Mass Fractions of 52 Trace Elements and Zinc/Trace Element Content Ratios in Intact Human Prostates Investigated by Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry

Contents of 52 trace elements in intact prostate of 64 apparently healthy 13?C60-year-old men (mean age 36.5?years) were investigated by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Mean values (M ± S????) for mass fraction (in milligrams per kilogram, on dry-weight basis) of trace elements were as follows: Ag 0.041?±?0.005, Al 36?±?4, Au 0.0039?±?0.0007, B 0.97?±?0.13, Be 0.00099?±?0.00006, Bi 0.021?±?0.008, Br 29?±?3, Cd 0.78?±?0.09, Ce 0.028?±?0.004, Co 0.035?±?0.003, Cs 0.034?±?0.003, Dy 0.0031?±?0.0005, Er 0.0018?±?0.0004, Gd 0.0030?±?0.0005, Hg 0.046?±?0.006, Ho 0.00056?±?0.00008, La 0.074?±?0.015, Li 0.040?±?0.004, Mn 1.53?±?0.09, Mo 0.30?±?0.03, Nb 0.0051?±?0.0009, Nd 0.013?±?0.002, Ni 4.3?±?0.7, Pb 1.8?±?0.4, Pr 0.0033?±?0.0004, Rb 15.9?±?0.6, Sb 0.040?±?0.005, Se 0.73?±?0.03, Sm 0.0027?±?0.0004, Sn 0.25?±?0.05, Tb 0.00043?±?0.00009, Th 0.0024?±?0.0005, Tl 0.0014?±?0.0001, Tm 0.00030?±?0.00006, U 0.0049?±?0.0014, Y 0.019?±?0.003, Yb 0.0015?±?0.0002, Zn 782?±?97, and Zr 0.044?±?0.009, respectively. The upper limit of mean contents of As, Cr, Eu, Ga, Hf, Ir, Lu, Pd, Pt, Re, Ta, and Ti were the following: As ??0.018, Cr ??0.64, Eu ??0.0006, Ga ??0.08, Hf ??0.02, Ir ??0.0004, Lu ??0.00028, Pd ??0.007, Pt ??0.0009, Re ??0.0015, Ta ??0.005, and Ti ??2.6. In all prostate samples, the content of Te was under detection limit (<0.003). Additionally, ratios of the Zn content to other trace element contents as well as correlations between Zn and trace elements were calculated. Our data indicate that the human prostate accumulates such trace elements as Al, Au, B, Br, Cd, Cr, Ga, Li, Mn, Ni, Pb, U, and Zn. No special relationship between Zn and other trace elements was found.     

原子荧光和电感耦合等离子体质谱法在硒形态分析中的应用

硒是人体必需的微量元素之一,具有抗肿瘤、防衰老、防辐射和增强机体免疫力等多种功能。近年来,随着人们生活水平的不断提高,各种各样的富硒产品及富硒保健品走进了我们的生活,硒的形态测定越来越受到人们广泛的关注。本文对目前主要检测硒形态的两种方法—原子荧光法(AFS)和电感耦合等离子质体谱法(ICP-MS)在食品、水果蔬菜、富硒保健品、生物样品等方面的应用进行了综述。     

电感耦合等离子体质谱法测定地质样品中16个元素

本方法建立了采用HNO3-H2SO4-HClO4-HF混合酸敞口消解试样,电感耦合等离子质谱仪同时测定地质样品中Ag、La、Ce、Pr、Nd、Sm、Eu、Gd、Tb、Dy、Ho、Er、Tm、Yb、Lu、U16种元素。讨论了各元素之间的干扰,并建立数学校正方程。通过对国家一级标准物质的测定,其结果表明:该方法的检出限、准确度、精密度均满足DZ/T0130-2006要求。银、铀及稀土元素的测量值与标准值之间的相对标准偏差均小于5%。     

基于电感耦合等离子体质谱的单细胞分析

单细胞分析可以获得细胞在微环境中准确的个体信息,对于研究细胞的信号传导、生理病理和疾病的早期诊断等具有十分重要的意义.近年来,基于电感耦合等离子体质谱(ICP-MS)的单细胞分析方法开始得到越来越多的应用.本文综述了基于ICP-MS的单细胞分析方法及其在免疫分析、疾病诊断、药物筛选、纳米分析等方面的部分应用,并对基于ICP-MS的单细胞分析方法做出总结和展望.     

