Abstract. This study aims to explore and characterize the malaria-endemic situation and trends from 2004 to 2013, to provide useful evidence for subsequently more effective strategic planning of malaria elimination in China. A total of 256,179 confirmed malaria cases were recorded in this period, and 86.8% of them were reported during 2004-2008 . Between 2004, Plasmodium vivax was the major species (72.2%) of malaria parasite. Most cases (67.3%) were found in male, and mainly in the age group of 35-39 years. A total of 236 deaths resulting from malaria were reported and nearly half (45.3%) of them were in Yunnan province. In all, 204,760 local malaria (79.9%) and 51,419 imported malaria (20.1%) were observed during 2004-2013. However, afterward the proportion of imported malaria continuously increased from 2004 (16.2%) to 2013 (97.9%). Moreover, 9,285 imported malaria cases were recorded during 2011-2013 in China, of which 5,976 cases (64.4%) came back from Africa. Overall, China has made achievements in controlling malaria, the locally transmitted malaria significantly declined in the past decades, by which the incidence has achieved historically the lowest levels. On the other hand, imported malaria has increasingly become a severe threat to malaria elimination. Therefore, to prevent the reintroduction of malaria, surveillance systems need to be well planned and managed to ensure timely case detection and prompt response at the elimination stage.

Abstract. The surveillance and response system remains one of the biggest challenges to malaria elimination along the China-Myanmar border. In China, "1-3-7" approach was developed to guide elimination activities according to the National Malaria Elimination Program, which is a simplified set of targets that delineates responsibilities and actions. The time frame of the approach has been incorporated into the nationwide web-based disease reporting system: 1, case reporting within 1 day after diagnosis; 3, case investigation within 3 days; and 7, focus investigation and action within 7 days. Herein, the data on malaria cases in 2005-2014 and after the "1-3-7" implementation in 2013-2014 of the 18 counties at the China-Myanmar border are reviewed and analyzed. Results showed that the total cases decreased while the proportion of imported cases rose. The "1-3-7" was well executed, except for the "3" indicator, which was 96.3% accomplished on average in the 18 border counties, but needs to be further strengthened. More efforts are highlighted for timely and accurate case detection as well as proactive mapping of disease transmission hot spots to facilitate the elimination of border malaria.

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BackgroundIn China, the prevalence of malaria has reduced dramatically due to the elimination programme. The continued success of the programme will depend upon the accurate diagnosis of the disease in the laboratory. The basic requirements for this are a reliable malaria diagnosis laboratory network and quality management system to support case verification and source tracking.MethodsThe baseline information of provincial malaria laboratories in the China malaria diagnosis reference laboratory network was collected and analysed, and a quality-assurance activity was carried out to assess their accuracies in malaria diagnosis by microscopy using WHO standards and PCR.ResultsBy the end of 2013, nineteen of 24 provincial laboratories have been included in the network. In the study, a total of 168 staff were registered and there was no bias in their age, gender, education level, and position. Generally Plasmodium species were identified with great accuracy by microscopy and PCR. However, Plasmodium ovale was likely to be misdiagnosed as Plasmodium vivax by microscopy.ConclusionsChina has established a laboratory network for primary malaria diagnosis which will cover a larger area. Currently, Plasmodium species can be identified fairly accurately by microscopy and PCR. However, laboratory staff need additional trainings on accurate identification of P. ovale microscopically and good performance of PCR operations.

Resveratrol (Res), a polyphenol that is abundant in many medicinal plants and is a selective oestrogen receptor modulator, exhibits multiple biological activities. In the present study, we determined whether Res prevents oestrogen deficiency-induced osteopenia and whether Res administration decreases pathological changes in the endometrium and lumen of the uterus compared with oestradiol replacement therapy (ERT). A total of sixty 3-4-month-old female Wistar rats were randomly divided into a sham-operated group (Sham) and five ovariectomy (OVX) subgroups, i.e. OVX rats as a control group (OVX); OVX rats receiving oestradiol valerate (ERT, 0·8 mg/kg); and OVX rats receiving Res 20, 40 and 80 mg/kg. Daily oral administration was initiated at week 2 after OVX for 12 weeks. A dose -response difference was observed in the effects of Res on bone mineral density (BMD) and trabecular microarchitecture. Only at the highest dose, bone loss was almost equivalent to that observed in the ERT group. The dose -response effects of Res on the biochemical parameters (alkaline phosphatase, IL-6, TNF-a and transforming growth factor-b1 concentrations in the serum as well as urinary Ca and P excretion) and the expressions of receptor activator of nuclear factor kB ligand (RANKL) and the RANKL:osteoprotegerin protein ratio in the femur were also observed. Furthermore, the thickening of the endometrium and the infiltration of lymphocytes were prevented in all the three Restreated groups compared with the ERT group. In conclusion, Res treatment not only improves BMD and trabecular microarchitecture but also does not affect the uterus and Res might be a potential remedy for the treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis.