[en] Highlights: • Chlorination kinetics of three benzophenone-type UV filters (BPs) was studied. • Chlorination of BPs followed second-order reaction. • The transformation products (TPs) of six BPs were identified. • Several transformation pathways were proposed. • Mostly enhanced toxicity of TPs after chlorination was observed. - Abstract: The present study focused on the kinetics, transformation pathways and toxicity of several benzophenone-type ultraviolet filters (BPs) during the water chlorination disinfection process. The transformation kinetics of the studied three BPs was found to be second-order reaction, which was dependent on the concentration of BPs and chlorine. The second-order rate constants increased from 86.7 to 975 M"−"1 s"−"1 for oxybenzone, 49.6–261.7 M"−"1 s"−"1 for 4-hydroxybenzophenone and 51.7–540 M"−"1 s"−"1 for 2-hydroxy-4-methoxybenzophenone-5-sulfonic acid with the increasing pH value from 6 to 8 of the chlorination disinfection condition. Then the transformation products (TPs) of these BPs were identified by HPLC-QTof analysis. Several transformation pathways, including electrophilic substitution, methoxyl substitution, ketone groups oxidation, hydrolysis, decarboxylation and ring cleavage reaction, were speculated to participate in the chlorination transformation process. Finally, according to the toxicity experiment on luminescent bacteria, Photobacterium phosphoreum, enhanced toxicity was observed for almost all the TPs of the studied BPs except for 2,2′-dihydroxy-4,4′-dimethoxybenzophenone; it suggested the formation of TPs with more toxic than the parent compounds during the chlorination process. The present study provided a foundation to understand the transformation of BPs during chlorination disinfection process, and was of great significance to the drinking water safety.

[en] Highlights: • Poly(ethylenimine) modified poly(styrene-co-divinylbenzene) (PEI-PS-DVB) were prepared. • PEI-PS-DVB had hierarchically porous structure, high surface area and abundant nitrogen. • PEI-PS-DVB was used for adsorption of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) with large adsorption capacity. • The AuNPs adsorbed on PEI-PS-DVB had catalytic activity with good reusability. -- Abstract: With the extensive applications of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) and the confirmation of their toxicity on human health and environment, it was urgent to remove AuNPs from environment. The hierarchically porous poly(ethylenimine) modified poly(styrene-co-divinylbenzene) microsphere (PEI-PS-DVB) was prepared and characterized by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, transform infrared spectrometry, energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry, elemental analysis, contact angle, zeta potential analysis, N₂ adsorption-desorption and mercury intrusion porosimetry. PEI-PS-DVB possessed abundant flow-through pores (70–120 nm) and meso/micropores (<50 nm); the former pores enabled full availability of the adsorbent to relatively large adsorbate, i.e. AuNPs, with fast mass transfer, while the latter ones ensured large surface area for high adsorption capacity. Thanks to its plentiful nitrogen and special hierarchical pores, PEI-PS-DVB was suitable for the adsorption of AuNPs by electrostatic interaction and special affinity between nitrogen and Au. The adsorption obeyed the pseudo-first-order kinetic and Langmuir isotherm models. The maximum adsorption capacity based on Langmuir model was 806.5 mg/g. Moreover, PEI-PS-DVB adsorbing AuNPs could be the efficient catalyst for the reduction of 4-nitrophenol with satisfactory reusability. The developed hierarchically porous PEI-PS-DVB was a promising adsorbent for AuNPs with high adsorption capacity, and recycling usage of waste AuNPs conformed to the green and sustainable concept.

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Background

Signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) 3 plays a vital role in carcinogenesis and drug response. Platinum-based chemotherapy is the first-line treatment for lung cancer patients, especially those in advanced stages. In the present study, we investigated the association of STAT3 polymorphism rs4796793 with lung cancer susceptibility, platinum-based chemotherapy response, and toxicity.

Methods

A total of 498 lung cancer patients and 213 healthy controls were enrolled in the study. 467 of them received at least 2-cycle platinum-based chemotherapy. Unconditional logistical regression analysis was used to assess the associations.

Results

STAT3 rs4769793 G allele carriers had an increased susceptibility of lung cancer [additive model: adjusted OR (95% CI) 1.376 (1.058–1.789), P = 0.017; recessive model: adjusted OR (95% CI) 1.734 (1.007–2.985), P = 0.047]. Rs4769793 was not significantly associated with platinum-based chemotherapy response in lung cancer patients. STAT3 rs4796793 was associated with an increased risk of severe overall toxicity [additive model: adjusted OR (95% CI) 1.410 (1.076–1.850), P = 0.013; dominant model: adjusted OR (95% CI) 1.638 (1.091–2.459), P = 0.017], especially hematological toxicity [additive model: adjusted OR (95% CI) 1.352 (1.001–1.826), P = 0.049].

Conclusions

STAT3 rs4796793 may be considered as a potential candidate biomarker for the prediction of susceptibility and prognosis in Chinese lung cancer patients. However, well-designed studies with larger sample sizes are required to verify the results.