A mother breastfeeds at a lactation room of a mall in Beijing, capital of China, July 24, 2016. [Photo/Xinhua] A research center dedicated to epidemiology with a focus on the physiology of breastfeeding and the long-term health of mothers and children was established in Shanghai on Wednesday. The Larsson-Rosenquist Foundation Shanghai Breastfeeding Research Center, the first of its kind in China, was co-founded by the Fudan and Tongji universities in Shanghai and the Family Larsson Rosenquist Foundation in Switzerland. This center will serve as a communications platform for scientists committed to breastfeeding as well as maternal and children health research, promoting multidisciplinary, comprehensive and international cooperation and exchanges, said Zheng Jialin, dean of the school of medicine at Tongji University. Associated with the Children's Hospital of Fudan University and the Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, the research center will host four endowed professorships with a focus on research related to epidemiology and lactation. Researchers will conduct studies that have the potential to generate significant global impact and work with other members of the FLRF breast milk research network from around the world. The foundation will endow a total of CHF 11 million ($11 million) to the new center and its professorships. We have found a fertile environment focused on excellence in basic research where, together with these leaders in science, we can advance the global epidemiological understanding of human lactation, said Goran Larsson, chairman of the board of Family Larsson-Rosenquist Foundation. Mother and childcare services have been greatly improved in China since the reform and opening up 41 years ago, said Wu Jinglei, director of Shanghai Municipal Health Commission. custom silicone wristbandsclear silicone wristbandsrubber bracelets canadasilicone bracelets custompersonalized wristbands
Banlangen granules are a combination of several herbs, which should be taken under medical guidance. [Photo by LIU JIAO / FOR CHINA DAILY] SHANGHAI -- The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) has published an international standard for isatis indigotica root or banlangen, a traditional Chinese medicinal herb commonly used for the prevention and treatment of colds. The herb has a long history of use in China and other East Asian countries for removing heat and toxins, cooling the blood and clearing the throat. However, problems such as different quality requirements among different countries and regions may affect the herb's clinical effectiveness and safety, according to a document posted on ISO's website. Formulation of the ISO standard was led by a research team from China's Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine and also involved experts from Germany, Canada, Australia, Thailand and the Republic of Korea. The project lasted 34 months and the standard was published earlier this month. Wang Zhengtao, a member of the Chinese research team, said the standard mainly specifies the minimum technical requirements for isatis indigotica root such as heavy metals and pesticide residues as well as the herb's test methods. The publication of the standard is expected to improve the international influence of isatis indigotica root and boost the trade of the herb across the world, Wang said. Herbal medicine is an important part of traditional Chinese medicine, which boasts a history of more than 2,000 years and has gained global attention for its unique theories and practices.
