Objective To evaluate the therapeutic effect of spironolactone on schistosomal pulmonary arterial hypertension(SPAH). Methods A total of 62 patients suffered from hepatosplenic schistosomiasis with pulmonary arterial hypertension were divided into the spironolactone group(n=31) and control group (n=31). All the patients underwent serial echocardiography and the clinical effect before and after the treatment was evaluated by assessing the mean pulmonary arterial pressure (mPAP) and pulmonary arterial diameter (PAD). At the same time, the varieties of the clinical symptoms, signs and the distance of the 6-minute walking test (6-MWT) were investigated. Results In spironolactone group, mPAP(-x±s) decreased from (31.8±7.1) mmHg to (21.2±2.1) mmHg, PAD(-x±s) decreased from (28.0±5.0) mm to (20.0±3.5) mm before and after the treatment respectively(P<0.01). There were significant differences in mPAP, PAD, the distance of 6-MWT and the heart function before and after the treatment in the spironolactone group. However, the data did not show the significant difference in the control group. Conclusion The therapeutic effect of spironolactone in the treatment of SPAH is satisfactory.

Objective To develop user-friendly information education-communication (IEC)materials and guidelines of malaria control for various target groups. Methods The participatory methods were used to make sure participation of target groups at each stages of IEC material development. Results A package consisted of interactive video, 2 posters for primary groups, sto ry booklet for students, manual for activities of "buddy system" for teachers, flipcharts for health staff at grass-root levels, guidelines on communication skill and how to use the first 5kinds of materials, was developed. Conclusion A set of user-friendly IEC materials and guidelines of malaria control has successfully been developed with sufficient participation of target groups.

Objective To describe rural people's perceptions of schistosomiasis and other dis eases, and to explore the relevance of these perceptions to disease control programs in rural areas of China. Methods A cross sectional study was conducted in Yingjiang Village, Anhui Province,China. Anthropological and epidemiological re search methods, including focus group discussions,in depth interviews, questionnaires and stool tests, were used. Results People identified various infectious diseases, such as schistosomiasis, hepatitis, hemorrhage fever, hookworm diseases, as cariasis and infection skin diseases. The knowledge of villagers regarding schistosomiasis and other diseases was not inconsiderable but not entirely accurate. Local illness taxonomy usually resulted from the concepts as to the causation of diseases. Local people thought there were about eight categories of factors that might cause diseases. These categories were worms, the unbalance of hot cold faetors, over work and starvation, "hot poison", dirty water and food, psychological factors, supernatural factors and pesticides. Conclusion Health education, improving sanitation and safe water supply may play much important roles in improving health of rural people.

A patient with sparganosis mansoni was treated with praziquantel and cured with little side effect.

Seven cases of cystic eckinococcosis( CE) were surveyed retrospectively in 2008. The results showed that 6 of thosepatients were locally infected. It is important to investigate the course and characteristics of CE transmission in non-endemic areas.

Mathematical model has been increasingly applied in the description of the transmission of schistosomiasis, the prediction and selection of schistosomiasis prevention measures, and it has being developed constantly. This paper briefly introduces several typical mathematical models for transmission of schistosomiasis and summarizes their advancements.

Detection of Plasmodium sporozoites-carrying mosquitoes is an important indicator in monitoring mosquitoes, evaluating the control of malaria and forecasting the incidence of malaria. Here, we review the detection techniques in Plasmodium sporozoites-carrying mosquitoes and the progress of their applied research, and then briefly discuss the principles of the detection and the prospects for the field.

This paper reviews the core technology of proteomics, namely separation, identification and bioinformatics prediction of proteins, and its development and application in schistosome research.

In order to observe the therapeutic effect of azithromycin combined with IFN-γ on mouse toxoplasmosis and its impact on the cellular immune function of mouse, a total of 100 BALB/c mice were selected and divided into 5 groups, namely an infection control group (Group A) , azithromycin treatment group (Group B) , azithromycin combined with IFN-γ treatment group (Group C) , IFN-γ treatment group (Group D) and blank control group (Group E). The mice in Group A, B, C, D were infected by Toxoplasma tachyzoites through intraperitoneal injection and those in Group B, C, D were treated with relative drugs 24 h later for S days. The survival time of mice in each group and the levels of CD4 ~+ and CD8~+ T cells in blood were observed. The results showed that azithromycin combined with IFN-γ could improve the therapeutic effect of mouse toxoplasmosis and the cellular immune function of mice.

The malaria annual reports, epidemic situation reports, case investigation reports and blood examination data for febrile patients from 2003 to 2007 in Nantong City were analysed, so as to provide the scientific evidence for the measures of malaria control. The results suggested that mobile population was the key point of malaria control in Nantong City, and the main control measures should put emphasis on epidemic situation supervision of mobile population and surveillance on febrile patients.