Measuring radiographic bone density and irregularity in normal hands.

This paper describes a method of measuring the radiographic density of the proximal phalanges and metacarpals using a television image analyser. The site for measurement is highly definable and covers the majority of the middle 2/4ths of these bones. Measurements yield two figures; one for mean bone density and one for the density distribution factor (irregularity).

Measuring the response of the jejunal mucosa in adult coeliac disease to treatment with a gluten-free diet.

A previously described technique for measuring changes in the architecture of the small intestinal mucosa was used to measure the long-term response in six patients with adult coeliac disease to treatment with a gluten-free diet. All had flat or flat-with-mosaic jejunal mucosae before treatment and were subsequently believed to keep strictly to a gluten-free diet. They were followed for between four and 14 months from the start of treatment.

A new technique for examining intestinal biopsies.

A new technique for measuring changes in the architecture of the small intestinal mucosa is described using a modification of the technique of television image analysis to measure the areas occupied by the surface and crypt epithelium in proximal jejunal biopsies. The ratios of these two areas to each other were then calculated. In 12 control mucosae, the mean ratio (+/-SD) was 2.