Search

Background: Malignant peripheral sheath tumor (MPNST) is a rare, aggressive form of soft-tissue sarcoma that presents a unique set of diagnostic and treatment challenges and is associated with major unmet treatment medical needs. Objective: The chief aim of this review is to consider the epidemiology, histology, anatomic distribution, pathologic signaling pathways, diagnosis, and management of MPNST, with a focus on potential targeted therapies. A subordinate objective was to establish benchmarks for the antitumor activity of such treatments. Results: MPNST has an incidence of 1:100,000 in the general population and 1:3500 among patients with the inherited condition of neurofibromatosis-1. Spindle-cell sarcomas of neural-crest origin, MPNSTs are frequently situated in the extremities and pelvis/trunk, often at the confluence of large nerve roots and bundles. Highly copy-number aberrant and enriched in chromosome 8, MPNSTs have a complex molecular pathogenesis that likely involves the interplay of multiple signaling pathways, including Ras/AKT/mTOR/MAPK, EGFR, p53, PTEN, and PRC2, as well as factors in the tumor microenvironment. A combination of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and positron emission tomography with 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG-PET) enables comprehensive assessment of both morphology and metabolism, while MRI- and ultrasound-guided core needle biopsy can confirm histopathology. Although surgery with wide excisional margins is now the chief curative approach to localized disease, MPNST-specific survival has not improved in decades. For advanced and metastatic MPNST, radiation and chemotherapy (chiefly with anthracyclines plus ifosfamide) have somewhat promising but still largely uncertain treatment roles, chiefly in local control, downstaging, and palliation. No single druggable target has emerged, no objective responses have been observed with a number of targeted therapies (cumulative disease control rate in our review = 22.9–34.8%), and combinatorial approaches directed toward multiple signal transduction mechanisms are hallmarks of ongoing clinical trials. Conclusions: Despite advances in our understanding of the genetics and molecular biology of MPNST, further research is warranted to: (1) unravel the complex pathogenesis of this condition; (2) improve diagnostic yield; (3) delineate the appropriate roles of chemotherapy and radiation; and (4) develop a targeted therapy (or combination of such treatments) that is well tolerated and prolongs survival. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vitamaize lines (VMLs) were created by backcrossing the pigmented aleurone trait into Centro Internacional de Mejoramiento de Maíz y Trigo (CIMMYT) maize lines (CMLs). This study evaluates metabolic differences between the VMLs and their original CMLs. Direct infusion mass spectrometry (DIMS) analyses, carotenoid profiling, total anthocyanins content (TAC) determination, and biochemical evaluation of the quality protein maize (QPM) endosperm trait allowed a comprehensive chemical characterization of the maize lines. DIMS data indicate higher hexoses and trigonelline content for most VMLs; the carotenoid profile revealed a decrease in β-cryptoxanthin to less than half of the original parent content for two VMLs but an augmentation for one VML. The pigmented aleurone VMLs did not inherit the complex QPM endosperm trait of the QPM CMLs. Except for anthocyanin accumulation, no other metabolites were consistently modified across all the backcross-generated maize lines with a pigmented aleurone trait. These findings suggest using genetic or metabolic markers rather than morphological or visual traits for future breeding programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coffee is one of the most valued consumer products. Surprisingly, there is limited scientific knowledge about the biochemical processes during the storage of green coffee that affects its sensory quality. This review analyzes the impact of the different variables involved in the green coffee storage on quality from a chemical point of view. Further, it highlights the relationship between the physiological processes of the grain, its viability, and shelf-life. Notably, the storage conditions and postharvest treatment affect both the longevity and the sensory quality of the coffee, probably due to the biological behavior of green coffee. Various studies found modifications in their chemical profiles involving carbohydrates, lipids, proteins/amino acids, and phenolic compounds. To make future studies more comparable, we recommend standardized protocols for evaluating and linking the sensory coffee quality with instrumental analysis methods and pre-defined settings for experimental storage conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bromelia karatas L. is a plant species from the Americas. The presence of proteases in fruits of B. karatas has been reported but scarcely studied in detail. Proteolytic enzymes from Ananas comosus have displayed antifungal and antibacterial activity. Thus, novel proteases present in B. karatas may be useful as a source of compounds against microorganisms in medicine and food production. In this work, the protein extract from the fruits of B. karatas was characterized and its antibacterial activity against Salmonella Typhimurium and Listeria monocytogenes was determined for the first time. Proteins highly similar to ananain and the fruit bromelain from A. comosus were identified as the main proteases in B. karatas fruits using liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS). The soluble protein extract (SPE) at a concentration of 2.0 mg/mL displayed up to 80% of antibacterial activity against S. Typhimurium. Complete inhibition of L. monocytogenes was reached with up to 1.65 mg/mL of SPE. Plant protease extract containing ananain-like enzyme inhibited up to 90% against S. Typhimurium and up to 85% against L. monocytogenes using only 10 μg/mL of the partial-purified enzyme. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most of the plant species found in the high mountain ecosystems of the tropics is unique and exceptional, because they have developed complex adaptations to survive in extreme environmental conditions, such as high levels of UVR and low temperatures of these ecological environments. In an exploratory study carried out on some plants of this ecosystem, we found that one of the most promising species was the Pentacalia pulchella (Kunth) Cuatrec. (Asteraceae) an endemic plant of Colombia, which grows between 2500 and 3500 m.a.s.l. Therefore, the objective of this work was to evaluate the photoprotective, antioxidant, and chemical composition of extracts from the leaves of P. pulchella. Extracts showed good absorption coefficients in UVA-UVB, high content of total phenols, with antioxidant activity comparable to that obtained with butylhydroxytoluene (BHT). Finally, the formulation labeled "7" with 10% extract presented adequate sensory characteristics for topical use, good in vitro photoprotection values in the UVA–UVB range (SPF (Sun Protection Factor): 7.3 ± 0.9, UVAPF (Ultraviolet A Protection Factor): 5.3 ± 0.6, λc 376), and antioxidant activity. Results obtained allow us to suggest that the extract of P. pulchella has a high potential as a source of new natural solar filters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biofertilizer production and application for sustainable agriculture is already a reality. The methods for biofertilizers delivery in crop fields are diverse. Although foliar spray is gaining wide acceptance, little is known about the influence that the biochemical features of leaves have on the microbial colonization. Arthrobacter agilis UMCV2 is a rhizospheric and endophytic bacteria that promotes plant growth and health. In this study, we determined the capacity of the UMCV2 strain to colonize different leaves from Medicago truncatula in a foliar inoculation system. By using two powerful analytical methods based on mass spectrometry, we determined the chemical profile of the leaves in 15-d old plants. The metabolic signatures between the unifoliate leaf (m1) and the metameric units developing above (m2 and m3) were different, and interestingly, the highest colony forming units (CFU) was found in m1. The occurrence of the endophyte strongly affects the sugar composition in m1 and m2 leaves. Our results suggest that A. agilis UMCV2 colonize the leaves under a foliar inoculation system independently of the phenological age of the leaf and it is capable of modulating the carbohydrate metabolism without affecting the rest of the metabolome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A hierarchic approach for the derivation of an infinite series of nonlinear ℓ th-order shell theories from three-dimensional continuum mechanics based on a polynomial series expansion of the displacement field is recapitulated. Imposing the static constraints that second- and higher-order moments vanish, a 'first-order' shell theory is obtained without employing any kinematic constraints or geometric approximations. In particular, it is shown in full generality that, within the same theoretical framework, this static assumption, on the one hand, and a common Reissner–Mindlin-type kinematic assumption, on the other hand, lead to the same theory, for which the attribute geometrically exact is adopted from the literature. This coincidence can be interpreted as a theoretical justification for the heuristic Reissner–Mindlin assumption. Further, the unexpected but unavoidable appearance of transverse moment components (residual drill moments) is addressed and analysed. Feasible assumptions are formulated which allow to separate these drill components from the remaining balance equations without affecting the equilibrium of the standard static variables. This leads to a favourable structure of the component representation of balance equations in the sense that they formally coincide with the ones of linear shear-deformable shell theory. Finally, it is shown that this result affects the interpretation of applied boundary moments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The sensorial quality of coffee can be impaired by prolonged storage. Aged coffee presents an off-note taste which is called "rested coffee flavor." This quality reduction is accompanied by changes of the lipid profiles. Therefore, we tested the suitability of MALDI-ToF mass fingerprinting to discriminate between unrested ("fresh") and rested Colombian Arabica (Coffea arabica) coffee samples. The samples represented different varieties, geographic regions, and processing. With an optimized sample preparation and data processing protocol, we obtained informative mass profiles of coffee oil. Principal component analysis (PCA) was insufficient to classify between unrested and rested samples. Thus, we developed a Random Forest model, which