OBJECTIVE:To evaluate the efficacy of methotrexate(MTX) vs.gold salt in treating patients with rheumatoid arthritis(RA).METHODS:7 studies on the efficacy of methotrexate(MTX) vs.gold salt in treating patients with rheumatoid arthritis(RA) were subjected to a meta-analysis using homogeneity test and combined effect test.RESULTS:Homogeneity test showed that the cited studies were homogeneous with ?2=25.14,df=6 and P=0.0003;and by combined test,the combined OR was 2.37(95% confidence interval=1.18～4.78,Z=2.41,P=0.02).CONCLUSION:Methotrexate demonstrated better toleration than gold salt for rheumatoid arthritis.

OBJECTIVE:To develop a simple but practical evaluation system of pharmacoeconomics.METHODS:The data base of this system was built up using the SQL Server 2000.Delphi was used as programming tool to develop an evaluation system of pharmacoeconomics.RESULTS:This system has good human-computer interfaces,including the interfaces of data input,cost-effectiveness analysis,cost-benefit analysis and cost-utility analysis.The sensitivity analytic results consisted of the computed results of simple analysis,bootstrap analysis and rank-order stability analysis.CONCLUSION:System testing indicates the system is simple in operation and reliable in analytical results,which thus deserves to be popularized.

Objective To study the effects of traditional Chinese medicine Panax notoginoside(PNS,血塞通) and Tetramethylpyrazine(TMPz,川芎嗪) on different subtypes of cytochrome P450(CYP450),based on that,to forecast the inter-reaction between these two drugs and between each one of them and another drug,and also to estimate the safety assessment of them.Methods The metabolic changes of caffeine and dapsone which are the specific probe drugs for subtypes of CYP450,CYP1A2 and CYP3A4,were studied in vitro to estimate the inhibition or induction effects of PNS and TMPz.Results The concentrations of caffeine and dapsone,the probe drugs in liver cytochrome P450,in control group,PNS group and TMPz group were all declined with time prolongation,and there were no significant differences among the three groups.The half life time(t1/2) of caffeine in PNS group was obviously shorter than that in control group((19.24?2.37) minutes vs.(25.15?2.02) minutes, P0.05).It was suggested that TMPz have no effect on both CYP1A2 and CYP3A4.Conclusion Different drugs have different effects on different CYP450 subtype enzymes.When PNS is used in combination with other drugs which are related to the metabolism of CYP1A2 enzyme,its induction effect on CYP1A2 should be considered fully to avoid toxic effect or the potential adverse reactions.

AIM: To verify the bioequivalence between sustained released tablet of nepopam and normal one. METHODS: 18 volunteers were randomly devided into two groups. Double periodical crossed design was used, and poly dose of nefopam was administered to 18 volunteers following single dose after one week interval. The concentration of nefopam hydrochloride in serum was determinated by HPLC, and the related parameters came out through 3p97 programme. RESULTS: In the single dose test the drug concentration of sustained released tablet maitained 2040 mg?L -1 for 10 h ,c max was ( 45.8 ?15.7) mg?L -1 ,t peak was ( 3.4 ? 0.8) h , and the corresponding parameters of normal tablet were over 20 mg?L -1 for 7.5 h ,( 72.7 ?26.0) mg?L -1 ,and ( 1.6 ? 0.6) h . The AUC was ( 363.4 ? 107.1 ) and ( 374.8 ?125.7) mg?h?L -1 respectively, and F was ( 1.02 ? 0.25 ). In the poly dose test the c max of sustained released and normal one was ( 31.50 ? 12.65 ) and ( 33.68 ?10.51) mg?L -1 ,c min was ( 13.4 ? 4.4 ) and ( 10.9 ?5.4) mg?L -1 , t peak was ( 2.6 ? 0.6 ) and ( 1.22 ? 0.46) h , and FI was ( 0.77 ? 0.26 ) and ( 1.04 ? 0.18 ) respectively. CONCLUSION: The sustained released tablet is credible and the two types of tablet are equieffective in AUC.

AIM: To compare the bioequivalence of glimepiride tables and capsules with a single dose. METHODS: Twenty Chinese healthy male volunteers were enrolled in a randomized crossover study with a single oral dose 3 mg of two formulations respectively. The blood drug concentration in serum was measured by HPLC, and the pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated by 3p97 software and compared by two one side t test. RESULTS: The parameters of the tables and the capsules were( 1.23 ? 0.19 ) and ( 1.31 ? 0.22 ) mg?h?L -1 at AUC (0-t) ,( 1.32 ? 0.20 ) and ( 1.45 ? 0.24 ) mg?h?L -1 at AUC (0-inf) ,( 0.30 ? 0.05 ) and ( 0.30 ? 0.06 ) mg?L -1 at C max ,( 6.6 ? 2.5 ) and ( 9.3 ? 7.9 ) h the peak time (T peak ), respectively. There were no significant differences between the two formulations. F was 96.4 ? 21.1 calculated by AUC (0-t) and 96.4 ? 21.1 by AUC (0-inf) . CONCLUSION: Glimepiride tables and capsules are of bioequivalence.