<p><strong>Jiří Nováček, a researcher and the deputy director for research infrastructure at CEITEC Masaryk University, shares insights into his journey with Brnoregion Microscopy. Sparked by a conversation with Jan Neuman, Nováček saw the potential of integrating Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) into life-science electron microscopy. Today, he plays an active role in the community, collaborating with colleagues to enhance educational initiatives.&nbsp;</strong></p><h4><strong>How did you become involved with Brnoregion Microscopy?</strong></h4><p>My involvement with Brnoregion Microscopy began through my interaction with <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://brnoregion.com/en/news/people-of-brnoregion-microscopy-jan-neuman-nenovis">Jan Neuman</a>. We were discussing the potential applications of their integrated Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) module in the field of life-science electron microscopy. I was immediately intrigued by the idea of forming a microscopy community and saw great potential in it. Jan's vision of fostering stronger local connections among colleagues with complementary expertise resonated with me. This alignment of interests and the shared goal of advancing our understanding and capabilities in microscopy made me eager to join and contribute to the community.&nbsp;</p><h4><strong>What role do you play in the community?</strong></h4><p>Currently, I am an active member of the Community working group within Brnoregion Microscopy. In this role, I collaborate closely with Tomáš Vystavěl from Thermo Fischer Scientific on various educational initiatives. Our focus is on enhancing the educational aspects of the Microscopy community, looking for opportunities for deepening the knowledge and skills in the area of microscopy in our region. It's a rewarding experience to be part of a team that is dedicated to fostering learning and innovation in this field.&nbsp;</p><h4><strong>What benefits does it bring to you?</strong></h4><p>Being part of the Microscopy community has been incredibly enriching for me. It provides a platform for continuous learning and exposure to the latest advancements in microscopy technology and techniques. Working together stimulates new ideas and approaches, which are key to our ongoing development. Additionally, it offers the opportunity to network with experts and peers, opening doors to potential collaborations and projects. That’s how it works in our local innovation ecosystem… &nbsp;</p><h4><strong>Do you have any message for the community?</strong></h4><p>Whether you're already involved or just curious, join the upcoming <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://brnoregion.com/en/events/120-seconds-meet-brnoregion-microscopy-24-11">120 seconds: Meet Brnoregion Microscopy</a> event. It's a fantastic opportunity to see first-hand how the Microscopy community can benefit you. These events are designed to showcase the practical applications of microscopy and the innovative work being done by our members.&nbsp;</p>

People of Brnoregion Microscopy: Jiří Nováček (CEITEC MUNI)

<p><strong>In the week from January 20, the following webinars await you in the field of atomic and molecular spectroscopy and spectrometry</strong></p><blockquote><p><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/webinars"><strong>👉 DETAILS AND REGISTRATION IN THE WEBINARS SECTION</strong></a></p><p><strong>👉 Search and filter in the largest global database</strong> with over <strong>4 000 GC, LC, MS and spectroscopy webinars</strong>.</p></blockquote><h5><strong>1. Anton Paar: Fundamentals of Scratch</strong></h5><div><div><ul><li><div>Tu, 21.1.2025 20:00 CET</div></li><li><div><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/webinar/4449">Registration</a></div></li></ul></div><p>This webinar provides a thorough introduction to the theory and practice of instrumented scratch testing, a critical method for evaluating the mechanical properties of materials under stress.</p></div><h5><strong>2.&nbsp;Mettler-Toledo: Advanced Inspection of Canned Goods with X-ray Inspection</strong></h5><div><div><ul><li><div>We, 22.1.2025 09:00 CET</div></li><li><div><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/webinar/4658">Registration</a></div></li></ul></div><p>Join our webinar to discover the wide range of benefits that x-ray inspection offers canned applications - including advanced detection capabilities and integrity and completeness checks.</p></div><h5><strong>3.&nbsp;Bruker: Nanoscale Chemical Characterization of Semiconductor Materials and Devices using Photothermal AFM-IR</strong></h5><div><div><ul><li><div>We, 22.1.2025 17:00 CET</div></li><li><div><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/webinar/4681">Registration</a></div></li></ul></div><p>In this webinar, Bruker nanoscale IR spectroscopy experts show how photothermal AFM-IR can identify the local chemistry of defects.</p></div><h5><strong>4.&nbsp;Agilent Technologies: Using LDIR for Advanced Microplastics Characterization</strong></h5><div><div><ul><li><div>Th, 23.1.2025 09:00 CET</div></li><li><div><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/webinar/4683">Registration</a></div></li></ul></div><p>This session will highlight the advanced features of LDIR technology and its critical applications in analyzing microplastics within various matrices.</p></div><h5><strong>5.&nbsp;LECO: Optimization of Combustion Methods for Determination of Low-Level Nitrogen-Protein in Food</strong></h5><div><div><ul><li><div>Th, 23.1.2025 16:00 CET</div></li><li><div><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/webinar/4686">Registration</a></div></li></ul></div><p>In this webinar, Lloyd Allen, Ph.D., LECO's Director of the Technical Services Laboratory, will share practical insights on overcoming challenges using advanced combustion instruments.</p></div><h5><strong>6.&nbsp;Agilent Technologies: Different Cones / Nebulizers / Sample Introduction Systems .. Where and When to Use them</strong></h5><div><div><ul><li><div>Th, 23.1.2025 20:00 CET</div></li><li><div><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/webinar/4546">Registration</a></div></li></ul></div><p>Different Cones / Nebulizers / Sample Introduction Systems .. Where and When to Use them</p></div>

