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Casey DT, Lahue KG, Mori V, Herrmann J, Hall JK, Suki B, Janssen-Heininger YMW, Bates JHT. Local fractal dimension of collagen detects increased spatial complexity in fibrosis. Histochem Cell Biol 2024; 161:29-42. [PMID: 37938346 PMCID: PMC10794291 DOI: 10.1007/s00418-023-02248-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/09/2023] [Indexed: 11/09/2023]
Abstract
Increase of collagen content and reorganization characterizes fibrosis but quantifying the latter remains challenging. Spatially complex structures are often analyzed via the fractal dimension; however, established methods for calculating this quantity either provide a single dimension for an entire object or a spatially distributed dimension that only considers binary images. These neglect valuable information related to collagen density in images of fibrotic tissue. We sought to develop a fractal analysis that can be applied to 3-dimensional (3D) images of fibrotic tissue. A fractal dimension map for each image was calculated by determining a single fractal dimension for a small area surrounding each image pixel, using fiber thickness as the third dimension. We found that this local fractal dimension increased with age and with progression of fibrosis regardless of collagen content. Our new method of distributed 3D fractal analysis can thus distinguish between changes in collagen content and organization induced by fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dylan T Casey
- Department of Medicine, University of Vermont Larner College of Medicine, 149 Beaumont Ave, Burlington, VT, 05405, USA.
- Complex Systems Center, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, USA.
| | - Karolyn G Lahue
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Vermont Larner College of Medicine, Burlington, VT, USA
| | - Vitor Mori
- Department of Medicine, University of Vermont Larner College of Medicine, 149 Beaumont Ave, Burlington, VT, 05405, USA
| | - Jacob Herrmann
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - Joseph K Hall
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Béla Suki
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Yvonne M W Janssen-Heininger
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Vermont Larner College of Medicine, Burlington, VT, USA
| | - Jason H T Bates
- Department of Medicine, University of Vermont Larner College of Medicine, 149 Beaumont Ave, Burlington, VT, 05405, USA
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Grizzi F, Spadaccini M, Chiriva-Internati M, Hegazi MAAA, Bresalier RS, Hassan C, Repici A, Carrara S. Fractal nature of human gastrointestinal system: Exploring a new era. World J Gastroenterol 2023; 29:4036-4052. [PMID: 37476585 PMCID: PMC10354580 DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v29.i25.4036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2023] [Revised: 05/26/2023] [Accepted: 06/13/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023] Open
Abstract
The morphological complexity of cells and tissues, whether normal or pathological, is characterized by two primary attributes: Irregularity and self-similarity across different scales. When an object exhibits self-similarity, its shape remains unchanged as the scales of measurement vary because any part of it resembles the whole. On the other hand, the size and geometric characteristics of an irregular object vary as the resolution increases, revealing more intricate details. Despite numerous attempts, a reliable and accurate method for quantifying the morphological features of gastrointestinal organs, tissues, cells, their dynamic changes, and pathological disorders has not yet been established. However, fractal geometry, which studies shapes and patterns that exhibit self-similarity, holds promise in providing a quantitative measure of the irregularly shaped morphologies and their underlying self-similar temporal behaviors. In this context, we explore the fractal nature of the gastrointestinal system and the potential of fractal geometry as a robust descriptor of its complex forms and functions. Additionally, we examine the practical applications of fractal geometry in clinical gastroenterology and hepatology practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabio Grizzi
- Department of Immunology and Inflammation, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Rozzano 20089, Milan, Italy
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Pieve Emanuele 20072, Milan, Italy
| | - Marco Spadaccini
- Division of Gastroenterology and Digestive Endoscopy, Department of Gastroenterology, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Rozzano 20089, Milan, Italy
| | - Maurizio Chiriva-Internati
- Departments of Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition, Division of Internal Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, United States
| | - Mohamed A A A Hegazi
- Department of Immunology and Inflammation, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Rozzano 20089, Milan, Italy
| | - Robert S Bresalier
- Departments of Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition, Division of Internal Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, United States
| | - Cesare Hassan
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Pieve Emanuele 20072, Milan, Italy
- Division of Gastroenterology and Digestive Endoscopy, Department of Gastroenterology, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Rozzano 20089, Milan, Italy
| | - Alessandro Repici
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Pieve Emanuele 20072, Milan, Italy
- Division of Gastroenterology and Digestive Endoscopy, Department of Gastroenterology, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Rozzano 20089, Milan, Italy
| | - Silvia Carrara
- Division of Gastroenterology and Digestive Endoscopy, Department of Gastroenterology, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Rozzano 20089, Milan, Italy
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Grizzi F, Castello A, Qehajaj D, Russo C, Lopci E. The Complexity and Fractal Geometry of Nuclear Medicine Images. Mol Imaging Biol 2020; 21:401-409. [PMID: 30003453 DOI: 10.1007/s11307-018-1236-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
Irregularity in shape and behavior is the main feature of every anatomical system, including human organs, tissues, cells, and sub-cellular entities. It has been shown that this property cannot be quantified by means of the classical Euclidean geometry, which is only able to describe regular geometrical objects. In contrast, fractal geometry has been widely applied in several scientific fields. This rapid growth has also produced substantial insights in the biomedical imaging. Consequently, particular attention has been given to the identification of pathognomonic patterns of "shape" in anatomical entities and their changes from natural to pathological states. Despite the advantages of fractal mathematics and several studies demonstrating its applicability to oncological research, many researchers and clinicians remain unaware of its potential. Therefore, this review aims to summarize the complexity and fractal geometry of nuclear medicine images.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabio Grizzi
- Department of Immunology and Inflammation, Humanitas Clinical and Research Hospital, Via Manzoni 56 - Rozzano, 20089, Milan, Italy.,Humanitas University, Via Rita Levi Montalcini, Pieve Emanuele, 20090, Milan, Italy
| | - Angelo Castello
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Humanitas Clinical and Research Hospital, Via Manzoni 56 - Rozzano, 20089, Milan, Italy
| | - Dorina Qehajaj
- Department of Immunology and Inflammation, Humanitas Clinical and Research Hospital, Via Manzoni 56 - Rozzano, 20089, Milan, Italy
| | - Carlo Russo
- "Michele Rodriguez" Foundation, Via Ludovico di Breme, 79, 20156, Milan, Italy
| | - Egesta Lopci
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Humanitas Clinical and Research Hospital, Via Manzoni 56 - Rozzano, 20089, Milan, Italy.
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Fractal Analysis of Cardiac Fibrosis Patterns Derived From Magnetization Transfer Contrast MRI in Patients With End-Stage Renal Disease. AJR Am J Roentgenol 2020; 214:506-513. [DOI: 10.2214/ajr.19.21745] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
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Milosavljević J, Zaletel I, Puškaš N. Quantification of thioacetamide-induced liver necrosis using fractal analysis. MEDICINSKI PODMLADAK 2018. [DOI: 10.5937/mp69-12623] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/02/2022] Open
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Kus K, Kus E, Zakrzewska A, Jawien W, Sitek B, Walczak M, Chlopicki S. Differential effects of liver steatosis on pharmacokinetic profile of two closely related hepatoselective NO-donors; V-PYRRO/NO and V-PROLI/NO. Pharmacol Rep 2017; 69:560-565. [DOI: 10.1016/j.pharep.2017.01.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2016] [Accepted: 01/30/2017] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
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Al-Mrabeh A, Hollingsworth KG, Steven S, Taylor R. Morphology of the pancreas in type 2 diabetes: effect of weight loss with or without normalisation of insulin secretory capacity. Diabetologia 2016; 59:1753-9. [PMID: 27179658 PMCID: PMC4930466 DOI: 10.1007/s00125-016-3984-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2016] [Accepted: 04/14/2016] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
AIMS/HYPOTHESIS This study was designed to establish whether the low volume and irregular border of the pancreas in type 2 diabetes would be normalised after reversal of diabetes. METHODS A total of 29 individuals with type 2 diabetes undertook a very low energy (very low calorie) diet for 8 weeks followed by weight maintenance for 6 months. Methods were established to quantify the pancreas volume and degree of irregularity of the pancreas border. Three-dimensional volume-rendering and fractal dimension (FD) analysis of the MRI-acquired images were employed, as was three-point Dixon imaging to quantify the fat content. RESULTS There was no change in pancreas volume 6 months after reversal of diabetes compared with baseline (52.0 ± 4.9 cm(3) and 51.4 ± 4.5 cm(3), respectively; p = 0.69), nor was any volumetric change observed in the non-responders. There was an inverse relationship between the volume and fat content of the pancreas in the total study population (r =-0.50, p = 0.006). Reversal of diabetes was associated with an increase in irregularity of the pancreas borders between baseline and 8 weeks (FD 1.143 ± 0.013 and 1.169 ± 0.006, respectively; p = 0.05), followed by a decrease at 6 months (1.130 ± 0.012, p = 0.006). On the other hand, no changes in FD were seen in the non-reversed group. CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION Restoration of normal insulin secretion did not increase the subnormal pancreas volume over 6 months in the study population. A significant change in irregularity of the pancreas borders occurred after acute weight loss only after reversal of diabetes. Pancreas morphology in type 2 diabetes may be prognostically important, and its relationship to change in beta cell function requires further study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmad Al-Mrabeh
- Magnetic Resonance Centre, Institute of Cellular Medicine, Campus for Ageing and Vitality, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE4 5PL, UK
| | - Kieren G Hollingsworth
- Magnetic Resonance Centre, Institute of Cellular Medicine, Campus for Ageing and Vitality, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE4 5PL, UK
| | - Sarah Steven
- Magnetic Resonance Centre, Institute of Cellular Medicine, Campus for Ageing and Vitality, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE4 5PL, UK
| | - Roy Taylor
- Magnetic Resonance Centre, Institute of Cellular Medicine, Campus for Ageing and Vitality, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE4 5PL, UK.
