Method for providing information for diagnosing thyroid disorder

Abstract

To provide a technique of supporting observations of a thyroid disorder by analyzing ingredients in hairs.SOLUTION: The method for providing information to diagnose a thyroid disorder includes: a preparation step of cleaning, by a surfactant, a sample group formed of a plurality of hair samples collected according to the distance from the scalp of a subject, drying the sample group, and preparing a sample group for analyzing a mineral component; and providing the result of analyzing the mineral component in each sample as an index of the thyroid disorder.SELECTED DRAWING: None

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for providing information for the diagnosis of thyroid disease. [Background technology]

[0002] There is a known technology for predicting or diagnosing health conditions or diseases by detecting specific biocomponents contained in blood, tissues, etc. collected from a living body as indicators of health or disease (biomarkers) using a mass spectrometer (MS). Mineral components among such biocomponents are essential to the living body as raw materials for constituting cells and tissues, and as components for maintaining and regulating the functions of the living body. Therefore, when an abnormality occurs in the living body, the amount of mineral components in the living body may change. Using this, there is a known technology for using mineral components in the living body as indicators of various diseases.

[0003] Patent Documents 1 and 2 describe techniques for detecting cancer using the concentration of mineral components in hair. In the technique described in Patent Document 1, cancer is detected using the concentration of mineral components in hair and the age and sex of the subject as indicators. In the technique described in Patent Document 2, the possibility of the presence of cancer is determined by comparing the relationship between the concentrations of multiple elements contained in hair with standard values. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] JP 2011-47715 A [Patent Document 2] JP 2013-221866 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] In the techniques described in Patent Documents 1 and 2, cancer is detected by combining the mineral component concentration in hair with other indicators, and various information other than the mineral component concentration must be obtained. In addition, the techniques described in Patent Documents 1 and 2 are aimed at detecting cancer based on the mineral component concentration in hair, and it is difficult to apply them directly to other diseases. Therefore, it would be useful if there was a technique that could detect other diseases by analyzing the components in hair. Furthermore, it would be particularly useful if it could not only diagnose whether or not a patient has a disease, but also observe the progress of the disease, such as the effect of treatment.

[0006] One aspect of the present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and aims to realize a technology that supports the monitoring of the progress of thyroid disease by analyzing components in hair. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] In order to solve the above problems, one embodiment of the present invention provides a method for providing information for diagnosing thyroid disease, which includes a preparation step of washing a sample group consisting of multiple samples obtained by dividing hair obtained from a subject into groups based on distance from the scalp with a surfactant and then drying the sample group for mineral component analysis, and a providing step of providing the analysis results of the mineral components contained in each of the multiple samples as an indicator of thyroid disease. Effect of the Invention

[0008] According to one aspect of the present invention, a technology can be realized that supports the progress monitoring of thyroid disease by analyzing components in hair. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing the results of an analysis of various mineral components extracted from hair in an example, comparing subjects who were not affected by thyroid disease with subjects who were affected by thyroid disease. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0010] One aspect of the present invention relates to a method for providing information for diagnosing thyroid disease (hereinafter, also referred to as the present providing method). The present providing method includes a preparation step of preparing a sample group for mineral component analysis by washing a sample group consisting of a plurality of samples obtained by dividing hair obtained from a subject by distance from the scalp with a surfactant and drying the sample group, and a providing step of providing the analysis results of the mineral components contained in each of the plurality of samples as an index of thyroid disease. The present inventors have found that the amount of mineral components in hair differs between healthy subjects and those suffering from thyroid disease, and that the progress of thyroid disease can be monitored from the amount of mineral components in hair at each distance from the scalp, and have completed the present invention.

[0011] According to one aspect of the present invention, by providing the results of measuring the amount of mineral components in hair at each distance from the scalp as an index showing the progress of thyroid disease, it is possible to detect the change over time of the stage of thyroid disease, such as from onset to cure, and to support the follow-up of thyroid disease. According to one aspect of the present invention, it is possible to support the diagnosis and follow-up of thyroid disease based only on the information on the amount of mineral components in hair.

