A versatile and compact surface plasmon resonance spectrometer based on single board computer.

The widespread diffusion of low-cost but high-performance hardware is enhancing the realization of scientific equipment with features at the research laboratory level. In this paper, we demonstrate hardware implementation of a surface plasmon resonance compact device with high accuracy and measurement times appropriate for many applications. Image acquisition is realized by a Raspberry Pi single board computer with a camera module, and a Python code is used to process data.

Multichannel bipotentiostat integrated with a microfluidic platform for electrochemical real-time monitoring of cell cultures.

An electrochemical detection system specifically designed for multi-parameter real-time monitoring of stem cell culturing/differentiation in a microfluidic system is presented. It is composed of a very compact 24-channel electronic board, compatible with arrays of microelectrodes and coupled to a microfluidic cell culture system. A versatile data acquisition software enables performing amperometry, cyclic voltammetry and impedance spectroscopy in each of the 12 independent chambers over a 100 kHz bandwidth with current resolution down to 5 pA for 100 ms measuring time.

Doped overoxidized polypyrrole microelectrodes as sensors for the detection of dopamine released from cell populations.

A surface modification of interdigitated gold microelectrodes (IDEs) with a doped polypyrrole (PPy) film for detection of dopamine released from populations of differentiated PC12 cells is presented. A thin PPy layer was potentiostatically electropolymerized from an aqueous pyrrole solution onto electrode surfaces. The conducting polymer film was doped during electropolymerization by introducing counter-ions in the monomer solution.

A molecular epidemiology case control study on pleural malignant mesothelioma.

Pleural malignant mesothelioma is an uncommon neoplasm usually associated with asbestos exposure. The increasing incidence of malignant mesothelioma cases involving individuals with low levels of asbestos exposure suggests a complex carcinogenetic process with the involvement of other cofactors. Cytogenetic studies revealed the complexity of the genetic changes involved in this neoplasm reflecting the accumulation of genomic damage.

Cytogenetic biomonitoring of a floriculturist population in Italy: micronucleus analysis by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) with an all-chromosome centromeric probe.

Flower production in greenhouses associated with a heavy use of pesticides is very wide-spread in the western part of the Ligurian region (Italy). The formation of micronuclei in peripheral blood lymphocytes is a valuable cytogenetic biomarker in human populations occupationally exposed to genotoxic compounds. In the present study we investigated the micronucleus frequency in peripheral blood lymphocytes of 52 floriculturists and 24 control subjects by use of the cytokinesis-block methodology associated with fluorescence in situ hybridization with a pan-centromeric probe that allowed to distinguish centromere-positive (C+) and centromere-negative (C-) micronuclei.

High frequency of micronuclei in peripheral blood lymphocytes as index of susceptibility to pleural malignant mesothelioma.

We evaluated the frequency of micronuclei (MN) in peripheral blood lymphocytes of patients with pleural malignant mesotelioma (MM), lung cancer, benign respiratory diseases, and healthy controls. A significant increased frequency of MN was observed in patients with MM in comparison with all the other groups (median, 11.4 binucleated MN/1000 binucleated cells versus 5.

Micronucleus monitoring of a floriculturist population from western Liguria, Italy.

A biomonitoring study was carried out to investigate whether exposure to complex pesticide mixtures in ornamental crop production represents a potential genotoxic risk. Exposed and control subjects were selected in western Liguria (Italy). The area was chosen for its intensive use of pesticides.

Chromosomal damage and ageing: effect on micronuclei frequency in peripheral blood lymphocytes.

Background: Instability in the organization and expression of the genetic material has been hypothesized as the basic mechanism of ageing.

Objective: To quantify the effect of ageing on chromosomal damage as measured by spontaneous micronuclei (MN) frequency in peripheral blood lymphocytes.

Method: Analysis of a large population sample from two laboratories applying the cytokinesis-block technique and a third using traditional interphase analysis.

Genotoxicity biomarkers in the assessment of heavy metal effects in mussels: experimental studies.

Heavy metals are stable and persistent environmental contaminants. The range of metal concentrations is generally below acute thresholds in coastal areas, where recognition of chronic sublethal effects is more relevant. Evidence of long-term adverse effects, such as cancer, due to heavy metals in marine animals comes from a number of field and experimental studies.

In vivo studies on genotoxicity of a soil fumigant, dazomet.

Dazomet is a soil fumigant effective against germinating weed seeds, nematodes, soil fungi, and soil insects. Dazomet is primarily used for preplanting control in tobacco and forest nursery crops and is now marketed for a wider range of open field and greenhouse crops (e.g.

Acrocentric chromosome frequency in spontaneous human lymphocyte micronuclei, evaluated by dual-colour hybridization, is neither sex- nor age-related.

The aim of the present paper was to assess the occurrence of acrocentric chromosomes in spontaneous micronuclei (MN) of lymphocytes of 20 subjects (10 males and 10 females) of different ages by means of dual-colour hybridization with pancentromeric and acrocentric-specific DNA probes on the binucleate cells of each subject. MN were found to contain acrocentric chromosome(s) at an average frequency of 26.8%, as compared to a 60% frequency of centromere-positive MN (C + MN).