Disclosed herein are methods for identifying one or more diseased cells in a subject. Some embodiments include providing a biological sample derived from a subject, analyzing the biological sample by mass spectrometry, and determining the abundance of one or more lipids in the biological sample, wherein an altered abundance of the one or more lipids in the biological sample, as compared to a reference level, indicates a presence of one or more diseased cells in the subject from which the biological sample is derived.

A method of analysis using mass and/or ion mobility spectrometry or ion mobility spectrometry is disclosed comprising: using a first device to generate aerosol, smoke or vapour from one or more regions of a first target of biological material; and el mass and/or ion mobility analysing and/or ion mobility analysing said aerosol, smoke, or vapour, or ions derived therefrom so as to obtain first spectrometric data. The method may use an ambient ionisation method.

An apparatus for performing ambient ionization mass and/or ion mobility spectrometry is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a substantially cylindrical, tubular, rod-shaped, coil-shaped, helical or spiral-shaped collision assembly; and a first device arranged and adapted to direct analyte, smoke, fumes, liquid, gas, surgical smoke, aerosol or vapor onto said collision assembly.

Provided herein are methods of detecting lipids in humans suspected of having cancer, in particular detecting lipids in samples from a human suspected of having breast or lung cancer.

An apparatus is disclosed comprising a first device for generating aerosol, smoke or vapour from one or more regions of a target, an inlet conduit to an ion analyser or mass spectrometer, the inlet conduit having an inlet through which the aerosol, smoke or vapour passes, and a Venturi pump arrangement arranged and adapted to direct the aerosol, smoke or vapour towards the inlet.

The disclosure provides methods for detecting and diagnosing diseases and conditions associated with defects in cardiolipin remodeling. In some embodiments, the present technology relates to methods for detecting the presence or amount of cardiolipin isoforms and/or the presence or amount of enzymes involved in cardiolipin remodeling.

The present invention relates to a method for the evaluation of binding affinity of biologically active substances for cardiolipin based on acridinium salt utilization as a fluorescent probe.

Methods are disclosed for treating ovarian tumors and ovarian and pancreatic cancers using computed and normalized relative ratios of plasma levels of phospholipids, particularly lysophosphatidylcholine, lysophosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine and sphingomyelin.

Provided herein are therapeutic methods for the treatment of exacerbations of inflammatory respiratory diseases, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), and asthma. In particular, the invention provides methods for patient selection, diagnosis, and treatment. Also provided herein are methods for preparing and analyzing lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) samples.

A method of analysis using mass spectrometry and/or ion mobility spectrometry is disclosed. The method comprises: using a first device to generate smoke, aerosol or vapour from a target comprising or consisting of a microbial population; mass analysing and/or ion mobility analysing said smoke, aerosol or vapour, or ions derived therefrom, in order to obtain spectrometric data; and analysing said spectrometric data in order to analyse said microbial population.