[Intestinal polyp of the umbilical cord]. / Der intestinale Nabelschnurpolyp.

The morphology, pathogenesis, complications and differential diagnosis of an intestinal polyp of the umbilical cord are presented. The polyp were detected postnatal on the umbilical cord in an healthy male newborn. The presents of intestinal tissue upon the umbilical cord ist possible about the persistence from remnants of the ductus omphalomesentericus with prolapse and differentiation of the intestinal cells. The ductus omphalomesentericus is a tubular structure, a communication between the developing embryonic gut and the yolk sac, forming during the early embryonic life. Obliteration of the omphalomesenteric duct is usually complete by the 10(th) week of gestation. Various portions of the duct may persist, however, giving rise to polyps, fistulas or cysts of the umbilical cord with potentially dangerous clinical consequences. Other tumors of the umbilical cord are myxoma, angioma and teratoma are differential diagnosis.

[Experiences with the NoToX formalin substitute solution]. / Erfahrungen mit der Formalinersatzlösung NoToX.

"NoToX Histological Fixative" is a formaldehyde substitute for the fixation of tissues prior to histological investigation. Intraoperative samples and necropsy tissue were tested. NoToX was substituted for formaldehyde in the fixation step, otherwise the same manufacturer-specified protocols were used for all reagents. Conventional histological and accepted immunohistological investigations, especially for tumour diagnosis, were used. In all tests, results with NoToX-fixated tissue were similar to those with tissue fixed with formaldehyde regarding both staining and diagnosis. NoToX is a useful substitute for formaldehyde.

Nucleolar organizer region-associated proteins in cancer cells. Quantitative investigations on gliomas, meningiomas, urinary bladder carcinomas and pleural lesions.

Using a modified silver staining technique, we investigated nucleolar organizer region-associated proteins (AgNORs) in paraffin sections of 156 neoplastic tissues and other lesions, including gliomas (n = 41), meningiomas (n = 20), urinary bladder carcinomas (n = 58), and neoplastic and reactive lesions of the mesothelium of the pleural cavity (n = 37). We found significant differences in the mean number and area of AgNORs per nucleus between nonanaplastic and anaplastic astrocytomas. In meningiomas AgNOR analysis may be useful to distinguish between mostly benign tumors (grade 1 tumors) and atypical ones. Urinary bladder carcinomas exhibited a statistically significant increase in both AgNOR number and area as the grade of malignancy increased. Diagnostically useful differences in the AgNOR configuration between inflammatory and neoplastic processes were found for mesothelial lesions. In general, a higher grade of malignancy correlated with an increase in the AgNOR number. This was accompanied by an increase in the total AgNOR area per nucleus, irrespective of whether the size of the individual AgNORs had changed.

[Measurement of the number, size and location of AgNORs in histologic sections of astrocytomas and bladder carcinoma]. / Die Vermessung der Anzahl, Grösse und Lage von AgNORs in histologischen Schnitten von Astrozytomen und Harnblasenkarzinomen.

Nucleolus organizer regions (NORs) are associated with proliferative activity of tumors. An image analysis method is presented in this paper by which it is possible to analyze NOR location within the nucleus and relative to each other. Several features which characterized locations were measured in 20 urinary bladder carcinomas, eight astrocytomas, and two glioblastomas. Correlations were found to exist between those features, on the one hand, and tumor malignancy, on the other. They were particularly close in astrocytoma. Mean distance among NORs and closeness to the nuclear membrane were found to increase, as well, along with aggravating malignancy. As to the urinary bladder carcinomas examined, an unambiguous difference was found to exist between G 1 and G 1-2 carcinomas.

[AgNORs in cells of urothelial carcinoma of the bladder. A quantitative study using automatic microscopic image analysis]. / AgNORs in Zellen von Urothelkarzinomen der Harnblase. Eine quantitativeUntersuchung mit Hilfe der automatisierten Mikroskopbildanalyse.

Biopsies taken from 52 cases of urinary bladder carcinoma together with samples collected from 6 controls were stained to visualize AgNORs, using a technique modified by the authors of this paper after its first introduction to histological practice by Ploton et al. (1986) as well as by Crocker and Nar (1987). AgNORs were quantitatively analyzed by means of an image processing system and a programme written by the authors' team for this particular purpose. The configuration was such that information was provided on the number and size of AgNORs. AgNORs were found to go up numerically along with aggravating malignancy, means values being 1.7/cell nucleus in Grade 1 urothelial carcinomas (controls being 1.6), 2.6 in Grade 2, and 3.3 in Grade 3. Mean AgNOR sum areas in the three above tumor groups were 3.4 microns 2, 7.4 microns 2, and 12.8 microns 2 (controls being 2.6 microns 2). Analysis of AgNORs, consequently, should provide prognostically relevant information helpful in more effective grading of urinary bladder carcinoma.

