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.

AIM:The 50-Hz magnetic field (MF) is a potential health-risk factor.Its effects on the cardiovascular system have not been fully investigated .This study was conducted to explore the effects of long-term exposure to 50-Hz MF on the cardiovascular system . METHODS:In the study , an exposure system was constructed and the distribution of 50-Hz MF was detected .Sixty-four Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were exposed to 50-Hz MF at 100 μT for 24 weeks, 20 hours per day, while another 64 rats were sham exposed. During the exposure, blood pressure was measured every 4 weeks, and 24 weeks later, echocardiography, cardiac catheterisation and electrocardiography were performed .Moreover , heart and body weight were recorded , while haematoxylin-eosin staining and real-time PCR were conducted .RESULTS:The results showed that compared with the sham group , exposure to 50-Hz MF did not exert any effect on blood pressure, pulse rate, heart rate and cardiac rhythm.Further, echocardiography and cardiac catheterisation showed that there were no significant differences in the cardiac morphology and haemodynamics .In addition , histopathological examination showed that 50-Hz MF exposure had no effect on the structure of hearts .Finally, the expression of the cardiac hypertrophic relative genes did not show any significant differences between 50-Hz MF exposure group and the sham group .CONCLUSION: Taken together , in SD rats, exposure to 50-Hz/100-μT MF for 24 weeks did not show any obvious effects on the cardiovascular system .

Objective To explore the value of MRI in assessing regional invasion and neural spread of sinonasal and nasopharyngeal adenoid cystic carcinoma(ACC).Methods A retrospective collection of MRI and clinical data was analyzed in 22 patients with sinonasal and nasopharyngeal ACC confirmed by pathology.Results A total of 22 patients were included in the study.Invasion of the pterygopalatine fossa was observed in 15 cases,involvement of the masticatory muscles in 13 cases,skull base involvement in 13 cases,infiltration of the cavernous sinus in 9 cases,involvement of the infraorbital fissure in 9 cases,orbital involvement in 5 cases,and intracranial involvement in 6 cases.Only 3 patients presented with cranial nerve symptoms.MRI revealed thickening and enhancement of cranial nerves in 10 cases,with involvement of the maxillary and mandibular(V2,V3)branches of the trigeminal nerve(V)in 9 cases,and muscle denervation caused by nerve damage in 6 cases.Among the 12 patients who underwent surgery,9 cases were confirmed to have neural invasion by pathology,with MRI showing cranial nerve alterations in 7 cases of them,one case showed tumor involvement from the pterygopalatine fossa and medial pterygoid muscle to the cavernous sinus and Meckel cavity,while the other case showed tumor involvement from the pterygopalatine fossa to the sphenopalatine foramen.During the follow-up after treatment,4 of 11 patients experienced recurrence,all of which were accompanied by lung metastasis and pre-treatment neural invasion.Conclusion Sinonasal and nasopharyngeal ACC is characterized by a tendency for neural spread,extensive local invasion,and a high risk of recurrence.MRI is helpful in determining the extent of invasion and neural spread.

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.