Assessment of cardiac iron by MRI susceptometry and R2* in patients with thalassemia

A magnetic resonance imaging cardiac magnetic susceptometry (MRI-CS) technique for assessing cardiac tissue iron concentration based on phase mapping was developed. Normal control subjects (n=9) and thalassemia patients (n=13) receiving long-term blood transfusion therapy underwent MRI-CS and MRI measurements of the cardiac relaxation rate R2*. Using MRI-CS, subepicardium and subendocardium iron concentrations were quantified exploiting the hemosiderin/ferritin iron specific magnetic susceptibility. The average of subepicardium and subendocardium iron concentrations and R2* of the septum were found to be strongly correlated (r=0.96, P<.0001), and linear regression analysis yielded CIC (μg Fe/g_{wet tissue})=(6.4±0.4)·R2* _septum (s⁻¹) − (120±40). The results demonstrated that septal R2* indeed measures cardiac iron level.     

Different magnetic resonance imaging features in two types of nontraumatic rabbit osteonecrosis models

A single injection of high-dose steroid (20 mg/kg) has been reported to induce necrotic lesions in the proximal metaphysis and diaphysis of the rabbit femur. In the rabbit osteonecrosis (ON) model induced by two-dose horse serum injections, contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and T2*-weighted dynamic MRI have been reported to detect necrotic lesions at 3 days after the second serum injection sensitively. The purpose of the present study was to determine whether contrast-enhanced MRI and T2*-weighted dynamic MRI could detect early development of necrotic lesions in the rabbit proximal femora after a single high-dose steroid injection and compare MRI features of the two types of nontraumatic rabbit ON models. We performed nonenhanced MRI, contrast-enhanced MRI and T2*-weighted dynamic MRI of bilateral proximal femora 3 days (10 femora), 1 week (10 femora), 3 weeks (10 femora), 6 weeks (18 femora) and 9 weeks (18 femora) after a single 20 mg/kg steroid injection. Femoral signal intensity of each T2*-weighted dynamic MRI was measured from a 1-cm(2) region of interest in the proximal metaphysis and diaphysis. As a control, MRI was performed in untreated animals (six femora). Histologically, no necrotic lesions were observed in the proximal femora at 3 days and 1 week. Bone marrow necrosis was observed in four (40%) femora at 3 weeks, two (11.1%) femora at 6 weeks and six (33.3%) femora at 9 weeks. Bone marrow lesion completely replaced by granulation tissue was observed in one femur at 6 weeks and one femur at 9 weeks. Histologic evidence of repair tissue surrounding bone marrow necrosis was seen after 6 weeks. Average lesion area including repair tissue was 4.40 mm(2) (range, 0.32 to 20.2 mm(2)). At 9 weeks, contrast-enhanced MRI could detect four (66.7%) femora with bone marrow necrosis of more than 4 mm(2) in the lesion area, while T2*-weighted dynamic images showed a finding of complete ischemia in only one of these four femora. In conclusion, neither contrast-enhanced MRI nor T2*-weighted dynamic MRI could detect early development of necrotic lesions in the single-dose steroid ON model. These results indicated that development of necrotic lesions in the single-dose steroid ON model was not accompanied by as diffuse a femoral hemodynamic change as the two-dose horse serum ON model.     

Determination of Ca,Fe, Cu and Zn and their correlations in breast cancer and normal adjacent tissues

An experimental procedure using monoenergetic Synchrotron Radiation x‐ray Fluorescence (SR‐XRF) method was studied, justified and applied to determine trace elements concentrations of normal and neoplastic human breast tissues in the same individual. Scattered radiation from each sample was used as an internal standard in x‐ray emission spectroscopy in order to construct calibration curves used to determine Ca, Fe, Cu and Zn concentrations in 52 breast tissue specimens (26 neoplastic and 26 adjacent normal tissues). This work showed that this experimental alternative is approximately matrix independent and also allows a reduction in instrumental variables. Our results showed, as expected, that Ca, Fe, Cu and Zn concentrations levels were significantly higher in neoplastic than in healthy breast tissues (all p < 0.001). It was also observed that Fe and Cu levels are correlated in malignant breast tissues as well as Ca and Zn levels, indicating that these elements' concentrations are related, in agreement with the hypothesis that there is a connection between Fe and Cu with both increased cellular activity and blood supply in the formation of neoplasies in breast tissue, and between Ca and Zn as regulators of neoplasies growth, since these metals are present in active matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

