Capacity assessment of the health laboratory system in two resource-limited provinces in China.

Background: Strong laboratory capacity is essential for detecting and responding to emerging and re-emerging global health threats. We conducted a quantitative laboratory assessment during 2014-2015 in two resource-limited provinces in southern China, Guangxi and Guizhou in order to guide strategies for strengthening core capacities as required by the International Health Regulations (IHR 2005).

Methods: We selected 28 public health and clinical laboratories from the provincial, prefecture and county levels through a quasi-random sampling approach.

Effectiveness of health education in improving knowledge, practice and belief related to clonorchiasis in children.

Clonorchiasis is caused by the ingestion of raw freshwater fish containing Clonorchis sinensis larvae. Health education is crucial in sustainable control of clonorchiasis but extremely challenging when dealing with adults. To investigate if education in children would be a beneficial long-term approach, a cluster-controlled trial was implemented in two primary schools between 2017 and 2019 in Binyang county, Guangxi, China.

Tracing the transmission dynamics of HIV-1 CRF55_01B.

To investigate the genetic diversity, spatiotemporal dynamics, and transmission networks of HIV-1 CRF55_01B epidemic in China. A total of 209 partial pol gene sequences of HIV-1 CRF55_01B were sampled during 2007-2015 from 7 provinces of China. Phylogenetic analyses and trait diffusion process of these sequences were performed using Bayesian methods.

Intersectional stigma and psychosocial well-being among MSM living with HIV in Guangxi, China.

The existing literature suggests a negative impact of intersectional stigma on multiple aspects of psychosocial well-being among individuals with multiple stigmatized identities. However, such impact remains poorly understood. This study aims to investigate the association between intersectional stigma and psychosocial well-being among 193 men who have sex with men (MSM) living with HIV.

Socioeconomic disparity of immunologic outcome among people living with HIV in Guangxi, China.

The socioeconomic disadvantage may adversely affect HIV treatment outcomes, particularly in resource-limited settings. Data from people living with HIV (PLWH) who were receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART) in Guangxi, China were analyzed to investigate the impact of socioeconomic status (SES) on the immunologic outcome (i.e.

iCOPE, a multi-level, cluster randomized, 36-month, parallel-group study to assess the efficacy of HIV disclosure intervention in HIV parental disclosure among parents living with HIV in China.

Objectives: Parents living with HIV who disclose their HIV status to their children could benefit from the parental HIV disclosure. However, it is also very challenging because of persistent stigma and discrimination against HIV. This report describes the study design and protocol of the "Interactive Communication with Openness, Passion, and Empowerment (iCOPE)" randomized controlled trial aimed at assisting parents living with HIV in conducting culturally and developmentally appropriate disclosure to their uninfected children in China through trainings among both parents living with HIV and healthcare providers.

Perceived benefits and costs of disclosing HIV diagnosis to family members among people living with HIV in Southern China: an application of a decision-making framework.

People living with HIV (PLWH) would decide whether to disclose their HIV serostatus to others based on the weight of perceived benefits and costs for the disclosure. Using cross-sectional data from 1254 PLWH in Guangxi, China, the study aimed to examine a framework of disclosure decision-making in the context of disclosure to family members (parents and siblings) through exploring the associations between disclosure and perceived benefits and costs of disclosure at individual and interpersonal levels. Univariate and multivariate regression analyses showed that HIV disclosure was associated with perceived benefits at both individual level (stress relief and social support) and interpersonal level (educating others and promoting family stability), but was not associated with perceived costs at either individual level (stigma and confidentiality breaching) or interpersonal level (family conflicts and concerns).

Rapid screening of Clonorchis sinensis infection: Performance of a method based on raw-freshwater fish-eating practice.

Clonorchis sinensis infection is caused by ingestion of raw freshwater fish containing the infective larvae of Clonorchis sinensis. It is highly endemic in East Asia, especially in China. Selective chemotherapy of people who report habitual eating of raw freshwater fish is a control measure.

The role of mental health on the relationship between food insecurity and immunologic outcome among people living with HIV in Guangxi, China.

Background: Previous studies showed that food insecurity could adversely affect clinical outcomes of people living with HIV (PLWH). The mental health pathways of such effects are suggested in existing literature, but empirical data are limited in resource-limited settings.

Methods: This cross-sectional study aims to explore the role of depressive symptoms and anxiety on the association between food insecurity and CD4 counts among a sample of 2,987 PLWH in Guangxi, China.

Promoting oral HIV self-testing via the internet among men who have sex with men in China: a feasibility assessment.

Objectives: The HIV prevalence among Chinese men who have sex with men (MSM) is high, while the HIV testing rate is low. HIV self-testing (HIVST) is a promising means of scaling up HIV testing among MSM in China, as the ability to test in private is appealing to many individuals. We evaluated the feasibility of promoting oral HIVST via the internet in the MSM population.

Changes in the epidemiology of hepatitis A in three socio-economic regions of China, 1990-2017.

Background: Hepatitis A (HepA) vaccination and economic transitions can change the epidemiology of HepA. China's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita was known to be inversely associated with the incidence of HepA, but a deeper understanding of the epidemiology of HepA in different socio-economic regions is lacking. We compare the changing epidemiology of HepA in three socioeconomic-geographic regions of China.

Sources and Impact of Work-Related Stress Among HIV/AIDS Health Care Providers in Guangxi, China: A Qualitative Research.

Work-related stress can negatively impact health care providers' (HCPs) ability to provide care. We examined the sources of work-related stress experienced by HCPs who provided medical care for people living with HIV/AIDS and the impact of the stress on HCPs' well-being and work performance. We conducted in-depth interviews with 46 HIV/AIDS HCPs in Guangxi, China.

The mediating effects of functions of social support on HIV-related trauma and health-related quality of life for PLHIV in China.

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of social support as a buffer between traumatic life events and HRQOL. We hypothesized that social support would mediate the effect of traumatic life events on HRQOL. A total of 2987 PLHIV participated in this study.

Efficacy, Safety, and Immunogenicity of an Escherichia coli-Produced Bivalent Human Papillomavirus Vaccine: An Interim Analysis of a Randomized Clinical Trial.

Background: The high cost and insufficient supply of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines have slowed the pace of controlling cervical cancer. A phase III clinical trial was conducted to evaluate the efficacy, safety, and immunogenicity of a novel Escherichia coli-produced bivalent HPV-16/18 vaccine.

Methods: A multicenter, randomized, double-blind trial started on November 22, 2012 in China.

Antiretroviral therapy and mental health among people living with HIV/AIDS in China.

Several methodological gaps exist regarding assessing the relationship between antiretroviral therapy (ART) and mental health. Adopting an "HIV care continuum" perspective, cross-sectional data from 2987 people living with HIV (PLHIV) in Guangxi, China were used. ART uptake was retrieved from medical records and ART adherence was self-reported (good vs.

[Effect of alcohol drinking on sputum conversion at the end of second month and outcome of smear-positive pulmonary tuberculosis patients].

To explore the effect of alcohol drinking on sputum culture conversion at the end of second month and outcome of smear-positive pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) patients. Total 2 067 patients aged 18 years and above diagnosed and treated from 2008 to 2011 in 49 TB institutions from 8 provinces, antonomous regions and municipalities were enrolled, according to tuberculosis situation and regional distribution in China. Those patients were divided into three groups according to alcohol drinking, including never alcohol drinker group, ever-alcohol drinker group and current alcohol drinker group, respectively.

Treatment outcomes of initial differential antiretroviral regimens among HIV patients in Southwest China: comparison from an observational cohort study.

Objectives: China has continued to expand antiretroviral therapy (ART) services and optimise ART guidelines in an effort to significantly reduce and prevent mortality and transmission rates among HIV patients. However, no study to date has compared treatment outcomes of initial differential antiretroviral regimens among HIV patients in a real-world setting in China. This study aimed to compare the effects of different ART regimens on treatment outcomes among adults.

HIV Disclosure to Family Members and Medication Adherence: Role of Social Support and Self-efficacy.

Although antiretroviral therapy (ART) is vital to people living with HIV (PLWH) by suppressing the virus and in turn preventing onward HIV transmission and reducing AIDS-related morbidity and mortality, the rates of optimal ART adherence continuously remain low. Disclosure of HIV status is considered to be a critical predictor of ART adherence. However, few studies have explored the mechanisms underlying the association between disclosure and medication adherence.

Comparison of different strategies for controlling HIV/AIDS spreading in MSM.

As proposed in the UNAIDSs 2014 report, to end global AIDS epidemic by 2030, 90% of people living with HIV need to be diagnosed, 90% of the diagnosed need to receive antiretroviral therapy (ART), and 90% of those on treatment need to achieve viral suppression (90-90-90 strategy). The strategies focus on the reservoir. It controls HIV spreading by reducing infectiousness of HIV infected individuals via diagnosis and treatment.

Immunological and virologic outcomes of people living with HIV in Guangxi, China: 2012-2017.

Background: Limited data are available on clinical outcomes of people living with HIV (PLWH) in China, especially after the implementation of the 2016 national treatment guideline. The objective of the current study is to examine the treatment patterns, clinical outcomes and their associated factors among PLWH in Guangxi, China before and after this new guideline.

Methods: Data from three community-based projects conducted at different time points over a period of six years (2012-2017) in Guangxi were analyzed in our study.

Immunogenicity of pentavalent rotavirus vaccine in Chinese infants.

Background: A phase III, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical study was conducted in China to assess the efficacy, safety, and immunogenicity of the pentavalent rotavirus vaccine (RotaTeq, RV5) among Chinese infants. The efficacy and safety data have been previously reported. This report presents the immunogenicity data of the study.

Treatment effects of the differential first-line antiretroviral regimens among HIV/HBV coinfected patients in southwest China: an observational study.

HIV with HBV co-infection can result in greater HIV-related immunosuppression, morbidity and mortality. Currently, there are few studies to evaluate direct treatment effects on mortality and attrition rates between first-line antiretroviral therapy (ART) based-on tenofovir (TDF) and/or lamivudine (3TC) in a real-world setting. We used Cox proportional hazard models to evaluate direct treatment effects of the first-line ART containing stavudine (d4T), azidothymidine (AZT) and TDF on death and attrition among HIV patients with HBV coinfection.