Asian dust exposure triggers acute myocardial infarction.

AIMS: To elucidate whether Asian dust is associated with the incidence of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and to clarify whether patients who are highly sensitive to Asian dust will develop AMI. METHODS AND RESULTS: Twenty-one participating institutions located throughout Kumamoto Prefecture and capable of performing coronary intervention were included in the study. Data for ground-level observations of Asian dust events were measured at the Kumamoto Local Meteorological Observatory. Data collected between 1 April 2010 and 31 March 2015 were analysed, and 3713 consecutive AMI patients were included. A time-stratified case-crossover design was applied to examine the association between Asian dust exposure and AMI. The occurrence of Asian dust events at 1 day before the onset of AMI was associated with the incidence of AMI [odds ratio (OR), 1.46; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.09-1.95] and especially, non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction was significant (OR 2.03; 95% CI, 1.30-3.15). A significant association between AMI and Asian dust was observed in patients with age ≥75 years, male sex, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, never-smoking status, and chronic kidney disease (CKD). However, Asian dust events had a great impact on AMI onset in patients with CKD (P < 0.01). A scoring system accounting for several AMI risk factors was developed. The occurrence of Asian dust events was found to be significantly associated with AMI incidence among patients with a risk score of 5-6 (OR 2.45; 95% CI: 1.14-5.27). CONCLUSION: Asian dust events may lead to AMI and have a great impact on its onset in patients with CKD.

Analysis of individual matrix particles in the Allende meteorite by high-resolution FIB-TOF-SIMS.

The matrix in the "Allende meteorite" was analyzed by high-spatial-resolution focused ion beam time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (FIB-TOF-SIMS), and consisted of fine grains with sizes of several micrometers. It is difficult to analyze the matrix particles individually. As FIB-TOF-SIMS has a high spatial resolution, it can analyze the matrix individually. In addition, if the sample can be smoothed, no other pretreatment is required. By this method, it was clarified that Al, Cr, etc., which were conventionally detected as trace components in mass spectra, existed as fine particles between the matrix particles, rather than as impurities within them. The Al-rich particles did not match the minerals already found in the Allende meteorite matrix. Although the identity of the aluminum-rich particles has not been clarified, the abundance and localization could be observed correctly. Al-rich particles are likely to be affected by metamorphism and have important information to clarify the metamorphism process.

Evaluation of Internal Distribution and Extracellular Action of the Cell via TOF-SIMS.

Cisplatin is one of the most popular and traditional platinum-based anti-cancer drugs. Additionally, it is known for its effect on different types of cancers. To clarify the reaction mechanism of anti-cancer drugs in a cell, the visualization of drugs in a single cell is required. In this study, we investigated a secondary ion species obtained from cisplatin, which was bounded to the nucleus in a cell and its intensity. PtCl2- was mainly detected via SIMS during an analysis of pure cisplatin reagent. In contrast, a high-intensity signal for PtCN- was detected from cultured cells that were administered cisplatin. However, this signal was not detected from cisplatin in the reagent state. Chlorine in the cisplatin structure is replaced with water when it is combined with the cell nucleus. Therefore, PtCN- was mainly detected from the intracellular region because the structure was changed by cisplatin binding to the nucleus and which exhibits anti-cancer activity. The results showed that the cisplatin selectively combined with the nucleus. Through TOF-SIMS, we achieved a visual distribution of the cisplatin intracellular nucleus.

Therapeutic strategy for acute spinal cord paralysis by epidural hematoma derived from the application of non-operative observation and the optimal timing to convert to surgical intervention.

Some cases of acute spinal cord paralysis by epidural hematoma have made complete recovery through natural progression. This group cannot be ignored in choosing a therapy. We have considered the applications of non-operative observation and the optimal timing to convert to surgical intervention. Of the 454 cases reported, cases that were of trauma/post-operative, undergone epidural block, lumbosacral level, paralysis-free, were excluded. 10 clinical items were identified as factors related to the outcome of therapy, and a total of 142 cases (73 surgical and 69 non-surgical/observation cases) which included all items in its record, were extracted for this study. 104 cases that made complete recovery from spinal paralysis (CR) includes 65 cases without surgical intervention (NOP-CR). Using "paralysis recovery start time (PRST)", ROC analysis was conducted to show the diagnostic time needed to detect the cases of CR and NOP-CR. Clinical characteristics of CR and NOP-CR were identified using multiple logistics regression analysis. CR probability were higher at PRST < 15 h from the onset and NOP-CR was even higher at < 11 h. Three clinical items: incomplete motor paralysis, no use of anti-coagulant therapy, and PRST within 15 h were found to be the characteristics of CR and NOP-CR. The case with all 3 items; especially PRST within 11 h from onset, is applicable to non-operative observation. Immediate surgical intervention at 6-hours is recommended in cases that presented with unchanged complete motor paralysis. Observation treatment is discontinued and converted to surgery if motor usefulness is not regained at 15-hours.

