Background: Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) develops rapidly and has a poor prognosis. It has been demonstrated that pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma and chronic pancreatitis (CP) have a close connection. However, the underlying mechanisms for chronic pancreatitis transforming into pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma are still unclear. The purpose of this study was to identify real hub genes in the development of chronic pancreatitis and pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.Methods: RNA-seq data of chronic pancreatitis and pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma were downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. Weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) was performed to construct a gene co-expression network between chronic pancreatitis and pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. GEO2R and a Venn diagram were used to identify differentially expressed genes. Then visualized networks were constructed with ClueGO, and modules of PPI network were calculated by MCODE plugin. Further validation of the results was carried out in two additional cohorts. Analyses of CEL-coexpressed genes and regulators including miRNAs and transcription factors were performed by using the corresponding online web tool. Finally, the influence of CEL in the tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) was assessed by immune contextual analysis.Results: With the help of WGCNA and GEO2R, four co-expression modules and six hub genes were identified, respectively. ClueGO enrichment analysis and MCODE cluster analysis revealed that the dysfunctional transport of nutrients and trace elements might contribute to chronic pancreatitis and pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma development. The real hub gene CEL was identified with a markedly low expression in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma in external validation sets. According to the miRNA-gene network construction, hsa-miR-198 may be the key miRNA. A strong correlation exists between CEL and TIME after an evaluation of the influence of CEL in TIME.Conclusion: Our study revealed the dysfunctional transport of nutrients and trace elements may be common pathogenesis of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma and chronic pancreatitis. Examination on these common pathways and real hub genes may shed light on the underlying mechanism.

Developing a biocompatible contrast agent with high stability and favorable magnetism for sensitive detection of malignant tumors using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) remains a great demand in clinical. Nowadays, the fine control of magnetic iron oxide nanoparticle (MION) sizes from a few nanometers to dozens of nanometers can be realized through a thermal decomposition method of iron precursors. This progress allows us to research accurately on the size dependence of magnetic properties of MION, involving saturation magnetization (Ms), specific absorption rate (SAR), and relaxivity. Here, we synthesized MION in a size range between 14 and 26 nm and modified them with DSPE-PEG2000 for biomedical use. The magnetic properties of PEGylated MION increased monotonically with MION size, while the nonspecific uptake of MION also enhanced with size through cell experiments. The MION with the size of 22 nm as a T2-weighted contrast agent presented the best contrast-enhancing effect comparing with other sizes in vivo MRI of murine tumor. Therefore, the MION of 22 nm may have potential to serve as an ideal MRI contrast agent for tumor detection.

This study reports the synthesis of three kinds of manganese-doped magnetic ferrite nanoparticles (MnFe₂O₄) in benzyl ether, octyl ether, and 1-octadecene by a simple and low cost thermal decomposition method. It was found that benzyl ether results in a dramatic improvement in nanoparticle crystallinity owing to its stronger reducibility compared to octyl ether and 1-octadecene, as demonstrated by X-ray diffraction and TEM measurements. Raman spectroscopy detection also indicated that the reducing solvent of benzyl ether was in favor of forming magnetite-like structure ferrite, while maghemite-like structured ferrite was obtained in octyl ether and 1-octadecene. The saturation magnetization (MS) of MnFe₂O₄synthesized in benzyl ether was 85 emu/g [Fe], which was 3 and 5 times larger than MnFe₂O₄synthesized in octyl ether and 1-octadecene, respectively. The specific absorption rate (SAR) of MnFe₂O₄nanoparticles synthesized in benzyl ether was 574 W/g, while MnFe₂O₄nanoparticles synthesized in octyl ether and 1-octadecene have had much smaller SAR of 76 and 33 W/g, respectively. MnFe₂O₄nanoparticles synthesized in benzyl ether also exhibit higher relaxivity (r2=207 mM⁻¹ s⁻¹) than those synthesized in octyl ether and 1-octadecene (r2=65and 22 mM⁻¹ s⁻¹). It was obvious that MnFe₂O₄nanoparticles synthesized in reducing benzyl ether have higher crystallinity and thus higherMS, SAR, andr2values, which can serve as a better candidate for hyperthermia and magnetic resonance imaging.

Low-grade fibromyxoid sarcoma (LGFMS) is a distinctive slow growing soft tissue neoplasm, mostly affecting young individuals with no gender difference. It usually arises in deep soft tissue of the lower limbs and trunk, but few cases of LGFMS located in pelvis have been reported. We describe the magnetic resonance imaging(MRI) features of LGFMS located in the anterior pelvic wall of a 21-year-old female and correlate them with clinicopathological features. The tumor was completely resected and there is no recidivism during the follow-up one year. We report on the radiological findings of LGFMS with histological correlation. Awareness of the imaging features may be useful for the diagnosis of LGFMS and helpful to distinguish among mimics.