miR-CATCH: microRNA capture affinity technology.

Several experimental methods exist to explore the microRNA (miRNA) regulome. These methods almost exclusively focus on multiple targets bound to a single, or perhaps a few miRNAs of interest. Here, we describe a microRNA capture affinity technology (miR-CATCH) which uses an affinity capture oligonucleotide to co-purify a single target messenger RNA (mRNA) together with all its endogenously bound miRNAs. This bench-top method is similar to RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) and provides an experimental alternative to computational miRNA target prediction

The tyrosine phosphatase CD148 is an essential positive regulator of platelet activation and thrombosis

Platelets play a fundamental role in hemostasis and thrombosis. They are also involved in pathologic conditions resulting from blocked blood vessels, including myocardial infarction and ischemic stroke. Platelet adhesion, activation, and aggregation at sites of vascular injury are regulated by a diverse repertoire of tyrosine kinase–linked and G protein–coupled receptors. Src family kinases (SFKs) play a central role in initiating and propagating signaling from several platelet surface receptors; however, the underlying mechanism of how SFK activity is regulated in platelets remains unclear. CD148 is the only receptor-like protein tyrosine phosphatase identified in platelets to date. In the present study, we show that mutant mice lacking CD148 exhibited a bleeding tendency and defective arterial thrombosis. Basal SFK activity was found to be markedly reduced in CD148-deficient platelets, resulting in a global hyporesponsiveness to agonists that signal through SFKs, including collagen and fibrinogen. G protein–coupled receptor responses to thrombin and other agonists were also marginally reduced. These results highlight CD148 as a global regulator of platelet activation and a novel antithrombotic drug targe

Quantum Computing and Quantum Simulation with Group-II Atoms

Recent experimental progress in controlling neutral group-II atoms for optical clocks, and in the production of degenerate gases with group-II atoms has given rise to novel opportunities to address challenges in quantum computing and quantum simulation. In these systems, it is possible to encode qubits in nuclear spin states, which are decoupled from the electronic state in the $^1$S$_0$ ground state and the long-lived $^3$P$_0$ metastable state on the clock transition. This leads to quantum computing scenarios where qubits are stored in long lived nuclear spin states, while electronic states can be accessed independently, for cooling of the atoms, as well as manipulation and readout of the qubits. The high nuclear spin in some fermionic isotopes also offers opportunities for the encoding of multiple qubits on a single atom, as well as providing an opportunity for studying many-body physics in systems with a high spin symmetry. Here we review recent experimental and theoretical progress in these areas, and summarise the advantages and challenges for quantum computing and quantum simulation with group-II atoms.Comment: 11 pages, 7 figures, review for special issue of "Quantum Information Processing" on "Quantum Information with Neutral Particles

0272 Risk of lymphoma and occupational exposure to organic dust.

OBJECTIVES: A medical history of allergy, and particularly asthma, has been associated with an inverse risk of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). As occupational exposure to specific organic dusts is a risk factor for asthma, we explored risk of lymphoma and its major subtypes in relation to organic dusts. METHOD: In 1999-2004, 324 incident lymphoma cases and 464 population controls, frequency matched to cases by age and gender, were recruited among adult residents in Sardinia, Italy. Expert industrial hygienists assessed exposure to organic dust overall, and specific organic dusts. The odds ratio (OR) for lymphoma (all types) and its major subtypes, and its 95% confidence interval, was calculated using unconditional logistic regression. RESULTS: Exposure to organic dust in general was inversely associated with risk of lymphoma (all types) (OR = 0.7, 95% CI 0.4-1.2), with a declining trend by duration and level of exposure. The inverse association was apparently more pronounced for exposure to flour dust and wood dust, but not to natural or artificial textile fibres. A consistent inverse risk was observed for B-cell lymphoma (OR = 0.6, 95% CI 0.3-1.0), and it was likewise for its major subtypes, namely diffuse large cell lymphoma (DLBCL), follicular lymphoma (FL) and chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL). Age <= 18 at first exposure conveyed a further decrease in lymphoma risk (OR = 0.5, 95% CI 0.2-1.2). CONCLUSIONS: Although with interpretative limitations due to the small study size, our results suggest that exposure to flour dust and wood dust might contribute a reduction in risk of malignant lymphoma

Sex-related differences in markers of immune activation in virologically suppressed HIV-infected patients

Objectives: Gender-specific studies remain a neglected area of biomedical research. Recent reports have emphasized that sex-related biological factors may affect disease progression during HIV-1 infection. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of sex on the levels of immune activation in the gut and in peripheral blood of individuals with HIV treated with fully suppressive antiretroviral therapy (ART). Methods: Thirty individuals with HIV undergoing long-term fully suppressive ART were enrolled in this study. Lamina propria lymphocytes (LPL) and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were isolated from gut biopsies collected by pancolonoscopy and peripheral blood samples. The expression of markers of immune activation was evaluated by multi-parametric flow cytometry. This is a sub analysis of ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02276326 Results: We observed differences in the levels of immune activation in the gut and in PBMCs, with values higher in the gut compartment compared to PBMCs. In addition, we found that the mean value of the levels of immune activation was higher in the women than in the men. Finally, we measured the markers of immune activation by mean relative difference (MRD) and confirmed the higher value in the women. Conclusion: A significant sex-related difference in the level of immune activation was observed in a population of individuals with HIV on long-term ART. A more complete characterization of these differences may support the introduction of sex-specific approaches in the clinical management of individuals with HIV

Lymphoma risk in animal breeders

Introduction. Occupational contact with breeding animals might be implicated in lymphoma etiology. Methods. In 1998-2003, 2337 incident lymphoma cases and 2434 controls participated in the EPILYMPH case-control study in six European countries. A detailed occupational history was collected in cases and controls, including species of breeding animals, their approximate number, and circumstances of contact. We conducted a preliminary analysis on ever exposed to contact with breeding animals, and we stratified the analysis by age at first exposure, whether before or after age 12. The Odds ratio (OR) and its 95% confidence interval (95% CI) was calculated with unconditional logistic regression for all lymphomas, and its major subtypes, adjusting by age, gender, and education. Results. Lymphoma risk (all subtypes combined) did not increase among exposed to contact with breeding animals (OR = 1.0, 95% CI 0.8 -1.2). Risk of DLBCL was significantly lower among subjects employed in poultry farms (OR = 0.6, 95% CI0.4 -1.0). This inverse association was observed among subjects who starter exposure before or at age 12 (OR = 0.5, 95% CI 0.2 -1.1), but not later. Conclusion. Early occupational contact with poultry might be associated with a decrease in risk of specific lymphoma subtypes

Occupational risk of multiple myeloma: Results from the epllymph study [Rischio occupazionale di mieloma multiplo: Risultati dello studio epilymph]

This multicentre European case-control study evaluates occupational risk of multiple myeloma (MM) in 277 MM cases and 1108 matched controls, using logistic regression analysis and adjusting by age, gender, study centre and education. An increase in MM risk was observed for general farmers, cleaners, telephone and radio operators, and printers. Pesticide exposure lasting ten years or more, but not exposure to solvents, was also associated with an elevated MM risk (OR=I.62; 95% CI 1.01 - 2.58). Our results confirm an association of multiple myeloma with farm work, and particularly with prolonged exposure to pesticides. © PI-ME. Pavia 2011