Chronic skin diseases have complex pathogeneses and prolonged courses, and have long adverse impacts on the physical and mental health, as well as the normal life of patients. It is necessary to develop evidence-based strategies and measures for effective prevention and control of chronic skin diseases. However, related studies are limited in China. This article proposes a population medicine research plan for health promotion and equity, and disease prevention, diagnosis, control, treatment, and rehabilitation to establish a collaborative platform for strengthening research on the prevention and treatment of chronic skin diseases in China.

Monkeypox is a zoonotic disease caused by monkeypox virus, and human cases infected with the virus have been reported in more than 100 countries. To respond to the potential of case importation and consequent spread of the infection in the country, it is urgent for China to strengthen its comprehensive surveillance efforts consisting of case detection through country-entering check, symptom screening, and investigation among priority populations, and to implement comprehensive strategies to control the source of infection, interrupt the transmission and protect the people at risk.

Monkeypox is a zoonotic viral disease caused by monkeypox virus infection. Monkeypox has become a public health emergency of international concern, since it first spread widely in many regions outside Africa in 2022. Accurate and effective detection methods are particularly important for the diagnosis and screening of monkeypox virus infection. This review summarizes laboratory testing techniques for monkeypox virus in recent years, and compares principles and detection performance of microscopy, culture, nucleic acid testing and immunological methods.

Objective To evaluate the application of Burnet Institute-made prototype IgA rapid test,a kind of point-of-care (POC) testing,in the diagnosis of early syphilis.Methods Totally,455 stored serum samples in the Reference Laboratory of Sexually Transmitted Disease,the Institute of Dermatology were used to evaluate the application of the prototype IgA rapid test (IgA-POC) in the diagnosis of early syphilis.According to resluts of Treponema pallidum hemagglutination assay (TPHA),rapid plasma reagin card test (RPR),and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for IgM antibodies (IgM-ELISA),these stored samples were divided into 3 groups:uninfected group,previously infected group and early active syphilis group.IgA-POC test was performed in the 3 groups to evaluate its diagnostic performance for active syphilis,and researchers were blind to the group information.Results The prototype IgA-POC test had a sensitivity of 92.6％ (147/163) for the early active syphilis group,a specificity of 72.22％ (104/144) for the previously infected group,and a specificity of 97.97％ (145/148) for the uninfected group.The total specificity of the prototype IgA-POC test was 85.27％,which met the minimum requirement of WHO for the POC test.The prototype IgA-POC test showed a significantly higher sensitivity for the diagnosis of early active syphilis compared with the IgM-ELISA (59.51％,Z =6.88,P ＜ 0.05),but a significantly lower specificity for the diagnosis of previous syphilis infection compared with the IgM-ELISA (98.61％,Z =6.18,P ＜ 0.05).Moreover,no significant difference in the specificity for the diagnosis of non-infection was observed between the prototype IgA-POC test and IgM-ELISA (Z =1.16,P =0.25).Conclusion The prototype IgA-POC test has better capacity for the diagnosis of early active syphilis compared with the IgM-ELISA,so it can be applied to the screening of early active syphilis.

Objective To investigate in vitro combined effect of ceftriaxone and azithromycin against clinical isolates of Neisseria gonorrhoeae(NG). Methods A total of 25 NG clinical isolates were collected from the STD clinic of Dalian Dermatosis Hospital in 2012. Epsilometer test(Etest)method was used to determine the minimum inhibitory concentrations(MICs)of ceftriaxone and azithromycin against NG isolates. Fractional inhibitory concentration index (FICI) was calculated to evaluate the in vitro combined effect of ceftriaxone and azithromycin against NG isolates. Results The mean MICs of ceftriaxone and azithromycin were 0.032 mg/L (range, 0.008- 0.064 mg/L) and 0.834 mg/L (range, 0.064-4.000 mg/L), respectively. The FICI ranged from 0.724 to 2.696, and ceftriaxone and azithromycin showed an additive effect against the above NG isolates. Conclusion Ceftriaxone and azithromycin show an additive effect against NG in vitro, but further studies with large sample size are needed to confirm their effects.

