Publishment of the draft of Chinese Medicine Act shows that the legislative work for TCM has achieved substantial progress. But after careful analysis on the legislative bills, there are some controversial questions, such as integration of traditional Chinese and western medicine, the setting of Chinese medicine clinics, Chinese medicine personnel training, the prescription-based processing Chinese medicine decoction pieces and dispensing Chinese materiamedica preparations by medical institutions. These all need to be further perfected.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the ways to evolve the current domestic legislation on the relief of adverse drug reactions(ADR)-induced harm.METHODS: Suggestions on the improvement of the existing related legal systems were put forward by analyzing the status quo of the current legal regulations on the relief of ADR-induced harm.RESULTS & CONCLUSIONS: The relief pattern,liability principle,the scope of paying and the time limit of lawsuit etc should be given into full consideration in the legislation on the relief of ADR-induced harm.

Polylactide and its copolymers are a kind of biomedical material andhave been approved by U.S. Food and Drug Administration. This paper briefly introduces its applications in surgical suture, orthopedics, plastic surgery, ophthalmology and other medical device fields, and also analyzes its development in our country.
Biocompatible Materials ; Polyesters

Objective To evaluate the efficacy and safety of low energy intracardiac cardioversion in persistent atrial fibrillation. Methods Low energy intracardiac cardioversion was performed by delivering R wave synchronized biphasic shocks in 7 patients(4 men, 3 women) with persistent atrial fibrillation. Prior to the procedure, all patients underwent transesophageal echocardiographic examinations to rule out the presence of intracardiac thrombus and received subcutaneous injection of low molecular weight heparin for 3 5 days. Two custom made 6 Fr catheters(Rhythm Technologies of Getz, USA) were used for de fibrillation shock delivery. One catheter was positioned in the lower right atrium so that the majority of the catheter electrodes had firm contact with the right atrial free wall. The second catheter was placed randomly either in coronary sinus through right internal jugular vein or in the left pulmonary artery through femoral vein. In addition, a standard diagnostic 6 F quadropolar catheter was placed at the right ventricular apex for ventricular synchronization and postshock ventricular pacing. Shocks were delivered by Implant Support Device(Model 4510, Teleceronics). After conversion, all patients were treated with intravenous amiodarone in the first 24 hours followed by oral administration. Results In all 7 patients cardioversion of atrial fibrillation to sinus rhythm was successfully obtained. A mean of 2?1 shocks per patient has been delivered with a total amount of 13 shocks. The average delivered energy was 7.8?2.2 Joules. No complication occurred. At a mean follow up of 18?9 months, 4 of the 7 patients treated successfully showed sinus rhythm there after. Atrial fibrillation recurred in 3 patients at the second, fifth day and eighth month after cardioversion. Conclusions Low energy intracardiac cardioversion is effective and safe, and can be easily performed in patients without geneal anesthesia. It offers a new option for restoring sinus rhythm in patients with persistent atrial fibrillation.

