Herpes zoster ( HZ, also known as shingles) , caused by reactivation of latent varicella zoster virus ( VZV) , is a viral disease characterized by a painful skin rash with blisters involving a limited area. Elderly individuals older than fifty years of age are at increased risk of contracting HZ. In China, HZ becomes a significant health burden along with population aging. The virological characteristics, clinical di-agnosis, epidemiological characteristics of HZ are summarized in this review. Moreover, the burden of HZ, risk factors as well as the prevention and control of HZ are also discussed.

Objective: To analyze the correlation between circumcision and incidence and clearance of male genital HPV infection. Methods: From May to July 2014, 18-55 year old men who had sexual behavior history were recruited from the general population in Liuzhou, Guangxi to set up a cohort. Totally, 113 circumcised and 560 uncircumcised men were enrolled and interviewed using a questionnaire (including information on demographic characteristics and sexual behaviors), then they were followed-up with 6-month interval for 2 times. On each visit, specimens of male external genitalia were collected and genotyped for HPV DNA. The differences of incidence and clearance of genital HPV infections between circumcised and uncircumcised men were analyzed by Log-rank test. Cox regression was used to analyze the relationship between circumcision and incidence and clearance of HPV infection. Results: The median age (P₂₅, P₇₅) of circumcised and uncircumcised men were 28 (24, 35) and 32 (24, 31), respectively. The incidences of any HPV infections were 9.1 (95%CI: 2.4-15.7) and 8.4 (95% CI: 5.6-11.2) per 1 000 person-months (χ²=0.10, P=0.758), respectively. The clearance of circumcised men [136.3 (95%CI: 70.0-202.7) per 1 000 person-months] was higher than that in uncircumcised men [89.6 (95%CI: 65.9-113.3) per 1 000 person-months] (χ²=8.19, P=0.004). In multivariate COX regression analysis, compared with uncircumcised men, circumcised men had higher possibility to clear any HPV infections (HR: 2.41, 95%CI: 1.30-4.46). Compared with men having one sexual partner, people having more than 4 sexual partners had lower possibility to clear any HPV infections (HR: 0.49, 95%CI: 0.25-0.96). Compared with 18-25 years old men, men aged 26-35 years old had higher possibility to clear high-risk HPV infections (HR: 2.14, 95%CI: 1.08-4.23). Conclusion Circumcised and uncircumcised men had similar incidence of genital HPV infection, whereas, men conducted circumcision and having fewer sexual partners could increase the clearance of genital HPV infections.

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the main cause for cervical cancer,anogenital cancers and genital warts.Three HPV vaccines have been licensed abroad.Data from clinical trials showed high efficacy of the HPV vaccines in young women with 90％-100％ vaccine-related HPV diseases prevented.Though efficacy of the vaccine appears lower in older women,this population can still benefit from vaccination.Immunobriging trials show that the two-dose schedule in 9-14 years old girls elicits non-inferior immune response than the three-dose one in young adults.In addition,HPV vaccines can reduce the recurrent rates in CIN2 + patients after therapeutic surgery and the vaccines have cross-protection aganist diseases caused by non-vaccine type HPV.Safety data on HPV vaccines are assuring.Thus HPV vaccine should be widely used in adolescent girls and women of appropriate age groups.

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is closely associated with cervical cancer and other anogenital cancers or diseases, and HPV vaccination is an important measure of primary prevention. Currently, there are four licensed HPV vaccines. Clinical trials and real-world studies have confirmed the efficacy and effectiveness of the routine three-dose immunization schedule. Expanding HPV vaccination coverage can accelerate the process of cervical cancer elimination, so optimizing the immunization schedule, including extending dosing intervals and decreasing vaccination doses, is one of the key considerations for future application of HPV vaccines. This review summarized the progress related to the immunogenicity and efficacy of HPV vaccination with fewer doses and non-standard three-dose schedule.

SARS-CoV-2 vaccines are effective in preventing COVID-19, but their efficacy in blocking virus transmission is controversial. Although SARS-CoV-2 vaccines can reduce the sources of infection and the possibility of secondary transmission from breakthrough infection cases, their effectiveness wanes over time. Moreover, the emergence of variants with stronger transmissibility and immune escape ability also poses huge challenges to the effectiveness of SARS-CoV-2 vaccines in blocking virus transmission. Therefore, ending the COVID-19 pandemic still requires the continuous research and development of new vaccines as well as the adoption of effective prevention and control measures.

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is one of the most common sexually transmitted pathogens. It can cause a variety of diseases such as condyloma acuminatum, anal cancer, penile cancer and oropharyngeal cancer in men, resulting in a high disease burden. With the development of society, the application of HPV vaccines in males has attracted more attention. Currently, there are many clinical trials and real-world research results of HPV vaccines applied to boys and men worldwide, and many countries have introduced HPV vaccination for underage boys into their national immunization programs. This article intended to review the research progress in the efficacy of HPV vaccines in male population.

Objective: To investigate the seroprevalence and epidemiological characteristics of hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection in pregnant women in Xiamen. Methods: Sera samples of 910 pregnant women were collected from September 2014 to June 2015 in Xiamen Huli District Maternity and Child Care Hospital. Those who intended to give birth in target hospital were included in a subgroup which was asked to collect the second serum sample. All samples were tested for anti-HEV IgM and IgG antibody by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). HEV RNA was tested by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) for the positive samples of anti-HEV IgM antibody, meanwhile, the quantitative detections for anti-HEV IgG were conducted in specimens positive for anti-HEV IgG. Results: Of the 910 pregnant women, 8 (0.88%, 95%CI 0.45%-1.73%) were anti-HEV IgM positive. HEV RNA was found in 3 cases through RT-PCR and viral load values were between 600 and 700 copies/ml; 140 (15.38%, 95%CI 13.19%-17.68%) were anti-HEV IgG positive and geometric mean concentration of the samples was 0.385 Wu/mL (95%CI 0.332-0.445 Wu/ml). The positive rate of anti-HEV IgG increased with age (P=0.004). In the subgroup, 150 pregnant women were included and followed up, 4 of those were defined as 'new HEV infection cases’ and the incidence was evaluated as 10.7/100 person-year (95%CI 3.39-25.7/100 person-year). Conclusions There were a low percentage of HEV carriers in pregnant women in Xiamen, but the risk of new primary infection in pregnant women during pregnancy was much higher than the general population, suggesting that it is necessary to expand sample size to clarify the burden of HEV infection during pregnancy.