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.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the quality differences of Alpinia katsumadai from different habitats. METHODS High- performance liquid chromatography（HPLC） was used to establish the fingerprints of A. katsumadai from 18 batches of different habitats， and the quality of A. katsumadai from different habitats was comprehensively evaluated by similarity evaluation， cluster analysis （CA）， principal component analysis （PCA）， orthogonal partial least squares-discriminant analysis （OPLS-DA） and the content determination results of alpinetin， pinocembrin， cardamonin and alnustone in A. katsumadai. RESULTS The similarity of HPLC fingerprints for 18 batches of A. katsumadai was ＞0.9. Eleven common peaks were identified from the chromatogram， and four of them were specifically characterized. Both CA and PCA grouped 18 batches of A. katsumadai into 3 categories， extracting 2 principal components （the cumulative variance contribution rate reached 89.798%）. OPLS-DA identified 9 quality difference markers， namely the components corresponding to peaks 4， 9， 3， 2， 7 （pinocembrin）， 8 （cardamonin）， 6 （alpinetin）， 10 and 11 （alnustone）. The content of alpinetin， pinocembrin， cardamonin， and alnustone ranged from 4.507 1-11.579 7， 5.154 4-14.183 3， 5.109 5-13.588 3 and 4.494 6-11.277 2 mg/g， respectively. CONCLUSIONS The quality of A. katsumadai from different habitats is quite different， and the quality of A. katsumadai from Hainan is the best.

BACKGROUND: The level of measurable residual disease (MRD) before and after transplantation is related to inferior transplant outcomes, and post-hematopoietic stem cell transplantation measurable residual disease (post-HSCT MRD) has higher prognostic value in determining risk than pre-hematopoietic stem cell transplantation measurable residual disease (pre-HSCT MRD). However, only a few work has been devoted to the risk factors for positive post-HSCT MRD in patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). This study evaluated the risk factors for post-HSCT MRD positivity in patients with ALL who underwent allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT). METHODS: A total of 1683 ALL patients from Peking University People's Hospital between January 2009 and December 2019 were enrolled to evaluate the cumulative incidence of post-HSCT MRD. Cox proportional hazard regression models were built for time-to-event outcomes. Multivariable analysis was performed to determine independent influencing factors from the univariable analysis. RESULTS: Both in total patients and in T-cell ALL or B-cell ALL, pediatric or adult, human leukocyte antigen-matched sibling donor transplantation or haploidentical SCT subgroups, positive pre-HSCT MRD was a risk factor for post-HSCT MRD positivity ( P  <0.001 for all). Disease status (complete remission 1 [CR1] vs . ≥CR2) was also a risk factor for post-HSCT MRD positivity in all patients and in the B cell-ALL, pediatric, or haploidentical SCT subgroups ( P  = 0.027; P  = 0.003; P  = 0.035; P  = 0.003, respectively). A risk score for post-HSCT MRD positivity was developed using the variables pre-HSCT MRD and disease status. The cumulative incidence of post-HSCT MRD positivity was 12.3%, 25.1%, and 38.8% for subjects with scores of 0, 1, and 2-3, respectively ( P  <0.001). Multivariable analysis confirmed the association of the risk score with the cumulative incidence of post-HSCT MRD positivity and relapse as well as leukemia-free survival and overall survival. CONCLUSION Our results indicated that positive pre-MRD and disease status were two independent risk factors for post-HSCT MRD positivity in patients with ALL who underwent allo-HSCT.
Humans ; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma/pathology* ; Neoplasm, Residual ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation/methods* ; Male ; Female ; Risk Factors ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Young Adult ; Middle Aged ; Infant ; Transplantation, Homologous ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Retrospective Studies

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.

Objective To analyze the structural and phylogenetic characteristics of the mitochondrial genome from Bulinus globosus, so as to provide a theoretical basis for classification and identification of species within the Bulinus genus, and to provide insights into understanding of Bulinus-schistosomes interactions and the mechanisms of parasite transmission. Methods B. globosus samples were collected from the Ruya River basin in Zimbabwe. Mitochondrial DNA was extracted from B. globosus samples and the corresponding libraries were constructed for high-throughput sequencing on the Illumina NovaSeq 6000 platform. After raw sequencing data were subjected to quality control using the fastp software, genome assembly was performed using the A5-miseq and SPAdes tools, and genome annotation was conducted using the MITOS online server. Circular maps and sequence plots of the mitochondrial genome were generated using the CGView and OGDRAW software, and the protein conservation motifs and structures were analyzed using the TBtools software. Base composition and codon usage bias were analyzed and visualized using the software MEGA X and the ggplot2 package in the R software. In addition, a phylogenetic tree was created in the software MEGA X after sequence alignment with the software MAFFT 7, and visualized using the software iTOL. Results The mitochondrial genome of B. globosus was a 13 730 bp double-stranded circular molecule, containing 2 ribosomal RNA (rRNA) genes, 22 transfer RNA (tRNA) genes, and 13 protein-coding genes, with a marked AT preference. The mitochondrial genome composition of B. globosus was similar to that of other species within the Bulinus genus. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the complete mitochondrial genome sequence of B. globosus was clustered with B. truncatus, B. nasutus, and B. ugandae into the same evolutionary clade, and gene superfamily analysis showed that the metabolism-related proteins of B. globosus were highly conserved, notably the cytochrome c oxidase family, which showed a significant consistency. Conclusions This is the first whole mitochondrial genome sequencing to decode the compositional features of the mitochondrial genome of B. globosus from Zimbabwe and its evolutionary relationship within the Bulinus genus, which provides important insights for further understanding of the phylogeny and mitochondrial genome characteristics of the Bulinus genus.

