ABSTRACT Introduction Main renal artery clamping and selective arterial clamping are two conventional devascularization methods for robot-assisted partial nephrectomy (RAPN) (1, 2). Decreasing warm ischemic (WI) time (3, 4) and improving clear surgical visualization (5) are the main surgically modifiable factors for RAPN, especially in large complex renal cancer (6). In this study, we described our surgical technique, focusing on gradual segmental artery unclamping on patients with large renal tumors. Material and methods Two patients (R.E.N.A.L score 10 and 11) underwent RAPN with gradual segmental artery unclamping (Figures 1 and 2). The unclamping included five key steps. First, all renal segmental arteries were identified as tumor feeding vessel(s) and the vessels for normal kidney parenchyma under the guidance of CT angiography (CTA) 3-division (3D) reconstruction. Second, all segmental arteries were isolated, and the feeding one(s) should be blocked before other arteries were blocked. Third, the tumor was resected outside the pseudocapsule, and the deep resection bed was sutured for initial hemostasis. Fourth, the segmental arteries were reopened except for the tumor feeding one(s), and normal kidney parenchyma restored blood supply. And fifth, the resection bed was completely sutured, and the feeding vessel supplying the tumor was opened after the suture. Warm ischemia time (WIT) was defined as the time measured between clamping and unclamping of the renal artery. WIT1 was the time for normal kidney parenchyma and WIT2 was the time for resection area. Patient demographics, perioperative variables, and warm ischemic time were included in our study. And we presented the details of gradual segmental artery unclamping in the video. Results In both cases, the total operation times were 215 and 130 mins for patient 1 and patient 2, respectively. WIT1 and WIT2 for patient 1 were 15 min and 33 min., and WIT1 and WIT2 for patient 2 were 21 min and 32 min, respectivelly. The maximum diameters of the masses resected were 10.8 and 7.3 cm, and surgical margins were negative. No patient had complications after operation. Preoperative and postoperative eGFR did not change significantly. Pre- and postoperative eGFR were 111 and 108 mL/min for patient 1, 91 and 83 mL/min for patient 2, respectively. Key hints for outcomes optimization during RAPN on patients with large complex renal tumors: 1) Each segmental renal artery is precised clamped before we excise the tumor, and an excellent surgical vision is essential for precising excision and shortening clamping time, 2) Other segmental renal arteries are unclamped except tumor feeding branch after suturing deep layer of parenchyma, and most normal parenchyma restores blood supply, 3) Preoperative high-resolution computed tomography angiography (CTA) and 3D reconstructive renal structure serve as a guide to clear the approach to find the tumor and segmental arteries (7, 8). Conclusions Gradual segmental artery unclamping is feasible and efficient to excise large complex renal cancer. Compared with main renal artery clamping, it can shorten the warm ischemic time of normal parenchyma; On the other hand, compared with selective segmental arterial clamping, the technique can reduce bleeding from the deep resection bed, keep a clear surgical vision, and decrease the incidence of positive margin.

This study evaluated the effects of perioperative nutrition management by a multidisciplinary team on nutrition and postoperative complications of patients with esophageal cancer. A total of 239 patients with esophageal cancer who underwent esophagectomy and gastric conduit reconstruction for esophageal or esophagogastric junction cancer between February 2019 and February 2020 were included in the study. They were divided into the experimental group (120 patients) and the control group (119 patients) using the random number table method. Control group patients received routine diet management and experimental group patients received perioperative nutrition management by a multidisciplinary team. The differences of nutriture and postoperative complications between the two groups were compared. At 3 and 7 days after surgery, the experimental group patients had higher total protein and albumin levels (P<0.05), shorter postoperative anal exhaust time (P<0.05), lower incidence of postoperative gastrointestinal adverse reactions, pneumonia, anastomotic fistula, hypoproteinemia (P<0.05), and lower hospitalization costs (P<0.05) than the control group. Nutrition management by a multidisciplinary team effectively improved the nutriture of patients, promoted the rapid recovery of postoperative gastrointestinal function, reduced postoperative complications, and reduced hospitalization costs.

