Oncomelania hupensis which plays an important role in the transmission of schistosomiasis japonica is the only intermediate host of Schistosoma japonicum and carrying out studies on its subspecies differentiation and genetic variation will have an important significance for schistosomiasis control. In this paper the research progress of taxonomy and discrimination techniques of O. hupensis is reviewed at four levels namely the morphological level the cellular level the protein level and the DNA molecule level and DNA sequencing technology is considered as the ideal taxonomy and discrimination technique of O. hupensis and the future research emphasis.

Objective To characterize the CT and MRI features of Osgood-Schlatter disease (OSD),and explore the feasibility of staging OSD by using CT and MRI.Methods The imaging data of the 27 cases with OSD were retrospectively analyzed,and fea-tures of MRI and CT were characterized.Results All 27 cases with OSD were featured with different extent of edema within the pa-tellar tendon.The portion already exhibited edema in the secondary ossification center in 5 cases,which showed high signal intensity on the T2 WI.There were 1 5 cases which exhibited ossified or tears in the secondary ossification center,and 5 of them were featured with opened shell-like separation on sagittal radiograph.Seven cases had isolated solitary ossicles located at the lower part of the pa-tellar ligament,which is also thickening.Among the 7 cases,one showed hypertrophy in the tibial tuberosity.Three cases examined with CT scan,exhibited ossified nodules located at the lower part of the patellar ligament.Conclusion OSD has characteristic CT and MRI features,and MRI scan is an important imaging method to show edema and morphological changes of patellar tendon in OSD,which could help to identify the stage of OSD and predict the prognosis.

Objective To investigate the MRI feature of fatigue fracture. Methods MRI of 11 cases of fatigue fracture was retrospectively analyzed and was confirmed by pathology and clinical diagnosis. Results The fracture line,swelling of marrow cavity and soft tissue were well demonstrated using MRI,especially T 2WI STIR images.Conclusion MRI is of great value in the early diagnosing of fatigue fracture for early treatment.

Objective To evaluate the three-dimensional contrast-enhanced MR venography in assessment of the lower extremityveins.Methods 15 patients with lower extremity veins thrombosis confirmed by operation,DSA or ultrasonic were undergone directthree-dimensional contrast-enhanced MR venography using GE Signa 1.0T MR system.The demonstration of the lower extremity veins wasobserved.Results 3D deep or superficial vein images of low abdomen,pelvis and low extremity were acquired satisfactorily in all 15patients.Conclusion Direct three-dimensional contrast-enhanced MR venography is a favorable method in accessing lower extremity veins.

With the aid of scientific research management information system, we established an in-formation management for the scientific research funds. The structure,function and application of the system were introduced in this paper.

Objective:To assess the effects of direct moxibustion on 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure (ABP) and clinical symptoms of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) in elderly patients with essential hypertension, and to explore the antihypertensive effect and influencing factors of moxibustion. Methods:A total of 101 elderly hypertension patients who met the inclusion criteria were randomly assigned to a direct moxibustion I group (n=33), a direct moxibustion II group (n=34), and a control group (n=34). The treatment of calcium antagonist (CCB) orangiotensin II receptor antagonist (ARB) was adopted in the control group. The treatment of direct moxibustion I plus the same medicine as the control group were adopted in the direct moxibustion I group, five cones per acupoint and three times per week, for 5 weeks in total. The treatment of direct moxibustion II plus the same medicine as the control groupwere adopted in the direct moxibustion II group, five cones per acupoint and three times per week, for 5 weeks in total. The changes of 24-hour ABP and clinical symptoms of TCM after treatment were compared in the three groups. Results: The mean 24-hour ambulatory systolic blood pressure (mean 24 h ASBP), night ASBP, percentage of mean 24-hour ambulatory diastolic blood pressure (mean 24 h ADBP)>90 mmHg, and percentage of day ADBP>90 mmHg in the control group were elevated after treatment (P<0.05). The percentage of night ADBP>80 mmHg in the direct moxibustion I group was reduced by treatment (P<0.01). There were no significant differences in the other outcome measures of 24 h ABP, such as day ASBP, percentage of mean 24 h ASBP>140 mmHg, percentage of day ASBP>140 mmHg, percentage of night ASBP>120 mmHg , mean 24 h ADBP, day ADBP, night ADBP, 24 h ambulatory pulse pressure (APP), after treatment in all groups (P>0.05). The degree of improvement of the clinical symptoms of TCM showed significant differences among the three groups of patients (P<0.01). The total effective rate in the direct moxibustion I group was 73.3%, which was superior to those in the direct moxibustion II group and control group (13.3% and 10.0%, respectively). Conclusion:The direct moxibustion has benign regulative effect on blood pressure of elderly patients with essential hypertension, and improves their clinical symptoms. The direct moxibustion method I (burning the next moxa cone after the previous one had totally burnt out) was superior to method II (burning the next moxa cone when the previous one had not totally burnt out ) in lowering blood pressure and improving symptoms of elderly patients with essential hypertension.

