Multiscale X-ray phase-contrast CT uncovers adaptive changes and compensatory mechanisms of circulatory pathways during acute liver injury.

Intrahepatic circulation is essential for the repair of acute liver injury (ALI); however, very limited information is available concerning changes in the circulatory pathways during ALI. Therefore, multi-scale X-ray phase-contrast CT combined with three-dimensional (3D) visualization is used to quantitatively analyze the intrahepatic circulation pathway (including the hepatic vein, portal vein and hepatic sinusoid) in the mouse model via the intraperitoneal injection of carbon tetrachloride (CCl) from acute injury to recovery. The results demonstrate that the liver still preserves some vessel-like channels accessed to the central vein when the injury causes the severe collapse of the hepatic sinusoids that cannot be observed in two-dimensional pathologic slices.

Multiscale X-ray phase-contrast CT unveils the evolution of bile infarct in obstructive biliary disease.

Bile infarct is a pivotal characteristic of obstructive biliary disease, but its evolution during the disease progression remains unclear. Our objective, therefore, is to explore morphological alterations of the bile infarct in the disease course by means of multiscale X-ray phase-contrast CT. Bile duct ligation is performed in mice to mimic the obstructive biliary disease.

Insight into microvascular adaptive alterations in the Glisson system of biliary atresia after Kasai portoenterostomy using X-ray phase-contrast CT.

Objectives: To investigate microvascular alterations in the Glisson system of biliary atresia (BA) patients after Kasai portoenterostomy (KP) using three-dimensional (3D) virtual histopathology based on X-ray phase-contrast CT (PCCT).

Methods: Liver explants from BA patients were imaged using PCCT, and 32 subjects were included and divided into two groups: KP (n = 16) and non-KP (n = 16). Combined with histological analysis and 3D visualization technology, 3D virtual histopathological assessment of the biliary, arterial, and portal venous systems was performed.

A method of three-dimensional branching geometry to differentiate the intrahepatic vascular type in early-stage liver fibrosis using X-ray phase-contrast CT.

Purpose: Differentiating the intrahepatic vascular type is essential for the early diagnosis of liver fibrosis. X-ray phase-contrast computed tomography (PCCT) is a label-free, high-resolution imaging modality for imaging vascular networks in a whole liver lobe. This study explores the use of three-dimensional (3D) branching geometry to differentiate between the hepatic vein (HV) and portal vein (PV) in early-stage liver fibrosis with PCCT.

High-resolution three-dimensional visualization of hepatic sinusoids in cirrhotic rats via serial histological sections.

Aim: As a specialized intraparenchymal vascular conduit, hepatic sinusoids play a key role in liver microcirculation. This study aimed to explore the three-dimensional (3D) morphological changes of cirrhotic sinusoids by serial histological sections.

Methods: Cirrhosis was induced by tail vein injection of albumin in Wistar rats with a positive antibody.

Phase-contrast computed tomography: A correlation study between portal pressure and three dimensional microvasculature of ex vivo liver samples from carbon tetrachloride-induced liver fibrosis in rats.

Objective: Microvascular changes in liver fibrosis are considered as an important pathophysiological characteristic. Now, there is a lack of high-resolution three-dimensional (3D) imaging methods for observing the microvasculature throughout the entire livers. This study aims to investigate the 3D microvascular changes in the whole fibrotic livers via X-ray phase-contrast computed tomography (PCCT) and explore the correlations between portal pressures and microvascular changes in liver fibrosis progression.