PubMed Health⌕ Search

SEARCH · PubMed Health

Results for “morphometry”

Explore indexed PubMed citations for clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health research. Read source abstracts and follow each citation to its original PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 1,297 records · Page 72Linked to original sources

Morphometry of sinusoids and portal hypertension in non-alcoholic cirrhosis.

To examine whether structural changes in hepatocytes and/or sinusoidal areas contribute to the portal hypertensive state in non-alcoholic cirrhosis, a new method of morphometric analysis using a computer-aided color image analyzer was performed in 16 patients with non-alcoholic cirrhosis, which allowed quantitative evaluation of various morphometric parameters of sinusoids and hepatocytes. The sinusoidal pressure gradient was estimated theoretically with these and clearance parameters using Poiseulle's equation and compared with the hepatic venous pressure gradient measure by hepatic vein cannulation. A significant relationship was found between the hepatic venous pressure gradient and sinusoidal volumetric ratio (r = -0.598, p < 0.05), but not between mean hepatocyte volume and sinusoidal volumetric ratio (r = 0.416, NS), or the hepatic venous pressure gradient (r = 0.371, NS). The estimated sinusoidal pressure gradient showed a significant relationship with the hepatic venous pressure gradient (r = 0.637, p < 0.01). However, the absolute values of the former were much lower than those of the latter. Therefore, in non-alcoholic cirrhosis, although sinusoidal stenosis not caused by hepatocyte swelling may lead to increased vascular resistance, other factors must also play a significant role.

Aged↗

Vertebral morphometry in women aged 50-81 years.

Vertebral dimensions and vertebral shape indices (VSI) were investigated in T4-L4 in 926 females aged 50-81 years. The most consistent finding was the increase of inferior antero-posterior dimension with age. Wedging and concavity also increased with age but the changes were not significant at all vertebral levels. The value of VSIs also varied with level. Thus a particular degree of VSI, considered normal at one level or at one age, would be outside the reference range at a different level or age group. The number of subjects identified as osteoporotic by skewness (5.4%) or in excess of three standard deviations from the mean (6.5%) was much lower than in recent reports from North America. The number of subjects contributing to a skewed distribution increased with age from 0.5% at 55-59 years to 10.0% at 75-79 years. Change with age in the antero-posterior dimension could increase load-bearing area in older subjects, but the decline in bone density will be increased as a declining bone mineral content occupies a larger volume.

Aged↗

The nominal section thickness--importance of their correction for morphometry.

The real finite section thickness of histologic slices is one of the dominant artefacts in morphometrical studies. Investigations without correction of the section thickness error are not reproducible or comparable. On this basis we measured the real finite section thickness of histologic slices with a nominal section thickness of 2, 4 and 6 microns with a microinterferometrical method. We also estimated the size of the error of a fictive volume density and a fictive Sholpo-correction. On the nominal section thickness of 2 and 6 microns we determined significant differences between the nominal section thickness and the real finite section thickness. We found analogue differences in the estimation of the fictive volume densities and in the fictive Sholpo-corrections. We did not determine a significant difference between the real finite and the nominal section thickness for the nominal section of 4 microns. We also could not determine significant differences between the real and nominal fictive volume densities and Sholpo-corrections. The measurement errors are discussed, and a test of reproducibility was performed.

Autopsy↗

Three-dimensional morphometry of the femoral condyles.

OBJECTIVE: The present study describes the geometry of the three-dimensional articular surfaces of the human femoral condyles based on measurements of surface coordinates. DESIGN: The purpose was not to obtain a complex representation of one single condyle, but to describe the femoral condyles using simple geometric parameters based on measurements using a number of specimens. BACKGROUND: In joint modeling, a representative knee joint geometry is often desired which requires an approximation of the irregular joint geometry while taking into account interspecimen variations. METHODS: An optical device was used to measure the condylar articular surfaces of 12 human femurs in the femorotibial contact region. The sagittal profiles were reconstructed by means of two circular arcs and the radial profiles by means of one circular arc. RESULTS: The results provide the geometric parameters necessary for the three-dimensional reconstruction of the articular surfaces of the femoral condyles. The results indicate that the medial and lateral condyles of the distal femur are significantly asymmetric in a number of morphological features. CONCLUSION: The primary application of the results is expected to be in the formulation of finite element models of the knee joint for static contact problems. RELEVANCE: Numerical models of the knee joint are being widely used to study the mechanics of the joint. However, formulation of such models demands a prior knowledge of the complex three-dimensional geometry of the articular surfaces of the natural joint to establish the input parameters of the model.

