Densitometric and chromatin texture parameters of hepatocyte nuclei during controlled autolysis.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the extent of the effect of autolytic changes in hepatocyte nuclei on the results of measurements of integrated optical density (IOD) of nuclei stained by the Feulgen method and its possible relationship with changes in chromatin texture. STUDY DESIGN: Cytologic smears obtained from five pig livers by means of fine needle biopsy were fixed in 10% formalin at six time points after slaughtering (0-18 hours) and stained per Feulgen. In the hepatocyte nuclei IOD measurements were performed and supplemented with quantitative texture analysis. Texture analysis was carried out with our own algorithm, based on the movement of global gravity centers of heterochromatin granules during two-level, iteratively changed, grey thresholding. RESULTS: The variability coefficients of IOD of diploid hepatocytes during autolysis increased from 0.061 (0 hours) to 0.363 (18 hours), and the ploidy histograms became aneuploid. The texture of chromatin became more homogeneous, but other features of the texture did not indicate a significant correlation with the duration of autolysis. CONCLUSION: Autolysis is an important factor, which may influence the accuracy of DNA content and shape of ploidy diagrams. Changes in the morphologic pattern of heterochromatin may play a role in this, but the study was not conclusive because only one of six texture parameters (number of granules) changed parallel to mean IOD and autolysis time.

[Follow-up of development following inflammatory CNS diseases in childhood]. / Untersuchungen zum Entwicklungsverlauf nach entzündlichen ZNS-Erkrankungen im Kindesalter.

In the acute phase of inflammatory diseases of the CNS diagnosis and outset of treatment should be effected with the least possible delay to that avoiding risks of partial recovery. The regained quality of life is of increasing importance for the evaluation of intensive and supportive therapy as mortality could be markedly decreased by anti-bacterial and antiviral treatment. Only a close follow-up will result in definite prognostic assertions. For the early detection of secondary damages the complete battery of up-to-date neurologic diagnostics has to be considered.