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Stanley A, Pedersen E, Brakebusch C, Quondamatteo F. Changes in dermal matrix in the absence of Rac1 in keratinocytes. J Anat 2016; 228:826-37. [PMID: 26889750 DOI: 10.1111/joa.12442] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/18/2015] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Keratinocytes, in response to irritants, secrete pro-inflammatory mediators which recruit and activate immune and mesenchymal cells, including fibroblasts, to repair the skin. Fibroblasts respond by synthesising collagen and promoting the crosslinking extracellular matrix (ECM). We recently showed that the deletion of Rac1 in keratinocytes causes heightened inflammation due to aberrant crosstalk with immune cells. Indeed, the skin of these mice shows a higher inflammatory response to the induction of irritant contact dermatitis (ICD), and also even to treatment with a vehicle alone, compared with controls. As inflammation is intimately linked with fibrotic disease in the skin, this raised the question as to whether this deletion may also affect the deposition and arrangement of the dermal ECM. This study assessed the effects of Rac1 deletion in keratinocytes and of the heightened inflammatory status by induction of ICD on the tissue localisation and arrangements of dermal collagen. Qualitative analysis did not reveal evidence for the formation of pathologies in the dermis. However, quantitative analysis did reveal some perturbations in the dermal matrix, namely that only the combination of the lack of Rac1 and ICD affects the architectural organisation of the dermal collagen, and that a higher inflammatory state in the tissue (i.e. when Rac1 is deleted in the keratinocytes or ICD is induced in the skin, or a combination of both) influences the diameter of the collagen fibrils. It is proposed that this increase in the diameter of collagen fibrils due to inflammation may serve as pre-fibrotic marker enabling earlier determination of fibrosis and earlier treatment. This study has revealed previously unknown effects on the ECM due to the deletion of Rac1 in keratinocytes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alanna Stanley
- Skin and ECM Research Group, Anatomy NUI Galway, Galway, Ireland
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Ştefănescu D, Streba C, Cârţână ET, Săftoiu A, Gruionu G, Gruionu LG. Computer Aided Diagnosis for Confocal Laser Endomicroscopy in Advanced Colorectal Adenocarcinoma. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0154863. [PMID: 27144985 PMCID: PMC4856267 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0154863] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2015] [Accepted: 04/20/2016] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Confocal laser endomicroscopy (CLE) is becoming a popular method for optical biopsy of digestive mucosa for both diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. Computer aided diagnosis of CLE images, using image processing and fractal analysis can be used to quantify the histological structures in the CLE generated images. The aim of this study is to develop an automatic diagnosis algorithm of colorectal cancer (CRC), based on fractal analysis and neural network modeling of the CLE-generated colon mucosa images. MATERIALS AND METHODS We retrospectively analyzed a series of 1035 artifact-free endomicroscopy images, obtained during CLE examinations from normal mucosa (356 images) and tumor regions (679 images). The images were processed using a computer aided diagnosis (CAD) medical imaging system in order to obtain an automatic diagnosis. The CAD application includes image reading and processing functions, a module for fractal analysis, grey-level co-occurrence matrix (GLCM) computation module, and a feature identification module based on the Marching Squares and linear interpolation methods. A two-layer neural network was trained to automatically interpret the imaging data and diagnose the pathological samples based on the fractal dimension and the characteristic features of the biological tissues. RESULTS Normal colon mucosa is characterized by regular polyhedral crypt structures whereas malignant colon mucosa is characterized by irregular and interrupted crypts, which can be diagnosed by CAD. For this purpose, seven geometric parameters were defined for each image: fractal dimension, lacunarity, contrast correlation, energy, homogeneity, and feature number. Of the seven parameters only contrast, homogeneity and feature number were significantly different between normal and cancer samples. Next, a two-layer feed forward neural network was used to train and automatically diagnose the malignant samples, based on the seven parameters tested. The neural network operations were cross-entropy with the results: training: 0.53, validation: 1.17, testing: 1.17, and percent error, resulting: training: 16.14, validation: 17.42, testing: 15.48. The diagnosis accuracy error was 15.5%. CONCLUSIONS Computed aided diagnosis via fractal analysis of glandular structures can complement the traditional histological and minimally invasive imaging methods. A larger dataset from colorectal and other pathologies should be used to further validate the diagnostic power of the method.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniela Ştefănescu
- Research Center of Gastroenterology and Hepatology Craiova, University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Craiova, Romania
| | - Costin Streba
- Research Center of Gastroenterology and Hepatology Craiova, University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Craiova, Romania
| | - Elena Tatiana Cârţână
- Research Center of Gastroenterology and Hepatology Craiova, University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Craiova, Romania
| | - Adrian Săftoiu
- Research Center of Gastroenterology and Hepatology Craiova, University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Craiova, Romania
- Endoscopy Department, Copenhagen University Hospital, Herlev, Denmark
| | - Gabriel Gruionu
- Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, United States of America
- Department of Engineering and Management of Technological Systems, Faculty of Mechanics, University of Craiova, Craiova, Romania
| | - Lucian Gheorghe Gruionu
- Department of Engineering and Management of Technological Systems, Faculty of Mechanics, University of Craiova, Craiova, Romania
- * E-mail:
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Kus K, Walczak M, Maslak E, Zakrzewska A, Gonciarz-Dytman A, Zabielski P, Sitek B, Wandzel K, Kij A, Chabowski A, Holland RJ, Saavedra JE, Keefer LK, Chlopicki S. Hepatoselective Nitric Oxide (NO) Donors, V-PYRRO/NO and V-PROLI/NO, in Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: A Comparison of Antisteatotic Effects with the Biotransformation and Pharmacokinetics. Drug Metab Dispos 2015; 43:1028-36. [PMID: 25870102 PMCID: PMC11024901 DOI: 10.1124/dmd.115.063388] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2015] [Accepted: 04/09/2015] [Indexed: 04/20/2024] Open
Abstract
V-PYRRO/NO [O(2)-vinyl-1-(pyrrolidin-1-yl)diazen-1-ium-1,2-diolate] and V-PROLI/NO (O2-vinyl-[2-(carboxylato)pyrrolidin-1-yl]diazen-1-ium-1,2-diolate), two structurally similar diazeniumdiolate derivatives, were designed as liver-selective prodrugs that are metabolized by cytochrome P450 isoenzymes, with subsequent release of nitric oxide (NO). Yet, their efficacy in the treatment of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and their comparative pharmacokinetic and metabolic profiles have not been characterized. The aim of the present work was to compare the effects of V-PYRRO/NO and V-PROLI/NO on liver steatosis, glucose tolerance, and liver fatty acid composition in C57BL/6J mice fed a high-fat diet, as well as to comprehensively characterize the ADME (absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion) profiles of both NO donors. Despite their similar structure, V-PYRRO/NO and V-PROLI/NO showed differences in pharmacological efficacy in the murine model of NAFLD. V-PYRRO/NO, but not V-PROLI/NO, attenuated liver steatosis, improved glucose tolerance, and favorably modified fatty acid composition in the liver. Both compounds were characterized by rapid absorption following i.p. administration, rapid elimination from the body, and incomplete bioavailability. However, V-PYRRO/NO was eliminated mainly by the liver, whereas V-PROLI/NO was excreted mostly in unchanged form by the kidney. V-PYRRO/NO was metabolized by CYP2E1, CYP2C9, CYP1A2, and CYP3A4, whereas V-PROLI/NO was metabolized mainly by CYP1A2. Importantly, V-PYRRO/NO was a better NO releaser in vivo and in the isolated, perfused liver than V-PROLI/NO, an effect compatible with the superior antisteatotic activity of V-PYRRO/NO. In conclusion, V-PYRRO/NO displayed a pronounced antisteatotic effect associated with liver-targeted NO release, whereas V-PROLI/NO showed low effectiveness, was not taken up by the liver, and was eliminated mostly in unchanged form by the kidney.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kamil Kus
- Jagiellonian Centre for Experimental Therapeutics (K.K., M.W., E.M., A.Z., A.G.-D., B.S., K.W., A.K., S.Ch.), Department of Pharmacokinetics and Physical Pharmacy, Medical College (K.K., M.W., A.G.-D., A.K.), and Department of Experimental Pharmacology, Chair of Pharmacology, Medical College (S.Ch.), Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland; Department of Physiology, Medical University of Bialystok, Bialystok, Poland (P.Z., A.Ch.); Leidos Biomedical Research, Inc., Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, Maryland (J.E.S.); and Chemical Biology Laboratory, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, Maryland (R.J.H., L.K.K.)
