Computer image analysis to quantify and analyze stable transformation identified using the histochemical GUS assay

A precise and efficient protocol using computer image analysis for quantifying the area of explants that show stable expression of the GUS reporter gene is described. This protocol offers the advantages of quantifying results of the histochemical GUS assay thereby allowing statistical analysis of results, while still retaining information on tissue or organ-specific activity.     

Image Analysis Algorithms for Immunohistochemical Assessment of Cell Death Events and Fibrosis in Tissue Sections

Cell death is of broad physiological and pathological importance, making quantification of biochemical events associated with cell demise a high priority for experimental pathology. Fibrosis is a common consequence of tissue injury involving necrotic cell death. Using tissue specimens from experimental mouse models of traumatic brain injury, cardiac fibrosis, and cancer, as well as human tumor specimens assembled in tissue microarray (TMA) format, we undertook computer-assisted quantification of specific immunohistochemical and histological parameters that characterize processes associated with cell death. In this study, we demonstrated the utility of image analysis algorithms for color deconvolution, colocalization, and nuclear morphometry to characterize cell death events in tissue specimens: (a) subjected to immunostaining for detecting cleaved caspase-3, cleaved poly(ADP-ribose)-polymerase, cleaved lamin-A, phosphorylated histone H2AX, and Bcl-2; (b) analyzed by terminal deoxyribonucleotidyl transferase–mediated dUTP nick end labeling assay to detect DNA fragmentation; and (c) evaluated with Masson''s trichrome staining. We developed novel algorithm-based scoring methods and validated them using TMAs as a high-throughput format. The proposed computer-assisted scoring methods for digital images by brightfield microscopy permit linear quantification of immunohistochemical and histochemical stainings. Examples are provided of digital image analysis performed in automated or semiautomated fashion for successful quantification of molecular events associated with cell death in tissue sections. (J Histochem Cytochem 57:649–663, 2009)     

Critical assessment of information extraction systems in biology

An increasing number of groups are now working in the area of text mining, focusing on a wide range of problems and applying both statistical and linguistic approaches. However, it is not possible to compare the different approaches, because there are no common standards or evaluation criteria; in addition, the various groups are addressing different problems, often using private datasets. As a result, it is impossible to determine how well the existing systems perform, and particularly what performance level can be expected in real applications. This is similar to the situation in text processing in the late 1980s, prior to the Message Understanding Conferences (MUCs). With the introduction of a common evaluation and standardized evaluation metrics as part of these conferences, it became possible to compare approaches, to identify those techniques that did or did not work and to make progress. This progress has resulted in a common pipeline of processes and a set of shared tools available to the general research community. The field of biology is ripe for a similar experiment. Inspired by this example, the BioLINK group (Biological Literature, Information and Knowledge [1]) is organizing a CASP-like evaluation for the text data-mining community applied to biology. The two main tasks specifically address two major bottlenecks for text mining in biology: (1) the correct detection of gene and protein names in text; and (2) the extraction of functional information related to proteins based on the GO classification system. For further information and participation details, see http://www.pdg.cnb.uam.es/BioLink/BioCreative.eval.html.     

光声层析成像技术在骨坏死早期诊断中的应用

骨坏死是骨科临床常见的疾病,严重地影响人类健康及生存质量,临床研究表明骨坏死治疗效果取决该病的早期诊断．X线成像、计算机断层摄影(CT)及同位素骨扫描等一些传统的检查方法难以对骨坏死进行早期诊断,即使应用核磁共振成像(MRI)检测也存在很大的局限性,所以寻求一种简单易行、无创、价廉的早期诊断骨坏死的方法具有重要临床意义．光声层析成像是近年来发展起来的新技术,对哺乳动物组织可产生高对比、高分辨率影像．为探讨光声层析成像对骨坏死早期诊断的可行性,应用脉冲激光产生的光声成像技术对早期动物股骨头坏死模型及人股骨头坏死标本进行图像重建分析,实验结果显示,重建图像和股骨头坏死标本的部位、形状及尺寸完全吻合,成像系统空间分辨率为0.3 mm,表明光声层析成像技术有望成为一种有效的诊断早期骨坏死的新方法．     

糖蛋白质组定量技术进展

蛋白质的糖基化是最重要和最普遍的蛋白质翻译后修饰之一,在生物体内起着极为重要的作用。糖蛋白质的量和（或）糖基化程度的改变以及糖链结构的改变等与许多疾病密切相关,因此定量糖蛋白质组研究已经成为一个新的热点。然而由于糖基化蛋白质所具有的独特特征,其定量面临严峻的挑战。糖蛋白质组学定量方法和技术的发展将为更好地研究糖基化蛋白质生物学功能起到重要作用。综述了基于生物质谱的糖蛋白质组定量研究的技术和方法,及其优缺点和未来的发展趋势。     

Optical quantitative pathology of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia in human tissues using spatial frequency analysis

