Computer-assisted Image Analysis Research Articles

Echotextural evaluation of ultrasonographic images of the uterus in non-pregnant and pregnant Awassi ewes using computer-assisted image analysis

The aim of this study is to determine how physiological changes occurring in the uterus during early pregnancy affect echotexture values by computer-assisted analysis of ultrasonographic images of the uterus in pregnant and non-pregnant ewes. It was also aimed to clarify the relationship between the echotextural parameters and progesterone (P4) hormone in this period. A total of 40 Awassi ewes were used in the study, as Group 1 (n=20) not pregnant ewes, and Group 2 (n=20) pregnant ewes. Transrectal ultrasonography was applied on days 4, 7, 10, 13, 15, 16, and 17 after natural mating and the uterus tissue images were recorded. Blood samples were taken for the measurement of progesterone hormone. Measurements were taken on the uterus ultrasonographic images of the mean grayness value (MGV), homogeneity (HOM), and contrast (CON). In the statistical analyses of the data, two-way repeated measures ANOVA were examined with variance analysis and the Pearson test. It was found a time-related significant difference in the echotexture parameters within the groups of the pregnant and non-pregnant ewes in respect of the MGV, HOM, and CON values (P<0.05). The MGV and HOM values in all the days when measurements were taken after natural mating were significantly higher in the non-pregnant ewes compared to the pregnant group (P<0.001). The CON value was significantly higher in the pregnant ewes than the non-pregnant ewes in all days of measurement after natural mating (P<0.001). A time-related statistically significant difference was determined in the serum P4 within the groups of pregnant and non-pregnant ewes (P<0.001) and it was higher in the pregnant ewes (P<0.001). A significant negative correlation was determined between P4 and MGV, and between P4 and HOM, and a significant positive correlation between P4 and CON. In conclusion, it was found a significant difference between the pregnant and non-pregnant ewes in respect of the echotextural evaluation of the uterus and the measurement of P4 hormone. In ewes farming, the early determination of pregnancy and early determination of ewes that are not pregnant gives the opportunity for repeat mating, and the evaluation of changes occurring in the uterus by computer-assisted image analysis can be used as an assistive method for providing additional nutrition in pregnant ewes.

A conditional generative adversarial networks and Yolov5 Darknet -based skin lesion localization and classification using independent component analysis model

Automated diagnosis systems significantly improve the early detection of skin cancer, thereby contributing to its successful treatment. Skin lesion segmentation represents a crucial yet challenging issue within the realm of computer-assisted dermoscopy image analysis. Numerous segmentation techniques reliant on convolutional neural networks falter in achieving precise lesion boundaries due to the diminishing spatial scale of feature maps as they traverse through network layers. Nonetheless, neural networks demand a substantial amount of data, which presents a notable obstacle in the medical field. More data, and possibly a pre-trained model tailored to medical images, are imperative. Researchers have resorted to extensive augmentation and preprocessing methods, as well as fine-tuning the network using pre-trained models on unrelated images, in order to address the challenge of lesion segmentation as the initial step in skin cancer analysis. This arises from the fact that datasets are limited in size and encompass a diverse array of images, varying in terms of lighting, color, scale, and markings. The proposed method addresses the issue of precisely locating and classifying skin lesions in dermatological images. The architecture of Conditional Generative Adversarial Networks (cGAN) enables the generation of high-resolution, contextually pertinent images, thereby enhancing the discriminative properties of skin lesions. YOLOv5 Darknet has an effective object detection mechanism that aids in precise lesion localization. Independent component analysis (ICA), a signal processing technique that identifies statistically separate components from diverse data sources, is employed to improve the model's robustness and interpretability further. This facilitates extracting latent features from the combined dermatological images and data collection, thereby enhancing the model's understanding of complex lesion characteristics. According to experimental results on an extensive dermatological data set, the proposed cGAN-YOLOv5 technique is effective. In pinpointing and classifying lesion locations, the hybrid model outperforms the competition. The synergistic integration of cGANs, YOLOv5 Darknet, and ICA demonstrates the effectiveness of multifaceted integration in enhancing medical image analysis. Using high-resolution feature blocks and a noise-suppressing attention method, cGAN-YOLOv5 is proposed. Therefore, the proposed strategy segments skin lesions effectively.

