Availability of Laboratory Diagnosis of Gonorrhoea and Its Meaning in Case Reporting in Shandong Province, China.

Background: Gonorrhea, caused by the bacterium (NG), is a major public health concern worldwide.

Aim Of The Study: The aim of this study is to understand the availability of laboratory diagnosis of gonorrhoea in Shandong province and its meaning in case reporting.

Methods: Two surveys were conducted among hospitals providing clinical services for sexually transmitted infection (STI) in Shandong Province in 2012 and 2018.

Disparity in Availability of Laboratory Testing for Syphilis Among Different Hospitals in Shandong Province, Eastern China.

The aim of this study was to understand the availability of laboratory testing for syphilis among hospitals in Shandong province. Basic information on hospitals that provide clinical health service for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and the type of laboratory tests for syphilis provided was collected and analyzed using the test. A total of 410 and 456 hospitals that provided clinical services for STI were surveyed in 2012 and 2018.

Availability of Chlamydia trachomatis Testing and Its Importance in the Surveillance of Genital Chlamydial Infection.

The reported prevalence of genital Chlamydia trachomatis infection (GCTI) is much lower in low-income countries than that in high-income countries. This study surveyed the prevalence of GCTI in 456 hospitals in Shandong province, China in December 2018. Among the hospitals surveyed, antigen testing, PCR testing, and either antigen or PCR testing were available in 200 (43.

The role of an active surveillance strategy of targeting household and neighborhood contacts related to leprosy cases released from treatment in a low-endemic area of China.

Objective: Early diagnosis remains the primary goal for leprosy management programs. This study aims to determine whether active surveillance of patients with leprosy and their contact individuals increased identification of latent leprosy cases in the low-endemic areas.

Methods: This cross-sectional survey was carried out between October 2014 and August 2016 in 21 counties throughout Shandong Province.

Prevalence of genital Chlamydia trachomatis infection in the general population: a meta-analysis.

Background: Estimating prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) worldwide is necessary in designing control programs and allocating health resources. We performed a meta-analysis to calculate the prevalence of CT in the general population.

Methods: The Pubmed and Embase databases were searched for eligible population-based studies from its inception through June 5, 2019.

Comprehensive measures succeeded in improving early detection of leprosy cases in post-elimination era: Experience from Shandong province, China.

Background: A few new leprosy cases still can be seen in Shandong province after elimination. In post-elimination era, government commitments dwindled and active case-finding activities were seldom done. Most of the cases were detected by passive modes and advanced cases with longer delay and visible disability were common.

Seroprevalence and associated factors of HSV-2 infection among general population in Shandong Province, China.

Background: Herpes simplex virus type-2 (HSV-2) infection is the main cause of genital ulcer disease and increases the risk of HIV acquisition. Little information is available regards the epidemiological characteristics of HSV-2 among general population in China. The aim of this study was to explore seroprevalence and associated factors of HSV-2 and provide information for design of HSV-2 control strategy in Shandong, China.

Evaluation of Prospective HLA-B*13:01 Screening to Prevent Dapsone Hypersensitivity Syndrome in Patients With Leprosy.

Importance: Dapsone hypersensitivity syndrome (DHS) is the most serious adverse reaction associated with dapsone administration and one of the major causes of death in patients with leprosy, whose standard treatment includes multidrug therapy (MDT) with dapsone, rifampicin, and clofazimine. Although the HLA-B*13:01 polymorphism has been identified as the genetic determinant of DHS in the Chinese population, no studies to date have been done to evaluate whether prospective HLA-B*13:01 screening could prevent DHS by identifying patients who should not receive dapsone.

Objective: To evaluate the clinical use of prospective HLA-B*13:01 screening for reduction of the incidence of DHS by excluding dapsone from the treatment for patients with HLA-B*13:01-positive leprosy.

Availability of benzathine penicillin G for syphilis treatment in Shandong Province, Eastern China.

Background: The shortage of benzathine penicillin G (BPG) worldwide presents a major challenge in the treatment of syphilis. Its availability for syphilis treatment has not been adequately evaluated in China.

Methods: Two surveys were conducted among hospitals providing sexually transmitted infection clinical services in Shandong Province in 2012 and 2018.

Prevalence, risk factors, and medical costs of Chlamydia trachomatis infections in Shandong Province, China: a population-based, cross-sectional study.

Background: A population-based study of Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) infections is essential in designing a specific control program; however, no large investigation of CT infections among the general population in mainland China has been conducted since 2000. We aimed to determine the prevalence, risk factors, and associated medical costs of CT among residents, 18-49 years of age, in Shandong, China.

Methods: From May to August 2016, a multistage probability sampling survey involving 8074 individuals was distributed.

HIV test uptake and related factors amongst heterosexual drug users in Shandong province, China.

Background: In China, the mode of HIV transmission and the types and routes of drug use have changed in the past decade. HIV testing amongst drug users needs further improvement.

Methods: Interviewer-administered questionnaires were used for data collection amongst 600 heterosexual drug users from the community and a municipal detention centre, where criminal suspects are supervised.

Prediction of leprosy in the Chinese population based on a weighted genetic risk score.

