Semi-automatic Image Analysis System Research Articles

Contact relationships between vascular smooth muscle cells: an in vivo and in vitro study.

Cell/cell contacts in the intact media of the rat thoracic aorta and inferior vena cava, and in cultured smooth muscle cells from these vessels have been quantified in order to determine whether their density and their type can be correlated with the differences in load at these two sites. The type and number of contacts per 100 microns of cell perimeter and per 100 cells were determined with a semi-automatic image analysis system. In all cases there was a predominance of simple appositions; intermediate junctions, interdigitations, and nexus junctions were less frequently observed. There were more cell contacts of each type in the intact arteries than in the intact veins. In cell cultures, all types of cell contacts were increased but the proportion of load bearing types was reduced.

Morphological heterogeneity and functional status of alveolar macrophages obtained by bronchoalveolar lavage during development of tuberculous inflammation in guinea pigs

Sa The method of studying the pulmonary microcirculation described above thus enabled: I) trauma associated with fixation of the lungs to be abolished; 2) the capillary circulation to be studied in a wide area of the lungs, with the chest closed, and without disturbance of physiological excursions of the chest wall; 3) photographs of sufficiently high quality for studying quantitative parameters of the pulmonary microcirculatory system by the Leitz ASM semiautomatic image analysis system to be obtained, thereby increasing the accuracy of the measurements and speeding up analysis of the experimental results. LITERATURE CITED 24-008.953.3-092.9-076

Intercellular contacts in tumours of the vascular smooth muscle cells in man.

Electron microscopy has been used to study the cell to cell and cell to stroma contacts between smooth muscle cells (SMC) in normal vessels, angiomyolipoma and well and poorly differentiated vascular leiomyosarcoma. Micrographs were examined with a semiautomatic image analysis system. The length of the cell borders was calculated and the type and number of contacts per 100 micron cell perimeter and per 100 cells were determined. In all cases there was a predominance of simple appositions. Intermediate junctions, nexus junctions, interdigitations, intermediate contacts and junctional interdigitations were less frequently observed. In general, as the SMC become malignant and less differentiated the number of cell to stroma attachments decreases markedly and the intercellular contacts increase slightly.

Quantitative immunocytochemistry by digital image analysis: application to toxicologic pathology.

Recent advances in immunocytochemical techniques allow the localization of specific antigens in tissue sections. The work reported here attempts to evaluate the application of antibody-labeled, disease-related protein, followed by microscopy and computerized image analysis. Using an experimental anti-tumor, polyclonal antibody (anti-oncomodulin) as a model, various tissues were prepared for light microscope immunocytochemistry. Sections were incubated with primary antibody, then biotinylated secondary antibody. This was followed by incubation with avidin-biotin-peroxidase (ABC method). Marker was visualized by the presence of precipitated diaminobenzidine. Samples were evaluated using a Zeiss/Kontron IBAS I & II semi-automatic digital image analysis system. Statistical analyses were performed on output data. Results demonstrated the localization and determined optical density of immunolabel. Statistical comparisons showed significant differences between control and experimental sections. The practical application of these combined techniques provides the toxicologic pathologist with a powerful tool for accurate and objective determination of the location and relative amount of selected proteins in normal and abnormal tissues.

Spermiometrics: the method and its clinical application

Objective and reproducible determinations of sperm motility and morphology are achieved using a semi-automatic image analysis system under optomanual control. The method was used to evaluate the short-and long-term effects of the operative treatment of varicocele on sperm density, motility and velocity in 27 men with left-sided varicosities. Whereas a significant improvement (p=0.0001) in sperm density was found within 3 months after surgery, almost no increases in sperm motility and velocity occurred. The actual post-operative improvement in sperm density did not correlate with the preoperative sperm counts (r=0.291). Between the preoperative values of motility and velocity and the postoperative improvement, however, a negative correlation of −0.431 and −0.759, respectively, was found. Considering the 21 patients, who were followed up for a minimum of 9 months, a sustained increase in sperm density, motility and velocity of at least 50% was observed in 14 (66.7%), 7 (33.3%) and 5 (23.8%), respectively. In general, the better results were obtained in the group with the poorer preoperative semen characteristics. However, only 4 patients (19%) showed a lasting improvement in all 3 parameters. Even more interesting was the sustained decrease in sperm velocity observed in 9 men (42.9%), who had rather good preoperative values. It is concluded, that a timely operative treatment of varicocele might prevent further impairment of semen quality. However, more research on the natural course of varicocele is necessary.

Radiographically detectable intracortical porosity. The dimensions and frequencies of its components in hand bones of normal men and women.

