Tropical diseases, the transmission of which is affected by multiple natural and social factors, pose a great challenge to global public health, notably in African countries. During the past several decades, China and African countries have continuously collaborated for the control of neglected tropical diseases and malaria, which has become an important part of global South-to-South cooperation and global health governance. This article reviews the history of China-Africa cooperation for tropical diseases control, summarizes the experiences and achievements over the past decade, analyzes the current challenges in the coopera tion, and proposes future recommendations. The China-Africa cooperation has achieved significant progress in the control of tropical diseases, such as malaria, schistosomiasis, and filariasis, and established a China-Africa cooperation network for tropical diseases control. Through the "Three-Step" strategy of China-Africa cooperation, the effectiveness of China's integrated control strategies has been validated in Africa, and the application of China's tropical disease control technologies has been promoted in African disease-epidemic countries. Currently, China-Africa collaboration, however, still experiences multiple realistic challenges, such as insufficient resources, difficulty in technology transfer, and weak primary healthcare systems. In the future, both sides are recommended to further strengthen policy coordination, deepen technological cooperation, innovate cooperation models, aiming to continuously promote the high-quality development of China-Africa cooperation for tropical diseases control.

ObjectiveTo investigate the role of interleukin （IL）-17A in acute inhalational pneumonia induced by the highly drug-resistant and hypervirulent Staphylococcus aureus strain USA300-R in mice. MethodsAn acute inhalational pneumonia model was established in mice using an aerosolized pulmonary delivery technique. RNA sequencing （RNA-seq） and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA） were employed to examine the expression dynamics of Il17a mRNA and IL-17A protein， respectively， in the lungs of infected mice. Il17a knockout （Il17a^-/-） mice were generated using CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing technology. The survival rate， body weight， bacterial load in lung tissue， and histopathological changes were compared between Il17a^-/- and wild-type （WT） mice following inhalational infection with USA300-R. Results12 hours after USA300-R infection， compared to pre-infection， the expression level of Il17a mRNA in lung tissue and the level of IL-17A protein in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid （BALF） increased by approximately 50-fold （P<0.01） and 6-fold （P<0.001）， respectively. Compared to WT mice， Il17a^-/- mice exhibited approximately 10-fold higher bacterial loads in lung tissue at both 12 and 24 hours post-infection （P<0.001， P<0.05）. However， they showed significantly attenuated lung histopathological injury， reduced alveolar wall thickening， markedly decreased neutrophil infiltration， and an approximately 50% improvement in survival rate （P<0.05）. ConclusionIn acute Staphylococcus aureus USA300-R inhalational pneumonia， IL-17A contributes to bacterial clearance by recruiting neutrophils； however， excessive neutrophil infiltration exacerbates pulmonary inflammation and injury， reduces survival rates， and represents a potential therapeutic target.

Objective To systematically reconstruct the evolution of schistosomiasis prevalence in China from 1950 to 2024, so as to fill the gap of national data on schistosomiasis prevalence in China before 1986. Methods Schistosomiasis control data were collected from schistosomiasis-endemic areas of China before 1986, which mainly included statistical data on schistosomiasis, compilations of control records, annual work reports, and academic papers. Data pertaining to the prevalence of schistosomiasis from each province (autonomous region, municipality) were collected and summarized annually, and integrated into national annual work reports for schistosomiasis control in China from 1986 to 2024 to build a national schistosomiasis epidemic database covering schistosomiasis patients, cattle with schistosomiasis, and Oncomelania hupensis snails. The provincial-level epidemic data of schistosomiasis were summarized annually from 1986 to 2024 with pivot tables, and then the national epidemic data of schis tosomiasis were summarized. The temporal trends in key epidemic indicators of schistosomiasis were analyzed in China from 1950 to 2024. Results A complete time-series dataset of schistosomiasis was established in China from 1950 to 2024 through systematic reconstruction of multi-source historical documents and materials. A total of 1.97 million newly detected schistosomiasis cases were recorded in China from 1950 to 2024, and the actual number of schistosomiasis patients was all more than 1 million each year from 1955 to 1978. There were only more than 20 000 advanced schistosomiasis patients in China by the end of 2024, and the prevalence of Schistosoma japonicum human infections reduced from 34.6% in 1950 to below 1.0% after 1996. A total of 2.47 million cattle were tested positive for schistosomiasis, and the prevalence of S. japonicum infections reduced from 21.4% in bovines since 1950. The area of emerging O. hupensis snail habitats was concentrated during the period between 1956 and 1958, accounting for 49.8% of total areas, while the area of emerging O. hupensis snail habitats significantly decreased since 1992, indicating a stable distribution pattern of O. hupensis snails. Data validation results showed that the cumulative variation in areas of O. hupensis snail habitats was 1.6%, and the cumulative variation in the number of schistosomiasis cases was 1.4%. Join-point regression analysis revealed four turning points in the prevalence of S. japonicum infections in humans and seven turning points in the prevalence of S. japonicum infections in livestock across China from 1955 to 2024. Conclusions Through the joint efforts of the Communist Party of China and government leadership, interdepartmental collaboration, professional teams, scientific and technological innovation, and public participation, the schistosomiasis epidemic has been effectively controlled in China following active control for more than 70 years. This study builds, for the first time, a complete time-series dataset on schistosomiasis in China, which provides insights into assessment of the effectiveness of schistosomiasis control programmes and refinement of the experience from schistosomiasis control programmes in China.

