The Convergence of Vasculopathy and Vasculitis: Computer Mapping Analysis of 2 Renal Biopsies in a Patient with both Systemic Sclerosis and ANCA-Related Vasculitis

Scleroderma vasculopathy and ANCA (antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies)-associated glomerulonephritis have rarely been reported to occur simultaneously in one patient. Herein, we report a patient who presented with a classic constellation of clinical and laboratory findings of systemic scleroderma and was subsequently found to be positive for p-ANCA. Two renal biopsies, performed 5 months apart, demonstrated typical changes of the two entities in both acute and “healed” phases, which were analyzed by computer mapping techniques. The two renal biopsies were serially sectioned and stained routinely, and with CD31 and CD34 as endothelial markers. The slides were digitized, aligned and analyzed. Each glomerular tuft was sequentially studied in terms of total area (µm2) and each biopsy was individually profiled. All arterial vessels were sequentially studied with whole vessel and luminal areas delineated and ratios calculated. The initial biopsy contained 32 glomeruli almost all with extensive fibrinoid necrosis and destruction of the capillary network. The arterial vessels (interlobular and arcuate) showed intimal edema with luminal occlusion. CD31/CD34 stains showed variable endothelial intactness but demonstrated the luminal size shifts. The second biopsy had 37 glomeruli that were either segmentally or globally sclerotic with no active changes. The vessels were now normally patent. Each glomerular tuft and arterial vessel in both biopsies was analyzed as a serial section histogram documenting these changes. These studies depict the rare occurrence of two entities together, the scleroderma kidney vasculopathy and the glomerulonephritis of ANCA-associated vasculitis syndrome both in an acute and healing phase, profiled by computer mapping techniques.

Rule-Based Data-Driven Thematic Mapping Technique

Mapping automation is not only a key objective of cartology, but also a study hotspot of geo-spatial information science at present. Here, we take thematic mapping of river channels (pipelines) passing through Yunnan in Kunming City for example to study and discuss, with regard to the effect required by complicated mapping encountering in the process of project implementation and the requirements on high quality of mapping data, the representation of rule-based data-driven computer mapping by the Representation technique of Arcgis9.3 to partly accomplish such mapping task that needs a lot of manual editing in traditional mapping mode, especially achieve the some kinds of mapping effect that cannot be achieved by traditional mapping without destructing GIS spatial information. The findings indicate that, the representation technique of rule-based driven computer mapping can reflect the advantages of both GIS spatial database establishment and mapping. This technique can make map rapidly according to different data requirements, and achieve the effect of traditional mapping. Due to less demand on manpower and financial capacity, such technique has a broad prospect of promotion and engineering application.