6%, 95% CI 82.8%-99.4%) and 30/30 (100%, 95% CI 90.5%-100%) in the uncovered and covered stent groups, respectively. There were no procedure-related deaths. Twenty-eight adverse events were observed in 21 patients (7 in the uncovered stent group and 14 in the covered stent group). There was no significant difference in the obstructive jaundice-free survival rate at 24 weeks between the 2 groups. Considering the technical difficulty and invasiveness of covered stent placement, the placement of covered stents may not be needed in patients with a short prognosis of <24 weeks.There was no significant difference in the obstructive jaundice-free survival rate at 24 weeks between the 2 groups. Considering the technical difficulty and invasiveness of covered stent placement, the placement of covered stents may not be needed in patients with a short prognosis of less then 24 weeks. The primary objective of this study was to identify novel genes that predispose people in the Japanese population to FPC. Familial history of pancreatic cancer is an important risk factor but, to date, few genes predisposing individuals to increased risk of developing FPC have been identified. We performed whole-exome sequencing of germline DNA from 81 Japanese FPC patients. Etomoxir manufacturer We also investigated somatic gene alterations in 21 matched tumor tissues through whole-exome sequencing and copy number analysis. Our germline variants identified previously known FPC susceptibility genes such as ATM and BRCA2, and several novel tumor suppressor genes with potentially deleterious variants for FPC. Interestingly, somatic whole-exome analysis demonstrated that most tumor samples with suspicious loss of heterozygosity of candidate genes were KRAS wild-types, implying that these cases may not have required KRAS activation as a driver event for carcinogenesis. Our findings indicate that FPC patients harbor potentially deleterious causative germline variants in tumor suppressor genes, which are known to acquire somatic mutations in pancreatic cancer, and that somatic loss of heterozygosity of some FPC susceptibility genes may contribute to the development of FPC in the absence of somatic KRAS-activating mutation. Genetic testing for a wider variety of FPC-predisposition genes could provide better screening approach for high-risk groups of pancreatic cancer.Our findings indicate that FPC patients harbor potentially deleterious causative germline variants in tumor suppressor genes, which are known to acquire somatic mutations in pancreatic cancer, and that somatic loss of heterozygosity of some FPC susceptibility genes may contribute to the development of FPC in the absence of somatic KRAS-activating mutation. Genetic testing for a wider variety of FPC-predisposition genes could provide better screening approach for high-risk groups of pancreatic cancer.The COVID-19 pandemic has caused monumental mortality, and there are still no adequate therapies. Most severely ill COVID-19 patients manifest a hyperactivated immune response, instigated by interleukin 6 (IL6) that triggers a so called "cytokine storm" and coagulopathy. Hypoxia is also associated with COVID-19. So far overlooked is the fact that both IL6 and hypoxia depress the abundance of a key anticoagulant, Protein S. We speculate that the IL6-driven cytokine explosion plus hypoxemia causes a severe drop in Protein S level that exacerbates the thrombotic risk in COVID-19 patients. Here we highlight a mechanism by which the IL6-hypoxia curse causes a deadly hypercoagulable state in COVID-19 patients, and we suggest a path to therapy. This study aimed to examine associations between smoking and COVID-19 relevant outcomes, taking into account the influence of inequalities and adjusting for potential confounding variables. Cross-sectional data were used from an online study of adults in the UK (n=53 002). Main outcome measures were confirmed and suspected COVID-19, worry about catching or becoming seriously ill from COVID-19 and adherence to protective behaviours. Covariates included age, sex, ethnicity, education (post-16 qualifications yes/no), key worker status and comorbid health conditions. Compared with never smokers (0.26% (95% CI 0.21% to 0.33%)), prevalence of confirmed COVID-19 was higher among current (0.56% (0.41% to 0.75%)) but not ex-smokers (0.19% (0.13% to 0.28%)). Associations were similar before (current OR=2.14 (1.49-3.08); ex-smokers OR=0.73 (0.47-1.14)) and after (current OR=1.79 (1.22-2.62); ex-smokers OR=0.85 (0.54-1.33)) adjustment. For current smokers, this was moderated by socio-economic position, with higher lines despite being more worried than non-smokers about catching or becoming seriously ill from COVID-19.In a population sample, current smoking was independently associated with self-reported confirmed COVID-19 infection. There were socio-economic disparities, with the association only apparent among those without post-16 qualifications. Smokers reported lower adherence to guidelines despite being more worried than non-smokers about catching or becoming seriously ill from COVID-19. To assess tobacco licensing-law strategies (eg, restricting the sale of tobacco near schools, banning the sale of tobacco in pharmacies) in terms of the equity of their impact and ability to correct existing disparities in tobacco retailer density. We geocoded all 11 392 tobacco retailers in Ohio, categorised neighbourhoods based on their demographic characteristics and calculated current disparities in tobacco retailer density. We next simulated the four main types of licensing-law strategies (capping-based, declustering-based, school-based and pharmacy-based), as well as strategy combinations. Finally, using statistical methods that account for residual spatial dependence, we evaluated how each strategy would impact density disparities. The most impactful licensing-law strategy depended on the type of community. School-based reductions were equitable for low-income, African-American and urban neighbourhoods (eg, eliminating retailers from 1000 feet of all schools produced a 9.2% reduction in the log retailer rate for neighbourhoods with a low prevalence of African-Americans and a 17.