[0012] In one embodiment of the present invention, thyroid diseases for which diagnosis is supported include thyrotoxicosis and hypothyroidism, which are thyroid dysfunction disorders, and examples thereof include Graves' disease and Hashimoto's disease.

[0013] (Specimen) The sample used in the present provision method may be a sample collected or prepared from a human or animal. The sample may be hair, including head hair and body hair. Hair may also include the hair shaft portion outside the skin and the hair root portion inside the skin, as well as the parts involved in hair production, such as the hair root sheath and hair matrix that are present around the hair root within the hair follicle (or hair follicle).

[0014] (preparation process) In the preparation step, a specimen to be analyzed is prepared. In the preparation step, a pretreatment is performed on hair obtained from a subject before the hair is subjected to analysis. In the preparation step, the hair obtained from the subject is washed with a surfactant and then dried to prepare a specimen for analysis of mineral components.

[0015] In the preparation step, the surfactant used to wash the hair obtained from the subject is, for example, SDS. In addition, in the preparation step, the hair may be washed using methanol, acetone, isopropanol, or the like.

[0016] In the preparation step, the hair obtained from the subject is divided according to the distance from the scalp, and a sample group consisting of a plurality of samples is prepared. In the preparation step, as an example, the length of the hair that has grown from the date of starting treatment for thyroid disease to the date of collection is calculated, and the collected hair is divided based on a position that is that length away from the scalp, and a sample group consisting of each sample is prepared. In the preparation step, the hair may be cut at a position that corresponds to the period from the date of collection, taking into account the length that the hair grows in one month, and a plurality of samples may be prepared for each period.

[0017] In the preparation step, the hair contained in each of the multiple samples contained in the sample group is cut to, for example, 0.5 cm or more and 1.5 cm or less; 0.5 cm or more and 1.2 cm or less; or 0.5 cm or more and 1.0 cm or less, and washed. The hair may be cut after washing or drying. The washing time of the hair in the preparation step may be, for example, 1 minute or more and 10 minutes or less; 3 minutes or more and 8 minutes or less; or 4 minutes or more and 6 minutes or less. The hair after washing with the surfactant may be further washed with water to wash away the surfactant.

[0018] In the preparation step, the washed hair may be dried at room temperature, or may be dried by heating at a temperature of 20° C. or more and 80° C. or less. When drying the hair at room temperature, the drying time can be appropriately set, but the hair may be dried overnight.

[0019] In the preparation step, washed and dried hair is prepared as a sample for analysis of mineral components. The amount of hair in each of the samples included in the sample group may be 2 mg or more and 10 mg or less, for example, 2 mg or more and 8 mg or less; or 2 mg or more and 5 mg or less. After weighing the hair, the sample is subjected to analysis of mineral components.

[0020] The mineral components analyzed in the specimen are mineral components contained in the specimen, and for example, at least one component selected from the group consisting of cadmium, molybdenum, magnesium, and iodine. As shown in the examples described below, the amount of these mineral components contained in hair differs between healthy people and people suffering from thyroid disease. In addition, the amount of these mineral components contained in hair may differ depending on the position in the length direction from the scalp side to the tip of the hair.

[0021] (Providing process) In the providing step, the results of an analysis of the mineral components contained in each of the multiple samples prepared in the preparing step are provided as an index of thyroid disease. In the providing step, the relationship between the amount of mineral components in the samples and thyroid disease may be provided to a user. In the providing step, the index of thyroid disease is obtained from the measurement value of the mineral components in the samples by referring to a predetermined relationship between the amount of mineral components and the index of thyroid disease. The obtained index of thyroid disease is then presented to the user. The acquisition of the index of thyroid disease in the providing step may be performed by an information processing device.

