A Feasibility Study towards the On-Line Quality Assessment of Pesto Sauce Production by NIR and Chemometrics

The food industry needs tools to improve the efficiency of their production processes by minimizing waste, detecting timely potential process issues, as well as reducing the efforts and workforce devoted to laboratory analysis while, at the same time, maintaining high-quality standards of products. This can be achieved by developing on-line monitoring systems and models. The present work presents a feasibility study toward establishing the on-line monitoring of a pesto sauce production process by means of NIR spectroscopy and chemometric tools. The spectra of an intermediate product were acquired on-line and continuously by a NIR probe installed directly on the process line. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was used both to perform an exploratory data analysis and to build Multivariate Statistical Process Control (MSPC) charts. Moreover, Partial Least Squares (PLS) regression was employed to compute real time prediction models for two different pesto quality parameters, namely, consistency and total lipids content. PCA highlighted some differences related to the origin of basil plants, the main pesto ingredient, such as plant age and supplier. MSPC charts were able to detect production stops/restarts. Finally, it was possible to obtain a rough estimation of the quality of some properties in the early production stage through PLS

Real Time Quality Assessment of General Purpose Polystyrene (GPPS) by means of Multiblock-PLS Applied on On-line Sensors Data

In the petrochemical industry, in order to control the final product quality over time and to detect potential plant failures, the amount of lab (off-line) analysis performed every day is very demanding in terms of resources and time. Hence, at/in-line monitoring can be an efficient solution to decrease chemical wastes and operators’ efforts and to perform a fast detection of deviations from normal operative conditions. Moving toward this implementation requires both installation of analytical sensors and the development of models capable to predict in real time the quality parameters of the polymers based on both process and analytical sensors. The primary aim of the current work has been the development of real time monitoring models by advanced chemometric tools for the prediction of a General Purpose PolyStyrene (GPPS) quality property, fusing Near Infrared (NIR) and process sensors data. In the plant considered, in addition to standard process sensors, along the GPPS production line, operating in continuous, two NIR probes are installed in-line. After the arrangement of the available data in different blocks, aiming at studying the specific contribution of the two types of sensors and of the main phases of the process, Multiblock-PLS (MB-PLS) method was employed to fuse the different blocks and to assess which were the most relevant sensors and plant phases for the prediction of the two quality parameters. Good prediction performances were achieved, allowing identifying the most significant data blocks for the GPPS quality prediction. Moreover, prediction errors obtained by models computed without considering blocks of data belonging to the final stages of the process were similar to those involving all the available data blocks. Therefore, a good real time assessment of the GPPS quality can be obtained even before the production is completed, which is very promising in view of minimizing the number of off-line laboratory analyse

A Multiblock Approach to Fuse Process and Near-Infrared Sensors for On-Line Prediction of Polymer Properties

Petrochemical companies aim at assessing final product quality in real time, in order to rapidly deal with possible plant faults and to reduce chemical wastes and staff effort resulting from the many laboratory analyses performed every day. In order to answer these needs, the main purpose of the current work is to explore the feasibility of multiblock regression methods to build real-time monitoring models for the prediction of two quality properties of Acrylonitrile-Butadiene-Styrene (ABS) by fusing near-infrared (NIR) and process sensors data. Data come from a production plant, which operates continuously, and where four NIR probes are installed on-line, in addition to standard process sensors. Multiblock-PLS (MB-PLS) and Response-Oriented Sequential Alternation (ROSA) methods were here utilized to assess which of such sensors and plant areas were the most relevant for the quality parameters prediction. Several prediction models were constructed exploiting measurements provided by sensors active at different ABS production process stages. Both methods provided good prediction performances and permitted identification of the most relevant data blocks for the quality parameters’ prediction. Moreover, models built without considering recordings from the final stage of the process yielded prediction errors comparable to those involving all available data blocks. Thus, in principle, allowing final ABS quality to be estimated in real-time before the end of the process itself

231 In-hospital outcomes following an acute coronary syndrome in patients with liver fibrosis: results from the real-world observational registry of acute coronary syndromes (REALE-ACS)

