TY - JOUR
T1 - Fractal nature of human gastrointestinal system
T2 - Exploring a new era
AU - Grizzi, Fabio
AU - Spadaccini, Marco
AU - Chiriva-Internati, Maurizio
AU - Hegazi, Mohamed A.A.A.
AU - Bresalier, Robert S.
AU - Hassan, Cesare
AU - Repici, Alessandro
AU - Carrara, Silvia
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
©The Author(s) 2023.
PY - 2023
Y1 - 2023
N2 - The morphological complexity of cells and tissues, whether normal or pathological, is characterized by two primary attributes: Irregularity and self-similarity across different scales. When an object exhibits self-similarity, its shape remains unchanged as the scales of measurement vary because any part of it resembles the whole. On the other hand, the size and geometric characteristics of an irregular object vary as the resolution increases, revealing more intricate details. Despite numerous attempts, a reliable and accurate method for quantifying the morphological features of gastrointestinal organs, tissues, cells, their dynamic changes, and pathological disorders has not yet been established. However, fractal geometry, which studies shapes and patterns that exhibit self-similarity, holds promise in providing a quantitative measure of the irregularly shaped morphologies and their underlying self-similar temporal behaviors. In this context, we explore the fractal nature of the gastrointestinal system and the potential of fractal geometry as a robust descriptor of its complex forms and functions. Additionally, we examine the practical applications of fractal geometry in clinical gastroenterology and hepatology practice.
AB - The morphological complexity of cells and tissues, whether normal or pathological, is characterized by two primary attributes: Irregularity and self-similarity across different scales. When an object exhibits self-similarity, its shape remains unchanged as the scales of measurement vary because any part of it resembles the whole. On the other hand, the size and geometric characteristics of an irregular object vary as the resolution increases, revealing more intricate details. Despite numerous attempts, a reliable and accurate method for quantifying the morphological features of gastrointestinal organs, tissues, cells, their dynamic changes, and pathological disorders has not yet been established. However, fractal geometry, which studies shapes and patterns that exhibit self-similarity, holds promise in providing a quantitative measure of the irregularly shaped morphologies and their underlying self-similar temporal behaviors. In this context, we explore the fractal nature of the gastrointestinal system and the potential of fractal geometry as a robust descriptor of its complex forms and functions. Additionally, we examine the practical applications of fractal geometry in clinical gastroenterology and hepatology practice.
KW - Behavior
KW - Colon
KW - Esophagus
KW - Fractals
KW - Gastroenterology
KW - Geometry
KW - Liver
KW - Pancreas
KW - Shape
KW - Stomach
KW - Time-series
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85164916811&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85164916811&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.3748/wjg.v29.i25.4036
DO - 10.3748/wjg.v29.i25.4036
M3 - Article
C2 - 37476585
AN - SCOPUS:85164916811
SN - 1007-9327
VL - 29
SP - 4036
EP - 4052
JO - World journal of gastroenterology
JF - World journal of gastroenterology
IS - 25
ER -