A modified method for the detection of nucleolar organizer regions (AgNORs).

A modified method for the detection of argyrophilic nucleolar organizer regions (AgNORs) is described. By combination of the original silver staining with a Feulgen staining at the same specimen both the AgNORs and the nuclei of the cells under study are sufficiently contrasted, so that a partial automated counting and measurement of these structures can be done using a computerized microscope image analysis system.

The PARTICLE expert system for tumor grading by automated image analysis.

While automated microscopic image analysis of histologic sections has been helpful in objectivizing histologic tumor grading and investigating the relationships between grading and prognosis, expert systems have the potential of linking image analysis and other data for statistical analysis and application to a wider range of tumors. One such expert system is PARTICLE, whose development was based on many years of experience in resolving histologic problems by image analysis. This paper discusses the philosophy of expert system for tumor grading and describes its implementation in the PARTICLE system. The system's structure, operations and applications are briefly presented. PARTICLE is essentially based on the evaluation of karyometric data.

Comparison of conventional morphometry and image analysis for the solution of histomorphometric problems.

The main differences between conventional morphometry and image analysis for their application in histopathology are pointed out. Conventional morphometry allows the use of contextural informations and a priori knowledge in a convenient manner. This is the most complicated thing in image analysis. The solution of this problem lies on the field of artificial intelligence. On the other hand, image analysis is able to measure densitometrical and textural features, to determine arbitrary quantiles and moments of feature distributions, to match scenes. Therefore the descriptive power of image analysis is much higher than the power of conventional morphometry.

[The interactive image processing system AMBA/R]. / Das interaktive Bildverarbeitungssystem AMBA/R.

Automated microscopic picture processing is a method of universal applicability useful in research and practice of medicine and biology but also in all areas of science and technology in which pictures are generated. The experience shows that good results can be achieved only through an effective picture processing system, effective in hardware and software. A description of such an effective system, the AMBA/R system, will be given in this paper.

[Methods of characterizing histological sections based on the AMBA/R system]. / Methoden der Charakterisierung histologischer Schnittpräparate auf der Basis des AMBA/R-Systems.

There exist 2 characterization levels: karyometry and histometry. The state of the art in karyometry is relatively wide advanced. A wide spectrum of methods exists and there is often a good correlation between measured parameters and diagnosis as well as prognosis. The development of histometry is just in the first phase. This paper gives an introduction to the histometrical methods based on the AMBA/R-software-system.

[Grading of urinary bladder tumors by automated microscopic image analysis]. / Grading von Harnblasentumoren mit der automatisierten Mikroskopbildanalyse.

Studies were undertaken on biopsies from urinary papillomas and urothelial carcinomas of different grades (G1 to G3) along with normal urinary bladder mucosa from a total of 220 patients. They were performed by use of automated microscopic image analysis (system Robotron A 6471, software AMBA/R). As a result, the tumor grading was improved and lead to the separation of both papillomas and G1-carcinomas with high proliferative activity. In addition, it was possible to divide the G2-carcinomas into 2 groups which probably show a different biological behaviour.

Automated histometry in fibrocystic breast disease.

Ductal epithelial proliferations of the mammary gland in biopsy material from 101 patients, including 52 with proliferative fibrocystic disease (mastopathy), were quantitatively analyzed by means of the Robotron A 6471 system together with AMBA/R software. Based on reproducible data obtained for distinct karyometric and histometric features, significant differences were found to exist between epithelial proliferations without atypical hyperplasia (mastopathy II) and those with atypia (mastopathy III). The multiparameter analysis also produced some hints that cases of proliferative mastopathy III can be divided into two groups having different risks of developing carcinoma.

Expert system for pathologists to generate an image analysis program for tumor grading.

The pathologist is usually not an expert in engineering or image analysis. We have, therefore, developed an expert system, entitled PARTICLE, to help pathologists producing image analysis programs by which to tackle problems in histological pathology, including tumor grading. The PARTICLE expert system is based on karyometric data, using the AMBA/R dialogue and programming system.