High-resolution fluorescence mapping of impurities in historical zinc oxide pigments: hard X-ray nanoprobe applications to the paints of Pablo Picasso

Here for the first time we describe the use of high resolution nanoprobe X-ray fluorescence (XRF) mapping for the analysis of artists’ paints, hierarchically complex materials typically composed of binder, pigments, fillers, and other additives. The work undertaken at the nanoprobe sought to obtain highly spatially resolved, highly sensitive mapping of metal impurities (Pb, Cd, Fe, and other metals) in submicron particles of zinc oxide pigments used in early 20th century artists’ tube paints and enamel paints, with particular emphasis on Ripolin, a popular brand of French house paint used extensively by Pablo Picasso and some of his contemporaries. Analysis revealed that the Zn oxide particles only contain a little Fe, proving that the highest quality Zn oxide pigment, free of Pb and Cd, was used for Ripolin house paints as well as artists’ paints. Nanoprobe XRF mapping also demonstrated that artists’ tube paints generally have more abundant fillers and additional whites (based on Pb, Ti, Ca) than Ripolin paints, which contain mostly pure zinc oxide. The chemical characterization of paints at the nanoscale opens the path to a better understanding of their fabrication and chemical reactivity.     

Intracranial iron distribution and quantification in aceruloplasminemia: A case study

ObjectivesAceruloplasminemia (ACP) is a rare autosomal recessive disorder characterized by intracranial and visceral iron overload. With R2*-based imaging or quantitative susceptibility mapping (QSM), it is feasible to measure iron in the brain quantitatively, although to date this has not yet been done for patients with ACP. The aim of this study was to provide quantitative iron measurements for each affected brain region in an ACP patient with the potential to do so in all future ACP patients. This may shed light on the link between brain iron metabolism and the territories affected by ceruloplasmin function.MethodsWe imaged a patient with ACP using a 3T magnetic resonance imaging scanner with a fifteen-channel head coil. We manually demarcated gray matter and white matter on the Strategically Acquired Gradient Echo (STAGE) images, and calculated values for susceptibility and R2* in these regions. Correlation analysis was performed between the R2* values and the susceptibility values.ResultsBesides the usual territories affected in ACP, we also discovered that the mammillary bodies and the lateral habenulae had significant increases in iron, and the hippocampus was severely affected both in terms of iron content and abnormal tissue signal. We also noted that the iron in the cortical gray matter appeared to be deposited in the inner layers. Moreover, several pathways between the superior colliculus and the pulvinar thalamus, between the caudate and putamen anteriorly and between the caudate and pulvinar thalamus posteriorly were also evident. Finally, R2* correlated strongly with the QSM data (R² = 0.67, t = 6.78, p < 0.001).ConclusionQSM and R2* have proven to be sensitive and quantitative means by which to measure iron content in the brain. Our findings included several newly noted affected brain regions of iron overload and provided some new aspects of iron metabolism in ACP that may be further applicable to other pathologic conditions. Furthermore, our study may pave the way for assessing efficacy of iron chelation therapy in these patients and for other common iron related neurodegenerative disorders.     

阿胶真伪品的X射线荧光光谱的鉴别研究

建立了快速鉴别阿胶真伪的新方法.收集6个不同产地的阿胶样品,采用X射线荧光光谱法(XRF)测定了各样品元素种类、含量并作出了元素特征谱,与阿胶对照品的元素特征谱作对比分析.结果表明:6个样品中共有的主要元素为Ca,Na,Cl,K,Fe,Zn,Al和Mg等,但其中Cl,Ca,Na和K元素的含量却与对照品有着显著的差异,且部分特有微量元素只存在于个别样品中.依据这些不同点可以准确地对阿胶的真伪及伪劣品中有害元素的引入来源作出识别和判断.基于XRF法所作的元素特征谱可简捷快速、直观有效的鉴别阿胶真伪,有望应用于其他中药的鉴定.     

