Objective To explore the level and the significance of amino-terminal propeptide of procollagen type Ⅲ(P Ⅲ NP)in the serum of hypertrophic scar patients at excessive stages.Methods The serum samples of 74 inpatients admmitted in Affiliated Fosham Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University from August 2007 to August 2009 suffering from long-persisting post-burn hypertrophic scar at various stages were collected.Serum samples of 12 were normal persons were also collected and used as control group.Hypertrophic scar group were divided into 4 subgroups according to the phase of scar and the serum concentrations of P Ⅲ NP were detected using the sensitive RIA method.Results The level of PⅢ NP increases gradually during the process of immature hypertrophic scar to mature scar before it peaking in 4 to 6 months scar subgroup.The concentration of PⅢ NP degreased gradually with the maturation of hypertrophic scar.Conclusions The high concentration of PⅢNP can reflect the high level of the synthesis of type Ⅲ collagen in the tissue of post-burn hypertrophic scar.The level of P Ⅲ NP is synonymous with the ongoing process of hypertrophic scar.PⅢ NP may be a satisfactory marker in discerning the growth and development of post-burn hypertrophic scar.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the feasibility of the composite transplantation of 1:3 meshed split-thickness autograft and acellular heterologous (porcine) dermal matrix.

METHODS9 inpatients with full thickness skin burn or hypertrophic scar were selected in this study. After the eschar or scar was excised, the wound was covered with acellular heterologous dermal matrix. Then the meshed (1:3) split-thickness autologous skin sheet was grafted on the dermal matrix. Before dressing up, the radiated pigskin was placed on the composite transplants.

RESULTSThe composite transplantation was successfully used in 9 cases. The meshed split-thickness autograft was expanded 3 times and covered the dermal matrix tightly. The clinical results of the composite transplantation were similar to that of intermediate split thickness skin graft or full thickness skin graft.

CONCLUSIONThe composite transplantation of meshed (1:3) split-thickness autograft and acellular heterologous (porcine) dermal matrix allowed the expansion of the autologous skin sheet to 3 times. The clinical results were similar to that of intermediate split thickness skin graft or full thickness skin graft.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Animals ; Burns ; pathology ; surgery ; Child ; Dermatologic Surgical Procedures ; Dermis ; transplantation ; Female ; Graft Survival ; physiology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Skin ; pathology ; Skin Transplantation ; methods ; Swine ; Transplantation, Autologous ; Transplantation, Heterologous ; Wound Healing ; physiology