Unraveling the Structure-Activity-Stability Relationship over Gallium-Promoted HZSM-5 Nanocrystalline Aggregates for Propane Aromatization.

The aromatization of light alkane is an important process for increasing the aromatic production and utilization efficiency of light alkane resources simultaneously. Herein, Ga-modified HZSM-5 catalysts were prepared and investigated by a series of characterization techniques such as X-ray diffraction, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, N2 adsorption-desorption, and NH3 temperature-programmed desorption to study their physicochemical properties. The catalytic performance in propane aromatization was also tested. Importantly, the structure-activity relationship, reaction pathway, and coke formation mechanism in propane aromatization were systematically explored. It was found that different Ga introduction methods would affect the amounts of Brønsted and Lewis acid sites, and Ga-HZSM-5 prepared by the hydrothermal method exhibited higher amounts of Brønsted and Lewis acid sites but a lower B/L ratio. As a result, Ga-HZSM-5 showed higher propane conversion and benzene, toluene, and xylene yield compared with that of Ga2O3/HZSM-5. The propane aromatization reaction pathway indicated that propane dehydrogenation to propene was a crucial step for aromatic formation. The increase of the Lewis acid density in Ga-HZSM-5 can effectively improve the dehydrogenation rate and promote the aromatization reaction. Furthermore, the formation of coke species was studied by thermogravimetry-mass spectrometry and Raman approaches, the results of which indicated that the graphitization degree of coke formed over spent Ga-HZSM-5 is lower, resulting in enhanced anticoking stability.

Clinical significance and management of low-level HIV viremia in the era of integrase strand transfer inhibitors.

BACKGROUND: People living with HIV (PLWH) and receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART) have a goal of achieving and maintaining viral suppression; however, the existence of PLWH that show events of low-level viremia (LLV) between 50 and 1000 copies/mL and with different virological consequences have been observed. Moreover, some reports indicate that LLV status can lead to residual immune activation and inflammation, leading to a higher occurrence of non-AIDS-defining events (nADEs) and other adverse clinical outcomes. Until now, however, published data have shown controversial results that hinder understanding of this phenomenon's actual cause(s) and origin(s). Integrase strand transfer inhibitors (INSTIs)-based therapies could lead to lower LLV over time and, therefore, more effective virological control. OBJECTIVES: This review aims to assess recent findings to provide a view of the clinical significance and management of low-level HIV viremia in the era of INSTIs.

A Case of Kaposi's Sarcoma Associated with Disseminated AIDS: The Management Challenges.

Background: As a malignant tumor derived from vascular endothelial cells, Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) is quite common in AIDS patients. Nonspecific clinical symptoms often lead to timely diagnosis or wrong treatment, leading to recurrent disease and poor prognosis. Anti-retroviral therapy (ART) could significantly reduce its morbidity and aggressiveness. As one of the ARTs, liposome anthracyclines are the preferred chemotherapy regimen for disseminated KS with multiple organs or tissue invasion. The curative effect is highly related to the degree of immunosuppression. This is the first case of AIDS with Kaposi's sarcoma, who was cured after ART and two consecutive chemotherapy with doxorubicin liposome without recurrence. This case may provide new ideas and methods for the clinical management of AIDS with Kaposi's sarcoma. Case Description: The patient, a male aged 60 years, was hospitalized on 21/11/2018 following having a cough, expectoration, and difficulty breathing. He was infected with HIV eight years ago and presented symptoms of blood-stained sputum. The patient complained that he had not received ART before. After admission, he was diagnosed as KS with disseminated AIDS after multiple biopsies and histopathological examinations. The patient was treated with ten months of ART (lamivudine+tenofovir+dolutegravir) and 14 times of chemotherapy with doxorubicin liposome (20 mg/m2, three times per week, seven times per course of treatment). The patient's disease was finally alleviated, and there was no recurrence during the follow-up. Conclusion: The reconstitution of immune function and consecutive chemotherapy with doxorubicin liposome play a vital role in treating KS. In addition, for the early general symptoms of AIDS patients, such as thrombocytopenia and hemorrhagic purple papules, it is necessary to increase vigilance and obtain the results of histopathological verification as soon as possible to diagnose KS patients at an earlier stage and realize clinical intervention in time.

