Morphological segmentation analysis and texture-based support vector machines classification on mice liver fibrosis microscopic images

Background To reduce the intensity of the work of doctors, pre-classification work needs to be issued. In this paper, a novel and related liver microscopic image classification analysis method is proposed. Objective For quantitative analysis, segmentation is carried out to extract the quantitative information of special organisms in the image for further diagnosis, lesion localization, learning and treating anatomical abnormalities and computer-guided surgery. Methods in the current work, entropy based features of microscopic fibrosis mice’ liver images were analyzed using fuzzy c-cluster, k-means and watershed algorithms based on distance transformations and gradient. A morphological segmentation based on a local threshold was deployed to determine the fibrosis areas of images. Results the segmented target region using the proposed method achieved high effective microscopy fibrosis images segmenting of mice liver in terms of the running time, dice ratio and precision. The image classification experiments were conducted using Gray Level Co-occurrence Matrix (GLCM). The best classification model derived from the established characteristics was GLCM which performed the highest accuracy of classification using a developed Support Vector Machine (SVM). The training model using 11 features was found to be as accurate when only trained by 8 GLCMs. Conclusion The research illustrated the proposed method is a new feasible research approach for microscopy mice liver image segmentation and classification using intelligent image analysis techniques. It is also reported that the average computational time of the proposed approach was only 2.335 seconds, which outperformed other segmentation algorithms with 0.8125 dice ratio and 0.5253 precision

Comparative Analysis on the Effect of Plantago Species Aqueous Extracts on Tissue Trace Element Content in Rats

The primary objective of this study is to assess the influence of water extracts of Plantago major L., Plantago lanceolata L., and Plantago maxima Juss. ex Jacq. leaves on tissue trace element content in healthy adult Wistar rats. Twenty-eight female Wistar rats consumed pure drinking water or one of the three aqueous extracts of Plantago for 1 month. The extracts and liver, serum, hair, and adipose tissue of the rats were examined for trace element contents using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. The aqueous extracts of Plantago species contained significant levels of trace elements, which were highest in P. lanceolata and P. major. The administration of every extract led to an increase in V and Si levels in the rats. At the same time, the consumption of P. lanceolata aqueous extract resulted in the accumulation of toxic elements (As, Pb) in the rats’ tissues. Despite the rather high concentration of heavy metals in the P. major leaf extract, its administration did not result in the accumulation of these elements. In turn, P. maxima extract induced a significant decrease in the tissue levels of Al, Cr, I, Li, and Mn in the rats. The beneficial effect of the P. major and P. maxima preparations may be at least partially associated with the increased supply of essential trace elements, whereas the use of P. lanceolata may be harmful due to the possibility of heavy metal overexposure. © 2017, Springer Science+Business Media New York

Evaluation of tissue metal and trace element content in a rat model of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease using ICP-DRC-MS

The primary objective of the study was to assess the level of metals and trace elements in liver, serum, and hair of rats with diet-induced non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) using inductively coupled plasma dynamic reaction cell mass spectrometer (ICP-DRC-MS). 56 female 3-months-old Wistar rats divided into two equal groups were fed either standard (10% calories from fat) or high-fat high-carbohydrate diet (60% calories from fat in chow and 10% sucrose solution) for 6 weeks. Serum was examined for insulin resistance markers, lipid profile, and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activity. Liver histology was assessed after hematoxylin and eosin staining. Metal and trace element concentrations were assessed by means of ICP-DRC-MS. Overfed animals were characterized by higher values of morphometric parameters. Liver examination revealed large and small droplet steatosis, hepatocyte ballooning and necrosis, being characteristic for NAFLD. Animals with NAFLD were characterized by insulin resistance, atherogenic changes of lipid profile and increased ALT activity. Significantly decreased hepatic Co, Cu, I, Li, Mn, Se, Zn levels were observed in rats with NAFLD. At the same time, only hepatic Mn and Se levels remained decreased after adjustment for total protein. Overfed animals were characterized by significantly lower I, Li, and Mn levels in blood serum, whereas concentration of Co, Se, V, and Sr exceeded the control values. In general, the results of the study demonstrate that NAFLD significantly affects metal and trace element status in experimental animals. © 2016 Elsevier Gmb