Computer-assisted image analysis of preexisting histological patterns of the cephalic vein to predict wrist arteriovenous fistula non-maturation

BackgroundWe used computer-assisted image analysis to determine whether preexisting histological features of the cephalic vein influence the risk of non-maturation of wrist fistulas. MethodsThis study focused on patients aged 20–80 years who underwent their first wrist fistula creation. A total of 206 patients participated, and vein samples for Masson's trichrome staining were collected from 134 patients. From these, 94 patients provided a complete girth of the venous specimen for automatic image analysis. Maturation was assessed using ultrasound within 90 days after surgery. ResultsThe collagen to muscle ratio in the target vein, measured by computer-assisted imaging, was a strong predictor of non-maturation in wrist fistulas. Receiver operating characteristic analysis revealed an area under the curve of 0.864 (95% confidence interval of 0.782–0.946, p < 0.001). The optimal cut-off value for the ratio was 1.138, as determined by the Youden index maximum method, with a sensitivity of 89.0% and specificity of 71.4%. For easy application, we used a cutoff value of 1.0; the non-maturation rates for patients with ratios >1 and ≤ 1 were 51.7% (15 out of 29 patients) and 9.2% (6 out of 65 patients), respectively. Chi-square testing revealed significantly different non-maturation rates between the two groups (X2 (1, N = 94) = 20.9, p < 0.01). ConclusionComputer-assisted image interpretation can help to quantify the preexisting histological patterns of the cephalic vein, while the collagen-to-muscle ratio can predict non-maturation of wrist fistula development at an early stage.

Effect of Hydroxyapatite on Alveolar Bone Regeneration in Various Dental Procedure: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background. The effect of hydroxyapatite (HA) bone substitute on alveolar bone regeneration has been analyzed in various dental procedures including ridge preservation, sinus augmentation, and periodontal bone defect treatment. The objective on this study was to determine and analyze the structural effect of the HA bone substitute in these dental applications. Methods. The systematic review was conducted using electronic databases from PUBMED, EMBASE, and COCHRANE. The search covered articles published from 1998 up to November 2023. The primary outcome measures were radiographic (intraoral periapical, CT long cone-paralleling technique, computer-assisted densitometry image analysis), histologic/histomorphometry, and other radiographic methods. The secondary outcome measures related to bone regeneration were assessed, including clinical, radiographic/histologic, and histological evaluations. Conclusion. The present systematic review focused on randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and prospective controlled clinical trials (CCTs). The results showed that HA and ß-TCP were found to be safe and clinically acceptable compared to other treatments.

The prediction of liver decompensation using hepatic collagen deposition assessed by computer-assisted image analysis with Masson’s trichrome stain

Background & Aim The current pathologic system classifies structural deformation caused by hepatic fibrosis semi-quantitatively, which may lead to a disagreement among pathologists. We measured hepatic fibrosis quantitatively using collagen proportionate area (CPA) in compensated cirrhotic patients and assessed its impact on predicting the development of liver decompensation. Method From January 2010 to June 2018, we assessed 101 patients who went through liver biopsy and received diagnosis as compensated cirrhosis with digital image analysis of CPA. Clinical and laboratory data were collected at the baseline and at the time of the last follow-up or progression to liver decompensation (LD). Result The mean age was 50.8 ± 10.5 years, and the most common etiology of liver disease was chronic hepatitis B (48.5%), followed by alcoholic hepatitis (18.8%). The mean CPA was 16.91 ± 9.60%. The mean CPA values were different in patients with and without LD development (21.8 ± 11.1 vs. 15.2 ± 8.5). During the median follow-up of 60.0 months, 26 out of 101 patients experienced LD. Older age (hazard ratio [HR],1.069; p = 0.015), prolonged international normalized ratio (HR, 6.449; p = 0.019) and higher CPA (HR, 1.049; p = 0.040) were independent predictors of liver decompensation on multivariate cox-regression analysis. When patients were divided according to the optimal CPA threshold (26.8%), higher CPA predicted LD better than lower CPA. (Log-rank test: p < 0.001) Conclusion CPA could be a useful quantitative prognostic value for patients with compensated cirrhosis.

Accuracy of Selective Enamel Etching: A Computer-assisted Imaging Analysis.

