Abstract: Provided is a quantitative determination method for sulfur compounds in a target group selected from a plurality of groups, e.g., a group including cysteine and related reactive sulfurs, including the steps of: performing an LC/MS/MS measurement of a standard substance having a known concentration of a base compound, e.g.

Abstract: The present invention provides: a method of pretreating a serum or plasma sample for detection of a protein or a plurality of proteins of interest in a serum or plasma sample via mass spectrometry and a method of detecting such a protein or proteins, wherein proteins such as albumin present in abundance in a sample are removed in a convenient manner, thereby making it possible to collect digested peptides from the protein of interest. Specifically, the present invention provides a method of pretreating a sample for detecting proteins in a serum or plasma sample via mass spectrometry, comprising a step of adding a protease to the sample under non-denaturing conditions to digest proteins and a step of separating the obtained peptides from undigested proteins, and a method of detecting proteins, comprising subjecting the obtained peptides to mass spectrometry.

Abstract: A device that performs MSn analysis including: a mass window group setting information input receiver that receives input of information concerning the number of mass window groups, the number of mass windows, and a mass-to-charge ratio width of each of the mass windows; a mass window group setter that sets a first mass window group and a second mass window group, in which a mass-to-charge ratio at a boundary of adjacent mass windows differs from a mass-to-charge ratio at a boundary of mass windows in the first mass window group; a product-ion scan measurement section that performs, for each of the first and second mass window groups, an operation of performing scan measurement of product ions by use of the plurality of mass windows in sequence to acquire pieces of product-ion scan data; and a product-ion spectrum generator that generate a product-ion spectrum by integrating pieces of product-ion scan data.

Abstract: As soon as a set of data is acquired by a mass spectrometric analysis, an accumulated value of the signal intensity on the mass spectrum is calculated for each m/z segment obtained by dividing the entire m/z range covered by the measurement by a predetermined m/z width. Only the m/z segments with accumulated signal-intensity values equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold are selected as the target for an MS/MS analysis. MS/MS analysis is performed for each selected m/z segment, using ions whose m/z values fall within the m/z segment as precursor ions. A measurement cycle which includes mass spectrometric analysis performed one time and MS/MS analysis performed one or more times is repeated. After that, ions originating from the same component are selected based on the retention time of a peak in an extracted ion chromatogram created for each product ion, and the component is identified.

Abstract: A device that performs MSn analysis including: a mass window group setting information input receiver that receives input of information concerning the number of mass window groups, the number of mass windows, and a mass-to-charge ratio width of each of the mass windows; a mass window group setter that sets a first mass window group and a second mass window group, in which a mass-to-charge ratio at a boundary of adjacent mass windows differs from a mass-to-charge ratio at a boundary of mass windows in the first mass window group; a product-ion scan measurement section that performs, for each of the first and second mass window groups, an operation of performing scan measurement of product ions by use of the plurality of mass windows in sequence to acquire pieces of product-ion scan data; and a product-ion spectrum generator that generate a product-ion spectrum by integrating pieces of product-ion scan data.

Abstract: As soon as a set of data is acquired by a mass spectrometric analysis, an accumulated value of the signal intensity on the mass spectrum is calculated for each m/z segment obtained by dividing the entire m/z range covered by the measurement by a predetermined m/z width. Only the m/z segments with accumulated signal-intensity values equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold are selected as the target for an MS/MS analysis. MS/MS analysis is performed for each selected m/z segment, using ions whose m/z values fall within the m/z segment as precursor ions. A measurement cycle which includes mass spectrometric analysis performed one time and MS/MS analysis performed one or more times is repeated. After that, ions originating from the same component are selected based on the retention time of a peak in an extracted ion chromatogram created for each product ion, and the component is identified.

Abstract: The present invention provides: a method of pretreating a serum or plasma sample for detection of a protein or a plurality of proteins of interest in a serum or plasma sample via mass spectrometry and a method of detecting such a protein or proteins, wherein proteins such as albumin present in abundance in a sample are removed in a convenient manner, thereby making it possible to collect digested peptides from the protein of interest. Specifically, the present invention provides a method of pretreating a sample for detecting proteins in a serum or plasma sample via mass spectrometry, comprising a step of adding a protease to the sample under non-denaturing conditions to digest proteins and a step of separating the obtained peptides from undigested proteins, and a method of detecting proteins, comprising subjecting the obtained peptides to mass spectrometry.

Abstract: In order to provide an analysis method that is capable of determining a glycan structure with high detection sensitivity, a method of the present invention includes the steps of: carrying out triple quadrupole mass spectrometry at various values of CID energy; creating an energy-resolved profile including yield curves representing relationships between (i) a value of the CID energy and (ii) measured amounts of specific types of product ions; preparing a reference profile, and identifying a glycan structure of a test material by comparing the energy-resolved profile with the reference profile.

Abstract: [Problem] To provide a method for detecting early-stage lung cancer, which reduce a burden on a subject and are excellent in specificity and sensitivity. [Solution] A lung cancer marker comprising a complement C3dg molecule. A method for analyzing a lung cancer marker comprising the steps of: measuring a level of a complement C3dg molecule as a lung cancer marker in a biological sample to acquire a measured level of the complement C3dg molecule; and making an evaluation as to whether the measured level is high or low based on a reference level of the complement C3dg molecule. Preferably, the measured level of the complement C3dg molecule is a value relative to a measured level of a complement C3 full-length molecule in the biological sample, and herein the reference level of the complement C3dg molecule is a value relative to a reference level of the complement C3 full-length molecule.