Webinars LabRulezICPMS Week 4/2025

<p><strong>The goal of this study is to advance molecular epidemiology by integrating and analyzing large-scale population data from two complementary platforms: quantitative NMR spectroscopy for 209 lipoprotein measures and LC-MS/MS for 809 lipid classes and species. Together, these datasets encompass 1018 molecular measures across 7830 participants from two population cohorts. The study aims to elucidate the molecular and compositional relationships within the circulatory lipid transport system and their connections to physiological and clinical characteristics.</strong></p><p>Through cluster analyses and unsupervised neural network techniques (self-organizing maps), the study identifies inherent links between deep molecular data and population health traits, including cardiometabolic risk factors such as lipoprotein lipids, apolipoprotein B, ceramides, and oxidized lipids. Notable findings include the consistent cardiometabolic risk associations of triglyceride species across the lipoprotein cascade and the intricate metabolic profiles of cholesteryl ester species, which vary in their risk implications. This work highlights the unprecedented detail and compatibility of combined omics methodologies, paving the way for comprehensive molecular insights and new opportunities in large-scale population health studies.</p><blockquote><h4><strong>The original article</strong></h4><h4><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.analchem.4c03229"><strong>Personalized Profiling of Lipoprotein and Lipid Metabolism Based on 1018 Measures from Combined Quantitative NMR and LC-MS/MS Platforms</strong></a></h4><p>Siyu Zhao, Corey Giles, Kevin Huynh, Johannes Kettunen, Marjo-Riitta Järvelin, Mika Kähönen, Jorma Viikari, Terho Lehtimäki, Olli T. Raitakari, Peter J. Meikle, Ville-Petteri Mäkinen, Mika Ala-Korpela</p><p>Analytical Chemistry, Vol 96/Issue 52</p><p><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.analchem.4c03229">https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.analchem.4c03229</a></p><h6>licensed under <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"><strong>CC-BY 4.0</strong></a></h6></blockquote><p>&nbsp;</p><p class="cke-user_style-important"><strong>Selected sections from the article follow. Formats and hyperlinks were adapted from the original.</strong></p><h3><strong>Abstract</strong></h3><p>Applications of advanced omics methodologies are increasingly popular in biomedicine. However, large-scale studies aiming at clinical translation are typically siloed to single technologies. Here, we present the first comprehensive large-scale population data combining 209 lipoprotein measures from a quantitative NMR spectroscopy platform and 809 lipid classes and species from a quantitative LC-MS/MS platform. These data with 1018 molecular measures were analyzed in two population cohorts totaling 7830 participants. The association and cluster analyses revealed excellent coherence between the methodologically independent data domains and confirmed their quantitative compatibility and suitability for large-scale studies. The analyses elucidated the detailed molecular characteristics of the heterogeneous circulatory macromolecular lipid transport system and the underlying structural and compositional relationships. Unsupervised neural network analysis─the so-called self-organizing maps (SOMs)─revealed that these deep molecular and metabolic data are inherently related to key physiological and clinical population characteristics. The data-driven population subgroups uncovered marked differences in the population distribution of multiple cardiometabolic risk factors. These include, e.g., multiple lipoprotein lipids, apolipoprotein B, ceramides, and oxidized lipids. All 79 structurally unique triglyceride species showed similar associations over the entire lipoprotein cascade and indicated systematically increased risk for carotid intima media thickening and other atherosclerosis risk factors, including obesity and inflammation. The metabolic attributes for 27 individual cholesteryl ester species, which formed six distinct clusters, were more intricate with associations both with higher─e.g., CE(16:1)─and lower─e.g., CE(20:4)─cardiometabolic risk. The molecular details provided by these combined data are unprecedented for molecular epidemiology and demonstrate a new potential avenue for population studies.