Objective To observe the effect of combination therapy with methotrexate,sulfasalazine and hydroxychloroquine on serum lipids in elderly patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).Methods 136 patients with RA were randomly divided into group A and group B (n=68,each).Patients in group A were treated with methotrexate,sulfasalazine and hydroxychloroquine sulfate plus life style intervention.Patients in group B were treated with the therapy as same as that of group A and received xuezhikang additionally.The levels of cholesterol (TC),low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C),triglyceride (TG),high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C),C-reactive protein (CRP),erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) were determined before and 6 months after treatment.Disease activity was assessed by DAS28,swelling index,joint pain index,duration of morning stiffness.Results The levels of TC,TG and LDL-C were lower and HDL-C level was higher in the two groups after 6 months of the treatment than before treatment (all P＜ 0.05).DAS28,ESR,CRP,joint tenderness,joint swelling and duration of morning stiffness were significantly reduced in two groups after 6 months of the treatment as compared with pretreatment (all P＜0.05).There was no significant difference in levels of TC,TG,LDL-C,HDL-C,DAS28,ESR,CRP,joint tenderness,joint swelling and duration of morning stiffness between the two groups after treatment.There were no obvious differences in liver and kidney function between the two groups before and after treatment.Conclusions Blood lipids levels are abnormal in RA patients.The slow acting antirheumatic drugs have certain effect on blood lipids when alleviating disease symptoms.

Objective To observe the effect and safety of modified Yishen Zhuyang Huoxue Huazhuo Formula for polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) in the TCM pattern of deficiency of spleen and kidney with phlegm-dampness. Methods Totally 123 cases were recruited into this study and randomized to two groups by central random approach, 64 cases in the observation group and 59 cases in the control group. Patients in the observation group were given the modified Yishen Zhuyang Huoxue Huazhuo Formula, while those in the control group were given compound cyproterone acetate tablet, for two treatment courses, three months for one course. The changes of ovarian volume and the number of follicles before and after treatment were observed. Adverse reactions were also evaluated. Results Bilateral ovarian volumes in both groups decreased after treatment (P<0.05, P<0.01), while the control group showed a significant better improvement (P<0.05). The number of follicles in the two groups decreased, but no significant difference were observed between the two groups (P>0.05). The rate of adverse reaction in the observation group was lower than the control group. Conclusion Modified Yishen Zhuyang Huoxue Huazhuo Formula is effective for PCOS patient by reducing the ovarian volume with a low incidence of side effect.

The incidence of open-angle glaucoma has been rising year after year in China, which has caught much at-tention from ophthalmologists.There are various methods to evaluate the disease progression of an open-angle glaucoma pa-tient.These methods can be divided into two classes:functional assessment and structural assessment.We survey these two classes of methods in this paper.

Bursa of Fabricius is a very important organ for B-eell development. We sot bursa extracts from 2-3 months old Peking Duck. A partially purified PFC-stimulating active factor has been seperated from the extracts by twice molecular sieve chromatography, Sephadex G-15 and Moselect G-10. The M. W. of the active factor is below 750 dal. The results of HPLC analysis of the factor show that its polarity is relatively strong, and it has more positive charges.The works of purifying and looking for a new assay are still going on.

Bursa of Fabricius is the central organ of B-cell development in birds. There are some active factors in Bursa that are involved in the maturation of B lymphocytes. Bursa extracts from 2-3 month-old peking Duck, with a M. W. of 10,000 dal, can obviously increase the number of plaque-forming cells (PFCs) in normal or cyclophosphamidetreated mouse spleen. Cyclophosphamide (CP) is a kind of B-cell inhibitor. The extracts can also increase the life expectation of mouse treated with deathal dose of CP. These results show that Bursa extracts contain a factor (or some factors) which can promote the development or function of B cells. The factor is named as Bursatin. Because the PFCs-stimulating activity of the factor is susceptible to high temperature and pronase E, Bursatin is infered to be a peptide. The effect of Bursa extracts on elevating the cAMP level of mouse spleen cells suggests that Bursatin may function via cAMP. Besides, it is interesting that we have found that the extracts can also increase the rumber of E-rosett forming cells in pig thymocytes. The result shows that there are several active factors or certain factor poesses different activities in Bursa extracts.

