Evolving Technique for Puestow-Type Procedure for Chronic Pancreatitis: The Combined Roux-en-Y Proximal End-to-Side and Distal Longitudinal Pancreatojejunostomy.

BACKGROUND The goal of surgical procedures in chronic pancreatitis is to establish drainage of the duct throughout the gland as well as resect any inflammatory masses if present. Conventionally, for patients with a dilated pancreatic duct without inflammatory masses, a drainage procedure in the form of a longitudinal pancreatojejunostomy (or Partington-Rochelle modification of the Puestow procedure) is the procedure of choice. CASE REPORT In present case, a patient with chronic pancreatitis was evaluated for surgical management, but extensive intraductal and parenchymal pancreaticolithiasis throughout the entire gland considerably restricted access to the duct. A novel combined Roux-en-Y partial longitudinal pancreatojejunostomy of the body and tail with an end-to-side pancreatojejunostomy of the head was fashioned to facilitate drainage of the entire pancreas, without resection of any parenchyma. The patient's immediate postoperative course was uncomplicated, and at her 30-day follow-up, she had been without pain and had been tolerating a diet, with additional pancreatic enzyme supplementation. CONCLUSIONS Roux-en-Y partial longitudinal pancreatojejunostomy (or modified Puestow procedure) should be considered a viable option for the surgical management of chronic pancreatitis with extensive pancreaticolithiasis, with good short-term outcomes. It underscores the importance of leveraging anatomic limitations to expand the choice of drainage procedure for chronic pancreatitis. This procedure should be considered in those patients with significant pancreaticolithiasis, where clear visualization of the main pancreatic duct is limited, precluding a lengthy pancreatojejunostomy.

Chemotherapy and Immune Checkpoint Blockade for Gastric and Gastroesophageal Junction Adenocarcinoma.

Importance: Combining immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) with chemotherapy improves outcomes in patients with metastatic gastric and gastroesophageal junction (G/GEJ) adenocarcinoma; however, whether this combination has activity in the perioperative setting remains unknown. Objective: To evaluate the safety and preliminary activity of perioperative chemotherapy and ICB followed by maintenance ICB in resectable G/GEJ adenocarcinoma. Design, Setting, and Participants: This investigator-initiated, multicenter, open-label, single-stage, phase 2 nonrandomized controlled trial screened 49 patients and enrolled 36 patients with resectable G/GEJ adenocarcinoma from February 10, 2017, to June 17, 2021, with a median (range) follow-up of 35.2 (17.4-73.0) months. Thirty-four patients were deemed evaluable for efficacy analysis, with 28 (82.4%) undergoing curative resection. This study was performed at 4 referral institutions in the US. Interventions: Patients received 3 cycles of capecitabine, 625 mg/m2, orally twice daily for 21 days; oxaliplatin, 130 mg/m2, intravenously and pembrolizumab, 200 mg, intravenously with optional epirubicin, 50 mg/m2, every 3 weeks before and after surgery with an additional cycle of pembrolizumab before surgery. Patients received 14 additional doses of maintenance pembrolizumab. Main Outcomes and Measures: The primary end point was pathologic complete response (pCR) rate. Secondary end points included overall response rate, disease-free survival (DFS), overall survival (OS), and safety. Results: A total of 34 patients (median [range] age, 65.5 [25-90] years; 23 [67.6%] male) were evaluable for efficacy. Of these patients, 28 (82.4%) underwent curative resection, 7 (20.6%; 95% CI, 10.1%-100%) achieved pCR, and 6 (17.6%) achieved a pathologic near-complete response. Of the 28 patients who underwent resection, 4 (14.3%) experienced disease recurrence. The median DFS and OS were not reached. The 2-year DFS was 67.8% (95% CI, 0.53%-0.87%) and the OS was 80.6% (95% CI, 0.68%-0.96%). Treatment-related grade 3 or higher adverse events for evaluable patients occurred in 20 patients (57.1%), and 12 (34.3%) experienced immune-related grade 3 or higher adverse events. Conclusion and Relevance: In this trial of unselected patients with resectable G/GEJ adenocarcinoma, capecitabine, oxaliplatin, and pembrolizumab resulted in a pCR rate of 20.6% and was well tolerated. This trial met its primary end point and supports the development of checkpoint inhibition in combination with perioperative chemotherapy in locally advanced G/GEJ adenocarcinoma. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02918162.

