Objective To study early changes in biochemical markers of bone turnover for prodicting the bone mineral density(BMD) response to alendronate therapy in Chinese men with osteoporosis. Methods Seventy-eight men aged 60 to 82 years with osteoporosis [mean age (69.8 ±11.8) years]were treated with alendronate sodium 70 mg/week for 12 months. Serum bone gla-protein (BGP) and serum pyridinoline-eross-linked earboxyterminal telopeptide of type I collagen (ICTP) level were measured by chemiluminescence (equipment is Roche E170). Serum BGP, ICTP and BSALP levels were measured before and 3 months and 12 months after treatment. BMD in lumbar spine and femoral neck were measured with dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (GE PRODIGY Inc. ) at L1-4 and at the left hip(total hip,trochanter,Ward's area and femoral neck)before and 12 months after treatment. Results After 3-months and 12-months treatment, the percent reductions of serum ICTP levels were 45.8% and 51.6%, serum BGP level 32.0% and 37.5%, serum BSALP level 35. 3% and 39.9% ,respectively. After 12-months treatment, the percent increase of lumbar BMD was 11.8%, femoral neck BMD 11.4 %. The percent reductions of serum ICTP level at months 3 and 12 after treatment were positively correlated to the percent increase of lumbar BMD (r=0.28, 0.295,P <0.05 and P<0.01)and of fermoral neck BMD at 12 months after treatment(r=0.262, 0.333, P＜0.05 and P<0.01)respectively. The percent reductions of serum BGP level at months 3 and 12 after treatment were positively correlated to the percent increase of lumbar BMD (r=0. 322, 0.401,all P<0.01) and of fermoral neck BMD at 12 months after treatment (r=0.277,0.284, all P＜0.05)respectively. The percent reductions of serum BSALP level at months 3 and 12 after treatment were positively correlated to the percent increase of lumbar BMD (r=0.133,0.231,all P＜0.05) and of fermoral neck BMD at 12 months after treatment(r=0.248, 0.317, all P＜0.01)respectively.Conclusions Early changes in biochemical markers of bone turnover rates can predict BMD response to alendronate in Chinese men with osteoporosis.

Macrophages are widely distributed immune cells that contribute to tissue homeostasis. Human THP-1 cells have been widely used in various macrophage-associated studies, especially those involving pro-inflammatory M1 and anti-inflammatory M2 phenotypes. However, the molecular characterization of four M2 subtypes (M2a, M2b, M2c, and M2d) derived from THP-1 has not been fully investigated. In this study, we systematically analyzed the protein expression profiles of human THP-1-derived macrophages (M0, M1, M2a, M2b, M2c, and M2d) using quantitative proteomics approaches. The commonly and specially regulated proteins of the four M2 subtypes and their potential biological functions were further investigated. The results showed that M2a and M2b, and M2c and M2d have very similar protein expression profiles. These data could serve as an important resource for studies of macrophages using THP-1 cells, and provide a reference to distinguish different M2 subtypes in macrophage-associated diseases for subsequent clinical research.
Humans ; Macrophages/metabolism* ; Phenotype ; Proteomics ; THP-1 Cells

Objective:To explore the application value of ultrasound in the early noninvasive monitoring of acute compartment syndrome model, and to provide reference for further clinical applications.Methods:This was a prospective self-controlled study. A model of healthy volunteers with acute compartment syndrome was established by cuff compression. The random method was used to determine the experimental side and the control side. The experimental side cuff was given 0, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, and 80 mmHg pressure in sequence, while the control side cuff was kept uncompressed at all times. Each pressure on the experimental side lasted for 5 min, during which the ultrasound was used to measure the blood flow waveform and vascular structure of the bilateral popliteal artery, popliteal vein and dorsal plantar artery. Statistical analysis was performed using repeated measures analysis of variance and multivariate analysis of variance.Results:The study included 25 healthy volunteers. There was no statistically significant difference in calf circumference and anterior tibial compartment thickness ( P = 0.314 and 0.678). During compression, the volunteers' heart rate and blood pressure were stable ( P = 0.235 and 0.358). On the experimental side, the maximum blood flow velocity of the popliteal artery during systole increased with the increase of pressure ( P<0.001), and the minimum blood flow velocity of the popliteal artery increased with the increase of pressure ( P<0.001). When pressurized by 30 mmHg, the maximum blood flow velocity of the popliteal artery on the experimental side was significantly higher than that on the control side [(73 ± 19) cm/s vs (59 ± 14) cm/s, P=0.023)]. When pressurized by 20 mmHg, the minimum blood flow velocity of the popliteal artery on the experimental side was significantly higher than that on the control side [(-28 ± 8) cm/s vs (-22 ± 6) cm/s, P=0.012)]. With the increase of pressure, the diastolic retrograde arterial flow ratio of the experimental side gradually increased ( P <0.001), and when the pressure was increased by 20 mmHg, the diastolic retrograde arterial flow ratio of the experimental side of the popliteal artery increased significantly [(0.42 ± 0.14) cm/s vs (0.30 ± 0.12) cm/s, P=0.009)]. The systolic prograde arterial flow ratio of the dorsal artery in the experimental side decreased with the increase of pressure ( P = 0.024). Conclusions:Increased limb compartment pressure can significantly change the arterial flow waveform of the proximal and distal arteries, and ultrasound can be used as an early monitoring tool for acute compartment syndrome.