</p><p>Lipoprotein lipids have had a central role in clinical risk assessment for cardiometabolic diseases since the 1950s. <a href="javascript:void(0);" aria-label="reference 1">(1)</a> The realization that <sup>1</sup>H NMR spectroscopy would be inherently suited for lipoprotein analytics took place in the early 1990s. <a href="javascript:void(0);" aria-label="reference 2">(2)</a> In addition to the fundamental advantages of <sup>1</sup>H NMR spectroscopy in producing quantitative data, the spherical monolayered structure of lipoprotein particles provides a compelling attribute that the chemical shifts of lipid molecules transported by these particles are dependent on the particle diameter. This phenomenon arises from the orientational order of the surface lipids and the resulting anisotropy of the magnetic susceptibility, and leads to distinctive particle size-dependent frequency shifts. This facilitates comprehensive lipoprotein analytics that is pertinent to the metabolic constituents of the lipoprotein cascade. Practical applications and statistical considerations have indicated that 14 lipoprotein subclasses and their main lipid constituents can be robustly quantified. <a href="javascript:void(0);" aria-label="reference 3 and 4">(3,4)</a> Multiple commercial methodologies have also been developed. <a href="javascript:void(0);" aria-label="reference 5 to 7">(5−7)</a> Here we applied a platform that has been widely applied in large-scale epidemiology and genetics over the last 15 years with some 500 publications and 2 M samples analyzed, including all the 0.5 M serum samples in the UK Biobank. <a href="javascript:void(0);" aria-label="reference 3, 5 and 8">(3,5,8)</a> This particular platform has also played a key role in yielding open access genetic data, with the most recent genome-wide association study meta-analysis being carried out in 136,000 individuals. <a href="javascript:void(0);" aria-label="reference 9">(9)</a></p><p>Mass spectrometry based lipidomics methodologies have been developed independent of the above and are technologically more challenging than the applications of <sup>1</sup>H NMR spectroscopy. <a href="javascript:void(0);" aria-label="reference 10 to 12">(10−12)</a> Nevertheless, epidemiological applications have become feasible over the recent years and clinical translation has been suggested, for example, with respect to assessing cardiometabolic risk <a href="javascript:void(0);" aria-label="reference 13 and 14">(13,14)</a> and cognitive impairment. <a href="javascript:void(0);" aria-label="reference 15">(15)</a> Initial genetic studies have also been published. <a href="javascript:void(0);" aria-label="reference 16 and 17">(16,17)</a></p><p>The NMR spectroscopy and MS lipidomics approaches to lipid characterization and quantification are fundamentally different (<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.analchem.4c03229#fig1" data-tab="pane-pcw-Figures" id="">Figure 1</a>). In NMR the serum sample is directly analyzed with the lipoprotein particles intact; this allows quantification of the comprehensive and specific data on the lipoprotein subclasses and lipids. <a href="javascript:void(0);" aria-label="reference 18">(18)</a> Unlike NMR, LC-MS/MS lipidomics calls for lipid extraction of the serum samples as an integral prerequisite for the analyses. <a href="javascript:void(0);" aria-label="reference 19">(19)</a> The lipidomics sample preparations thus represent pooled mixtures of all the lipid molecules from all the circulating lipoprotein particles. All the information from the specific lipoprotein origin of a certain lipid in the circulation is lost in the extraction phase. However, with LC-MS/MS hundreds of unique lipid species can be analyzed from dozens of different molecular lipid classes. <a href="javascript:void(0);" aria-label="reference 12 and 20">(12,20)</a></p><p><img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/Anal_Chem_2024_96_52_20362_20370_Figure_1_Schematic_illustration_of_the_methodological_differences_and_analytical_characteristics_between_1_H_NMR_and_LC_MSMS_lipidomics_and_their_molecular_views_into_serum_b9907a5e30.jpeg" alt="Anal. Chem. 2024, 96, 52, 20362-20370: Figure 1. Schematic illustration of the methodological differences and analytical characteristics between 1H NMR and LC-MS/MS lipidomics and their molecular views into serum lipids. (A) The lipoprotein analysis with NMR is performed directly from the intact serum sample. (B) For the LC-MS/MS analysis all the lipids need to be extracted to a homogeneous lipid-soluble mixture. This allows LC-MS/MS to reach detailed molecular quantification, however, as a total serum concentration without any information on the originating lipoproteins. (C,D) The NMR analysis gives molecular information on 14 lipoprotein subclasses with the abundant core and surface lipids quantified. The percentages depict the compositional variation of these lipids in different lipoprotein particles." srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_Anal_Chem_2024_96_52_20362_20370_Figure_1_Schematic_illustration_of_the_methodological_differences_and_analytical_characteristics_between_1_H_NMR_and_LC_MSMS_lipidomics_and_their_molecular_views_into_serum_b9907a5e30.jpeg 192w," sizes="100vw" width="947" height="771"></p><p>Lipoprotein particles are the sole transport vehicles for all lipid molecules in serum, <a href="javascript:void(0);" aria-label="reference 18, 21 and 22">(18,21,22)</a> though albumin contains the bulk of free fatty acids and acylcarnitines, and transports also various lyso-type of lipid molecules. <a href="javascript:void(0);" aria-label="reference 23 and 24">(23,24)</a> The NMR and the LC-MS/MS data on serum essentially represent the same lipids as noted by Ghorasaini et al. <a href="javascript:void(0);" aria-label="reference 25">(25)</a> The NMR provides the size-resolution and metabolic information on lipoprotein particles (209 measures) and the LC-MS/MS lipidomics opens up a prolific and detailed molecular view on all the circulating lipids (809 measures).