An improved method for the purification of 1,25-(OH)2D3-26,23-lactone was established by using one step of highperformance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The analytic column was Shim-pack NH2 (straight-phase type). The mobile phase was Methanol: Dichloromethane: Hexane = 4:26:70 and the flow rate was 2ml/min. An ultraviolet detector with 254nm was used. The retention time of 1,25-(OH)2D3, l,25-(OH)2D3-26,23-lactone and 1, 24, 25-(OH)3D3 werel2.10, 17.06 and 22,00 minutes respectively. This method can separate 1,25-(OH)2D3, l,25-(OH)2D3-26,23-lactone and 1,24,25-(OH)3D3 only by one step of HPLC and it is better than the old one which need two steps of HPLC for the separation of these substances.

Objective To establish a method for determination of trace phenol in waste water. Methods It is reported that trace amounts of phenol can inhibit the decoloring reaction of methyl red by potassium bromate in dilute sulfuric acid medium. Results The linear range of this method was 0-17 ?g/25 ml for phenol with detection limit of 6.53?10-9 g/ml, RSD was 0.96%-1.70%, recovery rate was 97.8%-102.0%. Conclusion The proposed method is simple, sensitive and can be applied to determine trace phenol in waste water with satisfactory results.

Measurements were made through underwater weighing on the body compo-sition of 40 ordinary male students (Group 1) and another 50 majoring inphysical education (Group 2). Two simple equations were worked out forestimating the percentage of fat with figures of their skinfolds and circum-ferences. The average percentage of fat and lean body weight were found to be11.76% and 54.3 kg respectively for Group 1, and 9.83% and 59.7 kg forGroup 2. With F standing for the percentage of fat, t for triceps skinfold and s forsuprailiac skinfold, the equation derived from Group 1 was F=2.44523 +0.99009t + 0.46426s, and that derived from Group 2 was F=1.16283t+0.54526s--0.21702 In underwater weighing, the mean percentage of fat was 9.70 ? 2.19 with anormal amount of inhaled air and 9.24 ? 2.46 with a maximal amount. Theinsignificant difference indicates that the normal inhalation method is wor-kable and more acceptable to the subjects.

Objective To determine the iodine content of iodine-rich herbal and analyze the effective factors.Methods Iodine contents of seaweed at different alkali ashing temperature,such as 200℃,300℃,400℃,500℃and 600℃were determined,then the optimum ashing temperature were selected.Mixed ashing auxiliary including potassium carbonate,zinc sulfate,sodium chloride,potassium chlorate were added in samples of iodine-rich herbal,and ashed at the optimum ashing temperature for 2h.The ash was dissolved in deionized water.Iodine content of iodine-rich herbal was determined with As3+-Ce4+catalytic spectrophotometry.Results The optimum ashing temperature was 300℃;the standard curve regression equation:A =-6.91 ×10 -3C +1.0306,r =0.999 3;iodine content of seaweed,Kunbu and Haidai was 0.829 mg/g,0.343 mg/g and 0.864 mg/g respectively;recovery rates before ashing of seaweed,Haidai and Kunbu were 83.19%,81.47% and 80.32% respectively;91.24%,93.43% and 95.86% after ashing.Conclusion Iodine is rich in iodine-rich herbal,the optimum ashing temperature is 300 ℃,and As3+ -Ce4+ catalytic spectrophotometry is stable and accurate as a determination method of iodine content of herbal.

Objective To explore the application of the comprehensive pain assessment scale to the treatment of postherpetic neuralgia (PHN). Methods About 100 patients suffering from PHN were randomly divided into two groups: the control group and experiment group. The former was treated with recording for pain assessment and the latter was treated with the comprehensive pain assessment scale. Two sets of data were compared and analyzed in view of quality of sleep, average length of hospitalization and the duration of side effects of drugs. Result The effect of the experiment group was better than the control group in the quality of sleep, the average length of hospitalization, reduction of side effect duration of drugs (P<0.05). Conclusion The comprehensive pain assessment scale throughout the whole process of the PHN treatment can achieve timely and effective assessment of pain and reduce the side effect duration of drugs, improve their sleep quality, and shorten the hospital stay.