To assess the accuracy of selective enamel etching (SEE) in a laboratory setup simulating clinical conditions. A model with permanent human teeth was fabricated. It included a first mandibular molar with a mesio-occlusal-distal inlay preparation, a maxillary central incisor, and a canine with a class IV and class V cavity, respectively. Two dentists (with 1 year and 10 years work experience) repeatedly (n=10 per cavity) performed SEE with a custom gel that had identical rheological properties as a commercially available phosphoric acid etchant. An intraoral scanner was used for image acquisition. To assess the accuracy of SEE, special software was used (OraCheck, Cyfex, Zurich, Switzerland). Two independent investigators analyzed baseline scans and scans taken of the cavities while the gel was in place. The statistical analysis comprised t-tests, Pearson correlation, and analysis of variance (α=0.05). The level of accuracy, whose average values ranged from 61.1% to 87.0%, showed significant differences between teeth, with the highest level observed in the class V cavity, followed by the class II inlay preparation and the class IV cavity (p<0.001). Across the cavities, no significant correlation was observed between the application time and the accuracy of SEE (p=0.07). This laboratory study suggests that inadvertent conditioning of dentin adjacent to enamel may be common during SEE. Investigations involving larger samples of dentists are needed to corroborate this finding.

Clodronate Liposome-Mediated Phagocytic Hemocyte Depletion Affects the Regeneration of the Cephalic Tentacle of the Invasive Snail, Pomacea canaliculata.

After amputation, granular hemocytes infiltrate the blastema of regenerating cephalic tentacles of the freshwater snail Pomacea canaliculata. Here, the circulating phagocytic hemocytes were chemically depleted by injecting the snails with clodronate liposomes, and the effects on the cephalic tentacle regeneration onset and on Pc-Hemocyanin, Pc-transglutaminase (Pc-TG) and Pc-Allograft Inflammatory Factor-1 (Pc-AIF-1) gene expressions were investigated. Flow cytometry analysis demonstrated that clodronate liposomes targeted large circulating hemocytes, resulting in a transient decrease in their number. Corresponding with the phagocyte depletion, tentacle regeneration onset was halted, and it resumed at the expected pace when clodronate liposome effects were no longer visible. In addition to the regeneration progress, the expressions of Pc-Hemocyanin, Pc-TG, and Pc-AIF-1, which are markers of hemocyte-mediated functions like oxygen transport and immunity, clotting, and inflammation, were modified. After the injection of clodronate liposomes, a specific computer-assisted image analysis protocol still evidenced the presence of granular hemocytes in the tentacle blastema. This is consistent with reports indicating the large and agranular hemocyte population as the most represented among the professional phagocytes of P. canaliculata and with the hypothesis that different hemocyte morphologies could exert diverse biological functions, as it has been observed in other invertebrates.

(227) Analysis of Gene Expression of Vitamin D in Rats in Experimental Model of Peyronie's Disease and Human Penile Tunica Albuginea

Abstract Introduction Peyronie's disease (PD) is a penile connective tissue disorder that results in an inflammatory process, fibrotic plaque in the tunica albuginea (TA) and penile curvature. The molecular changes of fibrotic plaque formation are complex and include different cellular/protein mechanisms. Vitamin D (vitD) is a steroid hormone that has unconventional pathways of action, and among its effects it has already been described that it plays a role in extracellular matrix remodeling, in the immune response and in fibrosis. The literature regarding the action of vitD in the male genital system is scarce, and the gene expression of its receptors has not yet been demonstrated in penile TA. Objective To identify the gene expression of the vitD receptor in penile TA of rats submitted to the experimental model of PD and human penile TA. Methods The experimental model in rats divided into 2 groups (case and control) described before by Cohen et al. Human penile TA was achieved from Peyronie´s surgery cases and cadaveric controls. The antibody anti vitD (VDR D-6: sc-13133, Santa Cruz Biotechnology®, CA, USA) was used. Immunolabeling was carried out using the avidin-biotin-peroxidase complex method, and 3,3′-diaminobenzidine as liquid chromogen. In each case, the immunolabeling was quantified by computer-assisted digital image analysis following the methodology described by Matos et al. PCR real-time analyses followed the MIQE guideline10. One of the fractions of the tissue samples of the TA was stored in RNAholder. The extraction of total RNA from the samples was carried out using the reagent TRIzol®. The reverse transcription was performed using the reverse transcriptase enzyme ImPromII™ to obtain complementary DNA (cDNA). Messenger RNA expression of vitD was obtained by RT-PCR. Quantitative RT-PCR was carried out using pair of oligonucleotides endogenous RPL13a (human samples) and GAPDH (rat samples), known commercially as forward and reverse primers. It was performed statistical analysis with SPSS® version 17.0 (SPSS® Inc; Illinois, USA). Values were expressed as a mean and standard error with a significance level of 95% (p ≤ 0.05). The tests applied were One-Way ANOVA and unpaired t-test with Welch's correction, confirming the similarity between the variances. Sensitivity and specificity analysis was calculated following the Youden index. Ethical approval local committee number 06/2016. Results The vitD mRNA amplifications demonstrated the presence of its receptors in the penile TA in both the control and the case groups, and the expression of the control group was statistically higher (p &amp;lt; 0,0001) when compared to the case group in rats. In human samples, mRNA amplifications demonstrated the presence of its receptors in the penile TA in both the control and the case groups, and the expression of the control group was statistically lower (p &amp;lt; 0,0001) when compared to the case group. Conclusions The presence of vitD receptors (genic and proteic expression) in penile TA of rats Peyronies´ models and human TA was demonstrated and allows future studies regarding its regulation and modulation according to the evolution and phase of PD and vitD serum levels. Disclosure No