Adult↗

Testing the potential of flaxseed to affect spermatogenesis: morphometry.

Quantitative information was collected on male reproductive effects of maternal and postnatal dietary exposure to flaxseed (20 or 40%), flaxmeal (13 or 26%) or standard NIH AIN-93 feed (0% flaxseed control). Measurements were made on the testes of F1 generation males rats (1) whose mothers were exposed to the diets designated above, and (2) who, after weaning, were placed on the same diet as their mothers for an additional 70 days. The seminiferous tubules comprised 86%, 84%, 84%, 84% and 85% of the total testis volume while the interstitial space comprised 12%, 14%, 14%, 14%, 13% of the total testis volume for the 0% flaxseed/flaxmeal, 20% flaxseed, 13% flaxmeal, 40% flaxseed and 26% flaxmeal groups, respectively. Statistically significant decreases in the absolute volume of the seminiferous tubules were observed in the 20% and 40% flaxseed-treated groups when these groups were compared to controls. Borderline statistically significant differences were also observed when Sertoli cell nucleolar number per tubular cross-section were compared in the 13% flaxmeal and 20% flaxseed treatment groups. These effects were not considered biologically significant because other parameters of male reproductive function appeared normal. Overall, the quantitative information obtained suggests that exposure to flaxseed/flaxmeal at the doses used in the present study does not adversely affect testis structure or spermatogenesis in the rat.

Animals↗

Leptin concentrations in maternal serum and amniotic fluid during the second trimenon: differential relation to fetal gender and maternal morphometry.

Leptin, a hormone produced by adipocytes, provides information on the availability of fat stores to the hypothalamus and acts as an afferent satiety signal regulating appetite and energy expenditure in both rodents and humans [Zhang Y, Proenca R, Maffei M, Barone M, Leopold L, Friedman JM. Positional cloning of the mouse obese gene and its human homologue. Nature 1994;372:425-432; Sinha MK. Human leptin: the hormone of adipose tissue. Eur J Endocrinol 1997;136:461-4; Campfield LA, Smith FJ, Guisez Y, Devos R, Burn P. Recombinant mouse ob protein: evidence for a peripheral signal linking adiposity and central neural networks. Science 1995;269:546-9; Halaas JL, Gajiwala KS, Maffei M, Cohen SL, Chait BT, Rabinowitz D, Lallone RL, Burley SK, Friedman JM. Weight-reducing effects of the plasma protein encoded by the obese gene. Science 1995;269:543-6; Saladin R, De Vos P, Guerre-Millo M, Leturque A, Girard J, Staels B, Auwern J. Transient increase in obese gene expression after food intake or insulin administration. Nature 1995;377:527-9; Campfield LA, Smith FJ, Burn P. The OB protein (leptin) pathway - a link between adipose tissue mass and central neural networks. Horm Metab Res 1996;28:619-632; Blum WF, Kiess W, Rascher W, editors. Leptin - the voice of the adipose tissue. J&J Edition, JA Barth Verlag, Heidelberg, 1997]. In addition, leptin is thought to play an important role for reproduction and during gestation [Kiess W, Blum WF, Aubert ML. Leptin, puberty and reproductive function: lessons from animal studies and observations in humans. Eur J Endocrinol 1997;138:1-4; Barash IA, Cheung CC, Wigle DS, Ren H, Kabitting EB, Kuijer JL, Clifton DK, Steiner RA. Leptin is a metabolic signal to the reproductive system. Endocrinology 1996;133:3144-47; Chehab F, Lim M, Lu R. Correction of the sterility defect in homozygous obese female mice by treatment with the human recombinant leptin. Nature Genetics 1996;12:318-20; Kiess W, Schubring C, Prohaska F, Englaro P, Rascher W, Attanasio A, Blum WF. Leptin in amniotic fluid at term and at midgestation. In: Blum WF, Kiess W, Rascher W, editors. Leptin - the voice of the adipose tissue. J&J Edition, JA Barth Verlag, Heidelberg, 1997]. The purpose of this study was to gain more insight into a putative role of leptin during midgestation. Therefore we have measured leptin concentrations in maternal serum and amniotic fluid using a specific radioimmunoassay (RIA) employing human recombinant leptin for tracer and standard preparation [Blum WF, Kiess W, Rascher W, editors, Leptin - The voice of the adipose tissue. J&J Edition, JA Barth Verlag, Heidelberg, 1997; Blum WF, Englaro P, Heiman M, Attanasio Am, Kiess W, Rascher W. Clinical studies of serum leptin. In: Blum WF, Kiess W, Rascher W. Leptin - The voice of the adipose tissue. J&J Edition, JA Barth Verlag, Heidelberg, 1997; Blum WF, Englaro P, Heiman M, Attanasio AM, Kiess W, Rascher W. Plasma leptin levels in healthy children and adolescents: dependence on body mass index, body fat mass, gender, pubertal stage and testosterone. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 1997;82:2904-2910]. In addition, estriol, hCG and alphafetoprotein were measured in maternal serum. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED)

