A critical review on the use of artificial neural networks in olive oil production, characterization and authentication.

Artificial neural networks (ANN) are computationally based mathematical tools inspired by the fundamental cell of the nervous system, the neuron. ANN constitute a simplified artificial replica of the human brain consisting of parallel processing neural elements similar to neurons in living beings. ANN is able to store large amounts of experimental information to be used for generalization with the aid of an appropriate prediction model. ANN has proved useful for a variety of biological, medical, economic and meteorological purposes, and in agro-food science and technology. The olive oil industry has a substantial weight in Mediterranean's economy. The different steps of the olive oil production process, which include olive tree and fruit care, fruit harvest, mechanical and chemical processing, and oil packaging have been examined in depth with a view to their optimization, and so have the authenticity, sensory properties and other quality-related properties of olive oil. This paper reviews existing literature on the use of bioinformatics predictive methods based on ANN in connection with the production, processing and characterization of olive oil. It examines the state of the art in bioinformatics tools for optimizing or predicting its quality with a view to identifying potential deficiencies or aspects for improvement.

A critical review on the applications of artificial neural networks in winemaking technology.

Since their development in 1943, artificial neural networks were extended into applications in many fields. Last twenty years have brought their introduction into winery, where they were applied following four basic purposes: authenticity assurance systems, electronic sensory devices, production optimization methods, and artificial vision in image treatment tools, with successful and promising results. This work reviews the most significant approaches for neural networks in winemaking technologies with the aim of producing a clear and useful review document.

High plasma glutamate concentrations are associated with infarct growth in acute ischemic stroke.

BACKGROUND: Excitotoxic and inflammatory mechanisms have been demonstrated as mediating early neurologic deterioration (END) in patients with cerebral infarction. Here we investigate whether molecular markers associated with END are related to the volume and outcome of the diffusion weighted image (DWI) lesion in acute ischemic stroke. METHODS: MRI was performed on admission and at 72 hours in 197 patients with acute hemispheric infarction of <12 hours' duration. DWI lesion enlargement was calculated as the absolute difference between volumes on admission and day 3 of evolution. NIH Stroke Scale was scored at the same intervals. END was defined as an increase >/=4 points within the 3 days. Glutamate, l-arginine, interleukin-6 (IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor-alpha levels were analyzed in blood samples obtained on admission. RESULTS: DWI lesion growth was found in 144 (73%) patients (median increase 38 [6.5, 83.4] cm(3)) and END occurred in 58 (29.4%) patients. Baseline glutamate (r = 0.71), l-arginine (r = -0.35), and IL-6 levels (r = 0.50) showed a high and significant correlation with the DWI lesion enlargement (all p < 0.001). After adjustment for potential confounders, glutamate levels were the only molecular marker associated with DWI lesion enlargement at 72 hours (beta = 0.21; SD = 0.07; p = 0.004). CONCLUSIONS: Molecular markers of early neurologic deterioration may play a role as mediators of lesion growth in cerebral ischemia. Plasma glutamate concentration is the most powerful and independent predictor biomarker of lesion enlargement in the acute phase of ischemic stroke, and so may well be useful as a signature of tissue at risk of infarction.

Aplicación de la proteómica a las enfermedades neurológicas / Application of the proteomic to neurological diseases

La proteómica es un conjunto de técnicas que permiten la separación e identificación de las proteínas expresadas por una célula, tejido u organismo. La técnica central de esta disciplina es la electroforesis bidimensional, que permite llevar a cabo comparaciones cualitativas y cuantitativas de los patrones proteicos entre muestras dadas. El análisis diferencial de los patrones de expresión en distintas patologías neurológicas (ictus, Alzheimer, Parkinson, esclerosis lateral amiotrófica, Hungtington, epilepsia) permite la identificación de biomarcadores de diagnóstico y/o pronóstico. La posterior validación de estos marcadores llevaría a la identificación de nuevas dianas diagnósticas y terapéuticas

Proteomic is a set of tools that allows the separation and identification of proteins expressed by a cell, tissue or organism. Two-dimensional electrophoresis is the central tool that allows qualitative and quantitative comparisons of protein patterns between samples. Differential analysis of protein expression patterns in different neurological diseases (stroke, Alzheimer, Parkinson, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Hungtington, epilepsy) allows the identification of diagnostic and/or prognostic biomarkers. Subsequently, validation of these markers may help to identify new diagnostic and therapeutic targets

[Application of proteomics to neurological diseases]. / Aplicación de la proteómica a las enfermedades neurológicas.

Proteomic is a set of tools that allows the separation and identification of proteins expressed by a cell, tissue or organism. Two-dimensional electrophoresis is the central tool that allows qualitative and quantitative comparisons of protein patterns between samples. Differential analysis of protein expression patterns in different neurological diseases (stroke, Alzheimer, Parkinson, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Hungtington, epilepsy) allows the identification of diagnostic and/or prognostic biomarkers. Subsequently, validation of these markers may help to identify new diagnostic and therapeutic targets.

Hepatic iron overload associated with self-medication.

A patient with the incidental finding of an elevated serum ferritin level was found to have hepatic iron overload associated with iron injections. Liver disease is an example of one of the potential complications of folk remedies or patient self-medication that physicians may encounter, especially along the US-Mexican border.

Medicine residents' practices in cancer screening in a Hispanic population.

Cancer screening is a valuable intervention to reduce breast cancer mortality and the incidence of invasive cervical carcinoma. We conducted a retrospective survey to determine the residents' compliance with use of mammography and Pap smear in Hispanic women. A total of 280 charts that met the inclusion criteria were reviewed. According to the guidelines, 784 mammograms and 714 Pap smears were indicated. The residents' compliance with mammography was 10.6% (+/- 9.16) and with Pap smear, 6.6% (+/- 7.68). The study demonstrates an unacceptable level of cancer screening practice by the medicine residents caring for this Hispanic population.