Reactive Adsorption Desulfurization Coupling Olefin Conversion in Fluid Catalytic Cracking Gasoline Upgrading Process.

Reactive adsorption desulfurization experiments were carried out on fluid catalytic cracking gasoline over a Ni/ZnO adsorbent in a fixed bed reactor. Results demonstrated that desulfurization is accompanied by hydrogen transfer, while isomerization and aromatization reactions are rare. Reactive adsorption desulfurization coupling olefin conversion was attempted by mixing a catalyst consisting Zn-ZSM-5 with an adsorbent at a certain proportion. The process reduced the loss of octane number and sustained ultradeep desulfurization ability simultaneously. An Fe-modified Ni/ZnO adsorbent was developed, which possessed better olefin retention ability than the Ni/ZnO adsorbent. The Ni-Fe/ZnO adsorbent mixed catalyst exhibited better olefin conversion performance and lower octane number loss than that of the Ni/ZnO adsorbent mixed catalyst because more olefins were retained for isomerization and aromatization reaction on the catalyst. The proportion of the catalyst added and the operating conditions of the process were optimized, ultralow sulfur gasoline was produced, and loss of octane number was low under optimal operating conditions. The amount of octane number lost was reduced by 85% compared with conventional reactive adsorption desulfurization. In addition, the process exhibited excellent desulfurization and olefin conversion performance in multiple regeneration cycles, demonstrating the feasibility of continuous processing.

Targeting ß-glucans, vital components of the Pneumocystis cell wall.

ß-glucan is the most abundant polysaccharide in the cell wall of Pneumocystis jirovecii, which has attracted extensive attention because of its unique immunobiological characteristics. ß-glucan binds to various cell surface receptors, which produces an inflammatory response and accounts for its immune effects. A deeper comprehension of the processes by Pneumocystis ß-glucan recognizes its receptors, activates related signaling pathways, and regulates immunity as required. Such understanding will provide a basis for developing new therapies against Pneumocystis. Herein, we briefly review the structural composition of ß-glucans as a vital component of the Pneumocystis cell wall, the host immunity mediated by ß-glucans after their recognition, and discuss opportunities for the development of new strategies to combat Pneumocystis.

A novel U-shaped relationship between mitochondrial mass and risk of incomplete immune reconstitution in HIV-infected patients on antiviral therapy.

Mitochondrial mass (MM) is considered an essential parameter of the immune system, but the association of MM with incomplete immune reconstitution (IIR) in people living with HIV (PLWH) remains unclear. Here, we tested 2148 blood samples from 1999 PLWH by flow cytometry in China between August 2021 and February 2022. A novel U-shaped relationship, determined by multivariable smooth curve fitting and piecewise-linear mixed-effect model, was observed between the ratio of MM to SD (MM/SD) and IIR, with a threshold cutoff of 2.8. For MM/SD <2.8, per SD increment of MM was independently associated with 30%, 30%, 20%, and 20% decreased risk of CD4+ T-cell counts <500 cells/µL after 4 years of treatment and CD4+ T-cell counts <350 cells/µL after 4, 5, 6 years of treatment, respectively. Our study suggested that increasing MM may indicate the low risk of IIR for PLWH with MM/SD <2.8.

Research Progress on the Relationship between the NLRP3 Inflammasome and Immune Reconstitution in HIV-Infected Patients Receiving Antiretroviral Therapy.