An Improved Semiquantitative Method for Elemental Analysis of Plants Using Inductive Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry

A semiquantitative ICP-MS method suitable for evaluating metal content in plants exposed to high metal concentrations is described. The methodology which has been tested using different plant reference material is able, in only a few minutes, to obtain qualitative and quantitative information from the sample. Recoveries close to 100% were obtained for more than half of the referenced elements with an RSD <10%, thus avoiding the generation of a calibration line for each of the elements to be analyzed. The use of multi-standards improves the results obtained with conventional standards by a factor of two. In these conditions the semiquantitative multi-elemental analysis is a valid alternative for most of the analyzed elements with the exception of Si, Al, and P which requires the use of a quantitative ICP-MS analysis for its determination. Two different digestion protocols were tested, with and without the addition of HF to the HNO(3)?+?H(2)O(2) extraction mixture. Similar results were obtained for poplar and bush reference materials using the HNO(3)?+?H(2)O(2) mixture. The addition of HF did not improve the recovery of different elements, in general, but is critical for the quantitative measurements of Al and Si as its presence allows results to be obtained with an RDS <5%.     

The Effect of Age and Gender on 59 Trace-Element Contents in Human Rib Bone Investigated by Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry

The effect of age and gender on 59 trace-element contents in rib bone of 80 apparently healthy 15–55-year-old women (n?=?38) and men (n?=?42) was investigated by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Mean values (M?±?SΕΜ) for the mass fraction (milligrams per kilogram, on dry-weight basis) of Ba, Bi, Cd, Ce, Cu, Dy, Er, Gd, La, Li, Mn, Mo, Nd, Pb, Pr, Rb, Sm, Sr, Tb, Tl, U, Yb, and Zn for both female and male taken together were: Ba 2.5?±?0.2, Bi 0.015?±?0.002, Cd 0.044?±?0.005, Ce 0.029?±?0.002, Cu 1.05?±?0.06, Dy 0.0020?±?0.0003, Er 0.0011?±?0.0002, Gd 0.0015?±?0.0001, La 0.020?±?0.002, Li 0.040?±?0.002, Mn 0.354?±?0.004, Mo 0.052?±?0.006, Nd 0.011?±?0.001, Pb 2.24?±?0.14, Pr 0.0032?±?0.0004, Rb 1.51?±?0.06, Sm 0.0014?±?0.0001, Sr 291?±?20, Tb 0.00041?±?0.00005, Tl 0.00050?±?0.00003, U 0.0013?±?0.0001, Yb 0.00072?±?0.00007, and Zn 92.8?±?1.5, respectively. The upper limit of mean contents of Ag, Al, B, Be, Br, Cr, Cs, Hg, Ho, Lu, Ni, Sb, Te, Th, Ti, Tm, and Y were: Ag?≤?0.011, Al?≤?7.2, B?≤?0.65, Be?≤?0.0032, Br?≤?3.9, Cr?≤?0.25, Cs?≤?0.0077, Hg?≤?0.018, Ho?≤?0.00053, Lu?≤?0.00024, Ni?≤?1.05, Sb?≤?0.0096, Te?≤?0.0057, Th?≤?0.0030, Ti?≤?2.8, Tm?≤?0.00006, and Y?≤?0.0047, respectively. In all bone samples, the contents of As, Au, Co, Eu, Ga, Hf, Ir, Nb, Pd, Pt, Re, Rh, Sc, Se, Sn, Ta, V, W, and Zr were under detection limits. The Ce, Dy, Er, Gd, La, Nd, Pr, Sm, Tb, and Yb contents increase with age. Higher Sr mass fraction is typical of female rib as compared to those in male bone.     

Novel Bioimaging Techniques of Metals by Laser Ablation Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry for Diagnosis Of Fibrotic and Cirrhotic Liver Disorders

Background and Aims

Hereditary disorders associated with metal overload or unwanted toxic accumulation of heavy metals can lead to morbidity and mortality. Patients with hereditary hemochromatosis or Wilson disease for example may develop severe hepatic pathology including fibrosis, cirrhosis or hepatocellular carcinoma. While relevant disease genes are identified and genetic testing is applicable, liver biopsy in combination with metal detecting techniques such as energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) is still applied for accurate diagnosis of metals. Vice versa, several metals are needed in trace amounts for carrying out vital functions and their deficiency due to rapid growth, pregnancy, excessive blood loss, and insufficient nutritional or digestive uptake results in organic and systemic shortcomings. Established in situ techniques, such as EDX-ray spectroscopy, are not sensitive enough to analyze trace metal distribution and the quantification of metal images is difficult.