Automated microscopic image analysis--a method for improved classification of malignant tumours and their preceding stages.

Automated image analysis for tumour classification has proved to be a method not only for complex and reproducible tumour classification but also for information on particular behaviours of the tumour concerned. The methods now available and expanded for automatic analysis are described.

[Grading of urinary bladder tumors by automated microscopic image analysis]. / Grading von Harnblasentumoren mittels automatischer Mikroskopbildanalyse.

Studies were undertaken on biopsies from urinary bladder papillomas and urothelial carcinomas of different grades (G1-G3) along with normal urinary bladder mucosa from a total of 145 patients. They were performed by use of automated microscopic image analysis (system Robotron A 6471; software AMBA/R) and resulted in making objective the tumor grading and lead to the detection of both papillomas and G1-carcinomas with high proliferating activity. In addition, we were able to separate the G2-carcinomas into two groups which probably show different biological behaviour. They cannot be discriminated by conventional morphological methods but their existence is consistent with clinical observations.

Automated microscopic image evaluation for histological diagnosis of tumours (grading).

Described in this paper is an automated approach to histological diagnosis of tumours (urinary bladder). This approach actually substitutes individual analysis and classification of a tumour for a formalistic consideration and is likely to offer the clinician a better decision-finding aid for therapeutic approach to the individual case.

[Clinical significance of histologic mastopathy diagnosis using quantitative procedures]. / Zur klinischen Bedeutung der histologischen Mastopathie-Diagnostik unter Anwendung quantitativer Verfahren.

Examinations were applied to 101 patients with simple fibrocystic mastopathy (15 cases), proliferative mastopathy (52 cases), invasive ductal carcinoma in concomitance with mastopathy (21 cases), and normal mammary glands (13 probands) in a prospective clinico-morphological pilot study. The use of Robotron A 6471/AMBA-R, a system for automated microscopic image analysis, together with improved methods, has opened up new possibilities for early detection of precancerous changes of the mammary gland. Significant differences were identified between the two clinically relevant groups, II and III, of proliferative mastopathy by quantitative analysis of ductal epithelial proliferations through reproducible measuring data were obtained together with highly distinctive karyometric and histometric parameters. Multiparametrical analysis also provided suggestions to the effect that cases of proliferative mastopathy III, probably, break down into two groups with presumedly differentiated carcinoma risks. Hence, it may well be possible that the biological importance of atypical ductal epithelial proliferations differs from case to case.

[Morphometric analysis of fibrocystic breast disease]. / Morphometrische Analyse der fibrozystischen Mastopathie.

We used the automated microscopic image analysis (system "Robotron A 6471"; software AMBA/R) to study the ductal epithelium in biopsies from 88 patients with fibrocystic breast disease, including 52 with proliferative mastopathy. Significant differences were demonstrated using reproducible data and selective caryo- and histometric parameters which allowed the separation of ductal hyperplasia and ductal cell proliferation with atypia. In addition, multiparameter analysis indicated that cases with proliferative mastopathy III can be separated into two groups which have probably a different high risk with respect to carcinoma.

[Regeneration of liver parenchyma and sinusoidal cells following partial hepatectomy]. / Zur Regeneration der Leberparenchym- und Sinusoidalzellen nach Teilhepatektomie.

Partial hepatectomy (30 percent of the liver weight) was performed in 225 female Wistar rats, ages 6 weeks, 6 and 9 months. The animals were sacrificed in intervals between 4 hours and 21 d after the operation. The automated microscopic image analysis after Simon et al. (1984) and histoautoradiography were utilized for evaluation of liver cell regeneration. Despite measurement of more than 1,000 cells per animal we were not able to confirm enlargement of hepatocytes as the first reaction to partial hepatectomy The number of liver cells per unit area increased whereas sinusoidal size remained rather constant, corresponding to a decrease in average cell size and in the standard deviation of cell area. The importance of binucleated hepatocytes in the process is emphasized. Measurement of the nucleoli and of the mean extinction values of liver cell nuclei as a measure of the DNA content did not provide any essentially new perspectives. The investigation did however emphasize the importance of the extent of the hepatic resection and the age of the experimental animals on the intensity and subsequent course of liver cell regeneration. Proliferation of the sinusoidal cells themselves after partial hepatectomy could not definitively be demonstrated to be age-dependent.