Decreased lamin A and B1 expression results in nuclear enlargement in serous ovarian carcinoma, whereas lamin A-expressing tumor cells metastasize to lymph nodes

BackgroundLamins, located beneath the nuclear membrane, are involved in maintaining nuclear stiffness and morphology. The nuclei of tumor cells are enlarged in serous carcinoma, a histologic subtype of ovarian cancer that is notable for its poor prognosis. The present study investigated the association of lamin A, B1, and B2 expression with nuclear morphology and metastatic route in serous ovarian carcinoma. MethodsWe performed immunohistochemistry for lamins A, B1, and B2 using specimens of patients who underwent surgery for serous ovarian carcinoma in Gunma University Hospital between 2009 and 2020. Following staining, the specimens were scanned using a whole-slide scanner and processed using computer-assisted image analysis. ResultsThe positivity rates for lamins A and B1 as well as the rank sum of the positivity rates for lamins A, B1, and B2 were negatively correlated with the mean and standard deviation of the nuclear area. Interestingly, the positivity rate for lamin A was significantly higher in metastatic lesions than in primary tumors in cases with lymph node metastasis. DiscussionPrevious studies indicated that decreased lamin A led to nuclear enlargement and deformation and that lamin B1 was required to maintain the meshworks of lamins A and B2 to maintain nuclear morphology. The present study findings suggest that decreased lamin A and B1 expression might lead to nuclear enlargement and deformation and raise the possibility that tumor cells maintaining or not losing lamin A expression might metastasize to lymph nodes.

The Prognostic Role of the Immune Microenvironment in Sinonasal Intestinal-Type Adenocarcinoma: A Computer-Assisted Image Analysis of CD3+ and CD8+ Tumor-Infiltrating Lymphocytes.

The prognostic value of conventional histopathological parameters in the sinonasal intestinal-type adenocarcinoma (ITAC) has been debated and novel variables should be investigated. Increasing evidence demonstrated that the evolution of cancer is strongly dependent upon the complex interactions within tumor microenvironment. The aim of this retrospective study was to assess the features of immune microenvironment in terms of CD3+ and CD8+ cells in a series of ITAC and explore their prognostic role, as well as their relations with clinicopathological variables. A computer-assisted image analysis of CD3+ and CD8+ tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) density was conducted on surgical specimens of 51 patients with ITAC that underwent a curative treatment including surgery. ITAC displays variable TIL density, which is associated with OS. In a univariate model, the density of CD3+ TIL was significantly related to OS (p = 0.012), whereas the association with CD8+ TIL density resulted in being non-significant (p = 0.056). Patients with intermediate CD3+ TIL density were associated with the best outcome, whereas 5-year OS was the lowest for intermediate CD8+ TIL density. CD3+ TIL density maintained a significant association with OS in the multivariable analysis. TIL density was not significantly related to demographic and clinicopathological variables. CD3+ TIL density was independently associated with OS in a non-linear fashion and patients with intermediate CD3+ TIL density had the best outcome. Though based on a preliminary analysis on a relatively small series of patients, this finding makes TIL density a potential independent prognostic factor of ITAC.

MP27-11 CORRELATION OF PENILE GRAYSCALE PHARMACO-ULTRASONOGRAPHY WITH ERECTILE TISSUE COMPOSITION IN MEN WITH ERECTILE DYSFUNCTION

