Predicting odor profile of food from its chemical composition: Towards an approach based on artificial intelligence and flavorists expertise.

Odor is central to food quality. Still, a major challenge is to understand how the odorants present in a given food contribute to its specific odor profile, and how to predict this olfactory outcome from the chemical composition. In this proof-of-concept study, we seek to develop an integrative model that combines expert knowledge, fuzzy logic, and machine learning to predict the quantitative odor description of complex mixtures of odorants. The model output is the intensity of relevant odor sensory attributes calculated on the basis of the content in odor-active comounds. The core of the model is the mathematically formalized knowledge of four senior flavorists, which provided a set of optimized rules describing the sensory-relevant combinations of odor qualities the experts have in mind to elaborate the target odor sensory attributes. The model first queries analytical and sensory databases in order to standardize, homogenize, and quantitatively code the odor descriptors of the odorants. Then the standardized odor descriptors are translated into a limited number of odor qualities used by the experts thanks to an ontology. A third step consists of aggregating all the information in terms of odor qualities across all the odorants found in a given product. The final step is a set of knowledge-based fuzzy membership functions representing the flavorist expertise and ensuring the prediction of the intensity of the target odor sensory descriptors on the basis of the products' aggregated odor qualities; several methods of optimization of the fuzzy membership functions have been tested. Finally, the model was applied to predict the odor profile of 16 red wines from two grape varieties for which the content in odorants was available. The results showed that the model can predict the perceptual outcome of food odor with a certain level of accuracy, and may also provide insights into combinations of odorants not mentioned by the experts.

Towards ontology-based decision support systems for complex ultrasound diagnosis in obstetrics and gynecology.

INTRODUCTION: We have developed a new knowledge base intelligent system for obstetrics and gynecology ultrasound imaging, based on an ontology and a reference image collection. This study evaluates the new system to support accurate annotations of ultrasound images. We have used the early ultrasound diagnosis of ectopic pregnancies as a model clinical issue. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The ectopic pregnancy ontology was derived from medical texts (4260 ultrasound reports of ectopic pregnancy from a specialist center in the UK and 2795 Pubmed abstracts indexed with the MeSH term "Pregnancy, Ectopic") and the reference image collection was built on a selection from 106 publications. We conducted a retrospective analysis of the signs in 35 scans of ectopic pregnancy by six observers using the new system. RESULTS: The resulting ectopic pregnancy ontology consisted of 1395 terms, and 80 images were collected for the reference collection. The observers used the knowledge base intelligent system to provide a total of 1486 sign annotations. The precision, recall and F-measure for the annotations were 0.83, 0.62 and 0.71, respectively. The global proportion of agreement was 40.35% 95% CI [38.64-42.05]. DISCUSSION: The ontology-based intelligent system provides accurate annotations of ultrasound images and suggests that it may benefit non-expert operators. The precision rate is appropriate for accurate input of a computer-based clinical decision support and could be used to support medical imaging diagnosis of complex conditions in obstetrics and gynecology.

Temperature and relative humidity influence the ripening descriptors of Camembert-type cheeses throughout ripening.

Ripening descriptors are the main factors that determine consumers' preferences of soft cheeses. Six descriptors were defined to represent the sensory changes in Camembert cheeses: Penicillium camemberti appearance, cheese odor and rind color, creamy underrind thickness and consistency, and core hardness. To evaluate the effects of the main process parameters on these descriptors, Camembert cheeses were ripened under different temperatures (8, 12, and 16°C) and relative humidity (RH; 88, 92, and 98%). The sensory descriptors were highly dependent on the temperature and RH used throughout ripening in a ripening chamber. All sensory descriptor changes could be explained by microorganism growth, pH, carbon substrate metabolism, and cheese moisture, as well as by microbial enzymatic activities. On d 40, at 8°C and 88% RH, all sensory descriptors scored the worst: the cheese was too dry, its odor and its color were similar to those of the unripe cheese, the underrind was driest, and the core was hardest. At 16°C and 98% RH, the odor was strongly ammonia and the color was dark brown, and the creamy underrind represented the entire thickness of the cheese but was completely runny, descriptors indicative of an over ripened cheese. Statistical analysis showed that the best ripening conditions to achieve an optimum balance between cheese sensory qualities and marketability were 13±1°C and 94±1% RH.

[Breast MRI: Artefacts and pitfalls]. / Artefacts et pièges en IRM mammaire.

Multiple artefacts and pitfalls may occur with breast MRI. Artefacts are secondary to the MR technique itself while pitfalls often are the result of human error. The most common artefacts include motion, pulsation, chemical shift and magnetic susceptibility. The most common pitfalls include improper contrast injection, poor patient positioning, improper placement of the ROI and improper characterization of physiological and iatrogenic contrast enhancement. The identification of these artefacts and pitfalls on breast MR images may reduce their impact or even eliminate them. The use of optimized protocols is necessary. It is important to explain to patients the sequence of the examination, ensure proper placement of the breasts in the coil and optimize the contrast injection. The ROI should always be placed over the most suspicious region of the lesion. Finally, it is recommended to perform the MRI during the second week of the menstrual cycle and to discontinue the use of HRT 2 months prior to scanning when possible.