| | - Maria Walczak
- Jagiellonian Centre for Experimental Therapeutics (K.K., M.W., E.M., A.Z., A.G.-D., B.S., K.W., A.K., S.Ch.), Department of Pharmacokinetics and Physical Pharmacy, Medical College (K.K., M.W., A.G.-D., A.K.), and Department of Experimental Pharmacology, Chair of Pharmacology, Medical College (S.Ch.), Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland; Department of Physiology, Medical University of Bialystok, Bialystok, Poland (P.Z., A.Ch.); Leidos Biomedical Research, Inc., Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, Maryland (J.E.S.); and Chemical Biology Laboratory, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, Maryland (R.J.H., L.K.K.)
| | - Edyta Maslak
- Jagiellonian Centre for Experimental Therapeutics (K.K., M.W., E.M., A.Z., A.G.-D., B.S., K.W., A.K., S.Ch.), Department of Pharmacokinetics and Physical Pharmacy, Medical College (K.K., M.W., A.G.-D., A.K.), and Department of Experimental Pharmacology, Chair of Pharmacology, Medical College (S.Ch.), Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland; Department of Physiology, Medical University of Bialystok, Bialystok, Poland (P.Z., A.Ch.); Leidos Biomedical Research, Inc., Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, Maryland (J.E.S.); and Chemical Biology Laboratory, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, Maryland (R.J.H., L.K.K.)
| | - Agnieszka Zakrzewska
- Jagiellonian Centre for Experimental Therapeutics (K.K., M.W., E.M., A.Z., A.G.-D., B.S., K.W., A.K., S.Ch.), Department of Pharmacokinetics and Physical Pharmacy, Medical College (K.K., M.W., A.G.-D., A.K.), and Department of Experimental Pharmacology, Chair of Pharmacology, Medical College (S.Ch.), Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland; Department of Physiology, Medical University of Bialystok, Bialystok, Poland (P.Z., A.Ch.); Leidos Biomedical Research, Inc., Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, Maryland (J.E.S.); and Chemical Biology Laboratory, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, Maryland (R.J.H., L.K.K.)
| | - Anna Gonciarz-Dytman
- Jagiellonian Centre for Experimental Therapeutics (K.K., M.W., E.M., A.Z., A.G.-D., B.S., K.W., A.K., S.Ch.), Department of Pharmacokinetics and Physical Pharmacy, Medical College (K.K., M.W., A.G.-D., A.K.), and Department of Experimental Pharmacology, Chair of Pharmacology, Medical College (S.Ch.), Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland; Department of Physiology, Medical University of Bialystok, Bialystok, Poland (P.Z., A.Ch.); Leidos Biomedical Research, Inc., Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, Maryland (J.E.S.); and Chemical Biology Laboratory, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, Maryland (R.J.H., L.K.K.)
| | - Piotr Zabielski
- Jagiellonian Centre for Experimental Therapeutics (K.K., M.W., E.M., A.Z., A.G.-D., B.S., K.W., A.K., S.Ch.), Department of Pharmacokinetics and Physical Pharmacy, Medical College (K.K., M.W., A.G.-D., A.K.), and Department of Experimental Pharmacology, Chair of Pharmacology, Medical College (S.Ch.), Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland; Department of Physiology, Medical University of Bialystok, Bialystok, Poland (P.Z., A.Ch.); Leidos Biomedical Research, Inc., Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, Maryland (J.E.S.); and Chemical Biology Laboratory, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, Maryland (R.J.H., L.K.K.)
| | - Barbara Sitek
- Jagiellonian Centre for Experimental Therapeutics (K.K., M.W., E.M., A.Z., A.G.-D., B.S., K.W., A.K., S.Ch.), Department of Pharmacokinetics and Physical Pharmacy, Medical College (K.K., M.W., A.G.-D., A.K.), and Department of Experimental Pharmacology, Chair of Pharmacology, Medical College (S.Ch.), Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland; Department of Physiology, Medical University of Bialystok, Bialystok, Poland (P.Z., A.Ch.); Leidos Biomedical Research, Inc., Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, Maryland (J.E.S.); and Chemical Biology Laboratory, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, Maryland (R.J.H., L.K.K.)
| | - Krystyna Wandzel
- Jagiellonian Centre for Experimental Therapeutics (K.K., M.W., E.M., A.Z., A.G.-D., B.S., K.W., A.K., S.Ch.), Department of Pharmacokinetics and Physical Pharmacy, Medical College (K.K., M.W., A.G.-D., A.K.), and Department of Experimental Pharmacology, Chair of Pharmacology, Medical College (S.Ch.), Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland; Department of Physiology, Medical University of Bialystok, Bialystok, Poland (P.Z., A.Ch.); Leidos Biomedical Research, Inc., Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, Maryland (J.E.S.); and Chemical Biology Laboratory, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, Maryland (R.J.H., L.K.K.)
| | - Agnieszka Kij
- Jagiellonian Centre for Experimental Therapeutics (K.K., M.W., E.M., A.Z., A.G.-D., B.S., K.W., A.K., S.Ch.), Department of Pharmacokinetics and Physical Pharmacy, Medical College (K.K., M.W., A.G.-D., A.K.), and Department of Experimental Pharmacology, Chair of Pharmacology, Medical College (S.Ch.), Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland; Department of Physiology, Medical University of Bialystok, Bialystok, Poland (P.Z., A.Ch.); Leidos Biomedical Research, Inc., Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, Maryland (J.E.S.); and Chemical Biology Laboratory, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, Maryland (R.J.H., L.K.K.)
| | - Adrian Chabowski
- Jagiellonian Centre for Experimental Therapeutics (K.K., M.W., E.M., A.Z., A.G.-D., B.S., K.W., A.K., S.Ch.), Department of Pharmacokinetics and Physical Pharmacy, Medical College (K.K., M.W., A.G.-D., A.K.), and Department of Experimental Pharmacology, Chair of Pharmacology, Medical College (S.Ch.), Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland; Department of Physiology, Medical University of Bialystok, Bialystok, Poland (P.Z., A.Ch.); Leidos Biomedical Research, Inc., Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, Maryland (J.E.S.); and Chemical Biology Laboratory, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, Maryland (R.J.H., L.K.K.)
| | - Ryan J Holland
- Jagiellonian Centre for Experimental Therapeutics (K.K., M.W., E.M., A.Z., A.G.-D., B.S., K.W., A.K., S.Ch.), Department of Pharmacokinetics and Physical Pharmacy, Medical College (K.K., M.W., A.G.-D., A.K.), and Department of Experimental Pharmacology, Chair of Pharmacology, Medical College (S.Ch.), Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland; Department of Physiology, Medical University of Bialystok, Bialystok, Poland (P.Z., A.Ch.); Leidos Biomedical Research, Inc., Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, Maryland (J.E.S.); and Chemical Biology Laboratory, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, Maryland (R.J.H., L.K.K.)
| | - Joseph E Saavedra
- Jagiellonian Centre for Experimental Therapeutics (K.K., M.W., E.M., A.Z., A.G.-D., B.S., K.W., A.K., S.Ch.), Department of Pharmacokinetics and Physical Pharmacy, Medical College (K.K., M.W., A.G.-D., A.K.), and Department of Experimental Pharmacology, Chair of Pharmacology, Medical College (S.Ch.), Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland; Department of Physiology, Medical University of Bialystok, Bialystok, Poland (P.Z., A.Ch.); Leidos Biomedical Research, Inc., Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, Maryland (J.E.S.); and Chemical Biology Laboratory, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, Maryland (R.J.H., L.K.K.)
| | - Larry K Keefer
- Jagiellonian Centre for Experimental Therapeutics (K.K., M.W., E.M., A.Z., A.G.-D., B.S., K.W., A.K., S.Ch.), Department of Pharmacokinetics and Physical Pharmacy, Medical College (K.K., M.W., A.G.-D., A.K.), and Department of Experimental Pharmacology, Chair of Pharmacology, Medical College (S.Ch.), Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland; Department of Physiology, Medical University of Bialystok, Bialystok, Poland (P.Z., A.Ch.); Leidos Biomedical Research, Inc., Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, Maryland (J.E.S.); and Chemical Biology Laboratory, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, Maryland (R.J.H., L.K.K.)
| | - Stefan Chlopicki
- Jagiellonian Centre for Experimental Therapeutics (K.K., M.W., E.M., A.Z., A.G.-D., B.S., K.W., A.K., S.Ch.), Department of Pharmacokinetics and Physical Pharmacy, Medical College (K.K., M.W., A.G.-D., A.K.), and Department of Experimental Pharmacology, Chair of Pharmacology, Medical College (S.Ch.), Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland; Department of Physiology, Medical University of Bialystok, Bialystok, Poland (P.Z., A.Ch.); Leidos Biomedical Research, Inc., Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, Maryland (J.E.S.); and Chemical Biology Laboratory, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, Maryland (R.J.H., L.K.K.)
