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 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.

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 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.

Kynurenine 3-monooxygenase (KMO) is a key rate-limiting enzyme in the downstream catabolism of kynurenine pathway (KP). Under the catalysis of KMO, the intermediate product kynurenine is metabolized into various active metabolites, including 3-hydroxykynurenine (3-HK), quinolinic acid (QA) and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD⁺). More and more studies have shown that abnormal KMO expression activity mediates KP metabolic disorders, and is involved in the occurrence and development of nervous system diseases, autoimmune diseases, infectious diseases and tumors, suggesting that KMO can be used as a potential and effective drug therapeutic target. This article focuses on the role of KMO in the pathological mechanism of various diseases, and summarizes the existing KMO inhibitors to provide methods and ideas for targeted KMO therapy.

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 study the association between serum interleukin-33 (IL-33) level and human stromelysin-2 (ST2) level in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) associated with interstitial lung disease (RA-ILD) and its correlation with lung function and other laboratory parameters.Methods Two hundred and forty-five newly diagnosed RA patients during March 2012 to March 2013 in the in-patient and out-patient clinic of the First Affiliated Hospital of Liaoning Medical College were enrolled into this study.Patients were further divided into RA group (n=187) and RA-ILD group (n=58).Sixty subjects who came to the hospital for routine health check-up was composed of the normal control group.The clinical data of the two groups and controls were collected and their serum IL-33 and ST2 concentrations were measured.The t test was used to compare the difference between the two groups.Multiple variance analysis was used to com-pare the difference between groups.Pearson's correlation analysis was applied to explore the relationship between IL-33 concentrations and related variables.Results ① This study showed that the prevalence of RA associated interstitial lung disease was 23.7％(58/245).② The concentration of IL-33 [(746±43) pg/ml] and ST2 [(3413±169)pg/ml] of the RA-ILD group was significantly higher than that of the RA group [(433±42) pg/ml,(1500±147) pg/ml] (P＜0.01).③The vital capacity (VC％),forced vital capac-ity (FVC％),maximal midexpiratary flow curve (MMF％) and carbon monoxide diffusing capacity (DLCO) of the RA-ILD group were significantly lower than those of the RA group.④ The serum level of IL-33 was negatively correlated with that of RF and ACPA (IL-33 and RF,r=0.82,P＜0.01; IL-33 and ACPA,r=0.55,P＜0.01).Serum level of IL-33 was negaitively correlated with DLCO (r=-0.80,P＜0.01).Conclusion IL-33 participates in the pathogenesis of RA; and may be involved in the pathogenesis of RA-ILD.

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.