Linear-fitting-based similarity coefficient map for tissue dissimilarity analysis in T_2~*-w magnetic resonance imaging

Similarity coefficient mapping(SCM) aims to improve the morphological evaluation of T*2weighted magnetic resonance imaging(T*2-w MRI). However, how to interpret the generated SCM map is still pending. Moreover, is it probable to extract tissue dissimilarity messages based on the theory behind SCM? The primary purpose of this paper is to address these two questions. First, the theory of SCM was interpreted from the perspective of linear fitting. Then, a term was embedded for tissue dissimilarity information. Finally, our method was validated with sixteen human brain image series from multiecho T*2-w MRI. Generated maps were investigated from signal-to-noise ratio(SNR) and perceived visual quality, and then interpreted from intra- and inter-tissue intensity. Experimental results show that both perceptibility of anatomical structures and tissue contrast are improved. More importantly, tissue similarity or dissimilarity can be quantified and cross-validated from pixel intensity analysis. This method benefits image enhancement, tissue classification, malformation detection and morphological evaluation.     

XRF与ICP-MS法在福建省安溪县和华安县的铁观音茶中元素含量测定的应用研究

安溪是铁观音茶的源产地,茶叶总产值每年数亿元,但不同品质的铁观音茶价格参差不齐,市场上存在以次充好的现象。福建省安溪县和华安县为铁观音主要的茶产地,两县市的茶叶产量市场占有率较高,地理位置毗邻,但茶叶品质和风味各有不同,造成茶叶市场的困扰。铁观音中微量元素种类和含量的检测,对产地的溯源具有重要的意义。采用X射线荧光光谱无标样半定量分析法(XRF)和微波消解/电感耦合等离子体质谱法(ICP-MS)对福建省主要茶产区安溪县(感德、西坪、祥华)和华安县(良村、华丰、仙都)的30份铁观音进行元素含量对比分析。XRF法检测出两县茶样中存在的元素种类有K, Ca, S, P, Mg, Al, Si, Cl, Fe, Mn, Rb, Zn, Na和Sr,但含量上存在一定的差异。根据XRF法检测结果进行快速、准确稀释茶样用于ICP-MS法对比测定金属元素,优化样品前处理方法以满足痕量检测要求。对比发现当测定Ca, Mg, Al, Fe, Mn和Zn金属元素时,相关性系数R²在0.824 8～0.892 8,趋势线斜率在0.806 0～0.944 9, XRF法和ICP-MS法的可...     

同步辐射XRF法分析温室油菜中微量元素的分布

蔬菜是补充人体微量元素的重要途径,但是蔬菜不同部位、特别是温室蔬菜不同部位各种元素的分配目前还没有研究清楚。利用同步辐射XRF法测定了温室油菜中各种微量元素中的分配情况。研究结果表明温室油菜中含有许多人体必需的微量元素,特别是Ca,Mn,Fe,Cu和Zn;但是不同的元素在叶片和根系的不同部位含量有所差异,总体上油菜根系中K,Ca和Mg的含量显著高于叶片,叶片中Fe,Zn,Co,Ni和Cu的含量则高于根系,其中侧根中的各种元素含量均很低。K,Ca和Co在叶片中间位置含量较高,由边缘向中部含量逐渐增加;Cu,Mn,Fe和Ni含量由叶片基部到叶尖处含量逐渐增高;Zn总体含量也比较均匀。在主根中各种元素普遍表现为根基部向根尖呈现先上升再降低的规律,根系中间部位各元素含量高,且普遍表现为根基部的含量要高于根尖处的含量。     

STrategically Acquired Gradient Echo (STAGE) imaging,part III: Technical advances and clinical applications of a rapid multi-contrast multi-parametric brain imaging method