An optical quantitative histological method in human tissues using spatial frequencies is demonstrated. Optical spatial frequency spectra from different stages of human Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia (CIN) tissue are evaluated as a potential quantitative pathological tool. The degree of randomness of tissue structures from normal to different stages of CIN tissue can be recognized by spatial frequency analysis. The standard deviation, σ of human normal and CIN tissue, is obtained by assuming the spatial frequency spectra as a Gaussian distribution. A support vector machine classifier (SVM) is trained in the subspace of σ. Twenty‐eight normal and CIN samples of varying grades are examined and compared with current diagnostic outcomes. Our results suggest that an excellent accuracy for diagnostic purposes can be achieved. This approach offers a simple, efficient and objective way to supplement histopathology in recognizing alterations from normal to different stages of cervical pre‐cancer, which are reflected by spatial information contained within the aperiodic and random structures of the different types of tissue. (© 2015 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH &Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

A highly uniform UV transillumination imaging system for quantitative analysis of nucleic acids and proteins

The digital fluorescent imaging for documentation and analysis of gel electrophoretic separations of nucleic acids and proteins is widely used in quantitative biology. Most fluorescent stains used in postelectrophoretic analysis of proteins and nucleic acids have significant excitation peaks with UV light (300-365 nm), making midrange UV (UV-B) as the excitation source of choice. However, coupling quantitative CCD imaging with UV is difficult due to lack of uniformity found in typical UV transilluminators. The apparent amount of those macromolecules depends on the position of the gel band on the imaging surface of the transilluminator. Here, we report the development and validation of a highly uniform UV transillumination system. Using a novel high density lighting system containing a single lamp formed into a high density grid, an electronic ballast, a phosphor coating, and a bandpass filter to convert 254 nm light produced to 300-340 nm, uniformity of 80% CV observed in typical UV transilluminators. This system has been used for the quantitative analysis of electrophoretically separated nucleic acids and proteins (CV相似文献   

Histology,imaging and new diagnostic work-flows in pathology

Introduction

Since their introduction in 1999, fully automated, high speed, high-resolution whole slide imaging devices have become increasing more reliable, fast and capable. While by no means perfect, these devices have evolved to a point where one can consider placing them in a pre-diagnostic role in a clinical histology lab.

Methods

At the Massachusetts General Hospital, we are running a pilot study placing high end WSI devices in our main clinical histology lab (after the cover slipper and before slides are sent to the pathologist) to examine the requirement for both the machine and the laboratory.

Results

Placing WSI systems in the clinical lab stresses the system in terms of reliability and throughput. Significantly however, success requires significant modification to the lab workflow. It is likely laboratories need to move from manual, large batch processes to increasingly automated, continuous flow (or mini-batch) processes orchestrated by the LIS using bar coding to track and direct slides, and incorporating the decision to image into the specimen type and the histology orders. Furthermore, image quality, capture speed and reliability are functions of the quality of the histology presented to the WSI devices.

Conclusion

Imaging in pathology does not begin in a WSI robot but in the grossing room and in the histology lab. As more and more imaging devices are placed in histology lab, the inter-relationships histology and pathology imaging will become increasing understood.

     

Parasitoid polydnaviruses: evolution,pathology and applications

One of the more unusual groups of insect pathogens consists of members of the family Polydnaviridae, insect DNA viruses that live in mutual symbioses with their associated parasitoid wasp (Hymentoptera) carriers until they are injected into specific lepidopteran hosts. Once inside this secondary host, polydnaviruses cause a wide variety of negative effects that ultimately ensure the survival of the parasitoid larvae. Because of their unusual life strategy and genetic features, it had been difficult to fully characterise polydnaviruses in terms of evolutionary history, replication cycle and functions in the host that might normally be well characterised for more conventional viruses. Recently, our understanding of polydnavirus evolutionary origins, gene content, genome organisation and functions in parasitism has greatly increased. Key findings are summarised in this review with emphasis on evolution of polydnavirus genes and genomes, their functional roles in insect pathology and their potential applications in insect biological control and biotechnology.     

End users’ rating of a mHealth app prototype for paediatric speech pathology clinical assessment

BackgroundPrevious studies reported the efficacy of the implementation of information technology in clinical evaluation. No research has addressed the development of mobile applications for the clinical evaluation and diagnosis of paediatric language disorders.PurposeThis study aims to investigate the usability of a clinical assessment mobile application (app) prototype, the “Paediatric Arabic Language Test” (PALT), to diagnose language disorders among paediatric patients.MethodsUsing the Lewis Computer Software Usability Questionnaire (CSUQ) and a 5-point Likert Scale, data was collected and scored on the usability of the app prototype developed on two mobile platforms- iPhone and iPad- across a general operating system, iOS. A sample of 77 potential end-users rated the usability of the app prototype that they used between 2017 and 2019.ResultsThe average CSUQ rating for the app prototype was 75.68 and 53.2% strongly agreed that the information and its organization was clear and easy to understand; 75% of the end users were very satisfied (p < 0.0001). Out of the total items, 68% of studied items on the scale loaded on factor 1 even after subjecting the scale to three standardization methods.ConclusionThe prototype design was judged to be usable. Users reported an effective user interface that allows effective operation. Differences in the factor loading may be explained by cultural factors, type of task and field context.     

