Analysis of 100 consecutive cases of resectable pancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms： clinicopathological characteristics and long-term outcomes

The incidence rate of pancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms （pNENs） has increased rapidly in recent years. However, the clinicopathological characteristics of pNENs are poorly understood. Medical records of patients who underwent surgery and were confirmed as pNENs by pathological examination from January 2003 to February 2015 in Qilu Hospital were reviewed retrospectively. A total of 100 patients, 36 males and 64 females, were included with a mean operation age of 46.26 ± 13.41 years. Among the 100 cases, 76 had insulinomas and 24 had non-functional pNENs. Tumor size ranged from 0.5 cm to 9 cm, and the mean size was 2.20 ± 1.40 cm. The percentages of TNM stages I, II, III, and IV tumors were 89.0%, 8.0%, 0.0%, and 3.0%, respectively. Based on the WHO classification, pNENs were classified into three grades： G1, G2, and G3. G1, G2, and G3 tumors were confirmed in 72.9%, 23.7%, and 3.4% patients, respectively. The positive rates of CgA and Syn immunohisto- chemical staining were 94.5% （69/73） and 100% （74/74）, respectively. Compared with insulinoma, non-functional pNENs have larger tumor sizes, more advanced TNM staging, a higher Ki-67 index, and a higher rate of liver metastasis （P 〈 0.05）. In conclusion, pNENs are heterogeneous tumors with varying clinical manifestations, diverse tumor biological characteristics, and different prognoses. Non-functional pNENs present a more aggressive behavioral model and have poorer prognosis than functional pNENs.

Electrospun polyporous VN nanofibers for symmetric all-solid-state supercapacitors

To promote the energy density of symmetric all-solid-state supercapacitors(SCs),efforts have been dedicated to searching for high-performance electrode materials recently. In this paper,vanadium nitride(VN) nanofibers with mesoporous structure have been fabricated by a facile electrospinning method. Their crystal structures and morphology features were characterized by X-ray diffraction,scanning electron microscopy,and transmission electron microscopy. The mesoporous structure of VN nanofibers,which can provide short electrolyte diffusion routes and conducting electron transport pathways,is beneficial to their performance as a supercapacitor electrode. Under a stable electrochemical window of 1.0 V,VN nanofibers possess an excellent mass specific capacitance of 110.8 F/g at a scan rate of 5 mV/s. Moreover,the VN nanofibers were further assembled into symmetric all-solid-state SCs,achieving a high energy density of 0.89 mW·h/cm^3 and a high power density of 0.016 W/cm^3 over an operating potential range from 0 to 1.0 V. These results demonstrate that VN nanofibers could be potentially used for energy storage devices.

Direct writing of silver microfiber with precise control on patterning for robust and flexible ultrahigh-performance transparent conductor

Ultrafine silver fiber is an alternative to commercial indium tin oxide(ITO) as a new-generation flexible transparent conductor that can be used in flexible electronics.However,its primary limitation is the unrepeatable optoelectronic properties due to the disordered distribution of silver fibers.In this work,we report the in-situ direct writing of the silver microfiber pattern with high conductivity and transparency to attain a flexible transparent conductor.The silver network is composed of silver microfibers,which can be artificially designed and regularly patterned under the precise control of the fiber position and shape;this is crucial for regulating its optoelectronic properties.Herein,a high-performance conductor is achieved in the silver network with high stability.This novel conductor has a sheet resistance of 2 Ω sq-1at 90% transparency,which corre sponds to a high Figure of merit σdc/σopt=1742.The in-situ direct writing technique developed here is distinct from other fabrication methods because it requires no transfer steps,templates or heating.Further,this silver network is integrated into a light-printable rewritable device,and can be used as a wearable heater;this heater when driven by a 1.5 V battery attains a temperature of up to 55.6℃.Therefore,in-situ direct writing is expected to offer a new platform for facile,scalable,and ultralow-cost production of high-performance metal networks for flexible transparent conductors.

When pancreas solid mass meets liver cystic lesion:A case report

Pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors are in low incidence compared with other pancreatic tumors,and they present as various pathological forms,including solid,cystic and solid-cystic lesions.Herein,we report a rare case that presents cystic lesions in liver originating from solid pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors.It can be easily misdiagnosed pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma or primary hepatic cancer according to imaging by surgeons without extensive professional experience.Therefore,it reminders surgeons the privotal role of pathological biopsy to diagnose the disease correctly.The ethical approval and written consent were waived by the institutional review board of our hospital owing to the retrospective nature of the study and routine treatments performed on this patient in clinical practice.