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IntroductionDespite evidence-based guidelines, exocrine pancreatic insufficiency is frequently underdiagnosed and undertreated in patients with chronic pancreatitis. Therefore, the aim of this study is to provide insight into the current opinion and clinical decision-making of international pancreatologists regarding the management of exocrine pancreatic insufficiency.MethodsAn online survey and case vignette study was sent to experts in chronic pancreatitis and members of various pancreatic associations: EPC, E-AHPBA and DPSG. Experts were selected based on publication record from the past 5 years.ResultsOverall, 252 pancreatologists participated of whom 44% had ≥ 15 years of experience and 35% treated ≥ 50 patients with chronic pancreatitis per year. Screening for exocrine pancreatic insufficiency as part of the diagnostic work-up for chronic pancreatitis is performed by 69% and repeated annually by 21%. About 74% considers nutritional assessment to be part of the standard work-up. Patients are most frequently screened for deficiencies of calcium (47%), iron (42%), vitamin D (61%) and albumin (59%). In case of clinically steatorrhea, 71% prescribes enzyme supplementation. Of all pancreatologists, 40% refers more than half of their patients to a dietician. Despite existing guidelines, 97% supports the need for more specific and tailored instructions regarding the management of exocrine pancreatic insufficiency.ConclusionThis survey identified a lack of consensus and substantial practice variation among international pancreatologists regarding guidelines pertaining the management of exocrine pancreatic insufficiency. These results highlight the need for further adaptation of these guidelines according to current expert opinion and the level of available scientific evidence. Introduction: Despite evidence-based guidelines, exocrine pancreatic insufficiency is frequently underdiagnosed and undertreated in patients with chronic pancreatitis. Therefore, the aim of this study is to provide insight into the current opinion and clinical decision-making of international pancreatologists regarding the management of exocrine pancreatic insufficiency. Methods: An online survey and case vignette study was sent to experts in chronic pancreatitis and members of various pancreatic associations: EPC, E-AHPBA and DPSG. Experts were selected based on publication record from the past 5 years. Results: Overall, 252 pancreatologists participated of whom 44% had ≥ 15 years of experience and 35% treated ≥ 50 patients with chronic pancreatitis per year. Screening for exocrine pancreatic insufficiency as part of the diagnostic work-up for chronic pancreatitis is performed by 69% and repeated annually by 21%. About 74% considers nutritional assessment to be part of the standard work-up. Patients are most frequently screened for deficiencies of calcium (47%), iron (42%), vitamin D (61%) and albumin (59%). In case of clinically steatorrhea, 71% prescribes enzyme supplementation. Of all pancreatologists, 40% refers more than half of their patients to a dietician. Despite existing guidelines, 97% supports the need for more specific and tailored instructions regarding the management of exocrine pancreatic insufficiency. Conclusion: This survey identified a lack of consensus and substantial practice variation among international pancreatologists regarding guidelines pertaining the management of exocrine pancreatic insufficiency. These results highlight the need for further adaptation of these guidelines according to current expert opinion and the level of available scientific evidence.

Introduction Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most frequent malignant disease in the world. In some countries with established screening programs, its incidence and mortality have decreased, and survival has improved. Aims To obtain reliable data about the epidemiology of CRC in Chile, we analyzed the trends in the last ten years and the influence of observable factors on survival, including a nationwide health program for CRC treatment access (GES program). Methods Publicly available data published by the Ministry of Health and National Institute of Statistics were used. Data were obtained from registries of mortality and hospital discharges, making follow-up of the individuals possible. Crude and age-standardized incidence and mortality rates were calculated, and individual survival was studied by constructing Kaplan–Meier curves. Finally, a Cox statistical model was established to estimate the impact of the observable factors. Results We found 37,217 newly identified CRC patients between 2008 and 2019 in Chile, corresponding to 103,239 hospital discharges. In the same period, 24,217 people died of CRC. A nearly linear, steady increase in crude incidence, mortality and prevalence was observed. CRC incidence was the lowest in the North of the country, increasing toward the South and reaching a maximum value of 34.6/100,000 inhabitants/year in terms of crude incidence and 20.7/100,000 inhabitants/year in terms of crude mortality in the XII region in 2018. We found that older patients had lower survival rates, as well as men compared to women. Survival was significantly better for patients with private insurance than those under the public insurance system, and the treating hospital also played a significant role in the survival of patients. Patients in the capital region survived longer than those in almost every other part of the country. We found no significant effect on survival associated with the GES program. Conclusions We found important inequalities in the survival probabilities for CRC patients in Chile. Survival depends mainly on the type of insurance, access to more complex hospitals, and geographical location; all three factors correlated with socioeconomic status of the population. Our work emphasized the need to create specific programs addressing primary causes to decrease the differences in CRC survival.

