Continuing challenge of infectious diseases in India

In India, the range and burden of infectious diseases are enormous. The administrative responsibilities of the health system are shared between the central (federal) and state governments. Control of diseases and outbreaks is the responsibility of the central Ministry of Health, which lacks a formal public health department for this purpose. Tuberculosis, malaria, filariasis, visceral leishmaniasis, leprosy, HIV infection, and childhood cluster of vaccine-preventable diseases are given priority for control through centrally managed vertical programmes. Control of HIV infection and leprosy, but not of tuberculosis, seems to be on track. Early success of malaria control was not sustained, and visceral leishmaniasis prevalence has increased. Inadequate containment of the vector has resulted in recurrent outbreaks of dengue fever and re-emergence of Chikungunya virus disease and typhus fever. Other infectious diseases caused by faecally transmitted pathogens (enteric fevers, cholera, hepatitis A and E viruses) and zoonoses (rabies, leptospirosis, anthrax) are not in the process of being systematically controlled. Big gaps in the surveillance and response system for infectious diseases need to be addressed. Replication of the model of vertical single-disease control for all infectious diseases will not be efficient or viable. India needs to rethink and revise its health policy to broaden the agenda of disease control. A comprehensive review and redesign of the health system is needed urgently to ensure equity and quality in health care. We recommend the creation of a functional public health infrastructure that is shared between central and state governments, with professional leadership and a formally trained public health cadre of personnel who manage an integrated control mechanism of diseases in districts that includes infectious and non-infectious diseases, and injuries.     

传染病专科医院消化内镜专业医师的培训方法

传染病医院消化内镜操作对象与综合性医院不同,对专业人员的培训有着自身的特点。我们根据在传染病医院进行消化内镜检查和治疗患者的特点,并从传染病防治的角度制定了一套符合传染病医院要求的消化内镜从业人员的培训方法和制度。     

Sphingolipids in infectious diseases

Sphingolipids are ubiquitous constituents of membrane lipids in eukaryotes. Sphingolipid metabolites modulate various cellular events including proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis. In addition, sphingolipids, along with cholesterol, form detergent-resistant membrane microdomains, so called 'lipid-rafts', which are implicated in signal transduction and membrane trafficking. Sphingolipids are also relevant to infectious diseases. Various types of pathogens exploit the sphingolipids of host cells as membrane receptors. Sphingolipid metabolites regulate pathogen infection and host defense: for instance, a specific glycosphingolipid acts as an endogenous ligand for activation of natural killer T cells. Lipid-rafts of host cells serve as platforms also for infection signaling and entry of intracellular parasites. Moreover, some post-infectious autoimmune diseases result from production of antibodies cross-reacting with mammalian sphingolipids. Differences in the pathways of sphingolipid metabolism between mammals and non-mammals are good clues for rational development of new anti-infectious disease drugs. This review summarizes recent advances in sphingolipid biology related to infectious diseases.     

刍议蜱媒传染病

近来,蜱媒传染病引起了国内传染病界的重视.由于近30年国内相关研究报道较少,故本文对蜱的致病性、国内蜱媒传染病的发生情况及蜱媒传染病的防控措施进行概要介绍.