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In 30 healthy persons (control), 17 renal cell carcinoma (RCC) patients, 30 hemodialysis patients (HD) and 15 healthy persons in the Takko town (Aomori prefecture), the selenium concentration in serum was determined by PIXE. The mean serum selenium concentration in healthy controls was 1.4 ± 0.6 μmol/l, in RCC patients 1.1 ± 0.4 μmol/l, in HD patients 1.3 ± 0.9 μmol/l and in healthy persons in the Takko town 1.7 ± 0.7 μmol/l. There was a significant statistical difference between RCC patients and healthy persons in the Takko town (p < 0.05). Takko town is famous for the production of garlic. Epidemiological studies have established an inverse relationship between garlic consumption and incidence of gastric, colon, and laryngeal cancers. Garlic is a rich source of selenium in the food. Contents of selenium in normal and carcinoma fractions in kidneys of RCC patients were determined by PIXE. The results indicate that RCC patients caused significant decrease of selenium contents in the carcinoma fraction (p < 0.05).

Serum trace elements were analyzed by PIXE method in a patient with acute aortic dissection during the supportive process by a Nutrition support team (NST). The patient was a 53-year old male who suffered from acute aortic dissection on March 1, 2007. He received emergent Bentall operation and bow pars total displacement. Since he suffered from diarrhea as a result of hypoalbuminemia and bowel dysfunction, enteral nutrition was not sufficient to maintain adequate intake. Therefore, we also used parenteral nutrition until the 97th disease day. Afterwards, the patient managed only with enteral nutrition. We measured serum trace elements during these periods. Serum trace elements such as Fe, Zn and Se were preserved within normal ranges. On the other hand, Cu gradually decreased until the 54th disease day (44 μg/l) and stayed in the lower levels around the detection limit until the 109th disease day. Thereafter, Cu slightly increased and reached 117 μg/l on the 131st disease day (reference range of serum Cu in adult males: 700~1,300 μg/l). It was suggested that the serum levels of these trace elements might reflect the nutritional stages of the patient and could be useful as clinical markers for nutritional therapies.

Recently, Nutrition Support Teams (NSTs) has been spreading throughout Japan. Nutritional assessment is important as an initial step among NST activities, since the patients can be identified based on this assessment whether they needs supports by NST or not. Serum trace element is one of the most useful and convenient nutritional indices. The aim of this study is to analyze the relationships between serum trace element values and clinical backgrounds in NST patients by data mining. The subjects of this study consisted of 29 NST patients who were admitted to our hospital between January 2005 and October 2006. Serum trace elements in patients were analyzed by PIXE method. The data were analyzed by a data mining software, i.e. "ICONS Miner" (Koden Industry Co., Ltd.). The significant "if-then rules" were extracted from the decision trees. The target variable of the decision trees is whether nutritional conditions of the patients are improved or not (Yes/No). The explanatory variables of the decision trees are the values in serum trace elements (Fe, Cu, Zn, Se, Mn) and TTR (transthyretin). The analyses demonstrated that the first node of the decision tree was Zn. Therefore, serum Zn value might be the most significant factor among these trace elements in estimating the improvement of nutritional conditions of the patients. In the decision, the second branch was the Fe value, and the Cu the third. The following significant "If-then rules" were extracted from the decision trees.

If-then rule 1: If serum Zn value >758.6 µg/l, then improvement of nutritional condition = Y. (1.00 = 9/9)

If-then rule 2: If serum Zn value ≤758.6 µg/l and Fe ≤653.2 µg/l and Cu ≤682.5 µg/l, then improvement of nutritional condition = Y. (1.00 = 5/5)

If-then rule 3: If serum Zn value ≤758.6 µg/l and Fe ≤653.2 µg/l and Cu >682.5 µg/l and Se >119.8 µg/l, then improvement of nutritional condition = Y. (1.00 = 3/3)

In conclusion, data mining analysis of serum trace elements was found to be an effective method in assessing the nutritional conditions in NST patients.

Using PIXE we determined concentrations of iron, nickel, copper, zinc, selenium, and rubidium in sera of 24 patients with acute myocardial infarction and 12 healthy controls. Rubidium*, selenium*, zinc**, nickel** and iron** concentrations are significantly (P<0.001*, P<0.01**) lower for patients than for control subjects. No significant difference is observed in the copper content. However, there is a slight increase in copper content in the patients so that the ratios Cu/Rb, Cu/Se, Cu/Zn, Cu/Ni, Cu/Fe are significantly higher for the patients than for the control subjects (P<0.01).

Vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) is transiently expressed on vascular endothelial cells in response to cytokines. It plays a major role in the adhesion of leucocytes to the endothelium by interaction with its ligand VLA-4, a member of the β1 integrin family. We measured the serum concentration of the soluble VCAM-1 (sVCAM-1) in 114 patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and 37 normal controls by enzyme-linked immunoassay in comparison with trace element concentration. sVCAM-1 levels were markedly higher (mean± SD=833.2±328.9 ng/ml) in the sera of patients with AMI than in normal controls (mean±SD= 549.5±188.8 ng/ml, p<0.001). Using PIXE we also determined concentration of magnesium, manganese, iron, copper, zinc, selenium, and calcium in sera of 43 patients with AMI. There were no clear correlation between the sVCAM-1 concentration and the magnesium, manganese, copper, selenium. But there were significant correlation between the sVCAM-1 concentration and the zinc, calcium (p<0.05).

Vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) is transiently expressed on vascular endothelial cells in response to cytokines. It plays a major role in the adhesion of leucocytes to the endothelium by interaction with its ligand VLA-4, a member of the β1 integrin family.

We measured the serum concentration of the soluble VCAM-1 (sVCAM-1) in 114 patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and 37 normal controls by enzyme-linked immunoassay in comparison with trace element concentration. sVCAM-1 levels were markedly higher (mean ± SD=833.2 ± 328.9 ng/ml) in the sera of patients with AMI than in normal controls (mean ± SD= 549.5 ± 188.8 ng/ml, p<0.001). Using PIXE we also determined concentration of magnesium, manganese, iron, copper, zinc, selenium, and calcium in sera of 43 patients with AMI. There were no clear correlation between the sVCAM-1 concentration and the magnesium, manganese, copper, selenium, iron. But there were significant correlation between the sVCAM-1 concentration and the zinc, calcium (p<0.05).

It is not only important for maintenance and improvement of health, but also indispensable for diagnosis and remedy of diseases to make inquiries into the biological defence mechanisms. Yonezawa et al. came across an induction of yet unknown defence mechanism(s) in mice which acquired radioresistance two weeks after low dose X-irradiation with 0.5 Gy. The 30-day survival rate after midlethal X-irradiation of the mice significantly increased by the pre-irradiation, but contrary to the common knowledge on radiation protection, recovery of the blood cell counts of thrombocytes, leukocytes and erythrocytes were not stimulated by the pre-irradiation. This study was planned to find some keys to elucidate the mechanism for the acquired radioresistance. Metal ions are well known to be important for enzyme activities as well as for metabolisms. Eleven elements, Cl, K, Ca, Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, Se and Br were analysed in mice sera by PIXE.

It is important for maintenance and understanding of health to make inquiries into the biological defence mechanisms. Yonezawa et al. came across an induction of yet unknown defence mechanisms in mice which acquired two types of radioresistance (decrease in bone-marrow death rate after midlethal exposure): one occured 2 weeks after preirradiation with 0.3–0.5 Gy and the other 2 months after 0.05–0.10 Gy of X-rays. To elucidate the acquired radioresistance induced after preirradiation with 0.5 Gy (in a shorter time case). recovery of blood cell counts after sublethal irradiation were measured in mice of ICR strain. Contrary to the common knowledge on radiation protection. recovery of blood cell counts of thrombocytes. leukocytes and erythrocytes after sublethal irradiation were not stimulated by the preirradiation. This study was planned to find some keys to elucidate the mechanism for the acquired radioresistance. Eleven elements. Cl. K. Ca. Cr. Mn. Fe. Ni. Cu. Zn. Se and Br. were analysed clearly in mice sera by PIXE.

Yonezawa et al. found an induction of yet unknown defence mechanisms(s) in mice which acquired radioresistance two weeks after small dose X-irradiation of 50 cGy. This study here was planned to find some keys to elucidate mechanism of the acquired radioresistance. Metal ions are well known to be important for enzyme activities as well as for metabolisms. Elements from Na to S were analyzed in identical mice sera used previously for the analysis of other heavier eleven elements. The analysis shows that decreases in P and S concentrations on 10 days after the 2nd irradiation of 5.0 Gy are prevented together with potassium reported previously. Contrary, on the 15th day, P and S decrease much compared with the control.