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11
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Calès P, Chaigneau J, Hunault G, Michalak S, Cavaro-Menard C, Fasquel JB, Bertrais S, Rousselet MC. Automated morphometry provides accurate and reproducible virtual staging of liver fibrosis in chronic hepatitis C. J Pathol Inform 2015; 6:20. [PMID: 26110088 PMCID: PMC4466784 DOI: 10.4103/2153-3539.157782] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2014] [Accepted: 03/16/2015] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Liver fibrosis staging provides prognostic value, although hampered by observer variability. We used digital analysis to develop diagnostic morphometric scores for significant fibrosis, cirrhosis and fibrosis staging in chronic hepatitis C. Materials and Methods: We automated the measurement of 44 classical and new morphometric descriptors. The reference was histological METAVIR fibrosis (F) staging (F0 to F4) on liver biopsies. The derivation population included 416 patients and liver biopsies ≥20 mm-length. Two validation population included 438 patients. Results: In the derivation population, the area under the receiver operating characteristic (AUROC) for clinically significant fibrosis (F stage ≥2) of a logistic score combining 5 new descriptors (stellar fibrosis area, edge linearity, bridge thickness, bridge number, nodularity) was 0.957. The AUROC for cirrhosis of 6 new descriptors (edge linearity, nodularity, portal stellar fibrosis area, portal distance, granularity, fragmentation) was 0.994. Predicted METAVIR F staging combining 8 morphometric descriptors agreed well with METAVIR F staging by pathologists: κ = 0.868. Morphometric score of clinically significant fibrosis had a higher correlation with porto-septal fibrosis area (rs = 0.835) than METAVIR F staging (rs = 0.756, P < 0.001) and the same correlations with fibrosis biomarkers, e.g., serum hyaluronate: rs = 0.484 versus rs = 0.476 for METAVIR F (P = 0.862). In the validation population, the AUROCs of clinically significant fibrosis and cirrhosis scores were, respectively: 0.893 and 0.993 in 153 patients (biopsy < 20 mm); 0.955 and 0.994 in 285 patients (biopsy ≥ 20 mm). The three morphometric diagnoses agreed with consensus expert reference as well as or better than diagnoses by first-line pathologists in 285 patients, respectively: significant fibrosis: 0.733 versus 0.733 (κ), cirrhosis: 0.900 versus 0.827, METAVIR F: 0.881 versus 0.865. Conclusion: The new automated morphometric scores provide reproducible and accurate diagnoses of fibrosis stages via “virtual expert pathologist.”
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul Calès
- HIFIH Laboratory, Unité Propre de Recherche de l'Enseignement Supérieur 3859, Sructure Fédérative de Recherche 4208, LUNAM University, Angers, France ; Department of Liver-Gastroenterology, LUNAM University, Angers, France
| | - Julien Chaigneau
- HIFIH Laboratory, Unité Propre de Recherche de l'Enseignement Supérieur 3859, Sructure Fédérative de Recherche 4208, LUNAM University, Angers, France
| | - Gilles Hunault
- HIFIH Laboratory, Unité Propre de Recherche de l'Enseignement Supérieur 3859, Sructure Fédérative de Recherche 4208, LUNAM University, Angers, France
| | - Sophie Michalak
- HIFIH Laboratory, Unité Propre de Recherche de l'Enseignement Supérieur 3859, Sructure Fédérative de Recherche 4208, LUNAM University, Angers, France ; Department of Cellular and Tissue Pathology, CHU Angers, LUNAM University, Angers, France
| | - Christine Cavaro-Menard
- Department of LARIS Laboratory, Unité Propre de Recherche de l'Enseignement Supérieur 7315, LUNAM University, Angers, France
| | - Jean-Baptiste Fasquel
- Department of LARIS Laboratory, Unité Propre de Recherche de l'Enseignement Supérieur 7315, LUNAM University, Angers, France
| | - Sandrine Bertrais
- HIFIH Laboratory, Unité Propre de Recherche de l'Enseignement Supérieur 3859, Sructure Fédérative de Recherche 4208, LUNAM University, Angers, France
| | - Marie-Christine Rousselet
- HIFIH Laboratory, Unité Propre de Recherche de l'Enseignement Supérieur 3859, Sructure Fédérative de Recherche 4208, LUNAM University, Angers, France ; Department of Cellular and Tissue Pathology, CHU Angers, LUNAM University, Angers, France
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12
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Nielsen K, Clemmesen JO, Vassiliadis E, Vainer B. Liver collagen in cirrhosis correlates with portal hypertension and liver dysfunction. APMIS 2014; 122:1213-22. [PMID: 25053449 DOI: 10.1111/apm.12287] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2014] [Accepted: 04/03/2014] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Liver collagen proportionate area (CPA) assessed by computer-assisted digital image analysis has been proposed as an accurate and objective histological variable for subclassifying cirrhosis. The study aimed to examine the relationship between CPA and relevant clinical parameters in cirrhotic patients and to evaluate the sampling variability for CPA. The study included 48 consecutive liver transplantation patients with established cirrhosis. Hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG) and serum markers of liver failure were determined prior to transplantation. CPA was assessed in the explanted livers. In 20 of the livers, CPA was measured in more than one tissue sample. CPA showed significant correlations with HVPG and with various surrogate markers of hepatic dysfunction including albumin, bilirubin, INR, MELD score and Child-Pugh score. CPA reliably discriminated HVPG ≥10 mmHg, termed 'clinically significant portal hypertension' (area under receiver operator curve: 0.923, p < 0.001; odds ratio: 1.209, p = 0.003). CPA measured on tissue blocks showed no significant sampling variability (p > 0.5). In conclusion, the study correlated portal hypertension and hepatic dysfunction with the amount of collagen in cirrhotic livers. The findings support the presumption of CPA as a useful histological marker for subclassifying cirrhosis and as a helpful supplement to the qualitative description of hepatic architectural changes in routine pathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kåre Nielsen
- Department of Pathology, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen University Hospital, Frederik V's Vej 11, København Ø, Denmark
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13
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Quantification of portal-bridging fibrosis area more accurately reflects fibrosis stage and liver stiffness than whole fibrosis or perisinusoidal fibrosis areas in chronic hepatitis C. Mod Pathol 2014; 27:1035-45. [PMID: 24390214 DOI: 10.1038/modpathol.2013.225] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2013] [Accepted: 10/13/2013] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Morphometry provides an objective evaluation of fibrosis in liver diseases. We developed an image analysis algorithm using automated thresholding and segmentation to separately quantify the areas and the fractal dimensions of portal-bridging fibrosis and perisinusoidal fibrosis in chronic hepatitis C liver biopsies. We studied 427 digitized liver biopsies and compared the automated measures of the different fibrosis compartments with (1) the Metavir F (fibrosis) and A (activity) histological scores, (2) the digitally assessed area of steatosis, and (3) the liver stiffness measured by elastography (Fibroscan). The perisinusoidal fibrosis area was higher than that of portal fibrosis in stages ≤F2; it reached its highest value in F2 stage and stabilized thereafter. The F3 stage was characterized by equal proportions of portal-bridging and perisinusoidal fibrosis, whereas portal-bridging area was predominant in cirrhosis. Measurement of portal-bridging fibrosis showed highly significantly different values between contiguous F stages; the ratio of portal-bridging fibrosis/perisinusoidal fibrosis displayed less overlap between Metavir stages than did the whole fibrosis area values. Fractal dimension showed that portal-bridging fibrosis tended to display a homogeneous surface-like spatial organization, whereas perisinusoidal fibrosis appeared more heterogeneous according to stage and curvilinear. The portal-bridging fibrosis area was low in cases with low Metavir activity and little steatosis, and became predominant with increasing activity and steatosis. Using stepwise multiple linear regression analysis, the liver stiffness was independently correlated to the portal-bridging fibrosis area (first step, P<0.001), the steatosis area (second step, P<0.001), and the Metavir A grade (third step, P=0.001), but not to the perisinusoidal fibrosis area. Automated quantification in a large cohort of chronic hepatitis C showed that perisinusoidal fibrosis progressively grew in early fibrosis stages but did not increase in septal or cirrhotic stages and that the portal-bridging fibrosis area appeared as a more accurate tool to assess fibrosis progression than the whole fibrosis area.