Image analysis in quantitative PCR. An application for the measurement of c-erbB-2 oncogene amplification in DNA from human tumours

We present an application of image analysis for the direct quantification of PCR products after gel electrophoresis and ethidium bromide staining of DNA. This procedure has been applied to the development of an assay based on competitive PCR for the measurement of the degree of amplification of c-erbB-2 oncogene in DNA from human tumours. In this method two DNA species (genomic and competitor) compete for PCR amplification. Since results are calculated from the final competitor/genomic ratio any variable affecting the rate of PCR amplification has no effect on the accuracy of the ratio measurement. Results are reported which show that even large variations in the experimental conditions (number of PCR cycles, sample volumes and extracted DNA quality) did not interfere with the precision of the measurement of the competitor/genomic ratio.     

Histochemistry: historical development and current use in pathology

We describe the history of the histochemical stains that contributed most to the development of modern pathology during the last two centuries. Histochemical stains are presented in a list, which provides the essential information about year, country and main use of each to enable the reader to follow the chronological and geographical history of histochemistry. In addition to the historical evaluation of histochemistry development, we investigate how many classical histochemical stains survive in a modern laboratory of pathology and how often they are used for diagnostic practice compared to immunohistochemical (IHC) techniques. A ratio of about one histochemical reaction to 13 IHC reactions was tabulated. Finally, our data make it possible to define different cultural approaches to the terminology of histochemical and IHC stains: the former were based on eponyms, which link the stain with the name of its inventor, while the latter use a more impersonal biological terminology.     

Exploiting quantitative information in the analysis of dominant markers

Dominant genetic markers such as AFLPs and RAPDs are usually analyzed based on the presence or absence of a band on an electrophoretic gel. This type of analysis does not allow a distinction among dominant homozygotes and heterozygotes. Such a distinction is possible based on the quantitative measurement of band intensities. In the present paper, we consider the problem of analyzing dominant markers based on band-intensity data. The basic step for mapping a marker is to assess its recombination frequency with other markers. Ordering markers on a map can then be done using a number of standard procedures. For this reason estimation of the recombination frequency is the main focus of the present paper. The method is demonstrated for the case of an F₂ population. By simulation we investigate its accuracy and compare it to the standard estimation based on dominant scoring for band presence/absence. There are a number of potential applications. For example, the map may be used to locate quantitative trait loci (QTLs), applying standard procedures modified to account for uncertainty of the marker genotype. Moreover, map information can be used to determine the most likely genotype at a marker, given its band intensity and the band intensities at flanking markers. Received: 2 May 2000 / Accepted: 6 December 2000     

Directional and quantitative phosphorylation networks.

Directionality in protein signalling networks is due to modulated protein-protein interactions and is fundamental for proper signal progression and response to external and internal cues. This property is in part enabled by linear motifs embedding post-translational modification sites. These serve as recognition sites, guiding phosphorylation by kinases and subsequent binding of modular domains (e.g. SH2 and BRCT). Characterization of such modification-modulated interactions on a proteome-wide scale requires extensive computational and experimental analysis. Here, we review the latest advances in methods for unravelling phosphorylation-mediated cellular interaction networks. In particular, we will discuss how the combination of new quantitative mass-spectrometric technologies and computational algorithms together are enhancing mapping of these largely uncharted dynamic networks. By combining quantitative measurements of phosphorylation events with computational approaches, we argue that systems level models will help to decipher complex diseases through the ability to predict cellular systems trajectories.     

Image analysis, neural networks, and the taxonomic impediment to biodiversity studies

The taxonomic impediment to biodiversity studies may be influenced radically by the application of new technology, in particular, desktop image analysers and neural networks. The former offer an opportunity to automate objective feature measurement processes, and the latter provide powerful pattern recognition and data analysis tools which are able to 'learn' patterns in multivariate data. The coupling of these technologies may provide a realistic opportunity for the automation of routine species identifications. The potential benefits and limitations of these technologies, along with the development of automated identification systems are reviewed.     

Synergistic Tissue Counterstaining and Image Segmentation Techniques for Accurate, Quantitative Immunohistochemistry

Quantitative analysis of digitized IHC-stained tissue sections is increasingly used in research studies and clinical practice. Accurate quantification of IHC staining, however, is often complicated by conventional tissue counterstains caused by the color convolution of the IHC chromogen and the counterstain. To overcome this issue, we implemented a new counterstain, Acid Blue 129, which provides homogeneous tissue background staining. Furthermore, we combined this counterstaining technique with a simple, robust, fully automated image segmentation algorithm, which takes advantage of the high degree of color separation between the 3-amino-9-ethyl-carbazole (AEC) chromogen and the Acid Blue 129 counterstain. Rigorous validation of the automated technique against manual segmentation data, using Ki-67 IHC sections from rat C6 glioma and β-amyloid IHC sections from transgenic mice with amyloid precursor protein (APP) mutations, has shown the automated method to produce highly accurate results compared with ground truth estimates based on the manually segmented images. The synergistic combination of the novel tissue counterstaining and image segmentation techniques described in this study will allow for accurate, reproducible, and efficient quantitative IHC studies for a wide range of antibodies and tissues. (J Histochem Cytochem 56:873–880, 2008)