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

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

Rischio dei principali sottotipi di linfoma associato all’uso di apparati di telefonia mobile

INTRODUCTION: We explored the association between use of mobile phones and lymphoma risk in a case-control study. METHODS: We conducted unconditional logistic regression analysis in 322 lymphoma cases and 446 population controls, adjusting by age, gender and education. RESULTS: Risk of lymphoma (all types; OR = 1.5; 95% CI 1.0 - 2.1), and chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (OR = 1.8; 95% CI 1.0 - 3.4) was elevated in subjects reporting use of mobile phones, but it decreased with duration of use, and years from first purchase. CONCLUSIONS: Our contradictory findings would not support the aetiological nature of the observed associations

Mmp-1 gene polymorphism, g6pd phenotype and their interaction in lymphoma risk

Keywords: lymphoma; MMP-1 polymorphism: G6PD polymorphism. Introduction. Over-expression of the matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) genes is involved in growth and metastasis of several solid tumors by degrading the extracellular matrix. A single guanine insertion polymorphism (2G) in the MMP-1 promoter region is associated with an increase in MMP-1 transcription and local expression of MMP-1. G6PD is a key enzyme in the cholesterol synthesis, a basic component of cell membranes, and G6PD gene polymorphisms associated with deficient enzyme activity are specially prevalent among the Sardinian male population. We inquired into the association between the 2G insertion type MMP-1 polymorphism and risk of lymphoma, as well as with its interaction with the G6PD polymorphism in Sardinia, Italy. Methods. We used polymerase chain reaction (PCR) multiplex to identify the MMP-1 -1607 1G/2G polymorphism in 154 male lymphoma cases identified in 1998 – 2004 in two hematology units in Sardinia, Italy, and 182 male population controls, frequency matched to cases by residence area and 5-year age-group. GdMed+, the most widespread G6PD variant associated with enzyme deficiency in Sardinia, was tested with PCR, according to Kurdi Haidar in a subsample of 49 cases and 32 controls. Due to its strong agreement to the genotyping results (kappa =0.88; p = 0.0000)), the self reported G6PD phenotype was used in the analysis. The OR associated with the MMP-1 polymorphism under the dominant and co-dominant models and that associated with the G6PD phenotype, along with the respective 95% confidence intervals, was calculated with unconditional logistic regression adjusting by age and residence area. The gene-gene interaction was formally tested with the likelihood ratio test for interaction. Results. Risk for all lymphoma, and the B-cell lymphoma and non Hodgkin lymphoma groupings were very similar and not related to the MMP-1 gene polymorphism (OR = 0.9; 95% CI 0.5, 1.9 under the dominant model), while risk associated with the G6PD deficient phenotype was not significantly decreased, particularly when the MMP-1 covariate was included in the regression model (OR = 0.5; 95% CI 0.2,1.0). Introducing the interaction term in the regression model did not show a significant reduction in its residual deviance (c2 = 1.40; GL 2; NS). However, it might be worth reporting that absence of the homozygosis for guanine insertion in the MMP-1gene among subjects with the G6PD deficient phenotype was associated with a low risk of developing lymphoma (OR =0.6; 95% CI 0.1,2.2). Conclusion. Our study did not have enough statistical power to detect an association between the MMP-1 -1607 1G/2G polymorphism and risk of lymphoma, nor a significant interaction with the G6PD phenotype in modifying lymphoma risk. Due to the known role of the metalloproteases in growth and metastatic spread of various tumors, survival of lymphoma patients might be more likely affected. Studies are in progress in this regard

Risk of major lymphoma subtypes and use of mobile phones

Introduction. Recent case-control studies have suggested an increase in risk of non Hodgkin Lymphoma (NHL) among mobile phone users. We explored the association in a case-control study conducted in Sardinia Italy in 1999-2004. Methods. Three hundred twenty two adult (age range 25-75) cases, first diagnosed with lymphoma along the study period, and 422 controls, randomly selected from population Registrars, frequency matched to cases by age, gender and local health unit of residence, participated to the study. In person interviews gathered information on data and age of purchase of a mobile telephone and duration of its daily use. We conducted unconditional logistic regression analysis in 322 lymphoma cases and 446 population controls, adjusting by age, gender and education. Results. Risk of lymphoma (all types; OR = 1.5; 95%CI 1.0 - 2.1), and particularly chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (OR = 1.8; 95%CI 1.0 - 3.4) was elevated in subjects reporting use of mobile phones, but it decreased with duration of use, and it was more elevated for the most recent purchases and for age at first purchase ³ 56 years. Conclusions. Our findings contradict some assumptions about the association between use of mobile phones and cancer risk. Information bias possibly played a role Overall, our study cannot provide support to the aetiological nature of the observed associations

Do the Matrix Metalloproteinase-1 and the Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase gene polymorphisms interact in promoting lymphoma development?

No abstract availabl

Do matrix metalloproteinase-1 and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase gene polymorphisms interact in promoting lymphoma development?

Lette

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