Photocatalytic Degradation Efficiency and Mechanism of Microcystin-RR by Mesoporous Bi₂WO₆ under Near Ultraviolet Light

Microcystin-RR (MC-RR) is one of the most common cyanotoxin microcystins in fresh water and is of great concern due to its potential hepatotoxicity. In the present study, Bi₂WO₆ was synthesized with a hydrothermal method by varying the pH of the reaction solution in the range of 1–11. The surface area of the catalysts decreased, but the crystallinity and crystal size increased with the pH. The adsorption and degradation capacities of the catalysts decreased with increasing the preparation solution pH. The Bi₂WO₆ prepared at pH 1 (Bi₂WO₆-pH1) displayed the highest adsorption and degradation capacity to MC-RR even though it consisted of randomly aggregated particles. Nearly 100% of MC-RR at 10 mg L^–1 was removed after 30 min of irradiation of near-ultraviolet light (300–400 nm) in a solution with Bi₂WO₆ concentration of 0.2 g L^–1. The photodegradation efficiency of Bi₂WO₆-pH1 was greater in acid medium than in basic solutions. Several intermediate products were observed and identified by liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry, and a unique photodegradation pathway was proposed. It was assumed that a photo-Kolbe process happened at the site carboxyl acid group of the d-Glu residue by the photogenerated holes, producing a hydroperoxyl product at <i>m</i>/<i>z</i> 513.8. This intermediate could be further decomposed to an alcohol product at <i>m</i>/<i>z</i> 505.8 and a ketone product at <i>m</i>/<i>z</i> 504.8. The aromatic ring and diene bond of the Adda chain could also be attacked by the holes and form phenol and diol products

Protocols of rhuIL-2 treatment.

<p>Protocols of rhuIL-2 treatment.</p

Flow diagram of the study selection process.

<p>Flow diagram of the study selection process.</p

Therapeutic effects of recombinant human interleukin 2 as adjunctive immunotherapy against tuberculosis: A systematic review and meta-analysis

<div><p>Background</p><p>Interleukin 2 (IL-2) is a cytokine secreted by activated T cells. Studies exploring recombinant human interleukin 2 (rhuIL-2) as an adjunctive immunotherapeutic agent to treat tuberculosis (TB) have shown variable results; however, the true therapeutic efficacy of rhuIL-2 administration in TB patients has not been determined.</p><p>Methods</p><p>A systematic review to identify publications exploring the association between rhuIL-2-based immunotherapy for TB and outcomes (sputum culture conversion, sputum smear conversion, radiographic changes, and leukocyte phenotype changes) in patients with pulmonary TB published before June 8, 2018 was performed. Data were extracted and analyzed by two investigators independently.</p><p>Results</p><p>A total of 2,272 records were screened. Four randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comprising 656 pulmonary TB patients were finally included. The rhuIL-2 treatment could significantly improve the sputum culture conversion of TB (RR, 1.18; 95%CI: 1.03–1.36; I² < 0.01; P = 0.019) after at least 3 months of anti-TB therapy and the sputum smear conversion of TB during anti-TB therapy. Treating multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) with rhuIL-2 could improve the sputum culture conversion (RR, 1.28; 95%CI: 1.05–1.57; I² < 0.01; P = 0.016) and smear conversion (RR, 1.28; 95%CI: 1.09–1.51; I² < 0.01; P = 0.003) at the end of anti-TB treatment. Meanwhile, rhuIL-2-based adjunctive immunotherapy could expand the proliferation and conversion of CD4⁺ and natural killer (NK) cells. Three of the included studies suggested that radiographic changes could not be improved by the use of rhuIL-2 as adjunctive immunotherapy. Publication bias did not exist.</p><p>Conclusions</p><p>Based on this first meta-analysis, rhuIL-2-based adjunctive immunotherapy appears to expand the proliferation and conversion of CD4⁺ and NK cells, as well as improve the sputum culture (at 3 months and later) and smear conversion of TB patients.</p></div

Forest plots of the effect of rhuIL-2 treatment on sputum culture conversion.

<p>A. Meta-analysis of the sputum culture conversion at the third month of anti-TB treatment. B. Meta-analysis of the sputum culture conversion of MDR-TB patients at the end of anti-TB treatment. Weights are calculated from both fixed and random effects models.</p

Patient demographics of the included trials.

<p>Patient demographics of the included trials.</p

Quality and bias of the included trials.

<p>Quality and bias of the included trials.</p

Forest plots of the effect of rhuIL-2 treatment on sputum smear conversion of MDR-TB patients.

<p>Forest plots of the effect of rhuIL-2 treatment on sputum smear conversion of MDR-TB patients.</p

Funnel plot of the four eligible studies that reported sputum culture conversion in pulmonary tuberculosis patients.

<p>Funnel plot of the four eligible studies that reported sputum culture conversion in pulmonary tuberculosis patients.</p

Locations of 5S and 45S rDNA in four tetraploid and four D-genome species.

<div><p>green and weak fluorescence signals with green arrow; 5S rDNA: green fluorescence signals; 45S rDNA: red fluorescence signals. For D-genome species and D-subgenome, the short arm and the long arm were distinguished by the location of 150D24 with red fluorescence signals on intercalary chromosomes. Marked chromosomes with green arrow were enlarged at the top-right corner with the short arm on the top, and the 45S or 5S signals were marked with white arrow. Bar =5µm.</p> <p>a–c: FISH images with 45S on chromosomes A _h09, D _h07 and D _h09 and that with 5S on chromosomes A _h09 and D _h09 for A ₁D₁, respectively.</p> <p>d–f: FISH images with 45S on chromosomes A _tt09, D _tt07 and D _tt09 and that with 5S on chromosomes A _tt09 and D _tt09 for A ₃D₃, respectively.</p> <p>g–j: FISH images with 45S on chromosomes A _m07, A _m09 and A _m08 (g, h, i) and that with 5S on chromosomes A _m09 and D _m09 (h, j) for A ₄D₄, respectively.</p> <p>k: FISH images with 45S and 5S on chromosome A _b09 of A ₂D₂.</p> <p>l–o: FISH images with 45S and 5S on chromosomes D₉05, D₉07, D₉09 and D₉12 and that with 5S on chromosome D ₉09 for D₉, respectively.</p> <p>p–r: FISH images with 45S and 5S on chromosomes D₁₁05, D₁₁07 and D₁₁09 and that with 5S on the chromosome D ₁₁09 for D₁₁, respectively.</p> <p>s, t: FISH images with 45S and 5S on chromosomes D₆07 and D₆09 and that with 5S on chromosome D ₆09 for D₆, respectively.</p> <p>u–w: FISH images with 45S and 5S on chromosomes D₅09, D₅02 and D₅11 and that with 5S on chromosome D ₅09 for D₅, respectively.</p></div