The mechanism of development of thymomas associated with myasthenia gravis(MG) is not completely clear. It is not hard to make diagnosis of thymomas associated with MG via clinical manifestation,radiological investigation and laboratory examination, however, the treatment of thymomas associated with MG remains controversial and there is no straightforward guidelines in the literatures. Most scholars think surgery is the first choice to treat thymomas associated with MG, but for those who are not suitable for surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy would be considered to be their choice combined with anti-cholinesterase and steroidsdrugs therapy.

Periostin is a matri-cellular protein which was originally identified in MC3T3-E 1 osteoblast-like cell line,expressing in multiple tissues like bones,teeth,skin and cardiac valves.Periostin is also found in a large variety of cancers and injured tissues,involving in cancer cell invasion and metastasis as well as wound repair.Recent studies have suggested the role of Periostin in osteoblast adhesion and differentiation,fibrillogenesis,mineralization and bone fracture healing,and its expression is regulated by mechanical stress,various transcription factors,hormones and growth factors.In this article,we will discuss the expression,localization and general characteristics of Periostin,and provide a review on the study of it in bone biology.

Acute Coronary Syndrome ; therapy ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Phytotherapy

ObjectiveTo introduce a new side-incision thyroidectomy for huge thyroid nodules. MethodsFrom Oct. 2008 to Dec. 2009, 30 patients with huge thyroid nodules ( diameter ＞ 6 cm) were performed side-incision thyroidectomy, among whom 4 cases were treated with the combined therapy of side-incision surgery and midline-incision surgery. ResultsNo injury of major vessels, recurrent laryngeal nerves or superior laryngeal nerves occurred. 2 cases in side-incision group had transient convulsion of hands and feet. No permanent hypocalcemia or infection occurred. ConclusionsCompared with traditional midline-incision thyroidectomy, sideincision thyroidectomy has better surgical exposure and no need to amputate the strap muscle. Side-incision thyroidectomy is an ideal surgical approach for huge thyroid nodules.

The chemokine fractalkine primarily involves in chemotaxis,adherence and inflammation.Recently it has been discovered owning the ability of inhibiting cell death in neurons and glial cells,as well as protecting central nervous system from toxic damage.Fractalkine reduces the toxicity to neurons and glial cells mediated by excessive Fas L,glutamate(Glu) or lipopolysaccharide(LPS).In vivo neutralization of endogenous brain fractalkine signal pathway increases inflammatory cytokines secretion and neuronal cell death induced by LPS.Fractalkine may achieve its neuroprotective property through influencing expression of pro-apoptotic and anti-apoptotic proteins,intracellular Ca2+ level and inflammatory cytokines secretion via protein kinase B(PKB)/Akt and extracellular signal-regulated kinase(ERK)/MAPK pathways.

Objective To explore the necessity and models of developing community health services in rural areas. Methods Both quantitative and qualitative studies were conducted. Results Those who regarded developing community health services in rural areas as highly necessary accounted for 35% while those who regarded it as necessary accounted for 58% . The model of cooperation between township and village or between hospital and village was advocated for areas with an average income of 1 000 yuan and above; the model of combining the hospital with the health station or three "five in ones" was advocated for areas with an average income of 2 000 yuan and above; and the model of "three in one" was advocated for areas with an average income of 3 000 yuan and above. Conchusion There are many factors that influence the development of community health services in rural areas, but the models selected vary mainly because of the difference in income levels and the difference between various areas.

OBJECTIVE: To introduce and compare research support for rare disease and orphan drug innovation in China and United States, and provide reference for relevant policies in China. METHODS: Data of main source of funding for rare disease research in two countries ie. National Institutes of Health, Food and Drug Administration in the United States and National Natural Science Foundation of China were analyzed and compared. RESULTS: US NIH gives substantial support for rare disease research every year with funded capital growing. FDA Orphan Products Grants program provides incentives for sponsors to develop products for rare diseases. In China, however, there is no specific support project for rare disease research, and there is a huge gap in funding efforts for rare disease research between China and the United States. CONCLUSION: China should establish rare disease research center to promote rare disease research and set up specific funding for rare diseases research, increase efforts to support research and innovation for rare diseases and orphan drugs, in order to protect the health interests of patients with rare diseases.

OBJECTIVE: To introduce international reimbursement policies on drugs for pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), and provide a reference for establishing relevant policies in China. METHODS: Reimbursement policies on PAH drugs of Australia, Canada, America and some EU countries were analyzed and compared with the status quo in China. RESULTS: Although expensive, PAH drugs are reimbursed by medical insurance in most countries included in this study. However, the accessibility of PAH drugs in China remains very poor with only a few cities including these drugs in the medical insurance. Patients with PAH face with poverty caused by disease, even abandoning treatment. CONCLUSION: Learning the experience from countries with rare disease act and good medical insurance system and analysing the earliest attempts to reimburse PAH drugs in China will help promote the reimbursement policy on PAH drugs in China.

Objective To develop a whole-automatic intellectual thermochemotherapy equipment of peritoneal perfusion by which hyperthemic chemotherapeutics were post in peritoneal cavity with constant flow pump.Methods MSP430 one chip whole-automatic machine was adopted to monitor and keep chemotherapeutic temperature.Results Being treated with peritoneal perfusion thermochemotherapy after radical excision,one-year and three years survival rates of the patients with advanced gastric carcinoma were increased 8.12% and 20%,meso-life span extends 18 months.Conclusion The thermochemotherapy equipment of peritoneal perfusion can eliminate dissociating malignant cell in peritoneal cavity and minimum cancer focus on peritoneal membrane,and prevent peritoneal recurrence effectually.

AIM To investigate if glutamate has direct effects on both resting [Ca 2+ ] i and Ca 2+ influx induced by ATP in cultured calf middle artery cerebral smooth muscle cells. METHODS The effect of glutamate on [Ca 2+ ] i was determined with Fura2 fluorescence technique. RESULTS Glutamate(10～200 ?mol?L -1 )didnot elevate the resting [Ca 2+ ] i level and in the concentrations of 10～400 ?mol?L -1 failed to affect increase and decrese the Ca 2+ influx induced by ATP. CONCLUSION Glutamate hasn't directly effects on both resting [Ca 2+ ] i; and Ca 2+ influx in middle cerebral artery smooth muscle cells. Glutamate is unlikely to participate in regulation of cerebrovascular tention as a direct effector.