Comparative Analysis on the Effect of Plantago Species Aqueous Extracts on Tissue Trace Element Content in Rats

The primary objective of this study is to assess the influence of water extracts of Plantago major L., Plantago lanceolata L., and Plantago maxima Juss. ex Jacq. leaves on tissue trace element content in healthy adult Wistar rats. Twenty-eight female Wistar rats consumed pure drinking water or one of the three aqueous extracts of Plantago for 1 month. The extracts and liver, serum, hair, and adipose tissue of the rats were examined for trace element contents using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. The aqueous extracts of Plantago species contained significant levels of trace elements, which were highest in P. lanceolata and P. major. The administration of every extract led to an increase in V and Si levels in the rats. At the same time, the consumption of P. lanceolata aqueous extract resulted in the accumulation of toxic elements (As, Pb) in the rats’ tissues. Despite the rather high concentration of heavy metals in the P. major leaf extract, its administration did not result in the accumulation of these elements. In turn, P. maxima extract induced a significant decrease in the tissue levels of Al, Cr, I, Li, and Mn in the rats. The beneficial effect of the P. major and P. maxima preparations may be at least partially associated with the increased supply of essential trace elements, whereas the use of P. lanceolata may be harmful due to the possibility of heavy metal overexposure. © 2017, Springer Science+Business Media New York

Evaluation of tissue metal and trace element content in a rat model of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease using ICP-DRC-MS

The primary objective of the study was to assess the level of metals and trace elements in liver, serum, and hair of rats with diet-induced non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) using inductively coupled plasma dynamic reaction cell mass spectrometer (ICP-DRC-MS). 56 female 3-months-old Wistar rats divided into two equal groups were fed either standard (10% calories from fat) or high-fat high-carbohydrate diet (60% calories from fat in chow and 10% sucrose solution) for 6 weeks. Serum was examined for insulin resistance markers, lipid profile, and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activity. Liver histology was assessed after hematoxylin and eosin staining. Metal and trace element concentrations were assessed by means of ICP-DRC-MS. Overfed animals were characterized by higher values of morphometric parameters. Liver examination revealed large and small droplet steatosis, hepatocyte ballooning and necrosis, being characteristic for NAFLD. Animals with NAFLD were characterized by insulin resistance, atherogenic changes of lipid profile and increased ALT activity. Significantly decreased hepatic Co, Cu, I, Li, Mn, Se, Zn levels were observed in rats with NAFLD. At the same time, only hepatic Mn and Se levels remained decreased after adjustment for total protein. Overfed animals were characterized by significantly lower I, Li, and Mn levels in blood serum, whereas concentration of Co, Se, V, and Sr exceeded the control values. In general, the results of the study demonstrate that NAFLD significantly affects metal and trace element status in experimental animals. © 2016 Elsevier Gmb

Zinc supplementation modifies trace element status in exercised rats

Purpose Investigation of the effect of exercise and zinc (Zn) supplementation on trace element status in rats. Methods 24 male Wistar were divided into four groups: control, exercised, Zn-supplemented (15 mg/kg weight Zn asparaginate), exercised Zn-supplemented. Zn was supplemented as Zn asparaginate. Serum lactate and creatinine levels, and creatine kinase activity were assessed. Tissue trace elements were estimated using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Results Exercise significantly increased lactate, and creatinine levels. Exercise significantly decreased muscle, kidney, and hair Zn; liver, muscle and serum Co; serum Fe; myocardial and hair Cu; liver, heart, skeletal muscle and kidney Se levels. Oppositely, exercise results in elevation of liver Zn; heart and skeletal muscle, kidney and hair Fe; kidney Cu; liver and hair Mn; serum and hair Se content. Zn supplementation reduced exercise-induced increase in lactate and creatinine levels, and elevated liver, kidney, heart, and hair Zn content in exercised rats. Supplementation with Zn reversed exercise-induced decrease in Co levels and increased Fe and Se stores in animals with high physical activity. Conclusions Beneficial effect of zinc supplementation in exercised organism may be associated not only with modulation of zinc status but regulation of other essential trace elements status and their biological effects. © 201