High reproducibility of histological characterization by whole virtual slide quantification; an example using carotid plaque specimens.
OBJECTIVE:Tissue biobanks are an important source for discovery and validation studies aiming for new proteins that are causally related with disease development. There is an increasing demand for accurate and reproducible histological characterization, especially for subsequent analysis and interpr...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Public Library of Science (PLoS)
2014-01-01
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| Series: | PLoS ONE |
| Online Access: | http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC4277457?pdf=render |
| _version_ | 1818557408000081920 |
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| author | Joyce E P Vrijenhoek Bastiaan G L Nelissen Evelyn Velema Kristy Vons Jean-Paul P M de Vries Marinus J C Eijkemans Hester M den Ruijter Gert Jan de Borst Frans L Moll Gerard Pasterkamp |
| author_facet | Joyce E P Vrijenhoek Bastiaan G L Nelissen Evelyn Velema Kristy Vons Jean-Paul P M de Vries Marinus J C Eijkemans Hester M den Ruijter Gert Jan de Borst Frans L Moll Gerard Pasterkamp |
| author_sort | Joyce E P Vrijenhoek |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | OBJECTIVE:Tissue biobanks are an important source for discovery and validation studies aiming for new proteins that are causally related with disease development. There is an increasing demand for accurate and reproducible histological characterization, especially for subsequent analysis and interpretation of data in association studies. We assessed reproducibility of one semiquantative and two quantitative methods for histological tissue characterization. We introduce a new automated method for whole digital slide quantification. Carotid atherosclerotic plaques were used to test reproducibility. METHODS:50 atherosclerotic plaques that were obtained during carotid endarterectomy were analysed. For the semiquantitative analysis, 6 different plaque characteristics were scored in categories by two independent observers, and Cohen's κ was used to test intra- and interobserver reproducibility. The computer-aided method (assessed by two independent observers) and automated method were tested on CD68 (for macrophages) and α smooth muscle actin (for smooth muscle cells) stainings. Agreement for these two methods (done on a continuous scale) was assessed by intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs). RESULTS:For the semiquantitative analysis, κ values ranged from 0.55 to 0.69 for interobserver variability, and were slightly higher for intraobserver reproducibility in both observers. The computer-aided method yielded intra- and interobserver ICCs between 0.6 and 0.9. The new automated method performed most optimal regarding reproducibility, with ICCs ranging from 0.92 to 0.97. CONCLUSIONS:The analysis of performance of three methods for histological slide characterization on carotid atherosclerotic plaques showed high precision and agreement in repeated measurements for the automated method for whole digital slide quantification. We suggest that this method can fulfill the need for reproducible histological quantification. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-13T23:59:06Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-3979b58b1c5c4ccd8fad94886fb705e4 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1932-6203 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-13T23:59:06Z |
| publishDate | 2014-01-01 |
| publisher | Public Library of Science (PLoS) |
| record_format | Article |
| series | PLoS ONE |
| spelling | doaj.art-3979b58b1c5c4ccd8fad94886fb705e42022-12-21T23:26:26ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032014-01-01912e11590710.1371/journal.pone.0115907High reproducibility of histological characterization by whole virtual slide quantification; an example using carotid plaque specimens.Joyce E P VrijenhoekBastiaan G L NelissenEvelyn VelemaKristy VonsJean-Paul P M de VriesMarinus J C EijkemansHester M den RuijterGert Jan de BorstFrans L MollGerard PasterkampOBJECTIVE:Tissue biobanks are an important source for discovery and validation studies aiming for new proteins that are causally related with disease development. There is an increasing demand for accurate and reproducible histological characterization, especially for subsequent analysis and interpretation of data in association studies. We assessed reproducibility of one semiquantative and two quantitative methods for histological tissue characterization. We introduce a new automated method for whole digital slide quantification. Carotid atherosclerotic plaques were used to test reproducibility. METHODS:50 atherosclerotic plaques that were obtained during carotid endarterectomy were analysed. For the semiquantitative analysis, 6 different plaque characteristics were scored in categories by two independent observers, and Cohen's κ was used to test intra- and interobserver reproducibility. The computer-aided method (assessed by two independent observers) and automated method were tested on CD68 (for macrophages) and α smooth muscle actin (for smooth muscle cells) stainings. Agreement for these two methods (done on a continuous scale) was assessed by intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs). RESULTS:For the semiquantitative analysis, κ values ranged from 0.55 to 0.69 for interobserver variability, and were slightly higher for intraobserver reproducibility in both observers. The computer-aided method yielded intra- and interobserver ICCs between 0.6 and 0.9. The new automated method performed most optimal regarding reproducibility, with ICCs ranging from 0.92 to 0.97. CONCLUSIONS:The analysis of performance of three methods for histological slide characterization on carotid atherosclerotic plaques showed high precision and agreement in repeated measurements for the automated method for whole digital slide quantification. We suggest that this method can fulfill the need for reproducible histological quantification.http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC4277457?pdf=render |
| spellingShingle | Joyce E P Vrijenhoek Bastiaan G L Nelissen Evelyn Velema Kristy Vons Jean-Paul P M de Vries Marinus J C Eijkemans Hester M den Ruijter Gert Jan de Borst Frans L Moll Gerard Pasterkamp High reproducibility of histological characterization by whole virtual slide quantification; an example using carotid plaque specimens. PLoS ONE |
| title | High reproducibility of histological characterization by whole virtual slide quantification; an example using carotid plaque specimens. |
| title_full | High reproducibility of histological characterization by whole virtual slide quantification; an example using carotid plaque specimens. |
| title_fullStr | High reproducibility of histological characterization by whole virtual slide quantification; an example using carotid plaque specimens. |
| title_full_unstemmed | High reproducibility of histological characterization by whole virtual slide quantification; an example using carotid plaque specimens. |
| title_short | High reproducibility of histological characterization by whole virtual slide quantification; an example using carotid plaque specimens. |
| title_sort | high reproducibility of histological characterization by whole virtual slide quantification an example using carotid plaque specimens |
| url | http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC4277457?pdf=render |
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