Coherent Population Oscillation-Based Light Storage.

We theoretically study the propagation and storage of a classical field in a Λ-type atomic medium using coherent population oscillations (CPOs). We show that the propagation eigenmodes strongly relate to the different CPO modes of the system. Light storage in such modes is discussed by introducing a "populariton" quantity, a mixture of populations and field, by analogy to the dark state polariton used in the context of electromagnetically induced transparency light storage protocol. As experimentally shown, this memory relies on populations and is then-by contrast with usual Raman coherence optical storage protocols-robust to dephasing effects.

Phase-sensitive amplification via coherent population oscillations in metastable helium at room temperature.

In this Letter, we report our experimental results on phase-sensitive amplification (PSA) in a nondegenerate signal-idler configuration using ultranarrow coherent population oscillations in metastable helium at room temperature. We achieved a high PSA gain of nearly 7 with a bandwidth of 200 kHz by using the system at resonance in a single-pass scheme. Further, the measured minimum gain is close to the ideal value, showing that we have a nearly pure PSA. This is also confirmed from our phase-to-phase transfer curves measurements, illustrating that we have a nearly perfect squeezer, which is interesting for a variety of applications.

Molecular targets from VHL studies into the oxygen-sensing pathway.

Inheritance of a faulty von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) tumor suppressor gene is the cause of VHL disease, a rare multisystemic autosomal dominant disorder characterized by the development of hypervascular tumors in a number of organs, including the retina, brain, spine, pancreas, adrenal gland, and the kidney. Recent discoveries have demonstrated that the VHL gene product pVHL serves as a substrate-recognition component of an E3 ubiquitin ligase complex that targets hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) transcription factor for polyubiquitination and subsequent degradation. Accordingly, tumor cells devoid of functional pVHL show an inappropriate accumulation of HIF, as well as downstream HIF-target genes, such as vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), a potent angiogenic factor. Furthermore, HIF has been found to be elevated in many human cancers further underscoring its common significance in oncogenesis. These and other related recent findings have shed significant insight into the mechanisms governing mammalian cellular oxygen homeostasis and how disruptions in this oxygen-sensing pathway can lead to tumorigenesis. Next generation anti-cancer drugs will undoubtedly emerge from our understanding of the molecular pathways governing normal cellular metabolism, growth and differentiation that have gone awry during neoplastic transformation, and studies in VHL disease will serve as one of the proving grounds for the efficacy of 'designer' anti-cancer drugs tailored against the VHL-HIF pathway.

Bmi1 is required for tumorigenesis in a mouse model of intestinal cancer.

The epigenetic regulator BMI1 is upregulated progressively in a wide variety of human tumors including colorectal cancer. In this study, we assessed the requirement for Bmi1 in intestinal tumorigenesis using an autochthonous mouse model in which Apc was conditionally ablated in the intestinal epithelium. Germline mutation of Bmi1 significantly reduced both the number and size of small intestinal adenomas arising in this model, and it acted in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, in contrast to wild-type controls, Bmi1(-/-) mice showed no increase in median tumor size, and a dramatic decrease in tumor number, between 3 and 4 months of age. Thus, Bmi1 is required for both progression and maintenance of small intestinal adenomas. Importantly, Bmi1 deficiency did not disrupt oncogenic events arising from Apc inactivation. Instead, the Arf tumor suppressor, a known target of Bmi1 epigenetic silencing, was upregulated in Bmi1 mutant tumors. This was accompanied by significant upregulation of p53, which was confirmed by sequencing to be wild-type, and also elevated apoptosis within the smallest Bmi1(-/-) adenomas. By crossing Arf into this cancer model, we showed that Arf is required for the induction of both p53 and apoptosis, and it is a key determinant of the ability of Bmi1 deficiency to suppress intestinal tumorigenesis. Finally, a conditional Bmi1 mutant strain was generated and used to determine the consequences of deleting Bmi1 specifically within the intestinal epithelium. Strikingly, intestinal-specific Bmi1 deletion suppressed small intestinal adenomas in a manner that was indistinguishable from germline Bmi1 deletion. Thus, we conclude that Bmi1 deficiency impairs the progression and maintenance of small intestinal tumors in a cell autonomous and highly Arf-dependent manner.

Acute hepatitis C virus in an HIV clinic: a screening strategy, risk factors, and perception of risk.

Acute hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is being acquired undetected among HIV-infected individuals. A practical way to regularly screen HIV-infected patients for acute HCV irrespective of perceived risk or symptoms is needed. We piloted implementation of an acute HCV screening strategy using routine HIV clinical care schedules and the least costly blood tests, in a Rhode Island HIV care center. Study participants had ongoing HCV risk, completed questionnaires encompassing risk behaviors and perception of risk, and were screened with quarterly alanine aminotransferase (ALT). ALT rise triggered HCV RNA testing, with pooled rather than individual specimen HCV RNA testing for underinsured participants. Participants were primarily older, college-educated men who have sex with men (MSM) with history of sexually transmitted infection other than HIV. One of 58 participants developed acute HCV in 50 person-years of observation for an annual incidence of 2.0% per year (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.05-11.1%). The majority (54%) of MSM did not perceive that traumatic sexual and drug practices they were engaging in put them at risk for HCV. Unprotected sex often occurred under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Self-reported HCV risk and participation in several risk behaviors declined during the study. It was possible to collect frequent ALTs in a busy HIV clinic with 71% of total projected ALTs obtained and 88% of participants having at least one ALT during the 9-month follow-up period. All instances of ALT rise led to reflexive HCV RNA testing. Tracking quarterly ALT for elevation to systematically prompt HCV RNA testing before seroconversion is a promising approach to screen for acute HCV in a real-world HIV clinical setting.

The role of hypoxia-inducible factors in cancer.

Hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) is a heterodimeric transcription factor that mediates the adaptive responses to hypoxia by effecting the transcription of numerous hypoxia-inducible genes. HIF is frequently overexpressed in solid tumors, and the transactivation of HIF targets in transformed cells provides a distinct survival advantage. Accordingly, the upregulation of HIF correlates with increased progression or aggressiveness of the cancer and poor prognosis. In addition to the induction of HIF by hypoxia, its expression is induced by the loss of tumor suppressors VHL, PTEN, TSC1/2, PML, and SDH, as well as by the increased activity of PI3K and/or MAPK signaling pathways, underscoring the significance of HIF in oncogenesis.