ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate manifestations of connective tissue nevi (CTN) by dermoscopy and reflectance confocal miscroscopy (RCM),and to analyze its pathological features.Methods According to the course of the disease,skin lesions of a patient with CTN were classified into 2 categories:skin lesions of less than 1-year duration and those of more than 1-year duration,which were observed by dermoscopy and RCM,and analyzed by the combination with histopathological examination.Results Dermoscopy imaging of the CTN lesions of more than 1-year duration showed grey-white maculae with clear boundaries in the center of lesions.There were white network structures,brown globules,red spots and punctiform or comma-shaped blood vessels in the gray-white macula area,and vellus hairs and dermal papillary rings could be seen sometimes.The white macula was evenly surrounded by brown to black pigments,and the boundary was clear.For the lesions of less than 1-year duration,gray-white maculae with clear boundaries were also found in the center of the lesions.Besides,there were a few scattered brown to black pigments,vellus hairs and dermal papillary rings in the gray-white macula area.RCM imaging of the lesions of less than 1-year duration or early skin lesions showed dermal papillae of different sizes and shapes crowded with each other and formed a honeycomb or cobblestone-like structure.The density and brightness of the dermal papilla ring obviously increased,and the refraction of the dermal collagen fiber bundles was also enhanced.Some of the dermal collagen fiber bundles were attached to the dermal papilla or intertwined and arranged in a whirlpool pattern.For the lesions of more than 1-year duration,the refraction of the tissue structure was weakened when the depth in Z-axis direction reached 2 to 3 millimetres due to the thickened epidermis,while the dermal collagen fiber bundles were not obvious and only a few lymphocytes could be seen.Conclusions CTN has particular characteristics in dermoscopy,and there is a definite correspondence among dermoscopy features,histopathological findings and RCM features.RCM is helpful for the diagnosis of lesions of less than 1-year duration.
ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the reproduction of a new model of thrombosis of inferior vena cava (IVC), and explore the natural process of thrombolysis and its mechanism in rats. Methods Forty-eight SD rats were randomly classified into experimental group and control group. In the experimental group, the lumen of the vena cava was blocked by about 80%-90% with a ligature of IVC below the left renal vein, and then the animals were redivided into three subgroups (n=12, each). In group A, the IVC endothelium was damaged and its tributaries were ligated. In group B, the IVC endothelium was damaged and its tributaries were not ligated. In group C, no damage was done to the endothelium of the IVC but all its tributaries were ligated. A sham-operated group served as control. The length and weight of the vinous thrombus and the percentage of the IVC luminal area were compared after operation to determine the optimum animal model of venous thrombosis. According to the best mode to establish the model, the thrombus specimens were collected and detected by HE and Masson staining, and the ED-1 expressions were examined by immunohistochemical staining after thrombus formation in 30 rats. The natural evolution of intravenous thrombolysis was analyzed dynamically and the cell types involved in this process were observed. Results Gross observation showed that the experimental group was successfully induced thrombus formation. The thrombus length and weight in group A was significantly higher than that in group B and group C, and no difference between group B and C. The thrombus area in group A was significantly higher than that in groups B and group C, which identified the group A was the optimal model group of venous thrombosis. In the group reproduced by the best mode of the model, HE and Masson staining results showed that new capillaries and the components of collagen and extracellular matrix increased gradually with the passage of time in the process of thrombus resolution. ED-1 staining indicated a massive infiltration with macrophages during the thrombus resolution. The results of inferior vena cavography showed that natural resolution of the IVC thrombus and complete revascularization needed 3 or 4 weeks. Conclusions The morphological changes in venous thrombus induced by narrow lumen combined with ligation and vessel injury of the IVC in rats are similar to those in human being, which could be a preferred method to establish animal model of deep venous thrombosis. The evolution of natural thrombus resolution comprises angiogenesis and the macrophages play an important role in this process.
ABSTRACT
Three cases of medallion-like dermal dendrocyte hamartoma are reported.The patients included two men and one woman,and were aged from 2 to 38 years.All the patients presented with medallion-shaped,welldefined,slightly atrophic and asymptomatic congenital patches with prominently dilated superficial veins that had grown proportionately with the body length.Histological examination revealed similar changes in all of these patients,including epidermal atrophy and dermal proliferation of spindle cells,which stained positive for CD34,factor ⅩⅢa and vimentin,but negative for S100,CD68,CDla,CD31 and smooth muscle actin (SMA).None of the patients received special therapy,and the lesions enlarged slightly with body growth within 3-4 years of follow-up after the diagnosis.
ABSTRACT
Objective To assess pathological features of muscles as well as microvascular changes between muscle fibers in patients with dermatomyositis (DM),and to analyze pathological differences in muscles between DM and polymyositis (PM).Methods Specimens were obtained from involved muscles of 16 patients with DM,5 patients with PM,and from normal muscles of 9 patients with bone trauma (controls).Routine histopathological examination and immunohistochemical staining for CD34 and CD61 were conducted.Results Of the 16 patients with DM,6 (37.5％) had perifascicular atrophy,3 ( 18.8 ％) had an obvious inflammatory cell infiltration around microvessels between muscle fibers.Perifascicular atrophy was absent in muscle specimens from patients with PM or bone trauma.The number of CD34-positive microvessels between muscle fibers was reduced in patients with DM,but normal in those with PM.CD61 was positive in perifascicular area of 10 patients (5 moderately positive and 5 weakly positive) with DM,with an expression rate of 62.5％,however,only 1 case of PM was weakly positive for CD61,and all the controls were negative.Conclusions There is a decrease in the number of microvessels but an enhancement of neovascularization between muscle fibers in involved muscles of patients with DM,which may serve as a pathological marker to distinguish DM from PM.
ABSTRACT
Radiation-induced stomatitis is a frequent side effect for head and neck cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy, which affects both the treatment and the life quality. The direct effects of radiation, oxidative stress, transcription factor, proinflammatory cytokine and pathogenic microorganism are involved in the onset of radiation-induced stomatitis. The pathologic process can be divided into five phases including initiation, up-regulation, amplification, ulceration and healing. Understanding of the pathogenesis and risk factors provides basis for prevention and control of radiation-induced stomatitis.