The effect of selenium (Se) in reducing the toxicity of cisplatin in cancer patients was studied. Forty-one patients were randomized into group A (20 patients with Se administration in first cycle of chemotherapy as study cases and without Se in second cycle of chemotherapy as control) and group B (21 patients without Se in first cycle of chemotherapy and with Se in second cycle of chemotherapy). The 4000 micrograms per day of Se as Seleno-Kappacarrageenan were administered from 4 before to 4 d after chemotherapy for study cases. The serum Se increased from 70.4 +/- 22.86 to 157.04 +/- 60.23 ng/mL (P < 0.001) in patients received Se. The cisplatin dosage was iv administration in 60-80 mg/m2 on the first day. The results showed that the peripheral WBC counts on day 14 after initiation of chemotherapy in study cases was significantly higher than the controls (3.35 +/- 2.01 vs 2.31 +/- 1.38 [x10(9)L])/L, p < 0.05). On the other hand, the consumption of GCSF for the cases was significantly less than the controls (110.1 +/- 82.2 vs 723.6 +/- 192.6 IU, p < 0.05). The volumes of blood transfusion for the study group were also significantly less than the controls (0 vs 62 +/- 38 mL, p < 0.05). The nephrotoxicity of cisplatin was measured by urine enzymes (NAG, GGT, AAP, LAP, and ALP) were determined prior to and at 2, 24, 48, and 72 h after initiation of chemotherapy. The urine enzymes NAG, GGT, AAP, and ALP after chemotherapy for cases were significantly lower than the controls. No toxicity of Seleno-Kappacarrageenan was noted. The above results suggest that the Se can be used as an agent for reducing the nephrotoxicity and bone marrow suppression induced by cisplatin.

Since Grätzel and O'Brian first reported dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs) in 1991, much effort has been devoted towards improving their energy conversion efficiency. [1][2][3] Recently, the design and synthesis of infrared/near-infrared (IR/near-IR)-dyes has become an important topic in the area of solar cells since it has been recognized that the solar spectrum has a large photon flux in the region of 500-1000 nm. Improving the absorption of solar light in this region is one of the main directions in aiming for DSC efficiencies beyond 15 %. Near-IR sensitizers are also of interest because of their potential applications in transparent solar cells for windows and tandem cells.When used in DSCs, near-IR dyes reported in the literature, such as squaraines, [4][5][6] zinc phthalocyanines [7][8][9][10] and perylene dyes, [11][12][13] normally show low incident-photon-to-current conversion efficiency (IPCE) values and poor stability compared to donorp spacer-acceptor (D-p-A) organic dyes. Recently, Ko [5] and Marder [6] independently reported several panchromatic squaraine sensitizers, which yielded relatively high power conversion efficiencies (PCEs) (6.29 % and 6.74 %) under AM 1.5 G irradiation. However, both displayed low IPCE values (< 70 %) from in the wavelength range 400-770 nm. Also, although a promising PCE of 4.6 % was achieved in a DSC based on a structurally related zinc phthalocyanine by Taya and co-workers, [9] the highest IPCE value was only 80 % at 680 nm.Recently, novel D-p-A organic dyes with two features were reported: new chromophores for sensitization in the near-IR region and new design of the anchoring group. [14] Compared to conventional D-p-A dyes (that use cyanoacrylic acid as acceptor and anchoring group), the anchoring group in these dyes was separated from the acceptor units. This change allowed tuning of the highest occupied-lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (HOMO-LUMO) levels (absorption spectra) in an easier way, through modifying the structure of the acceptor units. By adopting this strategy, we succeeded for the first time in extending the absorption spectra of D-p-A sensitizers for DSCs to the near-IR region. In particular, the dye HY103 gave a maximum IPCE of 86 % at 660 nm and an overall solarenergy-to-electricity conversion efficiency (h) of 3.7 %. The low open-circuit voltage (464 mV) limited its photovoltaic performance.To improve this system, we report a novel D-p-A organic dye with a lateral anchoring group: HY113. In HY113, a flexible, long carbon chain replaces the methyl group of the donor part of HY103. The aim of the present work is to make use of this carbon chain to prevent the formation of molecular aggregates on the semiconductor nanoparticles, thereby blocking charge recombination at relatively high open-circuit voltages and short-circuit photocurrent densities. HY113 performed impressively, with a maximum IPCE of 93 % at 660 nm and an overall solar-energy-to-electricity conversion efficiency of 5.1 %; the highest IPCE value in the near-IR region and the highest ...

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B lymphoma Mo-MLV insertion region 1 homolog (Bmi-1) is a core protein component of the polycomb repressive complex 1 that inhibits cell senescence and maintains the self-renewal ability of stem cells via downregulation of p16Ink4a and p19Arf expression. Bmi-1 serves an important role in hematopoietic stem cell maintenance and neurodevelopment during embryonic development, and it has been shown to enhance tumorigenesis by promoting cancer stem cell self-renewal and epithelial to mesenchymal transition. Emerging evidence suggests that Bmi-1 overexpression is closely related to the development and progression of various types of cancer, and that downregulation of Bmi-1 expression can inhibit the proliferation, invasion and metastasis of cancer cells. It is therefore important to elucidate the mechanisms underlying the regulation of Bmi-1 expression both under normal growth conditions and in malignant tissues. In the present review, the current body of knowledge pertaining to the transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulation of the BMI-1 gene is discussed, and the potential mechanisms by which Bmi-1 is dysregulated in various types of cancer are highlighted. Bmi-1 expression is primarily controlled via transcriptional regulation, and is regulated by the transcription https://www.ushuaia.pl/hyphen/?ln=en factors of the Myc family, including Myb, Twist1, SALL4 and E2F-1. Post-transcriptionally, regulation of Bmi-1 expression is inhibited by several microRNAs and certain small-molecule drugs. Thus, regulatory transcriptional factors are potential therapeutic targets to reduce Bmi-1 expression in cancer cells. Thus, the present review provides an up-to-date review on the regulation of BMI-1 gene expression at the transcriptional and post-transcriptional level.