Histological examination of the resected specimen stained with haematoxylin and eosin confirmed the absence of malignancy and the presence of smooth muscle between layers of duodenal mucosa (Fig. 2C). The muscle layer within the duplication cyst can be clearly MI-503 visualised following immunostaining with antibody to alpha smooth muscle actin (Fig. 2D). The patient has not had another episode of pancreatitis for over six months after the operation. Congenital duodenal duplication cysts are a rare cause of recurrent pancreatitis. Abdominal

pain and distension are typical features but gastrointestinal bleeding can occur due to the presence of ectopic gastric mucosa, allowing subsequent diagnosis during endoscopy. Pancreatitis, secondary to pancreatic ductal outflow obstruction is usually the result of pancreatic duct compression involving the cyst, or stone disease if there is direct communication with the pancreaticobiliary tract. Although endoscopic drainage and snare resection is considered safe, surgical excision is accepted as the treatment of

choice with the intention to alleviate symptoms, prevent pancreatitis and eliminate the risk of malignant transformation, a development reported in only a small number of cases. Contributed by “
“Macrophages display phenotypic plasticity and functional diversity in response to microenvironmental signals and could undergo M1 (classical) or M2 (alternative) activation driven by pro-inflammatory stimuli (interferon-γ/lipopolysaccharide) and anti-inflammatory cytokines (interleukin [IL]-4/IL-13), respectively.[1] Increasing evidence suggests that tumor-associated macrophages (TAM), which acquire an M2-like phenotype and are associated click here with a poor prognosis of cancers.[2, 3] However, the precisely Baricitinib clinical relevance and underlying mechanisms of the interplay of TAM and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are still not fully defined. Recently, we read with great interest the article by Hara et al. describing macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF/CSF-1) involved in the tumorigenesis

of HCC. They further demonstrated that M-CSF and TAM (M2-subtype macrophages) induced by M-CSF were firmly linked with the high expression of inflammatory cytokines and angiogenesis of liver tumors.[4] Thus, we concluded that the regulation of M-CSF/TAM axis may play a crucial role in the treatment of HCC. Consistent with our analysis, several lines of evidence confirmed that M-CSF exerted remarkable effects during hepatocarcinogenesis by modulating the TAM function. First, Jia et al. elucidated that peritumoral M-CSF receptor (CSF-1R) expression was significantly associated with more intrahepatic metastasis, tumor recurrence and poorer patient survival after hepatectomy.[5] Similarly, Zhu et al. previously indicated that high peritumoral M-CSF and density of macrophages were associated with HCC progression, disease recurrence and poor survival after hepatectomy, and that they would be targets of postoperative adjuvant therapy.