One major thrust in radiology today is image standardization with a focus on rapidly acquired quantitative multi-contrast information. This is critical for multi-center trials, for the collection of big data and for the use of artificial intelligence in evaluating the data. Strategically acquired gradient echo (STAGE) imaging is one such method that can provide 8 qualitative and 7 quantitative pieces of information in 5 min or less at 3 T. STAGE provides qualitative images in the form of proton density weighted images, T1 weighted images, T2* weighted images and simulated double inversion recovery (DIR) images. STAGE also provides quantitative data in the form of proton spin density, T1, T2* and susceptibility maps as well as segmentation of white matter, gray matter and cerebrospinal fluid. STAGE uses vendors' product gradient echo sequences. It can be applied from 0.35 T to 7 T across all manufacturers producing similar results in contrast and quantification of the data. In this paper, we discuss the strengths and weaknesses of STAGE, demonstrate its contrast-to-noise (CNR) behavior relative to a large clinical data set and introduce a few new image contrasts derived from STAGE, including DIR images and a new concept referred to as true susceptibility weighted imaging (tSWI) linked to fluid attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) or tSWI-FLAIR for the evaluation of multiple sclerosis lesions. The robustness of STAGE T1 mapping was tested using the NIST/NIH phantom, while the reproducibility was tested by scanning a given individual ten times in one session and the same subject scanned once a week over a 12-week period. Assessment of the CNR for the enhanced T1W image (T1WE) showed a significantly better contrast between gray matter and white matter than conventional T1W images in both patients with Parkinson's disease and healthy controls. We also present some clinical cases using STAGE imaging in patients with stroke, metastasis, multiple sclerosis and a fetus with ventriculomegaly. Overall, STAGE is a comprehensive protocol that provides the clinician with numerous qualitative and quantitative images.     

Inversion recovery ultrashort echo time magnetic resonance imaging: A method for simultaneous direct detection of myelin and high signal demonstration of iron deposition in the brain – A feasibility study

Multiple sclerosis (MS) causes demyelinating lesions in the white matter and increased iron deposition in the subcortical gray matter. Myelin protons have an extremely short T2* (< 1 ms) and are not directly detected with conventional clinical magnetic resonance (MR) imaging sequences. Iron deposition also reduces T2*, leading to reduced signal on clinical sequences. In this study we tested the hypothesis that the inversion recovery ultrashort echo time (IR-UTE) pulse sequence can directly and simultaneously image myelin and iron deposition using a clinical 3 T scanner. The technique was first validated on a synthetic myelin phantom (myelin powder in D₂O) and a Feridex iron phantom. This was followed by studies of cadaveric MS specimens, healthy volunteers and MS patients. UTE imaging of the synthetic myelin phantom showed an excellent bi-component signal decay with two populations of protons, one with a T2* of 1.2 ms (residual water protons) and the other with a T2* of 290 μs (myelin protons). IR-UTE imaging shows sensitivity to a wide range of iron concentrations from 0.5 to ~ 30 mM. The IR-UTE signal from white matter of the brain of healthy volunteers shows a rapid signal decay with a short T2* of ~ 300 μs, consistent with the T2* values of myelin protons in the synthetic myelin phantom. IR-UTE imaging in MS brain specimens and patients showed multiple white matter lesions as well as areas of high signal in subcortical gray matter. This in specimens corresponded in position to Perl's diaminobenzide staining results, consistent with increased iron deposition. IR-UTE imaging simultaneously detects lesions with myelin loss in the white matter and iron deposition in the gray matter.     

Towards intrinsic R2* imaging in the prostate at 3 and 7 tesla

PurposeHypoxia is an important marker for resistance to therapy. In this study, we quantify the macroscopic effects of R2* mapping in prostate cancer patients incorporating susceptibility matching and field strengths effects.Materials and methods91 patients were scanned without endorectal coil (ERC) at 3 T. Only when rectal gas was absent, data was included for analysis. Another group of 10 patients was scanned using a susceptibility matched ERC. To assess the residual contamination of R2 and macroscopic field non-uniformities, a group of 10 patients underwent ultra-high resolution 7 T MRI.ResultsOf the patients scanned at 3 T 60% presented rectal gas and were excluded, due to susceptibility artifacts. At 3 T the tumor was significantly different (P < 0.01) from the healthy surrounding tissue in R2* values at intrapatient level. Using the measured median R2* value of 24.9 s^− 1 at 3 T and 43.2 s^− 1 at 7 T of the peripheral zone, the minimum contribution of macroscopic susceptibility effects is 15% at 3 T.ConclusionR2* imaging might be a promising tool for hypoxia imaging, particularly when minimizing macroscopic susceptibility effects contaminating intrinsic R2* of tissue, such as rectal gas. At 3 T macroscopic effects still contribute 15% in the R2* value, compared to ultra-high resolution R2* mapping at 7 T.     