Toward the integration of expert knowledge and instrumental data to control food processes: application to Camembert-type cheese ripening.

Modeling the cheese ripening process remains a challenge because of its complexity. We still lack the knowledge necessary to understand the interactions that take place at different levels of scale during the process. However, information may be gathered from expert knowledge. Combining this expertise with knowledge extracted from experimental databases may allow a better understanding of the entire ripening process. The aim of this study was to elicit expert knowledge and to check its validity to assess the evolution of organoleptic quality during a dynamic food process: Camembert cheese ripening. Experiments on a pilot scale were carried out at different temperatures and relative humidities to obtain contrasting ripening kinetics. During these experiments, macroscopic evolution was evaluated from an expert's point of view and instrumental measurements were carried out to simultaneously monitor microbiological, physicochemical, and biochemical kinetics. A correlation of 76% was established between the microbiological, physicochemical, and biochemical data and the sensory phases measured according to expert knowledge, highlighting the validity of the experts' measurements. In the future, it is hoped that this expert knowledge may be integrated into food process models to build better decision-aid systems that will make it possible to preserve organoleptic qualities by linking them to other phenomena at the microscopic level.

[Preeclampsia and antiphospholipid syndrome. Uterine artery Doppler evaluation]. / Prééclampsie et syndrome des antiphospholipides. Intérêt du Doppler utéroplacentaire.

INTRODUCTION: Women with persistently high resistance in uterine arteries have an increased risk of the subsequent development of preeclampsia. Doppler investigation provides a non-invasive method for the study of the uteroplacental blood flow. In pregnant women the antiphospholipid syndrome is associated to an increased risk of preeclampsia and complications related to uteroplacental insufficiency, and the role of uterine artery Doppler is discussed. CURRENT KNOWLEDGE AND KEY POINTS: In normal pregnancy, impedance to flow in the uterine arteries decreases with gestation, as the likely consequence of the physiologic change of spiral arteries into low-resistance vessels. In women with preeclampsia or related complications, the abnormal persistence of high resistance to flow in the uterine arteries correlates with maternal and neonatal outcome. In one study including patients with antiphospholipid syndrome, a high resistance index in the uterine arteries at 22-24 weeks gestation strongly predicted the subsequent development of preeclampsia. In another study including patients with lupus anticoagulant, persistent bilateral notches at 22-24 weeks gestation may identify preeclampsia and fetal growth restriction with a high sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive value. The treatment may improve the uteroplacental blood flow and is a possible confounding factor which needs further evaluation. FUTURE PROSPECTS AND PROJECTS; In patients with antiphospholipid antibodies a higher impedance has been observed in the uterine artery, suggesting a possible vascular dysfunction precluding to impaired trophoblastic invasion and placental thrombosis, as probable mechanisms in the complications. If confirmed, these findings might have important implications for the management of these patients.

Prospective evaluation of uterine artery flow velocity waveforms at 12-14 and 22-24 weeks of gestation in relation to pregnancy outcome and birth weight.

OBJECTIVE: Uterine artery flow velocity was prospectively assessed using Doppler ultrasound at 12-14 and 22-24 weeks of gestation in the prediction of subsequent complications related to uteroplacental insufficiency: preeclampsia, pregnancy-induced hypertension, fetal growth restriction, fetal death and placental abruption, and to elucidate its relationship with birth weight. METHODS: Uterine artery Doppler assessment was obtained during routine ultrasound screening in 263 unselected women. Flow velocity waveforms were coded according to the number of notches present at each scanning, respectively: none (0, 0), uni-/bilateral notches that disappeared (1, 0) or (2, 0), uni-/bilateral notches that persisted unilaterally (1, 1) or (2, 1), and persistent bilateral notches (2, 2). RESULTS: Complete outcome data was obtained for 243 (92.4%) women. Of these women, 55 (22.6%) and 84 (34.6%) women had uni- and bilateral notches, respectively, at 12-14 weeks' gestation; 14 (5.8%) and 21 (8.6%) patients had uni- and bilateral notches, respectively, at 22-24 weeks' gestation. Analysis of complication rates for the four groups showed that they increased with notch persistence (5.7, 13.5, 57.1 and 76.2%), while the corresponding mean birth weight declined (3,273, 3,180, 2,698 and 2,418 g). CONCLUSION: The absence or early disappearance of uterine artery notches is associated with fewer complications related to uteroplacental insufficiency and normal birth weight, whereas their late and partial disappearance or bilateral persistence tends to compromise the prognosis.

