The modern Silk Road spirit advocating for win-win cooperative partnerships, aligns with the target of the “Belt and Road” Initiative, which provides new opportunities for collaboration on tropical disease control among countries along the “Belt and Road”. The modern Silk Road spirit may effectively facilitate tropical disease control programmes and improve disease control concepts and approaches through collaborative research, information sharing, infrastructure development, and joint efforts in pharmaceuticals and vaccine development; however, there are still multiple challenges that require to be overcome, including political and cultural differences, and data sharing. Therefore, countries participating in the “Belt and Road” Initiative need to work together with mutual respects, build effective collaborative mechanisms and improve communications to jointly facilitate the sustainable development of global tropical disease control programmes and cultural exchange, so as to contribute to global health and prosperities. This article discusses the contribution of the modern Silk Road spirit to facilitating global tropical disease control programmes in the context of the “Belt and Road” Initiative.

Objective:To investigate the prevalence of enterovirus 71 (EV71) and the genetic characteristics of VP1 region in common hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) cases in Shenzhen from 2016 to 2022.Methods:Throat swabs from mild HFMD in Shenzhen sentinel hospitals were collected from 2016 to 2022. A total of 38 EV71-positive samples were screened from these throat swabs and were sequenced. Then, the VP1 sequence of these EV71-positive samples were analyzed for their phylogenetic evolution by bioimformatics software DNAStar and MEGA 6.Results:From 2016 to 2022, the number of EV71 infections among HFMD patients in Shenzhen sentinel hospitals decreased from 136 in 2016 to 0 in 2022. The mumber of EV71 infections in 2018 and 2019 decreased by 96.3%(257/267) compared to that in 2016 and 2017. From 2020 to 2022, the number of EV71 infections decreased to 0. During this period, the EV71 vaccination rate among HFMD patients increased from 6.4% to 39.6%; Evolutionary analysis showed that the nucleotide homology and amino acid homology between 38 EV71 sample strains in Shenzhen from 2016 to 2022 were 91.8%-99.9% and 98.3%-100.0%, all belonging to the C4a subgenotype; Among them, 26 strains wene local epidemic strains, and 11 strains were imported from other provinces, with a close genetic relationship with epidemic strains in Hainan, Yunnan, Sichuan, Tianjin, Henan, Jilin, and other places. One strain from 2017 had the closest genetic relationship with the US epidemic strain OP207969-USA-2017. Further comparing the EV71 epidemic strains in Shenzhen from 2016 to 2022 and EV71 severe strains, it was found that the EV71 strains in Shenzhen carried four amino acid mutation sites related to severe condition, named R22H, K43R, I249V and T289A.Conclusions:The EV71 epidemic strains in Shenzhen from 2016 to 2022 all belong to the C4a subgenotype, and the number of EV71 infection shows a downward trend with the increase of vaccine coverage rate. At the same time, the distribution of EV71 virus strains in Shenzhen shows a significant decrease in local strains and a predominance of imported strains. There are a total of four amino acid mutation sites associated with severe cases in the EV71 sample strains in Shenzhen from 2016 to 2022. Among them, 22R and 289T are located at the N and C ends of VP1, which are related to EV71 adsorption and targeting cells. The 43R site is associated with binding ability to Annexin2 protein, which enhances cell binding ability.

Calcific aortic valve disease(CAVD)is the most common disease affecting the heart valves,character-ized by thickening,fibrosis,and mineralization of the aortic valve leaflets.Currently,there is no effective pharmacologi-cal treatment.Aortic valve calcification is a complex and multifactorial process involving valve inflammation,fibrosis,calcification,valve thickening and outflow tract obstruction.The exact pathophysiological mechanisms of CAVD are not fully understood,but many studies have suggested that innate immune cells play a key role in the development of aortic valve calcification.This review focuses on the current role of innate immune cells in the development of CAVD.

