Macrophages play an important role in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Previously, studies have shown that changes in the metabolism of glucose, choline, amino acids and lipids in macrophages of patients with RA can lead to the accumulation of metabolic intermediates which can act as inflammatory signaling molecules to aggravate the inflammation and cause complications. Therefore, a full understanding of the metabolic process of macrophages in RA patients will lay the foundation for macrophage-targeted therapy of RA. In this review, not only the role of macrophage abnormal metabolism in the pathogenesis of RA but also the research progress on macrophage-targeted drugs in RA treatment will be discussed.

Objective To study the optimum component proportion of media and the best fermentation conditions for the flocculatnt-producing strain B5. Methods Through single factor experiment to seek the best carbon sources, nitrogen sources and inorganic salts. Furthermore, through orthogonal test to select the best conditions for producing flocculants by strain B5. Results The best carbon source, nitrogen source and inorganic salt were glucose, (NH4)2SO4 and CaCl2, the content of glucose was 2.0%, the initial pH value of medium was 7.0, the temperature was 30 ℃, agitation rate was 160 r/min and culture time was 24 hours in flakes, 50 ml liquids (250 ml triangular flask), the inoculation volume was 0.2 ml. The flocculants produced by strain B5 under the best fermentation conditions has been furnished for multifarious waste water, the flocculating activities were from 88.4% to 97.2% and reached to the highest on the waste water of dairy farming. Conclusion The flocculants produced by the strain B5 is applicable to the waste water treatment.

Objective: To observe the clinical efficacy of acupoint injection with salmon calcitonin for back pain in elderly patients with primary osteoporosis. Methods: A total of 76 patients were selected and randomly divided into two groups by the random number table method, with 39 cases in the treatment group and 37 cases in the control group, respectively. Patients in both groups received routine anti-osteoporosis treatment. Patients in the treatment group received additional acupoint injection with salmon calcitonin at bilateral Pishu (BL 20) and Shenshu (BL 23), while patients in the control group received additional intramuscular injection with salmon calcitonin. The treatments for both groups were given once a day and lasted for 4 weeks. Visual analog scale (VAS) and Chinese Oswestry disability index (CODI) scores were observed before treatment, after 2 weeks and 4 weeks of treatment, and the use of analgesics during the treatment were recorded. Results: After treatment, the clinical efficacy in the treatment group was more significant than that in the control group (P<0.05). After 2 weeks and 4 weeks of treatment, the VAS scores in both groups showed significant intra-group and between-group differences (all P<0.05), and the CODI scores in both groups showed significant intra-group differences (all P<0.05). After 2 weeks of treatment, the CODI score showed no significant between-group difference (P>0.05). After 4 weeks of treatment, the improvement of CODI score in the treatment group was more significant than that in the control group (P<0.05). During the treatment, 2 cases in the treatment group took analgesics versus 8 cases in the control group, and the result showed a significant between-group difference (P<0.05). Conclusion: For back pain in elderly patients with primary osteoporosis, based on the routine treatment of oral medication, the clinical efficacy of acupoint injection with salmon calcitonin at bilateral Pishu (BL 20) and Shenshu (BL 23) is more significant than that of intramuscular injection. Acupoint injection treatment can improve patients' conditions and reduce the use of analgesics.

Many kinds of small heat shock proteins (sHSPs) are able to prevent protein aggregation in stress, which show the ATP independent chaperone-like activity. The smallest protein HSP12.1 in sHSP family of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans exhibits chaperone-like activities in vitro. It prevents protein aggregation in a certain extent when use insulin, ADH and lysozyme as the substrates, though it is not as efficient as the typical chaperones (such as HSP16.1 in C. elegans). By contrast, the other three sHSP12s (HSP12.2, HSP12.3 and HSP12.6), which have similar molecular masses and primary structure, appear devoid of in vitro chaperone-like activities. In addition, overexpressing HSP12.1 enhances cell thermotolerance of Escherichia coli. The survival rate of the HSP12.1 overexpressed cells is 4-fold higher than the control, yet whether it does the same function in C. elegans is still unknown. Results indicate that C-terminal region is not necessary for the chaperone-like activity of sHSPs, for HSP12.1 terminates a short C-terminal tail. N-terminal domain may play a relatively important role in the exhibition of chaperone-like activities, while ?-crystalline domain may also involve in this function.

Objective To investigate the expression of thiredoxin domain containing 5 (TXNDC5) in the synovial tissues and blood samples of various arthritic conditions and autoimmune diseases to further confirm the previous findings, investigate the relations between the expression level of TXNDC5 and clinical parameters of RA. Methods The expression of TXNDC5 in the synovium was quantitatively analyzed by immunohistochemistry, real-time quantitative PCR and Western blotting. The levels of TXNDC5 in blood and synovial fluid was determined using sandwich ELISA in patients with RA, osteoarthritis (OA), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and normal controls. One-way ANOVA, LSD test and Spearmen' s correlation were used for statistical analysis. Results Immunohistochemistry indicated that TXNDC5 expression was significantly higher in the synovial tissues of RA (100%, 40±9) than in those of OA and AS(200%,4±4). Real time PCR and western blotting confirmed the above findings (P<0.01). Sandwich-ELISA indicated significantly elevated level of TXNDC5 in the blood and synovial fluid of patients with RA (A=1.31±0.37), but not in those of OA, SLE, and AS, the healthy controls (P<0.01). The level of TXNDC5 in the blood of RA patients (A=0.8185±0.299) was positively correlated with the level of anti-CCP (r=0.350, P =0.027). Conclusion The results suggest that the pronounced increase of TXNDC5 expression may stimulate synovial pannus formation in the hypoxic environment of RA.

Objective To investigate the relationship between bone mineral density (BMD) and the changes of serum adiponectin (APN) level in elderly men.Methods A total of 240 elderly men was enrolled in this study.Measurement of BMD of lumbar spine with dual energy X-ray absorptiometry was performed.All subjects were divided into three groups (normal,osteopenia,and osteoporosis) according to the T value of BMD.Serum APN level was tested using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA),meanwhile were recorded as bone lurnover markers.Results (1) The level of serum APN in osteopenia group was lower than in normal group,the level of serum APN in osteoporosis group was significantly lower than in osteopenia group,while the level of serum APN in osteoporosis group was significantly lower than in normal group (all P ＜ 0.05).(2) Serum APN was positively correlated with T value of BMD (r =0.475,P ＜0.01).(3) The stepwise multiple linear regression analysis showed serum APN,25-hydroxyvitamin D,β-isomerized carboxyterminal propeptide (β-CTX),and osteocalcin could enter into the equation.Conclusions Serum APN might play an important role in pathogenesis of osteoporosis in elderly men.

Objective:To study the improvement effect of Sophora Flavones combined with captopril on the rat diabetic cardiomyopathy,and to clarify its mechanisms of improving the myocardial fibrosis.Methods:Fifteen rats were selected randomly from 100 male Wistar rats as normal group.The other rats were fed with high fat and high sugar food and intraperitoneally injected with small dose of streptozotocin (30 mg· kg-1 )all at once to establish type 2 diabetes mellitus cardiomgopathy models.Then 72 rat models with type 2 diabetic cardiomyopathy were set up in which 60 rats were selected according to the blood glucose levels and divided into model group, captopril group,Sophora Flavones group,and Sophora Flavones combined with captopril group (combination group) (n=15).8 weeks after intragastric administration,the weights,the cardiac indexes,the activities of serum creatine kinase-MB (CK-MB), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH ), and the contents of nitric oxide (NO), nitric oxide synthase (iNOS),collagen Ⅰ (Col Ⅰ)and collagen Ⅲ (Col Ⅲ)of the rats in various groups were detected. Results:Compared with normal group,the weight of the rats in model group was decreased and the cardiac index was increased (P <0.01),the activities of serum LDH and CK-MB were increased (P < 0.01),the contents of iNOS and NO in the myocardium tissue of the rats in model group were decreased (P <0.01),and the contents of Col Ⅰ and col Ⅲ were increased (P <0.05 or P <0.01).Compared with model group,the weights and the cardiac indexes of the rats in medication groups were decreased (P <0.05),the activities of serum LDH and CK-MB were decreased (P <0.05 or P <0.01),the contents of iNOS and NO in the myocardium tissue were increased (P <0.05),and the contents of Col Ⅰ and Col Ⅲ were decreased (P <0.05 or P <0.01).The effect of combination group was better than single medication groups (P < 0.05).Conclusion:Combination of Sophora Flavones and captopril has a improvement effect on the rat type 2 diabetic cardiomyopathy,and its mechanism may be related to reducing the myocardial injury to improve diabetic cardiomyopathy.

Objective To study the effect of neuroepithelial cell transforming gene 1 (Net1) on the cellular radiosensitivity and underlying mechanism.Methods Real-time quantitative PCR was used to measure the variations in Net1 expression level upon irradiation.Radiosensitivity was analyzed by colonyforming assay after Net1-siRNAs.Net1-associated proteins were identified by co-immunoprecipitation.Results The Net1 mRNA level in the cells was increased significantly (t =-10.52,P ＜ 0.05) after irradiation.Compared to the control group,siRNA-mediated silencing of Net1 enhanced cell radiosensitivity (t =15.31,11.65,P ＜0.05).Net1 was found to interact with Ku70,Ku80 and DNA-PKcs under either normal conditions or after irradiation.Conclusions Net1 could protect cells from irradiation by interaction with DNA repair proteins in non-homologous end joining pathway.