</p><p>These different methodologies and molecular views to study serum lipids have independently advanced toward large-scale population studies. Here, we integrate these state-of-the-art data─over 1000 quantitative molecular lipid measures per individual─in two large-scale population cohorts of over 7800 participants. These data reveal the fundamental relationships between the lipoprotein subclass cascade and metabolism (NMR) and the plethora of specific molecular information (LC-MS/MS). The molecular and metabolic corollaries are numerous, and we elaborate on some pertinent findings. Among the various analyses we also demonstrate the admirable coherence within the independent experiments and data domains. It is also uncovered─via data-driven, unsupervised neural network analysis─that these molecular lipid measures per se can be utilized for metabolically and clinically meaningful subgrouping of populations. The results illustrate that these combined comprehensive data lead to improved molecular characterization of population-level metabolic health and cardiometabolic risk.</p><h3><strong>Materials and Methods</strong></h3><h5><strong><sup>1</sup>H NMR Spectroscopy</strong></h5><p>We applied an NMR platform that has been widely used in epidemiology and for which the general methodological issues have been published. <a href="javascript:void(0);" aria-label="reference 3, 5, 8, 9 and 18">(3,5,8,9,18)</a> The separation of lipoprotein subclasses by proton NMR spectroscopy is based on particle size, <a href="javascript:void(0);" aria-label="reference 2">(2)</a> the platform resolution being 14 subclasses (<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.analchem.4c03229#fig2" data-tab="pane-pcw-Figures" id="">Figure 2</a>). <a href="javascript:void(0);" aria-label="reference 3 and 18">(3,18)</a> Independent verification for the number of subclasses has been published by Mihaleva and co-workers with an in-depth handling of statistical grounds. <a href="javascript:void(0);" aria-label="reference 4">(4)</a> Particle (P), phospholipid (PL), free cholesterol (FC), cholesteryl ester (CE), and triglyceride (TG) concentrations are quantified for all 14 subclasses, also allowing calculation of the relative lipid composition for each lipoprotein subclass. The platform also provides all key clinically used lipid measures (e.g., total TG, cholesterol, and HDL-C) as well as apolipoprotein B (apoB) and A-I (apoA-I) concentrations. In total 209 lipoprotein-related measures were analyzed (98 concentration and 70 compositional measures from 14 lipoprotein subclasses, 19 clinical lipid measures, and 22 measures related to fatty acids, average particle sizes, and apoA-I and apoB).</p><h5><strong>LC-MS/MS Mass Spectrometry</strong></h5><p>Serum lipids were extracted as previously described. <a href="javascript:void(0);" aria-label="reference 19">(19)</a> The LC-MS/MS profiling was performed using the standardized methodology described recently by Huynh et al. <a href="javascript:void(0);" aria-label="reference 12">(12)</a> and updated with a larger set of targets. The mass spectrometric details and parameters are given in the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://pubs.acs.org/doi/suppl/10.1021/acs.analchem.4c03229/suppl_file/ac4c03229_si_001.pdf">Supporting Information</a>.</p><h3><strong>Conclusions</strong></h3><p>The presented combination of lipoprotein and lipid data from NMR spectroscopy and LC-MS/MS lipidomics led to an unprecedented metabolic and molecular detail with over 1000 measures per person in a population setting of over 7800 individuals. The analyses demonstrated notable coherence between the data from inherently different spectroscopic techniques. The data-driven analyses revealed multiple confirmatory and novel molecular results in relation to systemic lipid metabolism and illustrated the power of all-inclusive lipid data in understanding cardiometabolic population health, related clinical factors, and disease risk. The analyses emphasized the augmented value of interpreting lipidomics data (deep molecular phenotyping) together with lipoprotein data (deep metabolic phenotyping) and association heatmaps between all the lipidomics measures and the key measures characterizing lipoprotein subclass metabolism are provided. These unique motifs are useful as guidelines for the key lipoprotein mediators for various lipidomics associations in biomedical studies when comprehensive lipoprotein profiles are not available.</p>