Associations Between Patient Characteristics and Whipple Procedure Outcomes Before and After Implementation of an Enhanced Recovery After Surgery Protocol.

PURPOSE: The Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) protocol is a multimodal perioperative care bundle aimed to improve pancreatic surgery outcomes. This work evaluates whether a Whipple ERAS protocol can be safely implemented at a quaternary care center. We also aimed to assess if race and socioeconomic factors are associated with disparities in outcomes in patients undergoing a Whipple ERAS protocol. METHODS: A retrospective review identified demographic and clinical data for 458 patients undergoing pancreaticoduodenectomies (PDs) at a single institution from October 2017 to May 2022. Patients were split into two cohorts: pre-ERAS (treated before implementation) and ERAS (treated after). Outcomes included length of stay (LOS), 30-day readmission and mortality rates, and major complications. RESULTS: There were 213 pre-ERAS PD patients, and 245 were managed with an ERAS protocol. More ERAS patients had a BMI > 30 (15.5% vs. 8.0%; p = 0.01) and received neoadjuvant chemotherapy (15.5% vs. 4.2%; p < 0.001). ERAS patients had a higher rate of major complications (57.6% vs. 37.6%; p < 0.001). Medicaid patients did not have more complications or longer LOS compared to non-Medicaid patients. On univariate analysis, race/ethnicity or gender was not significantly associated with a higher rate of major complications or prolonged LOS. CONCLUSION: A Whipple ERAS protocol did not significantly change LOS, readmissions, or 30-day mortality. Rate of overall complications did not significantly change after implementation, but rate of major complications increased. These outcomes were not significantly impacted by race/ethnicity, gender, tumor staging, or insurance status.

Long-term follow-up experience with adjuvant therapy after irreversible electroporation of locally advanced pancreatic cancer.

BACKGROUND: Irreversible electroporation (IRE) expands the surgical options for patients with unresectable pancreatic cancer. This study evaluated for differences in survival stratified by type of IRE and receipt of adjuvant chemotherapy. METHODS: Patients with locally advanced pancreatic cancer treated by IRE (2012-2020) were retrospectively included. Overall survival (OS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS) were compared by type of IRE (in situ for local tumor control or IRE of potentially positive margins with resection) and by receipt of adjuvant chemotherapy. RESULTS: Thirty-nine patients had IRE in situ, 61 had IRE for margin extension, and 19 received adjuvant chemotherapy. Most (97.00%) underwent induction chemotherapy. OS was 28.71 months (interquartile range [IQR] 19.17, 51.19) from diagnosis, with no difference by IRE type (hazard ratio [HR] 1.05 for margin extension [p = 0.85]) or adjuvant chemotherapy (HR 1.14 [p = 0.639]). RFS was 8.51 months (IQR 4.95, 20.17) with no difference by IRE type (HR 0.90 for margin extension [p = 0.694]) or adjuvant chemotherapy (HR 0.90 [p = 0.711]). CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that adjuvant therapy may have limited benefit for patients treated with induction chemotherapy followed by local control with IRE for unresectable pancreatic cancer. Further study of the duration and timing of systemic therapy is warranted to maximize benefit and limit toxicity.

Neoadjuvant chemoradiation alters the immune microenvironment in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.

Patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) have a grim prognosis despite complete surgical resection and intense systemic therapies. While immunotherapies have been beneficial with many different types of solid tumors, they have almost uniformly failed in the treatment of PDAC. Understanding how therapies affect the tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) can provide insights for the development of strategies to treat PDAC. We used quantitative multiplexed immunofluorescence (qmIF) quantitative spatial analysis (qSA), and immunogenomic (IG) analysis to analyze formalin-fixed paraffin embedded (FFPE) primary tumor specimens from 44 patients with PDAC including 18 treated with neoadjuvant chemoradiation (CRT) and 26 patients receiving no treatment (NT) and compared them with tissues from 40 treatment-naïve melanoma patients. We find that relative to NT tumors, CD3+ T cell infiltration was increased in CRT treated tumors (p = .0006), including increases in CD3+CD8+ cytotoxic T cells (CTLs, p = .0079), CD3+CD4+FOXP3- T helper cells (Th, p = .0010), and CD3+CD4+FOXP3+ regulatory T cells (Tregs, p = .0089) with no difference in CD68+ macrophages. IG analysis from micro-dissected tissues indicated overexpression of genes involved in antigen presentation, T cell activation, and inflammation in CRT treated tumors. Among treated patients, a higher ratio of Tregs to total T cells was associated with shorter survival time (p = .0121). Despite comparable levels of infiltrating T cells in CRT PDACs to melanoma, PDACs displayed distinct spatial profiles with less T cell clustering as defined by nearest neighbor analysis (p < .001). These findings demonstrate that, while CRT can achieve high T cell densities in PDAC compared to melanoma, phenotype and spatial organization of T cells may limit benefit of T cell infiltration in this immunotherapy-resistant tumor.

Socioeconomic Predictors of Access to Care for Patients with Operatively Managed Pancreatic Cancer in New York State.

PURPOSE: We evaluated how race and socioeconomic factors impact access to high-volume surgical centers, treatment initiation, and postoperative care for pancreatic cancer in a state with robust safety net insurance coverage and healthcare infrastructure. METHODS: The New York Statewide Planning and Research Cooperative System was analyzed. Patients with pancreatic cancer resected from 2007 to 2017 were identified by ICD and CPT codes. Primary outcomes included surgery at low-volume facilities (< 20 pancreatectomies/year), time to therapy initiation, and time to postoperative surveillance imaging (within 60-180 days after surgery). RESULTS: In total, 3312 patients underwent pancreatectomy across 124 facilities. Median age was 67 years (IQR 59, 75) and 55% of patients were male. Most (72.7%) had surgery at high-volume centers. On multivariable analysis, odds ratios for surgery at low-volume centers were increased for Black race (2.21 (95% CI 1.69-2.88)), Asian race (1.64 (95% CI 1.09-2.43)), Hispanic ethnicity (1.68 (95% CI 1.24-2.28)), Medicaid insurance (2.52 (95% CI 1.79-3.56)), no insurance (2.24 (95% CI 1.38-3.61)), lowest income quartile (3.31 (95% CI 2.14-5.32)), and rural zip code (2.49 (95% CI 1.69-3.65)). Patients treated at low-volume centers waited longer to initiate treatment (hazard ratio (HR) 0.91 (95% CI 0.81-1.01)). Black patients underwent the least surveillance imaging (50.4%; p < 0.0001), while Asian (HR 2.04, 95% CI 1.40-2.98)) and Hispanic patients (HR 1.36 (95% CI 1.00-1.84)) were more likely to have surveillance imaging. CONCLUSIONS: Race independently affected access to high-volume facilities and surveillance imaging. When considered in light of other accumulating evidence, future efforts might investigate the perceptions and logistical considerations noted by providers and patients alike to identify the etiology of these disparities and then institute corrective measures.

