Objective To investigate the association between the glycated albumin to glycated hemoglobin (GA/A1c) ratio and carotid plaque. Methods Type 2 diabetic (T2DM) patients in endocrine inpatient department of Sichuan Provincial People′s Hospital were chosen whose clinical data were collected. Results Of the recruited 154 T2DM patients , GA/HbA1c ratio was negatively correlated with BMI , blood uric acid and was positively correlated with age, HCY, FBG, PBG, left carotid IMT and right carotid IMT. In terms of carotid plaque, GA, GA/HbA1c ratio and HCY were higher in carotid plaque positive patients than those without carotid plaque. The results of logistic regression analysis showed that GA/HbA1c ratio was significantly associated with the presence of carotid plaque (P=0.008). Conclusions GA/HbA1c ratio was positively correlated with the presence of carotid artery IMT in T2DM This suggests that GA/HbA1c ratio will serve as a useful clinical marker for predicting diabetic cardiovascular complications.

BACKGROUNDTo evaluate the effects and toxicities of combination therapy of chemotherapy with hydroxycamptothecin (HCPT)+5-fluorouracil (5-FU)+cisplatin (DDP) and concurrent radiotherapy for advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

METHODSFrom September 1999 to May 2001, 31 patients with advanced NSCLC were enrolled in this study. They were given chemotherapy with HCPT 6mg/m² on days 1-5, 5-FU 300mg/m² on days 1-5, DDP 30mg/m² on days 1-3 and concurrent radiotherapy. The chemotherapy was repeated every 28 days as a cycle. Each patient should receive at least two cycles. The total dose of primary tumors varied up to DT 50-70 Gy/25-35f, and that of metastatic tumors up to DT 30-60 Gy/10-30f .

RESULTSAmong the 31 patients, 6 got complete response, 18 got partial response, 5 had stable disease and 2 had progressive disease, with an overall response rate of 77.4% (24/31). The median survival duration was 16.7 months. The 1- and 2- year survival rates were 54.7% and 30.2%, and 1- and 2- year local control rates were 61% and 40%, respectively. The main toxicities were marrow suppression and gastrointestinal symptoms.

CONCLUSIONSThe results suggest that HCPT-based chemotherapy combined with concurrent radiotherapy is effective for NSCLC and can improve the survival rate and life quality of the patients with lung cancer.

There are many kinds of pharmaceutical preparations for children in China, which are generally divided into oral solid preparations and oral liquid preparations. Solid preparations, such as microtablets, pellets, dispersible tablets, and fine granules, have become the development trend of pediatric drugs. Liquid preparations mainly include syrup, suspension, oral solution, and drops. The poor taste and the treatment of drugs in children of different ages are the key factors affecting the efficacy, safety, and compliance of pediatric drugs. To reduce the risk caused by the fluctuation of blood concentration and improve the oral compliance of pediatric drugs, it is urgent to develop new techniques for granulation and flavor maskingto improve the poor taste of solid preparations. For liquid pre-parations with poor taste, the flavor correction technique should be used. This paper summarized the new pharmaceutical techniques for granulation and flavor masking, and it was found that sustained/controlled-releasegranules, fine granules, and chewing solid mini-tablets became the mainstream of oral solid preparations for children. Generally, multiparticle preparation, coating, microencapsulation, and other granulating techniques were involved in these preparations. Granulation and flavor masking are closely related and synergetic. Flavor masking techniques mask the bitter taste of Chinese medicine from four aspects, including confusing the brain taste, changing the compounds, reducing the exposure of bitter molecules to bitter receptors in the mouth, and numbing the taste cells to increase the threshold of bitter perception. At present, the main drugs for children on the market mainly inhibit the oral release of bitter drugs.
Child ; Humans ; Chemistry, Pharmaceutical/methods* ; Administration, Oral ; Tablets ; Taste ; China

Objective To compare H_p(3) calibration with a homemade (A) thermoluminescent dosimeter (TLD) and an imported (B) TLD in a standard X-ray RQR radiation field, to explore the different responses of A and B, and to provide foundation for the calibration of H_p(3). Methods A column mode was selected. H_p(3) calibration was performed using A and B in a standard X-ray RQR radiation field in the Secondary Standard Dosimetry Laboratory, National Institute for Radiological Protection, China Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Angle response, energy response, and linear response were calibrated with RQR4 (60 kV), RQR7 (90 kV), and RQR9 (120 kV), respectively. Results In terms of angle response, the calibration results of A were relatively high, while the calibration results of B were relatively low. In terms of energy response, the calibration results showed a similar pattern to angle response. In terms of linear response, the calibration results of both A and B were satisfactory. Conclusion Both A and B can be used for normal calibration of H_p(3) in a standard X-ray RQR radiation field. However, in actual monitoring, attention should be paid to the energy and angle response values of TLDs.