Objective To observe the effect of Shenfu injection on intestinal function in rats with sepsis. Methods Forty Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into four groups: sham operation, sepsis model, low and high concentration Shenfu injection groups, each groupn = 10. The sepsis model was replicated by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP), while the rate in sham operation group just underwent abdominal incision without CLP. Ten minutes after CLP, the low and high dose Shenfu injection groups were given 5 mL/kg and 10 mL/kg Shenfu intravenous injection via a tail vein respectively. The rats in the model group were treated by intravenous injection of 10 mL/kg normal saline through a tail vein in 10 minutes after CLP. Twelve hours later, the rats were sacrificed. The levels of Ghrelin, Gastrin, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), high mobility group B1 protein (HMGB1), myeloperoxidase (MPO) and diamine oxidase (DAO) activity in serum were detected by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The levels of protein of Ghrelin and gastrin receptor (GHSR) were detected by Western Blot. Under light microscope, the histopathological changes in intestinal mucosa were investigated, and Chiu score was determined, and the apoptosis index (AI) of intestinal mucosal epithelial cells was detected by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL).Results Compared with sham operation group, in model group, the levels of Ghrelin and Gastrin in serum were significantly decreased [Ghrelin (ng/L): 121.23±3.53 vs. 146.28±5.43, Gastrin (ng/L): 81.78±3.27 vs 102.78±4.07], the serum levels of TNF-α and HMGB1 were markedly increased [TNF-α (mg/L): 93.71±3.66 vs. 11.69±1.44, HMGB1 (mg/L): 76.25±4.12 vs. 22.41±3.08], the DAO activity and protein expressions of Ghrelin and GHSR of intestinal tissue were obviously decreased [DAO (U/mL): 14.64 ±0.68 vs. 25.13±1.98, Ghrelin (grey value): 0.12±0.02 vs. 0.23±0.04, GHSR (grey value): 0.18±0.02 vs. 0.32±0.03], the MPO activity in intestinal tissue, Chiu score of intestinal mucosa and AI of ileum mucosal epithelial cells were remarkably increased [MPO (mg/L): 175.98±6.95 vs. 45.64±4.48, Chiu score: 3.90±0.52 vs. 0.30±0.30, AI: 29.31±1.65 vs. 5.45±1.35, allP < 0.01]. Compared with model group, in low and high Shenfu injection groups, the levels of Ghrelin in serum and protein expressions of Ghrelin and GHSR in intestinal tissues were significantly increased (P < 0.05 orP < 0.01), the activity of DAO of intestinal tissues, the Chiu score and AI were significantly decreased, the degrees of changes being more significant in high Shenfu injection group than those in low Shenfu injection group [Ghrelin (ng/L): 143.54±3.89 vs. 136.58±4.91, TNF-α (mg/L): 75.13±4.69 vs. 83.70±4.40, HMGB1 (mg/L): 57.47±4.53 vs. 65.41±4.63, protein expression of Ghrelin (grey value): 0.18±0.03 vs. 0.15±0.03, protein expression of GHSR (grey value): 0.28±0.03 vs. 0.23±0.03, MPO (mg/L): 154.05±5.75 vs. 162.64 ±5.73, DAO (kU/L): 19.70±1.51 vs. 16.67±0.92, Chiu score: 2.30±0.52 vs. 3.20±0.48, AI: 20.38±1.34 vs. 26.40±1.32, allP < 0.05]. The levels of serum Gastrin in low and high Shenfu injection group were higher than those in model group, but no statistically significant differences were found (83.59±3.24, 86.54±5.93 vs. 81.78±3.27, bothP > 0.05). Under light microscope, the pathological changes were seen as follows: destruction and obvious edema of intestinal mucosal villi, ulcer formation, significant perivascular hemorrhage, presence of neutrophil infiltration and fracture of basement membrane in model group, while in low and high Shenfu groups, the intestinal villi had little defect, focal necrosis, small amounts of hemorrhage and neutrophil infiltration. Conclusions Shenfu injection can significantly improve the abnormal expressions of serum Ghrelin, reduce the levels of serum TNF-α and HMGB1, lowered MPO activity and enhance DAO activity in intestinal tissue, alleviate pathological changes in ileum mucosa, and decrease AI of ileum mucosal epithelial cells in rats with sepsis. And the degree of therapeutic effect is proportional to the Shenfu injection dose.

One leading research target of modern tumor radiotherapy is to increase radiosensitization of tumor and improve curative effect of radiotherapy.Histone deacetylase inhibitors are epigenetic drugs that can play a part in radiosensitization through means of induction of apoptosis,inhibition of repair of DNA doublestrand breaks,cell cycle arrest,improvement of tumor cell hypoxia and increase of reactive oxygen species.There is an urgent need to develop biomarkers based on these pathways,which can promote clinically individualized treatment.

Objective To investigate the short-term efficacy of CT-guided radiofrequency ablation (RFA) for the treatment of advanced non-small cell lung cancer. Methods During the period from June 2010 to June 2013, a total of 100 patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer were admitted to authors’ hospital. The patients were equally and randomly divided into the study group (n=50) and the control group (n=50). The patients of the control group received concurrent radiotherapy and chemotherapy treatment, while the patients of the study group received CT-guided RFA. The clinical effect, changes in CT values after the treatment, the improvement of physical condition and postoperative complications were recorded, and the results were compared between the two groups. Results The remission rate of the disease in the study group was 86.0%, which was much higher than that in the control group (52.0%), and the difference between the two groups was statistically significant (P<0.05). After the treatment, the CT value of the study group was (14.1±3.9) HU, which was significantly lower than that of the control group (29.8±4.7 HU, P<0.05). The physical improvement rate of the study group (66.0%) was significantly higher than that of the control group (44.0%), the difference between the two groups was statistically significant (P<0.05). The occurrence of postoperative complications, such as pulmonary infection, chest pain, fever, thoracic effusion and gastrointestinal reaction, in the study group was strikingly lower than that in the control group (P<0.05). Conclusion For the treatment of advanced non-small cell lung cancer, CT-guided radiofrequency ablation is safe and less-invasive, it can improve the clinical short-term effect as well as the quality of life. Therefore, this technique should be recommended in clinical practice.