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14
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Precise evaluation of liver histology by computerized morphometry shows that steatosis influences liver stiffness measured by transient elastography in chronic hepatitis C. J Gastroenterol 2014; 49:527-37. [PMID: 23681425 DOI: 10.1007/s00535-013-0819-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2013] [Accepted: 04/15/2013] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Liver stiffness evaluation (LSE) by Fibroscan is now widely used to assess liver fibrosis in chronic hepatitis C. Liver steatosis is a common lesion in chronic hepatitis C as in other chronic liver diseases, but its influence on LSE remains unclear. We aimed to precisely determine the influence of steatosis on LSE by using quantitative and precise morphometric measurements of liver histology. METHODS 650 patients with chronic hepatitis C, liver biopsy, and LSE were included. Liver specimens were evaluated by optical analysis (Metavir F and A, steatosis grading) and by computerized morphometry to determine the area (%, reflecting quantity) and fractal dimension (FD, reflecting architecture) of liver fibrosis and steatosis. RESULTS The relationships between LSE and liver histology were better described using morphometry. LSE median was independently linked to fibrosis (area or FD), steatosis (area or FD), activity (serum AST), and IQR/LSE median. Steatosis area ≥4.0 % induced a 50 % increase in LSE result in patients with fibrosis area <9 %. In patients with IQR/LSE median ≤0.30, the rate of F0/1 patients misclassified as F ≥ 2 by Fibroscan was, respectively for steatosis area <4.0 and ≥4.0 %: 12.6 vs 32.4 % (p = 0.003). Steatosis level did not influence LSE median when fibrosis area was ≥9 %, and consequently did not increase the rate of F ≤ 3 patients misclassified as cirrhotic. CONCLUSION A precise evaluation of liver histology by computerized morphometry shows that liver stiffness measured by Fibroscan is linked to liver fibrosis, activity, and also steatosis. High level of steatosis induces misevaluation of liver fibrosis by Fibroscan.
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15
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Gheonea DI, Streba CT, Vere CC, Șerbănescu M, Pirici D, Comănescu M, Streba LAM, Ciurea ME, Mogoantă S, Rogoveanu I. Diagnosis system for hepatocellular carcinoma based on fractal dimension of morphometric elements integrated in an artificial neural network. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2014; 2014:239706. [PMID: 25025042 PMCID: PMC4084678 DOI: 10.1155/2014/239706] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2013] [Revised: 03/10/2014] [Accepted: 03/25/2014] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains a leading cause of death by cancer worldwide. Computerized diagnosis systems relying on novel imaging markers gained significant importance in recent years. Our aim was to integrate a novel morphometric measurement--the fractal dimension (FD)--into an artificial neural network (ANN) designed to diagnose HCC. MATERIAL AND METHODS The study included 21 HCC and 28 liver metastases (LM) patients scheduled for surgery. We performed hematoxylin staining for cell nuclei and CD31/34 immunostaining for vascular elements. We captured digital images and used an in-house application to segment elements of interest; FDs were calculated and fed to an ANN which classified them as malignant or benign, further identifying HCC and LM cases. RESULTS User intervention corrected segmentation errors and fractal dimensions were calculated. ANNs correctly classified 947/1050 HCC images (90.2%), 1021/1050 normal tissue images (97.23%), 1215/1400 LM (86.78%), and 1372/1400 normal tissues (98%). We obtained excellent interobserver agreement between human operators and the system. CONCLUSION We successfully implemented FD as a morphometric marker in a decision system, an ensemble of ANNs designed to differentiate histological images of normal parenchyma from malignancy and classify HCCs and LMs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dan Ionuț Gheonea
- 1Research Center of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova, Petru Rares Street, No. 2, 200349 Craiova, Romania
| | - Costin Teodor Streba
- 1Research Center of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova, Petru Rares Street, No. 2, 200349 Craiova, Romania
| | - Cristin Constantin Vere
- 1Research Center of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova, Petru Rares Street, No. 2, 200349 Craiova, Romania
- *Cristin Constantin Vere:
| | - Mircea Șerbănescu
- 2Department of Medical Informatics, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova, Petru Rares Street, No. 2, 200349 Craiova, Romania
| | - Daniel Pirici
- 3Department of Histology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova, Petru Rares Street, No. 2, 200349 Craiova, Romania
| | - Maria Comănescu
- 4Department of Pathology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy “Carol Davilla,” Bucharest, Bulevardul Eroii Sanitari 8, 050474 București, Romania
| | - Letiția Adela Maria Streba
- 52nd Medical Department, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova, Petru Rares Street, No. 2, 200349 Craiova, Romania
| | - Marius Eugen Ciurea
- 6Department of Surgery, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova, Petru Rares Street, No. 2, 200349 Craiova, Romania
| | - Stelian Mogoantă
- 6Department of Surgery, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova, Petru Rares Street, No. 2, 200349 Craiova, Romania
| | - Ion Rogoveanu
- 1Research Center of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova, Petru Rares Street, No. 2, 200349 Craiova, Romania
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Andersen MP, Parham AR, Waldrep JC, McKenzie WN, Dhand R. Alveolar fractal box dimension inversely correlates with mean linear intercept in mice with elastase-induced emphysema. Int J Chron Obstruct Pulmon Dis 2012; 7:235-43. [PMID: 22500123 PMCID: PMC3324997 DOI: 10.2147/copd.s26493] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
RATIONALE A widely applicable model of emphysema that allows efficient and sensitive quantification of injury is needed to compare potential therapies. OBJECTIVES To establish such a model, we studied the relationship between elastase dose and the severity of emphysema in female C57BL/6J mice. We compared alveolar fractal box dimension (D(B)), a new measure which is an assessment of the complexity of the tissue, with mean linear intercept (L(m)), which is commonly used to estimate airspace size, for sensitivity and efficiency of measurement. METHODS Emphysema was induced in female C57BL/6J mice by administering increasing intratracheal doses of porcine pancreatic elastase (PPE). Changes in morphology and static lung compliance (C(L)) were examined 21 days later. Correlation of D(B) with L(m) was determined in histological sections of lungs exposed to PPE. The inverse relationship between D(B) and L(m) was supported by examining similar morphological sections from another experiment where the development of emphysema was studied 1 to 3 weeks after instillation of human neutrophil elastase (HNE). RESULTS L(m) increased with PPE dose in a sigmoidal curve. C(L) increased after 80 or 120 U/kg body weight (P < 0.05), but not after 40 U/kg, compared with the control. D(B) progressively declined from 1.66 ± 0.002 (standard error of the mean) in controls, to 1.47 ± 0.006 after 120 U PPE/kg (P < 0.0001). After PPE or HNE instillation, D(B) was inversely related to L(m) (R = -0.95, P < 0.0001 and R = -0.84, P = 0.01, respectively), with a more negative slope of the relationship using HNE (P < 0.0001). CONCLUSION Intratracheal instillation of increasing doses of PPE yields a scale of progression from mild to severe emphysema. D(B) correlates inversely with L(m) after instillation of either PPE or HNE and yields a rapid, sensitive measure of emphysema after elastase instillation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mary P Andersen
- Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Environmental Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Missouri, USA
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17
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Calès P, Zarski JP, Chapplain JM, Bertrais S, Sturm N, Michelet C, Babany G, Chaigneau J, Eddine Charaf M. Fibrosis progression under maintenance interferon in hepatitis C is better detected by blood test than liver morphometry. J Viral Hepat 2012; 19:e143-53. [PMID: 22239512 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2893.2011.01531.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
We evaluated whether quantitative measurements of liver fibrosis with recently developed diagnostics outperform histological staging in detecting natural or interferon-induced changes. We compared Metavir staging, morphometry (area and fractal dimension) and six blood tests in 157 patients with chronic hepatitis C from two trials testing maintenance interferon for 96 weeks. Paired liver biopsies and blood tests were available for 101 patients, and there was a significant improvement in Metavir activity and a significant increase in blood tests reflecting fibrosis quantity in patients treated with interferon when compared with controls - all per cent changes in histological fibrosis measures were significantly increased in F1 vs F2-4 stages only in the interferon group. For the whole population studied between weeks 0 and 96, there was significant progression only in the area of fibrosis (AOF) (P = 0.026), FibroMeter (P = 0.020) and CirrhoMeter (P = 0.003). With regards to dynamic reproducibility, agreement was good (r(ic) ≥ 0.72) only for Metavir fibrosis score, FibroMeter and CirrhoMeter. The per cent change in AOF was significantly higher than that of fractal dimension (P = 0.003) or Metavir fibrosis score (P = 0.015). CirrhoMeter was the only blood test with a change significantly higher than that of AOF (P = 0.039). AOF and two blood tests, reflecting fibrosis quantity, have high sensitivity and/or reproducibility permitting the detection of a small progression in liver fibrosis over two years. A blood test reflecting fibrosis quantity is more sensitive and reproducible than morphometry. The study also shows that maintenance interferon does not improve fibrosis, whatever its stage.
