Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry Performance for the Measurement of Key Serum Minerals: A Comparative Study With Standard Quantification Methods.

Background: Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) is widely used for the accurate measurement of minerals. However, its application to serum essential mineral measurement has not been fully evaluated. The present study aimed to assess the performance of ICP-MS for serum minerals by comparing its measurements to those obtained using standard quantification methods.

Assessing the feasibility of using toenails as biomarkers for estimating inorganic arsenic exposure in Japanese adults.

Background: Long-term exposure to inorganic arsenic (InAs) through arsenic (As)-contaminated drinking water poses serious health risks. However, epidemiological studies focusing on low-level dietary exposure to InAs are lacking. Furthermore, although toenail clippings are used as biomarkers for assessing As exposure in areas with contaminated drinking water, to date, no method has been developed for using toenails as a biomarker of long-term InAs exposure in individuals with lower exposure levels, e.

Association of Plasma Nestin With Response to Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors Combined With Chemotherapy in Extensive-stage Small-cell Lung Cancer: A Pilot Study.

Background/aim: Nestin, an intermediate filament protein expressed in stem/progenitor cells of the developing central nervous system, is involved in the progression and poor prognosis of various malignancies. Difficulties in small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) tissue biopsy reduce the accuracy of immunohistochemistry analyses; therefore, evaluating nestin in blood samples is preferred in clinical practice. This study examined the clinical significance of plasma nestin levels in SCLC.

Novel subharmonic-aided pressure estimation for identifying high-risk esophagogastric varices.

Background: Subharmonic-aided pressure estimation (SHAPE) is a technique for determining changes in ambient pressure. We aimed to analyze a novel SHAPE integrated into ultrasound diagnostic equipment to predict patients with liver cirrhosis at high risk of esophagogastric varices (EV).

Methods: This prospective study included 111 patients with liver cirrhosis diagnosed between 2020 and 2023.