Objective: To investigate the epidemiological characteristics of influenza in Yuhang District, Hangzhou City from 2019 to 2023, so as to provide the reference for formulating influenza prevention and control measures. Methods: Influenza case data with current address in Yuhang District was collected through the Chinese Disease Prevention and Control Information System from 2019 to 2023. Influenza-like illness data was collected through the Hangzhou Epidemiological Investigation System. Time distribution, population distribution and pathogen detection of influenza-like illness were descriptively analyzed. Results: There were 118 319 influenza cases reported in Yuhang District from 2019 to 2023, with an average annual reported incidence rate of 2 316.80/105. The highest incidence rate was seen in 2023, with a reported incidence rate of 5 736.82/105. The peak incidence of influenza occurred from November to March of the following year, presenting the winter and spring epidemic. The cases were mainly distributed in the age groups of 7 to 14 years and 25 to 59 years, with 31 310 and 34 470 cases, accounting for 26.46% and 29.13%, respectively. Influenza cases were reported in all 12 towns (streets) in Yuhang District, with the top two being Wuchang Street and Liangzhu Street, with the average annual incidence rates of 17 346.08/105 and 14 945.80/105, respectively. From 2019 to 2023, there were 103 868 cases of influenza-like illness, and 1 482 throat swab samples were collected. Among them, 260 positive samples of influenza virus were detected, with a positive rate of 17.54%. The peak detection period for positive specimens was from November to March of the following year, with 222 influenza virus positive specimens detected. The influenza virus types included H1N1, H3N2, and Victoria B, accounting for 25.77%, 38.85% and 35.38%, respectively. Conclusions The peak of influenza outbreak in Yuhang District from 2019 to 2023 was in winter and spring, with children and adolescents being the main affected objectives. H1N1, H3N2 and Victoria B were alternately prevalent. Prevention and control measures such as influenza vaccination should be strengthened.

Objective To establish testing and evaluation methods for radiation shielding performance of a self-shielded radiotherapy system by measuring the radiation levels around the self-shielded head and neck radiotherapy system. Methods A total of 14 monitoring points were selected outside the restricted zone of the system. Under radiation conditions from five different fixed directions, an ion chamber survey meter was used to measure and identify the maximum ambient dose equivalent rate at the 14 points. The time-averaged dose rate was then calculated based on the workload. In accordance with relevant radiation protection standards, an instantaneous dose rate of 10 μSv/h and a time-averaged dose rate of 2.0 μSv/h were proposed as the criteria for shielding protection evaluation. Results Based on the ambient dose equivalent rates at the 14 monitoring points outside the restricted zone, the maximum instantaneous dose rate outside the restricted zone was 7.4 μSv/h. With a workload of 15 patients per day, the maximum time-averaged dose rate was 1.0 μSv/h, which can be used as the criteria for shielding protection evaluation. Conclusion By considering both instantaneous dose rate and time-averaged dose rate, a comprehensive safety assessment of the radiation shielding performance of a self-shielded radiotherapy system can be conducted.

Objective To explore the correlation between serum fibroblast growth factor-23 (FGF23) concentration and heart failure and all-cause death in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD).Methods The prospective cohort study design was used in the present study.The ESRD patients who were admitted to the department of ne-phropathy in the Hospital and without heart failure symptoms were recruited in this study.The data of patients was collected through baseline questionnaires, physical examinations, echocardiography, and laboratory examinations.The serum FGF23 levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) .The follow-up time was 2 years.The onset of heart failure (ACC/AHA stage C-D) and all-cause death were composite endpoint events.The Cox proportional risk model was used to explore the risk factors of outcome events.Through subgroup analyses and interaction analyses, further exploration was conducted to determine whether there was heterogeneity in the as-sociation between FGF23 and outcome events in different subgroups.Results Ultimately,107 ESRD patients were included in this study, with an average age of (52.00 ± 12.51) years.There were 39 males (36.45％), and the median follow-up time was 23 months (21, 25 months).There were 32 (29.9％) outcome events, of which 22 (20.6％) onset of heart failure and 10 (9.3％) all-cause of deaths.The results of this study showed that the con-centration of FGF23 in the outcome event group was significantly higher than that in the non-event group [ (4.40 ± 1.16) pmol/ml vs (3.85 ± 0.82) pmol/ml,P<0.05].The Cox proportional risk model showed that the elevated FGF23 was associated with increased risk of the composite endpoint events in ESRD patients (HR=1.730 , 95％CI:1.164-2.570 , P=0.007) .Subgroup analyses showed that there was an interactive effect between FGF23 levels and gender on the risk of cardiovascular outcome events.Especially in male ESRD patients, the increased FGF23 level was correlated with a higher risk of cardiovascular events (P-interaction <0.05).Conclusion Elevated serum FGF23 is an independent risk factor for the onset of heart failure and all-cause of mortality in ESRD patients, especially in male patients.

