RESUMO
Abstract Background Psoriasis is a protean disease associated with several comorbidities that may have increased levels of adiponectin such as resistin. This may affect the patients atherosclerotic risk. Objective To study resistin levels in a sample of Brazilian patients with psoriasis and its association with clinical profile, comorbidities, and carotid Intima-Media Thickness (cIMT). Methods This is a cross-sectional study of 119 individuals: 34 healthy controls and 85 patients with psoriasis, 42 of which with skin involvement only and 43 with psoriatic arthritis. Clinical and epidemiological data, measurement of PASI (Psoriasis Area Severity Index) and DAPSA (Disease Activity in Psoriatic Arthritis), lipid profile, cIMT by ultrasound were collected from medical records. Resistin serum levels were measured by ELISA. Results Patients with psoriasis had higher resistin levels (p = 0.009) and worse cIMT (p = 0.0002) than controls. In the psoriasis sample, no associations of resistin levels with epidemiological, clinical findings, and activity indexes were found. Resistin serum levels were associated with the presence of diabetes (p = 0.008) and metabolic syndrome (p = 0.01) and correlated with total cholesterol (r = 0.26) and triglycerides (r = 0.33) but not with cIMT. Study limitations This work is limited by its transversal design and by the limited number of patients included. Conclusion Resistin serum levels are elevated in psoriasis patients. In this sample, clinical, epidemiological, and activity indexes were not linked to resistin serum levels, but atherosclerotic risk factors were.
RESUMO
ABSTRACT Background: Heart dysfunction and liver disease often coexist because of systemic disorders. Any cause of right ventricular failure may precipitate hepatic congestion and fibrosis. Digital image technologies have been introduced to pathology diagnosis, allowing an objective quantitative assessment. The quantification of fibrous tissue in liver biopsy sections is extremely important in the classification, diagnosis and grading of chronic liver disease. Aim: To create a semi-automatic computerized protocol to quantify any amount of centrilobular fibrosis and sinusoidal dilatation in liver Masson's Trichrome-stained specimen. Method: Once fibrosis had been established, liver samples were collected, histologically processed, stained with Masson's trichrome, and whole-slide images were captured with an appropriated digital pathology slide scanner. After, a random selection of the regions of interest (ROI's) was conducted. The data were subjected to software-assisted image analysis (ImageJ®). Results: The analysis of 250 ROI's allowed to empirically obtain the best application settings to identify the centrilobular fibrosis (CF) and sinusoidal lumen (SL). After the establishment of the colour threshold application settings, an in-house Macro was recorded to set the measurements (fraction area and total area) and calculate the CF and SL ratios by an automatic batch processing. Conclusion: Was possible to create a more detailed method that identifies and quantifies the area occupied by fibrous tissue and sinusoidal lumen in Masson's trichrome-stained livers specimens.
Resumo Racional: Tecnologias de imagem digital têm sido introduzidas ao diagnóstico patológico, permitindo avaliações quantitativas objetivas. A quantificação de tecido fibroso em biópsias de fígado é extremamente importante para a classificação, diagnóstico e graduação de doenças crônicas hepáticas. Objetivo: Criar um protocolo computadorizado semi-automático para quantificação de fibrose centrolobular e dilatação sinusoidal em amostras de fígado coradas por Tricrômico de Masson. Método: Uma vez instaurada a fibrose, amostras de fígado foram coletadas, processadas histologicamente, coradas por Tricrômico de Masson e WSI (Whole Slide Images) foram capturadas por scanner digital patológico apropriado. Uma seleção aleatória das regiões de interesse (ROI) foi realizada. Os dados foram submetidos a uma análise de imagem assistida por software (ImageJ®). Resultados: A análise de 250 ROIs permitiu obter-se empiricamente as melhores configurações capazes de identificar fibrose centrolobular (FC) e lúmen sinusoidal (LS). Após o estabelecimento das configurações de padrão de cor, uma Macro de autoria própria foi gravada para definir as medidas (área da fração e área total) e calcular as razões de FC e LS por processamento em grupo/lote (batch mode). Conclusão: Foi possível criar um método detalhado capaz de identificar e quantificar a área ocupada por tecido fibroso e lúmen sinusoidal em espécimes de fígado coradas por Tricrômico de Masson.