Personalized Profiling of Lipoprotein and Lipid Metabolism Based on 1018 Measures from Combined Quantitative NMR and LC-MS/MS Platforms

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Since its establishment in 2011, CEITEC has quickly developed into a cutting-edge infrastructure for research which performs highly alongside the best institutes in Europe. Among the main priorities of CEITEC are the promotion of a motivating and dynamic international scientific environment, the provision of state-of-the-art research infrastructure, and the policy of open communication and equal opportunities.

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<p><strong>Learn about how the Thermo Scientific™ Element GD Plus™ GD-MS redefines the analysis of advanced high purity materials in solid state. We will demonstrate why the high through-put, extra low ppb level detection limits and the newly released CNO option of the Element GD Plus GD-MS makes it the most convenient and powerful tool for bulk metal analysis and depth profiling in routine and research applications.</strong></p>
<p>Learning points:</p>
<ul>
<li>Benefits of the Element GD Plus GD-MS for bulk metal analysis</li>
<li>CNO option for low detection limits of carbon, nitrogen and oxygen</li>
<li>Example applications, including:<ul>
<li>ultratrace impurity analysis in high purity copper for electronics manufacturing</li>
<li>elemental depth profiling of silicon wafers and battery components</li>
<li>elemental analysis of nickel super alloys for aerospace engineering</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p>Who should attend:</p>
<ul>
<li>Scientists interested in trace elemental analysis</li>
<li>Clean laboratories analyzing high purity samples</li>
<li>Customers interested in elemental depth profiling in solid samples</li>
</ul>
<blockquote>
<p><strong>Presenter:</strong> Dr. Hauke Vollstaedt (Product Manager (Element GD Plus GD-MS), Thermo Fisher Scientific)</p>
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
<p>Hauke joined Thermo Fisher Scientific in 2017. He is a geologist by training, completed his Ph.D. at the GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel researching on marine isotope geochemistry and went to the University of Bern to work in the field of cosmochemistry as a post-doc. Within Thermo Fisher Scientific Hauke works as a Product Manager within the Inorganic Mass Spectrometry group.</p>
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
<p><strong>Presenter:</strong> Dr. Torsten Lindemann, Product Specialist (Element GD Plus GD-MS), Thermo Fisher Scientific)</p>
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
<p>Torsten in an analytical chemist and joined Thermo Fisher Scientific in 2002. He received his Ph.D. at GKSS Research Centre in Geesthacht in cooperation with the University of Hamburg, researching in the field of speciation analysis. He was a post-doc at Trent University, Canada, funded by the German Research Foundation, to identify new selenium species. Within Thermo Fisher Scientific he started as an Application Specialist for the Element 2 ICP-MS, and is now a Product Specialist for the Element GD Plus.</p>
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
<p><strong>Presenter:</strong> Dr. Jenny Roberts (Senior Product Marketing Specialist, Thermo Fisher Scientific)</p>
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
<p>Jenny is an earth scientist by training with a background in isotope geochemistry. She completed her Ph.D. at the University of Cambridge and went on to do a post-doc at the Alfred-Wegener Institute. She joined Thermo Fisher Scientific in 2018 where she has performed a number of different roles, most recently as Product Marketing for the Inorganic Mass Spectrometry group.</p>
</blockquote>


Thermo Scientific: Rapid trace elemental analysis of high purity solid samples

Rapid trace elemental analysis of high purity solid samples

Learn about how the Thermo Scientific Element GD Plus GD-MS redefines the analysis of advanced high purity materials in solid state.

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Rapid trace elemental analysis of high purity solid samples

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Personalized Profiling of Lipoprotein and Lipid Metabolism Based on 1018 Measures from Combined Quantitative NMR and LC-MS/MS Platforms

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