Additional file 1. Genotype count of studied polymorphisms among gastric cancer cases and controls.

Additional file 3. Multiple sequence alignment of NOD1 from different species.

Additional file 6. Distribution of Principal Component 1 and Principal Component 2 among gastric cancer cases and controls.

Additional file 5. Description of the 17 SNPs analyzed in this study.

Additional file 4. Analysis of the consequences of p.E266K on NOD1 protein.

Upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB) is one of the main reasons of hospitalization due to gastrointestinal causes. Reported mortality rates range from 5 to 12%.To determine hospital mortality and associated risk factors in hospitalized patients with UGIB. To compare the clinical characteristics and outcomes of patients with variceal versus non-variceal UGIB.Review of medical records of 249 patients (62% males) discharged with the diagnosis of UGIB at a clinical hospital between 2015 to 2017. Demographic and clinical characteristics and adverse clinical outcomes (surgery, length of hospital stay and in-hospital mortality) were recorded. A comparative analysis between patients with Variceal and Non-variceal UGIB was carried out.Seventy two percent of UGIB were non-variceal (peptic ulcer in 44%). Two patients required surgery (both died). Median of length of hospital stay was seven days (interquartile range (IQR) 4-13). Overall hospital mortality was 13 and 4% in variceal and non-variceal UGIB, respectively (p = 0.024). The variables associated with mortality were: red blood cell transfusion (odds ratio (OR): 18.7, p0.01), elevated creatinine on admission (OR: 3.30, p = 0.03) and variceal bleeding (OR: 3.23, p = 0.02).Hospital mortality of UGIB remains high, especially in variceal UGIB. Elevated creatinine levels on admission, the need of transfusion of red blood cells and variceal etiology are risk factors for mortality.

Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) program has been linked as a driver of metastatic dissemination by conferring migratory and invasive capacity to cancer cells. Gastric cancer (GC) patients with tumors expressing altered levels of EMT markers have low survival. This study aimed to assess if polymorphisms of CDH1, TWIST1, SNAIL2, ZEB1 and ZEB2 genes are associated with survival in GC patients.A total of 153 individuals with diagnosis of GC were recruited in Santiago, Chile. All patients were genotyped using Infinium Global Screening Array (GSA). Twenty Tag SNPs of the studied genes were retrieved.Three SNPs were associated with survival: rs2526614 (TWIST1) (genotype CA + AA, adjusted HR=0.58, 95%CI=0.37-0.93), rs6953766 (TWIST1) (genotype GG, crude HR=2.02, 95%CI=1.06-3.82, adjusted HR=2.14, 95%CI=1.07-4.25), and rs431073 (ZEB1) (genotype AC + CC, crude HR=1.62, 95%CI=1.01-2.59, adjusted HR=1.96, 95%CI=1.18-3.25).To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study proposing a role of these SNPs in cancer prognosis. Their use as prognostic markers of GC survival warrants further investigation.

To assess the role of pro- and anti-inflammatory polymorphisms in gastric cancer susceptibility.We genotyped 12 polymorphisms in eight cytokine genes (Interleukin-1β -IL1B-, IL8, IL17A, IL17F, IL32, tumor necrosis factor-α -TNF-, IL1RN, IL10) in a case-control study of 147 patients with gastric cancer and 172 controls.Single polymorphism analysis revealed an association between the IL10 -592CA single nucleotide polymorphism and cases with moderately- or well-differentiated tumors [AA vs. GG, odds ratio (OR)=3.01; 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.08-8.50]. We further analyzed gene-gene interactions using a combined attribute network implemented in multifactor dimensionality reduction software. The analysis revealed an interaction between IL8 -251AT and IL32 rs28372698 SNPs among cases with moderately- or well-differentiated tumors. Homozygosity for both IL8 -251T and IL32 T alleles increases the odds for developing gastric cancer up to 2.63-fold (OR=2.63; 95% CI=1.15-6.03). This association was higher compared to the homozygosity for the IL8-251 T allele alone (OR=1.11; 95% CI=0.51-2.43) or the IL32 T allele alone (OR=1.21; 95% CI=0.54-2.72).These findings suggest that IL10 -592CA increases the odds for developing gastric cancer. An interaction between IL8 -251AT and IL32 rs28372698 SNPs is also proposed.