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection is characterized not only by severe immunodeficiency but also by persistent inflammation and immune activation. These characteristics persist in people living with HIV (PLHIV) receiving effective antiretroviral therapy (ART) and are associated with morbidity and mortality in nonacquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) events. ART can inhibit HIV replication and promote immune reconstitution, which is currently the most effective way to control AIDS. However, despite effective long-term ART and overall suppression of plasma HIV RNA level, PLHIV still shows chronic low-level inflammation. The exact mechanisms that trigger chronic inflammation are unknown. Activation of the inflammasome is essential for the host response to pathogens, and some recent studies have confirmed the role of the inflammasome in the pathogenesis of inflammatory diseases. The NLRP3 inflammasome has been widely studied, which is a pyrin domain-containing protein 3 belonging to the family of nucleotide-binding and oligomerization domain-like receptors (NLRs). Recent studies suggest that inflammasome-mediated pyroptosis is associated with CD4+ T cell loss in the absence of persistent infectious HIV replication. This article reviews the mechanism of the NLRP3 inflammasome and its correlation with immune reconstitution in PLHIV treated with ART.

Comparing Noninvasive Predictors of Neurosyphilis Among Syphilis Patients With and Without HIV Co-Infection Based on the Real-World Diagnostic Criteria: A Single-Center, Retrospective Cohort Study in China.

Diagnosis of neurosyphilis is currently based on the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) assessments and CSF-Venereal Disease Research Laboratory (CSF-VDRL) is the traditional "gold standard." In the real world, CSF assessments and CSF-VDRL are not always available. This study aimed to identify noninvasive predictors of neurosyphilis based on real-world clinical parameters and diagnostic criteria in populations with different HIV status. In this retrospective cohort study, syphilis patients with different HIV statuses hospitalized for neurosyphilis screening were retrospectively recruited at an infectious disease hospital. Neurosyphilis was defined by real-world diagnostic criteria. Logistic regression and receiver operating characteristic curve analysis were used to investigate and evaluate predictors of neurosyphilis. In total, 528 patients were enrolled, including 143 syphilis patients without HIV infection and 385 HIV/syphilis-co-infected patients. One hundred twelve and 304 neurosyphilis patients were identified in the HIV-negative and HIV-positive groups, respectively. A high serum toluidine red unheated serum test (TRUST) titer was a robust predictor of neurosyphilis in all participants. An age ≥50 years old [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 5.062, 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.449-17.680] in the HIV-negative group and CD4+ T cell count <330/µL (<300 as reference, aOR = 0.552, 95% CI, 0.315-0.966) in the HIV-positive group were predictors of asymptomatic neurosyphilis. In real-world situations, for asymptomatic syphilis patients, relatively old age and a high serum TRUST titer in HIV-negative populations, and CD4+ T cells <330/µL and/or serum TRUST titer >1:64 in HIV-positive populations might predict neurosyphilis.

Case Report: Tropheryma whipplei Hide in an AIDS Patient With Pneumocystis Pneumonia.

Introduction:Pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP) is one of the most common opportunistic infections in HIV-infected patients. However, coinfection with Tropheryma whipplei is infrequent in AIDS patients with PCP. Case Presentation: We report a 28-year-old male AIDS patient coinfected with T. whipplei and Pneumocystis jirovecii diagnosed in the bronchoalveolar lavage. After sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim and meropenem treatment, the patient showed clinical improvement in 2 weeks. Conclusion: Clinicians need to be alert to the occurrence of T. whipplei infection in AIDS patients with PCP and timely diagnosis and antibacterial treatments are essential. This case may help clinicians for timely diagnosis of the coinfection of T. whipplei and P. jirovecii in AIDS patients.

A novel and sensitive method for determination of amisulpride in human plasma by two-dimensional liquid chromatography.

A novel and sensitive heart-cutting two-dimensional liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detection method (2D-LC-UV) was developed and validated for determination of amisulpride in human plasma. The 2D-LC system consists of a first dimensional (1 D) LC column and a middle transfer column as well as a second-dimensional (2 D) LC column. After simple protein precipitation, the sample was directly injected into the introduction valve of the 2D-LC system. The 1 D column, playing a role of primary separation and preconcentration for complex plasma matrices, transferred the targets to the intermediate column. Following capture of targets on the middle column online, the analytes were transferred to the 2 D separation column by a six-port valve. The 2 D column, avoiding interference from the plasma matrix, completed further separation and quantification. An assistant pump was optimized for primary enrichment as well as final elution in the heart-cutting mode. The analytical time of amisulpride was 7.401 min. The accuracy was between 0.48 and 8.49%, while the intra- and inter-day precisions ranged from 0.9 to 3.1% and from 1.7% to 3.3%, respectively. The linear range of amisulpride was 48.15-2,407.59 ng/ml, while the extraction recovery was 98.7-101.3%. The strategy established in the study, which was successfully applied to therapeutic drug monitoring of amisulpride for routine clinical detection, displays high sensitivity, good repeatability, convenience and low cost.

