Parental Occupational Exposure and Risk of Acute Leukemia in Children: A Tunisian Population-Based Case-Control Study

Background: In recent decades, the incidence of children’s hematological malignancies has been increasing worldwide including Tunisia. Their severity is reflected in the importance of the medical, social and economic impact. This increase remains fully unexplained, and the involvement of genetic, environmental and occupational factors is strongly suspected. Materials and methods: Our study was a cross-sectional survey of the type case-control conducted in the University Hospital of Farhat Hached of Sousse during the period ranging between 1 July 2011 and 30 June 2012, and which included children with acute leukemia compared to children unharmed by neoplastic disease. Cases and controls were matched by age and gender. Our objective was to describe the socio-occupational characteristics of the parents of children with acute leukemia and to identify potential occupational factors implicated in the genesis of acute leukemia. Results: The number of acute leukemia cases in the Hematology Service and day hospital of the University Hospital of Farhat Hached during the study period was 66 cases divided into in 40 boys and 26 girls with a sex ratio of 1.53. Our cases and controls were matched by age and gender. The risk of incidence of leukemia in children from smoking fathers was higher (p = 0.02, OR = 2.24, IC = [1.11 - 4.52]). The risk of incidence of leukemia in children from alcoholic fathers was higher with p = 0.009, OR = 3.9;CI = [1.33 - 11.39]. After adjusting different variables, the difference persisted significantly with pa = 0.03 and ORa = 3.5, ICa = [1.09 - 11.6]. 25.7% of cases had a family history of blood disease and neoplasia, whereas no control presented that. The difference was statistically significant (p = 0.006, OR = 1.46, IC = [1.38 - 1.56]). The parental occupational exposures associated to the occurrence of acute leukemia in children were pesticides with a statistically significant difference (p = 0.03, OR = 2.94, IC = [1.06 - 8.13]). This difference persisted after adjustment with different variables pa = 0.01, ORa 3.75;ICa = [1.27 - 11.03]. This difference had become significant after adjustment with the different variables pa = 0.03, ORa = 2.67, ICa = [1.06 - 6.7]. Conclusion: Our results showed some support for a positive association between childhood acute leukemia risk and parental occupational exposure to pesticides and cement. Additionally, acute leukemia risk among children might be increased with parental alcohol consumption.

Discussion on Application of 3S Technologies in Cadastral Surveying and Mapping

In order to explore the application of 3S technologies in modern urban cadastral surveying and mapping,we analyzed the equipment composition of the global positioning system,the advantages of GPS surveying and mapping technology,and the main functions of RS and GIS technologies.GPS technology can improve the accuracy of boundary points of surveying and mapping areas,thereby improving the efficiency of surveying and mapping work and the accuracy of surveying and mapping information;remote sensing surveying and mapping technology has a large observation range and observation space,and RS technology can be used to collect data in remote mountainous areas to reduce the cost of manpower and material resources in surveying and mapping work;and GIS technology provides important data support for land planning and ownership definition.3S technologies optimize and streamline the surveying and mapping process with their own advantages,making the cadastral surveying and mapping work more scientific and efficient.

Hazard Analysis and Primary Prevention and Treatment Report of Diseases and Pests in Export Blueberry Base in Majiang County

To fully understand occurrence and damage status of pests and diseases in export blueberry,systematic survey was conducted in Majiang export blueberry bases in Guizhou Province from 2012 to 2015. A total of 21 kinds of pests and diseases were found on blueberry,including 10 kinds of diseases and 11 kinds of pests. Comprehensive analysis of pests and diseases and their damage degree revealed that pests and diseases causing severe damage were gray mold,scarab and fruit fly,while gray mold and fruit fly might seriously affect the export of blueberry. The prevention and control measures against gray mold and fruit fly were summarized.

Survey and Practice of Reporting Quality of Randomized Controlled Clinical Trials on Traditional Chinese Medicine

Evidence obtained from randomized controlled trials （RCTs） has been generally accepted as the gold standard in the evaluation of clinical effectiveness. Readers need to understand the trial design, implementation, results, analysis and interpretation, so as to fully Jnderstand the results of RCTs. Thus, the investigators of RCTs have to report these items in a complete, accurate and clear manner. Since 1998, we have conducted several evaluations on the reporting quality of RCTs published in Chinese journals on traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） and results have shown that there is an urgent need for higher quality RCTs on TCM.