OBJECTIVE:To study the relationship between the price-lowering policy and the shortage of low-price essential medicines.METHODS:We expounded the practice of price-lowering policy in China and its effect on the production and circulation of low-price essential medicines,and analyzed the shortage problem of the low-price essential medicines using economic equilibrium analysis.RESULTS:The shortage of low-price essential medicines mainly manifested as shortage of supply,and the price-lowering policy has enlarged the gap between market demand and the supply of low price essential medicines.CONCLUSION:The national essential medicine policy should provide institutional protection for reasonable drug price level as well as the production and supply of low-price essential medicines,and the simple price-lowering policy must evolve to be included in the comprehensive institutional "healthcare reform" strategy.

OBJECTIVE: To illustrate the Canadian drug regulatory system.METHODS: Literature review and descriptive analysis.RESULTS & CONCLUSIONS: Based on the Canadian health system and drug market,the Canadian drug regulatory system is an integrated system in terms of its regulation on drug approval,price review as well as reimbursement management.

OBJECTIVE:To illustrate the drug expenditure and drug price regulation in Canada for reference by China. METHODS: Literature review and descriptive analysis was conducted. RESULTS & CONCLUSIONS: It was estimated in 2007 the drug expenditure in Canada accounted for 16.8% of national health expenditure, and the per capita drug expenditure was estimated to be 818 Canadian dollars. The regulation of drug price in Canada includes monitoring and reporting of both patented drugs and non-patented drugs. Reference pricing is applied in patented drugs review process, and corresponding methodologies regarding international and domestic comparison are clearly designed.

OBJECTIVE:To compare the cost of 4 kinds of second-line drug treatment regimes(docetaxel, pemetrexed, gefitinib,and erlotinib)for non-small-cell lung cancer(NSCLC). METHODS: The utilization information of medical resources in the NSCLC treatment regimes was collected from experts who were familiar with NSCLC treatment. The costs of 4 kinds of second-line drug treatment regimes were calculated using micro-simulation method. RESULTS: The costs of every cycle period(3 weeks)were 12 237.02 yuan for docetaxel regime, 12 102.82 yuan for gefitinib, 27 614.93 yuan for pemetrexed and 14 272.76 yuan for erlotinib. CONCLUSION: Gifitinib is not inferior to docetaxel in terms of pharmaeconomics for those with 6 months or longer period of anticipated progression-free survival.

On the basis of a retrospective summary of the policies for foreign-invested hospitals in China,this paper analyzed the main issues facing wholly foreign-owned hospitals and suggested a basket of strategies to promote the development of such hospitals in China (Shanghai)Pilot Free Trade Zone.

Acupuncture Therapy ; China ; Health Services Accessibility ; Humans ; Public Health

This paper systematically analyzed the concept of patients'trust based on a study of the literatures and compared patients'trust with patients'satisfaction. The conclusion is that patients'trust plays a key role on the quality improvements of medical services.

Objective:To evaluate therapeutic efficacy and adverse reactions of synchronous chemoradiotherapy combined with gamma knife therapy for pelvic lymph node metastasis of cervical cancers. Methods:Data of 42 cervical cancer patients who suffered from residual pelvic lymph node metastasis and received concurrent chemoradiotherapy were retrospectively analyzed. Intensity-modu-lated radiotherapy was used in the treatment. The prescribed doses of planning target volume and pelvic metastasized lymph node of the planned gross tumor volume were 50.4 Gy/28 F and 59.92 Gy/28 F, respectively. The combined internal irradiation dose was 6 Gy/6 F. Concurrent chemotherapy was administered with 40 mg/m2·w cisplatin. Three months after chemoradiotherapy was completed, the pa-tients with residual pelvic positive lymph node received additional dose ranging from 10 Gy to 15 Gy at three or four fractions by using a gamma knife. Results:Near-term efficacy was 83.3%(35/42) in three months. Local control rates were 88.1%(37/42), 83.3%(35/42), and 76.2%(32/42) in 6, 9, and 12 months, respectively. The 1-and 2-year survival rates were 77.5%(31/40) and 70.0%(28/40), re-spectively. The incidence rates of radiation enteritis, proctitis, cystitis, gut toxicity, and neutrocytopenia were 11.9%(5/42), 38.1%(16/42), 7.1%(3/42), 90.5%(38/42), and 85.7%(36/42), respectively, and the majority of these conditions were classified as grades I and II. Conclusion:Synchronous chemoradiotherapy combined with gamma knife therapy is an effective and feasible treatment method for pelvic lymph node metastasis of cervical cancer;this method exhibits a minimal adverse reaction.

The mdr 1-type P-glycoprotein can confer multidrug resistance to tumor cells by actively pumping a wide variety of drugs from the cells. To counteract this drug resistance, P-glycoprotein-blocking agents are currently administered to patient during chemotherapy. However, this may also affect the normal physiological functions of the mdr 1-type P-glycoprotein. The P-gp is a transmembrane efflux transporter found on the luminal side of the capillary cells that comprise the blood-brain barrier. Recent insights recognize P-glycoprotein, as an important element of the blood-brain barrier (BBB), play an important role for mdr 1a P-glycoprotein in the blood-brain barrier. Studies in mice, which lack P-gp in the BBB 〔mdr1a (-/-) mice〕, have contributed significantly to these insights. In addition, the potential of new therapeutic approaches in the near future as well as their limitations will be clearified.

The implantation of the foldable multifocal intraocular lens,a new pseudophakia intraocular substitute,needs only a small incision and the post-operative complications are rare.The incoming light can be refracted into several fo-cuses.Improved visual acuities both for far and near distance are obtained,which downregulated the glasses-wearing rate.This article summarizes the theories and designs,implantation,clinical application,theropeutic outcomes,and complications of this type of multifocal intraocular lens.