AIM:To compare the dissolution in vitro between Beimu Pills(Bulbus fritillariae cirrhosae,Radix et Rhizoma glycyrrhizae,Semen armeniacae amarum) and Beixinggan Buccal Tablet(70% alcohol percolate of Bulbus fritillariae cirrhosae;extract of Radix et Rhizoma glycyrrhizae and extract of semen armeniacae amarum) to evaluate the reform of the traditional solid preparation.METHODS:Verticine and verticinone were adopted as the reference substance for the calculation of cumulative dissolution percentage.RESULTS:Cumulative dissolution reached 95% of dissolution rate,it took 60 min for Beixinggan Buccal Tablet and it took 180 min for Beimu Pills at the same condition.CONCLUSION:Dissolution method applied to the control over TCM preparation quality and to the reform of preparation can be recognized as one of the quality standard.

Objective To describe the distribution of medication costs of rheumatoid arthritis patients, and to analyze the factors that may affect the costs. Methods Data were obtained from a 12-month retrospective investigation of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) across China. Department of Rheuma-tology of 18 hospitals were randomly selected. The data about their social conditions, clinical conditions, medications associated with RA such as disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs), non -steroidal anti -inflammtory drugs (NSAIDs), steroids, biologic agents were collected, and the costs of drugs were calculated. A non-parameter test and multivariate logistic regression analysis were performed. Results Six hundred and forty six patients were enrolled into the study, 435 completed data were chosen for analysis. The results demonstrated that the average costs per patient for medications in the past year was 8018 . The total medication costs were further subdivided into the following parts: DMARDs, (represented 20% of the total costs), biologic drugs (49%), NSAIDs (4%), herbal drugs (22%), steroids (1%). Data analysis showed that patients with higher education and higher incomes, with medical insurance,better health function status and outpatients paid more on DMARDs. Extra-articular manifestations increased the odds of the high-cost group (OR: 2.180, 95%CI: 1.335～3.558, P=0.002), while poor health function status increased the probability of paying high costs (OR: 1.373, 95%CI: 1.012～1.863, P=0.041). Conclusion High medication costs in RA do exist in RA patients. The costs of medication is associated with health function status and the presence of extra-articular manifestations.