Real-Time Monitoring of Temperature-Dependent Structural Transitions in DNA Nanomechanical Resonators: Unveiling the DNA-Ligand Interactions for Biomedical Applications

Despite being widely recognized as of paramount importance in molecular biology, real-time monitoring of structural transitions in DNA complexes is currently limited to complex techniques and chemically modified oligonucleotides. Here, we show that nanomechanical resonators made of different DNA complexes, such as pristine dsDNA, ssDNA, and DNA intercalated with dye molecules or chemotherapeutic agents, are characterized by unique fingerprint curves when their flexural resonance frequency is tracked as a function of temperature. Such frequency shifts can be successfully used to monitor structural variations in DNA complexes, such as B-to-A form and helix-to-coil transitions, thus opening implications in both environmental studies─for example, trucking the effects of heavy metal exposure on human or vegetable DNA molecules─and in vitro experiments for the evaluation of the effects of drugs on patient DNA

A new trans-Ionian spider species for the Italian fauna: Habrocestum graecum Dalmas, 1920 (Araneae, Salticidae)

The salticid spider Habrocestum graecum Dalmas, 1920, until now only known from Greece, is for the first time recorded in Italy. Observations on ecology and behavior are also reported and pictures of its habitus and genitalia are provided. Furthermore, the first DNA barcode sequence for H. graecum is produced and made publicly available. The species has been observed in Puglia, in South-Eastern Italy, and a trans-Ionian dispersal pattern is most likely the cause of its presence both in Greece and Southern Italy, as reported for other taxa with similar distribution in different animal groups

Dna studies: Latest spectroscopic and structural approaches

This review looks at the different approaches, techniques, and materials devoted to DNA studies. In the past few decades, DNA nanotechnology, micro-fabrication, imaging, and spectro-scopies have been tailored and combined for a broad range of medical-oriented applications. The continuous advancements in miniaturization of the devices, as well as the continuous need to study biological material structures and interactions, down to single molecules, have increase the interdisciplinarity of emerging technologies. In the following paragraphs, we will focus on recent sensing approaches, with a particular effort attributed to cutting-edge techniques for structural and mechanical studies of nucleic acids

Cumulative asbestos exposure and mortality from asbestos related diseases in a pooled analysis of 21 asbestos cement cohorts in Italy

Background: Despite the available information on cancer risk, asbestos is used in large areas in the world, mostly in the production of asbestos cement. Moreover, questions are raised regarding the shape of the dose response relation, the relation with time since exposure and the association with neoplasms in various organs. We conducted a study on the relationship between cumulative asbestos exposure and mortality from asbestos related diseases in a large Italian pool of 21 cohorts of asbestos-cement workers with protracted exposure to both chrysotile and amphibole asbestos. Methods: The cohort included 13,076 workers, 81.9% men and 18.1% women, working in 21 Italian asbestos-cement factories, with over 40 years of observation. Exposure was estimated by plant and period, and weighted for the type of asbestos used. Data were analysed with consideration of cause of death, cumulative exposure and time since first exposure (TSFE), and by gender. SMRs were computed using reference rates by region, gender and calendar time. Poisson regression models including cubic splines were used to analyse the effect of cumulative exposure to asbestos and TSFE on mortality for asbestos-related diseases. 95% Confidence Intervals (CI) were computed according to the Poisson distribution. Results: Mortality was significantly increased for ‘All Causes’ and ‘All Malignant Neoplasm (MN)’, in both genders. Considering asbestos related diseases (ARDs), statistically significant excesses were observed for MN of peritoneum (SMR: men 14.19; women 15.14), pleura (SMR: 22.35 and 48.10), lung (SMR: 1.67 and 1.67), ovary (in the highest exposure class SMR 2.45), and asbestosis (SMR: 507 and 1023). Mortality for ARDs, in particular pleural and peritoneal malignancies, lung cancer, ovarian cancer and asbestosis increased monotonically with cumulative exposure. Pleural MN mortality increased progressively in the first 40 years of TSFE, then reached a plateau, while peritoneal MN showed a continuous increase. The trend of lung cancer SMRs also showed a flattening after 40 years of TSFE. Attributable proportions for pleural, peritoneal, and lung MN were respectively 96, 93 and 40%. Conclusions: Mortality for ARDs was associated with cumulative exposure to asbestos. Risk of death from pleural MN did not increase indefinitely with TSFE but eventually reached a plateau, consistently with reports from other recent studie

Italian pool of asbestos workers cohorts: asbestos related mortality by industrial sector and cumulative exposure

Objective. Italy has been a large user of asbestos and asbestos containing materials until the 1992 ban. We present a pooled cohort study on long-term mortality in exposed workers. Methods. Pool of 43 Italian asbestos cohorts (asbestos cement, rolling stock, shipbuilding, glasswork, harbors, insulation and other industries). SMRs were computed by industrial sector for the 1970-2010 period, for the major causes, using reference rates by age, sex, region and calendar period. Results. The study included 51 801 subjects (5741 women): 55.9% alive, 42.6% died (cause known for 95%) and 1.5% lost to follow-up. Asbestos exposure was estimated at the plant and period levels. Asbestos related mortality was significantly increased. All industrial sectors showed increased mortality from pleural malignancies, and most als