Shimadzu Corporation

Hamamatsu University School of Medicine

Osaka University

Kowa Company Limited

Keio University

Meiji Co., Ltd.

National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center

Inter-university Research Institute Corporation National Institutes of Natural Sciences

National University Corporation Hamamatsu University School of Medicine

Mitsutoshi Setou

Kiyoshi Ogawa

Takahiro Harada

Shigeki Kajihara

Yoshikazu Yoshida

Sadao Takeuchi

Shuichi Shimma

Osamu Furuhashi

Michisato Toyoda

Yukio Asami

Takashi Ito

Satoru Ozaki

Masaaki Matsuura

Masatoshi Wakui

Ken-ichi Hirano

Chinami Mizoguchi

Yoko Yasui

Yoshihiko Ikeda

Nobuhiro Zaima

Masaru Ushijima

Kozo Shimazu

Ken-Ichi Hirano

The present invention provides a mitochondrial function-improving agent containing a lactic acid bacterium belonging toor, a culture of the lactic acid bacterium, or a culture supernatant of the lactic acid bacterium.

Agent for improving mitochondrial function

Provided is a technique for using an optical microscope image of an area on a sample to collect area-specific information characterizing each kind of biological tissue from imaging mass analysis data. On an optical image of a two-dimensional target area on a sample, a difference is examined in the kind of tissue or other features and areas are specified, each regarded as the same kind of tissue. When data processing is initiated, peak information is extracted, for each specified area, from mass spectrum data of all the measurement points. A peak method is applied to each area to extract peak information. Then, when a command to compare a set of areas is given, the peak information of those areas is collected. By comparing the peak information of different areas by a machine learning algorithm or similar judging technique, area-specific peak information is obtained, and this information is stored in memory.

Mass-analysis data processing method and system

An object of the present invention is to provide a drug that contains a compound for inhibiting neutral lipid accumulation in cardiovascular tissue or cells and has an excellent prophylactic or therapeutic effect on cardiovascular complications of diabetes. The present invention relates to a prophylactic and/or therapeutic agent for cardiovascular complications of diabetes, the agent containing a compound (preferably a medium-chain fatty acid and/or a medium-chain triglyceride) for inhibiting neutral lipid accumulation.

Prophylactic and/or therapeutic agent for cardiovascular complications of diabetes

A sample stage () on which a sample () is placed can be reciprocally moved along a guide () by a driving mechanism (). A cutter () which is moved in an X-Y plane by a driving mechanism () is placed at a sample cutting position (B). When the sample stage () is moved to the sample cutting position (B) and the cutter is driven with the height of the sample stage () being appropriately adjusted, an upper portion of the sampleis horizontally cut off with a predetermined thickness and a new sample analysis surface which was inside the sampleis exposed. Hence, by repeating a mass analysis for a predetermined measurement area at an analysis position (C) and a partial cutting of the sampleat the sample cutting position (B), it is possible to achieve a three-dimensional mass analysis imaging of the sample () without removing the sample () from the sample stage ().

Mass spectrometer

In an imaging mass analysis, image information of a sample allows users to grasp specific information about the sample, such as distribution of a portion with a particular function or effect. The mass spectrum intensity data are normalized for each pixel so that the sum of the intensities over the entire mass-to-charge ratio (m/z) is one. Entropy is calculated by totaling the product of the intensity normalizing at each m/z and the logarithm of that intensity over the entire m/z range. After the entropy is calculated for each pixel, the pixels are colored according to their entropy values to display a two-dimensional color image of entropy distribution. The entropy of a cancerous portion is relatively small because of a high content of a specific kind of substance and the simplified composition of the substances. Thus, the cancerous part and the normal part of the entropy image can be distinguished.

Method and system for processing mass analysis data

A mass spectrometer capable of obtaining a clear microscopic observation image with high spatial resolution in real time, even during a mass analysis, without affecting the analysis is provided. An apertureis formed in a stageon which a sample plateto be placed. The sample plateis transparent or translucent. A microscopic observation unit, including an observation optical systemand a CCD camera, is provided below the stageto observe the reverse side of the samplethrough the apertureof the stageas well as the transparent sample plate. The observed image is displayed on the screen of a display unit. If the sampleis a slice of biological tissue, the sample image taken from the reverse side will be substantially the same as an image taken from the obverse side.

A sample platewith a sampleplaced thereon is initially set on a stage, and a visual image of the sample is taken with a CCD camera. This image is stored in an image data memory. Then, an operator removes the sample plate, sprays a matrix for a MALDI process onto the sampleand replaces the plate onto the stage. After that, when a predetermined operation is made, a clear image of the sample taken before the application of the matrix is shown on a display unit. On this image, the operator specifies a point or area for the analysis. The samplemay have been displaced due to the removal and replacement of the plate. Accordingly, an image analyzercalculates the direction and magnitude of the displacement, for example, by recognizing the position of the markings provided on the sample plate. A displacement correctorcomputes coordinate values in which the displacement is corrected. Thus, even if a displacement occurs, the mass analysis can be accurately performed on the point or area of the actual sample as specified on the clear visual image taken before the application of the matrix.

In a mass spectrometer for carrying out mass analysis while microscopically observing a two-dimensional area of a sample, the observation position for selecting a target portion while observing an image of the samplecaptured with a CCD camerais separated from the analysis position for carrying out the mass analysis of the sampleby delivering laser light from the laser-delivering unitonto the sample. The sampleis placed on a stage, which can be precisely moved between the observation position and the analysis position by a stage-driving mechanism. An observation optical systemcan be set close to the sampleat the observation position, without impeding the flight of the ions generated from the sampleduring the analysis or interfering with a laser-condensing optical system. Thus, the spatial resolution for observation is improved without deteriorating the ion-detecting efficiency.

The present invention provides a laser irradiation mass spectrometer capable of analyzing components of living tissue or living cells with high accuracy. It includes a laser unit for irradiating a sample with a beam of laser light and controlling the irradiation spot of the laser beam on the sample; and a mass analyzer for performing a mass analysis of the ions generated at the irradiation spot, where the mass analyzer uses a frequency-driven ion trap and a time-of-flight mass spectrometer to carry out the mass analysis. The ion trap of this system assuredly traps ions having large mass to charge ratios, and enables the system to carry out analyses on samples of large molecules. Preferably, a digital driving method is used to drive the aforementioned frequency-driven ion trap. Also, a multi-turn time-of-flight mass spectrometer may preferably be used as the aforementioned time-of-flight mass spectrometer.

Laser irradiation mass spectrometer

Growing community of inventors

Hamamatsu, Japan

Mitsutoshi Setou