Objective:To investigate the consistency and sensitivity of minimal residual disease (MRD) detected by multicolor flow cytometry (FCM) and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RQ-PCR) in patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) accompanied by monocytic differentiation after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT).Methods:A retrospective case series study was conducted. A total of 218 patients diagnosed with AML accompanied by monocytic differentiation who underwent allo-HSCT in Peking University People's Hospital between January 2017 and December 2021 were included. MRD was detected by using bone marrow FCM and RQ-PCR at predefined intervals (at 1-, 2-, 3-, 4.5-, 6-, 9-, and 12-month before and after transplantation). Patients were grouped based on AML-related specific genes, and dynamic changes in MRD results detected by FCM and RQ-PCR after transplantation were analyzed to evaluate the correlation with post-transplant relapse.Results:A total of 218 enrolled patients included 114 males and 106 females, with the median age of 32 years (1-65 years). The median follow-up duration was 218 d (21-1 541 d). Hematologic relapse occurred in 26 patients (12.7%), with a median relapse time of 272 d (83-934 d); 35 patients (15.9%) died, including 15 (6.9%) due to leukemia relapse and 20 (9.2%) due to transplant-related mortality. Predictive markers for relapse included once WT1 positive (WT1+once), twice WT1 positive (WT1+twice), CBFβ::MYH11 fusion genes positive, mixed-lineage leukemia (MLL)-related fusion genes positive, AML1::ETO fusion genes positive, and once FCM positive (FCM+once), twice FCM positive (FCM+twice). The overall consistency rate between FCM and RQ-PCR for MRD detection in AML patients accompanied by monocytic differentiation after transplantation was 75.7% (165/218). The consistency rate of MRD detection results in WT1+once, WT1+ twice, MLL-related fusion gene positive, and NPM1 gene mutation positive with FCM was higher than the average value (>75.7%), while the consistency rate of MRD detection results in AML1::ETO and CBFβ::MYH11 fusion gene positive with FCM was lower than the average value (<75.7%). Notably, persistent low-level positivity without relapse after transplantation occurred in cases with WT1 (15 patients), NPM1 (2 patients), CBFβ::MYH11 (11 patients), or AML1::ETO (2 patients); in contrast, MLL-related fusion genes (particularly MLL::AF6 and MLL::AF9) positive after transplantation indicated relapse in patients. The sensitivity and specificity of RQ-PCR for MRD monitoring varied by genetic markers: WT1+once and WT1+twice (sensitivity: 66.7%, 50.0%; specificity: 84.5%, 91.1%, respectively), AML1::ETO (sensitivity: 100.0%; specificity: 50.0%), CBFβ::MYH11 (sensitivity: 100.0%; specificity: 58.6%), MLL-related fusion genes (sensitivity: 75.0%; specificity: 96.4%), and NPM1 (sensitivity: 75.0%; specificity: 91.7%).Conclusions:The sensitivity and specificity of AML-related genetic markers for recurrence prediction show differences. Discrepancies between RQ-PCR and FCM in MRD detection are notable in AML with monocytic differentiation after transplantation. FCM exhibits relatively lower sensitivity for MRD monitoring in this subtype, while RQ-PCR based on AML-related genes may compensate for FCM limitations.