You have accessJournal of UrologyCME1 Apr 2023MP27-11 CORRELATION OF PENILE GRAYSCALE PHARMACO-ULTRASONOGRAPHY WITH ERECTILE TISSUE COMPOSITION IN MEN WITH ERECTILE DYSFUNCTION Noel Kim, Alyssa Yee, Andrew Goldstein, Sue Goldstein, and Irwin Goldstein Noel KimNoel Kim More articles by this author , Alyssa YeeAlyssa Yee More articles by this author , Andrew GoldsteinAndrew Goldstein More articles by this author , Sue GoldsteinSue Goldstein More articles by this author , and Irwin GoldsteinIrwin Goldstein More articles by this author View All Author Informationhttps://doi.org/10.1097/JU.0000000000003255.11AboutPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissionsReprints ShareFacebookLinked InTwitterEmail Abstract INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE: Previous studies have shown that pre-operative in-office erectile function testing (pharmacocavernosometry) was correlated with erectile tissue composition (ETC) as determined by color histomorphometry on tissue samples removed during penile prosthesis insertion. Corporal veno-occlusive function (CVOF) was found to be normal at 45-50% smooth muscle cell content (SMCC). CVOF significantly worsened in an exponential relationship when SMCC was 40-25%. Below 25% SMCC, there was no recordable CVOF. We previously reported that using Grayscale pharmaco-ultrasonography (GPUS), a less invasive diagnostic assessment for ED than pharmacocavernosometry, % hypoechoic area (HA) in the corpora cavernosa (CC) negatively correlates with the erectile function domain score of the IIEF. In this study, we examined the relationship between % HA on GPUS and ETC in men with ED. METHODS: Pre-operative proximal shaft axial plane GPUS images were obtained using a 15.4 MHz probe (Aixplorer), gain setting 45%, dynamic range 70dB. % HA within the CC was assessed by computer-assisted image analysis using Image J. During penile prosthesis surgery, CC tissue from the proximal shaft was biopsied for histological analysis (n=10). Formalin-fixed (10%), paraffin-embedded tissue sections (5 µm) were stained with Masson’s trichrome. Photomicrographs were also analyzed by Image J using the Masson trichrome vector of the color deconvolution plugin. ETC was determined by assessing fractional areas of cellular content, consistent with SMCC, and extracellular matrix (ECM), consistent with erectile tissue fibrosis, from the red and blue channels, respectively. RESULTS: % HA was poorly correlated to % ECM area by linear regression analysis (r2=0.267). However, a non-linear regression model (exponential growth curve) provided a better fit (r2=0.660) with an inflection point at 40% ECM (see Figure 5). The abrupt shift is similar to the previously reported CVOF curve using pharmacocavernosometry. CONCLUSIONS: Estimation of % HA on GPUS images may be a useful, non-invasive assessment of ETC. Larger cohorts of ED patients are needed to verify the clinical utility of GPUS to predict CVOF. Source of Funding: None © 2023 by American Urological Association Education and Research, Inc.FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Volume 209Issue Supplement 4April 2023Page: e366 Advertisement Copyright & Permissions© 2023 by American Urological Association Education and Research, Inc.MetricsAuthor Information Noel Kim More articles by this author Alyssa Yee More articles by this author Andrew Goldstein More articles by this author Sue Goldstein More articles by this author Irwin Goldstein More articles by this author Expand All Advertisement PDF downloadLoading ...

DJ-1 Oncogene as a Potential Diagnostic and Prognostic Biomarker for Head and Neck Cancer.

Background Current methods used to diagnose and prognosticate oropharyngeal cancer have contributed to unfavorable patientsurvival rates that have not significantly improved for the last several decades. Precision medicine oncology relies on molecular diagnostics and biomarkers to supplement existing methods of detecting and prognosticating cancers. This study evaluated the expression of DJ-1, an oncogene that is implicated in the pathogenesis of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), the most common type of head and neck cancer, to determine its utility as a diagnostic and prognostic biomarker. Methodology Immunohistochemistry (IHC) was performed on 13 normal oral mucosa tissue samples and 143 OSCC tissue samples of varying histopathological grades. Computer-assisted image analysis was performed using the Aperio ImageScope software from Leica Biosystems (Buffalo Grove, IL), which utilizes an algorithm of positive pixel counting for the quantification of immunoreactivity and the percentage of positive cell staining, generating a histo-score (H-score). The comparisons of the average H-scores of the different groups were made using a two-tailed T-test with P ≤ 0.05 set as the level of significance. Results The study found a significant increase in DJ-1 expression in oral squamous cell carcinoma tissue samples in comparison to the normal oral mucosa tissue samples. Additionally, the study documented a significant upregulation in DJ-1 expression in the OSCC tissue samples with high histopathological grades compared to the OSCC tissue samples with low histopathological grades. Conclusions DJ-1 expression patterns were able to reliably differentiate between oral squamous cell carcinoma and the normal counterpart tissues of the oral mucosa, thereby highlighting its role as a potential diagnostic biomarker. Moreover, DJ-1 expression significantly correlates with the OSCC histological grade, which serves as an indicator of the differentiation status and a predictor of the biological behavior of malignant neoplasms, adding to DJ-1's potential utility as a prognostic biomarker for this common type of head and neck cancer.