The Presence of Secondary Evans Syndrome in AIDS Patients with Talaromyces marneffei Infection.

OBJECTIVE: Talaromyces marneffei (T.M) is a common opportunistic fungus in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection individual. Secondary Evans syndrome in AIDS patients with Talaromyces marneffei infection has not been reported before. Here, we described cases related to this comorbidity. METHODS: AIDS patients diagnosed with Talaromyces marneffei infection from 2016 to 2020 at Xixi Hospital of Hangzhou were included in this retrospective study. RESULTS: Total 76 AIDS patients with T.M infection were enrolled. The most common symptoms were fever and cough (70/76; 55/76, respectively). 53/76 (69.74%) patients got positive results of direct antiglobulin test. 14/76 AIDS-T.M patients combined with secondary Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH). Five patients were diagnosed with AIDS-T.M associated Evans syndrome. There were severe inflammatory reaction, liver dysfunction, coagulation dysfunction and immunodeficiency status in AIDS-T.M patients with secondary Evans syndrome. All patients received antifungal therapy and three patients received corticosteroids for Evans syndrome treatment. One patient died due to sepsis. CONCLUSION: AIDS-T.M patients with secondary Evans syndrome is extremely rare and we need to be alert to the occurrence of secondary Evans syndrome in AIDS-T.M patients. Clinicians should timely start effective antifungal treatments with suspicious T.M infection in AIDS patients.

Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy in an HIV patient was diagnosed by 3 times lumbar punctures and 2 times brain biopsies.

Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) is a rare demyelinating disease of the central nervous system caused by JC virus (JCV) and is difficult to diagnose. We report on a male HIV-positive patient with PML finally diagnosed by 3 times lumbar punctures and 2 times brain biopsies. Negative results of JCV-PCR in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) do not rule out the diagnosis of PML when clinical manifestations and neuroimaging features suspected PML. It is necessary to obtain new CSF and make repeat tests and even perform brain biopsy.

Pathogenic microorganism detection in AIDS patients using bronchoalveolar lavage fluid.

This study aimed to investigate the use of fiberoptic bronchoscopy and bronchoalveolar lavage in the diagnosis of pulmonary pathogenic microorganism infection in AIDS patients. We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data, fiberoptic bronchoscopy and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid laboratory examinations of 209 AIDS patients with pulmonary infection. Among 209 patients, we found 42 cases of mycobacterial infection, 3 cases of bacterial infection, 58 cases of pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP), 27 cases that were fungal positive, 99 cases of CMV, and 103 cases positive for GM test of which 83 cases were considered Aspergillus positive. BALF pathogen distribution was related to CD4+ T lymphocyte count. The primary pathogens of pulmonary infection in AIDS patients were cytomegalovirus, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, fungi, and Pneumocystis carinii. Fiberoptic bronchoscopy and bronchoalveolar lavage are important in the diagnosis of pathogenic microorganisms in lung infections of AIDS patients.

HIV Infection Does Not Increase 10-Week Mortality of Chinese Cryptococcal Meningitis Patients.