Objective To determine the prevalence of penicillinase-producing Neisseria gonorrhoeae(PPNG) and the distribution of blaTEM-135 gene variants in PPNG at several gonococcal antimicrobial surveillance sites in China, to compare N. gonorrhoeae multi-antigen sequence typing(NG-MAST)types of PPNG and its blaTEM-135 gene variants, and to assess the difference and association in NG-MAST types of blaTEM-135 gene variants among different regions. Methods A total of 572 N. gonorrhoeae isolates were collected at 6 gonococcal antimicrobial surveillance sites from Jiangsu, Shanghai, Zhejiang, Tianjin, Guangdong and Guangxi in 2012. After isolation, purification, and identification, cefalotin paper discs were used for detection of PPNG. DNA was extracted by QIAxtractor DX kits after cultivation of the PPNG strains. Then, mismatch amplification mutation assay (MAMA) PCR was performed to identify blaTEM-135 variants, and NG-MAST analysis to determine N. gonorrhoeae genotypes. Results Among the 572 N. gonorrhoeae strains, 38.1%(218/572) were identified as PPNG, and of the PPNG strains, 52.3% (114/218) were blaTEM-135 variants. The detection rate of PPNG at these surveillance sites from high to low was as follows: 51.7% (45/87, Zhejiang), 45.6%(36/79, Shanghai), 38.0% (78/205, Guangdong), 37.5% (12/32, Guangxi), 31.2% (24/77, Jiangsu) and 25.0%(23/92, Tianjin), and that of blaTEM-135 variants was as follows: 68.9%(31/45, Zhejiang), 58.3%(14/24, Jiangsu), 50.0%(39/78, Guangdong), 47.2%(17/36, Shanghai), 39.1%(9/23, Tianjin)and 33.3%(4/12, Guangxi). NG-MAST analysis showed that the ST2318, ST1768, ST1866, ST1053 and ST8726 types predominated among these bla TEM-135 variants, and a strong correlation was found between blaTEM-135 variants and some NG-MAST types, such as ST1768, ST1053 and ST8726 types. The distribution of NG-MAST types was significantly different between the surveillance site in Tianjin (in the Northern part of China) and the other sites (in the Southern part of China), but highly similar among the surveillance sites in Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Shanghai regions. Conclusions There is a high prevalence of PPNG and its blaTEM-135 variants at several gonococcal antimicrobial surveillance sites in China, with significant differences in NG-MAST genotype distribution of PPNG and its blaTEM-135 variants among different regions.

Objective To test the ceftriaxone susceptibility of Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG) isolates from Nanjing city,and to assess their genotypes by using the NG multi-antigen sequence typing (NG-MAST) method.Methods A total of 204 NG strains isolated in 2007 and 81 in 2012 from Nanjing city were included in this study.The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of ceftriaxone was determined for these strains using an agar dilution method.DNA was extracted by the Qiagen commercial kit from these strains followed by NG-MAST.Results All the isolates were susceptible to ceftriaxone (MIC,≤ 0.25 μg/ml).The MIC of ceftriaxone was ≥ 0.06 μg/ml for 63.2％ of all the NG strains,70.6％ of those isolated in 2007 and 44.4％ of those in 2012,and ≥ 0.125 μg/ml for 31.6 ％ of all the NG strains,39.7％ of those isolated in 2007,11.1％ of those in 2012.Totally,166 genotypes were identified among the 285 isolates,of which,73 had been reported,and 93 were previously unreported.The most prevalent genotype was ST568 (n =13) in NG strains isolated in 2007,followed by ST270 (n =9),ST421 (n =7),ST2288 (n =5),ST1731 (n =4),ST1766 (n =4),ST1866 (n =4),ST1870 (n =4),while ST2318 (n =5),ST1053 (n =4),ST5990 (n =4),ST8726 (n =4) were the common genotypes in 2012.Those isolates with identical or similar genotypes tended to display similar MICs for ceftriaxone.Conclusions The prevalent genotypes of NG are markedly different between 2007 and 2012 in Nanjing region,and there is a strong association between the genotypes and ceftriaxone susceptibility of NG.NG-MAST results may serve as a genetic marker in the surveillance of antibiotic susceptibility in NG.