demonstrated a specificity of 72% to detect rested coffee across different days of sample analysis. For individual measurement days, 85–92% specificities were obtained. The high throughput of MALDI-ToF mass fingerprinting enables the broad screening of green coffee materials for quality monitoring and shelf-life studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Direct-injection electron spray ionization mass spectrometry (DIESI-MS) can be used to quantify the whole set of positive and negative ions in complex biological samples. A cherry tomato cultivar was grown inside a greenhouse in soil pots supplemented with different nitrogen sources. Organic cultivation increased fruit dry matter while conventional chemical fertilizers increased yield due to higher water content. While soluble sugars were unaltered, secondary metabolism of tomato fruit was highly sensitive to compost soil supplied to the roots. From a total of ~1647 DIESI-MS signals, 725 revealed significant differences between treatments. Heatmap biclustering showed that ionomic differences were robustly maintained in independent experiments carried out during three consecutive years. The ionomic fingerprints allowed reproducible sample classification, reflecting the effect of organic farming on tomato fruit quality. Specific biomarker ions could be identified for various nitrogen sources. We propose DIESI-MS as an up-front strategy for plant food characterization aiming to identify the ions with the most significant differences across genotypes or agronomic conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The reduction in the number of coordinates for flexible multibody systems is necessary in order to achieve acceptable simulation times of real-life structures and machines. The conventional model order reduction technique for flexible multibody systems is based on the floating frame of reference formulation (FFRF), using a rigid body frame and superimposed small flexible deformations. The FFRF leads to strongly coupled terms in rigid body and flexible coordinates as well as to a non-constant mass matrix. As an alternative to the FFRF, a formulation based on absolute coordinates has been proposed which uses a co-rotational strain. In this way, a constant mass matrix and a co-rotational stiffness matrix are obtained. In order to perform a reduction in the number of coordinates, by means of the component mode synthesis, e.g., the number of modes needs to be increased, such that all modes are represented in every possible rotated configuration. This approach leads to the method of generalized component mode synthesis (GCMS). The present paper shows in detail how the equations of motion of the FFRF evolve from the ones of the GCMS by considering rigid body constraint conditions and subsequently eliminating them via an appropriate null-space projection. This approach allows a straightforward, term-by-term interpretation of the FFRF mass matrix and of the generalized gyroscopic forces, which, to the same extent, cannot be deduced from former publications on the FFRF. From a practical point of view, the resulting expressions allow to calculate all inertia coefficients from the constant finite element mass matrix together with standard input data of the finite element model in the course of a preprocessing step. Then, the repeated updates of the FFRF mass matrix and of the gyroscopic forces in the course of time integration involve only simple vector matrix operations of low dimensions. In contrast to previous implementations of the FFRF, no evaluations of extra inertia integrals are required. Consequently, the present formulation can be implemented entirely independent of the related finite element code. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Trifluridine/tipiracil (FTD/TPI; TAS-102, Lonsurf®), a novel form of chemotherapy for metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC), has shown clinical benefit in the global, phase III RECOURSE trial, regardless of patient age. Here, we report the safety and tolerability profile of FTD/TPI from an expanded-access program (EAP) in the US patients with mCRC whose disease has progressed on the standard therapies.Methods: A total of 549 patients (≥ 18 years) with histologically confirmed mCRC following two or more regimens of standard therapy and an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status of 0 or 1 participated in this open-label EAP. During the 28-day treatment cycle, patients took FTD/TPI 35 mg/m2 twice daily for 5 days followed by 2 days of rest for 2 weeks, with a 14-day rest period. Data were collected for therapy duration, treatment discontinuation, and adverse events. Age-based post hoc analysis was performed to determine the safety of FTD/TPI in elderly (≥ 65 years) versus younger (< 65 years) patients.Results: FTD/TPI-treated patients in this EAP had a similar therapy duration and time to treatment discontinuation to those in the RECOURSE trial. The safety profile in elderly patients was consistent with that in younger patients, with no unexpected safety concerns.Conclusions: This USA-based, open-label EAP has confirmed a similar safety and tolerability profile for FTD/TPI to that observed in the RECOURSE trial. Furthermore, FTD/TPI is well tolerated and can be considered as a treatment option in elderly patients with mCRC.Trial Registration: NCT02286492. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Main conclusion: The method introduced here to grow F. hygrometrica in high concentrations of D O is an excellent alternative to produce highly deuterated metabolites with broad applications in metabolic studies. Our mass spectrometry experiments strongly indicate the successful incorporation of deuterium into organic compounds. Deuterated metabolites are useful tracers for metabolic studies, yet their wide utilization in research is limited by the multi-step total synthesis required to produce them in the laboratory. Alternatively, deuterated metabolites can be obtained from organisms grown in DO or deuterated nutrients. This approach also has limitations as DO in high concentrations negatively affects the survival of most organisms. Here we report the moss Funaria hygrometrica as an unusual high tolerant to DO in liquid culture. We found that this moss is able to grow in up to 90% DO, a condition lethal for many eukaryotes. Mass spectrometric analyses of F. hygrometrica extracts showed a strong deuteration pattern. The ability to tolerate high concentrations of DO together with the development of a rich molecular toolbox makes F. hygrometrica an ideal system for the production of valuable deuterated metabolites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In coffee manufacture, analytical methods with high-throughput and cost efficacy are required for process development and quality control. Thus, we investigated the applicability of direct mass spectrometry methods to distinguish coffee products according to species, geographic origin and processing. We tested the performance of the established method direct-injection electrospray mass spectrometry (DIESI-MS) and the emerging method low-temperature plasma ionization mass spectrometry (LTP-MS). Both methods are capable of classifying coffee products, but DIESI-MS and LTP-MS yield complementary information about the chemical composition of the samples. DIESI-MS shows a broad molecular weight range of compounds. In contrast, LTP-MS detects mainly low molecular weight compounds, which correspond to quality-related ingredients, such as caffeine and purines. LTP-MS displays a high potential for rapid quality control measurements and online monitoring, because no sample processing is required. Data mining methods support the discovery of 'important' compounds, which are responsible for the discrimination between sample groups, and reveal associated chemical processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In cartography, the combination of colour and contour lines is used to express a three-dimensional landscape on a two-dimensional map. We transferred this concept to the analysis of mass spectrometry imaging (MSI) data and developed a collection of R scripts for the efficient evaluation of . imzML archives in a four-step strategy: (1) calculation of the density distribution of mass-to-charge ratio ( m/ z) signals in the . imzML file and assembling of a pseudo-master spectrum with peak list, (2) automated generation of mass images for a defined scan range and subsequent visual inspection, (3) visualisation of individual ion distributions and export of relevant . mzML spectra and (4) creation of overlay graphics of ion images and photographies. The use of a Hue-Chroma-Luminance (HCL) colour model in MSI graphics takes into account the human perception for colours and supports the correct evaluation of signal intensities. Further, readers with colour blindness are supported. Contour maps promote the visual recognition of patterns in MSI data, which is particularly useful for noisy data sets. We demonstrate the scalability of MSI.R scripts by running them on different systems: on a personal computer, on Amazon Web Services (AWS) instances and on an institutional cluster. By implementing a parallel computing strategy, the execution speed for . imzML data scanning with image generation could be improved by more than an order of magnitude. Applying our MSI.R scripts () to low-temperature plasma (LTP)-MSI data shows the localisation of volatile and semi-volatile compounds in the cross-cut of a chilli ( Capsicum annuum) fruit. The subsequent identification of compounds by gas and liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC-MS, LC-MS) proves that LTP-MSI enables the direct measurement of volatile organic compound (VOC) distributions from biological tissues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The successful application of functional nanostructures, fabricated via focused electron-beam-induced deposition (FEBID), is known to depend crucially on its chemistry as FEBID tends to strong incorporation of carbon. Hence, it is essential to understand the underlying mechanisms which finally determine the elemental composition after fabrication. In this study we focus on these processes from a fundamental point of view by means of (1) varying electron emission on the deposit surface; and (2) changing replenishment mechanism, both driven by the growing deposit itself. First, we revisit previous results concerning chemical variations in nanopillars (with a quasi-1D footprint) depending on the process parameters. In a second step we expand the investigations to deposits with a 3D footprint which are more relevant in the context of applications. Then, we demonstrate how technical setups and directional gas fluxes influence final chemistries. Finally, we put the findings in a bigger context with respect to functionalities which demonstrates the crucial importance of carefully set up fabrication processes to achieve controllable, predictable and reproducible chemistries for FEBID deposits as a key element for industrially oriented applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bacteria use modular polyketide synthases (PKSs) to assemble complex polyketides, many of which are leads for the development of clinical drugs, in particular anti-infectives and anti-tumoral agents. Because these multifarious compounds are notoriously difficult to synthesize, they are usually produced by microbial fermentation. During the past two decades, an impressive body of knowledge on modular PKSs has been gathered that not only provides detailed insight into the biosynthetic pathways but also allows the rational engineering of enzymatic processing lines to yield structural analogues. Notably, a hallmark of all PKS modules studied so far is the head-to-tail fusion of acyl and malonyl building blocks, which leads to linear backbones. Yet, structural diversity is limited by this uniform assembly mode. Here we demonstrate a new type of PKS module from the endofungal bacterium Burkholderia rhizoxinica that catalyses a Michael-type acetyl addition to generate a branch in the carbon chain. In vitro reconstitution of the entire PKS module, X-ray structures of a ketosynthase-branching didomain and mutagenesis experiments revealed a crucial role of the ketosynthase domain in branching the carbon chain. We present a trapped intermediary state in which acyl carrier protein and ketosynthase are covalently linked by the branched polyketide and suggest a new mechanism for chain alkylation, which is functionally distinct from terpenoid-like β-branching. For the rice seedling blight toxin rhizoxin, one of the strongest known anti-mitotic agents, the non-canonical polyketide modification is indispensable for phytotoxic and anti-tumoral activities. We propose that the formation of related pharmacophoric groups follows the same general scheme and infer a unifying vinylogous branching reaction for PKS modules with a ketosynthase-branching-acyl-carrier-protein architecture. This study unveils the structure and function of a new PKS module that broadens the biosynthetic scope of polyketide biosynthesis and sets the stage for rationally creating structural diversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hepatitis C viral infection (HCV) results in liver damage leading to inflammation and fibrosis of the liver and increasing rates of hepatic decompensation and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the host's immune response and viral determinants of liver disease progression are poorly understood. This review will address the determinants of liver injury in chronic HCV infection and the risk factors leading to rapid disease progression. We aim to better understand the factors that distinguish a relatively benign course of HCV from one with progression to cirrhosis. We will accomplish this task by discussion of three topics: (1) the role of cytokines in the adaptive immune response against the HCV infection; (2) the progression of fibrosis; and (3) the risk factors of co-morbidity with alcohol and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in HCV-infected individuals. Despite recent improvements in treating HCV infection using pegylated interferon alpha (PEGIFN-alpha) and ribavirin, about half of individuals infected with some genotypes, for example genotypes 1 and 4, will not respond to treatment or cannot be treated because of contraindications. This review will also aim to describe the importance of IFN-alpha-based therapies in HCV infection, ways of monitoring them, and associated complications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report a 13-year-old boy with refractory nephrotic syndrome (minimal change with mesangial proliferation) who failed the standard treatment protocols. There was some temporary response to large steroid doses, but even the Mendoza protocol could not induce remission. We show suppression of the proteinuria with Infliximab (Remicade) with tapering of steroids. Serial serum levels of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-a are shown and discussed. We suggest studying the TNF-a blocking agents as optional treatment for nephrotic syndrome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Variability can be an important strategic variable in a contest. We study optimal strategies involving choice of variability in contests with fixed and probabilistic targets, one-round and multiround contests, contests with and without handicaps, and situations where one contestant can modify variability as well as those in which all contestants have this opportunity. A contestant should maximize variability in a weak position (low mean, high handicap, or low previous performance) and minimize variability in a strong position. In some cases, only these extremes should be used. In other cases, intermediate levels of variability are optimal when the contestant's position is neither too weak nor too strong. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper synthesizes a number of papers in which the author has participated that all concern models in which several decision-makers, each modeled as a Bayesian, appear. The areas covered include amalgamation of opinion, treating expert opinion as data, simultaneous-move games and sequential decision processes. The aim of the paper is to review the central ideas, and to explore how they relate to one-another. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

