ABSTRACT
Objective To study and analyze the CT and MRI findings of hepatic eosinophilic infiltration. Methods Twenty nine patients of hepatic eosinophilic infiltration who were confirmed by biopsy or clinical diagnosis were retrospectively analyzed. All the patients underwent CT and/or MRI scan. Twenty seven cases underwent upper abdominal CT plain scan and three phase enhanced scan, and 5 cases underwent upper abdominal MR plain scan and three phase enhanced scan, of which 3 cases underwent CT and MRI scan. Evaluations were made regarding to the numbers of lesion, distribution, size, shape, margin, density or signal characteristic, enhancement parttern and other special features. Pearson correlation analysis was used to analyze the correlation between the number of hepatic lesions and the number of eosinophils in peripheral blood. Results A total of 108 lesions of eosinophilic hepatic infiltration were observed in 29 cases, including 2 cases with single lesion and 27 cases with multiple lesions. Ninety five of the lesions were located in subcapsular parenchyma or surrounding the portal vein. Most subcapsular lesions were wedge-shaped(n=28). Lesions surrounding portal vein were round-shaped(n=32), while the hepatic parenchymal lesions were irregular or round-shaped(n=13). The mean size of lesion was 34 mm, ranging from 3 to 61 mm. The margin of all the lesions were obscure. The lesions showed slightly low density or isodensity on CT pre-contrast images. On MR pre-contrast images, lesions showed slightly low signal or isointense on T1WI, and hyperintense on T2WI. Branches of portal vein were found infilrated by all lesions. Tueleve cases showed“stripe sign”along the portal vein branches, 16 cases showed“halo ring sign”around the portal vein. Pearson analysis indicated a significant correlation between the number of eosinophilic hepatic infiltrated lesions and the increase of eosinophils in peripheral blood (r=0.783, P<0.05). Conclusion The imaging features of EHI had certain characteristics, especially in the three phase dynamic enhanced scanning, from which we can mainly find“progressive enhancement”,“portal vein sign”,“stripe sign”and“halo ring sign”.
ABSTRACT
Objective To detect the expression of the transcription factor CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein alpha (C/EBP-α) in the epidermis of psoriasis vulgaris lesions,and to investigate its correlation with abnormal keratinocyte proliferation and disease severity.Methods Biopsy specimens were obtained from the lesions of 30 patients with psoriasis vulgaris and normal skin of 30 healthy human controls.A two-step immunohistochemical procedure was performed to detect the expressions of C/EBP-αt and Ki-67 in these specimens,and Western blot to quantify the expression of C/EBP-α.The proliferation index of keratinocytes was calculated according to the expression intensity of Ki-67.Statistical analysis was carried out by using the SPSS 17.0 software,and Pearson correlation analysis was conducted to assess the relationship of C/EBP-α expression level with proliferation index of keratinocytes and psoriasis area and severity index (PASI) score.Results C/EBP-α was predominantly expressed in the cytoplasm of keratinocytes,while Ki-67 in the nuclei of keratinocytes.Compared with the normal skin,the psoriatic lesions showed a significantly lower expression of Ki-67 (t =7.82,P ＜ 0.05),but higher proliferation index of keratinocytes (t =4.54,P ＜ 0.05).The expression level of C/EBP-α was negatively correlated with the proliferation index of keratinocytes and PASI score in the patients (both P ＜ 0.05).Western blot also showed an obvious decrease in the expression of C/EBP-α in psoriatic lesions.Conclusions The expression of C/EBP-α is decreased in lesions of psoriasis vulgaris,which might be involved in the pathogenesis of psoriasis vulgaris.