title: Matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization/time-of-flight mass spectrometry for clinical diagnosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization/time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry is known as an extremely sensitive analytical tool for characterizing different types of biological compounds including proteins, peptides and lipids. Since MALDI-TOF analysis requires very simple sample pretreatment, the technique can be used for rapidly detecting biochemical compounds serving as disease biomarkers.
  
  
  RESULTS
  This mini-review focuses on the applications of MALDI-TOF in the detection of potential disease biomarkers in various biological samples.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The potential disease biomarkers are mostly abundant proteins, peptides, or lipids including: albumin; hemoglobin; α-defensins; trimethylamine; phospholipids; and glycated α- and β-globin, which are indicators of albuminuria; fecal occult blood and ischemic stroke; dry eye disease and/or aging; trimethylaniuria; breast cancer; and diabetes, respectively.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cosmetic Applications and Management, Yuh-Ing Junior College of Health Care & Management, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Yi-Tzu
authors.initials: YT
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: Hung
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Su
authors.forename: Tiao-Lai
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Hung-Chun
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Wen-Jeng
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Pei-Chang
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Deng-Chyang
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Jentaie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Shiea
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging / Q000378:metabolism; D000419:Albuminuria / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism; D015352:Dry Eye Syndromes / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism; D005243:Feces / Q000737:chemistry; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008055:Lipids / Q000032:analysis; D009780:Occult Blood; D011506:Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D019032:Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D020521:Stroke / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism; D014020:Tissue Extracts / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D008055:Lipids; D011506:Proteins; D014020:Tissue Extracts