ABSTRACT This paper discusses the design of a safflower picking robot control system and focuses on a navigation control subsystem based on multisensor fusion. A navigation subsystem, an identification and positioning subsystem, a picking subsystem, and a levelling subsystem are designed. The hardware and software of the navigation subsystem are designed in detail, and a multisensor fusion positioning method based on extended Kalman fusion technology is proposed. The accuracy and stability levels of different combined navigation methods are compared. To test the effectiveness and accuracy of the proposed method, an outdoor test is carried out. The test results show that the outdoor fusion positioning accuracy of the robot is less than 8 cm, and when the satellite signal is lost, the navigation control subsystem can still provide high positioning accuracy. The final positioning result obtained using the integrated positioning method of the wheel odometer + IMU + DGNSS is approximately 52% higher than that of the odometer, approximately 29% higher than that of the wheel odometer + IMU, and approximately 11% higher than that of the IMU + DGNSS.

Abstract Objective This study aimed to investigate the mid-pregnancy blood glucose levels of women with singleton or twin pregnancies. Method The relationship between blood glucose levels and Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM) was studied in women with different pre-pregnancy Body Mass Index (BMI), and the effect of GDM on twin pregnancy outcomes was analyzed. Women with twin (n= 1,985) and singleton (n= 1,985) pregnancies were categorized into underweight (BMI < 18.5 kg/m2, n= 597), normal weight (BMI: 18.5-23.9 kg/m2, n= 2,575), and overweight/obese (BMI ≥ 24 kg/m2, n= 798) groups. Results The incidence of GDM was 21.01% in women with twin pregnancies. Among the women with GDM in twin pregnancies, 38.37% had at least two abnormal blood glucose levels. The incidence of these parameters increased with preconception BMI, and the incidence of twin pregnancies was higher than that of singleton pregnancies (p < 0.001). In the normal weight and overweight/obese group, the oral glucose tolerance test glucose level and incidence of GDM were higher in women with twin than singleton pregnancies (p < 0.05). For twin pregnancies, the prevalence of selective fetal growth restriction was higher and anemia was lower in the GDM group than in the non-GDM group (all p < 0.05). Conclusion Therefore, a greater emphasis should be placed on BMI before conception, and well-controlled GDM does not increase adverse pregnancy outcomes for twin pregnancies.

RESUMO Introdução: A atividade física acontece por meio coordenação de vários sistemas de órgãos do corpo humano, e os exercícios físicos podem ter impacto positivo nas atividades de vários desses sistemas. Uma vez que o impacto de esportes de alta intensidade nos órgãos humanos é diferente de acordo com a temperatura do ambiente e com a intensidade do exercício, é necessário realizar observações e discussões mais detalhadas. Objetivo: Analisar as mudanças de forma e função do corpo, e das funções dos órgãos de alunos universitários antes e depois de atividade física de alta intensidade, através do estudo do movimento humano. Métodos: Pesquisa experimental sobre as características da troca gasosa em exercícios de alta intensidade com aumento gradual de carga em alunos universitários. Resultados: Houve diferenças estatísticas significativas na incidência de reações fisiológicas dos estudantes que passaram pela atividade de alta intensidade com aumento gradual de carga, incluindo dores abdominais, dispneia, taquicardia, náusea, tonturas, e dores musculares (p<0,05). Na presença de hipotermia havia uma queda na frequência cardíaca durante os exercícios. Conclusão: Exercícios de sobrecarga podem mediar funções fisiológicas eficientemente. Para melhorar a performance esportiva em ambientes de baixa temperatura é importante realizar exercícios de aquecimento para aumentar a temperatura do corpo. Nível de evidência II; Estudos terapêuticos – investigação de resultados de tratamento.