Objective To determine Neisseria gonorrhoeae multi-antigen sequence typing (NG-MAST) sequence types in different geographical areas of China,including Changzhou and Yangzhou cities of Jiangsu province,Wuzhou and Hezhou cities in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous region,Sanya and Qionghai cities of Hainan province,Jiangmen and Maoming cities of Guangdong province.Methods DNA was extracted using Qiagen DX extraction kits from 88 urine samples which were collected from male patients attending sexually transmitted disease (STD) clinics and positive for nucleic acid amplification test (NAAT) for N.gonorrhoeae.Two rounds of PCR were carried out to amplify the porB and tbpB genes of N.gonorrhoeae followed by gene sequencing.Sequence alignment was performed on the NG-MAST website (http://www.ng-mast.net) to determine the genotype of N.gonorrhoeae.Results The first-round PCR yielded positive results for porB and tbpB in 13.6％ (12/88) and 14.8％ (13/88),respectively,of these urine specimens,and 12 samples were successfully genotyped with the efficiency of genotyping being 13.6％.The amplification efficiency of second-round PCR was enhanced to 71.6％ and 72.7％ for porB and tbpB,respectively,and the efficiency of genotyping increased to 70.5％ (62/88).Compared with the first-round PCR,the second-round PCR showed an increase in amplification efficiency for porB and tbpB by 58.0％ and 57.9％ respectively,as well as in genotyping efficiency by 56.9％.Forty-five genotypes were identified in the 62 samples,including 40 known genotypes and 5 novel genotypes.Of these genotypes,ST1866 was the most abundant (6/62),followed by ST1972 (4/62) and ST3356 (4/62),all of which were from Jiangsu province.The ST532 genotype was identified in 3 samples from Guangdong province,ST2221 genotype in 2 samples from Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous region.Each of the remaining genotypes was identified in only 1 sample and scattered in all of these cities.The 5 novel MAST-genotypes were as follows:porB-892 and tbpB-46 (98％ similarity),porB-130 and tbpB-504 (96％ similarity),porB-2790 and tbpB-32 (99％ similarity),porB-1053 and tbpB-856 (99％ similarity).Conclusions Urine samples can be used for NG-MAST analysis,and two rounds of PCR can enhance the efficiency of genotyping.NG-MAST genotypes appear to be diverse in different geographical areas of China.

Objective To estimate the prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection among sexually transmitted disease (STD) clinic attendees infected with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.Methods Totally,11 553 blood plasma samples were collected from STD clinic attendees in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region,and subjected to HIV-1 antibody screening and confirmatory testing.Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was performed to detect anti-HCV antibodies in 140 anti-HIV-1 antibody-positive samples and 282 anti-HIV-1 antibody-negative samples from age-and marital status-matched attendees.Chi-square test was performed to assess the differences in the prevalence rate of HCV infection between anti-HIV-1-negative and-positive samples,and Logistic regression analysis to evaluate the risk factors for HCV and HIV co-infection.Results The positivity rate of anti-HCV antibodies was 33.57％ (47/140)among anti-HIV-1-positive samples,significantly higher than that in anti-HIV-1-negative samples (1.06％ (3/282),x2 =94.66,P ＜ 0.05).Logistic regression analysis showed a statistical increase in the prevalence of HCV/HIV co-infection in individuals reporting more than one sexual partners compared with those reporting only one sexual partner (OR =2.4,95％ CI (1.0-5.6),P =0.05),and in intravenous drug users compared with non-intravenous drug users (OR =20.8,95％ CI(5.7-76.5),P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions HCV infection appears to be associated with HIV-1 infection,and comprehensive intervention on HIV-1-infected patients may slow down HCV transmission.

ObjectiveTo establish a rapid,sensitive and accurate method to detect Mycoplasma genitalium,and to evaluate the prevalence of M.genitalium among unlicensed prostitutes from Hezhou city in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.MethodsA pair of primers and Taqman MGB probe were designed and synthesized for the Pa gene of M.genitalium.Standard samples were prepared with the M.genitalium type strain G37.The established Taqman MGB real time fluorescence-based PCR assay was used to detect M.genitalium in the standard samples and cervical swab specimens collected from unlicensed prostitutes in Hezhou city of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.ResultsThe established Taqman MGB real time PCR exhibited a wide linear range( 1 × 10 copies/μl to 1 × 106 copies/μl,R2 =0.993),good repeatability(intra-assay variation;0.7％,inter-assay variation:1.09％) and hign sensitivity with the limit of detection being 10 copies/μl and limit of quantification being 50 copies/μl.As the assay showed,12.1％ of the 404 cervical swab samples were positive for M.genitalium.ConculsionThe Taqman MGB real time fluorescence-based PCR is a rapid and sensitive method for the quantitative and qualitative detection of M.genitalium.