Prevalence and Risk Factors for Pancreatic Insufficiency After Partial Pancreatectomy.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to determine the rate, timing, and predictors of diabetes and exocrine pancreatic insufficiency after pancreatectomy in order to inform preoperative patient counseling and risk management strategies. METHODS: Using prescription claims as a surrogate for disease prevalence, IBM Watson Health MarketScan was queried for claims patterns pre- and post-pancreatectomy. Multivariable models explored associations between clinical characteristics and medication use within 2 years of surgery. RESULTS: In total, 18.96% of 2,848 pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) patients and 18.95% of 1,858 distal pancreatectomy (DP) patients had preoperative diabetic medication prescription claims. Fewer (6.6% and 3.88%, respectively) had pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy (PERT) claims. Diabetic medication claims increased to 28.69% after PD and 38.59% after DP [adjusted relative risk (aRR) = 1.36 (95% CI 1.27, 1.46)]. Other associated factors included age > 45, medical comorbidity, and obesity. The incidence of new diabetic medication claims among medication naïve patients was 13.78% for PD and 24.7% for DP (p < 0.001) with a median 4.7 and 4.9 months post-operatively. The prevalence of PERT claims was 55.97% after PD and 17.06% after DP [aRR = 0.32 (0.29, 0.36)]. The incidence of postoperative PERT claims 53.98% (PD) and 14.84% (DP) (p < 0.0001). The median time to new PERT claim was 3.0 (PD) and 3.2 (DP) months, respectively. Claims for both diabetic medications and PERT rose sharply after surgery and plateaued within 6 months. CONCLUSIONS: This study defines prevalence, timing, and predictors for post-pancreatectomy insufficiency to inform preoperative counseling, risk modification strategies, and interventions related to quality of life.

Perioperative and persistent opioid utilization following pancreatectomy in the United States.

BACKGROUND: Opioids are central to analgesia for pancreatic diseases. Individuals undergoing pancreatectomy have largely been excluded from studies of opioid use, because of malignancy or chronic use. Surgeons need to understand usage patterns, and practices that may incline patients toward persistent post-operative use. METHODS: A retrospective study using IBM Watson Health MarketScan database examined patterns of peri-pancreatectomy opioid use between 2009 and 2017. Patients were grouped by opioid use 12 months to 31 days prior to pancreatectomy and followed for persistent use (refills 90-180 days postoperatively). Morphine milligram equivalents (MME) were calculated. Multivariable models explored associations between clinical characteristics, perioperative use and persistent use. RESULTS: Opioids were used within the year prior to surgery by 35.6% of 8325 patients. The median MME for opioid naïve patients (400 mg) was a fraction of the 1800 mg prescribed to chronic opioid users for peri-operative analgesia. The rate of persistent opioid use was 15.1% among naïve, 27.2% among intermittent and 77.3% among chronic opioid users. Multivariable models demonstrated naïve and intermittent users who filled a prescription within 30 days prior to pancreatectomy, those who were prescribed total MME ≥1500 mg, and a ≥14 day supply were most at risk of persistent opioid use. Almost 23% of chronic users stopped using opioids post-operatively, suggesting surgery can provide relief. CONCLUSION: Preoperative and persistent opioid use after pancreatectomy is substantially greater than expected based on other operations. Providers may mitigate this by recognizing the issue, managing expectations, and altering the timing and quantities of opioids prescribed.

Review of minimally invasive pancreas surgery and opinion on its incorporation into low volume and resource poor centres.

Pancreatic surgery has been one of the last areas for the application of minimally invasive surgery (MIS) because there are many factors that make laparoscopic pancreas resections difficult. The concept of service centralization has also limited expertise to a small cadre of high-volume centres in resource rich countries. However, this is not the environment that many surgeons in developing countries work in. These patients often do not have the opportunity to travel to high volume centres for care. Therefore, we sought to review the existing data on MIS for the pancreas and to discuss. In this paper, we review the evolution of MIS on the pancreas and discuss the incorporation of this service into low-volume and resource-poor countries, such as those in the Caribbean. This paper has two parts. First, we performed a literature review evaluating all studies published on laparoscopic and robotic surgery of the pancreas. The data in the Caribbean is examined and we discuss tips for incorporating this operation into resource poor hospital practice. Low pancreatic case volume in the Caribbean, and financial barriers to MIS in general, laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy, enucleation and cystogastrostomy are feasible operations to integrate in to a resource-limited healthcare environment. This is because they can be performed with minimal to no consumables and require an intermediate MIS skillset to complement an open pancreatic surgeon's peri-operative experience.