ABSTRACT Introduction: Physical activity is accomplished by the coordination of various organ systems of the human body, and physical exercise can positively impact the activities of many of these systems. Because the impact of high-intensity sports on human organs is different according to the environmental temperature and exercise intensity, we must make more detailed observations and discussions. Objective: To analyze the changes in the body shape, function, and organ function of middle school students before and after high-intensity physical exercise through the study of human movement. Methods: Through the experimental research on the characteristics of metabolic gas exchanges in high-intensity incremental load exercise of college students. Results: There were statistically significant differences in the incidence of physiological reactions shown by the students who underwent high-intensity incremental load exercise, such as abdominal pain, dyspnea, tachycardia, nausea, dizziness, and muscle aches (P<0.05). Hypothermia was accompanied by a decrease in heart rate during exercise. Conclusion: Carrying out overload training can effectively mediate physiological functions. It is an important, in improving sports performance, to carry out warm-up activities in a low-temperature environment to increase body temperature. Level of evidence II; Therapeutic studies - investigation of treatment results.

RESUMEN Introducción: La actividad física ocurre por medio de la coordinación de varios sistemas de órganos del cuerpo humano y los ejercicios físicos pueden tener impacto positivo en las actividades de varios de estos sistemas. Dado que el impacto de deportes de alta intensidad en los órganos humanos es diferente de acuerdo con la temperatura del ambiente y con la intensidad del ejercicio, es necesario realizar observaciones y discusiones más detalladas. Objetivo: Analizar los cambios de forma y función del cuerpo, y de las funciones de los órganos de alumnos universitarios antes y después de la actividad física de alta intensidad, a través del estudio del movimiento humano. Métodos: Investigación experimental sobre las características del intercambio de gases en ejercicios de alta intensidad con aumento gradual de carga en alumnos universitarios. Resultados: Hubo diferencias estadísticas significativas en la incidencia de reacciones fisiológicas de los estudiantes que pasaron por la actividad de alta intensidad con aumento gradual de carga, incluyendo dolores abdominales, disnea, taquicardia, náuseas, mareos y dolor muscular (p<0,05). En la presencia de hipotermia se produjo un descenso cardíaco durante los ejercicios. Conclusión: Los ejercicios de sobrecarga pueden mediar las funciones fisiológicas eficientemente. Para mejorar el rendimiento deportivo en ambientes de baja temperatura es importante realizar ejercicios de calentamiento para aumentar la temperatura corporal. Nivel de evidencia II; Estudios terapéuticos – investigación de resultados de tratamiento.

ABSTRACT Purpose: To evaluate the protective effect of Cuscuta chinensis Lam. polysaccharides (PCCL) on 5-fluorouracil-(5-FU)-induced intestinal mucositis (IM) in mice. Methods: PCCL was orally administered at a dose of 20 mg·kg–1 for 7 days and its protective effect on 5-FU-induced IM (5-FU, 50 mg·kg–1 for 5 days) was evaluated by monitoring changes in body weight, degree of diarrhea, levels of tissue inflammatory factors (tumor necrosis factor α, interleukin 6, and interleukin 1β levels), apoptosis rates, and the expression levels of caspase-3, Bax and Bcl-2. Results: The severity of mucosal injury (as reflected by body weight changes, degree of diarrhea, height of villi, and damage to crypts) was significantly attenuated by PCCL administration. PCCL also reduced the levels of tissue inflammatory factors, the apoptosis rate, and the expression of caspase-3 and Bax, and increased Bcl-2 expression. Conclusions: PCCL administration may be significantly protective against 5-FU-induced IM by inhibiting apoptosis and regulating the abnormal inflammation associated with it.

Abstract Background Gastroesophageal reflux is a major complication of post-POEM (peroral endoscopic myotomy, POEM) for esophageal achlasia. Objective: To discuss the effects of three measuring methods for Gastroesophageal Reflux of Post-POEM Achalasia Patients and find out the best method for diagnosing post-POEM gastroesophageal reflux of esophageal achalasia patients by conducting clinical follow-up studies. Methods: Follow-up visits were conducted on the patients with esophageal achalasia who had received POEM treatment in our hospital from 2013 to 2016. Between 2 to 4 weeks post operation, Eckardt score was adopted to evaluate the operation efficacy, the GerdQ score, electronic gastroscopy and 24h esophagus impedance-pH monitoring to investigate the gastroesophageal reflux and the comparison of detection rate among the three different methods on post-POEM gastroesophageal reflux. Results: There were 76 patients with Eckardt scores were 3 or lower than 3 post POEM (76/78, 97.44%), 2 patients with Eckardt scores were 4 or higher than 4 (2/78, 2.56%), the cure rate of the treatment was as high as 97.44%; the Eckardt score post operation decreased more significantly than before operation, P<0.0.5. Conclusion: for post-POEM Achalasia patients, 24h esophagus impedance-pH monitoring is the best way to diagnose post-POEM gastroesophageal reflux.

