Title: Ultrasound Radiomics-Based Logistic Regression Model for Fibrotic NASH
Version: 3 Date: 07 Dec 2024
Reviewer:  Anwar Ashraf Abouelnasr
Reviewer's report:
Dear Authors, please address the following points below
-The study employs an SD rat model; however, the extrapolation of the results to human
populations presents challenges due to inter-species differences. It is essential for the authors
to provide additional details regarding the translation of the model into human clinical practice.
Furthermore, a discussion concerning any planned or ongoing human studies aimed at model
validation would be advantageous.
-Were standardized protocols established for acquiring SWE measurements? Additionally, how
were issues related to image quality, such as poor signals or noise, addressed effectively?
-What is the feasibility of implementing this technology within ultrasound systems currently
utilized in clinical settings? Are there any considerations regarding the computational
requirements necessary for radiomics feature extraction and analysis?
-Expanding the study to incorporate human data, either through retrospective analyses of clinical
ultrasound images or through a pilot clinical study, would be beneficial. This approach would
assist in evaluating the generalizability of the model and provide a more concrete foundation
for its clinical application.
-As highlighted in the discussion, the reliance on an animal model (SD rats) imposes limitations
on the generalizability of the findings to human patients. Although the rat model replicates
certain aspects of NASH progression, it cannot fully mimic human liver disease, especially
concerning the complexity and diversity inherent in NAFLD progression.
-Conducting research at a single medical facility may restrict the external validity of the findings.
A multi-center study, which includes data from a variety of institutions, would yield stronger
evidence concerning the generalizability and real-world applicability of the model. Additionally,
incorporating data from different ultrasound machines and operators could assess the model's
robustness across varied clinical environments.
-While the study provides valuable insights into the dimensionality reduction process and
feature selection through LASSO, the specific radiomic features retained—such as GLCM,
GLDM, GLRLM, GLSZM, and NGTDM features—are not sufficiently explained regarding
their biological significance related to liver fibrosis. Providing further context on the association
between specific features and fibrotic NASH, as well as their correlation with liver pathology,
could enhance the interpretability and clinical utility of the model.
Title: Ultrasound Radiomics-Based Logistic Regression Model for Fibrotic NASH
Version: 3 Date: 07 Dec 2024
Reviewer:  Anwar Ashraf Abouelnasr
Reviewer's report:
Dear Authors, please address the following points below
-The study employs an SD rat model; however, the extrapolation of the results to human
populations presents challenges due to inter-species differences. It is essential for the authors
to provide additional details regarding the translation of the model into human clinical practice.
Furthermore, a discussion concerning any planned or ongoing human studies aimed at model
validation would be advantageous.
-Were standardized protocols established for acquiring SWE measurements? Additionally, how
were issues related to image quality, such as poor signals or noise, addressed effectively?
-What is the feasibility of implementing this technology within ultrasound systems currently
utilized in clinical settings? Are there any considerations regarding the computational
requirements necessary for radiomics feature extraction and analysis?
-Expanding the study to incorporate human data, either through retrospective analyses of clinical
ultrasound images or through a pilot clinical study, would be beneficial. This approach would
assist in evaluating the generalizability of the model and provide a more concrete foundation
for its clinical application.
-As highlighted in the discussion, the reliance on an animal model (SD rats) imposes limitations
on the generalizability of the findings to human patients. Although the rat model replicates
certain aspects of NASH progression, it cannot fully mimic human liver disease, especially
concerning the complexity and diversity inherent in NAFLD progression.
-Conducting research at a single medical facility may restrict the external validity of the findings.
A multi-center study, which includes data from a variety of institutions, would yield stronger
evidence concerning the generalizability and real-world applicability of the model. Additionally,
incorporating data from different ultrasound machines and operators could assess the model's
robustness across varied clinical environments.
-While the study provides valuable insights into the dimensionality reduction process and
feature selection through LASSO, the specific radiomic features retained—such as GLCM,
GLDM, GLRLM, GLSZM, and NGTDM features—are not sufficiently explained regarding
their biological significance related to liver fibrosis. Providing further context on the association
between specific features and fibrotic NASH, as well as their correlation with liver pathology,
could enhance the interpretability and clinical utility of the model.
Please review this paper.
user
Title: Ultrasound Radiomics-Based Logistic Regression Model for Fibrotic NASH
Version: 3 Date: 07 Dec 2024
Reviewer:  Anwar Ashraf Abouelnasr
Reviewer's report:
Dear Authors, please address the following points below
-The study employs an SD rat model; however, the extrapolation of the results to human
populations presents challenges due to inter-species differences. It is essential for the authors
to provide additional details regarding the translation of the model into human clinical practice.
Furthermore, a discussion concerning any planned or ongoing human studies aimed at model
validation would be advantageous.
-Were standardized protocols established for acquiring SWE measurements? Additionally, how
were issues related to image quality, such as poor signals or noise, addressed effectively?
-What is the feasibility of implementing this technology within ultrasound systems currently
utilized in clinical settings? Are there any considerations regarding the computational
requirements necessary for radiomics feature extraction and analysis?
-Expanding the study to incorporate human data, either through retrospective analyses of clinical
ultrasound images or through a pilot clinical study, would be beneficial. This approach would
assist in evaluating the generalizability of the model and provide a more concrete foundation
for its clinical application.
-As highlighted in the discussion, the reliance on an animal model (SD rats) imposes limitations
on the generalizability of the findings to human patients. Although the rat model replicates
certain aspects of NASH progression, it cannot fully mimic human liver disease, especially
concerning the complexity and diversity inherent in NAFLD progression.
-Conducting research at a single medical facility may restrict the external validity of the findings.
A multi-center study, which includes data from a variety of institutions, would yield stronger
evidence concerning the generalizability and real-world applicability of the model. Additionally,
incorporating data from different ultrasound machines and operators could assess the model's
robustness across varied clinical environments.
-While the study provides valuable insights into the dimensionality reduction process and
feature selection through LASSO, the specific radiomic features retained—such as GLCM,
GLDM, GLRLM, GLSZM, and NGTDM features—are not sufficiently explained regarding
their biological significance related to liver fibrosis. Providing further context on the association
between specific features and fibrotic NASH, as well as their correlation with liver pathology,
could enhance the interpretability and clinical utility of the model.
assistant