November 2022 Newsletter
Purple For A Purpose
November is Pancreatic Cancer Awareness month. Run, walk, bike for the cause. You can find events near you to support this wonderful community using the Lustgarten Foundation’s Find A Walk tool , spend a day making new friends and feel great knowing that 100% of donations fund pancreatic cancer research.
If biking is your preferred fundraising method, Cycle For Survival offers an alternative – citing their goal to “unite families, friends, and colleagues in the fight against rare cancers.”
Alternately, you can start your own event like one young graduate student did in 2008. No action is too small, consider donating to any of these organizations devoted to supporting pancreatic cancer research. So get out there and shake your pancreas (not literally)!
Working Together To Increase Awareness
This year, World Pancreatic Cancer Day is on November 17th. On this day, individuals, institutions, and organizations from around the world join together to bring global attention to the devastating disease affecting 62,210 people this year in the US alone(cancer.org). In an effort to bring awareness to all affected by the disease, we ‘ll be highlighting different conditions throughout the month.
This week’s educational spotlight: ZE Syndrome.
Zollinger-Ellison syndrome (ZES) is caused by a gastrin-producing neuroendocrine tumor (gastrinoma). These tumors grow in the pancreas or upper part of the small intestine and can occur at any point in life. Gastrinoma’s secrete excessive levels of gastrin (hence they are referred to as gastrinomas). Gastrin, a hormone that stimulates the production of gastric acid in the stomach, is normally released after eating in order to help break down food and liquid in the stomach. However, excessive secretion of gastrin from the gastrinoma triggers the stomach to make extra gastric acid. The extra acid causes peptic ulcers to form in the duodenum and elsewhere in the upper intestine.
Besides causing excess acid production, the tumors are often cancerous. Although the tumors tend to grow slowly, the cancer can spread elsewhere — most commonly to nearby lymph nodes or the liver.
Zollinger-Ellison syndrome signs and symptoms are similar to those of peptic ulcers. A dull or burning pain felt anywhere between the navel and mid-chest is the most common symptom. Other symptoms include diarrhea, mild-severe abdominal pain, bloating, burping, steatorrhea, nausea, vomiting, weight loss, and poor appetite.
ChiRhoStim® is indicated for the stimulation of gastrin to aid in the diagnosis of gastrinoma.
Prior to beginning the test, patients are instructed to fast for at least 12 hours. Before administering ChiRhoStim®, draw two blood samples for determination of fasting serum gastrin levels (baseline values).
• Administer ChiRhoStim® at a dose of 0.4 mcg/kg of body weight intravenously over 1 minute.
• Collect post-injection blood samples after 1, 2, 5, 10, and 30 minutes for determination of serum gastrin concentrations.
Gastrinoma is strongly suspected in patients who show an increase in serum gastrin concentration of more than 110 picograms (pg) per mL over baseline levels on any of the post injection samples.
Conference Update
At ChiRhoClin, we’re committed to engaging with the GI community to further the research, techniques, diagnosis and treatment goals of patients and providers. This year, we showcased our new literature and unveiled the new rebranded ChiRhoClin.
For decades, we’ve been supporting members of the GI community and highlighting issues related to diagnosis, treatments and continual care for rare diseases. Going forward, if you have pancreatic problems, ChiRhoClin can offer pancreatic solutions.
NASPGHAN 50th Anniversary Meeting | October 12-15
Kicking off our conference season, it was a great experience being able to participate in NASPGHANs 50th anniversary festivities. All presenters, moderators, and speakers did an incredible job demonstrating the past, present, and future of Pediatric Gastroenterology.
Our team was very impressed with the 2022 Single Topic Symposium, particularly the History of Innovations in Pediatric Gastroenterology presented by Cincinnati Children’s very own Dr. Farrell, MD, FAAP. His Radiology slide on moving from qualitative to quantitative imaging with Secretin MRI were a welcome surprise and we appreciate the effort by Cincinnati Children’s and all members of the GI community into researching the ongoing innovations.
Dr. Trout, MD, also presented an entertaining lecture with Imaging of the Pancreas: Practical Tips From Your Friendly Radiologist as part of the Post Graduate Courses. In this engaging and highly practical guide, Dr. Trout outlined everything one needs to know about optimization of images, general tips, and ordering information.
For our part, ChiRhoClin will continue our efforts to support the culture of scientific exchange emphasizing research in acute and chronic pancreatitis, pancreatic cancer, gastrointestinal imaging, and genetic testing.
ACG | October 21-26
We had a great time in Charlotte, NC. The planetary sessions on the liver/pancreas-biliary were packed with outstanding presenters. The posters focusing on imaging were particularly insightful, demonstrating emerging and ongoing trends for diagnosis of pancreas related conditions while also helping to highlight the issues with static imaging. We look forward to supporting future researchers in the field and doing our part to ensure the GI community continues to thrive.
APA | November 3-6
Every day of the APA 2022 Meeting was filled with knowledge – we were particularly drawn to the Pancreatic Cancer Screening & Surveillance Symposium on Day 1.
We also attended the Endocrine Pancreatic Cross Talk lectures on Day 2, featuring Dr. Darwin Conwell, as moderator and longtime supporter of ChiRhoClin’s mission.
Closing out the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Pancreas Symposium, Dr. Conwell delivered a powerful and relatable message – one which resonated throughout the crowd. In the words of the Poet Laureate of Harlem himself: Life Ain’t Been No Crystal Stair.
Call for Testing Sites – Participate in a Multicenter Study
ChiRhoClin is actively looking for sites to do Pediatric Function Testing.
Contact us to learn more.
Future Events
December 15-16
46th Annual New York Society of Gastroenterology & Endoscopy | New York Marriott Marquis | New York, NY
Contact Wade Schoenecker for more information on where to find us!