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Comparative optical study of biofluids (serum, urine, hemodialysate) by concentration change of endogenous visible fluorescence substance (VFS) has been carried out. Biofluids were collected from chronic kidney diseases (CKD) patients (Pts) as well as from healthy controls (HCs). Excitation/emission spectra are similar for all samples of biofluids differing only in intensity, which is higher for CKD Pts. Strong similarity enables the study of given biofluids from a united physical platform, proposed earlier, i.e., as nanoparticles approach. Specific spectral redistribution of visible fluorescence (VF) intensity as a result of dilution is revealed. The concentration change of VFS by dilution of samples manifests in nonlinear dependences in the scales "VF intensity–concentration" for serum and urine and in perfect linearity for hemodialysate (HD). The latter fact can be used in monitoring of hemodialysis procedure.

This study aimed to explore the application of surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) in the rapid diagnosis of gastric cancer. The SERS spectra of 68 serum samples from gastric cancer patients and healthy volunteers were acquired. The characteristic ratio method (CRM) and principal component analysis (PCA) were used to differentiate gastric cancer serum from normal serum. Compared with healthy volunteers, the serum SERS intensity of gastric cancer patients was relatively high at 722cm${}^{-1}$, while it was relatively low at 588, 644, 861, 1008, 1235, 1397, 1445 and 1586cm${}^{-1}$. These results indicated that the relative content of nucleic acids in the serum of gastric cancer patients rises while the relative content of amino acids and carbohydrates decreases. In PCA, the sensitivity and specificity of discriminating gastric cancer were 94.1% and 94.1%, respectively, with the accuracy of 94.1%. Based on the intensity ratios of four characteristic peaks at 722, 861, 1008 and 1397cm${}^{-1}$, CRM presented the diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of 100% and 97.4%, respectively, and the accuracy of 98.5%. Therefore, the three peak intensity ratios of I${}_{722}$/I${}_{861}$, I${}_{722}$/I${}_{1008}$ and I${}_{722}$/I${}_{1397}$ can be considered as biological fingerprint information for gastric cancer diagnosis and can rapidly and directly reflect the physiological and pathological changes associated with gastric cancer development. This study provides an important basis and standards for the early diagnosis of gastric cancer.

Early diagnosis of liver cancer plays a significant role in reducing its high mortality. In this preliminary study, the feasibility of using serum surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) to identify liver cancer was studied. Serum samples were obtained from liver cancer patients and healthy controls. The differences between the SERS spectra of pre-operation and post-operation of liver cancer patients were also analyzed. The general shape and trend of SERS spectra of health control and liver cancer patients were similar. Multivariate analysis, e.g., PLS-SVM, might be useful for the discrimination of serum SERS spectra of pre-operation and post-operation.

Blood plays an important role in the clinical diagnosis and treatment, the analysis of blood will be of very important practical significance. Study shows that the UV absorption spectrum is of complex shape, there is more absorption peak in 200 to 300nm, it shows that there is a complex absorption phenomenon in blood group macromolecules; there is a degree of displacement of absorption peak to different samples; there is no significant correlation between absorbance at some a wavelength and blood fat concent, but random. Based on the evident correlation between serum UV absorption spectrum and blood fat concentration in the wave band of 265 to 282nm, a neural network model was built to forecast the blood fat concentration, and a relatively good prediction was obtained. It provides a new spectral test method of blood fat concentration.

The bactericidal effect of serum plays a key role in humoral defense against microbial pathogens. Lysozyme - cooperates with the complement system in the bactericidal action of serum. Serotype O48 Salmonella belongs to clinically important bacteria causing diarrhoea in infants and children. Our present results demonstrated that the most efficient killing of Salmonella O48 occurred when all components of normal bovine serum (NBS) cooperated with each other. It is very interesting that elimination of lysozyme from NBS by using bentonite significantly decreased the bactericidal activity of NBS against Salmonella O48 strain. The results of X-ray diffractometric studies suggested that apart from lysozyme, other components of serum were adsorbed on the bentonite particles.