The role of HIV infection in precipitating different clinical features in cryptococcal meningitis (CM) patients remains controversial. One hundred twelve CM patients living with HIV/AIDS (CM+HIV+ patients) and 112 CM patients living without HIV/AIDS (CM+HIV- patients) were enrolled after propensity score matching. Demographic characteristics, symptoms, routine blood tests, and biochemical and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) profiles were compared between the two groups. Kaplan-Meier analysis and Cox proportional hazards model was used to assess 10-week mortality. CM+HIV+ patients frequently occurred in young (mean age 40.3 ± 10.5) and male (89.3%) populations who also experienced leukopenia, neutropenia, lymphocytopenia, thrombocytopenia, and hypoalbuminemia, less headaches (66.9%), and higher cryptococcemia (23.2%) (all p < .050); they also had higher glucose (2.6 ± 1.1 mmol/L), increased smear positivity (78.8%), and decreased white blood cells [8.0 (2.0-28.0) × 106/L] in initial CSF assay (all p < .050). The 10-week cumulative survival rate was 84.6% for CM+HIV+ patients and 88.5% for CM+HIV- patients (p = .345). Age <35.0 years (hazard ratio (HR) 3.0 (1.0-8.9), p = .046), intracranial pressure (ICP) >250.0 mmH2O (HR: 4.8 (1.1-21.6), p = .041), and treatment lacking amphotericin B [HR: 6.5 (1.9-21.4), p = .003] were independent risk factors for 10-week mortality in CM+HIV+ patients. There are significant clinical differences in CM patients living with or without HIV/AIDS. However, the 10-week survival rate was similar between the two groups. Younger population, high ICP, and treatment lacking amphotericin B were independent risk factors for 10-week mortality of Chinese CM+HIV+ patients.

Association of ABCB1 polymorphisms with lipid homeostasis and liver injury response to atorvastatin in the Chinese population.

The present research was to assess the relationship between ABCB1 (G2677T/A, C3435T) polymorphisms and lipid homeostasis as well as risk of liver injury induced by atorvastatin in in-patients from China. The lipid levels (total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein, triglycerides) as well as metabolic enzymes of hepar (glutamic-pyruvic transaminase, glutamic-oxalacetic transaminase, alkaline phosphatase, γ-glutamyl transpeptidase) in plasma for 162 patients were measured at baseline and after approximately 6 months of atorvastatin treatment. Polymorphisms of the ABCB1 gene were determined using the Snapshot technique. The associations between genetic polymorphisms and lipid levels as well as hepar indexes were evaluated at the end of medical treatment. Based on one-way ANOVA analysis, patients with the 2677GG or 3435TT genotypes showed a remarkable decrease in percentage when the level of TC was above 4.00 mmol·L-1, separately (P < 0.05). There was a significant decrease in percentage in the frequency of patients with the 2677GG genotype (low-density lipoprotein > 2.00 mmol·L-1) (P < 0.05). The level of glutamic-pyruvic transaminase in patients with the 2677GG or 3435CC genotype displayed a significantly increase in percentage, respectively (P < 0.05). The ABCB1 G-C haplotype carriers were associated with an increased risk of AILI. The results provide evidence for clinically individualised utilisation of atorvastatin for lipid homeostasis as well as risk of induced liver injury in the Chinese population.

Furfuralcohol Co-Polymerized Urea Formaldehyde Resin-derived N-Doped Microporous Carbon for CO2 Capture.

Carbon-based adsorbent is considered to be one of the most promising adsorbents for CO2 capture form flue gases. In this study, a series of N-doped microporous carbon materials were synthesized from low cost and widely available urea formaldehyde resin co-polymerized with furfuralcohol. These N-doped microporous carbons showed tunable surface area in the range of 416-2273 m(2) g(-1) with narrow pore size distribution within less than 1 nm and a high density of the basic N functional groups (2.93-13.92 %). Compared with the carbon obtained from urea resin, the addition of furfuralcohol apparently changed the surface chemical composition and pore size distribution, especially ultramicropores as can be deduced from the X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), and pore size distribution measurements and led to remarkable improvement on CO2 adsorption capacity. At 1 atm, N-doped carbons activated at 600 °C with KOH/UFFC weight ratio of 2 (UFFA-2-600) showed the highest CO2 uptake of 3.76 and 1.57 mmol g(-1) at 25 and 75 °C, respectively.

Tailoring acidity of HZSM-5 nanoparticles for methyl bromide dehydrobromination by Al and Mg incorporation.

