OBJECTIVES: METHODS: RESULTS: CONCLUSIONS:

Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) plays a key role in catalytic hydrolysis of cholinergic neurotransmitters. Intensive research has proven the involvement of this protein in novel functions, such as cell adhesion, differentiation, and proliferation. In addition, several recent studies have indicated that acetylcholinesterase is potentially a marker and regulator of apoptosis. Importantly,AChEis also a promising tumor suppressor. In this review, we briefly summarize the involvement ofAChEin apoptosis and cancer, focusing on the role ofAChEin lung cancer, as well as the therapeutic consideration ofAChEfor cancer therapy.

We aimed to investigate outcomes of pancreatic extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (P-ESWL) for the removal of large pancreatic stones coexisting with pancreatic pseudocysts (PPCs) in chronic pancreatitis (CP). This is a prospective study performed in CP patients with at least 1 stone (≥5 mm). Patients were divided into the PPC group (stones coexisting with PPCs) or the control group (stones alone). Patients were initially subjected to successive P-ESWL treatments, followed by ERCP. Primary outcomes were P-ESWL adverse events, and secondary outcomes were stone clearance, long-term pain relief, improved quality-of-life scores, and PPC regression. A total of 849 patients (59 in the PPC group and 790 in the control group) was subjected to P-ESWL between March 2011 and October 2013. Occurrences of P-ESWL adverse events were similar between the PPC group and the control group (11.86% vs 12.41%, P = .940). After the treatment of initial P-ESWL combined with ERCP, the complete, partial, and nonclearance of stones occurred in 67.24%, 20.69%, and 12.07%, respectively, of patients in PPC group, with no significant difference from the control group (complete, partial, and nonclearance: 83.17%, 10.40%, and 11.39%, respectively; P = .106). Fifty-five of 59 patients (93.22%) with PPCs were followed for a median period of 21.9 months (range, 12.0-45.1). PPCs disappeared in 56.36% (31/55) and 76.36% (42/55) of patients after 3 months and 1 year of follow-up visits, respectively. Moreover, complete and partial pain relief were achieved in 63.64% (35/55) and 25.45% (14/55) of patients, respectively. The scores for quality of life (P < .001), physical health (P < .001), and weight loss (P < .001) improved. In our multispecialty tertiary center, initial P-ESWL followed by ERCP was safe in patients with coexisting pancreatic stones and PPCs and effective for stone clearance, main pancreatic duct drainage, and pain relief.

Objectives MiR-196a levels inversely correlated with survival in pancreatic adenocarcinoma patients. However, the functional contributions of miR-196a to pancreatic cancer remain unclear. Methods Three lentiviral vectors encoding microRNA miR-196a precursor, inhibitor, and scrambled microRNA oligomer were transfected into Panc-1 cells, respectively. Then we explored the regulation of inhibitor of growth 5 (ING5) expression by miR-196a and its impact on apoptosis, invasion, and growth of pancreatic cancer cells. The lentiviral transfected Panc-1 cells were surgically implanted into the pancreas of mice. In vivo tumor growth and ING5 expression were measured. Results Down-regulation of ING5 expression was detected in cells transfected with miR-196a precursor (P < 0.01), accompanied by less apoptosis, increased invasion, and proliferation compared with control cells (P < 0.05). Cells transfected with miR-196a inhibitor revealed an opposite trend. Smaller detectable tumors were found in only 60% of mice after implantation of Lenti.miR-196a inhibitor–transfected Panc-1 cells compared with controls (360.7 ± 303.6 mm³ vs 511.58 ± 365.9 mm³ in controls; P < 0.01). Conclusion Our results provide experimental evidence to support aberrant expression of miR-196a is associated with abnormal apoptosis, invasion, and proliferation of pancreatic cancer cells.