Obesity, as a chronic recurrent disease, has become a major public health challenge in China. To implement the requirements of the Healthy China Initiative (2019—2030), under domestic guidelines or consensus statements on overweight and obesity, and in alignment with the latest scientific advances globally, the Quality control protocol for adult overweight and obesity screening in health management (examination) institutions (2025 edition) was developed. This protocol was drafted by the Health Management Center of Shanghai Changzheng Hospital and formulated through multiple rounds of deliberation by experts in China’s health examination quality control field. The protocol establishes unified standards for screening facilities, personnel qualifications, and measurement or testing procedures. It defines specific screening items, outlines a standardized screening pathway, and sets requirements for the final medical review, ensuring the scientific validity, effectiveness, and safety of the screening process. The implementation of this protocol will enhance the consistency of weight management practices for adults across health examination institutions and strengthen the quality control of overweight and obesity screening programs.

Objective To explore the effect of frequency-modulated temporal interference electrical fields stimulation(TIs)on muscle strength and neuromuscular recruitment ability.Methods Sixteen healthy adult participants completed two testing sessions,with an interval of no less than 48 hours be-tween them.The only difference between them was the intervention of real TIs versus sham stimula-tion.The stimulation targeted the left primary motor cortex.During the test,the 3-second maximal vol-untary contraction(3 s MVC)of the first dorsal interosseous(FDI)muscle and the 20-second one(20 s MVC)in the right hand were recorded.Meanwhile,the surface electromyography(sEMG)sig-nals were recorded during the 20 s MVC and analyzed using sEMG decomposition techniques.Results A significant interaction effect was observed in peak muscle force during the 3 s MVC(P<0.05).Com-pared to baseline,real TIs significantly increased peak force,whereas the sham stimulation resulted in a decrease.Moreover,a significant interaction was also found in the peak EMG amplitude during the 20 s MVC(P<0.05),with peak EMG amplitude increasing after real TIs but decreasing after sham stimulation.Conclusion Frequency-modulated TIs effectively enhances peak muscle strength dur-ing the 3 s MVC and increases motor unit synchronization firing during the 20 s MVC.Therefore,TIs has potential for improving neuromuscular performance.

Objective To examine the changing prevalence and antimicrobial resistance profiles of Burkholderia cepacia in 52 hospitals across China from 2015 to 2021.Methods A total of 9 261 strains of B.cepacia were collected from 52 hospitals between January 1,2015 and December 31,2021.Antimicrobial susceptibility of the strains was tested using Kirby-Bauer method or automated antimicrobial susceptibility testing systems according to a unified protocol.The results were interpreted according to the breakpoints released in the Clinical & Laboratory Standards Institute(CLSI)guidelines(2023 edition).Results A total of 9 261 strains of B.cepacia were isolated from all age groups,especially elderly patients.The proportion was 11.1％(1 032 strains)in children,significantly lower than the proportion in adults.About half(46.5％,4 310/9 261)of the strains were isolated from patients at least 60 years old and 42.3％(3 919/9 261)of the strains were isolated from young adults.Most isolates(71.1％)were isolated from sputum and respiratory secretions,followed by urine(10.7％)and blood samples(8.1％).B.cepacia isolates were highly susceptible to the five antimicrobial agents recommended in the CLSI M100 document(33rd edition,2023).B.cepacia isolates showed relatively higher resistance rates to meropenem and levofloxacin.However,the resistance rates to ceftazidime,trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole,and minocycline remained below 8.1％.The percentage of B.cepacia strains resistant to levofloxacin was the highest compared to other antibiotics in any of the three age groups(from 12.4％in the patients＜18 years old to 20.6％in the patients aged 60 years or older).Conclusions B.cepacia is one of the clinically important non-fermenting gram-negative bacteria.Accurate and timely reporting of antimicrobial susceptibility test results and ongoing antimicrobial resistance surveillance are helpful for rational prescription of antimicrobial agents and proper prevention and control of nosocomial infections.

Objective To summarize the changing prevalence of carbapenem resistance in Enterobacterales based on the data of CHINET Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance Program from 2015 to 2021 for improving antimicrobial treatment in clinical practice.Methods Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed using a commercial automated susceptibility testing system according to the unified CHINET protocol.The results were interpreted according to the breakpoints of the Clinical & Laboratory Standards Institute(CLSI)M100 31st ed in 2021.Results Over the seven-year period(2015-2021),the overall prevalence of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales(CRE)was 9.43％(62 342/661 235).The prevalence of CRE strains in Klebsiella pneumoniae,Citrobacter freundii,and Enterobacter cloacae was 22.38％,9.73％,and 8.47％,respectively.The prevalence of CRE strains in Escherichia coli was 1.99％.A few CRE strains were also identified in Salmonella and Shigella.The CRE strains were mainly isolated from respiratory specimens(44.23±2.80)％,followed by blood(20.88±3.40)％and urine(18.40±3.45)％.Intensive care units(ICUs)were the major source of the CRE strains(27.43±5.20)％.CRE strains were resistant to all the β-lactam antibiotics tested and most non-β-lactam antimicrobial agents.The CRE strains were relatively susceptible to tigecycline and polymyxins with low resistance rates.Conclusions The prevalence of CRE strains was increasing from 2015 to 2021.CRE strains were highly resistant to most of the antibacterial drugs used in clinical practice.Clinicians should prescribe antimicrobial agents rationally.Hospitals should strengthen antibiotic stewardship in key clinical settings such as ICUs,and take effective infection control measures to curb CRE outbreak and epidemic in hospitals.

