Pancreatic cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer death in the United States. While surgical resection remains the only curative option, more than 80% of patients present with unresectable disease. Unfortunately, even among those who undergo resection, the reported median survival is 15-23 mo, with a 5-year survival of approximately 20%. Disappointingly, over the past several decades, despite improvements in diagnostic imaging, surgical technique and chemotherapeutic options, only modest improvements in survival have been realized. Nevertheless, it remains clear that surgical resection is a prerequisite for achieving long-term survival and cure. There is now emerging consensus that a subgroup of patients, previously considered poor candidates for resection because of the relationship of their primary tumor to surrounding vasculature, may benefit from resection, particularly when preceded by neoadjuvant therapy. This stage of disease, termed borderline resectable pancreatic cancer, has become of increasing interest and is now the focus of a multi-institutional clinical trial. Here we outline the history, progress, current treatment recommendations, and future directions for research in borderline resectable pancreatic cancer.

Intra-abdominal infection (IAI) is an important cause of morbidity and mortality. It is the second most commonly identified cause of severe sepsis in the intensive care unit and it has been associated with a high mortality rate. Most IAI are the result of inflammation and perforations of the gastrointestinal tract, such as appendicitis, peptic ulcer disease, and diverticulitis. Successful treatment of IAI is based on early and appropriate source recognition, containment and antimicrobial coverage. We will review the pathophysiology of IAI and provide clinical guidelines for its management.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) releases a cascade of inflammatory cytokines. Vagal nerve stimulation (VNS) and ghrelin have known anti-inflammatory effects; furthermore, ghrelin release is stimulated by acetylcholine. We hypothesized VNS decreases post-TBI inflammation through a ghrelin-mediated mechanism. TBI was created in five groups of mice: sham, TBI, TBI/ghrelin, TBI/VNS, and TBI/VNS/ghrelin receptor antagonist (GRa). Serum and tissue ghrelin, and serum TNF-α were measured. Ghrelin increased following VNS 2 h post-TBI compared to sham or TBI. At 6 h, TBI and TBI/VNS/GRa had increased TNF-α compared to sham while TBI/VNS and TBI/ghrelin had TNF-α level comparable to sham. The highest ghrelin was measured in stomach where TBI decreased ghrelin in contrast to an increase by VNS. In conclusion, VNS increased serum ghrelin and decreased TNF-α following TBI. This was abrogated with GRa. Our data suggests that ghrelin plays an important role in the anti-inflammatory effects of VNS following TBI.

As laparoscopic instruments have become more refined and advancements in robotic platforms have allowed for improved ergonomics and more controlled movements, the applications of minimally invasive surgery have greatly expanded. The evolution of minimally invasive pancreatic surgery, however, has been relatively slow in gaining traction. Indeed, while the first reports of laparoscopic pancreatic surgery were published in 1994,^1-3 the vast majority of the literature on this topic has been published in only the past 5 to 10 years and consists primarily of single-institution/surgeon experiences,^4-9 multi-institutional case series,^10-13 and meta-analyses based thereupon.^14-17 This delay in the widespread adoption of minimally invasive techniques in the treatment of pancreatic disease was likely engendered, at least in part, by the inherent technical challenges presented by the retroperitoneal location and notoriously unforgiving nature of the pancreas, close proximity to major vascular structures, and early concerns regarding oncologic outcomes.^13,18 While results from existing series are promising, they have been limited in their generalizability and interpretation by their sample size and variable practice setting. A broader investigation into this topic is therefore warranted.