Increased Hepatitis E Virus Seroprevalence Correlates with Lower CD4+Cell Counts in HIV-Infected Persons in Argentina

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is a single-stranded RNA virus that can cause hepatitis in an epidemic fashion. HEV usually causes asymptomatic or limited acute infections in immunocompetent individuals, whereas in immunosuppressed individuals such as transplant recipients, HEV can cause chronic infections. The risks and outcomes of HEV co-infection in patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) are poorly characterized. We used a third generation immunoassay to measure serum IgG antibodies specific for HEV in 204 HIV-infected individuals from Argentina and a control group of 433 HIV-negative individuals. We found 15 of 204 (7.3%, 95% CI 3.74-10.96%) individuals in the HIV-positive group to have positive HEV IgG levels suggestive of previous infection, compared to 19 of 433 (4.4%, 95% CI 2.5-6.3%) individuals in the HIV-negative control group (p = 0.12). Among HIV-positive individuals, those with HEV seropositivity had lower CD4 counts compared to those that were HEV seronegative (average CD4 count of 234 vs 422 mm(3), p = 0.01), indicating that patients with lower CD4 counts were more likely to be HEV IgG positive. Moreover, HEV seropositivity in patients with CD4 counts <200 mm(3) was 16%, compared to 4.5% in those with CD4 counts >200 mm(3) (p = 0.012). We found a positive PCR result for HEV in one individual. Our study found that increased seroprevalence of HEV IgG correlated with lower CD4 counts in HIV-infected patients in Argentina

Visible light TiO\u3csub\u3e2\u3c/sub\u3e photocatalysts assessment for air decontamination

\u3cp\u3eDifferent visible light responses of commercial TiO\u3csub\u3e2\u3c/sub\u3e photocatalysts are assessed for their application in air decontamination. To do that the modified TiO\u3csub\u3e2\u3c/sub\u3e catalysts were immobilized on borosilicate glass plates according to a dip coating method. Then, the photocatalytic performance of these plates was evaluated in a continuous gas flat plate photoreactor irradiated with visible light lamps using two representative air pollutants: nitrogen oxide and acetaldehyde. Working under visible light, the modified TiO\u3csub\u3e2\u3c/sub\u3e catalysts were compared by means of efficiency parameters: the true quantum efficiency, which relates the moles of degraded pollutant with the moles of the absorbed photons, and the apparent photonic efficiency, which relates the moles of degraded pollutant with the moles of incident photons. Also, the photocatalytic pollutants degradation by immobilized modified TiO\u3csub\u3e2\u3c/sub\u3e could be related with their optical properties, finding a clear correlation between them. These results are useful to decide which TiO\u3csub\u3e2\u3c/sub\u3e will be more efficient for a full scale air decontamination process under visible light illumination.\u3c/p\u3

Photocatalytic Pavements

Pavements which have been blended, coated, sprayed, etc., with photocatalytic TiO2 additives have attracted world-wide interest during the past decade-plus period based on their environmentally beneficial abilities to provide reactive (i.e., ‘smog-eating pavement’ plus ‘self-cleaning’) and reflective (i.e., ‘cool pavement’) impacts. The former ‘reactive’ capabilities notably involve a de-polluting property where TiO2 irradiation with UV-A spectrum light is able to oxidatively convert a variety of problematic organic and inorganic pollutants within both atmospheric and aqueous runoff zones. This suite of transportation-generated amenable contaminants notably includes NOX residuals which otherwise represent a serious environmental and human-health challenge within high traffic density, inner-urban highway locations with high-density adjacent resident populations. Multiple laboratory-level photo-reactor studies published over the past several decades have demonstrated this photocatalytic NOX-removal capability, while at the same time scientifically exploring and elucidating key relationships between NOX abatement and various environmental factors (e.g., light wavelength and intensity, ambient relative humidity and surface moisture, pavement temperature, surface soiling impacts, etc.). Field monitoring, albeit in more limited fashion, has provided similarly supportive findings at a number of locations involving not only TiO2-bearing pavements but also locations paved with blocks, pavers, bricks, etc. which have been sprayed or coated with TiO2-enriched admixtures. This chapter, therefore, provides an overview of the related literature covering academic, industrial, patent, and related perspectives and both experimental and full-scale findings. While this existing body of knowledge is substantial, complementary conclusions are also provided regarding recommendations for additional research which appears warranted to pragmatically strengthen the future understanding of TiO2-related pavement performance