Objective To evaluate the clinical efficacy of anterior C2-3 discectomy and fusion in treatment of type Ⅱ traumatic spondylolisthesis of the axis. Methods A total of 27 patients with type Ⅱ traumatic spondylolisthesis of the axis were treated with anterior C2-3 discectomy, fusion and plate fixa-tion. There were 19 males and 8 females, at average age of 38 years (22-67 years). The spinal cord function was at Fraukel D in four patients. Results Operation lasted for 75-95 minutes (mean 86 mi-nutes), with blood loss of 100-160 ml (mean 135 ml). Hospital stay was 9-12 days ( mean 10.8 days). Follow-up for 9-24 months (mean 14 months) showed that all patients achieved bony fusion within three months postoperatively, with no anterior displacement or kyphosis. The range of cervical movement was normal, with no chronic neck pain ocurred. Conclusions Anterior approach can minimize surgical trauma, shorten recovery time and hospital stay. Anterior C2-3 discectomy and fusion is a feasible and safe surgical technique and can get satisfactory therapeutic effect in treating type Ⅱ traumatic spondylolisthesis of the axis.

Alzheimer′s disease ( AD) is a type of neurodegener-ative disease. Recent studies indicate that neuronal degeneration and loss triggered by tau, APP and Aβare the probable risks for AD. Neurofibrillary tangles are formed after tau truncated by ac-tivated caspases and subsequently induced tau aggregates, which causes neuronal degeneration and loss. In addition, caspases are crucial components in the biological functioning in the apoptosis pathways. Apoptosis pathway involves activation of upstream ini-tiator caspase-8 and downstream executor caspase-3/-6/-7. After the actions of β- and γ-secretase, APP transforms into sAPPβand Aβ40/42 . Aggregated Aβ42 can activate apoptosis pathway through DR4/5 interaction. C-APP is truncated into C31 frag-ments by caspases and cell apoptosis is facilitated. N-APP, a product of sAPPβhydrolysis, can promote the abnormal develop-ment of neurons mediated by DR6. Caspase activates γ-secre-tase-activating protein to regulate activity ofγ-secretase, and the production of C31 and Aβ40/42 , which, then, causes the occur-rence of AD. This brief review summarizes the specific roles of caspases and the concerning apoptosis pathways on the mecha-nisms of neuronal degeneration and loss, and how they impact the occurrence of AD in the hope of uncovering additional poten-tial therapeutic targets that can be employed in drug development and clinical therapy for AD.

Objective:Dysmenorrhea is the common gynecological problem among adolescent girls and women of reproductive age. This study aim to develop a dysmenorrhea Quality of Life (QoL) scale based on Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) theory.Methods:We conducted focus group discussions and in-depth interviews with TCM gynecologists and patients, and adapted items from previously published scales. We generated an initial pool of 41 items with 8 domains. Delphi method was used to item preliminary selection. Then, we administered the items to a sample of adolescent girls ( n=200), and the distribution of survey items, discrete trend, factor analysis, correlation coefficient, Cronbach’s α coefficient were used to select items. Results:After two rounds of Delphi, a total of thirty items were included in the dysmenorrhea QoL scale. The expert positive coefficient were 100% and 83.3% with high motivation. The authoritative coefficient were greater than 0.7, the results showing authoritative and reliable. The Kendall’s coefficient of concordance W was 0.333 ( χ2=128.271, P<0.001). In sample analysis, the items were deleted when they met more than two standards. The final scale retained 20 items, covering 8 dimensions. Conclusions:The methods for selection of dysmenorrhea QoL scale based on TCM theory were preferable. Given the paucity of research in this area, this new dysmenorrhea QoL scale may provide opportunities for the patient-reported outcome (PRO) evaluation in the field of TCM.