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Affiliation(s)
- P Calès
- Liver-Gastroenterology Department, University Hospital, Angers, France.
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González AM, Garcia T, Samper E, Rickmann M, Vaquero EC, Molero X. Assessment of the protective effects of oral tocotrienols in arginine chronic-like pancreatitis. Am J Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol 2011; 301:G846-55. [PMID: 21852363 DOI: 10.1152/ajpgi.00485.2010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Tocotrienols exhibit anti-inflammatory properties over macrophages and promote cytotoxicity in activated pancreatic stellate cells, suggesting that they may limit chronic pancreatitis progression. We aimed to quantitate the effect of oral tocotrienols on a rat model of chronic pancreatic injury. Chronic-like pancreatitis was induced by repeated arginine pancreatitis. Palm oil tocotrienol-rich fraction (TRF) was given by gavage before and after pancreatitis inductions. Amylase and hydroxyproline were determined in pancreatic homogenates; collagen, fibronectin, α-smooth muscle actin (SMA), glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), and phosphorylated Smad3 were assessed by Western blotting. Transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 was measured in plasma. Morphological assessment included light microscopy, fibrosis area fraction, and collagen network fractal analysis. Arginine pancreatitis induced pancreatic atrophy and increased hydroxyproline that ameliorated after TRF. Arginine increased TGF-β1 (185 ± 40 vs. 15 ± 2 ng/ml; P <0.01) that was blunted by TRF (53 ± 19; P < 0.01). TRF reduced protease and Smad3 activation, collagen, and fibronectin. α-SMA increased and GFAP diminished in arginine pancreatitis, consistent with long-term stellate cell activation, and TRF reverted these changes to basal. Arginine pancreatitis increased fibrosis area fraction (4.5 ± 0.3% vs. 0.2 ± 0.2%), collagen network complexity (fractal dimension 1.52 ± 0.03 vs. 1.42 ± 0.01; P < 0.001), and inhomogeneity (lacunarity 0.63 ± 0.03 vs. 0.40 ± 0.02; P < 0.001), which were all reduced by TRF (1.3 ± 0.4%, 1.43 ± 0.02%, and 0.51 ± 0.03%, respectively; P < 0.01). Best correlation coefficients were obtained when comparing fibrosis area fraction with lacunarity (r = 0.88) and both parameters with pancreatic weight (r = -0.91 and -0.79, respectively). TRF administered only before pancreatitis best, but not fully, recapitulated the beneficial effects of TRF. Tocotrienols improve quantitative measures of chronic pancreatic damage. They may be of benefit in human chronic pancreatitis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana María González
- Grup de Recerca en Patologia Pancreàtica Exocrina, Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron, Institut de Recerca, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, CIBER-EHD, Barcelona, Spain
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Li JF, Chen BC, Lai DD, Jia ZR, Andersson R, Zhang B, Yao JG, Yu Z. Soy isoflavone delays the progression of thioacetamide-induced liver fibrosis in rats. Scand J Gastroenterol 2011; 46:341-9. [PMID: 20969492 DOI: 10.3109/00365521.2010.525662] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Our aim was to investigate the effect of soy isoflavone (SI) on liver fibrosis in a thioacetamide (TAA)-induced rat model. MATERIALS AND METHODS Twenty-eight rats were assigned to four groups: sham group, fibrosis group, low-dose treatment group (LDg) and high-dose treatment group (HDg). SI (90 or 270 mg/kg) was administered daily during the model development by TAA. Standard liver tests, platelet derived growth factor-BB (PDGF-BB) and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1) were measured. The expression of collagen, α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) in liver tissue was determined. Electron microscopy was used to perform ultrastructural analysis of the livers. RESULTS Hepatic fibrosis was induced by 8 weeks of TAA administration. However, following the administration of SI, collagen staining significantly declined as compared with the fibrosis group (p < 0.01). Less collagen fibers around the hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) were observed in HDg as compared to the fibrosis group and LDg. There was no significant difference in standard liver tests between the fibrosis group and the two treatment groups. The levels of PDGF-BB and TIMP-1 in the two SI-treated groups were significantly lower than in the fibrosis group (p < 0.01). The expression of α-SMA and TGF-β1 in HDg was less than that in the fibrosis group and LDg (p < 0.01). CONCLUSION Administration of a high dose of SI resulted in an obvious inhibitory effect on liver fibrosis induced by TAA in rats. One hypothesis is that the effect may be related to the inhibition of HSC activation and proliferation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jian-Fang Li
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical College, Wenzhou, P.R. China
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20
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Calès P, Boursier J, Chaigneau J, Lainé F, Sandrini J, Michalak S, Hubert I, Dib N, Oberti F, Bertrais S, Hunault G, Cavaro-Ménard C, Gallois Y, Deugnier Y, Rousselet MC. Diagnosis of different liver fibrosis characteristics by blood tests in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Liver Int 2010; 30:1346-54. [PMID: 20666992 DOI: 10.1111/j.1478-3231.2010.02314.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
AIMS Our aim was to develop an accurate, non-invasive, blood-test-based method for identifying the main characteristics of liver fibrosis in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). METHODS Fibrosis was staged according to NASH-CRN and Metavir systems in 226 patients with NAFLD. A fully automated algorithm measured the fractal dimension (FD) and the area of fibrosis (AOF). Independent predictors of diagnostic targets were determined using bootstrap methods. RESULTS (i) Development. Significant fibrosis defined by NASH-CRN F ≥2 was diagnosed by weight, glycaemia, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and prothrombin index [area under the receiver operating characteristic (AUROC)=0.867]; significant fibrosis defined by Metavir F ≥2 was diagnosed by weight, age, glycaemia, AST, ALT, ferritin and platelets (FibroMeter AUROC=0.941, P<0.005). AOF was estimated by the combination of hyaluronic acid, glycaemia, AST, ALT, platelets and prothrombin index ((a) R(2) =0.530), while FD was estimated by hyaluronic acid, glycaemia, AST/ALT, weight and platelets ((a) R(2) =0.529). (ii) Evaluation. Although NASH-CRN was a better system for fibrosis staging, Metavir staging was a better reference for blood test. Thus, the patient rate with predictive values ≥90% by tests was 97.3% with Metavir reference vs. 66.5% with NASH-CRN reference (P<10(-3)). FibroMeter showed a significantly higher AUROC than the NAFLD fibrosis score for significant fibrosis, but not for severe fibrosis or cirrhosis, with both staging systems. Relationships between fibrosis lesions were well reflected by blood tests, e.g., the correlation between histological area and FD of fibrosis (r(s) =0.971, P<10(-3)) was well reflected by the relationship between respective blood tests (r(s) =0.852, P<10(-3)). CONCLUSIONS Different characteristics of fibrosis in NAFLD can be diagnosed and quantified by blood tests with excellent accuracy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul Calès
- Service d'Hépato-Gastroentérologie, CHU, Angers, France.
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Nguyen-Khac E, Saint-Leger P, Tramier B, Coevoet H, Capron D, Dupas JL. Noninvasive Diagnosis of Large Esophageal Varices by Fibroscan: Strong Influence of the Cirrhosis Etiology. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 2010; 34:1146-53. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1530-0277.2010.01191.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
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Borbath I, Leclercq IA, Sempoux C, Abarca-Quinones J, Desaeger C, Horsmans Y. Efficacy of lanreotide in preventing the occurrence of chemically induced hepatocellular carcinoma in rats. Chem Biol Interact 2010; 183:238-48. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cbi.2009.10.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2009] [Revised: 10/01/2009] [Accepted: 10/16/2009] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
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24
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Olefirenko AA, Lutsenko DG, Sleta IV, Marchenko VS. Use of Fractional Analysis for Evaluation of Liver Structure and Function in Rats In Vivo. Bull Exp Biol Med 2009; 147:273-6. [DOI: 10.1007/s10517-009-0490-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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25
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Zois CD, Baltayiannis GH, Karayiannis P, Tsianos EV. Systematic review: hepatic fibrosis - regression with therapy. Aliment Pharmacol Ther 2008; 28:1175-87. [PMID: 18761707 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2036.2008.03840.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hepatic fibrosis occurs in response to chronic liver injury, regardless of the cause. An impressive amount of knowledge concerning the pathogenesis and treatment of liver fibrosis has emerged over the past few years. The hallmark of this event is the activation of the hepatic stellate cell. The latter event causes accumulation of extracellular matrix and formation of scar, leading to deterioration in hepatic function. AIM To assess chronic liver injury, many invasive and non-invasive methods have been suggested. METHODS Although transient elastography, image analysis of fractal geometry and fibrotest with actitest have been used in clinical practice, liver biopsy remains the recommended choice, especially when histological staging of fibrosis or response to treatment is needed. CONCLUSIONS The recent advances in anti-viral therapy have resulted in many reports on fibrosis and even on cirrhosis regression, especially early and in young people. A number of new agents have been suggested for the treatment of fibrosis, with promising results in animals; however, their efficacy in humans remains to be elucidated. The investigation of heterogeneity and plasticity of hepatic stellate cells is a topic of scientific interest and may result in improvements in patient management.
