Tag Archives: ImageJ

Semiautomated Image Analysis of High Contrast Tissue Areas Using Hue/Saturation/Brightness Based Color Filtering

Introduction: Quantification and morphological assessment of various tissue elements have numerous applications in fundamental and clinical research. Digital morphometry, in contrast to other morphologic methods, uses personal computers and specific software, to perform precise and highly reproducible results. Additionally, it delivers results in mathematical format. The aim of our study was to develop an open access digital morphometry method for measuring different parameters of various high contrast tissue elements and to elaborate a general work-around for digital morphometry study and data management.
Materials and methods: We used three different types of tissue samples and staining procedures: (1) Diffuse Large B-cell Lymphoma specimens, (2) various stage liver fibrosis specimens and (3) transversely sectioned skeletal muscle tissue to develop a digital morphometric analysis. Image analysis was performed using ImageJ software.
Results: We developed an intuitive and easy to use work-algorithm that fits generic demands. We split the algorithm into three phases, each requiring a different approach and workaround. Using the presented method we were able to quantify the proportion of CD34 positive areas in the DLBCL specimens, the vascularity of this type of lymphoma may be quantified; similarly, this method is optimal for determining the extension of fibrosis in liver specimens; and finally, morphometric analysis of striated muscle fibers was achieved.
Conclusions: We conclude that the use of ImageJ with semiautomatic color segmentation is a reliable and practical way of performing various morphometric measurements. In addition, we are confident that such methods of digital morphometry could have future applications in other areas of pathology and histology.

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Using Abdominal CT Data for Visceral Fat Evaluation

DOI: 10.2478/amma-2013-0058

Background: Quantitative assessment of body fat is important for the diagnosis and treatment of diseases related to obesity, Computed tomography (CT) becoming the standard procedure for measuring the abdominal fat distribution.
Material and method: The retrospective study included 111 inpatients, who underwent routine abdominal CT exams in the Radiology Laboratory of SCJU Tg.Mures (2013). MPR MDCT (SOMATOM AS 64) data was processed using a custom written MATLAB R2009b software, ImageJ being used for tracing of the visceral fat area (VFA). Patient data (including blood glucose, cholesterol and triglycerides) were analyzed using MO Excel and GraphPad Inprism5.
Results: Visceral Fat percentage varied in population from 14.59–68.69 (SD = 11.83) with significant difference between sexes (male vs. female, 46.98 vs. 31.62, p <0.05). Cholesterol values >220 mg% and triglycerides >150 mg% are significantly associated with the VF percent (p <0.05). Overall there is a weak correlation between the lab variables and the measured fat, the strongest one being between triglycerides and the VFA (r = +0.23) and between age and VFA percentage (certain samples).
Conclusions: The technique used should decreases the human error in marking of the fat areas providing a better estimation of the VF/VF percentage. CT measured VF relates with certain lab tests. Further analysis, is required for a better use of CT in obesity related pathology diagnosis and treatment.

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