Enhanced microwave metrology using an optical grating in Rydberg atoms.

An enhanced measurement of the microwave (MW) electric (E) field is proposed using an optical grating in Rydberg atoms. Electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) of Rydberg atoms appears driven by a probe field and a control field. The EIT transmission spectrum is modulated by an optical grating. When a MW field drives the Rydberg transition, the central principal maximum of the grating spectrum splits. It is interesting to find that the magnitude of the sharp grating spectrum changes linearly with the MW E-field strength, which can be used to measure the MW E-field. The simulation result shows that the minimum detectable E-field strength is nearly 1/8 of that without gratings, and its measurement accuracy could be enhanced by about 60 times. Other discussion of MW metrology based on a grating spectrum is also presented.

Arsenic trioxide inhibits breast cancer cell growth via microRNA-328/hERG pathway in MCF-7 cells.

Arsenic trioxide (As2O3) has been widely used in the treatment of acute promyelocytic leukemia and has been observed to exhibit therapeutic effects in various types of solid tumor. In a previous study by this group, it was shown that As2O3 induces the apoptosis of MCF-7 breast cancer cells through inhibition of the human ether-à-go-go-related gene (hERG) channel. The present study was designed to further investigate the effect of As2O3 on breast cancer cells and to examine the mechanism underlying the regulation of hERG expression. The present study confirmed that As2O3 inhibited tumor growth in vivo, following MCF-7 cell implantation into nude mice. Using computational prediction , it was identified that microRNA (miR)-328 had a binding site in the 3'-untranslated region of hERG mRNA. A luciferase activity assay demonstrated that hERG is a target gene of miR-328. Further investigation using western blot analysis and reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction revealed that As2O3 downregulated hERG expression via upregulation of miR-328 expression in MCF-7 cells. In conclusion, As2O3 was observed to inhibit breast cancer cell growth, at least in part, through the miR-328/hERG pathway.

[Change of ACTH and cortisol in patients with obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome after the operation of uvulopalatopharyngoplasty].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the change of hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal hormone in patients with Obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) by observing the change of Corticotropin (ACTH) and cortisol after Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP). METHOD: OSAHS patients were monitored by polysomnography (PSG). The ACTH and cortisol levels in plasma were measured by radioimmunoassay before, during and after sleep in pre-operation and six months post-operation. Their correlation were analyzed. RESULT: The cortisol concentration [ (170.4+/-56.5) microg/L, (252.2+/-62.3) microg/L, (276.9+/-70.4) microg/L, (2859.0+/-63.2) microg/L, (395.1+/-85.2) microg/L before, during and after sleep] in the before UPPP group were significantly higher than those of the after UPPP group [(133.5+/-24.8) microg/L, (99.9+/-9.2) microg/L, (103.8+/-13.2) microg/L, (146.2+/-22.5) microg/L, (199.6+/-20.9) microg/L before, during and after sleep, respectively, all P <0. 05]; but there was no difference in corticotropin(ACTH). The average blood oxygen concentration was negatively correlated with average awareness duration (r = -0.713). CONCLUSION: There are abnormal change of HPA axis in OSAHS patients, and the feedback regulation is disordered. These abnormalities are related to sleep awareness and hypoxia during sleep.