Adult↗

Distribution and morphometry of fiber types in cremaster muscles of boys with inguinal hernia or undescended testis.

In the present study, we determined and compared the distribution and mean diameters of fiber in the cremaster muscles (CM) of boys with either inguinal hernia (IH) or undescended testis (UT). Samples of CM were obtained from 20 patients (10 boys with IH, and 10 boys with UT) of similar age. The CM muscles of two boys each, without inguinal pathology, were sampled during autopsy. Sections were stained for oxidative and glycolytic enzymes, as well as for ATP-ase reactions after acid (pH: 4.6) and alkaline (pH: 10.6) preincubations. Specimens were also analyzed morphometrically using a KONTRON 400 computerized image analysis system. The Mann- Whitney U test was applied to compare the percentages of fiber types and mean diameters of fibers according to the types of the CM of boys with IH or UT. In boys, the CM is mainly composed of type 1 fibers. The CMs of patients with UT reveal alterations of neurogenic origin. Although both type 1 and type 2 fibers reveal alterations, type 2 fibers appear to be affected more profoundly and characterized by significantly decreased mean diameters. Significantly decreased mean diameters of type 2 fibers in CM may support disuse, lack of sensitivity to the hormonal influences, or an alteration in the corticospinal tracts of boys with UT.

Child↗

Morphometry of parenchymal and vascular alterations in ARDS after extracorporal carbon dioxide removal therapy (ECCO2-R-therapy).

The lungs of 12 patients suffering from ARDS treated by ECCO2-R-therapy were examined. The thickness of the interlobular septa, area portions of honeycombing, bleeding and lung parenchyma with diffuse alveolar damage were assessed by semi-automatic image analysis. Medial thickness of the pulmonary arteries with an external radius ranging between 40 microns and 150 microns was assessed planimetrically. The area portion of honeycombing ranged from 0% to 66% (average: 28.8%, standard deviation: 17.0%). The thickness of interlobular septa was increased with values between 74.0 microns and 195.5 microns (average: 140.4 microns, standard deviation: 41.7 microns; normal controls: 72.0 microns +/- 19.5 microns). Parenchymal and vascular changes were closely related: Average medial thickness rose from nearly normal values (4.9%) in cases with low area portions of honeycombing and bleeding to the double (11.1%) of normal values in cases with area portions of honeycombing and bleeding greater than 40%. We conclude that parenchymal changes due to shock and high inspiratory O2 concentration lead to changes of the pulmonary arterial hemodynamics which result in a quickly developing medial hypertrophy.

Adolescent↗

Nucleolar organizer regions related to morphometry, flow cytometry, sex steroid receptor content, tumour histology and prognosis in female breast cancer.

Nuclear organizer regions (Ag-NORs) were visualized and enumerated in biopsy specimens from 158 breast carcinomas and the results were correlated with clinical, histological, quantitative prognostic factors and survival. The number of Ag-NORs was related significantly to histological type (p = 0.003), tubule formation (p = 0.013), histological grade (p < 0.001), mean nuclear area (p < 0.001), SD of nuclear area (p < 0.001), DNA ploidy (p < 0.001), S phase fraction (p = 0.001), mitotic index (p < 0.001), estrogen receptor content (p < 0.001) and progesterone receptor content (p < 0.001). Ag-NORs were independent of tumour size and axillary lymph node status. Neither in the entire cohort (p = 0.16) nor in axillary lymph node negative tumours (p = 0.11) was the number of Ag-NORs related to survival although a clear trend was observed between lowered survival probability and high Ag-NOR count. In multivariate analysis Ag-NORs had no independent prognostic value. The results confirm previous results in that Ag-NORs have no practical prognostic value over already established prognostic factors in breast cancer.

Biopsy↗

Experimental ablation nephropathy. Fine structure, morphometry, cell membrane epitopes, glomerular polyanion and effect of subsequent transplantation.

The subtotal (5/6) nephrectomy performed in 23 adult female rats induced severe hypertrophy of residual parenchyma with interstitial fibrosis, tubular dilatation, and focal and segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSG). This ablation nephropathy (AbN) caused proteinuria, progressive renal failure, and hypertension. The extent of FSG was assessed by semiquantitative scoring. The ultrastructure revealed widespread foot process fusion, many dense cytoplasmic inclusions in podocytes, and degenerative changes or disruption of mesangium with glomerular "microcysts". Numerous granular deposits of rat Ig were seen in the glomeruli but a short praeterminal i.v. load by heat-aggregated human Ig did not alter the morphology of AbN and produced discrete and inconstant glomerular deposits. Similarly an i.v. injection of protamine and heparin generated protamine-heparin complexes seen in various layers of glomerular capillary wall, similar to those found previously in normal rats. AbN displayed a partial irregular depletion of polyanion sites reactive with polyethylenimine in lamina rara externa. A significant increase in both glomerular and interstitial Ia+ cells and a marked predominance of W3/25+ cells in the interstitial infiltrates were documented by immunohistochemistry in the remnant kidneys. Both AbN and FSG could be largely corrected (or prevented?) by subsequent syngeneic renal transplantation (TPL; 6 animals). On the other hand a severe AbN was found in two post-ablation residues after unsuccessful TPL with graft necrosis or sclerosis.--AbN has some analogies to various chronic human nephropathies (e.g. FSG) and may explain their progression to the terminal failure. Degenerative and finally destructive mesangial lesion seems to be of prime importance in AbN.

Animals↗

Nucleolar organizer regions in myofibroblasts in breast cancer. Relation to cancer cell morphometry, flow cytometry, sex steroid receptor content, tumour histology and prognosis.

The number of silver-stained nucleolar organizer regions (Ag-NORs) was counted in stromal myofibroblasts in 125 cases of breast cancer. The mean (S.E.) of Ag-NORs in stromal myofibroblasts was 4.4 (0.1). The number of Ag-NORs in myofibroblasts was related to histological grade (p = 0.028), histological type (p = 0.013), tumour necrosis (p = 0.026), mitotic frequency (p = 0.091) and S-phase fraction (p = 0.032). The number of Ag-NORs in stromal myofibroblasts predicted survival with a borderline significance (x2 = 3.4, p = 0.052) and also in axillary lymph node negative tumours (X2 = 2.8, p = 0.095). The recurrence-free survival in the entire cohort (X2 = 7.1, p = 0.0075) and in axillary lymph node negative tumours (X2 = 7.1, p = 0.0078) could be predicted on the basis of the number of Ag-NORs in stromal myofibroblasts. In axillary lymph node positive tumours the number of Ag-NORs in stromal myofibroblasts had no prognostic value. In multivariate analysis the number of Ag-NORs in stromal myofibroblasts had no independent prognostic value. The results suggest a close interaction between stromal myofibroblasts and epithelial cancer cells in breast cancer, and stromal changes are clearly a subject for further analyses.