Objective To evaluate the brain injury in children with congenital diaphragmatic hernia(CDH)after surgery through examination methods such as amplitude-integrated electroencephalogram(aEEG),regional cerebral oxygen saturation(rSO2)and neonatal behavioral neurological assessment(NBNA),so as to clarify their diagnostic value.Methods A total of 83 full-term CDH children admitted to our hospital were retrospectively enrolled as the research subjects.According to the brain damage syndrome(BDS)diagnostic criteria,they were divided into brain injury group(n=36)and control group(n=47).We compared the general data of the neonates in the two groups,as well as the modified aEEG scores and rSO2 at admission,14 days after birth,and 28 days after birth.We compared the NBNA scores at 28 days after birth.The receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve was used to analyze the diagnostic value of the three tools for brain injury.Results The modified aEEG scores of the children in the brain injury group at each time point were lower than those in the control group.The rSO2 of the children in the brain injury group was lower than that in the control group at 14 days and 28 days after birth and recovered slowly.The NBNA scores also indicated that the neurodevelopment of the children in the brain injury group was significantly lower than that in the control group.The ROC curve showed that the areas under the curve of combined diagnosis exhibited the best diagnostic efficacy compared with rSO2 used alone at 28 days after birth,aEEG at 28 days after birth,and NBNA scores(the area under the curve:0.968 vs.0.701 vs.0.685 vs.0.870;sensitivity:92.0％ vs.53.7％ vs.87.8％ vs.95.1％;specificity:97.0％ vs.86.1％ vs.50.0％ vs.72.2％).Conclusion The combined application of the modified aEEG score,rSO2,and NBNA has high sensitivity and specificity in the diagnosis of brain injury in children with CDH;therefore,it is worthy of clinical promotion and application.

Blonanserin,a second-generation atypical antipsychotic agent,acts as an antagonist for dopamine D2,D3,and serotonin 5-HT2A receptors.Clinical studies have demonstrated that blonanserin is non-inferior to other antipsychotics,such as haloperidol and risperidone,in alleviating the symptoms of schizophrenia.Moreover,it exhib-its beneficial effects on cognitive symptoms and social functioning,with a favorable safety profile,making it one of the key treatment options for schizophrenia.With extensive clinical experience accumulated in China,this expert consensus aims to provide psychiatrists with updated and localized guidance on the optimal use of blonan-serin.Based on a systematic review of the latest evidence-particularly studies in Chinese population,this paper pres-ents the updated Chinese expert recommendations for the clinical use of blonanserin in 2024.

Objective:To explore the effect of the interaction between plasma aluminum concentration and schooling year on cognitive function, it provides the basis for early identification of its damaging effect.Methods:From October to December, 2014, 1114 on-the-job aluminum exposed workers in a large aluminum factory in Shanxi Province were investigated. The plasma aluminum concentrations were measured by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) as an internal exposure indicator. The subjects were divided into low, medium, and high aluminum exposure group based on the blood lead concentration levels. The general information was collected with a self-designed questionnaire, and their cognitive function was evaluated with the mini-mental state examination and the clock drawing test. The interaction between plasma aluminum concentration level and education level was analyzed by using unconditional logistic regression fitting multiplication model and cross analysis fitting addition model.Results:The average level of plasma aluminum of the subjects was 21.68 (10.51, 45.78) μg/L. The detection rate of cognitive impairment was 19.9%. The influencing factors of cognitive function were plasma aluminum concentration, age, education level and marital status, among which high schooling year, and being married were the protective factors (all P<0.05), plasma aluminum concentration, and age were the risk factors (all P<0.05) ; After adjusting the confounding factors, such as age, marital status, schooling year, income level, smoking, and drinking, logistic regression model and the multiple linear regression model showed that there was a dose response relationship between plasma aluminum concentration and cognitive impairment. With the increase of plasma aluminum concentration, the score gradually decreased, and the risk of cognitive impairment increased ( Ptrend<0.05) ; There were multiplicative interaction ( AOR=2.15, 95% CI: 1.10-4.19) and additive interaction ( RERI=5.38, 95% CI: 2.60-8.16; AP=0.65, 95% CI: 0.51-0.80; S=3.88, 95% CI: 2.00-7.56) between plasma aluminum concentration and low schooling year on cognitive function. Conclusion:There was a dose-response relationship between aluminum exposure and cognitive impairment. There was an interaction between aluminum exposure and low schooling year. When both of them worked together, the risk of cognitive impairment increases.

Deutetrabenazine(DTBZ)is a selective oral small molecule inhibitor of vesicular monoamine transporter 2(VMAT2).Its pharmacological action works by inhibiting VMAT2,thereby reducing the release of presynaptic dopamine and alleviating tardive dyskinesia symptoms caused by long-term use of dopamine receptor antagonists.Compared with tetrabenazine,DTBZ has longer half-life,lower peak plasma concentration,and smaller plasma concentration fluctuations.Clinical studies demonstrate that DTBZ significantly improves abnormal involuntary movement in patients with tardive dyskinesia and has a favourable safety profile.Based on available clinical evidence and practical experience,this paper discuss the common questions about DTBZ including the suitable population,dose,duration of treatment,combination administration with antipsychotics,efficacy assessment and application in special populations.This article aimed to provide guidance and recommendations on clinical application of DTBZ for clinicians.