MRI Manifestations of Progressive Massive Fibrosis in Patients with Coal Workers' Pneumoconiosis / 中国医学影像学杂志

PurposeTo explore MRI manifestations and diagnostic value of progressive massive fibrosis (PMF) in patient with coal workers' pneumoconiosis. Materials and Methods Twenty-four patients with PMF coal workers' pneumoconiosis underwent conventional MRI including T1WI, T2WI and SPIR. The signal intensity and morphological changes were analyzed.Results In 24 patients, there were 16 cases with bilateral pulmonary lesions and 8 cases with unilateral lesions. PMF was located in the upper lung field in 11 cases and in the upper and middle lung fields in 13 cases. The morphology of the lesions was stripe, round or irregular in shape. PMF were mainly isointense on T1WI, similar to adjacent soft tissue, and heterogeneous iso- or hypointense on T2WI and SPIR with patchy or stripe-like hypointensity.Conclusion PMF of coal workers' pneumoconiosis appears as a mass with iso- or hypointensity on T2WI and SPIR, with characteristic patchy-or stripe-like hypointensity. MRI is helpful in diagnosing PMF.

Association between the interleukin-13 gene and development of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in southern Chinese Han population: a case-control study / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Interleukin-13 (IL-13) has been implicated to be responsible for recruitment of inflammatory cells from the blood to the lung, regulation of matrix metalloproteinase and induction of mucin production and secretion in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). We determined plasma IL-13 levels in patients with COPD and investigated its association with common polymorphisms of IL-13 gene in a case-control study.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>We genotyped 160 cases and 175 control subjects in a local hospital using Mass-Array(TM) Technology Platform then tested the association of four SNPs in IL-13 (rs1295685, rs1800925, rs1881457, rs20541) with COPD, and then determined plasma IL-13 levels in patients with COPD and controls.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Association was found between IL-13 gene SNPs (rs20541 and rs1800925) and an increased risk of COPD. By linkage disequilibrium (LD) analysis, two blocks (rs1881457 and rs1800925; rs20541 and rs1295685) were found. The risk of COPD was found associated with the IL-13 gene polymorphism among southern Chinese Han population. Plasma IL-13 level was increased in COPD patients compared with controls.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The polymorphism of the IL-13 gene is associated with an increased risk of COPD in southern Chinese Han population. Plasma IL-13 levels were found elevated in patients with COPD.</p>