OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of taspine hydrochloride (TA/HCl) on skin wound healing in rats and its mechanism. METHODS: Bilateral round wounds were made on the backs of SD rats. The effect of TA/HCl on the skin wound was evaluated through determining closure time and contracting ability of the skin wound, observing histopathological characteristics and measuring contents of hydroxyproline (Hyp) and protein in the wound tissue. RESULTS: The closure time of the skin wounds was significantly shorter in the TA/HCl-treated groups than that in the model group. The percentages of wound contraction were higher in the TA/HCl-treated groups than that in the dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) control group of the same group (P<0.05 or P<0.01) on the 3rd to 14th days after wounding. The content of the protein in the wound tissue in the TA/HCl-treated group (2 mg/ml) was higher than that in the model group (P<0.05) on the 3rd to 7th days after wounding, and it arrived at the peak on the 7th day and gradually decreased to the normal level in skin tissue on the 14th to 21st days after wounding. The contents of Hyp in the wound tissues in the TA/HCl-treated groups were higher than that in the model group (P<0.05 or P<0.015) on the 3rd to 21st days after wounding, and they arrived at the peak on the 14th day and at the normal level in skin tissue on the 21st day. Histopathological test results showed that TA/HCl could promote the formation of newly born capillaries in the early period of the wound healing. CONCLUSION: TA/HCl has the ability of promoting skin wound healing in rats, and it can also accelerate the growth of newly born capillaries and raise the production of protein and collagen in wound tissue.

Objective To explore the depression status and its con-elation with quality of life(QOL) in patients receiving methadone maintenance treatment (MMT). Methods 120 patients treated with MMT were assessed with Quality of Life Scale for Drug Addicts (QOL-DA) and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-21). Results More than 41 years old group's QOL-DA physical function domain(28.79 ±8.53) was significantly lower than 31～40 years old group (33.52 ± 6. 73) (P= 0.003). According to BDI-21 score ,55% patients receiving MMT were classified as moderate or severe depression. QOL-DA scores decreased in order of the depression severity classified as no depression group,mild depression group,moderate depression group and severe depression group according to the BDI-21 score,and the difference between the groups were significant statistically (P<0.01). There was significantly negative correlation between BDI-21 score and QOL-DA score (P<0.01). Conclusion Depression is very common in opioid dependent patients receiving MMT and decreases their quality of life,so it is important to enhance depression intervention or treatment in MMT clinics.