Proximal Gastrectomy Is a Viable Alternative to Total Gastrectomy in Early Stage Proximal Gastric Cancer.

BACKGROUND: Total gastrectomy with Roux-en-Y esophagojejunostomy is a life-extending procedure for patients with nonmetastatic proximal gastric and gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma, yet it can be a life-altering procedure with negative impact on quality of life.1 Perioperative recovery often involves the need for supplemental nutrition (either enteral or parenteral). Furthermore, long-term effects of early satiety, dysphagia, sustained weight loss, and difficulty in maintaining a healthy weight, dumping syndrome, and intestinal overgrowth are not unusual. Although the alternative of untreated cancer is clearly unacceptable, these lifestyle consequences are not benign. METHODS: A retrospective review of patients who had undergone laparoscopic total and proximal gastrectomy for gastric adenocarcinoma was conducted. Patient demographic data, pathologic parameters, and short-term and long-term clinical data were compared between total gastrectomy and proximal gastrectomy cohorts. RESULTS: Seventeen patients were included in the study: 13 had undergone laparoscopic total gastrectomy (LTG) and 4 had undergone laparoscopic proximal gastrectomy (LPG). Patients who had LPG, given the nature of the procedure, were confined to early stage (up to T2) tumors in the gastric cardia or GE junction. Patients who had LTG tended to be larger, later stage tumors (but not exclusively). The mean operative time was greater for LTG than for LPG (247 ± 54 versus 181 ± 49 min, respectively, P = .036). Length of hospital stay (9.0 ± 3.2 versus 5.0 ± 0.8 days, P < .001) and readmission for postoperative complication (38.5 versus 0%, P = .009) were also higher in the LTG group. There was no significant difference in terms of mean estimated blood loss or blood transfusion rates, overall complications, or anastomotic stricture requiring endoscopic dilation between the patients who underwent LTG and those who underwent LPG. CONCLUSION: In early stage tumors (T1b or T2), proximal gastrectomy (PG) should be considered to mitigate diminished quality of life. PG with esophagogastrostomy, which can easily be performed minimally invasively, can be more tolerable for the patient, with no anatomic basis for dumping syndrome or small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO), and a greater reservoir for more normal meal habits when compared to total gastrectomy (TG) with Roux-en-Y reconstruction.

Arguments against the Requirement of a Biological License Application for Human Pancreatic Islets: The Position Statement of the Islets for US Collaborative Presented during the FDA Advisory Committee Meeting.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has been regulating human islets for allotransplantation as a biologic drug in the US. Consequently, the requirement of a biological license application (BLA) approval before clinical use of islet transplantation as a standard of care procedure has stalled the development of the field for the last 20 years. Herein, we provide our commentary to the multiple FDA's position papers and guidance for industry arguing that BLA requirement has been inappropriately applied to allogeneic islets, which was delivered to the FDA Cellular, Tissue and Gene Therapies Advisory Committee on 15 April 2021. We provided evidence that BLA requirement and drug related regulations are inadequate in reassuring islet product quality and potency as well as patient safety and clinical outcomes. As leaders in the field of transplantation and endocrinology under the "Islets for US Collaborative" designation, we examined the current regulatory status of islet transplantation in the US and identified several anticipated negative consequences of the BLA approval. In our commentary we also offer an alternative pathway for islet transplantation under the regulatory framework for organ transplantation, which would address deficiencies of in current system.

What Is New with Total Pancreatectomy and Autologous Islet Cell Transplantation? Review of Current Progress in the Field.

Patients with chronic pancreatitis have benefited from total pancreatectomy and autologous islet cell transplantation (TPAIT) since the 1970s. Over the past few decades, improvements have been made in surgical technique and perioperative management that have led to improved success of islet cell function, insulin independence and patient survival. This article focuses on recent updates and advances for the TPAIT procedure that continue to expand and innovate the impact on patients with debilitating disease.

Long-term quality of life and global health following pancreatic surgery for benign and malignant pathologies.

