirect immunofluorescence and confocal microscopy. Protein levels in paraffin-embedded specimens from normal and diseased pancreatic and matched non-tumor tissues were evaluated by immunohistochemistry. Results: EVA1A colocalized with glucagon but not with insulin, demonstrating production in islet alpha cells. Itwas strongly expressed in chronic pancreatitis, moderately or weakly expressed in the plasma membrane and cytoplasm in pancreatic acinar cell carcinoma, and absent in normal pancreatic acinar cells. Although the tissue architecture was deformed, EVA1A was absent in the alpha cells of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas, intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms, mucinous cystadenomas, solid papillary tumors and pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors. Conclusions: EVA1A protein is specifically expressed in islet alpha cells, suggesting it may play an important role in regulating alpha-cell function. The ectopic expression of EVA1A in pancreatic neoplasms may contribute to their pathogenesis and warrants further investigation.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.403-411
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• 1990

The present investigation was performed to see a possible influence of the dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN) on pancreatic exocrine secretion in anesthetized rats since the DRN had been known to exert a regulatory mechanism on sympathetic activity which was known to be very important for pancreatic exocrine secretion, particularly in rats. Twenty-nine Sprague-Dawley rats fasted for 24 hours were anesthetized by i.p. injection of 1 g/kg of urethane. The pancreatic duct was cannulated to collect pancreatic juice while bile juice was diverted into the jejunum. The duodenopyloric junction was tightly ligated. After surgery for collection of pancreatic exocrine secretion and recording of carotid blood pressure, a coaxial electrode was stereotaxically inserted in the DRN with a guide of a brain atlas. And then, electrical stimulus of biphasic square wave with 2 v, 2 msec, 40 Hz was applied on the electrode for 10 minutes. Pancreatic volume flow and protein output secreted in 10 min were measured. Either bilateral cervical vagotomy or spinal cord transection at the level of $C4{\sim}C5$ was performed 20 min prior to stimulation of the DRN. 1) Electrical stimulation of the DRN resulted in significant (p<0.05) increase in pancreatic volume flow and protein output. These stimulatory effects were not affected by cervical vagotomy but completely abolished by cervical cord transection. 2) Electrical stimulation of the DRN also resulted in significant (p<0.05) rise of blood pressure of the carotid artery. The hypertensive effect was not affected by cervical vagotomy but completely abolished by cervical cord transection. The results strongly suggest that the DRN, a part of the central serotonergic system, could exert a stimulatory influence on pancreatic exocrine secretion by increasing the sympathetic activity in anesthetized rats.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.70-88
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• 2019

Objective: This study investigated the trends in pancreatic cancer research on Korean medicine in order to establish a direction for further study. Methods: Pancreatic cancer research on Korean medicine was reviewed using databases such as OASIS, KoreanTK, KISS, RISS, KISTI, and NDSL. The search terms were "pancreatic cancer" "Korean medicine," and "herbal medicine." There was no restriction on publication dates, and the reviewed studies were analyzed according to the type of research. Results: Nineteen studies were reviewed. The numbers and types of research were as follows: 9 clinical studies including case reports, 2 review studies, and 8 in vitro studies; there was no in vivo study. Among the clinical research were 3 descriptive studies and 6 case reports. The baseline characteristics and quality of life of pancreatic cancer patients were analyzed in the descriptive studies. In the case reports, interventions such as herbal medicine, pharmacopuncture, and acupuncture were used. Research articles on the review of pancreatic cancer were titled "Preliminary Study for Development of Korean Medicine Clinical Practice Guideline for Pancreatic Cancer" and "Systemic Review on the Tumor Dormancy Therapy." Cell lines such as PANC-1, MIA PaCa-2, and AsPC-1 were used for in vitro studies. These studies have reported decreased cell viability, induced apoptosis, and changes in cancer-related gene expression. Conclusion: Through this review, we found that using Korean medicine for treating pancreatic cancer is applicable. However, due to overall limited the number of study, the benefit of Korean medicine for pancreatic cancer may be substantiated to a limited degree. Better methodological quality and large controlled trials are expected to further quantify the therapeutic effect of Korean medicine.

• Journal of Digestive Cancer Research
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.43-47
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• 2013

There have been very few reports related to pancreatic cancer developing in the remnant pancreas after a resection for pancreatic cancer. We report two cases of repeated pancreatectomy for second primary pancreatic cancer. A 58-year-old man with a 2.3 cm sized low attenuated pancreatic tail mass on abdomen CT scan, received a distal pancreatectomy (adenosquamous carcinoma, stage IIB) and adjuvant chemoradiotherapy. A follow-up abdomen CT scan revealed a 2.0 cm sized pancreatic head mass in the remnant pancreas at 35 months after the distal pancreatectomy. He received a pancreaticoduodenectomy and diagnosed as ductal adenocarcinoma (stage IIA). Another 62-year-old female was declared pancreatic head mass on a regular health examination. An abdomen CT scan revealed a 3.6 cm sized mixed solid and cystic mass. She received a pylorus-preserving pancreaticoduodenectomy (ductal adenocarcinoma, stage IB) and adjuvant chemoradiation therapy. At 20 months after the resection, a 1.8 cm sized ill-defined low attenuated mass developing in the tail of remnant pancreas was detected on a follow-up abdomen CT scan. The patient received a distal pancreatectomy and diagnosed as ductal adenocarcinoma (stage IIA).