Ultrasonography and computer-assisted assessment of postpartum uterine echotexture and its relationship with peripheral oxidative stress biomarkers in goats

The postpartum (PP) period is a crucial factor for the resumption of reproductive capacity and the regular cycling of goats. Until now, there is a lack of information on monitoring the PP uterine involution using morphological assessment of uterine echotexture by ultrasonography. This study aimed to use ultrasonography and computer software analysis for morphometrical evaluations of postpartum uterine involution in 30 pleuriparous Egyptian Balady goats from Day zero (kidding day) till Day 21 PP. Uterine echotexture (pixel intensity; PI and integrated density; ID) was assessed by the computer-assisted image analysis software. In addition, the changes in peripheral oxidative stress biomarkers were monitored by measuring superoxide dismutase (SOD; U/mL), glutathione peroxidase (GPx; U/mL) activities, and malondialdehyde (MDA; nmol/mL) levels in the sera during the PP period. Results revealed a significant (P < 0.001) reduction in the transverse uterine diameter from 8.05 ± 0.58 cm at Day zero to less than 2 cm at Day 16 PP onward. The uterus returned to its apparently normal non-pregnant state with the absence of lochia by Day 16.6 ± 1.35 PP. There were significant (P ˂ 0.0001) increases in the PI and ID of the endometrium with the progression of the PP days [Day 0: PI: 86.99 ± 8.61; ID (×1000): 82.09 ± 1.47 versus Day 12 PP: PI: 186.73 ± 5.62; ID (×1000): 355.17 ± 38.63]. Gradual elevations in the levels of SOD (0.33 ± 0.02 U/mL) and MDA (11.81 ± 0.21 nmol/mL) were found from Day 0 and reaching the maximum levels (SOD: 0.48 ± 0.12 U/mL; MDA: 15.31 ± 0.13 nmol/mL) at Day 6–7 PP. Concentrations of GPx increased gradually from Day 0 (65.23 ± 2.09 U/mL) till Day 21 PP (145.81 ± 2.99 U/mL). In conclusion, assessment of the changes in morphometrical and echotextural parameters of the uterus by ultrasonography as well as the oxidative stress biomarkers provided useful information in the progress and completion of the normal physiological PP uterine involution in goats.

Evaluation of Nuclear Morphometry and Ki-67 Proliferative Marker in Astrocytomas: A Ambispective Study

Introduction: Astrocytomas are the commonest primary Central Nervous System (CNS) tumours. Its diagnosis is based on histopathological criteria defined by the World Health Organization (WHO) 2016 that grades astrocytoma into four grades. The subjective nature of WHO grading has prompted for more objective methods to evaluate nuclear features. Furthermore, Ki-67, a marker of cellular proliferation is a useful diagnostic tool that also helps in prognostic evaluation and to plan adjuvant therapy in astrocytomas. Aim: To evaluate the nuclear morphometry and Ki-67 proliferative marker in astrocytomas and to assess the relationship of WHO grade with proliferative activity using Ki-67 immunostaining. Materials and Methods: This ambispective study was conducted in the Department of Pathology, JSS Academy of Higher Education and Research, Mysuru, Karnataka, India, with a total duration of four years (October 2017 to September 2021). From 35 astrocytoma cases, Haematoxylin and Eosin (H&amp;E) stained slides were retrieved and reviewed appropriately by two pathologists and graded using the WHO criteria. Nuclear morphometric analysis was performed on the H&amp;E slides using Olympus BX-41 research microscope. The parameters evaluated were mean nuclear length, mean nuclear diameter, mean nuclear perimeter, mean nuclear area, Mean Nuclear Roundness Factor (MNRF) and mean nuclear ellipse form. The cases were then stained with Ki-67 antibody. The relationships between WHO grade of astrocytoma and nuclear morphometry and WHO grade with proliferative index was analysed. Results: According to WHO grading, four cases were Grade 1 (11.4%), 12 grade 2 (34.3%), six grade 3 (17.1%) and 13 grade 4 (37.1%). Significant correlation was seen between WHO grading and mean nuclear length, diameter, perimeter, area and Ki-67 with p-value of less than 0.001. Conclusion: Astrocytoma is an extremely heterogeneous disease with unpredictable outcome. The widely used WHO grading is subjective, while nuclear morphometry, using computer assisted image analysis, can ensure more objective assessment. The Ki-67 index could provide valuable information and may compliment the other parameters.