Three kinds of HZSM-5 nanoparticles with different acidity were tailored by impregnating MgO or varying Si/Al ratios. Both the textural and acidic properties of the as-prepared nanoparticles were characterized by nitrogen adsorption-desorption measurements, X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), ammonia temperature-programmed desorption (NH3-TPD) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR or Py-FTIR). It was found that the intensity of Lewis acid sites with weak strength was enhanced by impregnating MgO or reducing Al concentration, and such an enhancement could be explained by the formation of Mg(OH)(+) or charge unbalance of the MgO framework on the surface of HZSM-5 support. The effect of HZSM-5 nanoparticles' acidity on methyl bromide dehydrobromination as catalyst was evaluated. As the results, MgHZ-360 catalyst with the highest concentration of Lewis acid sites showed excellent stability, which maintained methyl bromide conversion of up 97% in a period of 400 h on stream. Coke characterization by BET measurements and TGA/DTA and GC/MS analysis revealed that polymethylated naphthalenes species were formed outside the channels of the catalyst with higher acid intensity and higher Brønsted acid concentration during the initial period of reaction, while graphitic carbon formed in the channels of catalyst with lower acid intensity and higher Lewis acid concentration during the stable stage.

Association between the interleukin-6 gene -572 C/G polymorphism and the risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus: a meta-analysis of 11,681 subjects.

The association between the interleukin-6 (IL-6) gene -572 C/G (rs1800796) polymorphism and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) risk remains controversial. Thus, we performed this meta-analysis by searching PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, CBMdisc and CNKI databases until January 30, 2012. In addition, hand searching of the references of identified articles was performed. A total of 10 case-control studies including 11,681 subjects were selected to evaluate the possible association. Our results showed evidence for significant association between the IL-6 gene -572 C/G polymorphism and T2DM risk (for G allele vs. C allele: odds ratio [OR] = 1.29, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.09-1.52, P = 0.002, P = 0.008 after Bonferroni testing; for G/G vs. C/C: OR = 1.89, 95% CI = 1.51-2.37, P < 0.00001, P < 0.00004 after Bonferroni testing; for GG vs. G/C + C/C: OR = 1.75, 95% CI = 1.20-2.56, P = 0.004, P = 0.016 after Bonferroni testing; for G/G + G/C vs. C/C: OR = 1.32, 95% CI = 1.11-1.57, P = 0.001, P = 0.004 after Bonferroni testing). In addition, similar results were obtained in the subgroup analysis based on ethnicity. In summary, the present meta-analysis suggests a significant association between the IL-6 gene -572 G allele and increased risk of T2DM.

Association between interleukin-6 gene -174 G/C polymorphism and the risk of coronary heart disease: a meta-analysis of 20 studies including 9619 cases and 10,919 controls.

Interleukin-6 (IL-6) gene -174 G/C polymorphism has been reported to be associated with coronary heart disease (CHD), but the results remain inconclusive. The present meta-analysis was therefore designed to clarify these controversies. This meta-analysis was performed by searching PubMed, Embase and Web of Science databases. A total of 20 studies including 9619 CHD cases and 10,919 controls were combined showing no evidence of association between IL-6 gene -174 G/C polymorphism and CHD risk (for C/C+C/G vs. G/G: OR=1.10, 95% CI=0.99-1.22, p=0.07; for C/C vs. C/G+G/G: OR=1.08, 95% CI=0.93-1.24, p=0.33; for C/C vs. G/G: OR=1.16, 95% CI=0.97-1.39, p=0.11; for C allele vs. G allele: OR=1.10, 95% CI=1.00-1.21, p=0.06). Moreover, we also did not find significant association between IL-6 gene -174 G/C polymorphism and myocardial infarction (MI) risk. However, in the subgroup analysis by ethnicity, significant association was found among Asians (for C/C+C/G vs. G/G: OR=1.35, 95% CI=1.05-1.63, p=0.02). In summary, the present meta-analysis suggests that IL-6 gene -174 G/C polymorphism is associated with increased CHD risk among Asians. However, due to the small subjects included in the subgroup analysis of Asians, the results should be interpreted with caution.