Since the measurement of intracortical resorptive spaces by histologic methods is difficult and very few data are available in normal humans, we have measured their lengths and widths and calculated the intracortical porosity in metacarpals and phalanges of 79 normal women and 69 normal men, using fine-detail radiographs of the hands and a computerized semi-automatic image analysis system (Zeiss MOP-3), this being the first study of this kind. Several methodological problems were solved satisfactorily, and the results of this study could serve as a data bank for further investigations concerned with intracortical resorption. Significant differences were found between age and sex versus several intracortical resorptive parameters; also significant correlations were found with age in some cases. Normal intracortical porosity was found to be about three times greater in the proximal phalanges than in the metacarpals. It is concluded that this methodology could be used for further studies of intracortical resorption in osteoporosis and other metabolic bone diseases.

Periosteal resorption and periosteal neostosis: Comparison of normal subjects and renal failure patients on chronic ambulatory peritoneal dialysis using MOP-3 image analysis system and a grading method

This is the first known attempt to quantitate periosteal resorption (PR) and perisoteal neostosis (PN) by a semi-automatic image analysis system (Zeiss MOP-3). The normal ranges and errors for PR were found to be similar to those of a previous study using a measuring magnifier. The findings in chronic renal failure patients showed that MOP-3 measurements were actually diagnostically slightly less sensitive than the results by a simple grading method. Comparison with plasma-immunoreactive parathyroid hormone (iPTH) concentrations showed that while the latter had a higher sensitivity for detection of hyperparathyroidism, the radiologic parameters nevertheless showed abnormal PR in 12% of the observations where iPTH was normal. Both PR and PN correlated significantly with iPTH (r = 0.55 and 0.30 respectively, P less than 0.01).

Changes in porosity of graphite caused by radiolytic gasification by carbon dioxide

Methods have been developed to study porosity in nuclear grade graphite. The changes induced during the radiolytic gasification of graphite in carbon dioxide have been investigated. Porosity in radiolytically gasified graphite (0–22.8% wt. loss) was examined by optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Each sample was vacuum impregnated with a slow-setting resin containing a fluorescent dye. Optical microscopy was used to study pores > 2 μm 2 c.s.a. A semi-automatic image analysis system linked to the optical microscope enabled pore parameter data including cross-sectional areas, perimeters, Feret's diameters and shape factors, to be collected. The results showed that radiolytic gasification produced a large increase in the number of pores <100 μ 2 c.s.a. New open pores <2 μm 2 c.s.a. were developed by gasification of existing open porosity into the closed porosity (<2 μm 2 c.s.a.) within the binder-coke. Open pores, 2–100 μm 2 c.s.a., which were gasified within the coarse-grained mosaics of the binder-coke. In the gasification process to 22.8% wt. loss, the apparent open pore volume increased from 6.6 to 33.8% and the apparent closed pore volumes decreased from ~3% to 0.1%. The increase in apparent open porosity from 6.6% (virgin) to 33.8% resulted from gasification within original open porosity and by the opening and development of closed porosity. There was no evidence for creation of porosity from within the “bulk” graphite, it being developed from existing fine porosity. The structure of pores > 100 μm 2 c.s.a. showed no change because of the inhibition of oxidation by deposition of carbonaceous species from the CH 4 inhibitor. Such species diffuse to the pore wall and are sacrificially oxidised.

Surface morphology relations between corneal endothelial cells of various sizes

Investigations of polymorphous corneal endothelium layers with the semi-automatic image analysis system "Videoplan" show that the perimeters of the large cells are more nearly circular than those of the neighboring small cells. The consequences of these observations are discussed with regard to the functional reserves of cells of different sizes and to the decompensation of the corneal endothelium after severe damage.

Spermiometrics: objective and reproducible methods for evaluating sperm morphology.

An approach was made to replace the subjective evaluation of human sperm morphology by an objective method applicable in routine laboratories. 20 patients out of infertile marriages (G2 and G3) were compared with 10 normal, fertile men (G1). Two different methods were used. Highly developed instruments and techniques were used in method 1, and cheap and simple ones, designed for routine laboratories, in method 2. Head area, circumference, length, and maximal midpiece width of 100 spermatozoa/subject were determined by a semi-automatic image analysis system. Head variation and average midpiece width were clearly bigger in G2 and G3 than in G1. As a result, formulae were developed, determining the pathological alteration of sperm head and midpiece for the individual semen. In addition, an objective classification into different sperm types was elaborated. Using the developed formulae, results of methods 1 and 2 are well in agreement. Thus, method 2 is recommended for routine laboratories, allowing an objective and reproducible morphology determination within 30 min.