Madhur Gupta

Computerized Morphometric Analysis of Human Femoral Articular Cartilage

Objective. Articular cartilage shows changes with age that are considered to be the most important factors in the development and progression of osteoarthritis. The studies on age changes in articular cartilage have been traditionally based on individual observations but this approach is limited by its subjectivity and bias, yielding considerable variability. So the present study was conducted to observe various age related changes in morphology of femoral articular cartilage using computerized morphometric analysis. Design. The articular cartilage specimens were divided into two groups according to age: group 1 (n = 16) below 40 years (16–40 years) and group 2 (n = 12) above 40 years (41–86 years) of age. 5 μm thick paraffin sections were stained with H&E and analyzed using Image Pro Express image analysis software for quantitative analysis of articular cartilage. Various parameters, that is, total thickness of the cartilage, area of lacunae in each zone, area of subchondral cavities, and number of chondrocytes per 10,000 μm2 area in each zone were measured. Results. Significant difference with age was found in the total thickness and area of lacunae in zone 3. Conclusions. Not much difference is observed in articular cartilage morphology with age. So ageing is not the only risk factor in development of osteoarthritis.

Morphology of liver

BackgroundLiver size is related to body surface area. The present study was conducted to assess liver size and to find its relationship with body parameters. Also, the external surface of liver was studied for presence of fissures, which may demarcate the vascular segments and the blood vessels beneath them and may help the surgeon for resection of liver segment.Material and MethodsApparently normal liver specimens were obtained from 50 cadavers aged 19–65 years. Measurements of liver diameters were taken with the help of Vernier Calipers. Volume of liver was taken by water displacement method. Means and standard deviation of data were calculated and liver dimensions were co-related with body parameters.ResultsThe mean maximum transverse diameter was 199.4 + 24.5 mm and maximum vertical diameter was 149.5 + 18.7 mm. Significant correlations were observed between Maximum anteroposterior diameter and body mass index (p < 0.05);Vertical diameter at falciform ligament and body weight (p < 0.01);Highly significant correlation was seen between liver volume and body surface area (P < 0.001). The fissures showed underlying veins draining into the inferior vena cava in 40% cases.ConclusionsA significant increase in the body parameters with a corresponding increase in the liver dimensions was found. Study of morphology of liver can help the surgeons to dissect in proper planes to make the resection safe. The surface of liver showed 1–3 fissures distributed on all lobes in 70% specimens demarcating the vascular segments, which may help the surgeon during resection of liver.

A Study of Changes in Morphology of Osteoarthritic Articular Cartilage Using Computerized Image Analysis

Histological studies on articular cartilage have been traditionally based on individual observations but this approach is limited by its subjectivity and bias, yielding considerable variability. So the present study was conducted to observe the various changes in the morphology of osteoarthritic femoral articular cartilage using computerized image analysis. The cartilage specimens were divided into two groups: group 1 () (46–81 years) consisted of OA specimens. Group 2 () (41–86 years) consisted of non-OA specimens. A 5 μm thick paraffin sections were stained with H&E staining and analyzed using Image-Pro Express image analysis software for quantitative analysis of articular cartilage. Various parameters, namely, total thickness of the cartilage, area of lacunae in each zone, area of subchondral cavities, and number of chondrocytes per 10,000 μm2 area in each zone, were measured. Microscopic appearance of OA cartilage was much different as compared to control. Various changes seen were different in all specimens and they were not related to age. Lacunar size in all four zones was found to differ significantly in the OA (group 1) and control (group 2) (). The results suggest that OA should be considered as a specific process and not simply as an inevitable feature of ageing.