Methods

In this study, we developed a quantitative biometal imaging technique of human liver tissue by laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) in order to compare the distribution of selected metals in cryo-sections of healthy and fibrotic/cirrhotic livers.

Results

Most of the metals are homogeneous distributed within the normal tissue, while they are redirected within fibrotic livers resulting in significant metal deposits. Moreover, total iron and copper concentrations in diseased liver were found about 3-5 times higher than in normal liver samples.

Conclusions

Biometal imaging via LA-ICP-MS is a sensitive innovative diagnostic tool that will impact clinical practice in identification and evaluation of hepatic metal disorders and to detect subtle metal variations during ongoing hepatic fibrogenesis.     

Quantification of Proteins Using Peptide Immunoaffinity Enrichment Coupled with Mass Spectrometry

There is a great need for quantitative assays in measuring proteins. Traditional sandwich immunoassays, largely considered the gold standard in quantitation, are associated with a high cost, long lead time, and are fraught with drawbacks (e.g. heterophilic antibodies, autoantibody interference, ''hook-effect'').¹ An alternative technique is affinity enrichment of peptides coupled with quantitative mass spectrometry, commonly referred to as SISCAPA (Stable Isotope Standards and Capture by Anti-Peptide Antibodies).² In this technique, affinity enrichment of peptides with stable isotope dilution and detection by selected/multiple reaction monitoring mass spectrometry (SRM/MRM-MS) provides quantitative measurement of peptides as surrogates for their respective proteins. SRM/MRM-MS is well established for accurate quantitation of small molecules ^{3, 4} and more recently has been adapted to measure the concentrations of proteins in plasma and cell lysates.^5-7 To achieve quantitation of proteins, these larger molecules are digested to component peptides using an enzyme such as trypsin. One or more selected peptides whose sequence is unique to the target protein in that species (i.e. "proteotypic" peptides) are then enriched from the sample using anti-peptide antibodies and measured as quantitative stoichiometric surrogates for protein concentration in the sample. Hence, coupled to stable isotope dilution (SID) methods (i.e. a spiked-in stable isotope labeled peptide standard), SRM/MRM can be used to measure concentrations of proteotypic peptides as surrogates for quantification of proteins in complex biological matrices. The assays have several advantages compared to traditional immunoassays. The reagents are relatively less expensive to generate, the specificity for the analyte is excellent, the assays can be highly multiplexed, enrichment can be performed from neat plasma (no depletion required), and the technique is amenable to a wide array of proteins or modifications of interest.^8-13 In this video we demonstrate the basic protocol as adapted to a magnetic bead platform.     

Establishment of Element Fingerprint and Multielement Analysis of Fritillaria thunbergii by Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometry

Element fingerprints were deciphered for Fritillaria thunbergii from Chinese ten major fritillaria-producing regions for the purpose of examining differences in element composition with region of origin and identifying elements’ importance to F. thunbergii. Analysis by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry allowed simultaneous determination of 18 elements in F. thunbergii (Al, B, Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Na, Mn, Mo, S, Ni, P, Pb, and Zn), and patterns in element concentrations were deciphered by principle component analysis (PCA) and hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA). The element fingerprint was established which well reflected the element characteristics of F. thunbergii. Meanwhile, the ten regions were discriminated with 100% accuracy using HCA and PCA based on 18 of these elements. The element Mg, Ca, K, B, P, Mo, Na, Cd, Ni, and Al were viewed as the characteristic element of F. thunbergii, and the fingerprint of these elements could be used to distinguish the authenticity of F. thunbergii Miq.     

Diagnosing Impaired Glucose Tolerance Using Direct Infusion Mass Spectrometry of Blood Plasma

The goal of this study was to evaluate the capacity for mass spectrometry of blood plasma to diagnose impaired glucose tolerance (IGT). For this study, blood plasma samples from control subjects (n = 30) and patients with IGT (n = 20) were treated with methanol and low molecular weight fraction were then analyzed by direct infusion mass spectrometry. A total of 51 metabolite ions strongly associated with IGT were detected. The area under a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve (AUC) for diagnosing IGT that was based on an analysis of all these metabolites was 0.93 (accuracy 90%, specificity 90%, and sensitivity 90%). The associated reproducibility was 85%. The metabolites identified were also consistent with risk factors previously associated with the development of diabetes. Thus, direct infusion mass spectrometry of blood plasma metabolites represents a rapid, single-step, and reproducible method for the analysis of metabolites. Moreover, this method has the potential to serve as a prototype for clinical analyses that could replace the currently used glucose tolerance test with a more patient-friendly assay.     