The Ehlers-Danlos syndromes(EDS)are a group of rare hereditary connective tissue disorders characterized by joint hypermobility,skin hyperextensibility,and tissue fragility.The clinical and genetic hetero-geneity of EDS frequently leads to underdiagnosis and misdiagnosis.Genetic testing is an essential approach to clarify the underlying diagnosis.Recent research has preliminarily established genotype-phenotype correlations and introduced the novel concept of"disease spectrum"in some subtypes.These studies deepen our under-standing of EDS etiology and provide important insights into clinical management.Published in 2023,the Chinese Guidelines for Diagnosis and Treatment of the Ehlers-Danlos Syndromes(the Guidelines)recommend performing genetic testing with deep phenotyping for patients who meet the clinical diagnostic criteria or are sus-pected of having EDS.However,it should be noted that the clinical diagnosis might differ from the molecular diagnosis.Furthermore,cutting-edge approaches such as periodic data reanalysis,integration of RNA sequen-cing into family-based whole-genome sequencing,and third-generation sequencing may facilitate the reclassifi-cation of variants of uncertain significance or resolve undiagnosed cases.This article summarizes recent progress in the genetics research of EDS,with the hope of offering a valuable resource for clinical diagnosis,treatment and scientific research to optimize the quality of life of patients with EDS.

Objective To investigate the predictive value of serum thrombospondin-1(THBS-1),D-dimer(D-D)and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1(TIMP-1)levels in late pregnancy for postpartum hemorrhage(PPH)in re-pregnant women with scarred uterus.Methods Totally 108 re-pregnant women with scarred uterus admitted to the First Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University from June 2020 to August 2022 were selected and divided into the PPH group(n=21)and the non-PPH group(n=87)according to whether PPH occurred after delivery.On the day of admission,5 mL elbow venous blood was collected from re-pregnant women in the two groups,and the levels of serum THBS-1,D-D and TIMP-1 of pregnant women in the two groups were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.The serum THBS-1,D-D TIMP-1 levels and clinical data of pregnant women between the two groups were compared.The influencing factors on the occurrence of PPH in re-pregnant women with scarred uterus were analyzed by multivariate logistic regression,and the predictive value of serum THBS-1,D-D and TIMP-1 levels on the occurrence of PPH in re-pregnant women with scarred uterus was evaluated by receiver operating characteristic curve.Results The percentage of patients with ≥ 2 induced abortions,placental abruption,uterine incision laceration,uterine inertia or scar thickness＜0.3 cm,as well as serum THBS-1 and D-D levels in late pregnancy in the PPH group were significantly higher than those in the non-PPH group,and serum TIMP-1 level in late pregnancy were significantly lower than that in the non-PPH group(P＜0.05).The uterine inertia,as well as high D-D and THBS-1 levels,were independent risk factors for PPH in re-pregnant women with scarred uterus(P＜0.05),and low TIMP-1 level was a protective factor(P＜0.05).The area under the curve of combined serum THBS-1,D-D and TIMP-1 levels to predict PPH in re-pregnant women with scarred uterus was greater than that predicted by the three factors alone(P＜0.05).Conclusion Serum THBS-1,D-D and TIMP-1 levels in late pregnancy can be used as reference indicators for predicting the occurrence of PPH in re-pregnant women with scarred uterus,and the combination of the three indexes is more effective in predicting the occurrence of PPH.

