An Anomaly Detection Approach to Determine Optimal Cutting Time in Cheese Formation

The production of cheese, a beloved culinary delight worldwide, faces challenges in maintaining consistent product quality and operational efficiency. One crucial stage in this process is determining the precise cutting time during curd formation, which significantly impacts the quality of the cheese. Misjudging this timing can lead to the production of inferior products, harming a company’s reputation and revenue. Conventional methods often fall short of accurately assessing variations in coagulation conditions due to the inherent potential for human error. To address this issue, we propose an anomaly-detection-based approach. In this approach, we treat the class representing curd formation as the anomaly to be identified. Our proposed solution involves utilizing a one-class, fully convolutional data description network, which we compared against several stateof-the-art methods to detect deviations from the standard coagulation patterns. Encouragingly, our results show F1 scores of up to 0.92, indicating the effectiveness of our approach

Segmental resection for ureter urothelial carcinoma is safe as radical nephroureterectomy

Introduction & Objectives: Kidney-sparing surgery (KSS) seems inferior to radical nephroureterectomy (RNU) in recurrence-free survival (RFS). However, there is limited data regarding the potential influence of the location of the upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC). The current study aims to provide further evidence by the largest UTUC registry

Circulating fatty acids and endocannabinoidome-related mediator profiles associated to human longevity

To evaluate whether a peculiar plasma profile of fatty acids and endocannabinoidome (eCBome)-related mediators may be associated to longevity, we assessed them in octogenarians (Old; n=42) living in the east-central mountain area of Sardinia, a High-Longevity Zone (HLZ), compared to sexagenarian (Young; n=21) subjects from the same area, and to Olds (n=22) from the Northern Sardinia indicated as Lower-Longevity Zone (LLZ). We found significant increases in conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) and heptadecanoic acid (17:0) levels in Old-HLZ with respect to younger subjects and Old-LLZ subjects. Young-HLZ subjects exhibited higher circulating levels of pentadecanoic acid (15:0) and retinol. Palmitoleic acid (POA) was elevated in both Young and Old subjects from the HLZ. eCBome profile showed a significantly increased plasma level of the two endocannabinoids, N-arachidonoyl-ethanolamine (AEA) and 2-arachidonoyl-glycerol (2-AG) in Old-HLZ subjects compared to Young-HLZ and Old-LLZ respectively. In addition, we found increased N-oleoyl-ethanolamine (OEA), 2-linoleoyl-glycerol (2-LG) and 2-oleoyl-glycerol (2-OG) levels in Old-HLZ group with respect to Young-HLZ (as for OEA an d 2-LG) and both the Old-LLZ and Young-HLZ for 2-OG. The endogenous metabolite of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), N-docosahexaenoyl-ethanolamine (DHEA) was significantly increased in Old-HLZ subjects. In conclusion, our results suggest that in the HLZ area, Young and Old subjects exhibited a favourable, albeit distinctive, fatty acids and eCBome profile that may be indicative of a metabolic pattern potentially protective from adverse chronic conditions. These factors could point to a suitable physiological metabolic pattern that may counteract the adverse stimuli leading to age-related disorders such as neurodegenerative and metabolic diseases

Neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) and lymphocyte-monocyte ratio (LMR) in predicting systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) and sepsis after percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PNL)

The objective of this prospective observational study was to assess the clinical significance of neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) and lymphocyte-monocyte ratio (LMR) as potential biomarkers to identify post-PNL SIRS or sepsis. Demographic data and laboratory data including hemoglobin (Hb), total leucocyte count (TLC), serum creatinine, urine microscopy and culture were collected. The NLR, LMR and PLR were calculated by the mathematical division of their absolute values derived from routine complete blood counts from peripheral blood samples. Stone factors were assessed by non-contrast computerized tomography of kidneys, ureter and bladder (NCCT KUB) and included stone burden (Volume = L x W x D x pi x 0.167), location and Hounsfield value and laterality. Intraoperative factors assessed were puncture site, tract size, tract number, operative time, the need for blood transfusion and stone clearance. Of 517 patients evaluated, 56 (10.8%) developed SIRS and 8 (1.5%) developed sepsis. Patients developing SIRS had significantly higher TLC (10.4 +/- 3.5 vs 8.6 +/- 2.6, OR 1.19, 95% CI 1.09-1.3, p = 0.000002), higher NLR (3.6 +/- 2.4 vs 2.5 +/- 1.04, OR 1.3, 95% CI = 1.09-1.5, p = 0.0000001), higher PLR (129.3 +/- 53.8 vs 115.4 +/- 68.9, OR 1.005, 95% CI 1.001-1.008, p = 0.005) and lower LMR (2.5 +/- 1.7 vs 3.2 +/- 1.8, OR 1.18, 95% CI 1.04-1.34, p = 0.006). Staghorn stones (12.8 vs 3.24%, OR 4.361, 95% CI 1.605-11.846, p = 0.008) and long operative times (59.6 +/- 14.01 vs 55.2 +/- 16.02, OR 1.01, 95% CI 1.00-1.03, p = 0.05) had significant association with postoperative SIRS. In conclusion, NLR, PLR and LMR can be useful independent, easily accessible and cost-effective predictors for early identification of post-PNL SIRS/sepsis.Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipa

Direct-acting antivirals used in HCV-related liver disease do not affect thyroid function and autoimmunity

Purpose It is well known that interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha), used for long time as the main therapy for HCV-related disease, induces thyroid alterations, but the impact of the new direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) on thyroid is not established. Aim of this prospective study was to evaluate if DAAs therapy may induce thyroid alterations.Methods A total of 113 HCV patients, subdivided at the time of the enrollment in naive group (n = 64) and in IFN-alpha group (n = 49) previously treated with pegylated interferon-alpha and ribavirin, were evaluated for thyroid function and autoimmunity before and after 20-32 weeks of DAAs.Results Before starting DAAs, a total of 8/113 (7.1%) patients showed Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT) all belonging to IFN-alpha group (8/49, 16.3%), while no HT cases were found in the naive group. Overall, 7/113 (6.2%) patients were hypothyroid: 3/64 (4.7%) belonging to naive group and 4/49 (8.2%) to IFN-alpha group. Furthermore, a total of 8/113 patients (7.1%) showed subclinical hyperthyroidism: 2/64 (3.1%) were from naive group and 6/49 (12.2%) from IFN-alpha group. Interestingly, after DAAs therapy, no new cases of HT, hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism was found in all series, while 6/11 (54.5%) patients with non-autoimmune subclinical thyroid dysfunction became euthyroid. Finally, the only association between viral genotypes and thyroid alterations was genotype 1 and hypothyroidism.Conclusions This study supports evidence that DAAs have a limited or missing influence on thyroid in patients with HCV-related diseases. Moreover, it provides preliminary evidence that subclinical non-autoimmune thyroid dysfunction may improve after HCV infection resolution obtained by DAAs

Biomarker dynamics affecting neoadjuvant therapy response and outcome of HER2-positive breast cancer subtype

HER2+ breast cancer (BC) is an aggressive subtype genetically and biologically heterogeneous. We evaluate the predictive and prognostic role of HER2 protein/gene expression levels combined with clinico-pathologic features in 154 HER2+ BCs patients who received trastuzumab-based neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT). The tumoral pathological complete response (pCR) rate was 40.9%. High tumoral pCR show a scarce mortality rate vs subjects with a lower response. 93.7% of ypT0 were HER2 IHC3+ BC, 6.3% were HER2 IHC 2+/SISH+ and 86.7% of ypN0 were HER2 IHC3+, the remaining were HER2 IHC2+/SISH+. Better pCR rate correlate with a high percentage of infiltrating immune cells and right-sided tumors, that reduce distant metastasis and improve survival, but no incidence difference. HER2 IHC score and laterality emerge as strong predictors of tumoral pCR after NACT from machine learning analysis. HER2 IHC3+ and G3 are poor prognostic factors for HER2+ BC patients, and could be considered in the application of neoadjuvant therapy. Increasing TILs concentrations, lower lymph node ratio and lower residual tumor cellularity are associated with a better outcome. The immune microenvironment and scarce lymph node involvement have crucial role in clinical outcomes. The combination of all predictors might offer new options for NACT effectiveness prediction and stratification of HER2+ BC during clinical decision-making

Impact of adjuvant gemcitabine containing chemotherapy following radical nephroureterectomy for patients with upper tract urothelial carcinoma: Results from a propensity-score matched cohort study

BACKGROUND: The evidence regarding perioperative adjuvant chemotherapy and personalized surveillance strategies for upper tract urothelial carcinoma is limited. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether adjuvant gemcitabine containing chemotherapy affects the oncological outcomes of advanced upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC). METHODS: The CROES-UTUC registry is an observational, international, multi-center study on patients diagnosed with UTUC. Patient and disease characteristics from 2380 patients with UTUC were collected, and finally 738 patients were included in this analysis. The primary outcome of this study was recurrence-free survival. Propensity score matching was performed. Kaplan-Meier and multivariate Cox regression analyses were performed by stratifying patients according to the treatment of adjuvant chemotherapy. RESULTS: A total of 738 patients were included in this analysis, and 59 patients received adjuvant chemotherapy (AC), including 50 patients who received gemcitabine. A propensity score matching was performed, including 50 patients who received gemcitabine containing treatment and 50 patients without adjuvant chemotherapy. Disease recurrence occurred in 34.0% of patients. The recurrence rate in the AC group was 22.0%, which was significantly lower than the non-AC group (46.0%). Kaplan-Meier analyses also showed that AC was associated with a lower likelihood of tumor recurrence (p = 0.047). However, AC was not significantly associated with a higher overall survival (OS) (p = 0.908) and cancer-specific survival (CSS) (p = 0.979). Upon multivariate Cox regression analysis, AC was associated with a lower risk of tumor recurrence (HR = 0.297, p = 0.028). CONCLUSION: The present study confirms that adjuvant gemcitabine containing chemotherapy could decrease the risk of tumor recurrence in patients with locally advanced UTUC following nephroureterectomy. However, more studies are need to draw a clearer image of the value of this treatment method.STORZ to the Clinical Research Office of the Endourology Society (CROES