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To analyze the role of nonacid reflux in laryngopharyngeal reflux diseases (LPRD). From January 2014 to April 2019, 344 patients associated with LPRD underwent 24-h multichannel intraluminal impedance–pH monitoring, and their reflux symptom index (RSI) and reflux finding score (RFS) were recorded. The numbers of acid, weakly acidic and alkaline reflux events in the laryngopharynx were counted, and the consistency analysis of the results with the results of the RSI and RFS was conducted. Among the 344 patients, nonacid reflux events accounted for 74.1% (1367/1845) of the all reflux events. There were 111 patients with ≥ 3 acid reflux events, 218 patients with ≥ 3 any kinds of reflux events, and 257 patients with positive results of RSI or RFS. Taking the results of the RSI and or RFS as a reference, the sensitivity, specificity and consistency test Kappa value for the diagnosis of LPRD according to the existence of ≥ 3 acid reflux events were 41.2%, 94.2% and 0.228, respectively. With the existence of three or more all kinds of reflux events as the standard, the sensitivity, specificity and consistency test Kappa value were 76.7%, 74.7% and 0.449, respectively. The nonacid reflux events account for the highest proportion of laryngopharyngeal reflux events, and the consistency of the results of RSI and or RFS with all reflux events is higher than that with only acid reflux events, that indicates nonacid reflux may play an important role in LPRD.

Photochemical degradation of fluoroquinolone ciprofloxacin (CIP) in water by UV and UV/H₂O₂ were investigated. The degradation rate of CIP was affected by pH, H₂O₂ dosage, as well as the presence of other inorganic components. The optimized pH value and H₂O₂ concentration were 7.0 and 5 mM. Carbonate and nitrate both impeded CIP degradation. According to liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry analysis, four and 16 products were identified in UV and UV/H₂O₂ system, respectively. Proposed degradation pathways suggest that reactions including the piperazinyl substituent, quinolone moiety, and cyclopropyl group lead to the photochemical degradation of CIP. Toxicity of products assessed by Vibrio qinghaiensis demonstrated that UV/H₂O₂ process was more capable on controlling the toxicity of intermediates in CIP degradation than UV process.

Factors on degradation of chlorothalonil (CLT) in water by high frequency ultrasonic irradiation were investigated. The effects of initial concentration of chlorothalonil, dosages of tertiary butyl alcohol, humic acid and initial pH value on degradation of chlorothalonil, as well as the reaction mechanism were studied. The results reveal that chlorothalonil could be effectively degradated by ultrasonic irradiation. The reaction constant value kapp decreased from 0.014 1 to 0.010 2 min−1 with the initial concentration increasing from 50 to 400 μg/L during 180 min irradiation. Tertiary butyl alcohol had negative effect on chlorothalonil degradation, while lower concentration of humic acid promoted the sonolysis, and kapp declined with the further concentration increasing. The kapp varied little when the pH value ranged from 3.10 to 10.28. It may be concluded that mechanical and pyrolysis process played main roles on the degradation of chlorothalonil in ultrasonic irradiation rather than ·OH attack. The electrical energy per order (EEo) values for sonolysis degradation of CLT were also calculated to evaluate the cost of the process.

Human herpesvirus-8 (HHV-8) has been detected in Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) lesions of all types (AIDS-related, classical and endemic), in body-cavity-based B-cell lymphomas (BCBLs) and in le-sions of multicentric Castleman's disease (MCD). We have identified a major gamma-herpesvirus-divergent locus (DL-B) in HHV-8 DNA encoding several HHV-8 unique open reading frames (ORFs), including a homologue of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and two homologues of macrophage inflammatory protein MIP-1. We show that the HHV-8-encoded IL-6 homologue (vlL-6) shares functional properties with endogenous IL-6 proteins and that both vlL-6 and vMIP-1 transcripts are present at high levels following butyrate induction of an HHV-8+ BCBL cell line. Low amounts of constitutive vlL-6, but not vMIP-1, mRNA were also detected. The presence of a functional IL-6 homologue encoded by HHV-8 may provide a mechanistic model for the hypothesized role of HHV-8 in KS, MCD and BCBL that involves the mitogenic effects of vlL-6 on surrounding cells. MIP-1 proteins may enhance these effects through the chemotactic recruitment of endogenous cy-tokine-producing cells into affected tissues and could potentially influence HIV disease progression in coinfected individuals through interactions with the HIV co-receptor CCR-5.

The characterization of HIV-1 (HTLV-III/LAV)1,2, the human retrovirus associated with AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome) 3 has led to the identification of a group of related human and simian retroviruses which also infect CD4-bearing T lymphocytes. Simian T-lymphotropic virus type III (simian immodeficiency virus) from macaques (STLV-IIIMAC) induces symptoms similar to those of AIDS in infected macaques4,5, but isolates from African green monkeys (STLV-IIIAGM) 6 and mangabeys (STLV-IIMM) 7,8 appear to be non-pathogenic in these animals. A human virus immunologically related to STLV-IIIAGM (HTLV-IV), reported to have been isolated from healthy humans9, has been shown to be almost identical to STLV-IHAGM10,11, which has called into question the independent origin of these viruses11. Here we report the complete DNA sequence of STLV-IIIAGM and analyse its relationship with the genomes of the HTLV -IIIB strain of HIV-1, HIV-2ROD (previously called LAV-2) 12–15 and several ungulate lentiretroviruses. STLV-IIIAGM and HIV-2 are closely related, and more distantly related to HIV-1.