Abstract Aims The prognostic role of liver fibrosis (LF) in acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients is unclear. Biochemical markers and scoring systems, such as the APRI score and the FIB-4 score, have recently been shown to be reliable in predicting LF. We aimed to investigate the relationship between LF and in-hospital outcomes in consecutive ACS patients. Methods and results The REALE-ACS is a real-world monocentric observational study to investigate characteristics, management and outcomes of patients admitted for ACS from January 2016 to January 2020. LF was defined by an APRI score >0.70 and FIB-4 score >3.25. We investigated the association of APRI and FIB-4 with in-hospital adverse events (AEs) defined as cardiogenic shock and death. 469 consecutive ACS patients were included. Mean age was 65.7 ± 13.0 years and 108 (23%) were women. Overall, 7.9% of patients had LF. STEMI was more common in LF patients (86.5% vs. 40.8%, P < 0.001). Patients with LF had lower hypertension (64.9% vs. 81.7%, P = 0.015), and higher GRACE score upon admission (155.3 ± 48.4 vs. 131.6 ± 38.9, P = 0.001). Higher serum levels of aspartate aminotransferase [242 (184.5–363) vs. 22 (17–34), P < 0.001], alanine aminotransferase [67 (51.5–115) vs. 20 (15–29), P < 0.001], white blood cells [12 000 (10 145–14 350) vs. 8935 (7262.5–11 267), P < 0.001], percentage of neutrophils (97.3 ± 104.5 vs. 68.5 ± 13.7, P < 0.001), D-dimer [1039 (435.5–2100) vs. 436 (275–894), P < 0.001], and lower percentage of lymphocytes (12.3 ± 6.0 vs. 21.7 ± 11.21, P < 0.001) were reported in LF patients. Globally, 49 AEs were recorded. At stepwise multivariable logistic regression analysis including clinical and biochemical factors, COPD [odds ratio (OR): 2.47, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.15–5.29, P = 0.020], HS-troponin levels (OR: 2.05, 95% CI: 1.02–4.10, P = 0.043), and APRI > 0.70 (OR: 2.58, 95% CI: 1.07–6.22, P = 0.035) were associated with AEs. Conclusions ACS patients with LF have a high STEMI rate and are at higher risk of worse in-hospital AEs. Our findings suggest that LF may contribute to the identify ACS patients at high-risk for adverse events and mortality

Does mediterranean diet reduce cardiovascular events and oxidative stress in atrial fibrillation?

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is characterized by enhanced oxidative stress and is complicated by cardiovascular events (CVEs), which are only partially prevented by anticoagulant treatment. The Mediterranean diet (Med-Diet) has a positive effect on atherosclerotic progression. In a prospective cohort of 709 anticoagulated AF patients, adherence to Med-Diet was assessed to investigate whether Med-Diet may reduce CVEs by lowering oxidative stress. The cohort was divided into three groups according to the Med-Diet score: low (0-3 points), medium (4-6 points), and high (7-9 points) adherence. During a mean follow-up of 39.9 months (2604.8 patients/year), we registered 72 (2.8%/year) CVEs: 23.4% in the low-adherence group, 8.4% in the intermediate-adherence group, and 5.3% in the high-adherence group (p<0.001). There were no differences in time in the therapeutic range among groups. The Med-Diet score was inversely correlated with sNOX2-dp (soluble NOX2-derived peptide; Rs: -0.297, p<0.001) and F2-isoprostanes (F2-IsoP; Rs: -0.411, p<0.001). Median values of sNOX2-dp (p<0.001) and F2-IsoP progressively decreased across groups (p<0.001). A Cox regression analysis showed that the Med-Diet score (HR: 0.771, p=0.001), F2-IsoP (HR: 1.002, p=0.004), and heart failure (HR: 1.876, p=0.024) predicted CVEs. In conclusion, these findings raise the hypothesis that adherence to Med-Diet could be associated with a reduction of CVEs, through an antioxidant effect, as shown by a concomitant downregulation of Nox2 and decreased excretion of F2-IsoP

Prediction of new onset atrial fibrillation in patients with acute coronary syndrome undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention using the C2HEST and mC2HEST scores: A report from the multicenter REALE-ACS registry.

BackgroundNew onset atrial fibrillation (NOAF) is associated with worse clinical outcomes after acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Identification of ACS patients at risk of NOAF remains challenging. To test the value of the simple C2HEST score for predicting NOAF in patients with ACS.MethodsWe studied patients from the prospective ongoing multicenter REALE-ACS registry of patients with ACS. NOAF was the primary endpoint of the study. The C2HEST score was calculated as coronary artery disease or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (1 point each), hypertension (1 point), elderly (age ≥ 75 years, 2 points), systolic heart failure (2 points), thyroid disease (1 point). We also tested the mC2HEST score.ResultsWe enrolled 555 patients (mean age 65.6 ± 13.3 years; 22.9% women), of which 45 (8.1%) developed NOAF. Patients with NOAF were older (p 2HEST score compared with those without (4.2 ± 1.7 vs 3.0 ± 1.5, p 2HEST score > 3 was associated with NOAF occurrence (odds ratio 4.33, 95% confidence interval 2.19-8.59, p 2HEST score (AUC 0.71, 95%CI 0.67-0.74) and mC2HEST score (AUC 0.69, 95%CI 065-0.73) in predicting NOAF.ConclusionsThe simple C2HEST score may be a useful tool to identify patients at higher risk of developing NOAF after presentation with ACS