BACKGROUND: While the frequency of pancreatic operations are increasing, understanding quality of life is still insufficient. The aim was to evaluate global health and quality of life of long-term survivors from a range of pancreatic operations using internationally validated instruments. METHODS: Patients surviving longer than 5 years after pancreatic operations were surveyed using the European Organization for the Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire Cancer-30 and Pancreatic Cancer-26 modules. Variables were analyzed according to demographic and clinical features. RESULTS: Eighty patients completed questionnaires. The median follow-up was 9.3 years from the time of operation. The mean scores of global health status/quality of life, physical function, role function, emotional function, cognitive function, and social functioning were 73.9, 83.7, 84.6, 81.1, 80.2, and 86.3, respectively. The participants' reported quality of life was comparable or better than the general United States population. The summary score, which was defined as weighted average of function and symptom scores (excluding global health status/quality of life and financial impact scores), showed significant differences according to the level of education (70.1 no college vs 85.2 college and 85.7 grad school, P = .049), operation type (79.9 pancreatoduodenectomy vs 91.1 total, P = .043), additional endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (77.3 vs 86.0, P = .029), and additional abdominal operations related to the primary operation (79.0 vs 86.6, P = .026). CONCLUSION: Long-term survivors of pancreatectomy had comparable or better global health status/quality of life, function scale, and lower symptom scores than the general population of the United States, though persistent gastrointestinal symptoms are common. These findings should help inform patients of the long-term consequences of pancreatectomy, so they can make better decisions especially when considering prophylactic operations.

Long term quality of life amongst pancreatectomy patients with diabetes mellitus.

BACKGROUND: Pancreatogenic diabetes is common after pancreatectomy, and the impact on quality of life (QOL) is poorly understood. The objective of this study was to investigate QOL between diabetic and non-diabetic patients at least five years after pancreatectomy. METHODS: Patients were recruited from a prospectively maintained institutional database. Participants were administered the Audit of Diabetes-Dependent Quality of Life (ADDQOL). Quality of life was compared between diabetics and non-diabetics using validated European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer questionnaires. RESULTS: 80 individuals completed surveys. 55% were female, 80% non-Hispanic white, 44% underwent Whipple, 48% were cystic neoplasms and 39% were adenocarcinoma. Diabetic patients (42.5%) reported comparable EORTC QLQ-C30 and Pan26 scores to non-diabetic patients. Pre-operative diabetic patients reported more dyspnea (p = 0.02) and greater pain (p = 0.02) than new-onset diabetics. Diabetic patients reported an overall ADDQOL quality of life score 'very good' (IQR: excellent, good) though felt life would be much better without diabetes (IQR: very much better, little better). While operation type was not influential, patients diagnosed with cystic neoplasms were almost twice as likely as those with other pathologies to report that life would be much better without diabetes (p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: At a median of 9.3 years from pancreatic surgery, ADDQoL scores of patients were similar to cohorts of non-pancreatogenic diabetics in the general population. Patients without cancer were more likely to report that diabetes affected their overall QOL, regardless of operation. This study provides nuanced understanding of long-term QOL to improve the informed consent process and post-operative long-term care.

Long-term health after pancreatic surgery: the view from 9.5 years.

BACKGROUND: Discussing the impact of pancreatic surgery on long-term health is poorly understood, but necessary for informed consent. Given the increased number of pancreatic operations being performed annually, further investigation is necessary. METHODS: Patients surviving longer than 5 years after pancreatic surgery were surveyed for postoperative hospitalizations, operations, pain, nutrition and diabetes. Variables were analyzed according to patient and peri-operative variables, and validated using medical records. RESULTS: Eighty individuals completed the survey; median follow-up was 9.5 years (IQR:6.43,12.73). 47.5% underwent a pancreatoduodenectomy, and 25.0% a distal pancreatectomy; 40.0% had adenocarcinoma. 57.1% reported long-term weight loss, of which 65.9% was unintentional. While 1.3% took pancreatic enzymes before surgery, 38.8% utilized after. 12.5% had diabetes before, and 28.6% after surgery; 22 of 30 patients required insulin replacement therapy (73.3%). 41.3% reported hospitalizations, 17.5% required endoscopies and 28.8% additional operations after full recovery. Need for additional interventions were not related to pathology or post-operative complications, but were more common among patients undergoing a Whipple. CONCLUSION: More than half of patients will have a long-term medical complication attributable to pancreatectomy. In comparison to the literature, it may be inferred that consequences occur within the first few years after surgery, and do not compound over time.