A clinical investigation to assess the regenerative potential of Biostite® (hydroxyapatite, type-I collagen and chondroitin-sulphate) with or without Paroguide® type-I collagen and chondroitin sulphate) membrane in the treatment of periodontal intrabony defects appraised with surgical re-entry and computer-assisted densitometric image analysis.

The traditional treatment procedures which aimed at treating periodontal disease did not result in true periodontal regeneration. Unpredictability about osseous defect fill after periodontal flap surgery has stemmed in the research of a variety of regenerative materials. This randomized clinical trial was conducted to compare regenerative potential of Biostite® bone graft material with and without Paroguide® a bioresorbable membrane in the treatment of periodontal osseous defects. Twenty sites from a total of from ten patients were chosen for the study. Those sites were divided into experimental site A (Biostite®) and experimental site B (Biostite® with Paroguide®) at random. Plaque index and gingival index (GI) were the clinical parameters noted at baseline, 3rd, 6th and 9th months, whereas the probing pocket depth, clinical attachment level and gingival recession were noted at baseline, 6th and 9th months. Radiographic evaluation was made by using computer-assisted densitometric analysis. Intrasurgical measurements were done at baseline and 9 months. Statistical analysis was done using paired t-test and un-paired t-test. Both experimental site A and B showed a significant reduction in plaque and GI. All clinical parameters as well as radiographic image analysis showed highly significant improvement from baseline to 9 months for both sites. Inter-group comparison does not show statistically significant improvement. The results of this study suggested that both Biostite® bone graft and Paroguide® membrane have promised encouraging results in the management of periodontal intrabony defects, however, the groups did differed to each other statistically.

Binary and Multi-class Classification of Brain Tumors using MRI Images

A dangerous and potentially fatal condition is a brain tumor. Early detection of this disease is critical for determining the best course of treatment. Tumor detection and classification by human inspection is a time consuming, error-prone task involving huge amounts of data. Computer-assisted machine learning and image analysis techniques have achieved significant results in image processing. In this study, we use supervised and deep learning classifiers to detect and classify tumors using the MRI images from the BRATS 2020 dataset. At the outset, the proposed system classifies images as healthy or normal brains and brain having tumorous growth. We employ four supervised machine learning classifiers SVM, Decision tree, Naïve Bayes and Linear Regression, for the binary classification. Highest accuracy (96%) was achieved with SVM and DT, with SVM giving a better Recall rate of 98%. Thereafter, categorization of the tumor as Pituitary adenoma, Meningioma, or Glioma, is performed using supervised (SVM, DT) classifiers and a 6-layer Convolution Neural Network. CNN performs better than the other classifiers, with a 93% accuracy and 92% recall rate. The suggested system is employable as a powerful decision-support tool to assist radiologists and oncologists in clinical diagnosis without requiring invasive procedures like a biopsy.

Immunohistochemical and Histopathological Features of Persistent Gingival Enlargement in Relation to Metal Allergic Sensitisation during Orthodontic Treatment.

This study aimed to analyse the immunohistochemical profile of inflammatory infiltrates in the gingival tissue of patients undergoing orthodontic treatment in relation to patients’ titanium and/or nickel allergy status. Patients with gingival enlargement received initial periodontal therapy, followed by external gingivectomy in the case of persistent gingival enlargement. The sample included 44 patients (22 had metal allergic sensitisation). Histopathological changes were assessed, and an immunohistochemical analysis was performed on formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded gingival samples using antibodies against CD1a, CD3, CD4, CD8, CD20, CD68, and CD138. Computer-assisted image analysis was performed to evaluate the positive cell count in the gingival tissue. The gingiva of the sensitised patients was characterised by the absence of multifocal inflammatory infiltrates (p < 0.05), while pronounced exocytosis and band-like inflammatory infiltrates were more frequently observed in sensitised patients. In addition, there was an increase in Langerhans cells and T-helper lymphocytes and a decrease in naïve T-lymphocytes, cytotoxic T-lymphocytes, macrophages, and plasma cells in the sensitised subjects compared to non-sensitised. However, the differences were only statistically significant for macrophages, with a moderate effect size (82.8 vs. 133.9; p = 0.041; r = 0.308). The absence of multifocal inflammation appears to be the most characteristic histopathological feature of the gingiva of sensitised patients. Although their gingiva presented certain characteristics of late hypersensitivity immune reactions the observed changes imply dominant irritative effect e.

Negative correlation between the nuclear size and nuclear Lamina component Lamin A in intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms of the pancreas.

