The EPH/ephrin system constitutes a bidirectional signaling pathway comprised of a family of tyrosine kinase receptors in tandem with their plasma membrane-bound ligand (ephrins). Its significance in a wide variety of physiologic and pathologic processes has been recognized during the past decades. In carcinogenesis, EPH/ephrins coordinate a wide spectrum of pathologic processes, such as angiogenesis, vessel infiltration, and metastasis. Despite the recent advances in colorectal cancer (CRC) diagnosis and treatment, it remains a leading cause of death globally, accounting for 9.2% of all cancer deaths. A growing body of literature has been published lately revitalizing our scientific interest towards the role of EPH/ephrins in pathogenesis and the treatment of CRC. The aim of the present review is to present the recent CRC data which might lead to clinical practice changes in the future.

Background Much attention has been paid to the study and reporting of gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms in COVID-19 patients. Moreover, an increasing number of COVID-19 patients have been noted to experience hepatic and pancreatic injury. In this study, we retrospectively investigated symptoms and laboratory findings related to the GI system in a single center in Athens, Greece, and assessed the role of these parameters in relation to survival and disease severity. Method We retrospectively studied 61 adult COVID-19 patients admitted to the Army Share Fund Hospital (NIMTS) in Athens, Greece, from April 6th to May 6 th , 2020. Results Sixty-one COVID-19 cases were assessed in the study period. Regarding both survival and disease severity, diarrhea was the most common finding. The multivariate analysis revealed that elevated serum aspartate aminotransferase levels and low serum albumin levels were associated with worse patient survival (odds ratio [OR] 1.029, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.007-1.05, P=0.0088; and OR 0.219, 95%CI 0.066-0.723, P=0.0127, respectively). As far as disease severity is concerned, only a low serum albumin level (measured at hospital admission) was correlated with more severe disease (OR 0.025, 95%CI 0.004-0.161, P=0.0001). Conclusions Outpatients with new-onset GI symptoms should be considered for COVID-19 testing in a high COVID-19 prevalence setting, as these symptoms are observed more and more in clinical settings. As prospective studies begin to emerge, clinicians will have more robust research data to diagnose COVID-19 patients earlier and identify patients in need of more intensive treatment.

Diseases of the pancreas and hepatobiliary tree often require a therapeutic approach with endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), generally following noninvasive imaging techniques. Appropriate indications and the correct timing for urgent ERCP would benefit both patients and clinicians and allow optimal utilization of health resources. Indications for urgent (<24 h) ERCP include severe acute cholangitis, acute biliary pancreatitis with cholangitis, biliary or pancreatic leaks, in the absence of percutaneous drainage, and severe acute cholecystitis in patients who are unfit for surgery and do not respond to conservative management. In patients who have severe acute biliary pancreatitis with ongoing biliary obstruction but without cholangitis, early (<48-72 h) ERCP is indicated. This overview aims to provide decisional flowcharts that can be easily used for managing patients with acute bilio-pancreatic disorders when they are referred to the Emergency Department.

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