Abstract
Complexity is the main feature of every biological system, including human organs, tissues, cells and sub-cellular components. This property of the organized biological matter cannot be quantified by means of the classical Euclidean geometry, which is able to measure regular object, practically unknow in Nature. The aims of this paper werea)to underline the importance of theshapeof a biological structure andb)to evaluate theoutline roughnessand theinternal irregularityof the extracellular matrix collagen seen on liver biopsy specimens during the chronic diseases. The quantification of these two parameters gives a measure of two qualitative properties of the liver extracellular matrix.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Hubsher S. G. Histological grading and staging in chronic hepatitis: clinical applications and problems. J Hepatol 29:1015–1022(1998).
Schener P. J. Classification of chronic viral hepatitis: a need for reassessment. J Hepatol 13:372–374 (1991).
Desmet V. J., Gerber M., Hoofnagle J. H. et al. Classification of chronic hepatitis: diagnosis, grading and staging. Hepatology 19: 1513–1520 (1994).
Dioguardi N. Fegato a piĂą dimensioni. Etas Libri (1992).
Mandelbrot B. B. Les objets fractals: forme, hasard et dimension. Flammarion, Paris (1975).
Mandelbrot B. B. The Fractal Geometry of Nature. Freeman, San Francisco (1982).
Losa G. A. Fractals in pathology: are they really useful? Pathologica 87: 310–317 (1995).
Muzzio P. C., Grizzi F. Fractal geometry: possible applications to radiological imaging Radiol Med 98: 331–336 (1999).
Hastings H. M., Sugihara G. Fractals a user’s guide for the natural sciences. Oxford Science Pubblications (1998).
Knodell R. G., Ishak K. G., Black W. C. et al. Formulation and application of a numerical scoring system for assessing histological activity in asymptomatic chronic active hepatitis. Hepatology 1: 431–435 (1981).
Dioguardi N., Grizzi F., Bossi P., Roncalli M. Fractal and Spectral Dimension Analysis of Liver Fibrosis in Needle Biopsy Specimens. Anal Quant Cytol Histol 21: 262–266 (1999).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2002 Springer Basel AG
About this paper
Cite this paper
Dioguardi, N., Grizzi, F. (2002). Fractal Dimension Exponent for Quantitative Evaluation of Liver Extracellular Matrix in Biopsy Specimens. In: Losa, G.A., Merlini, D., Nonnenmacher, T.F., Weibel, E.R. (eds) Fractals in Biology and Medicine. Mathematics and Biosciences in Interaction. Birkhäuser, Basel. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-0348-8119-7_12
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-0348-8119-7_12
Publisher Name: Birkhäuser, Basel
Print ISBN: 978-3-0348-9445-6
Online ISBN: 978-3-0348-8119-7
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive