An apparatus is disclosed including a tool comprising a first device for generating aerosol from a target, the first device being deployed through an opening in a tubing of the tool, wherein the tubing is provided with aspiration ports or fenestrations such that the generated aerosol is aspirated into the tubing via the aspiration ports or fenestrations. The aspirated aerosol is then transferred to a mass spectrometer for subsequent mass analysis.

The present invention relates to methods of determining if a subject has an increased risk of suffering from memory impairment. The methods comprise analyzing at least one plasma sample from the subject to determine a value of the subject's meta-bolite profile and comparing the value of the subject's metabolite profile with the value of a normal metabolite profile. A change in the value of the subject's metabolite profile, over normal values is indicative that the subject has an increased risk of suffering from memory impairment compared to a normal individual.

A method is disclosed comprising obtaining or acquiring chemical or other non-mass spectrometric data from one or more regions of a target (2) using a chemical sensor (20). The chemical or other non-mass spectrometric data may be used to determine one or more regions of interest of the target (2). An ambient ionisation ion source 1 may then be used to generate aerosol, smoke or vapour (5) from one or more regions of the target (2).

The field of extracellular vesicles (EVs) currently attracts substantial attention in biomedicine due to the proposed role of EVs in various biological processes and their potential of serving as biomarkers for diseases. However, the availability of approaches for reliable and reproducible standardised quantification of EVs is limited. Therefore, current interest in EV research urges reliable tools of standardization and accurate enumeration of EVs, preferably on the basis of lipid quantification. By definition, EVs are surrounded by phospholipid bilayers, therefore, lipids (such as phospholipids and cholesterol) are essential components of all EVs. The method of the invention avoids the overestimation of EV concentration based on the protein measurement, as it focuses on the defining component of EVs, the lipid bilayer. Our method can be used virtually in any standard laboratories where a fume hood, a thermoblock, and a spectrophotometer are available. The application does not require expensive equipment, therefore it can be an easy, reliable and quick method for quantification of EVs and standardisation of EV experiments.

The present invention inter alia provides a method, and use thereof, of predicting severe CVD complications such as AMI or CVD death by detecting the lipid concentrations or lipid ratios of a biological sample and comparing it to a control and has identified specific lipid markers that are more specific and sensitive in predicting these CVD complications than currently utilized clinical markers. Also provided is an antibodies towards said lipids, and the use thereof for predicting, diagnosing, preventing and/or treating CVD complications. The invention additionally relates to kits comprising lipids and/or an antibody thereto, for use in the prediction and/or diagnosis of CVD complications.

Biomarkers of pancreatic cancer are described, as well as methods using these compounds for detecting pancreatic cancer. The methods can be used to diagnose a patient's health state, or change in health state, or for diagnosing risk of developing or the presence of pancreatic cancer. The method comprises analyzing a sample from a patient to obtain quantifying data for one or more than one of the metabolite markers; comparing the quantifying data to corresponding data obtained for one or more than one reference sample to identify abnormalities in the level of the metabolite marker(s) in the sample; and making a diagnosis if an abnormality is observed. Standards and kits for carrying out the method are also described.

Provided in the present invention are a magnetic nanosphere coated with modified cardiolipin, and manufacturing method thereof. The magnetic nanosphere coated with modified cardiolipin comprises a modified cardiolipin, a biotin derivative, and a streptavidin magnetic bead. The modified cardiolipin is coupled to the biotin derivative via an —NH—CO structure. The streptavidin magnetic bead is a magnetic nanosphere coupled to streptavidin, and the biotin derivative is coupled to the streptavidin.

An apparatus for performing ambient ionisation 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 vapour onto said collision assembly.

Methods of determining suitability of a subject to treatment with an agent that reduces localized inflammation and for converting an unsuitable subject to a suitable one are provided. Kits comprising molecules for doing same are also provided.

A method is disclosed comprising obtaining physical or other non-mass spectrometric data from one or more regions of a target using a probe. The physical or other non-mass spectrometric data may be used to determine one or more regions of interest of the target. An ambient ionisation ion source may then used to generate an aerosol, smoke or vapour from one or more regions of the target.