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Affiliation(s)
- C D Zois
- 1st Department of Internal Medicine and Hepato-Gastroenterology Unit, Medical School, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece
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26
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Salameh N, Peeters F, Sinkus R, Abarca-Quinones J, Annet L, Ter Beek LC, Leclercq I, Van Beers BE. Hepatic viscoelastic parameters measured with MR elastography: Correlations with quantitative analysis of liver fibrosis in the rat. J Magn Reson Imaging 2007; 26:956-62. [PMID: 17896384 DOI: 10.1002/jmri.21099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE To determine the correlations between the viscoelastic parameters of the liver measured with in vivo MR elastography and quantitative analysis of liver fibrosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS MR elastography of the liver was performed in 10 rats with hepatic fibrosis induced by intraperitoneal carbon tetrachloride (CCl(4)) injections and five normal rats. Longitudinal waves of 200 MHz were transmitted into the liver with a mechanical transducer. Wave propagation into the liver was analyzed with a phase-locked spin-echo sequence at 1.5 T. The viscoelastic parameters, obtained with the Voigt model, were correlated with automatic image analysis of the fibrotic areas and with analysis of the hydroxyproline content of the liver. RESULTS Substantial correlations were observed between the shear viscoelastic parameters and the percentage of fibrosis at automatic image analysis (r = 0.7, P = 0.005 for the elasticity, and r = 0.8, P = 0.001 for the viscosity) and moderate correlations were seen between the shear viscoelastic parameters and the hydroxyproline content (r = 0.6, P = 0.016 for the elasticity and r = 0.5, P = 0.041 for the viscosity). CONCLUSION The viscoelastic parameters of the liver measured with in vivo MR elastography correlate with quantitative analysis of liver fibrosis. These results suggest that MR elastography is a promising noninvasive method to quantify liver fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Najat Salameh
- Diagnostic Radiology Unit, Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium.
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Matalka II, Al-Jarrah OM, Manasrah TM. Quantitative assessment of liver fibrosis: a novel automated image analysis method. Liver Int 2006; 26:1054-64. [PMID: 17032405 DOI: 10.1111/j.1478-3231.2006.01341.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Semiquantitative staging of liver fibrosis is a highly subjective procedure and may lead to an uncertainty in judgment regarding the degree of severity and hence the progression of the disease. AIM In this work, we present an automated quantification system (AQS) for evaluating the degree of severity of fibrosis in liver biopsies based on Ishak et al.'s classification. Accordingly, liver fibrosis is classified into six classes depending on its severity and progression. The described system is of special value in accurately assessing the prognosis of chronic liver disease. METHODS In our method, we tried to approximate the architecture of the fibrosis in the subject sample using texture features and shape representation of the fibrosis structural expansion with an overall accuracy of about 98%. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION The presented AQS is considered to be a novel approach in the domain of automatic liver fibrosis quantification. It is a true quantification and intelligent approach that attempts to utilize the current semiquantitative methods of liver fibrosis assessment to turn them into real quantitative ones with significant reduction in variability and subjectivity. We propose that our method can be adopted by a panel of expert liver pathologists and software to be developed and used on a wide scale.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ismail I Matalka
- Department of Pathology, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan.
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Chelminiak P, Dixon JM, Tuszyński JA, Marsh RE. Application of a random network with a variable geometry of links to the kinetics of drug elimination in healthy and diseased livers. PHYSICAL REVIEW. E, STATISTICAL, NONLINEAR, AND SOFT MATTER PHYSICS 2006; 73:051912. [PMID: 16802972 DOI: 10.1103/physreve.73.051912] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2006] [Revised: 03/06/2006] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
This paper discusses an application of a random network with a variable number of links and traps to the elimination of drug molecules from the body by the liver. The nodes and links represent the transport vessels, and the traps represent liver cells with metabolic enzymes that eliminate drug molecules. By varying the number and configuration of links and nodes, different disease states of the liver related to vascular damage have been simulated, and the effects on the rate of elimination of a drug have been investigated. Results of numerical simulations show the prevalence of exponential decay curves with rates that depend on the concentration of links. In the case of fractal lattices at the percolation threshold, we find that the decay of the concentration is described by exponential functions for high trap concentrations but transitions to stretched exponential behavior at low trap concentrations.
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Affiliation(s)
- P Chelminiak
- Department of Physics, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, UK
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Xia JL, Dai C, Michalopoulos GK, Liu Y. Hepatocyte growth factor attenuates liver fibrosis induced by bile duct ligation. THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PATHOLOGY 2006; 168:1500-12. [PMID: 16651617 PMCID: PMC1606599 DOI: 10.2353/ajpath.2006.050747] [Citation(s) in RCA: 160] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/24/2006] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Hepatic fibrosis is a common outcome of a variety of chronic liver diseases. Here we evaluated the therapeutic efficacy of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) on liver fibrosis induced by bile duct ligation (BDL) and investigated potential mechanisms. Mice underwent BDL, followed by intravenous injections of naked HGF expression plasmid or control vector. HGF gene therapy markedly ameliorated hepatic fibrotic lesions, as demonstrated by reduced alpha-smooth muscle actin (alphaSMA) expression, attenuated deposition of type I and type III collagen, and normalized total hydroxyproline content. HGF also suppressed transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1) expression. Interestingly, colocalization of alphaSMA and cytokeratin-19 in bile duct epithelium was observed, suggesting the possibility of biliary epithelial to myofibroblast transition after BDL. Cells that were still positive for cytokeratin-19 but actively producing type I collagen were found in the biliary epithelia and periductal region. Laminin staining revealed an impaired basement membrane of the bile duct epithelium in diseased liver. These lesions were largely prevented by HGF administration. In vitro, treatment of human biliary epithelial cells with TGF-beta1 induced alphaSMA and fibronectin expression and suppressed cytokeratin-19. HGF abolished the phenotypic conversion of biliary epithelial cells induced by TGF-beta1. These results suggest that HGF ameliorates hepatic biliary fibrosis in part by blocking bile duct epithelial to mesenchymal transition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing-Lin Xia
- Division of Cellular and Molecular Pathology, Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15261, USA
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Inami K, Nims RW, Srinivasan A, Citro ML, Saavedra JE, Cederbaum AI, Keefer LK. Metabolism of a liver-selective nitric oxide-releasing agent, V-PYRRO/NO, by human microsomal cytochromes P450. Nitric Oxide 2006; 14:309-15. [PMID: 16545970 DOI: 10.1016/j.niox.2006.01.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2005] [Revised: 12/17/2005] [Accepted: 01/16/2006] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Endogenously generated nitric oxide (NO) mediates a host of important physiological functions, playing roles in the vascular, immunological, and neurological systems. As a result, exogenous agents that release NO have become important therapeutic interventions and research tools. O(2)-Vinyl 1-(pyrrolidin-1-yl)diazen-1-ium-1,2-diolate (V-PYRRO/NO) is a prodrug designed with the hypothesis that it might release nitric oxide via epoxidation of the vinyl group by cytochrome P450, followed by enzymatic and/or spontaneous epoxide hydration to release the ultimate NO-donating moiety, 1-(pyrrolidin-1-yl)diazen-1-ium-1,2-diolate (PYRRO/NO) ion. In this study, we investigated this hypothetical activation mechanism quantitatively for V-PYRRO/NO using cDNA-expressed human cytochrome P450 (CYP)2E1. Incubation with CYP2E1 and an NADPH-regenerating system resulted in a time-dependent decomposition of V-PYRRO/NO, with a turnover rate of 2.0 nmol/min/pmol CYP2E1. Nitrate and nitrite were detected in high yield as metabolites of NO. The predicted organic metabolites pyrrolidine and glycolaldehyde were also detected in near-quantitative yields. The enzymatic decomposition of V-PYRRO/NO was also catalyzed, albeit at lower rates, by CYP2A6 and CYP2B6. We conclude that the initial step in the metabolism of V-PYRRO/NO to NO in the liver is catalyzed efficiently but not exclusively by the alcohol-inducible form of cytochrome P450 (CYP2E1). The results confirm the proposed activation mechanism involving enzymatic oxidation of the vinyl group in V-PYRRO/NO followed by epoxide hydration and hydrolytic decomposition of the resulting PYRRO/NO ion to generate nitric oxide.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keiko Inami
- Chemistry Section, Laboratory of Comparative Carcinogenesis, National Cancer Institute at Frederick, MD 21702, USA