Broad‐beam PIXE and µ‐PIXE analysis of normal and in vitro demineralized dental enamel

Dental enamel has been widely studied by particle‐induced x‐ray emission (PIXE), but less attention was paid to its demineralization, which leads to caries formation. Using broad‐beam PIXE and µ‐PIXE, we investigated normal enamel and the in vitro formation of pre‐carious lesion in lactic acid solution, aiming also to evaluate intercusp differences within the same tooth. Broad‐beam PIXE was performed using 3.0 MeV protons, and µ‐PIXE maps of Ca, Fe and Zn were collected with 3.1 MeV protons at ～4 µm resolution. In normal enamel a differentiated Ca‐rich surface layer was observed, where Fe and Zn reached their highest levels. In deeper layers, Fe and Zn evidenced quasiperiodic patterns of maxima, possibly due to coupled diffusion‐reaction catalytic processes involved in the enamel growth. Both Fe and Zn appeared to be located in a few distinct types of pools. Near the surface, demineralization induced an increase of Fe, Cu, Zn, Sr and Pb with respect to Ca, attributed to partial hydroxyapatite dissolution and/or to chelate extraction and concentration of trace metals. Ca maps revealed limited changes in the surface layer and a massive loss in the inner enamel; here, Fe was almost depleted and Zn partially removed. The maps of Ca, Fe and Zn demonstrated major intercusp variations in both normal and altered enamel. Thus, broad‐beam PIXE and µ‐PIXE, which do not require (semi)thin sectioning of the tooth as the conventional methods, provide compositional and structural insight of normal dental enamel, of its intercusp variability and of the alterations produced by in vitro demineralization, largely not accessible to the current techniques, and highly relevant for understanding the incipient caries formation. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

微束X射线荧光分析

用能量色散微束X射线荧光分析仪实际测量了微束准直器孔径和X射线强度对微束空间分辨率的影响,在准直器孔径为0.1mm条件下,获得以FWHM定义的空间分辨率最好为0.073mm。通过微束扫描测量出某硫化锰矿微区内的Mn、Fe、Zn、Pb的三维等高线荧光强度分布图和不同小区域内的能谱。     

Spatially selective T2 and T2 * measurement with line-scan echo-planar spectroscopic imaging

Line-scan echo planar spectroscopic imaging (LSEPSI) is applied to quickly measure the T2 and T2* relaxation time constants in pre-selected 2D or 3D regions. Results from brain imaging studies at 3T suggest that the proposed method may prove valuable for both basic research (e.g., quantifying the changes of T2/T2* values in functional MRI with blood oxygenation level-dependent contrast) and clinical studies (e.g., measuring the T2' shortening due to iron deposition). The proposed spatially selective T2 and T2* mapping technique is especially well suited for studies, where T2/T2* quantification needs to be performed dynamically in a pre-selected 2D or 3D region.     

Measurement of K,Fe, Cu and Zn levels in secondary colorectal liver cancer and surrounding normal liver tissue,and their potential as a tissue classifier

An x‐ray fluorescence (XRF) system utilising a synchrotron radiation source was used to quantify the levels of Fe, Cu, Zn and K in colorectal liver metastases and surrounding normal liver tissue as a possible mechanism for detecting cancer in a tissue biopsy. Sixty samples were measured and a lower level of all four elements was found in the cancer samples compared with that of the normal liver. The difference in levels of Zn, Fe, Cu and K between cancer and normal tissue was significant with p values of < 0.01 for Zn, Fe and K, and 0.033 for Cu. The precision was estimated by repeated measurements yielding a precision of 96, 91, 95 and 86% for Zn, Cu, Fe and K, respectively. The homogeneity of the distribution of elemental concentrations was assessed by measuring eight normal liver and eight cancer samples from the same patient. The variation of Zn, Cu, Fe and K levels between normal liver samples was 10.4, 15.4, 15.85 and 29.1%, respectively, and in the colorectal metastases was 10.18, 15.92, 8.44 and 22.35%, respectively. Receiver operator characteristic (ROC) analysis was performed for all elements and showed that Zn could be a reliable indicator of tissue classification with an ROC area under the curve of 0.998 and a resulting sensitivity and specificity of 100 and 96.67%, respectively. Fe had an ROC area under the curve of 0.856 and sensitivity and specificity of 83.3 and 76.67%, respectively. Cu and K did not perform as well with areas under the curve of 0.75 and 0.706, respectively. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