Abstract: The aim of this study was to evaluate the knowledge of and attitudes toward coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) among the parents of child dental patients in Shenzhen during the outbreak. A structured questionnaire containing 10 questions was used, and each question had 2 or 3 possible answers. The parents of children (aged 0-14 years) who visited the dental department of our hospital last year were eligible to participate in this study. A total of 148 parents were interviewed by telephone in February 2020 by research staff. A total of 94.59% of the parents said they paid high attention to COVID-19 and explained it to their children; 66.22% thought the dental department environment was more dangerous than other public places; 91.89% believed the dental department had a higher risk of virus infection; and 83.78% said they would take their children to a dental department if the children had a severe toothache. Approximately 81.08% of the parents expressed confidence after we informed them about the preventive measures taken in the dental department to ensure safe treatment for their children. In conclusion, all parents were concerned about COVID-19, and most of them had talked about it with their children often. In addition, a considerable percentage of them would not take their children to the dental department even if they had severe dental pain and thought that the dental environment could be more dangerous than other environments. More information about this topic should be delivered to this population.

Abstract The pyrolysis kinetics of hulless barley straw at different heating rates of 5，10, 15, 20 and 30 ºC/min were investigated via thermogravimetry, and the activation energy distribution E and pre-exponential factor k0 were calculated using the Distributed Activation Energy Model (DAEM) from thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) curves, and characterizations of pyrolysis product of biochar were analyzed by techniques of scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The pyrolysis process consisted mainly of the dehydration stage (50-150 ºC), the active pyrolysis stage (200-400 ºC) and the passive pyrolysis stage (400-800 ºC). The E ranged from 73.45 to 214.11 kJ/mol within the conversion rate range of 0.10-0.55, and changed from 214.11 to 141.55 kJ/mol within the conversion rate range of 0.55-0.90, and the average value of E was 172.23 kJ/mol. The values of k0 changed greatly with E values at different mass conversion. The wide E and k0 distributions obtained from the kinetic analysis are attributed to the complex chemical reactions of pyrolysis. The structure of biochar was degraded or ruptured due to the increase in temperature. The XRD analysis confirmed that the biochar was amorphous, dominated by disordered graphitic crystallites.

ABSTRACT Purpose: In a previous study the vaccine was effective against bladder cancer in a mouse model. However, a small portion of tumors regrew because the vaccine could not eliminate bladder cancer stem cells (CSCs). In this study, we showed a modified method for the isolation of bladder CSCs using a combination of differential adhesion method and serum-free culture medium (SFM) method. Materials and Methods: Trypsin-resistant cells and trypsin-sensitive cells were isolated from MB49, EJ and 5637 cells by a combination of differential adhesion method and SFM method. The CSCs characterizations of trypsin-resistant cells were verified by the flow cytometry, the western blotting, the quantitative polymerase chain reaction, the resistance to chemotherapy assay, the transwell assay, and the tumor xenograft formation assay. Results: Trypsin-resistant cells were isolated and identified in CSCs characters, with high expression of CSCs markers, higher resistance to chemotherapy, greater migration in vitro, and stronger tumorigenicity in vivo. Conclusion: Trypsin-resistant cells displayed specific CSCs properties. Our study showed trypsin-resistant cells were isolated successfully with a modified method using a combination of differential adhesion method and SFM method.

摘要 目的 调查中国法律法规在多大程度上反映预防儿童非故意伤害的有效干预措施。 方法 我们把重点放在六种常见的致命儿童受伤原因：溺水、道路交通伤害、跌落、中毒、烧伤和窒息。我们研究了由联合国儿童基金会、世界卫生组织和欧洲儿童安全联盟建议的...