[Contribution of ultrasonography in the diagnosis of ectopic pregnancy]. / Apport de l'échographie dans le diagnostic de la grossesse extra-utérine.

High-resolution endovaginal sonography has considerably improved ectopic pregnancy imaging. In conjunction with serum hCG measurements, it allows early detection of ectopic pregnancy (EP) and has significantly reduced the morbidity and the mortality of this disease. The major sonographic finding is the uterine vacuity, the diagnosis of ectopic pregnancy is quite sure in case of absence of intra-uterine pregnancy (IUP) associated with serum hCG above 1500 mUi/ml. Conversely, the presence of IUP excludes practically the diagnosis of EP, but IUP must be distinguished from a pseudosac. The visualization of an ectopic sac that contains an embryo or a yolk sac clearly allows the diagnosis of EP, but its sensitivity is only 25%. The most common sonographic finding is a hematosalpinx, which looks like an echogenic adnexal mass, next to the ovary containing the corpus luteum. Color Doppler is useful to enhance ectopic trophoblastic flow, but it is only a complementary technique of endovaginal sonography. Finally, if the first sonography is inconclusive, a follow-up examination must be performed 2 or 4 days later.

[Uteroplacental haemodynamics and uterine artery Doppler practice at 12 weeks gestation]. / Hémodynamique utéroplacentaire et pratique du Doppler utérin à 12 semaines d'aménorrhée.

Last years, feasibility and possible interest of uterine artery Doppler during the third month of gestation were confirmed. Doppler flow velocity waveforms can be obtained and assessed in both uterine arteries using abdominal ultrasonography at 12-14 weeks' gestation. The no notch group (one third of women) has a low risk for hypertension, intra-uterine growth restriction, abruptio placentae. The "protecting" effect of the absence of uterine artery notch is as high as this physiological change occurs earlier.

[Menorrhagia after age 40. Contribution of ultrasonic examination]. / Les ménorragies après 40 ans. Apport des examens ultrasonores.

Menorrhagia after age 40 can have functional, general, local, or organic reasons. The most frequent are: submucous myomas, adenomyosis, polyps. Submucous myomas: a transvaginal scan (TVUS) specifies the type of myoma according to its situation within the uterine cavity: intracavitary myoma or submucous. A transvaginal scan is performed to assess myomas before operative HSC. There are three criteria to check: myomas diameter must be less than 5 cm; 5 mm or more of normal myometrium should be present between myoma and external wall; the myoma must not be in contiguity with a subserosal myoma. Uterine adenomyosis is a common gynecologic condition that is characterized by the presence of heterotopic endometrial glands and stroma in the myometrium with adjacent smooth muscle hyperplasia. Pathology may be proximal or distal, focal or diffuse. Transvaginal US shows: cystic dilatation of heterotopic glands, heterogeneity of the myometrial echotexture, antero-posterior asymmetry of the uterus. TVUS has a sensitivity of 62 to 89% and a specificity of 89 to 96%. Polyps are most often hyperechoic: this makes the diagnosis more difficult in luteal phase; Power Doppler shows the vascular central pedicle. TVUS has a sensitivity of 75%. The polyps smaller than 3 mm are not visible in a reliable way without the help of a contrast media in the cavity.

Intervillous and spiral artery flows in normal pregnancies between 5 and 10 weeks of amenorrhea using color Doppler ultrasonography.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of our study was to investigate early placental circulation development and spiral and uterine artery flows in normal 1st-trimester pregnancies. METHODS: A prospective study of intervillous and spiral artery flows in 49 normal pregnancies (5-10 weeks of amenorrhea) was performed. Transvaginal color and pulsed-wave Doppler techniques (6-MHz probe) were used as routine ultrasound scanning modalities before pregnancy termination for psychosocial reasons. RESULTS: In all pregnancies, between 5 and 10 weeks, continuous nonpulsatile intervillous flow (mean V(max) 3.55 cm/s) and spiral artery flow (mean peak systolic velocity 16.2 cm/s, mean diastolic index D/S 0.49 +/- 0.089) were detected. In the 47 women in whom the uterine artery flow was measured, the mean peak systolic velocity was 67.5 cm/s, the mean diastolic index was 0.12, and bilateral notching was observed. CONCLUSIONS: In all cases, between 5 and 10 weeks, slow and continuous nonpulsatile intrachorionic flow could be detected, whereas pulsatile flow was detected in spiral arteries. The true nature of this early intervillous circulation remains to be determined.

Doppler ultrasonography and implantation: a critical review.

