In this paper, basic characteristics of group purchasing organizations ( GPOs) and its implications for US health care system are analyzed using a literature research method. The main contents include the development process, type, basic functions, drug procurement processes, fee sources, characteristics and influence for the hospi-tals, supplies, regulators of GPOs. We suggest that GPOs have helped US health care providers save a lot of money and played an important role in the healthcare supply chain. We also suggest that market mechanisms should be intro-duced widely concerning the model innovation and improvement of domestic drug procurement. At the same time, government and the market should be coordinated properly. Moreover, scientific evaluation methods should be set in consideration of drug quality, prices and its economic practicality.

Objective To develop an HPLC method for simultaneous determination of contents of asiaticoside, tetrahydropulmatine and saikosaponin d in Shenji Huwei Granules. Methods The analysis was performed on a R&C C18 column (250 mm × 4.6 mm, 5 μm) by using the mobile phase of acetonitrile (A) - phosphate buffer (which used potassium dihydrogen phosphate 8.34 g, potassium phosphate 0.87 g dissolved by 1000 mL water) with gradient elution (0–15 min, 20％A; 15–30 min, 20％→40％A; 30–42 min, 40％A; 42–45 min, 40％→48％A; 45–50 min, 48％A; 50–70 min, 48％→50％A). The flow rate was 1.0 mL/min; the detection wavelength was set at 210 nm; the column temperature was maintained at 30 ℃. Results Asiaticoside, tetrahydropulmatine and saikosaponin d were in the linear ranges among 0.173–2.770 μg (r=0.9999), 0.021–1.320 μg (r=0.9992), 0.151–9.660 μg (r=0.9993), respectively. The average recovery rates of asiaticoside, tetrahydropulmatine, saikosaponin d were 96.25％, 97.02％, and 97.84％, respectively, and RSD were 2.31％, 4.51％, 1.87％, respectively. Conclusion This method is simple, with good separation effect and strong specificity, and can be used for simultaneous determination of contents of asiaticoside, tetrahydropulmatine and saikosaponin d in Shenji Huwei Granules, which provides references for perfection of quality control of Shenji Huwei Granules.

This study is to investigate the effects of sophoridine on NF-kappaB signaling pathway in kidney tissue of endotoxemia mice and the mechanism involved. BALB/c mice were challenged with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) caudal vein injection, then sophoridine was administered by intraperitoneal injection. Totally 50 mice were divided into 5 groups: control group, LPS model group, sophoridine treatment 12 mg x kg(-1) group, 6 mg x kg(-1) group and 3 mg x kg(-1) group. All animals were sacrificed at 6 hours after treatment. Kidney and blood samples were harvested. IKKbeta mRNA and TNF-alpha mRNA expression of renal tissue was measured by the reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), and phosphorylation IKKbeta protein (pIKKbeta) was detected by immunohistochemistry. NF-kappaB P65 protein expression and distribution of renal tissue were observed by Western blotting and immunofluorescence laser confocal microscopy. Serum TNF-alpha level was detected by radioimmunoassay. The results showed that the sophoridine significantly reduced the expression of IKKbeta mRNA and pIKKbeta protein, and inhibited the expression of NF-kappaB P65 protein and decreased the entry nuclear rate of NF-kappaB P65 in the renal tissue of endotoxemia mice. Thereby the renal TNF-alpha mRNA expression and serum TNF-alpha level were significantly reduced. These results suggest that sophoridine could inhibit inflammatory reaction induced by LPS through inhibiting activation of NF-kappaB signaling pathway.

Objective To approach the effect of bed exercise for patients with intracranial aneurysm undergoing neural interventional treatment. Methods Ninety-six patients with intracranial aneurysm were divided into the test group(50 cases) and control group(46 cases).The control group received routine nursing, while the test group carried out bed exercise base on routine nursing. The incidence of complica-tions and changes of life quality were compared between the 2 groups. Results Lower incidence of com-plications took place in the test group than the control group(P ＜ 0.05).But changes in pulse rate and blood were not significant (P ＞ 0.05).The score of life quality in the physical domain and psychological domainwere not statistically different between the two groups (P ＜ 0.01 ),but no evident difference was seen in the domain of social relationship and environmental domain (P ＞ 0.05). Conclusions Bed exercise could al-leviated the anxiety and trepidation of patients with intracranial aneurysm,decrease the incidence of compli-cations such as body pain caused by absolute bed rest,thus improve patients' life quality.

Objective To investigate CT features of similar Hexheimer's reaction during initial treatment of active pulmonary tuberculosis. Methods The similar Hexheimer's reaction in 44 patients diagnosed by clinic and follow-up CT scans were retrospectively reviewed by three radiologists. Results During initial treatment of active pulmonary tuberculosis, development of radiographic progression were observed in 57 foci, including 28 pulmonary lesions increased at the site of their original lesion or new opacities elsewhere, ipsilateral or contralateral to the original lesion or both, 10 lesions related to the pleura (pleural effusion, pleural tuberculoma), 15 lymphadeneetasis, 3 thymus reactions, and 1 cardiac pericardium thickening, respectively. These reactions appeared from the 20 days to 3. 5 months, then with continuation of the initial chemotherapy for 1.0-3.0 months, the radiographic response was excellent with the areas of progression and the original lesions demonstrating resolution or improvement. Conclusion The CT appearances of similar Hexheimer's reaction during initial treatment of active tuberculosis are specific to a certainty.