Résumé Objectif Examiner dans quelle mesure les interventions efficaces de prévention des traumatismes involontaires chez l'enfant sont reflétées dans les lois et les réglementations en Chine. Méthodes Nous nous sommes concentrés sur les six causes communes de traumatismes mortels chez l'enfant – la noyade, les accidents de la route, les chutes, l'empoisonnement, les brûlures et la suffocation. Nous avons étudié 27 interventions recommandées par le Fonds des Nations Unies pour l'enfance, l'Organisation mondiale de la Santé ou l'Alliance européenne pour la sécurité de l'enfant. Nous avons effectué une recherche sur les lois chinoises dans l'Infrastructure des connaissances nationales de la Chine et Lawyee en utilisant les mots-clés et les synonymes pour les 27 interventions. Nous avons passé...

Резюме Цель Изучить, насколько эффективные мероприятия по предотвращению неумышленного детского травматизма детей отражены в законодательных и норматив...

Objective To examine the extent to which effective interventions to prevent unintentional child injury are reflected in the laws and regulations of China. Methods We focused on the six common causes of fatal child injuries – drowning, road traffic injury, falls, poisoning, burns and suffocation. We investigated 27 interventions recommended by the United Nations Children’s Fund, the World Health Organization or the European Child Safety Alliance. We searched China National Knowledge Infrastructure and Lawyee for Chinese legislations using keywords and synonyms for the 27 interventions. We reviewed the identified legislations for statements specifying the responsible implementation department. Findings Seven national laws, nine regulations of the State Council and 46 departmental regulations were found to relate to at least one of the interventions. Although seven of the 27 internationally recommended interventions were covered by Chinese laws, 10 were not covered by any current Chinese law or regulation. None of the interventions against drowning and falls that we investigated was covered by national laws. The implementation responsibilities for effective interventions were either not specified or were assigned to multiple governmental departments in 11 or 20 legislative documents, respectively. Conclusion In Chinese laws and regulations, interventions proven to prevent major causes of unintentional child injuries are underrepresented and the associated implementation responsibilities are often poorly defined. China should include all such interventions in laws and regulations, and assign implementation responsibility for each to a single department of the national government.

ملخص الغرض دراسة مدى انعكاس التدخلات الفعالة لوقاية الأطفال من الإصابات غير المتعمدة على القوانين واللوائح في الصين. الطريقة قمنا بالتركيز على الأسباب ا...

Resumen Objetivo Examinar en qué grado contemplan las leyes y normativas de China las intervenciones efectivas para prevenir lesiones accidentales de niños. Métodos El estudio se centró en las seis causas comunes de lesiones mortales infantiles: ahogamiento, lesiones por accidentes de tráfico, caídas, envenenamiento, quemaduras y asfixia. Se investigaron 27 intervenciones recomendadas por el Fondo para la Infancia de las Naciones Unidas, la Organización Mundial de la Salud o la Alianza Europea para la Seguridad Infantil. A continuación, se realizaron búsquedas de legislaciones de China en las bases de datos China National Knowledge Infrastructure y Lawyee usando palabras claves y sinónimos de las 27 intervenciones. Por último, se revisaron las legislaciones identificadas a fin de buscar declaraciones que especificaran el departamento responsable de la aplicación. Resultados Se halló que siete leyes nacionales, nueve normativas del Consejo de Estado y 46 normativas departamentales estaban relacionadas con al menos una de las intervenciones. Aunque las leyes de China abarcaban siete de las 27 intervenciones que se recomiendan a nivel internacional, diez de ellas no estaban incluidas en ninguna normativa o ley actual de China. Las leyes nacionales no abarcaban ninguna de las intervenciones contra ahogamientos y caídas investigadas. Las responsabilidades de aplicación de intervenciones efectivas no estaban especificadas o estaban asignadas a varios departamentos gubernamentales en 11 o 20 documentos legislativos, respectivamente. Conclusión En las leyes y normativas de China, las intervenciones que han demostrado la prevención de lesiones infantiles no intencionadas están subrepresentadas y las responsabilidades de aplicación asociadas a menudo tienen una definición vaga. China debe incluir todas estas intervenciones en las leyes y normativas, así como asignar la responsabilidad de aplicación de cada una a un único departamento del gobierno nacional.

