Automated image analysis for bladder cancer

The genetic and epigenetic changes that occur during cancer development result in apparent morphological changes. Light microscopic image analysis provides objective assessment of cellular and nuclear morphology. The complexity of changes reflects the basic nature of dedifferentitation: a multi-hit process. Image analysis methods proved valuable for the assessment of malignancy in bladder cancer. Clinically applicable systems have been developed to diagnose urothelial cell cancer and predict prognosis. What is the place of these systems in daily practice?     

Regional change in brain morphometry in schizophrenia associated with antipsychotic treatment

The purpose of this pilot study was to: (1) determine if regional brain volume change occurs in schizophrenia patients during very short periods of withdrawal from, or stable treatment with, antipsychotics, and; (2) compare results of region-of-interest (ROI) to voxel-based morphometry (VBM) methods. In two small groups of schizophrenic inpatients, magnetic resonance imaging was performed before and after antipsychotic withdrawal, and at two time points during stable chronic antipsychotic treatment. Regional brain volumes were measured using ROI methods. Grey matter volume was measured with VBM. The medication withdrawal group showed no effect of treatment state or antipsychotic type on regional brain volumes with ROI analysis, but effects of both treatment state and antipsychotic type on grey matter volume were observed with VBM in right middle frontal, right medial frontal, right and left superior frontal, right cingulate, and right superior temporal gyrii as well as in the right and left hippocampal gyrii. The chronic stable treatment group showed an effect of time on right caudate, left hippocampal, and total cerebrospinal fluid volumes with ROI analysis, while effects of both time and antipsychotic type were observed with VBM on grey matter volume in the left superior temporal lobe. No findings survived correction for multiple comparisons. A positive correlation between regional volume change and emerging psychopathology was demonstrated using ROI methods in the medication withdrawal group. Treatment state and emergent symptoms in schizophrenia patients were associated with regional volume change over very short time periods. Longitudinal regional brain volume change in schizophrenia patients is likely physiologic and therefore potentially reversible.     

实验性肺癌研究中的形态计量及DNA含量测定

就形态学计量和ＤＮＡ含量测定在实验性肺癌研究中的应用作一综述．     

The articular surfaces of the proximal segment of ulna: Morphometry and morphomechanics based on digital image analysis and concepts of fractal geometry

Introduction

The elbow joint is a compound joint made of articulations in between the humerus, ulna and the radius. The coupling areas (joints) are of prime importance from the kinetic-biomechanical perspective and of potential inter-ethnic significance. These articulations can be affected by several pathologies that may require medical and surgical interference. This experimental analysis aims to infer data in relation to the morphometry of the proximal segment of the ulna and its articular surfaces represented by the greater sigmoid notch (trochlear notch) and lesser sigmoid notch (radial notch).

Histomorphometrical analysis of microvascular abnormalities in connective tissue diseases

The aim of the study was to evaluate morphologic alterations of microvessels quantitatively and objectively in patients with various connective tissue diseases (CTD) by means of histomorphometry. Standardized histomorphometrical examination of dermal microvessels was performed by means of interactive semi-automated image analysis in specimens obtained by the technique of capillaroscopically guided nailfold biopsy in 31 patients with various CTD and 8 controls without CTD. Histomorphometry revealed a significant enlargement, an increased dysmorphia and a diminished number of microvessels as well as an increased papillary area in CTD-patients compared to controls. The most severe alterations of microvessels were seen in scleroderma and MCTD, whereas in SLE the morphometrically observed changes were less impressive. By means of histomorphometry morphological changes of the microvasculature can be analyzed quantitatively and objectively. Since differences regarding nature and extent of the microvascular injury between particular conditions can be disclosed by the technique, this approach may be a useful tool to identify distinct patterns of microangiopathy in the various types of CTD.     

大鼠脾脏主要结构的发育——从出生至12月龄的形态学定量

目的定量研究大鼠从出生至12月龄脾脏主要结构的发育情况。方法从同群正常雄性SD大鼠中,在不同发育阶段(1d和1、3、6、12个月)随机抽选动物,每个年龄组6~7只。取完整的脾脏,切取组织块制作甲基丙烯酸树脂包埋切片,经过碘酸-雪夫试剂和苏木素染色后用体视学方法定量研究脾内主要组织结构的总体积。结果从1d至1月龄,大鼠脾脏体积增长了6.7倍,从1月至3月又增长了2.0倍,从3至12月只增加了39%。脾脏在1日龄已形成动脉周围淋巴鞘,1月形成边缘区,3月形成脾小结,且脾血窦里充满血液。3~12月龄脾内白髓、红髓所占体积比例稳定,分别为23%~27%、67%~70%。结论大鼠脾脏在3月龄前生长快速,发育成熟,之后仍继续生长,但变化不明显。     

Hyaluronidases and hyaluronan synthases expression is inversely correlated with malignancy in lung/bronchial pre-neoplastic and neoplastic lesions, affecting prognosis