Genome wide association studies (GWASs) have revealed multiple genetic variants associated with leprosy in the Chinese population. The aim of our study was to utilize the genetic variants to construct a risk prediction model through a weighted genetic risk score (GRS) in a Chinese set and to further assess the performance of the model in identifying higher-risk contact individuals in an independent set. The highest prediction accuracy, with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.

Comparison of Doxycycline and Benzathine Penicillin G for the Treatment of Early Syphilis.

Doxycycline is the preferred recommended second-line treatment for the treatment of early syphilis. Recent reports showed a declining efficacy trend of doxycycline in treatment of early syphilis. The aim of our study was to assess the serological response to the treatment for early syphilis with doxycycline compared with benzathine penicillin G and evaluate whether doxycycline is still an effective agent for the treatment of early syphilis.

Sexually transmitted infection prevalence and related risk factors among heterosexual male methamphetamine users in China.

Few studies have examined the association between methamphetamine (MA) abuse and sexually transmitted infection (STI) risk among heterosexual male MA users in China. A total of 288 heterosexual male MA users who met our inclusion criteria were recruited from nightclubs, KTVs, bars, bath centres and an STI clinic. STIs were screened among the participants, and the risk factors related to STIs were analysed by multivariate logistic regression in SPSS 11.

TRENDS IN THE PREVALENCE OF SYPHILIS AMONG OLDER ADULTS IN SHANDONG, CHINA.

The epidemiology of syphilis among older adults in China has not been well studied. We studied changes over time in the prevalence of syphilis among older adults in Shandong, China to inform a syphilis intervention program in order to develop management strategies. We retrospectively reviewed passive surveillance data of syphilis among older adults in Shandong, China during 2008-2013, reported by clinicians in medical facilities.

Discovery of six new susceptibility loci and analysis of pleiotropic effects in leprosy.

Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have led to the discovery of several susceptibility loci for leprosy with robust evidence, providing biological insight into the role of host genetic factors in mycobacterial infection. However, the identified loci only partially explain disease heritability, and additional genetic risk factors remain to be discovered. We performed a 3-stage GWAS of leprosy in the Chinese population using 8,313 cases and 16,017 controls.

Gender difference in the characteristics of and high-risk behaviours among non-injecting heterosexual methamphetamine users in Qingdao, Shandong Province, China.

Background: Despite the increasing risk of HIV infections, few studies concerning the characteristics of non-injecting heterosexual methamphetamine (MA) users and related risk behaviours have been conducted in China.

Methods: Gender differences in socio-demographic characteristics, perception of MA and STD/HIV, MA use practices, and sexual behaviours related to MA use were examined among 398 non-injecting heterosexual MA users (288 males, 110 females).

Results: Male MA users were more likely to be married, local, and self-employed; female MA users were more likely to be young, single, engaged in commercial service or unemployed.

Identification of IL18RAP/IL18R1 and IL12B as leprosy risk genes demonstrates shared pathogenesis between inflammation and infectious diseases.

Of eight leprosy susceptibility loci identified by genome-wide association studies, five have been implicated in Crohn disease, suggesting a common genetic fingerprint between leprosy and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Here, we conducted a multiple-stage genetic association study of 133 IBD susceptibility loci in multiple leprosy samples (totaling 4,971 leprosy cases and 5,503 controls) from a Chinese population and discovered two associations at rs2058660 on 2q12.1 (p = 4.

Identification of two new loci at IL23R and RAB32 that influence susceptibility to leprosy.

We performed a genome-wide association study with 706 individuals with leprosy and 5,581 control individuals and replicated the top 24 SNPs in three independent replication samples, including a total of 3,301 individuals with leprosy and 5,299 control individuals from China. Two loci not previously associated with the disease were identified with genome-wide significance: rs2275606 (combined P = 3.94 × 10(-14), OR = 1.

Evidence for an association of HLA-DRB1*15 and DRB1*09 with leprosy and the impact of DRB1*09 on disease onset in a Chinese Han population.

Background: Human leukocyte antigens (HLAs) have been proposed to modulate the immune response to Mycobacterium leprae. The association of HLA-DRB1 with leprosy has been reported in several populations, but not in a Chinese population.

Methods: The polymerase chain reaction-sequence-specific oligonucleotide probe with Luminex100 (PCR-SSOP-Luminex) method was used to genotype HLA-DRB1 alleles in 305 leprosy patients and 527 healthy control individuals.

Assessment of knowledge and skills in early diagnosis of leprosy and attitudes towards leprosy amongst doctors working in dermatological services, Shandong Province, People's Republic of China.

After the leprosy control programme in Shandong Province, China, had declared elimination in 1994, it was no longer cost effective to rely on rapid surveys, population surveys and contact tracing for case detection, and since then most new cases have been diagnosed by the dermatological services. The dermatological services will continue to play an important role in diagnosis of the few incident leprosy cases scattered in wide geographic areas and in a population of 90 million. In order to better understand the knowledge and skills in early diagnosis of leprosy among doctors working in dermatological services around the province, doctors attending the dermatological annual meeting and a dermatological training workshop were assessed on their knowledge and skills in early diagnosis of leprosy and their attitude towards leprosy with a semi-structured questionnaire.