Abstract: In order to provide an analysis method that is capable of determining a glycan structure with high detection sensitivity, a method of the present invention includes the steps of: carrying out triple quadrupole mass spectrometry at various values of CID energy; creating an energy-resolved profile including yield curves representing relationships between (i) a value of the CID energy and (ii) measured amounts of specific types of product ions; preparing a reference profile, and identifying a glycan structure of a test material by comparing the energy-resolved profile with the reference profile.

Abstract: In order to provide an analysis method that is capable of determining a glycan structure with high detection sensitivity, a method of the present invention includes the steps of: carrying out triple quadrupole mass spectrometry at various values of CID energy; creating an energy-resolved profile including yield curves representing relationships between (i) a value of the CID energy and (ii) measured amounts of specific types of product ions; preparing a reference profile, and identifying a glycan structure of a test material by comparing the energy-resolved profile with the reference profile.

Abstract: In order to provide an analysis method that is capable of determining a glycan structure with high detection sensitivity, a method of the present invention includes the steps of: carrying out triple quadrupole mass spectrometry at various values of CID energy; creating an energy-resolved profile including yield curves representing relationships between (i) a value of the CID energy and (ii) measured amounts of specific types of product ions; preparing a reference profile, and identifying a glycan structure of a test material by comparing the energy-resolved profile with the reference profile.

Abstract: It is provided a method for identification of the morbidity of epithelial ovarian cancer based on a tissue-type in view of molecular typing which is different from a conventional histopathology, and a marker for identification of a tissue-type of epithelial ovarian cancer. A method for identification of the morbidity of epithelial ovarian cancer based on a tissue-type, comprising: subjecting a sample originated from an individual of interest to a treatment for detecting at least one selected from the group consisting of biological molecules specifically showing an upregulation in expression in a specific tissue-type of epithelial ovarian cancer, and/or at least one selected from the group consisting of biological molecules specifically showing a downregulation in expression in a specific tissue-type of epithelial ovarian cancer, and identifying whether or not the significant detection of the protein is achieved, thereby identifying the tissue-type.

Abstract: A novel biomarker for use in lung cancer diagnosis is provided.

Abstract: It is intended to provide a method of preparing sample for matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry using a matrix capable of generating preferred crystals that cause effective ionization of a molecule to be measured. A method of preparing a sample for matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry comprising the steps of: preparing a solution of 2,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid of 40 mg/mL to saturated concentration as a matrix solution; and dispensing the matrix solution to a sample to be analyzed by using an inkjet mechanism, to crystallize the 2,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid.

Abstract: A novel biomarker for use in lung cancer diagnosis is provided.

Abstract: It is intended to provide an analysis method for a biological sample with clinical significance, which is a system being simple to such an extent that it can be applied to a clinical field, and capable of capping a molecule ionization suppression in mass spectrometry. Mass spectrometry of a biological sample using immunoprecipitation, comprising the steps of: preparing a sample containing an objective biological molecule; concentrating the biological molecule in the sample by immunoprecipitation using an antibody-bound carrier or a carrier to which a molecule capable of specifically binding to an antibody is bound; washing an immunoprecipitate of the biological molecule by using an aqueous solution containing a charge neutralizing agent as a washing liquid; and detecting the biological molecule by subjecting the washed immunoprecipitate to mass spectrometry.

Abstract: It is provided a method for identification of the morbidity of epithelial ovarian cancer based on a tissue-type in view of molecular typing which is different from a conventional histopathology, and a marker for identification of a tissue-type of epithelial ovarian cancer. A method for identification of the morbidity of epithelial ovarian cancer based on a tissue-type, comprising: subjecting a sample originated from an individual of interest to a treatment for detecting at least one selected from the group consisting of biological molecules specifically showing an upregulation in expression in a specific tissue-type of epithelial ovarian cancer, and/or at least one selected from the group consisting of biological molecules specifically showing a downregulation in expression in a specific tissue-type of epithelial ovarian cancer, and identifying whether or not the significant detection of the protein is achieved, thereby identifying the tissue-type.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for deparaffinization useful for mass spectrometric imaging from a paraffin-embedded specimen. A method for deparaffinization of paraffin-embedded specimen comprising the steps of: exposing a biological sample by subjecting a specimen in which the biological sample is embedded in paraffin, to an organic solvent that is compatible with the paraffin under heating condition, to make the paraffin be melted and dissolved in the organic solvent; and removing the paraffin from the specimen by separating the organic solvent dissolving the paraffin, from the exposed biological sample.

Abstract: It is intended to provide a method of preparing sample for matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry using a matrix capable of generating preferred crystals that cause effective ionization of a molecule to be measured. A method of preparing a sample for matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry comprising the steps of: preparing a solution of 2,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid of 40 mg/mL to saturated concentration as a matrix solution; and dispensing the matrix solution to a sample to be analyzed by using an inkjet mechanism, to crystallize the 2,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid.