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Hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) is mainly caused by enteroviruses (EVs) and represents an important public health problem in China. The aim of this study was to investigate the epidemiological and genetic characteristics of EVs associated with HFMD in Jiaxing City in 2019–2022. In total, 1807 clinical specimens collected from patients with HFMD were evaluated by real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, and 1553 EV-positive specimens were detected, including 1018 coxsackievirus A6 (CVA6), 301 coxsackievirus A16 (CVA16), 94 coxsackievirus A10 (CVA10), 7 enterovirus A71 (EV-A71), and 133 other EVs. A phylogenetic analysis revealed that the subgenogroups CVA6 D3a, CVA10 F, and CVA16 B1a B1b were predominant in Jiaxing. Compared with VP1 of the prototype strains of CVA6, CVA10, and CVA16, 34, 36, and 31 amino acid substitutions were detected, respectively. Children aged 1–5 years accounted for the majority of cases, and the infection rate was higher in males than in females. EV infection cases were clearly affected by the COVID-19 epidemic, with decreases in 2020 corresponding to the implementation of protective measures. These findings add to the global genetic resources for EVs and demonstrate the epidemiological characteristics and genetic features of HFMD in Jiaxing.

Background Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) demonstrates substantial efficacy in preventing human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) among men who have sex with men (MSM). However, its promotion faces barriers, with implementation raising concerns about declining condom use and a potential increase in the incidence of sexually transmitted infections (STIs). This study investigated the factors associated with PrEP uptake and STIs status among MSM to inform strategies for PrEP implementation in this group. Methods From July to December 2023, a cross-sectional study was conducted among MSM in Zhejiang Province, China. Data on demographic characteristics, PrEP knowledge and uptake, sexual behaviors, and HIV testing were collected using online questionnaires. Chi-square tests were used to compare the differences between the PrEP uptake and non-uptake groups, and logistic regression was applied to analyze the associated factors with PrEP uptake. Results A total of 5816 MSM who met the inclusion criteria were recruited, of whom 321 (5.5%, 95% CI: 4.92%–6.08%) reported PrEP uptake. Multivariate logistic regression identified key factors associated with PrEP uptake. Positively associated factors included higher education (junior college: adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 1.54, 95% CI: 1.02–2.33, P  = 0.042; bachelor’s degree: aOR: 1.81, 95% CI: 1.22–2.69, P  = 0.004; master’s and above: aOR: 2.50, 95% CI: 1.55–4.04, P  < 0.001), having two or more sexual partners (aOR: 1.91, 95% CI: 1.17–3.10, P  = 0.009), occasional condom use (aOR: 1.83, 95% CI: 1.42–2.35, P  < 0.001), frequent (aOR: 2.11, 95% CI: 1.59–2.80, P  < 0.001) or occasional (aOR: 1.39, 95% CI: 1.02–1.88, P  = 0.035) rush popper use, and STI history (aOR: 2.82, 95% CI: 1.71–4.64, P  < 0.001). Conversely, freelance occupation was inversely associated with uptake (aOR: 0.65, 95% CI: 0.43–0.99, P  = 0.046). Conclusions The prevalence of PrEP uptake among MSM in Zhejiang Province remains relatively low. Factors including lower educational level, freelance employment, multiple sexual partnerships, occasional condom use, and rush popper use were correlated with uptake. Importantly, individuals with a history of STIs were more likely to use PrEP, underscoring the need to integrate STI screening into routine PrEP services. These findings provide a critical evidence base for promoting PrEP and for developing tailored HIV/STI prevention strategies targeting MSM.

Cellular senescence and its senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP) are widely regarded as promising therapeutic targets for aging-related diseases, such as osteoporosis. However, the expression pattern of cellular senescence and multiple SASP secretion remains unclear, thus leaving a large gap in the knowledge for a desirable intervention targeting cellular senescence. Therefore, there is a critical need to understand the molecular mechanism of SASP secretion in the bone microenvironment that can ameliorate aging-related degenerative pathologies including osteoporosis. In this study, osteocyte-like cells (MLO-Y4) were induced to cellular senescence by 2 Gy γ-rays; then, senescence phenotype changes and adverse effects of SASP on bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell (BMSC) differentiation potential were investigated. The results revealed that 2 Gy irradiation could hinder cell viability, shorten cell dendrites, and induce cellular senescence, as evidenced by the higher expression of senescence markers p16 and p21 and the elevated formation of senescence-associated heterochromatin foci (SAHF), which was accompanied by the enhanced secretion of SASP markers such as IL-1α, IL-6, MMP-3, IGFBP-6, resistin, and adiponectin. When 0.8 μM JAK1 inhibitors were added to block SASP secretion, the higher expression of SASP was blunted, but the inhibition in osteogenic and adipogenic differentiation potential of BMSCs co-cultured with irradiated MLO-Y4 cell conditioned medium (CM- 2 Gy) was alleviated. These results suggest that senescent osteocytes can perturb BMSCs’ differential potential via the paracrine signaling of SASP, which was also demonstrated by in vivo experiments. In conclusion, we identified the SASP factor partially responsible for the degenerative differentiation of BMSCs, which allowed us to hypothesize that senescent osteocytes and their SASPs may contribute to radiation-induced bone loss.

Background As of September 2023, more than 1,000 cases of monkeypox (mpox) have been reported in China. Based on the available evidence, men who have sex with men (MSM) are at high risk for mpox infection. This study aimed to analyses the self-reported infection status, knowledge, attitude and influencing factors of monkeypox among MSM in Jiaxing City, China. Methods A web-based cross-sectional survey was conducted in September 2023 to gather data on participants’ socio-demographic profiles, mpox-related knowledge, sexual behavior characteristics, and other potentially related information to mpox knowledge. Multivariate regression modeling was employed to analyze the factors influencing the level of mpox-related knowledge. Results A total of 562 MSM were recruited; 4.3% self-reported being HIV-positive, 83.3% of respondents had heard of mpox, and 2.3% of them reported having suspected symptoms. 89.7% of respondents were willing to be vaccinated against mpox, but only 24.8% had a high level of knowledge about mpox. The main factors influencing knowledge of mpox were education level, household registration, homosexual anal intercourse in the past 6 months, and taking the HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). Conclusions Knowledge of mpox among MSM living in the Jiaxing area needs to be enhanced, but willingness to get vaccinated is high. Educational level, household location, sexual behavior and PrEP use have important effects on knowledge of mpox. Individuals exhibiting symptoms indicative of suspected mpox had a diminutive consultation frequency, and it is imperative to augment screening efforts for mpox symptoms within specific demographic groups to prevent the underreporting of mpox cases.

Background Following the lifting of COVID-19 pandemic control measures, a progressive increase in influenza A virus activity, particularly the H1N1 subtype, has been observed in Jiaxing. This study systematically characterized the genomic evolution of influenza A(H1N1) viruses circulating in Jiaxing, China during the 2023–2024 epidemic seasons through whole-genome sequencing and phylogenetic analysis. Methods Viral RNA was detected by quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) and 83 influenza A(H1N1) isolates (48 from 2023 and 35 from 2024 surveillance) were selected for whole-genome sequencing. Launch RDP4, MEGA11 and iTOL were used to analyze the homology, molecular evolutionary clusters and resistance sites of influenza A(H1N1) virus. Results The positivity rates of influenza A(H1N1) virus in Jiaxing were 10.66% in 2023 and 5.09% in 2024, respectively. Compared with vaccine strain A/Wisconsin/67/2022, the influenza A(H1N1) virus in 2023 and 2024 showed high homology, with the nucleotide homology of hemagglutinin gene ranging from 97.9% to 99.2% and that of neuraminidase gene ranging from 98.3% to 99.1%. Among 83 Jiaxing strains, 80 were classified as clade 6B.1A.5a.2a and 3 were assigned to clade 6B.1A.15a.2a.1. These strains were further categorized into subclades C.1 (45), C.1.9(17), C.1.9.3 (18), and D (3). Additionally, an HA/NA reassortant strain (A/ZJNH/SWL1331/2023) was identified in 2023, followed by an oseltamivir-resistant strain (A/ZJPH/SWL1544/2024) carrying the H275Y substitution in 2024. A total of 31 amino acid substitutions were identified in the HA1 segment of Jiaxing influenza A(H1N1) strains, affecting three antigenic sites: Ca (S137P, A139D, A141T/V, R142K, D222G), Cb (L70F, S71F), and Sb (I185S, D187N, S190G), plus an additional Ca1 substitution (K169Q). Conclusions During 2023–2024, multiple genomic sites of influenza A(H1N1) viruses in Jiaxing have acquired mutations, underscoring the need for enhanced continuous surveillance and prevention of H1N1 influenza.

Background Foodborne diseases are a serious public health problem that cause a heavy burden of illness. We aimed to analyze the characteristics of foodborne disease outbreaks (FBDOs) in Jiaxing and provide scientific support for foodborne disease prevention and control. Methods Descriptive epidemiological methods were used to statistically analyze the data reported by seven county-level Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDCs) in Jiaxing City through the Foodborne Disease Outbreak Surveillance System (FDOSS) from 2013 to 2023. Results During the study period, 128 FBDOs were reported, which resulted in 900 cases, 117 hospitalizations, and one death. Bacteria accounted for the highest proportion of outbreaks (58 outbreaks, 45.31%) and cases (623 cases, 69.22%), followed by poisonous mushrooms (28 outbreaks and 70 cases). Households were the setting for the highest proportion of outbreaks (57.03%). Poisonous mushrooms were the most common single food reported (28 outbreaks, 21.88%), followed by aquatic products (17 outbreaks, 13.28%) and meat and meat products (13 outbreaks, 10.16%). In the 58 bacterial FBDOs, the most important setting was households (20 outbreaks, 34.48%), followed by restaurants (15 outbreaks, 25.86%) and rural banquets (13 outbreaks, 22.41%). Outbreaks caused by poisonous mushrooms occurred mainly in households (27 outbreaks, 96.43%). Different types of bacteria tended to be responsible for outbreaks involving different food categories, e.g., Vibrio parahaemolyticus was mainly found in aquatic products (64.71%). From 2018 to 2023, the proportion of outbreaks caused by poisonous mushrooms increased from 22.22 to 76.92%. From 2021, poisonous mushrooms became the predominant factor for FBDOs in Jiaxing City. Conclusions Households are the most important settings for FBDOs. Poisonous mushrooms and microbial pathogens are the main factors causing FBDOs. Since 2018, the proportion of FBDOs caused by poisonous mushrooms has been increasing annually. Food safety policies targeting high-risk settings and pathogens identified by surveillance data should be formulated to reduce the risk of FBDOs.

This study constructed a bioinformatics prediction algorithm for human enterovirus uncoating receptors based on amino acid sequences and physicochemical properties. Based on the availability of uncoating receptor information and three-dimensional (3D) structural data, human enterovirus serotypes were classified into training, validation, and prediction datasets. Using amino acid sequences of receptor-binding sites and their physicochemical properties as model features, a prediction model was constructed using the Naive Bayes algorithm and bioinformatic network analysis method. The results showed that both the training and validation datasets achieved a prediction accuracy of 100%. Among the 56 serotypes in the prediction dataset, the vast majority utilized seven known types of uncoating receptors (e.g., SCARB2, CAR, and ICAM-1), while a minority of serotypes may share the same novel, unknown receptor. This study indicates that uncoating receptors can be accurately predicted based on the amino acid sequences and physicochemical properties of human enteroviruses. Furthermore, the three-dimensional structural features at receptor-binding sites can be reflected through corresponding amino acid sequences and their physicochemical properties. This study facilitates a more in-depth investigations of enterovirus pathogenic mechanisms and provides important insights for the development of vaccines and antiviral drugs.

Mpox clade Ib is significant as it is associated with human cases and plays a key role in understanding the transmission and public health implications of mpox outbreaks. Here we present a case report of the first confirmed human infection of clade Ib in China, which occurred in December 2024 in Zhejiang Province. The case was a 28-year-old woman from South Africa who had sexual contact with an asymptomatic man from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. She presented with disseminated vesicular lesions on the extremities, face, buttocks, trunk, palms, and dorsum of the hands, but lesions were absent from the oral cavity, perineum, and anus. By the 18th day post-onset (DPO), only vesicles remained on the dorsum of the right foot and in the finger web spaces, with complete resolution by the 24th DPO. Among 59 consecutive samples collected, 55 tested positive for mpox virus. Oropharyngeal swabs turned negative by the 16th DPO, while skin lesion samples, urine samples, and scab specimens remained positive through the 20th DPO. Consecutive scab samples consistently exhibited high viral loads. In total, 211 contacts of the symptomatic patient were identified, and no secondary cases occurred. This study underscores the importance of multisite sampling for diagnostic sensitivity, highlights the transmission risk associated with asymptomatic sexual contact, and emphasizes the need for refined contact definitions and management strategies. Further research is needed to explore infection risks across different types of exposure. The first outbreaks of mpox outside Africa in 2022 were caused by clade II but cases of a new clade Ib have been increasing in the Democratic Republic of Congo and neighbouring countries since 2024. Here, the authors describe a case report and public health investigation of the first detected case of mpox clade Ib in China.

Recent several studies indicated that a more restrictive dietary intake guideline for cadmium should be made for sufficient health protection. In the present study, we showed the references level of food cadmium intake (FCd) and total cadmium intake (TCd) for renal dysfunction by using benchmark dose (BMD) approach. 342 subjects living in a control and a cadmium polluted area were included in this study. The FCd, TCd and cadmium in urine (UCd) and blood (BCd) were calculated or determined. Urinary β 2 Microglobulin (UBMG) was determined as indicator of renal function. The median FCd, TCd, UCd and BCd were 1.4 g, 1.4 g, 3.1 μg/g creatinine(cr) and 1.3 μg/L in control and 3.3 g, 3.6 g, 13.5 μg/g cr and 12.1 μg/L in polluted area. The 95% lower confidence bounds of BMD (BMDLs) of FCd for renal dysfunction were 1.36–1.55 g (BMR = 10%) and 0.88–1.11 g (BMR = 5%). The BMDLs of TCd were 1.29–1.46 g (BMR = 10%) and 0.73–0.95 g (BMR = 5%). FCd and TCd are valuable markers for the predication of renal dysfunction induced by cadmium. The BMDLs of FCd were close to previous report in Japan and the BMDLs of TCd were lower than the critical standard previously reported, in particular at BMR of 5% which can be interpreted as representing the influence of smoking.

Although calcium overload dysregulation has been implicated in cellular senescence, its role in ionizing radiation (IR)-induced osteocyte senescence, a key pathogenic mechanism underlying radiotherapy-associated bone injury, remains poorly explored. This study investigated whether IR-induced osteocyte senescence is mediated through the Ca -NFATc1-ATF3 pathway. Exposure to 2 Gy X-rays impaired osteocyte homeostasis, manifesting as reduced viability and proliferation, G2/M phase arrest, and dendritic retraction. IR also induced persistent DNA damage response and senescence-associated phenotypes, including increased γ-H2AX foci, SA-β-gal activity, condensed punctate DAPI-dense nuclear foci, p16/p21 expression, and pro-inflammatory SASP profile. Intracellular Ca levels surged within 6 h post-irradiation and remained elevated for at least 72 h in a dose-dependent manner. Pharmacological Ca modulation with BAPTA-AM or verapamil attenuated IR-induced intracellular Ca accumulation, G2/M arrest, SA-β-gal positivity, p21/p53 upregulation, and SASP secretion. Conditioned medium from irradiated osteocytes inhibited BMSC-mediated osteogenesis and enhanced BMM-driven osteoclastogenesis, whereas Ca modulation partially mitigated these paracrine effects. Mechanistically, IR promoted NFATc1 nuclear translocation and ATF3 upregulation. Collectively, these findings support an important role for pathological intracellular Ca elevation in IR-induced osteocyte senescence and suggest that the Ca -NFATc1-ATF3 axis may represent a potential therapeutic target for mitigating radiation-associated disruption of bone homeostasis.