Loss of Phosphate Determines the Versatility of a Spider Orb-web Glue Ball.

Spiders capture their prey by weaving an "invisible" orb-web that has both adhesive and fixed properties. Different types of silk in the orb-web have different functions, wherein the key to capturing a prey is the ball-like glue (glue ball), which coats the silk strands. This glue ball has highly versatile properties, but the mechanisms leading to its versatility remain unclear. The salts found in the web have been previously suggested to play an important role in terms of viscosity, not water. However, the distribution of salt and water in the glue ball has not yet been directly observed. Here, we mapped the salts in different states using a homemade time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometer (TOF-SIMS) with a high lateral resolution. To our surprise, the glue ball was found to contain little water. The functional transformation of the glue ball from a viscous glycoprotein (capturing prey) to a hardened protein (retaining prey) relies solely on the stimulation of mechanical forces. The phosphate is a key factor for its versatility.

Composite NASICON (Na3Zr2Si2PO12) Solid-State Electrolyte with Enhanced Na+ Ionic Conductivity: Effect of Liquid Phase Sintering.

NASICON-type of solid-state electrolyte, Na3Zr2Si2PO12 (NZSP), is one of the potential solid-state electrolytes for all-solid-state Na battery and Na-air battery. However, in solid-state synthesis, high sintering temperature above 1200 °C and long duration are required, which led to loss of volatile materials and formation of impurities at the grain boundaries. This hampers the total ionic conductivity of NZSP to be in the range of 10-4 S cm-1. Herein, we have reduced both the sintering temperature and time of the NZSP electrolyte by sintering the NZSP powders with different amounts of Na2SiO3 additive, which provides the liquid phase for the sintering process. The addition of 5 wt % Na2SiO3 has shown the highest total ionic conductivity of 1.45 mS cm-1 at room temperature. A systematic study of the effect of Na2SiO3 on the microstructure and electrical properties of the NZSP electrolyte is conducted by the structural study with the help of morphological and chemical observations using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy, and using focused ion-beam-time of flight-secondary ion mass spectroscopy. The XRD results revealed that cations from Na2SiO3 diffused into the bulk change the stoichiometry of NZSP, leading to an enlarged bottleneck area and hence lowering activation energy in the bulk, which contributes to the increment of the bulk ion conductivity, as indicated by the electrochemical impedance spectroscopy result. In addition, higher density and better microstructure contribute to improved grain boundary conductivity. More importantly, this study has achieved a highly ionic conductive NZSP only by facile addition of Na2SiO3 into the NZSP powder prior to the sintering stage.

Isotope-selective Microscale Imaging of Radioactive Cs without Isobaric Interferences Using Sputtered Neutral Mass Spectrometry with Two-step Resonant Ionization Employing Newly-developed Ti:Sapphire Lasers.

The characterization of radionuclides in Fukushima is important to determine their origins and current state in the environment. Radionuclides exist as fine particles and are mixed with other constituents. A measurement method with both micro-imaging capability and highly selective element detection is necessary to analyze these particles. We developed such an imaging technique using a time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry and wavelength-tunable Ti:Sapphire lasers for the resonance ionization of target elements without mass interference. This is called resonant laser ionization sputtered neutral mass spectrometry. The instrument has a high lateral resolution and a higher ionization selectivity using two-step resonance excitation of Cs with two lasers at different wavelengths. Optimization of the wavelength for resonance ionization using a Cs compound was performed, and a real environmental particle containing radioactive Cs was analyzed. Isotope images of three kinds of Cs were successfully obtained without interfere from Ba isotopes for the first time.

Supercritical fluid clean-up of environmental samples for the analysis of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons using time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry.