电感耦合等离子质谱法(ICP-MS)法测定茵栀黄注射液中有害元素铅、砷、镉、汞、铜的含量

建立了电感耦合等离子体质谱法(ICP-MS)测定茵栀黄注射液中Pb、As、Cd、Hg、Cu 5种元素的方法。样品经微波消解后,直接用ICP-MS同时测定上述5种元素,结果5种元素的检出限分别在5～1250 ng/L之间;线性良好,线性相关系数均为r≥0.999;精密度RSD3.5%;回收率在95.7%～107.5%之间。方法操作简便、分析速度快、灵敏度高,各项分析性能指标均达到要求,适用于茵栀黄注射液中有害元素的测定。     

Stability Performance of Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry-Phenotyped Kernel Minerals Concentration and Grain Yield in Maize in Different Agro-Climatic Zones

Deficiency of iron and zinc causes micronutrient malnutrition or hidden hunger, which severely affects ~25% of global population. Genetic biofortification of maize has emerged as cost effective and sustainable approach in addressing malnourishment of iron and zinc deficiency. Therefore, understanding the genetic variation and stability of kernel micronutrients and grain yield of the maize inbreds is a prerequisite in breeding micronutrient-rich high yielding hybrids to alleviate micronutrient malnutrition. We report here, the genetic variability and stability of the kernel micronutrients concentration and grain yield in a set of 50 maize inbred panel selected from the national and the international centres that were raised at six different maize growing regions of India. Phenotyping of kernels using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) revealed considerable variability for kernel minerals concentration (iron: 18.88 to 47.65 mg kg^–1; zinc: 5.41 to 30.85 mg kg^–1; manganese: 3.30 to17.73 mg kg^–1; copper: 0.53 to 5.48 mg kg^–1) and grain yield (826.6 to 5413 kg ha^–1). Significant positive correlation was observed between kernel iron and zinc within (r = 0.37 to r = 0.52, p < 0.05) and across locations (r = 0.44, p < 0.01). Variance components of the additive main effects and multiplicative interactions (AMMI) model showed significant genotype and genotype × environment interaction for kernel minerals concentration and grain yield. Most of the variation was contributed by genotype main effect for kernel iron (39.6%), manganese (41.34%) and copper (41.12%), and environment main effects for both kernel zinc (40.5%) and grain yield (37.0%). Genotype main effect plus genotype-by-environment interaction (GGE) biplot identified several mega environments for kernel minerals and grain yield. Comparison of stability parameters revealed AMMI stability value (ASV) as the better representative of the AMMI stability parameters. Dynamic stability parameter GGE distance (GGED) showed strong and positive correlation with both mean kernel concentrations and grain yield. Inbreds (CM-501, SKV-775, HUZM-185) identified from the present investigation will be useful in developing micronutrient-rich as well as stable maize hybrids without compromising grain yield.     

化学交联质谱技术的研究进展

化学交联质谱技术是解析蛋白质结构和研究蛋白质相互作用的重要工具。近5年以来,该技术在方法和应用上都取得了很大的进步。方法上,一方面可断裂交联剂与新型分离富集方法展现了较好的应用前景,另一方面更加高效的交联肽段搜索引擎和质量控制方法为交联质谱数据分析提供了有力的工具。应用上,一方面与冷冻电镜技术结合解析了大量蛋白质的结构,另一方面从研究蛋白质复合物的相互作用发展到研究全蛋白质组水平的相互作用网络。化学交联质谱技术在方法和应用上的蓬勃发展,体现了这一技术的重要作用。本文对化学交联质谱技术的各个环节进行了详细的综述,包括交联剂选择、交联反应、酶切、交联肽段富集、液质联用、交联肽段鉴定、质量控制和生物学应用,重点介绍了最近5年的研究进展。最后,讨论了化学交联质谱技术面临的挑战及未来的发展方向。     

A Study on Uniformity Characteristics of a Magnetized Inductively Coupled Plasma

Plasma Physics Reports - Non-uniformities in the plasma parameters in a magnetized inductively coupled plasma (M-ICP) etcher were investigated. Further in text of this article the silicon dioxide...     

On the Structure and Intensity of Vortex in RF Inductively Coupled Argon Plasma

Numerical simulation of a specific technical RF inductively coupled argon plasma with three coils, discharge current in the range of J_coil = 100–250 A, and generator frequency 3 MHz is presented. The temperature, pressure, and velocity fields are obtained under different discharge currents and different flow rates of central gas. A reversed flow (vortex) is found between the injected cool gas and high-temperature plasma-forming gas. The formation mechanisms of such a vortex and the influence of the discharge current and flow rate of central gas on the vortex structure and intensity are studied. Special attention is paid to investigating two different kinds of vortex flow patterns—Benard and toroidal. A critical flow rate of central gas above which the flow pattern would transform from Benard to toroidal is determined and approximated as a function of the discharge current by theoretical calculations and numerical simulations. The maximum negative velocities along the axis in the vortex zone are also determined under different discharge currents and different flow rates of central gas.     

Systematic Analysis of Absorbed Anti-Inflammatory Constituents and Metabolites of Sarcandra glabra in Rat Plasma Using Ultra-High-Pressure Liquid Chromatography Coupled with Linear Trap Quadrupole Orbitrap Mass Spectrometry

Ultra-high-pressure liquid chromatography (UHPLC) was coupled with linear ion trap quadrupole Orbitrap mass spectrometry (LTQ-Orbitrap) and was used for the first time to systematically analyze the absorbed components and metabolites in rat plasma after oral administration of the water extract of Sarcandra glabra. This extract is a well-known Chinese herbal medicine for the treatment of inflammation and immunity related diseases. The anti-inflammatory activities of the absorbed components were evaluated by measuring nitric oxide (NO) production and proinflammatory genes expression in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated murine RAW 264.7 macrophages. As a result, 54 components in Sarcandra glabra were detected in dosed rat plasma, and 36 of them were positively identified. Moreover, 23 metabolites were characterized and their originations were traced. Furthermore, 20 of the 24 studied components showed anti-inflammatory activities. These results provide evidence that this method efficiency detected constituents in plasma based on the anti-inflammatory mechanism of multiple components and would be a useful technique for screening multiple targets for natural medicine research.     

Plasma Levels of Trace Elements Have an Implication on Interferon Treatment of Children with Chronic Hepatitis B Infection

This study evaluated the plasma levels of trace elements in children with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection and assessed whether they can be a factor that affects the response to interferon alpha (IFN-α) treatment. The study included 35 cases (ten girls, 25 boys) aged 3–13 years with chronic HBV infection and the control group. Plasma levels of copper (Cu), manganese (Mn), molybdenum (Mo), selenium (Se), and zinc (Zn) were measured before IFN-α treatment and biochemical, virological, and histopathologic response to treatment were assessed. Children were followed for at least 15 months. Although plasma Cu levels showed no difference between the groups, Mn, Mo, Se, and Zn levels were significantly lower in the study group before treatment. Fourteen cases (40%) showed biochemical response; 17 (48.6%) showed virological response; 16 (47.6%) showed histopathologic response, and ten (28.6%) showed response according to all three parameters. Plasma Cu and Mn levels of patients with triple response showed no difference; but Mo, Se, and Zn levels were significantly lower (p?<?0.001) in the study group. No difference was observed between responders and nonresponders (p?>?0.05). Plasma levels of Mn, Mo, Se, and Zn are lower in children with chronic HBV infection compared to healthy children. The pretreatment levels of these elements did not show difference between responders and nonresponders to IFN-α.     

Plasma levels of BAFF and APRIL are elevated in patients with asthma in Saudi Arabia

B-cell activation factor (BAFF) and a proliferation-inducing ligand (APRIL) are members of the tumor necrosis factor superfamily of cytokines and can induce B cell activation, differentiation, and antibody production via interaction with their receptors, including transmembrane activator, calcium modulator, and cyclophilin ligand interactor (TACI), B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA), and B-cell activating factor receptor (BAFF-R). Herein, we assessed the plasma protein levels of BAFF and APRIL in patients with asthma to determine whether their expression is correlated with total IgE production and examined the surface expression of BAFF/APRIL receptors on B cells. Blood samples were collected from 47 patients with controlled asthma symptoms and 20 healthy normal controls, and plasma levels of APRIL, BAFF, and total IgE protein were quantified by corresponding ELISA assays. Furthermore, lymphocytes were isolated and B cells were analyzed for the presence of BAFF-R, BCMA, and TACI receptors using flow cytometry. Our results showed that IgE, BAFF, and APRIL plasma levels were markedly increased in patients with asthma compared with healthy controls. Moreover, expression of BAFF-R and BCMA, but not that of TACI, was significantly increased in patients with asthma compared with healthy controls. Overall, the findings suggest BAFF and APRIL as key mediators of asthma, and determination of their plasma levels may be useful in monitoring asthma symptoms and treatment response.