Objective To characterize the changing species distribution and antibiotic resistance profiles of respiratory isolates in hospitals participating in the CHINET Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance Program from 2015 to 2021.Methods Commercial automated antimicrobial susceptibility testing systems and disk diffusion method were used to test the susceptibility of respiratory bacterial isolates to antimicrobial agents following the standardized technical protocol established by the CHINET program.Results A total of 589 746 respiratory isolates were collected from 2015 to 2021.Overall,82.6％of the isolates were Gram-negative bacteria and 17.4％were Gram-positive bacteria.The bacterial isolates from outpatients and inpatients accounted for(6.0±0.9)％and(94.0±0.1)％,respectively.The top microorganisms were Klebsiella spp.,Acinetobacter spp.,Pseudomonas aeruginosa,Staphylococcus aureus,Haemophilus spp.,Stenotrophomonas maltophilia,Escherichia coli,and Streptococcus pneumoniae.Each microorganism was isolated from significantly more males than from females(P＜0.05).The overall prevalence of methicillin-resistant S.aureus(MRSA)was 39.9％.The prevalence of penicillin-resistant S.pneumoniae was 1.4％.The prevalence of extended-spectrum β-lactamase(ESBL)-producing E.coli and K.pneumoniae was 67.8％and 41.3％,respectively.The overall prevalence of carbapenem-resistant E.coli,K.pneumoniae,Enterobacter cloacae,Pseudomonas aeruginosa,and Acinetobacter baumannii was 3.7％,20.8％,9.4％,29.8％,and 73.3％,respectively.The prevalence of β-lactamase was 96.1％in Moraxella catarrhalis and 60.0％in Haemophilus influenzae.The H.influenzae isolates from children(＜18 years)showed significantly higher resistance rates to β-lactam antibiotics than the isolates from adults(P＜0.05).Conclusions Gram-negative bacteria are still predominant in respiratory isolates associated with serious antibiotic resistance.Antimicrobial resistance surveillance should be strengthened in clinical practice to support accurate etiological diagnosis and appropriate antimicrobial therapy based on antimicrobial susceptibility testing results.

Objective To explore the differences in muscle synergies of healthy individuals,intact limbs and residual limbs of above-knee amputees under different gaits,provide references for electromyographic control of the prosthetics.Methods Surface electromyography(sEMG)signals of 7 muscles(4 thigh muscles,3 calf muscles)were collected from 7 healthy individuals and 3 lower-limb amputees during level walking,ascending/descending slopes,and ascending/descending stairs.Muscle synergy weights(W)and temporal activation coefficients(H)were extracted using concatenated non-negative matrix factorization(CNMF).The W matrices were compared using the coefficient of determination R2,and the activation coefficients were analyzed using statistical parametric mapping(SPM).Furthermore,peak activation and activation integral were used for hierarchical clustering analysis.Results The comparison of W matrices indicated a similar set of muscle synergies between the healthy group and the intact limb of amputees,whereas the residual limb showed greater variability in synergies.The analysis of H showed statistically significant differences in muscle activation throughout the gait cycle for all amputees.Clustering of time-domain features revealed that amputees exhibited higher activation integral and peak values in their intact limb during ascending slopes.Conclusions This study provides an in-depth investigation of the neuromuscular compensation strategies in lower-limb amputees under different gaits,offering theoretical insights for gait rehabilitation and assisting in the development of EMG-controlled prosthetics.

Recently, there has been an increasing risk of importation of tropical diseases into China and the resultant re-transmission in the country with the in-depth implementation of the “Belt and Road” Initiative, which poses a serious threat to the national public health security. To effectively respond to the cross-border transmission risk of tropical diseases and facilitate the process towards tropical disease control and elimination in China and the countries along the “Belt and Road” Initiative, this article analyzes the current status and governance risks of major imported tropical diseases, cross-border joint prevention and control polices implemented for tropical diseases and challenges in the establishment of the joint prevention and control system for tropical diseases in China, and discusses the establishment and implementation path of the joint prevention and control system for tropical diseases in countries along the “Belt and Road” Initiative. This path covers the establishment of cross-border cooperation mechanisms, research and development and pilot production of Chinese public health products, and implementation of key cross-border tropical disease prevention and control projects. The establishment of this system will further improve Chinese prevention and control capabilities for key cross-border tropical diseases, build a demonstrative prevention and control model for tropical diseases, and promote international technical exchanges and cooperation of tropical diseases.