By definition, the subjective probability distribution of a random event is revealed by the ('rational') subject's choice between bets - a view expressed by F. Ramsey, B. De Finetti, L. J. Savage and traceable to E. Borel and, it can be argued, to T. Bayes. Since hypotheses are not observable events, no bet can be made, and paid off, on a hypothesis. The subjective probability distribution of hypotheses (or of a parameter, as in the current 'Bayesian' statistical literature) is therefore a figure of speech, an 'as if', justifiable in the limit. Given a long sequence of previous observations, the subjective posterior probabilities of events still to be observed are derived by using a mathematical expression that would approximate the subjective probability distribution of hypotheses, if these could be bet on. This position was taken by most, but not all, respondents to a 'Round Robin' initiated by J. Marschak after M. H. De-Groot's talk on Stopping Rules presented at the UCLA Interdisciplinary Colloquium on Mathematics in Behavioral Sciences. Other participants: K. Borch, H. Chernoif, R. Dorfman, W. Edwards, T. S. Ferguson, G. Graves, K. Miyasawa, P. Randolph, L. J. Savage, R. Schlaifer, R. L. Winkler. Attention is also drawn to K. Borch's article in this issue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, we extend recent work on the inferential impact of errors in data to a decision-making selling. In the context of a simple quality-control example, we illustrate how errors can cause substantial reductions in the value of information from a sample and how uncertainty about error rates can lead to yet further reductions in EVSI. Moreover, we extend the notion of an equivalent error-free sample size (which indicates the reduction in effective sample size due to errors) from an inferential framework to a decision-making framework and find that as uncertainty about error-rate parameters increases, reductions in effective sample size arc even greater for a decision maker than the inferential measures suggest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, we develop a model that permits a decision maker's preferences to depend on the decision maker's ambiguity about the probability of an event that is relevant for decision-making purposes. We deal with ambiguity through preference modeling, with ambiguity leading to modifications in the utilities of outcomes. The behavior of ambiguity premiums and probability premiums as the payoffs are varied depends on the nature of the modifications in utilities. Particular forms of the model that arise under different sets of assumptions about preferences include additive, bilinear, and ratio forms. We conclude with a brief example and some thoughts about potential generalizations and implications of the model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The possible influence of ambiguity on decisions about probabilities has received considerable attention, with most modeling efforts focusing on the probabilities. In this article, it is argued that effects of ambiguity on decision making often operate via the decision maker's preferences rather than probabilities. Therefore, a natural way to model ambiguity is in terms of preferences, via the consequence space and utilities. Some difficulties in developing ambiguity-related models to encompass the full range of realistic decision-making problems and in implementing such models are discussed briefly. Finally, the question of whether ambiguity should matter prescriptively is addressed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mass spectrometry imaging (MSI) using laser ablation (LA) inductively coupled plasma (ICP) is an innovative and exciting methodology to perform highly sensitive elemental analyses. LA-ICP-MSI of metals, trace elements or isotopes in tissues has been applied to a range of biological samples. Several LA-ICP-MSI studies have shown that metals have a highly compartmentalized distribution in some organs, which might be altered in consequence of genetic diseases, intoxication, or malnutrition. Although metal imaging by LA-ICP-MSI is an established methodology, potential pitfalls in the determination of metal concentrations might result from erroneous calibration, standardization, and normalization. In addition, for simple display of final imaging results, most LA-ICP-MSI users prefer to process their measurements by commercial processing software. Such programs typically visualize the regional metal differences in colorful and vivid imaging maps, but might not represent the actual signal densities correctly. There is a great abundance of such MSI data processing programs available differing in quality, usability, integrated features, workflow, reliability, system requirements, speed of data processing, and price. Some software packages contain a multitude of features which are superfluous for most users. In contrast, often only few data formats are used, in case of commercial programs even only the instrument provider's own raw data format. Therefore, first time and average users are often confused and helpless in choosing the correct software for processing their data. Here we have briefly summarized software packages, data routines, macros, programming tools, scripts, algorithms, or self-written patches and updates for existing programs presently in use for mining LA-ICP-MSI data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]