Active perifollicular angiogenesis in ovaries and endometrium is linked with the quality of oocytes and endometrial receptivity, and consequently with the outcome of implantation. Studies evaluating ovarian velocimetry in relation to implantation and pregnancy rates bring essentially into play velocity values or non-quantitative parameters, whose reproducibility is low and which are hardly usable in daily practice. Conversely, the assessment of uterine artery flow by Doppler examination is easy and reproducible, and high impedance at the end of the follicular phase is a good predictive indicator of poor endometrial receptivity. In early pregnancy, Doppler investigation must not be used routinely because its safety is still under discussion; however, the available data show that impedance in the uterine and spiral arteries does not show any significant difference between normal and abnormal pregnancies (missed abortions or anembryonic pregnancies), and the significance of easily detectable intervillous flow is hotly debated, raising fundamental points.

Assessment of Fallopian tube patency by HyCoSy: comparison of a positive contrast agent with saline solution.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficiency of air-filled albumin microspheres (Infoson) with saline solution in determining Fallopian tube patency during hysterosalpingo contrast sonography (HyCoSy). METHODS: This was a prospective randomized multicenter study with a sequential design. Over a 10-month period, 23 patients (mean age, 33 years) referred for infertility were examined by HyCoSy (saline or Infoson) before conventional hysterosalpingography (Iopamiron 370), performed during the same session. Contrast agents were administered through a 5-F Ackrad balloon catheter inserted transcervically into the uterine cavity. HyCoSy was performed with a 7-MHz transvaginal probe using both B-mode and color Doppler, and tubal patency was demonstrated by the appearance of contrast agent in the peritoneal cavity near the ovaries. Data were registered for each patient during the examination and the results were monitored by sequential analysis. RESULTS: Mean volumes of contrast injections were 35.3 mL of saline, 14.4 mL of Infoson, and 13.8 mL of Iopamiron 370. Infoson-enhanced HyCoSy provided a significantly larger (P = 0.006) number of correct diagnoses (20/22 Fallopian tubes) than did saline HyCoSy (12/24 Fallopian tubes), and the same number as that achieved by hysterosalpingography. CONCLUSION: A positive ultrasound contrast agent appears to be more efficient than saline solution at determining Fallopian tube patency in infertile women by means of HyCoSy, and as efficient as an iodinated contrast agent in the same population explored by HSG. HyCoSy could be used to screen infertile women, thereby avoiding the use of iodinated contrast medium and exposure to ionizing radiation during conventional HSG in patients with patent Fallopian tubes.

Intradural extramedullary spinal canal secondary neoplasms: MR findings in 30 patients.

The purpose of this study was to describe magnetic resonance findings of intradural spinal canal secondaries and to select the best way of investigating this condition. Thirty patients with a known malignancy [breast carcinoma (n = 14), lung carcinoma (n = 10), other sites (n = 6)] and unexplained neurologic signs were studied with pre- and post-contrast T1-weighted images and T2-weighted images. Cerebrospinal fluid cytology was available in 16 patients and positive in 11 patients. In all the patients, post-contrast T1-weighted images demonstrated abnormal enhanced lesions. Most of them were nodular, located on the conus medullaris and the cauda equina. Few lesions appeared at the thoracic or cervical levels, as nodular or thin areas of enhancement. Pre-contrast T1-weighted sequences failed or were equivocal to detect the lesions. Eighteen of 30 patients had cerebral metastases. Fourteen had osseous metastases. In conclusion, post-contrast T1-weighted sequence is the optimal modality for the diagnostic of intradural spinal canal metastases. Axial and coronal images may be a useful adjunct to precise anatomic changes. T1-weighted and T2-weighted sequences remain necessary when further information is expected on vertebra or soft tissue.

[Sonohysterography: a new study method of the uterine cavity: evaluation of 84 cases and comparison to hysteroscopy]. / La sonohystérographie: nouvelle méthode d'étude de la cavité utérine: évaluation sur 84 cas et comparaison à l'hystéroscopie.

Sonohysterography versus hysteroscopy: the assessment of the uterine cavity: a series of 84 cases. We study indications, advantages, limits of a technic of investigation of uterine cavity: sonohysterography. Our results show that sonohysterography is as effective as hysteroscopy in the diagnosis of intrauterine conditions. It is painless, no time consuming. There is no adverse effects and it is helpful in the diagnosis of intrauterine abnormality as a complement of transvaginal scanning.

[Ultrasono-hysterography: techniques and indications]. / La sono-hystérographie: techniques et indications.

Sonohysterography consists in injecting a saline solution into the uterine cavity and performing transvaginal sonography. The purpose of this procedure is the pre-operative assessment of intracavitary anomalies, especially polyps, myoma, adhesions, congenital abnormalities such as septate uterus. Technical aspects are shown. This procedure is painless, atraumatic and no adverse effect is seen if the usual precautions before hysterography are taken. The right place of this exam is between hysterography and hysteroscopy, but more widespread use is required before a final opinion can be reached.