Objective:To investigate the relationship between the polymorphism of human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-DRB1 and the susceptibility and repellency of drug use combined with HIV infection in Chinese.Methods:A total of 213 unrelated healthy people, 41 HIV-infected drug users, 24 HIV-uninfected drug users, and 64 HIV-infected non-drug users were recruited. Their HLA-DRB1 allele frequencies were analyzed by PCR-SSP and allele distribution was analyzed.Results:Compared with healthy controls, in drug users, the frequencies of HLA-DRB1 *0401-041, *1001 were significantly higher; in HIV-infected patients, the frequencies of HLA-DRB1 *0101-0103, *0401-0411, *1001 were significantly higher, while the frequencies of DRB1 *1501-1502, *1101-1105, *1301-1302, DRB4, DRB5 were significantly lower; in HIV-infected drug users, the frequencies of HLA-DRB1 *0101-0103, *0401-0411, *0801-0806, *1001, *1401/1404/1405 were significantly higher, while the frequencies of DRB1 *1301/1302, 1501-1502, DRB5 were significantly lower.Conclusion:There is close relationship between the polymorphism of HLA-DRB1 alleles and drug use with HIV infection, which plays an important role in elucidating the pathogenesis and providing the basis for therapeutics and prophylaxis of patients with drug use and HIV infection.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the disease burden attributable to unsafe water and poor sanitation and hygiene in China, to identify high-burden groups and to inform improvement measures. METHODS: The disease burden attributable to unsafe water and poor sanitation and hygiene in China was estimated for diseases resulting from exposure to biologically contaminated soil and water (diarrhoeal disease, helminthiases and schistosomiasis) and vector transmission resulting from inadequate management of water resources (malaria, dengue and Japanese encephalitis). The data were obtained from China's national infectious disease reporting system, national helminthiasis surveys and national water and sanitation surveys. The fraction of each health condition attributable to unsafe water and poor sanitation and hygiene in China was estimated from data in the Chinese and international literature. FINDINGS: In 2008, 327 million people in China lacked access to piped drinking water and 535 million lacked access to improved sanitation. The same year, unsafe water and poor sanitation and hygiene accounted for 2.81 million disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) and 62 800 deaths in the country, and 83% of the attributable burden was found in children less than 5 years old. Per capita DALYs increased along an east-west gradient, with the highest burden in inland provinces having the lowest income per capita. CONCLUSION: Despite remarkable progress, China still needs to conduct infrastructural improvement projects targeting provinces that have experienced slower economic development. Improved monitoring, increased regulatory oversight and more government transparency are needed to better estimate the effects of microbiologically and chemically contaminated water and poor sanitation and hygiene on human health.

OBJETIVO: Calcular la carga de morbilidad atribuible a la insalubridad del agua y a las deficiencias en el saneamiento e higiene en China con el fin de identificar los grupos de carga más elevada y de informar acerca de medidas de mejora. MÉTODOS: Se calculó la carga de morbilidad atribuible a la insalubridad del agua y a las deficiencias en el saneamiento e higiene en China para aquellas enfermedades provocadas por la exposición a suelos y aguas biológicamente contaminados (diarrea, helmintiasis y esquistosomiasis) y a la transmisión vectorial ocasionada por una gestión inadecuada de los recursos hídricos (malaria, dengue y encefalitis japonesa). Los datos se recopilaron a partir del sistema de notificación nacional sobre enfermedades infecciosas de China, las encuestas nacionales sobre helmintiasis y las encuestas nacionales sobre agua y saneamiento. A partir de los datos procedentes de la documentación china e internacional, se calculó la proporción de cada enfermedad atribuible a la insalubridad del agua y a las deficiencias en el saneamiento e higiene en China. RESULTADOS: En el año 2008, 327 millones de chinos no tenían acceso a agua potable canalizada y 535 millones no disponían de acceso a un saneamiento adecuado. En ese mismo año, la insalubridad del agua y las deficiencias en el saneamiento y la higiene se tradujeron en 2,81 millones de años de vida ajustados en función de la discapacidad (AVAD) y 62 800 muertes en el país. Además, el 83% de la carga atribuible se registró en niños con una edad inferior a los 5 años. Los AVAD per cápita fueron en aumento siguiendo un gradiente este-oeste y se observó la mayor carga en las provincias del interior, que contaban con los menores ingresos per cápita. CONCLUSIÓN: A pesar de los considerables esfuerzos realizados, China sigue necesitando iniciar proyectos de mejora de las infraestructuras, centrándose en aquellas provincias que han registrado un desarrollo económico más lento. Son necesarios un control mayor, un aumento de la supervisión normativa y una mayor transparencia gubernamental para calcular mejor los efectos que tienen en la salud humana las aguas contaminadas química y microbiológicamente y las deficiencias en el saneamiento y la higiene.