Objective To establish an allogeneic rat model of endometriosis and to evaluate the effects of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist GenSci006 on experimental rat endometriosis. Methods Endometrium from SPF grade donor female SD rats were transplanted onto the abdominal wall of recipient female rats to construct an allogeneic endometriosis model. The rats undergoing sham surgery were divided into the sham group. Three weeks later, the length, width and height of the ectopic endometrium were measured, and the volume of the endometrium (V₁) was calculated before drug administration. The modeling rats were randomly divided into four groups: model group, triptorelin group (0.25 mg/kg), GenSci006-1 group (0.125 mg/kg) and GenSci006-2 group (0.25 mg/kg). Each group had 16 rats and received a single dose of the corresponding drug. The sham group and model group were administered an equal volume of solvent. Three weeks after administration, ectopic endometrium was measured to calculate the volume V₂ and inhibition rate. The effect of GenSci006 on rat uterus and ovarian tissues was assessed by comparing organ coefficients and changes in pathological sections. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to measure the levels of serum estradiol (E₂), progesterone (P₄), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), and luteinizing hormone (LH). Real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR was used to detect the expression of GnRH receptor (GnRHR) mRNA in the hypothalamus and pituitary. Western blot was used to detect the expression of estradiol receptor alpha (ERα), beta (ERβ) and progesterone receptor (PR) in ectopic endometrium. Results Three weeks after administration, compared with the model group, the body weight of rats in the triptorelin and GenSci006-2 groups significantly increased (P < 0.05), while the volume of ectopic endometrium significantly decreased (P < 0.05). Compared with the sham group, the model group showed no significant changes in uterine and ovarian organ coefficients or endometrial thickness (P > 0.05). Compared with the model group, the uterine organ coefficients and endometrial thickness were significantly reduced in the triptorelin and GenSci006-2 groups (P < 0.05). Compared with the sham group, the serum levels of E₂, P₄, FSH and LH in the model group showed no significant changes (P > 0.05). Compared with the model group, the ovarian organ coefficient and serum P₄ levels of rats in the Triptorelin, GenSci006-1, and GenSci006-2 groups were significantly reduced (P < 0.05), while the serum LH levels of rats in the GenSci006-1 group were significantly increased (P < 0.05). However, there were no significant changes in serum E₂ and FSH levels in each group (P > 0.05). Compared with the model group, the expression levels of GnRHR mRNA in the pituitary tissue of rats in the triptorelin and GenSci006-2 groups were significantly downregulated (P < 0.05), with no significantly changes in the hypothalamus (P > 0.05). There were no significant changes in the expression level of GnRHR mRNA in the hypothalamus or the protein levels of ERα, ERβ and PR in the ectopic endometrial tissue in any group (P > 0.05). Conclusion The allogeneic endometriosis rat model is a suitable animal model for screening and evaluating drugs for treating endometriosis. The volume of ectopic endometrium, inhibition rate, uterine and ovarian organ coefficients, and serum E₂ levels may serve as indicators for detecting drug efficacy.

Objective : To employ the EQ-5D-5L questionnaire to evaluate HRQOL in patients on peritoneal dialysis ( PD) and investigate the related risk factors to provide suggestions for improving quality of life． Methods : PD patients who were followed up regularly in the department of nephrology were recruited in this study． Demographic characteristics and laboratory data were collected．Exercise capacity was assessed by the 6-MWT．PHQ-9 was con- ducted to screen depression status．The EQ-5D-5L questionnaire was used to evaluate HRQOL．Multivariate linear regression analysis was used to examine the potential influencing factors of EQ-5D-5L health utility value. Results : The highest health utility value of EQ-5D-5L was 1 point，while the lowest was －0. 01 points．The mean EQ-5D-5L score was (0. 92 ± 0. 15 ) ． The multivariate linear regression analyses showed that increased bilirubin level ( β = - 0. 009，P = 0. 018 ) ，increased CRP level ( β = －0. 005 ，P ＜0. 001 ) ，and increased PHQ-9 score ( β = - 0. 008，P = 0. 014) were negatively correlated with the EQ-5D-5L health utility value．Increased 6-MWD ( β = 0. 005，P = 0. 018) was positively correlated with the EQ-5D-5L health utility value． Conclusion The bilirubin and CRP levels，depression status，and exercise capacity are considered the main factors influencing HRQOL in PD patients.