Long-term Bone Loss and Deterioration of Microarchitecture After Gastric Bypass in African American and Latina Women.

CONTEXT: The prevalence of obesity is burgeoning among African American and Latina women; however, few studies investigating the skeletal effects of bariatric surgery have focused on these groups. OBJECTIVE: To investigate long-term skeletal changes following Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) in African American and Latina women. DESIGN: Four-year prospective cohort study. PATIENTS: African American and Latina women presenting for RYGB (n = 17, mean age 44, body mass index 44 kg/m2) were followed annually for 4 years postoperatively. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) measured areal bone mineral density (aBMD) at the spine, hip, and forearm, and body composition. High-resolution peripheral quantitative computed tomography measured volumetric bone mineral density (vBMD) and microarchitecture. Individual trabecula segmentation-based morphological analysis assessed trabecular morphology and connectivity. RESULTS: Baseline DXA Z-Scores were normal. Weight decreased ~30% at Year 1, then stabilized. Parathyroid hormone (PTH) increased by 50% and 25-hydroxyvitamin D was stable. By Year 4, aBMD had declined at all sites, most substantially in the hip. There was significant, progressive loss of cortical and trabecular vBMD, deterioration of microarchitecture, and increased cortical porosity at both the radius and tibia over 4 years. There was loss of trabecular plates, loss of axially aligned trabeculae, and decreased trabecular connectivity. Whole bone stiffness and failure load declined. Risk factors for bone loss included greater weight loss, rise in PTH, and older age. CONCLUSIONS: African American and Latina women had substantial and progressive bone loss, deterioration of microarchitecture, and trabecular morphology following RYGB. Further studies are critical to understand the long-term skeletal consequences of bariatric surgery in this population.

New onset diabetes predicts progression of low risk pancreatic mucinous cysts.

BACKGROUND: Patients with low-risk lesions require ongoing surveillance since the rate of progression to pancreatic cancer (PC), while small, is much greater than in the general population. Our objective was to study the relationship between new onset diabetes (NODM) and progression in patients with low risk mucinous cysts. METHODS: We evaluated a prospectively maintained cohort of 442 patients with a suspected mucinous cyst without worrisome features (WF) or high-risk stigmata (HRS). Multivariable Cox models were developed for progression to WF and HRS, with diabetes status formulated as both time independent and dependent covariates. The adjusted cumulative risk of progression was calculated using the corrected group prognosis method. RESULTS: The 5-year cumulative progression rates to WFs and HRS were 12.8 and 3.6%, respectively. After controlling for other risk factors, the development of NODM was strongly associated with progression to HRS (HR = 11.6; 95%CI, 3.5-57.7%), but not WF. Among patients with the smallest cysts (<10 mm) at baseline, those who developed NODM had a 5-year adjusted cumulative risk of progression to HRS of 8.6% (95%CI, 0.0%-20.2%), compared to only 0.8% (95%CI, 0.0%-2.3%) for patients without NODM. Among patients with the largest cysts (20-29 mm), those who developed NODM during surveillance had a 5-year adjusted cumulative risk of progression of 53.5% (95%CI, 19.6%-89.9%) compared to only 7.5% (95%CI, 1.6%-15.2%) for patients without NODM. CONCLUSION: New onset diabetes may predict progression in patients with low risk mucinous cysts. Pending validation with large-scale studies, these findings support regular diabetes screening among patients surveilled for suspected IPMNs or MCNs.