微区X射线荧光光谱仪研制及元素生物地球化学动态分布过程研究

微区无损分析可提供物质组成元素的原位分布信息,以揭示物质形成条件、元素动态分布过程与相互作用机理、生物代谢作用等。文章报道了实验室型微区X射线荧光(μXRF)光谱仪的研发和元素生物地球化学动态分布过程研究结果。μXRF光谱仪采用15 μm光斑的聚束毛细管X射线透镜为激发源,选用分辨率为135 eV的硅漂移探测器(SDD),样品和探测器间角度可调,使之可进行异型样品如地质样品的原位分析,利用五轴自控实现样品时空四维元素分布测定。利用该μXRF光谱仪测定了矿物-生物膜间的元素迁移和玉米种发芽过程中的元素分布,发现(1)生物膜可吸附、富集毒性元素铅,是重金属的重要汇集地,最大富集系数1.7。(2)生物膜是金属从固态矿物相经水相进入生态系统的重要途径。(3)在玉米种子中,可检测到K,Ca,Mn,Fe,Cu,Zn和Pb。Zn主要在胚乳中分布,胚中有少量Zn存在;在胚乳和胚中存在微量Fe;胚乳中存在微量Pb,胚中未观测到Pb。(4)经含Pb溶液浸泡发芽后,K在玉米种中胚和胚乳中部分富集,Fe分布在种皮和胚乳中,Cu和Zn主要在胚乳中分布;Pb主要在胚根、胚轴和胚芽中分布,且Pb在新生根中高度富集。研究表明,在种子萌发阶段,Pb等毒性元素可被植物滞留于根部,制约了其向地上部的转移,从而揭示了植物对毒性元素的耐受机制。     

Visualizing the lateral habenula using susceptibility weighted imaging and quantitative susceptibility mapping

The habenulae consist of a pair of small nuclei which bridge the limbic forebrain and midbrain monoaminergic centers. They are implicated in major depressive disorders due to abnormal phasic response when provoked by a conditioned stimulus. The lateral habenula (Lhb) is believed to be involved in dopamine metabolism and is now a target for deep brain stimulation, a treatment which has shown promising anti-depression effects. We imaged the habenulae with susceptibility weighted imaging (SWI) and quantitative susceptibility mapping (QSM) in order to localize the lateral habenula. Fifty-six healthy controls were recruited for this study. For the quantitative assessment, we traced the structure to compute volume from magnitude images and mean susceptibility bilaterally for the habenula on QSM. Thresholding methods were used to delineate the Lhb habenula on QSM. SWI, true SWI (tSWI), and QSM data were subjectively reviewed for increased Lhb contrast. SWI, QSM, and tSWI showed bilateral signal changes in the posterior location of the habenulae relative to the anterior location, which may indicate increased putative iron content within the Lhb. This signal behavior was shown in 41/44 (93%) subjects. In summary, it is possible to localize the lateral component of the habenula using SWI and QSM at 3 T.     

Chemical elements and certain risk factors of chronic noncommunicable diseases in the population of Novosibirsk

In a population sample of residents of Novosibirsk between the ages of 45 and 69, the complex of the following chemical components of blood is determined by SR XRF: K, Ca, Fe, Cu, Zn, Ge, Se, Br, Rb, Sr, Zr, and Pb. Risk factors of chronic noncommunicable diseases are determined: obesity, arterial hypertension, dislipidemia, and their associations with chemical elements Ca, Cu, Rb, Y, and Pb.     

Direct determination of mineral nutrients in soybean leaves under vivo conditions by portable X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy

A portable energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectrometer furnished with an Rh X-ray tube was evaluated for the determination of macronutrients and micronutrients in soybean leaves (Glycine max L.). XRF instrumental parameters were optimized in a univariate way, and emission intensities were measured for 60 s and under vacuum for macronutrients, and during 180 s, under air, and 305 μm Al/25.4 μm Ti filter, for micronutrients. Fresh and dried leaves were irradiated, and it was possible to identify P, K, Ca, S, Mn, Fe, Cu, and Zn Kα emission lines. For comparative purpose, the samples were also microwave assisted, digested and analyzed by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry. In general, linear correlations between K, Ca, Mn, Fe, Cu, and Zn concentrations in the tested samples and the corresponding portable XRF (pXRF) intensities were obtained. The linear correlation coefficients (R²) ranged from 0.42 to 0.86. In addition, the detection limits were suitable for plant nutrient diagnosis. It is demonstrated that pXRF is a simple and powerful tool for analysis of plant materials.