MRI radiomics for the prediction of recurrence in patients with clinically non-functioning pituitary macroadenomas.

Twelve to 66% of patients with clinically non-functioning pituitary adenoma (NFPA) experience tumor recurrence 1-5 years after the first surgery. Nevertheless, there is still no recurrence prediction factor concisely established and reproduced in the literature for NFPA management. The present study evaluates the prognostic value of MRI Radiomics features combined with machine learning models to assess recurrence after the first surgery in patients with clinically non-functioning pituitary adenomas (NFPA). We carried out a retrospective study on 27 patients with NFPA, 10 patients having experienced tumor recurrence after the first surgery and 17 who did not. Preoperative 3D T1 contrast-enhanced MR images of patients were used to extract up to 255 Radiomics features from two and three-dimensional segmented regions. Additionally, gender, age at first surgery, and the presence of remnant tumor tissue were investigated to find the correlation with NFPA recurrence. Conventional statistics tests were used to evaluate whether the outcome patient groups (stable and recurrent) were different considering each feature individually. Additionally, five well-known machine-learning algorithms were used in combination with Radiomic features to classify recurrent and stable lesions. We found statistical evidence (p < 0.02) for 6 two-dimensional and 13 three-dimensional radiomic features. We achieved accuracies of up to 96.3% for 3D-feature based models and up to 92.6% accuracies for 2D-feature based models. 3D-feature based models achieved better performances using considerably fewer features when compared to 2D-feature based models. We concluded that Radiomics have the potential of NFPA recurrence prediction after the first surgery. Three-dimensional Radiomics have superior discrimination power to predict NFPA recurrence than two-dimensional radiomic features. Finally, the combination of Radiomics with machine-learning algorithms can offer computational models capable of non-invasive, unbiased, and quick assessment that might improve the prediction of NFPA recurrence.

Molecular identification of Atlantic goliath grouper Epinephelus itajara (Lichtenstein, 1822) (Perciformes: Epinephelidae) and related commercial species applying multiplex PCR

The Atlantic goliath grouper, Epinephelus itajara , is a critically endangered species, threatened by illegal fishing and the destruction of its habitats. A number of other closely related grouper species found in the western Atlantic are also fished intensively. While some countries apply rigorous legislation, illegal harvesting followed by the falsification of fish products, which impedes the correct identification of the species, is a common practice, allowing the catch to be marketed as a different grouper species. In this case, molecular techniques represent an important tool for the monitoring and regulation of fishery practices, and are essential for the forensic identification of a number of different species. In the present study, species-specific primers were developed for the Cytochrome Oxidase subunit I gene, which were applied in a multiplex PCR for the simultaneous identification of nine different species of Epinephelidae: Epinephelus itajara , E. quinquefasciatus , E. morio , Hyporthodus flavolimbatus , H. niveatus , Mycteroperca acutirostris , M. bonaci , M. marginata , and M. microlepis . Multiplex PCR is a rapid, reliable and cost-effective procedure for the identification of commercially-valuable endangered fish species, and may represent a valuable tool for the regulation and sustainable management of fishery resources.(AU)

O mero, Epinephelus itajara , encontra-se criticamente ameaçado, resultado da pesca ilegal e destruição dos habitas. Filogeneticamente relacionadas a este táxon encontram-se garoupas que atualmente são intensamente pescadas no Atlântico Oeste. Apesar de leis mais restritivas aplicadas em alguns países, a captura ilegal com a descaracterização morfológica é uma prática comum que impossibilita a identificação correta da espécie permitindo que seja comercializada como garoupas, badejos ou chernes. A este respeito, técnicas moleculares representam ferramentas importantes para o monitoramento e fiscalização da pesca, provando ser essencial, na identificação forense de diversas espécies. Primers espécie-específicos foram desenvolvidos com base no gene Citocromo Oxidase subunidade I que aplicados em PCR-Multiplex possibilitam a identificação simultânea de nove espécies Epinephelidae: Epinephelus itajara , E. quinquefasciatus , E. morio , Hyporthodus flavolimbatus , H. niveatus , Mycteroperca acutirostris , M. bonaci , M. marginata e M. microlepis . A identificação via PCR multiplex de espécies de peixes ameaçadas e comercialmente importantes é um método rápido, prático, seguro e de baixo custo, que poderá ser útil o controle do uso e manejo sustentável de recursos pesqueiros.(AU)