Advances in hydrogel materials applied to pancreatic-related diseases

The pancreas is a glandular organ that maintains internal homeostasis through its endocrine and exocrine functions.These functions are vital for overall well-being.However,environmental and lifestyle changes have led to an increasing incidence of pancreatic diseases,including pancreatic cancer,pancreatitis,and pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors.These conditions profoundly impact the health and quality of life of affected individuals.The existing diagnostic and treatment approaches for pancreatic diseases exhibit limitations and shortcomings,necessitating exploring novel strategies.In recent years,advancements in medicine and bioengineering have fostered multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary innovations,introducing fresh avenues for diagnosing and treating pancreatic diseases.Hydrogels,emerging as a biomaterial,represent highly hydrated cross-linked hydrophilic polymer networks.Their exceptional biodegradability and biocompatibility have rendered them instrumental in various medical applications.Hydrogels,with their macromolecular porous structures,are efficient carriers for drug delivery and controlled release.Hydrogel materials have garnered substantial attention for their unique properties and diverse applications in the context of pancreatic diseases.This article aims to provide an overview of the current limitations in diagnosing and treating pancreatic diseases while highlighting the latest trends and advancements in developing hydrogel carrier materials tailored for these conditions,primarily focusing on strategies for pancreatitis,pancreatic cancer,and pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors.The article endeavors to give researchers and clinicians a comprehensive grasp of this field,offering valuable insights into prospective research directions and emerging trends.

Serum biomarker CD163 predicts overall survival in patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma

The serum soluble CD163(sCD163)is elevated in patients with inflammatory disease and several types of cancer.However,the prognostic value of serum sCD163 in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma(PDAC)has not yet been investigated.In this study,serum level of sCD163 was measured by using the peripheral blood of 54 patients with PDAC,20 patients with benign tumor of pancreas,and 30 healthy volunteers(healthy controls).The association between serum sCD163 level and overall survival was analyzed.Receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curves were generated,and areas under the curve(AUC)were compared to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy,including CA 19-9,CEA,CA 125,CA 153,and serum sCD163 level.Serum sCD163 level of patients with PDAC was significantly higher than patients with benign tumor(P=.002)and health controls(P<.001).Using ROC curves,we found that the AUC values of serum sCD163 were higher than those of CA 125 and CA 153,but lower than those of CA 19-9 and CEA.Serum sCD163 was negatively correlated with lymphocyte to monocyte ratio(LMR;r=
0.428,P=.001).In addition,the prognosis of PDAC patients with sCD163median was worse than sCD163<median by using univariate analysis(P=.027).Further,multivariate analysis showed that higher level of serum sCD163 was still associated with poorer overall survival(P=.020).In conclusion,the serum sCD163 has the potential as a new promising parameter to predict the prognosis in PDAC patients.