A novel sample-pretreatment method for time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (TOF-SIMS) was developed using supercritical fluid extraction (SFE). In SFE, the extraction efficiency of a certain organic matter is controlled by the pressure and temperature of supercritical CO2. Two-step SFE (1st step at 10 Mpa, 40 degrees C; 2nd step at 30 MPa, 120 degrees C) was applied to diesel exhaust particles containing many kinds of n-alkanes and aromatic species. n-Alkanes and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were extracted in the 1st and 2nd steps, respectively. This selectivity was utilized for the sample preparation of TOF-SIMS analysis. Diesel exhaust particles after the 1st step of extraction were analyzed with TOF-SIMS, aiming at PAHs as analytical targets. The obtained spectrum was simplified, and mass peaks of individual PAHs were easily assigned, because unwanted compounds, like n-alkanes, were selectively removed by SFE. Furthermore, a simple calculation elucidated the outline of the spectrum.

Development of a supercritical fluid extractor coupled with a time-of-flight mass spectrometer for online detection of extracts.

A combined apparatus of a supercritical CO2 extractor (SFE) and a time-of-flight mass spectrometer (TOF-MS) was developed aiming at the direct analysis of extracts. A fused-silica capillary acts as both a pressure restrictor and an effluent injection nozzle into the TOF-MS. The tip of the nozzle was narrowed by melting and abrasion so that a greater pressure drop occurred at the tip. In the TOF-MS chamber, differential pumping between the main and ionization chamber kept the pressure in the ionization chamber at around 10(-3) Pa when the SFE pressure was at 9.7 to 29.4 MPa. The TOF-MS performance, a mass resolution of 263 at m/z = 146, and a sensitivity of 1.6 ng (p-dichlorobenzene) were certified by direct injection of a standard organic solution. Online detection of SFE effluent containing naphthalene, p-dichlorobenzene, phenanthrene and pyrene were successfully performed by the TOF-MS only for 48000 ionization cycles corresponding to 7.5 s.

Characterization of black carbon in fine aerosol particles using high lateral resolution TOF-SIMS.

Fine aerosol particles were analyzed by time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry with high lateral resolution. After sulfate particles with a diameter of about 1 µm were sputtered by gallium primary ions (a gallium focused ion beam), solid materials with a diameter of about 100 nm were occasionally found inside the particles. Since the mass spectrum for the solid material was almost the same as that of graphite, we concluded that the solids were black carbon. It was also found that the black carbon located at the surface of the sulfate core, and they were usually surrounded by organic matter.

Imaging of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons by means of sputtered neutrals mass spectrometry using a diode-pumped solid-state laser.

Laser post-ionization of sputtered molecules by pulsed Ga focused ion-beam (Ga-FIB) bombardment was examined for the detection and imaging of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) on particles. As model samples, pyrene and pelyrene adsorbed on TiO2, blended regents of pyrene and n-heneicosan were used. The TiO2 particle size was selected to be several micro-meters. Laser light and Ga-FIB were synchronized with each other. The repetition rate synchronized with Ga-FIB was 1 kHz for pyrene analysis and 2 kHz for perylene, respectively. The laser wavelength was set to 266 nm. The wavelength was a generated fourth harmonic of a Nd:YAG DPSS (diode-pumped solid-state) micro-chip laser (UV microchip laser). By using a UV microchip laser, laser-SNMS (laser post-ionized sputtered neutral mass spectrometry) analysis and imaging were performed. The imaging of pyrene (m/z = 202, C16H10) and perylene (m/z = 252, C20H12) has been successful. Both the scanning ion microscopy image of TiO2 and the PAHs image in laser-SNMS analysis were well-fitted with each other.

Chemical state of boron in coal fly ash investigated by focused-ion-beam time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (FIB-TOF-SIMS) and satellite-transition magic angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance (STMAS NMR).

The chemical states of boron in coal fly ash, which may control its leaching into the environment, were investigated by focused-ion-beam time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (FIB-TOF-SIMS) and satellite-transition magic angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance (STMAS NMR) spectroscopy. The distribution of boron on the surface and in the interior of micron-sized fly ash particles was directly observed by FIB-TOF-SIMS. Coordination numbers of boron and its bonding with different atoms from particles of bulk samples were investigated by STMAS NMR. Boron in coal fly ash with relatively poor leaching characteristics appears as trigonal BO(3) and coexists with Ca and Fe at the outer layer of every particle and inside CaO-MgO particles. In contrast, boron in coal fly ash with better leaching characteristics appears as CaO- or MgO-trigonal BO(3) and tetragonal BO(4), and it is distributed only on the outer surface of each ash particle without showing any correlation with a particular element.