Objeetive:To investigate the effect of acupuncture on serum superoxide dismutase(SOD) and malondialdehyde(MDA)of rats in menopause.Methods:Female rats in menopause were randomly allocated into acupuncture,drugs and control groups,which were treated with acupuncture,Gengnian'an Tablet,and nothing,respectively.In addition,some young female rats were used as contr01.Atier 17-day treatments,serum SOD and MDA were measured with biochemical methods.Results:Compared with the young rats,rats in menopause had lower contents of serum SOD(P＜0.01),and higher contents of MDA(P＜0.01).After acupuncture treatment,the contents of serum SOD increased(P＜0.05),and MDA decreased(P＜0.05).Conclusion:Acupuncture could increase the serum SOD contents and decrease the serum MDA contents of rats in menopause.

Objective: To observe the effects of electroacupuncture on the histopathological changes and serum indexes of rats' liver, and to investigate the mechanism of electroacupuncture in treating hepatic fibrosis of rats. Methods: The rat model of hepatic fibrosis was induced with carbon tetrachloride. Then, the rats were divided into electroacupuncture group, medicine group, and model group. The collagen of liver, and serum hyaluronic acid (HA), laminin (LN), procollagen (PⅢNP), and collagen Ⅳ (C-Ⅳ) were detected with morphologic methods and radioimmunoassay. Results: Compared with normal rats, the collagen was hyperplasia in the liver tissue, and the contents of the serum HA, LN, and PⅢ NP were higher in the model group. The collagen area of liver tissue, and the contents of the serum HA, and LN were lower in rats treated with electroacupuncture than model rats. The contents of serum of PⅢ NP, and C-Ⅳ changed little. Conclusion: Electroacupuncture had some effects of prevention and treatment, and the mechanism may relate to the effects of electroacupuncture in protecting liver cells, inhibiting synthesis of extracellular matrix, and promoting the breakup of collagen.

Objective: To investigate the mechanism of herb cake-partitioned moxibustion treating ulcerative colitis (UC) from the relationship between expression of p53 and C-myc protein, and morbidity of UC. Methods: Rats model of UC was made with immune methods and local stimulation.Forty SD rats were divided into normal, model, herb cake-partitioned, and mild moxibustion group by a random number table, 10 rats in each group. Hanging moxibustion in the mild moxibustion group was applied to Tianshu (ST 25) and Qihai (CV 6) for 10 min. Two moxa cones of herb cake-partitioned moxibustion were applied to the same acupoints respectively, in the herb cake-partitioned moxibustion group. Expression of p53 and C-myc protein was measured with immuno- histochemistical method in the colonic tissue of rats with UC.Results: Postive area, strength,and the immunohistochemistry index of the expression of p53 and C-myc protein were found more in the model rats than those in the normal rats (P＜0.01), whereas less in the herb cake-partitioned moxibustion and mild moxibustion groups than those in the model group (P＜0.01). Conclusion: p53and C-myc play important roles in the morbidity and development of UC, and herb cake-partitioned moxibustion could regulate the expression of p53 and C-myc protein in the colonic tissue of UC rats.

Phase Ⅰ Clinical trial of new drugs is key for clinical drug development. In this article,we describe our experience and reflection on phase Ⅰ clinical trials of new drugs at the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University.