[0022] The thyroid disease index provided in the providing step may further include information regarding the change over time of the stage of the thyroid disease obtained by comparing the analysis results of the mineral components of a plurality of samples. The analysis results of the mineral components of each sample correspond to the results for each distance from the scalp, and the distance from the scalp corresponds to the period going back from the date of collection. Therefore, by comparing the analysis results of the mineral components of each sample, information regarding the change over time of the stage of the thyroid disease, such as the time of onset of the thyroid disease, the time of starting treatment, the time when the treatment effect appeared, and the time of complete recovery, can be obtained. Then, by presenting such information to the user, it is possible to support the follow-up observation of the thyroid disease.

[0023] In the providing step, the results of mass spectrometry of mineral components contained in each of the multiple samples obtained in the analyzing step described below may be provided as an index of thyroid disease. In addition, in the providing step, the results of analysis of mineral components in the samples used to obtain an index of thyroid disease may be obtained by another known analytical method and provided as an index of thyroid disease.

[0024] In the providing step, for example, when the measured value of the mineral component in the sample is outside a predetermined reference range, an indicator is presented that indicates that the thyroid disease level is outside the reference range. Here, the thyroid disease level may, for example, indicate the possibility of having a thyroid disease in stages. In addition, in the providing step, when the difference between the mineral components contained in each of the multiple samples is outside the predetermined reference range, an indicator may be presented that indicates a change in the stage of the thyroid disease.

[0025] The method of providing the user with information on the changes over time of the thyroid disease index and stage in the providing step is not particularly limited. As an example, the measurement values ​​of the mineral components in the sample and the information on the changes over time of the thyroid disease index and stage may be displayed on a computer display, a display of a mobile device such as a smartphone, etc. Also, a medium on which the measurement values ​​of the mineral components in the sample and the information on the changes over time of the thyroid disease index and stage may be printed may be provided to the user.

[0026] (Analysis process) The method may further include an analysis step of performing mass spectrometry on the mineral components contained in each of the multiple specimens prepared in the preparation step. In the analysis step, as an example, each of the multiple specimens prepared in the preparation step is subjected to an acid decomposition treatment to be dissolved, and the concentration of the mineral components in the decomposed solution is measured by a multi-element simultaneous measurement method (ICP-MS method). Conventionally known measurement conditions and measurement devices can be used as the measurement conditions and measurement devices for measuring the mineral components in the specimens by the ICP-MS method.

[0027] [Additional Note 1] The method for providing information for diagnosing thyroid disease according to aspect 1 of the present invention includes a preparation step of preparing a sample group for mineral component analysis by washing with a surfactant and drying a sample group consisting of multiple samples obtained by dividing hair obtained from a subject based on the distance from the scalp, and a providing step of providing the analysis results of the mineral components contained in each of the multiple samples as an indicator of thyroid disease.

[0028] A method for providing information for the diagnosis of thyroid disease according to aspect 2 of the present invention is characterized in that, in the above-mentioned aspect 1, the mineral component is at least one component selected from the group consisting of cadmium, molybdenum, magnesium, and iodine.

[0029] A method for providing information for diagnosing a thyroid disease according to a third aspect of the present invention is the method according to the first or second aspect, wherein the thyroid disease is hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism.

[0030] A method for providing information for diagnosing thyroid disease according to aspect 4 of the present invention, in any one of aspects 1 to 3, further provides, in the providing step, information relating to changes in the stage of the thyroid disease over time obtained by comparing the analysis results of the mineral components of each of the multiple samples.

[0031] A fifth aspect of the present invention relates to a method for providing information for diagnosing a thyroid disease, in which, in any one of the first to fourth aspects, the amount of hair in each of the multiple samples is 2 mg or more and 10 mg or less.

[0032] A method for providing information for diagnosing thyroid disease according to aspect 6 of the present invention, in any one of aspects 1 to 5, further includes an analysis step of mass spectrometry of the mineral components contained in each of the multiple samples prepared in the preparation step, and in the providing step, the results of mass spectrometry of the mineral components contained in each of the multiple samples obtained in the analysis step are provided as an indicator of thyroid disease.

[0033] [Additional Note 2] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the claims. Embodiments obtained by appropriately combining the technical means disclosed in different embodiments are also included in the technical scope of the present invention. EXAMPLES

[0034] The mineral components in hair were measured as follows. Hair samples were taken from three healthy subjects and three patients with Graves' disease.

[0035] Hair was cut and collected from the head and scalp of each subject. The cut hair was cut from the root and used. The collected hair was washed with SDS and naturally dried at room temperature before being used for analysis.

[0036] The concentrations of cadmium (Cd), molybdenum (Mo), magnesium (Mg), sodium (Na), and iodine (I) in the samples pretreated as described above were measured by ICP-MS using a mass spectrometer. The concentrations of each mineral component in the samples of healthy subjects (HC, control) and subjects with Graves' disease are shown in Figure 1. Figure 1 shows the results of an analysis of various mineral components extracted from hair in an example, comparing subjects with and without thyroid disease.

[0037] As shown in Figure 1, the mineral concentration in hair of Graves' disease patients was measured during both the treatment and abnormal periods. Sample groups including samples from both the treatment and abnormal periods were prepared by calculating the length of hair that had grown over the number of days from the start of thyroid disease treatment to the date of collection, and dividing the collected hair at a position that was that length away from the scalp.

[0038] The hair division positions were determined based on the fact that the period from the first consultation date to the collection date of the Graves' disease patient was approximately 3 months, that hair grows approximately 1 cm per month, and that the depth from the root to the scalp is 4 mm. The hair up to 2.6 cm from the scalp was used as a sample for the treatment period, and the hair from 2.6 cm from the scalp to the tip was used as a sample for the abnormal period. The hair of the control healthy subject was also divided in the same way, and samples for the treatment period control and the abnormal period control were used.

[0039] As shown in Figure 1, the amount of mineral components in hair from both healthy subjects and patients with Graves' disease could be measured. Also, as shown in Figure 1, the concentrations of cadmium, molybdenum, magnesium, sodium, and iodine differed between samples from healthy subjects and samples from patients with Graves' disease. As a result, it was shown that analysis of these mineral components in hair can assist in the diagnosis of thyroid disease. In addition, the values ​​for cadmium and molybdenum were high in the abnormal phase and tended to decrease after the start of treatment, while the values ​​for magnesium were low in the abnormal phase and tended to increase after the start of treatment. By monitoring the behavior of changes in the concentrations of these components, more detailed diagnostic support is possible. [Industrial Applicability]

[0040] The present invention can be used in the medical field, for example, to predict or diagnose health conditions or diseases.

Claims

1. A preparation step of washing a sample group consisting of a plurality of samples obtained by dividing hair obtained from a subject according to the distance from the scalp with a surfactant and then drying the sample group for mineral component analysis; providing an analysis result of a mineral component contained in each of the plurality of samples as an index of a thyroid disease; The method of the present invention provides a method for providing information for the diagnosis of a thyroid disease, comprising:

2. 2. The method for providing information for the diagnosis of thyroid disease according to claim 1, wherein the mineral component is at least one component selected from the group consisting of cadmium, molybdenum, magnesium, and iodine.

3. 3. The method for providing information for the diagnosis of a thyroid disease according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the thyroid disease is thyrotoxicosis or hypothyroidism.

4. 3. The method for providing information for diagnosing thyroid disease as described in claim 1 or 2, further comprising providing information regarding changes in the stage of the thyroid disease over time obtained by comparing the analysis results of the mineral components of each of the multiple samples in the providing step.

5. 3. A method for providing information for the diagnosis of thyroid disease as described in claim 1 or 2, wherein the amount of hair in each of the multiple samples is 2 mg or more and 10 mg or less.

6. The method further includes an analyzing step of performing mass spectrometry on mineral components contained in each of the plurality of samples prepared in the preparing step, 3. A method for providing information for diagnosing thyroid disease as described in claim 1 or 2, wherein in the providing step, the results of mass spectrometry of the mineral components contained in each of the multiple samples obtained in the analyzing step are provided as an indicator of thyroid disease.

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