Background: The nuclear laminar protein Lamin A and inner nuclear membrane protein Emerin plays important role in sustaining nuclear structure. However, They have not investigated the significance of these proteins for development of pancreatic intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm (IPMN). Methods: We examined pancreatic IPMN specimens for nuclear morphology and nuclear protein expression pattern of Lamin A and Emerin. Forty-two IPMN specimens were included, with 30 classified as intraductal papillary mucinous adenoma (IPMA) and 12 as intraductal papillary mucinous carcinoma (IPMC). Results: Classification according to histological subtype revealed that 26 specimens were of the gastric subtype (1 IPMC case), 8 were pancreatobiliary (6 IPMC cases), 6 were intestinal (3 IPMC cases), and 2 were oncocytic (all cases were IPMC). The frequency of IPMN subtypes in this study seemed to agree with those in previous reports. We analyzed Feulgen staining sections for nuclear morphological analysis using computer-assisted image analysis. Nuclear area and perimeter were significantly larger in IPMC than in IPMA. Finally, we examined the positive ratios of Lamin A and Emerin in immunohistochemical staining sections by image analysis. We found a negative correlation between the nuclear size and Lamin A-positive ratio, which was significantly lower in IPMC than that in IPMA. However, no significant correlation was observed between nuclear size and Emerin expression was observed, and no differences were found in the Emerin-positive ratio between IPMA and IPMC. Conclusion: Our results suggest that a decreased Lamin A positive ratio induces nuclear enlargement in adenomas, which thereby induce promotion to carcinomas. Furthermore, Lamin A expression can be a reliable biomarker for distinguishing between IPMC and IPMA.

ERBB2 mutation is associated with sustained tumor cell proliferation after short-term preoperative endocrine therapy in early lobular breast cancer

Invasive lobular breast cancer (ILC) is a special breast cancer (BC) subtype and is mostly hormone receptor (HR)-positive and ERBB2 non-amplified. Endocrine therapy restrains tumor proliferation and is the mainstay of lobular BC treatment. Mutation of ERBB2 has been associated with recurrent ILC. However, it is unknown whether ERBB2 mutation impacts on the otherwise exquisite responsiveness of early ILC to endocrine therapy. We have recently profiled n = 622 HR-positive early BCs from the ADAPT trial for mutations in candidate genes involved in endocrine resistance, including ERBB2. All patients were treated with short-term preoperative endocrine therapy (pET, tamoxifen or aromatase inhibitors) before tumor resection. Tumor proliferation after endocrine therapy (post-pET Ki67 index) was determined prospectively by standardized central pathology assessment supported by computer-assisted image analysis. Sustained or suppressed proliferation were defined as post-pET Ki67 ≥10% or <10%. Here, we report a subgroup analysis pertaining to ILCs in this cohort. ILCs accounted for 179/622 (28.8%) cases. ILCs were enriched in mutations in CDH1 (124/179, 69.3%, P < 0.0001) and ERBB2 (14/179, 7.8%, P < 0.0001), but showed fewer mutations in TP53 (7/179, 3.9%, P = 0.0048) and GATA3 (11/179, 6.1%, P < 0.0001). Considering all BCs irrespective of subtypes, ERBB2 mutation was not associated with proliferation. In ILCs, however, ERBB2 mutations were 3.5-fold more common in cases with sustained post-pET proliferation compared to cases with suppressed post-pET proliferation (10/75, 13.3% versus 4/104, 3.8%, P = 0.0248). Moreover, ERBB2 mutation was associated with high Oncotype DX recurrence scores (P = 0.0087). In summary, our findings support that ERBB2 mutation influences endocrine responsiveness in early lobular BC.

Computer-assisted image analysis of agonist-mediated microvascular constriction response in mouse cremaster muscle.

In this work, we implemented an automated method using a correlation coefficient to select a time interval with a minimum movement or rest interval, together with analysis of variance for measurement of blood vessel diameter in the cremaster muscle. Video images binarization using analysis of variance resulted in an enhanced and a clearly defined vessel wall. Histamine (1 mM) induced a marked reduction in vascular diameter (vasoconstriction) in the cremaster muscle from mice fed with standard (SD) and high fat diet (HFD). However, the effect of histamine was reduced in HFD mice compared to SD mice. Thus, the change in vascular diameter was 87.14% ± 7.44% and 52.63% ± 16.27% in SD and HFD mice, respectively. In conclusion, determination of a rest interval with minimal movement and the use of analysis of variance resulted useful to evaluate vascular diameter in small arteries. We suggest this method to streamline experiments facilitating cardiovascular research.