ObjectiveThis study was to explore the feasibility of using the orthogonal plane dose formed by the coronal and sagittal plane to verify the volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) plan.MethodsThe VMAT plans of 12 patients were included in this study.The orthogonal plane dose formed by the coronal and sagittal plane were measured based on the combination of 2D ionization chamber array and multicube phantom,and the point dose were measured based on a multiple hole cylindrical phantom attached with two 0.125 cm3 ionization chamber probes.ResultsIn the measurement of the point dose,the average error was 1.5％ in high dose area ( more than 80％ of maximum),and 1.7％ in low dose area ( less than 80％ of maximum),respectively.The discrepancy of point dose measurement was 1.3％ between the 2D ionization chamber array and the VMAT planning system.In the measurement of the orthogonal plane dose,the pass rate of γ were 93.7％ for 2％/2 mm and 97.2％ for 3％/3 mm.ConclusionIt is reliable for using the orthogonal plane dose formed by the coronal and sagittal plane to verify the VMAT plan.

Objective This paper aims to find a best position of ephedrine hydrochloride nasal drops by comparing earache occurred in hyperbaric oxygen(HBO )therapy while using ephedrine hydrochloride nasal drops in two positions: laying in lateral position of 45°with head leaning back; laying down flat, so as to supply reference for prevention of earache. Methods We selected 300 cases of HBO patients who were firstly treated by HBO and randomly divided into the observation group and the control group with 150 cases in each group. All these patients were treated by large medical hyperbaric oxygen tank. On the first to third day, ephedrine hydrochloride nasal drops were put into the patients before they were sent into the oxygen tank. Patients in the observation group lay in lateral position of 45°with their head leaning back, and those in the control group were in horizontal position. We put three drops of 1% of ephedrine hydrochloride nasal drops respectively into their nasal cavity. When they came out of the oxygen tank, we asked them if they felt earache and checked their tympanic membrane so as to make a comparison. Results It was found that earache, rate of tympanic membrane injury and the extent of such injury in the observation group was obviously less than that in the control group, there was difference in statistics between these two groups. Conclusions Before HBO treatment, ephedrine hydrochloride nasal drops that put in lateral position of 45°with patients head leaning back can reduce the possibilities of earache occurred in HBO. It was also observed that such position was an ideal one which had anatomical characteristics of Eustachian tube and was safer than laying down flat, so such position is more practical.

Objective To study the CT characteristics of coexisting pulmonary tuberculosis and lung cancer.Methods One hundred and four patients of coexisting pulmonary tuberculosis and lung cancer proved by histology,cytology or clinical underwent CT examination.All patients were divided into two groups,group Ⅰ were the patients with the lung cancer after tuberculosis or both found simultaneously (group Ⅰ a with peripheral lung cancer and group Ⅰ b with central lung cancer),group Ⅱ with tuberculosis during lung cancer chemotherapy (group Ⅱ a with peripheral lung cancer and group Ⅱ b with central lung cancer).Imaging characteristics of tuberculosis and lung cancer were compared.x2 test and t test were used for the statistical analysis.Results Of 104 patients,there were 92 patients (88.5％) in group Ⅰ and 12 patients (11.5％)in group Ⅱ.Seventy patients (76.1％) of lung cancer and tuberculosis were located in the same lobe and 22 patients (23.9％) in the different lobes in group Ⅰ.There was no significant difference in distribution of tuberculosis between group Ⅰ and group Ⅱ (x2 =4.302,P =0.507).The fibrous stripes,nodules of calcification and pleural adhesion of tuberculosis were statistically significant between the two groups (x2 =22.737,15.193,27.792,P ＜0.05).There were 33 central lung cancers and 71 peripheral lung cancers.In group Ⅰ a (64 patients of peripheral lung cancers),39 patients (60.9％) had typical manifestations and most of the lesions were ≥ 3 cm(n =49,76.6％),solid lesions showed variable enhancement.Conclusions Secondary tuberculosis during lung cancer chemotherapy has the same CT characteristics with the common active tuberculosis.The morphology,enhancement pattern of lesion and follow-up are helpful for the diagnosis of lung cancer after tuberculosis.

The tumor multidrug resistance reversal effect of NPB304, a novel taxane, was studied. MTT assay was used to determine the IC50 of chemotherapy drugs. Western blotting assay was applied to analyze the expression of P-glycoprotein (P-gp). The effect of compounds on the P-gp function and P-gp ATPase activity was determined by rhodamine 123 (Rh123) accumulation assay and analysis kit, respectively. Molecular docking was employed to predict the binding force between compounds and P-gp. Transmembrane transport of NPB304 was analyzed using MDCK II and MDR1-MDCK II cell model. NPB304 displayed multidrug resistance reversal effect on KBV cells and MCF-7/paclitaxel cells, NPB304 collaborative with P-glycoprotein (P-gp) inhibitors verapamil enhanced the reversal activity, specifically, 10 μmol x L(-1) verapamil in combination with paclitaxel reversed resistance by 56.5-fold, while combined with NPB304 increased the reversal fold; NPB304 synergistically increased Rh123 accumulation in the resistant cells when combined with verapamil, and NPB304 at 0-1 μmol x L(-1) enhanced the ATPase activity activated by verapamil was observed. NPB304 existed the hydrophobic interactions with the TM regions of P-gp, and the binding force between NPB304 and the A chain of the TM region was stronger. P-gp ATPase activity assay demonstrated NPB304 at lower concentrations (0-1.5 μmol x L(-1)) could activate the P-gp ATPase, playing a role on inhibition of P-gp function. However, NPB304 did not have an obvious feature of P-gp substrate. NPB304 exerted itself and synergy with verapamil activity on reversing tumor resistance via inhibiting the P-gp function.