Crosstalk between gut microbiota and COVID-19 impacts pancreatic cancer progression.

Pancreatic cancer (PC) is one of the most common causes of cancer-associated death worldwide, with a low rate of 5-year survival. Currently, the pathogenesis of PC is complicated, with no efficient therapy. Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 further exacerbates the challenge of patients with PC. The alteration of gut microbiota caused by COVID-19 infection may impact PC progression in patients via immune regulation. The expression of inflammatory immune mediators such as interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, and IL-10 has been found to increase in both PC and COVID-19 patients, which is associated with the disease severity and prognostic outcome. Gut microbiome serves as a critical connector between viral infection and PC. It can regulate host systemic immune response and impact the efficacy of immunotherapy. Here, we first demonstrated the features of inflammatory cytokines in both diseases and their impact on disease outcomes. Then, we demonstrated the importance of immunotherapeutic strategies. This includes the immune modulation that targets a single or dual receptors using a single agent or their combinations for the treatment of PC in patients who get infected with COVID-19. Additionally, we explored the possibility of managing the disease by regulating gut microbiome. Overall, modulation of the lung-gut-pancreases axis can boost anti-cancer immunotherapy and reduce adverse prognostic outcomes.

Important role of acute care surgery during pandemic time.

Pandemic impacts acute care surgery for diseases, such as gallbladder disease and acute appendicitis. At the early stage of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, the case number of patients needing surgery decreased in hospitals from different countries. This decline was associated with the stay-home order and fear of getting COVID-19 infection. However, recent reports show that the case number for acute surgery returns to the normal level, which is comparable to that before the beginning of the pandemic. In addition, a variety of diseases show more severe than the cases before the pandemic, which might be caused by factors such as lack of regular follow-up and screening diagnosis and infection of viruses.