Objective The present study investigated the expression of heat shock cognate protein 70 (Hsc70) in the synovial tissues and blood samples of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) to determine the pathological role of this protein in the pathogenesis of the disease.Methods The expression of Hsc70 in synovial membranes was quantitatively analyzed by immunohistochemistry,real-time quantitative PCR and western blotting.The samples from osteoarthritis (OA) and ankylosing spondylitis (AS) were used as controls.The levels of Hsc70 in blood of patients with RA were determined using enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) with the samples of the healthy subjects as controls.Statistical analysis was conducted with one-way ANOVA,LSD test and Spearmen's correlation.Results Immunohistochemistry showed that Hsc70 had significantly increased expression in synovial tissues of RA than in the samples of OA and AS.Real-time PCR and western blotting confirmed the above findings.ELISA detected significantly elevated level of Hsc70 in blood of patients with RA as compared with samples from the controls (P＜0.01).Conclusion The study suggests that the up-regulation of Hsc70 may be involved in the pathogenic process of RA.

OBJECTIVETo optimize the method of Fructus Auranti extracts preparation.

METHODThe extraction conditions and resin type were examined by using naringin as main indices. The sampling amount, the elution solvent and their flow rates were optimized. The recycling times and recovery capacity of resin were also studied.

RESULTThe best extraction could be obtained by adding 10 times amount of NaOH (pH 11) for 3 times, 1 hour each time. The purification conditions were specified as follows: using D101 macroporous resin, the sampling ratio of resin weight to raw material was 1:0.8 with a flow rate of 2 BV x h(-1) and 4 BV 50% aqueous ethanol as elusion solven.

CONCLUSIONBy using this method, the naringin in the product could reach above 30%. Besides, the optimum method is simple and practical.

Chemical Fractionation ; methods ; Citrus aurantiifolia ; chemistry ; Flavanones ; analysis ; isolation & purification ; Fruit ; chemistry ; Plant Extracts ; analysis ; isolation & purification