Cardiovascular risk stratification in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation. the 2MACE score

Recent findings suggest that patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (AF), in addition to having a high risk for ischemic stroke, are also at risk for myocardial infarction (MI). The aim of the study was to combine factors predicting Major Adverse Cardiovascular Events (MACE) in AF patients, including fatal/nonfatal MI, cardiac revascularization, and cardiovascular death, into a simple risk score. Predictors of MACE were obtained from a prospective observational cohort study, including 1019 AF patients taking vitamin K antagonists from the Atherothrombosis Center, of Sapienza University of Rome. Thus, we derived the 2MACE score [2 points for Metabolic Syndrome and Age ≥75, 1 point for MI/revascularization, Congestive heart failure (ejection fraction ≤40 %), thrombo-Embolism (stroke/transient ischemic attack)], ranging from 0 to 7 points. To evaluate the 2MACE score, we included an external validation cohort of 1089 anticoagulated AF patients from the Thrombosis Centre of Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Careggi, Firenze, Italy. At follow-up, 111 AF patients in the internal and 68 in the external cohort experienced a MACE. The 2MACE score showed a good ability in discriminating AF patients experiencing MACE both in the internal derivation cohort, with a c-index of 0.79 [95 % Confidence Interval (CI) 0.71-0.90, p < 0.001] and in the external validation cohort (c-index 0.66, 95 % CI 0.60-0.73, p < 0.001). The overall Hazard Ratio (HR) was 1.61 (95 % CI 1.40-1.85, p < 0.001) for each additional point. A 2MACE score ≥3 had the best combination of specificity and sensitivity, with an HR of 3.92 (95 % CI 2.41-6.40, p < 0.001). The new simple 2MACE score may help identifying AF patients at risk for cardiovascular events

Incidence of Myocardial Infarction and Vascular Death in Elderly Patients With Atrial Fibrillation Taking Anticoagulants Relation to Atherosclerotic Risk Factors

BACKGROUND: Recent findings suggest that patients with atrial fibrillation (AF), in addition to thromboembolic risk, are also at risk for myocardial infarction (MI). Our aim was to investigate predictors of MI and cardiovascular death in a cohort of anticoagulated AF patients. METHODS: We prospectively followed-up 1019 AF patients for a median of 33.7 months (3223 person/years). All patients were treated with oral vitamin K antagonists. Primary outcome was a composite endpoint of cardiovascular events (CVEs) including fatal/non-fatal MI, cardiac revascularization and cardiovascular death. RESULTS: Mean age was 73.2 years, 43.8% were female. At follow-up, 111 CVEs (3,43%/year) occurred: 47 fatal-nonfatal MI/revascularization and 64 cardiovascular deaths. In addition, 31 stroke/TIA (0.96%/year) were recorded. Patients experiencing CVEs were older (p<0.001), with a higher prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS, p=0.005), heart failure (HF, p=0.001), prior cardiac (p<0.001) and cerebrovascular events (p<0.001). On a Cox proportional hazard analysis, age (hazard ratio [HR] 1.083, 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.053-1.113, p<0.001), smoking (HR 2.158, 95% CI, 1.193-3.901, p=0.011), history of cerebrovascular (HR 1.704, 95% CI, 1.119-2.597, p=0.013), and cardiac events (HR 1.658, 95% CI, 1.105-2.489, p=0.015), MetS (HR 1.663, 95% CI, 1.107-2.499, p=0.014), HF (HR 1.584, 95% CI, 1.021-2.456, p=0.040), male sex (HR 1.499, 95% CI, 1.010-2.223, p=0.044) predicted CVEs. CONCLUSIONS: AF patients still experience a high rate of CVEs despite being on anticoagulant treatment. MetS is a common clinical feature in AF patients, which increases the risk of CVEs. A holistic approach is needed to reduce the risk of cardiovascular risk in patients with AF. Clinical Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01882114