Pancreatitis is a significant global health concern with rising incidence, complex management, and substantial mortality. This study aimed to assess global and regional trends in pancreatitis from 1990 to 2021 and project future trends to 2050 using data from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) Study 2021. We analyzed GBD 2021 data to evaluate age-standardized incidence (ASIR), mortality (ASMR), and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) rates of pancreatitis. Regional trends, gender disparities, and correlations with the Socio-demographic Index (SDI) were examined. Key risk factors, including alcohol consumption, smoking, and metabolic disorders such as hyperlipidemia, were extracted and evaluated. A Bayesian age-period-cohort model (BAPC) was used for future projections. From 1990 to 2021, global pancreatitis cases increased from 1.73 million to 2.75 million, representing a rise of 59%. Despite this, ASIR decreased slightly from 37.62 to 32.81 per 100,000, a 12.8% reduction. Deaths rose from 68,490 to 122,416, an increase of 78.7%, while ASMR decreased from 1.69 to 1.45 per 100,000, a reduction of 14.2%. DALYs increased from 2.58 million to 4.10 million (59%). Significant regional variations were found, with Eastern Europe showing the highest ASIR, ASMR, and DALY rates. Projections indicate continued declines in ASIR, ASMR, and DALYs through 2050. While global age-standardized rates of pancreatitis have declined, significant regional and socioeconomic disparities persist. Targeted prevention efforts, particularly in high-burden areas like Eastern Europe, and addressing modifiable risk factors such as alcohol use are crucial for reducing the future burden of pancreatitis.

The incidence and mortality rates of pancreatic cancer are rising globally. This study examines global and regional trends in pancreatic cancer incidence, Disability Adjusted Life Years (DALYs), and mortality from 1990 to 2021, utilizing data from the most recent Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2021 database. Data were sourced from the GBD database over the period from 1990 to 2021. Age-standardized rates for incidence, DALYs, and mortality were calculated per 100,000 population. We also calculated the proportion of DALYs and mortality attributable to risk factors. The Bayesian age-period-cohort model was applied to project future trends until 2050. Between 1990 and 2021, the global incidence of pancreatic cancer increased significantly, with the number of cases rising from approximately 207,905 to 508,533 and the age-standardized incidence rate (ASIR) increasing from 5.47 to 5.96 per 100,000 population. The global burden of pancreatic cancer, measured in DALYs, rose from 5.21 million to 11.32 million. Mortality rates showed a similar upward trend, with the number of deaths increasing from around 211,613 to 505,752, and the age-standardized mortality rate (ASMR) rising from 5.655 to 5.948 per 100,000 population. Notable increases in ASIR and ASMR were observed in low-middle and low sociodemographic index regions with males experienced higher rates compared to females. Age-standardized DALYs rate (ASDR) and ASMR worldwide were attributable to tobacco smoking, high BMI, and high fasting plasma glucose. Furthermore, our projection model estimates that the ASIR and ASMR of pancreatic cancer will significantly decline, while the ASDR is anticipated to maintain a steady downward trend by 2050. This study offers a comprehensive analysis of pancreatic cancer trends, providing crucial insights for public health planning and policy-making. Addressing identified risk factors and targeting high-risk populations are essential for effective strategies to reduce the global burden of pancreatic cancer.

Pancreatic cancer, specifically pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), is notorious for its aggressive nature and dismal prognosis, ranking as a leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide. Despite advancements in surgical techniques, chemotherapies, and novel therapeutic approaches, the overall survival rates remain bleak, primarily due to the complex and dynamic tumor microenvironment (TME) which fosters cancer progression and therapeutic resistance. Central to the TME are cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), which exhibit significant heterogeneity and play multifaceted roles in tumor progression, ranging from remodeling the extracellular matrix to modulating immune responses. Recent breakthroughs in single-cell sequencing and spatial omics have unraveled the diverse functional states and spatial organization of various cell types within the TME, including distinct subtypes of CAFs which differ vastly in their influence on pancreatic cancer pathophysiology. This review delves into the intricate interactions between CAFs and pancreatic cancer cells, highlighting how metabolic reprogramming and immune regulation by CAFs contribute to the high malignancy of PDAC. By integrating single-cell and spatial resolution data, we offer new insights into the metabolic crosstalk and immune landscape remodeling driven by CAFs, establishing a foundation for targeting these stromal interactions in therapeutic strategies.

Anaemia complicates recovery in surgical patients. Intravenous (IV) iron supplementation shows promise in improving outcomes, but optimal timing remains uncertain. In this review, we compare the efficacy, safety, tolerability, and outcomes between preoperative and postoperative IV iron supplementation. In this systematic review and network meta-analysis, we searched PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science from inception to May 1, 2025, for randomised controlled trials (RCT) investigating IV iron supplementation in surgical patients either 7-30 days before surgery (preoperative) or 0-30 days after surgery (postoperative). Studies were excluded if they included patients with critical illness or prior transfusion or if iron was given outside the defined time frames or with other agents. Two reviewers independently appraised the data and extracted summary estimates from published reports. The primary outcomes were: (1) proportion of patients who received blood transfusion; (2) change between the baseline haemoglobin level and the haemoglobin level on postoperative day (POD) 7 and POD30. Data processing was conducted based on frequentist network meta-analysis. The risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool. The protocol is registered with PROSPERO, CRD42024533265. Among 129 identified studies, 22 RCTs with 3026 patients were included. All included studies had a low (n = 6) or moderate (n = 16) risk of bias. Compared to controls, postoperative IV iron supplementation reduced transfusion rates (RR 0.80, 95% CI 0.68-0.94; I² = 0.0%). Postoperative IV iron supplementation did not affect haemoglobin levels (MD -4.51, 95% CI -9.75 to 0.72; I² = 90.3%) at POD7 but increased haemoglobin levels (MD 5.45, 95% CI 2.70-8.20; I² = 45.5%) at POD30. In comparison, preoperative IV iron supplementation resulted in higher haemoglobin levels than postoperative supplementation at POD30 (MD 6.67, 95% CI 1.61-11.72) but did not influence transfusion rates (RR 0.91, 95% CI 0.72-1.15; I² = 0.0%). Our results suggest that postoperative IV iron supplementation reduces transfusion rates, while preoperative supplementation improves haemoglobin recovery. Clinicians may choose either strategy in an individualised, patient-centered manner. These conclusions should be interpreted with caution due to heterogeneity among included studies, limited data for subgroup analyses, and the absence of direct comparisons between preoperative and postoperative approaches. National Key Research and Development Program of China, National Natural Science Foundation of China, Beijing Natural Science Foundation, Capital's Funds for Health Improvement and Research, National High Level Hospital Clinical Research Funding, and Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences Innovation Fund for Medical Sciences.

Surgery combined with chemotherapy and precision medicine is the only potential treatment for patients with colorectal cancer liver metastases (CRLM). The use of modern molecular biotechnology to identify suitable biomarkers is of great significance for predicting prognosis and formulating individualized treatment plans for these patients. BRAF mutations, particularly V600E, are widely believed to be associated with poor prognosis in patients with metastatic CRC (mCRC). However, it is unclear which specific factors affect the prognosis of CRLM patients with BRAF mutations. It is also unknown whether patients with resectable CRLM and BRAF mutations should undergo surgical treatment since there is an increased recurrence rate after surgery in these patients. In this review, we combined the molecular mechanism and clinical characteristics of BRAF mutations to explore the prognostic significance and potential targeted therapy strategies for patients with BRAF-mutated CRLM.