The aim of present study is to investigate the combination of Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy with pattern recognition to recognize the standard saffron from those which have been adulterated with various types of food colorants. Transmittance FT-IR spectra have been obtained for standard saffron and six mixed samples with food colorants including Tartrazine, Sunset yellow, Azorubine, Quinoline-yellow, Allura red and Sudan II. Genetic algorithm-linear discriminant analysis (GA-LDA) based on the concept of clustering of variables has been applied to transmittance FT-IR spectra for classification of standard saffron from fraudulent samples. Analysis of the selected clusters of variables indicates that three bands corresponding to 1800–1830, 2600–2900 and 3700–3850 cm⁻¹ are responsible for differentiation of standard samples from fraudulent ones. Regression analysis has been introduced in order to obtain information related to the amount of food colorant. A combination of FT-IR and the concept of clustering of variables resulted in the best performances for calibration and an external test set with 100% sensitivity and specificity.

Chronic infection with cytomegalovirus (CMV), Chlamydia pneumoniae, herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1), and Helicobacter pylori may contribute to essential hypertension. However, the evidence now available does not clarify whether the aggregate number of pathogens (pathogen burden) may be associated with hypertension. Sera from 1,754 men and women aged ≥25 years were analyzed for immunoglobulin G antibodies to C. pneumoniae, HSV-1, H. pylori, and CMV using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The aggregate number of seropositives to the studied viral and bacterial agents was defined as pathogen burden. Hypertension was defined according to World Health Organization criteria. A total of 459 (26.3%) of the subjects had hypertension. In the hypertensive group, 4.2% had 0 or 1 pathogens present, 20.6% had 2, 43.2% had 3, and 32.1% had 4; in the normotensive group, 7.9% had 0 or 1, 28.4% had 2, 42.7% had 3, and 21.0% had 4. Of the 4 studied pathogens, H. pylori seropositivity showed a significant independent association with hypertension (odds ratio (OR) =1.37; 95% confidence interval (CI) =1.05–1.79; P = 0.02). In multiple logistic regression analyses, the pathogen burden did not show a significant independent association with hypertension. Coinfection with H. pylori and C. pneumoniae was significantly associated with hypertension compared with double seronegativity after adjustment for age, sex, chronic low-grade inflammation, and cardiovascular risk factors (OR = 1.68; 95% CI = 1.14–2.47; P = 0.008]. The pathogen burden was not associated with hypertension. However, coinfection with C. pneumoniae and H. pylori showed a significant association with essential hypertension, independent of cardiovascular risk factors and chronic low-grade inflammation.