We collected a series of 136 lung/bronchial and 56 matched lung parenchyma tissue samples from patients who underwent lung/bronchial biopsies and presented invasive carcinoma after lung surgery. The lung/bronchial samples included basal cell hyperplasia, squamous metaplasia, moderate dysplasia, adenomatous hyperplasia, severe dysplasia, squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma. Matched lung parenchyma tissue samples included 25 squamous cell carcinomas and 31 adenocarcinomas. Immunohistochemistry was performed to analyze for the distribution of hyaluronidase (Hyal)-1 and −3, and hyaluronan synthases (HAS)-1, −2, and −3. Hyal-1 showed significantly higher expression in basal cell hyperplasia than in moderate dysplasia (P=0.01), atypical adenomatous hyperplasia (P=0.0001), or severe dysplasia (P=0.03). Lower expression of Hyal-3 was found in atypical adenomatous hyperplasia than in basal cell hyperplasia (P=0.01) or moderate dysplasia (P=0.02). HAS-2 was significantly higher in severe dysplasia (P=0.002) and in squamous metaplasia (P=0.04) compared with basal cell hyperplasia. HAS-3 was significantly expressed in basal cell hyperplasia compared with atypical adenomatous hyperplasia (P=0.05) and severe dysplasia (P=0.02). Lower expression of HAS-3 was found in severe dysplasia compared with squamous metaplasia (P=0.01) and moderate dysplasia (P=0.01). Epithelial Hyal-1 and −3 and HAS-1, −2, and −3 expressions were significantly higher in pre-neoplastic lesions than in neoplastic lesions. Comparative Cox multivariate analysis controlled by N stage and histologic tumor type showed that patients with high HAS-3 expression in pre-neoplastic cells obtained by lung/bronchial biopsy presented a significantly higher risk of death (HR=1.19; P=0.04). We concluded that localization of Hyal and HAS in lung/bronchial pre-neoplastic and neoplastic lesions was inversely related to malignancy, which implied that visualizing these factors could be a useful diagnostic procedure for suspected lung cancer. Finalizing this conclusion will require a wider study in a randomized and prospective trial.     

A quantitative approach to blastocyst quality evaluation: morphometric analysis and related IVF outcomes

Purpose

To quantify blastocyst morphologic parameters with a feasible and standardized tool, investigating their predictive value on implantation outcome.

Method

The study retrospectively analyzes 124 blastocysts from 75 patients. Quantitative measurements of blastocyst expansion, inner cell mass and trophoectoderm were taken using digital image analysis software.

Result(s)

Blastocysts areas were found to be ranging from 11626.2 up to 35076.4 μm². The area of an early blastocyst is A ≤ 18500 μm² with a mean diameter d = 140 ± 9 μm, and the area of an expanded blastocyst is A ≥ 24000 with d = 190 ± 9 μm. While blastocyst mean area was not related to implantation rate, more expanded blastocysts displayed a significantly higher implantation rate. Trophoectoderm cell number is a predictor of positive outcome: since a higher of cells (25.6 ± 11.3 vs 16.3 ± 12.8) `forming a tightly knit epithelium is prognostic of implantation potential. Conversely, inner cell mass size is significantly related to implantation only in expanded blastocysts (3122.7 ± 739.0 vs. 2978.1 ± 366.0 μm²).

Conclusion(s)

Evaluation of blastocyst morphology with a digital image system could be a valuable tool to standardize blastocyst grading based on quantitative parameters. Therefore, digital analysis may be helpful in identifying the best blastocyst to transfer.     

Mediterranean diet habits in older individuals: Associations with cognitive functioning and brain volumes

To examine the association between dietary habits, cognitive functioning and brain volumes in older individuals, data from 194 cognitively healthy individuals who participated in the Prospective Investigation of the Vasculature in Uppsala Seniors cohort were used. At age 70, participants kept diaries of their food intake for 1 week. These records were used to calculate a Mediterranean diet (MeDi) score (comprising dietary habits traditionally found in Mediterranean countries, e.g. high intake of fruits and low intake of meat), with higher scores indicating more pronounced MeDi-like dietary habits. Five years later, participants' cognitive capabilities were examined by the seven minute screening (7MS) (a cognitive test battery used by clinicians to screen for dementia), and their brain volumes were measured by volumetric magnetic resonance imaging. Multivariate linear regression analyses were constructed to examine the association between the total MeDi score and cognitive functioning and brain volumes. In addition, possible associations between MeDi's eight dietary features and cognitive functioning and brain volumes were investigated. From the eight dietary features included in the MeDi score, pertaining to a low consumption of meat and meat products was linked to a better performance on the 7MS test (P = 0.001) and greater total brain volume (i.e. the sum of white and gray matter, P = 0.03) when controlling for potential confounders (e.g. BMI) in the analysis. Integrating all dietary features into the total MeDi score explained less variance in cognitive functioning and brain volumes than its single dietary component meat intake. These observational findings suggest that keeping to a low meat intake could prove to be an impact-driven public health policy to support healthy cognitive aging, when confirmed by longitudinal studies. Further, they suggest that the MeDi score is a construct that may mask possible associations of single MeDi features with brain health domains in elderly populations.