OBJECTIF: Estimer la charge de morbidité imputable à l'eau insalubre ainsi qu'à un niveau sanitaire et hygiénique déficients en Chine afin d'identifier les groupes à impact élevé et de proposer des mesures d'amélioration. MÉTHODES: La charge de morbidité attribuable à l'eau insalubre et à un système d'assainissement et d'hygiène déficients en Chine a été estimée pour les maladies résultant de l'exposition aux terres et eaux biologiquement contaminées (diarrhées, helminthiases et schistosomiase), ainsi que pour la transmission vectorielle résultant d'une gestion inadéquate des ressources en eau (paludisme, dengue et encéphalite japonaise). Les données ont été obtenues grâce au registre national chinois de déclaration des maladies infectieuses, aux études nationales sur les helminthiases et aux études nationales sur l'eau et l'assainissement. Le pourcentage de chaque affection imputable aux eaux insalubres et aux carences en assainissement et hygiène en Chine a été estimé sur la base des données de publications scientifiques chinoises et internationales. RÉSULTATS: En 2008, 327 millions de personnes en Chine n'avaient pas accès à une eau courante potable, et 535 millions de personnes ne disposaient pas de sanitaires performants. La même année, l'eau insalubre et les conditions sanitaires et hygiéniques médiocres représentaient 2,81 millions d'années de vie de maladie (DALY) et 62 800 décès dans le pays, 83% des cas concernant des enfants âgés de moins de 5 ans. Le «DALY» par habitant était croissant selon un axe est-ouest, la charge de morbidité la plus importante étant marquée dans les provinces intérieures avec le plus faible taux de revenu par habitant. CONCLUSION: Malgré des progrès remarquables, la Chine a encore besoin de mener des projets d'amélioration de son infrastructure, ciblant les provinces qui ont connu un développement économique plus lent. Une amélioration du suivi, l'augmentation de la surveillance obligatoire et une plus grande transparence du gouvernement sont nécessaires pour mieux estimer les effets des contaminations microbiologiques et chimiques des eaux ainsi que des mauvaises conditions sanitaires et hygiéniques sur la santé humaine.

A cDNA encoding chalcone synthase (CHS), the key enzyme in flavonoid biosynthesis, was isolated from hairy root cultures of Scutellaria viscidula Bunge by rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE). The full-length cDNA of S. viscidula CHS, designated as Svchs (GenBank accession no. EU386767), was 1649 bp with a 1170 bp open reading frame (ORF) that corresponded to a deduced protein of 390 amino acid residues, a calculated molecular mass of 42.56 kDa and a theoretical isoelectric point (pI) of 5.79. Multiple sequence alignments showed that SvCHS shared high homology with CHS from other plants. Functional analysis in silico indicated that SvCHS was a hydrophilic protein most likely associated with intermediate metabolism. The active sites of the malonyl-CoA binding motif, coumaroyl pocket and cyclization pocket in CHS of Medicago sativa were also found in SvCHS. Molecular modeling indicated that the secondary structure of SvCHS contained mainly α-helixes and random coils. Phylogenetic analysis showed that SvCHS was most closely related to CHS from Scutellaria baicalensis. In agreement with its function as an elicitor-responsive gene, the expression of Svchs was induced and coordinated by methyl jasmonate. To our knowledge, this is the first report to describe the isolation and expression of a gene from S. viscidula.