Maurizio Cutolo1, Amelia C Trombetta1, Karin Melsens2,3, Carmen Pizzorni1, Alberto Sulli1, Barbara Ruaro1, Sabrina Paolino1, Ellen Deschepper4, Vanessa Smith2,3. 1. Research Laboratory and Academic Division of Clinical Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Genoa, San Martino Polyclinic Hospital, Genoa, Italy. 2. Department of Rheumatology, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium. 3. Department of Internal Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium. 4. Biostatistics Unit, Department of Public Health, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Absolute nailfold capillary number should be a putative biomarker in selected rheumatic diseases but could be time-consuming and not highly repeatable. OBJECTIVE: To validate an automated software for absolute nailfold capillary number and density evaluation, on NVC images in SSc. METHODS: An automated software to count nailfold capillary number (AUTOCAPI) had been constructed, through an exploratory image set. Subsequently, application rules have been created to define the ROI in NVC images, through a training images set. The software reliability was assessed through calculation of the ICC between automatic and manual counting, by four independent observers, on the same NVC images. RESULTS: The following ICC's were obtained per observer, for the patients with SSc (40 images), the healthy (20 images), and the PRP subgroups (20 images), respectively: 0.94, 0.81, and 0.62 (observer 1); 0.94, 0.91, and 0.67 (observer 2); 0.88, 0.56, and 0.64 (observer 3); and 0.88, 0.85, and 0.85 (observer 4). CONCLUSIONS: The validation of an automated software for measuring absolute nailfold capillary number and density in SSc was achieved. The integration into the pre-existing imaging software should make the assessment of the capillary number in NVC easier, quicker, and standardized.
BACKGROUND: Absolute nailfold capillary number should be a putative biomarker in selected rheumatic diseases but could be time-consuming and not highly repeatable. OBJECTIVE: To validate an automated software for absolute nailfold capillary number and density evaluation, on NVC images in SSc. METHODS: An automated software to count nailfold capillary number (AUTOCAPI) had been constructed, through an exploratory image set. Subsequently, application rules have been created to define the ROI in NVC images, through a training images set. The software reliability was assessed through calculation of the ICC between automatic and manual counting, by four independent observers, on the same NVC images. RESULTS: The following ICC's were obtained per observer, for the patients with SSc (40 images), the healthy (20 images), and the PRP subgroups (20 images), respectively: 0.94, 0.81, and 0.62 (observer 1); 0.94, 0.91, and 0.67 (observer 2); 0.88, 0.56, and 0.64 (observer 3); and 0.88, 0.85, and 0.85 (observer 4). CONCLUSIONS: The validation of an automated software for measuring absolute nailfold capillary number and density in SSc was achieved. The integration into the pre-existing imaging software should make the assessment of the capillary number in NVC easier, quicker, and standardized.
Authors: Nikita B Margaryants; Igor S Sidorov; Mikhail V Volkov; Igor P Gurov; Oleg V Mamontov; Alexei A Kamshilin Journal: Biomed Opt Express Date: 2019-08-30 Impact factor: 3.732
Authors: Barbara Ruaro; Marco Confalonieri; Francesco Salton; Barbara Wade; Elisa Baratella; Pietro Geri; Paola Confalonieri; Metka Kodric; Marco Biolo; Cosimo Bruni Journal: Pharmaceuticals (Basel) Date: 2021-04-23
Authors: Francesco Cattelan; Elvis Hysa; Emanuele Gotelli; Carmen Pizzorni; Pietro Francesco Bica; Marco Grosso; Emanuela Barisione; Sabrina Paolino; Luca Carmisciano; Alberto Sulli; Vanessa Smith; Maurizio Cutolo Journal: Rheumatol Int Date: 2022-08-30 Impact factor: 3.580