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Reynaert H, Rombouts K, Jia Y, Urbain D, Chatterjee N, Uyama N, Geerts A. Somatostatin at nanomolar concentration reduces collagen I and III synthesis by, but not proliferation of activated rat hepatic stellate cells. Br J Pharmacol 2005; 146:77-88. [PMID: 15980876 PMCID: PMC1576247 DOI: 10.1038/sj.bjp.0706298] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Previous studies have shown antifibrotic effects of somatostatin. Since hepatic stellate cells (HSC) express somatostatin receptors and play a key role in hepatic fibrogenesis, we investigated the in vitro antifibrotic effect of somatostatin on rat HSC. At day 12 after isolation, cells were exposed to different concentrations of somatostatin (10(-6)-10(-9) mol l(-1)). mRNA expression of collagen types I and III, and of smooth muscle alpha-actin (alpha-SMA) was analysed by Northern blotting. At 10(-9) mol l(-1), somatostatin significantly reduced mRNA expression of collagen I (72.3 +/- 10.7%; 95% confidence interval (95% CI): 45.5-99.0), collagen III (79.0 +/- 4.5%; 95% CI: 67.6-90.4) and alpha-SMA (65.7 +/- 5.9%; 95% CI: 51.1-80.2), as compared to control normalized at 100%. These results were confirmed by quantitative RT-PCR. Cycloheximide experiments indicated that somatostatin has no direct transcriptional effect.Using immunoprecipitation, we demonstrated that somatostatin also decreased de novo synthesis of collagen I (73 +/-10%; 95% CI: 48-98%), collagen III (65 +/- 13%; 95% CI: 33-97%) and alpha-SMA (47 +/- 9%; 95% CI: 25-69%). Remarkably, at higher concentrations, somatostatin did not suppress collagen mRNA expression nor de novo protein synthesis. We ascribe this observation to desensitization of the cells for somatostatin. Cell proliferation, as measured by 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine labelling, was not altered by somatostatin. No significant effect on the intermediate and actin cytoskeleton were detected by immunohistochemistry and Western blotting. Our findings imply that in vivo antifibrotic effects of somatostatin could result partially from a direct action of somatostatin on HSC, but other, in vivo effects are probably also involved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hendrik Reynaert
- Laboratory for Liver Cell Biology, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Laarbeeklaan 103, 1090 Brussels, Belgium
- Division of Gastroenterology-Hepatology, University Hospital Vrije Universiteit Brussel (AZ-VUB), Laarbeeklaan 101, 1090 Brussels, Belgium
- Author for correspondence:
| | - Krista Rombouts
- Laboratory for Liver Cell Biology, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Laarbeeklaan 103, 1090 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Yutao Jia
- Laboratory for Liver Cell Biology, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Laarbeeklaan 103, 1090 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Daniel Urbain
- Division of Gastroenterology-Hepatology, University Hospital Vrije Universiteit Brussel (AZ-VUB), Laarbeeklaan 101, 1090 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Nirjhar Chatterjee
- Centre of Excellence, UCB, Allée de la Recherche 60, 1070 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Naoki Uyama
- Laboratory for Liver Cell Biology, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Laarbeeklaan 103, 1090 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Albert Geerts
- Laboratory for Liver Cell Biology, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Laarbeeklaan 103, 1090 Brussels, Belgium
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Liu J, He YY, Chignell CF, Clark J, Myers P, Saavedra JE, Waalkes MP. Limited protective role of V-PYRRO/NO against cholestasis produced by alpha-naphthylisothiocyanate in mice. Biochem Pharmacol 2005; 70:144-51. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2005.03.034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2005] [Revised: 03/16/2005] [Accepted: 03/16/2005] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
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Wei CL, Hon WM, Lee KH, Khoo HE. Chronic administration of aminoguanidine reduces vascular nitric oxide production and attenuates liver damage in bile duct-ligated rats. Liver Int 2005; 25:647-56. [PMID: 15910502 DOI: 10.1111/j.1478-3231.2005.01063.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Nitric oxide (NO) has been implicated in the pathogenesis of liver cirrhosis. This study investigated the activity of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) in cirrhosis induced by bile duct-ligation (BDL) with NOS inhibitors. METHOD Three days after operation, rats were randomized to receive aminoguanidine (AG, 25 mg/kg/day) or L-N(G)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME, 10 mg/kg/day) for 21 days. RESULTS Vascular NO production, which was increased in BDL cirrhotic rats, was reduced by 75% with AG but not L-NAME chronic administration. AG treatment attenuated liver damage, while L-NAME aggravated it. AG significantly suppressed inducible NOS (iNOS) expression in aorta of BDL rats at both mRNA and protein level, but much less efficient in reducing it in liver. In contrast, endothelial NOS (eNOS) expression was not markedly affected. Calcium-independent NOS activity, which was dramatically increased in aorta of BDL rats, was abolished by AG treatment. In liver, however, both calcium-dependent and -independent NOS activity were increased by AG treatment. CONCLUSION Chronic administration of AG could reduce systemic NO levels as well as suppress iNOS expression and activity in aorta of BDL rats. It also improved liver function, possibly because of its ability to increase hepatic NOS activity, and to correct the systemic hemodynamic disorders by decreasing vascular NO production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chang-Li Wei
- Department of Paediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, National University of Singapore, 10 Kent Ridge Crescent, Singapore 119260, Singapore
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Liu J, Qu W, Saavedra JE, Waalkes MP. The Nitric Oxide Donor, O2-Vinyl 1-(Pyrrolidin-1-yl)diazen-1-ium-1,2-diolate (V-PYRRO/NO), Protects against Cadmium-Induced Hepatotoxicity in Mice. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 2004; 310:18-24. [PMID: 15010501 DOI: 10.1124/jpet.103.065003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The nitric oxide (NO) donor, O2-vinyl 1-(pyrrolidin-1-yl)diazen-1-ium-1,2-diolate (V-PYRRO/NO), is metabolized by P450 enzymes to release NO within the liver and is effective in protecting against hepatotoxicity of endotoxin and acetaminophen. This study examined the effects of V-PYRRO/NO on cadmium (Cd) hepatotoxicity in mice. Mice were given multiple injections of V-PYRRO/NO (10 mg/kg, s.c. at 2-h intervals) before and after a hepatotoxic dose of Cd (3.7 mg/kg Cd as CdCl2, i.p.). V-PYRRO/NO administration reduced Cd-induced hepatotoxicity as evidenced by reduced serum alanine aminotransferase activity, improved pathology, and reduced hepatic lipid peroxidation. The protection by V-PYRRO/NO was not mediated by altered Cd distribution to the liver or within hepatic subcellular fractions. Similar inductions of metallothionein, a metal-binding protein, were observed in mice receiving Cd alone or Cd plus V-PYRRO/NO. Real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction analysis revealed that V-PYRRO/NO administration suppressed the expression of inflammation-related genes such as macrophage inflammatory protein-2, CXC chemokine, thrombospondin-1, intracellular adhesion molecular-1, and interleukin-6. V-PYRRO/NO also suppressed the expression of acute phase protein genes and genes related to cell-death pathways, such as c-jun/AP-1, nuclear factor-kappaB, early response growth factor-1, heme oxygenase-1, caspase-3, growth arrest, and DNA-damaging protein-153. In summary, the liver-selective NO donor, V-PYRRO/NO, protects against Cd hepatotoxicity in mice. This protection is not mediated through altered distribution of Cd but may be related to reduced hepatic inflammation, reduced acute phase responses, and the suppression of cell-death-related components.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Liu
- Inorganic Carcinogenesis Section, Laboratory of Comparative Carcinogenesis, National Cancer Institute at the National Instititue of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27709, USA
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Affiliation(s)
- Valeer J Desmet
- Department of Morphology and Molecular Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Leuven, Minderbroedersstraat 12, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium.
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Abstract
Fibrosis is a common endpoint of clinical trials in chronic hepatitis C, and liver biopsy remains the gold standard for fibrosis evaluation. However, variability in the distribution of fibrosis within the liver is a potential limitation. Our aim was to assess the heterogeneity of liver fibrosis and its influence on the accuracy of assessment of fibrosis with liver biopsy. Surgical samples of livers from patients with chronic hepatitis C were studied. Measurement of fibrosis was performed on the whole section by using both image analysis and METAVIR score (reference value). From the digitized image of the whole section, virtual biopsy specimens of increasing length were produced. Fibrosis was assessed independently on each individual virtual biopsy specimen. Results were compared with the reference value according to the length of the biopsy specimen. By using image analysis, the coefficient of variation of fibrosis measurement with 15-mm long biopsy specimens was 55%; and for biopsy specimens of 25-mm length it was 45%. By using the METAVIR scoring system, 65% of biopsies 15 mm in length were categorized correctly according to the reference value. This increased to 75% for a 25-mm liver biopsy specimen without any substantial benefit for longer biopsy specimens. Sampling variability of fibrosis is a significant limitation in the assessment of fibrosis with liver biopsy. In conclusion, this study suggests that a length of at least 25 mm is necessary to evaluate fibrosis accurately with a semiquantitative score. Sampling variability becomes a major limitation when using more accurate methods such as automated image analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pierre Bedossa
- Service d'Anatomie Pathologique, Hôpital Bicêtre, Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, France.
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