Breast Neoplasms↗

Radial scar versus tubular carcinoma of the breast. A comparative study with quantitative techniques (morphometry, image- and flow cytometry).

The present study is focused on the differential diagnosis between radial scar (RS) and tubular carcinoma (TC) using morphometrical and cytophotometrical analysis (static and flow cytometry) of a number of histologically well-established RS cases (17 lesions) compared with 6 early infiltrating small TC with sclerotic stroma and pseudo-RS fields. One case displayed both RS and TC foci in contiguity. Mean nuclear area was larger in the group of tubular carcinomas (51.0 mu 2) than in the case of radial sclerosis (38.30 mu 2). We also found a larger number of aneuploid cases in tubular carcinomas measured by image cytometry, but both types of lesions were diploid when measured by flow cytometry; only one case of radial scar resulted aneuploid.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Actual volume estimation of the paracortex in lymph nodes by morphometry. Significance of centrally placed sections.

Variation of paracortical size in lymph nodes has been demonstrated to be an important indicator of paracortical activation under chronic antigenic stimulation. This introduces a stereologic problem that can be solved by the analysis of serial sections. However in practical applications, a such procedure is too time consuming. Evidence is presented here that data from centrally placed, single sections in mice and guinea pigs may serve as a fairly good parameter for paracortical volume fractions when groups of lymph nodes are analyzed. However in predicting individual volume fractions, there is considerable risk of serious deviation from actual values.

Animals↗

Karyometry of pseudostratified, metaplastic and dysplastic nasal epithelium by morphometry and stereology. 1. A general model for automated image analysis of epithelia.

Nuclear enlargement, usually due to the existence of abnormally high DNA (ploidy) values, is one of the alterations most often encountered in pathological epithelia, especially in cancerous and precancerous states. Direct DNA measurements on microscopic sections are impossible, and karyometric studies must take the difficult stereologic problem of spheroid sectioning into account. A mathematical model is proposed to describe an aggregate of separate parallel anisotropic prolate spheroids of variable size and eccentricity. This model appears suitable for the study of epithelial nuclei. After a tentative estimation of the biopsy angle, the application of the model to nuclear profile measurements produces the stereologic data of the mean spheroid nucleus: major and minor axes (and their ratio), volume, surface area (and the V/S ratio), and numerical density. Considerable time may be saved by the use of an image analyser with a specific algorithm. Most of the steps are entirely automated, but the user retains the interactive choice of the nuclei to be studied, for instance by separating the different epithelial layers. The profile data are computer-filed and several programs can yield the stereologic estimations and plots of nuclear profile areas. Poolings of cases of similar histologic staging and nearly the same sectioning angle can be used for the profile area plots. The model has been applied to pseudostratified and altered nasal mucosa of nickel workers. The stereologic estimates, mainly the nuclear volume, correlate well with histologic gradings. The nuclear profile area plots are considered useful for an assessment of the nuclear polyploidism. The complete model should be applicable to many other types of functionally or pathologically altered epithelia, particularly for cancer and precancer screenings, when the use of sectioned material is a prerequisite.

Electronic Data Processing↗

Diagnostic morphometry of the adult respiratory distress syndrome (shock lung).

In the pathogenesis of "shock lung", the morphometric analysis allows us to determine the "point of no return" when the exudative alveolitis turns into the life-threatening sclerosing form. In addition, we found that this "point of no return" is reached much earlier in septic than in traumatic shock. Our studies confirm that the term "shock lung" should not be simply substituted for "respiratory lung". Based on our morphometric methods, we conclude that shock-induced pulmonary fibrosis differs with regard to its functional pathogenesis from the non-shock-induced type of fibrosis.

Epithelium↗

Morphometry of lymphoid organs in health and disease.

Structural modification of lymph nodes in bronchogenic carcinoma, thymus cortex as a function of age, area and form factors of lymphoid cell nuclei in lymphomas and of epithelioid cell nuclei in tuberculosis and sarcoidosis have been measured by means of test point and/or image semiautomated analyzer.

Adolescent↗