OBJECTIVETo explore the relationship between the change in neuron specific enolase (NSE) and brain malfunction in burned patients.

METHODSThe serum samples of 11 burned patients with brain dysfunction were collected for the development of the serum level of neuron specific enolase with radioimmunoassay, and the correlation between condition of systemic inflammation and the levels of neuron specific enolase was assessed.

RESULTSThe level of NSE in burn patients with cerebral malfunction was obviously higher than that in control, and the level was correlated with the systemic inflammation.

CONCLUSIONThe change in the level of serum NSE could reflect the damage degree of central nervous system to some extent.

Adult ; Brain Diseases ; enzymology ; Burns ; enzymology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Phosphopyruvate Hydratase ; blood ; Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome ; enzymology

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the diagnostic value of the changes in serum CK and its isozymes in the muscular infection and necrosis in electrical injured patients.

METHODSSeventeen patients were divided into A and B groups according to the causes, i.e. electrical injury as A and electrical arc flame burn as B groups. Obvious muscle necrosis was identified in A but not in B groups. The serum CK-MM concentration was determined after injury, before and after the operations. Simultaneously, the blood and urine routine, the hepatic and renal function and wound bacterial counting were determined and compared with those in 20 healthy people.

RESULTS1. The serum CK-MM in A group increased evidently after injury and 1 day after wound debridement to the 6 times that in normal control. The enzyme decreased to normal at 3 post-operative days in 15 cases and remained at relative high level in 2 cases due to the wound infection and lowered down to normal level after wound re-debridement. 2. The serum CK-MM in B group increased slightly before and after skin grafting.

CONCLUSIONCK-MM could be employed as the index for the infection and necrosis of the muscle in electrical injured patients due to its high specificity and sensitivity.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Burns, Electric ; blood ; enzymology ; Creatine Kinase ; blood ; Electric Injuries ; blood ; enzymology ; Humans ; Isoenzymes ; blood ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Skin Transplantation

OBJECTIVETo investigate the drug-resistance of Acinetobacter baumannii (Ab) isolated from patients in burn ward, and study the incidence of 16S rRNA methylase genes mediated high-level aminoglycoside drug-resistance and its mechanism of transfer.

METHODSA total of 40 Ab clinical isolates were collected from burn ward in Gansu Province People's Hospital from May 2006 to Dec. 2007. The sensitivity of Ab for 20 antibiotics were determinated by K-B agar diffusion. The minimal inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of amikacin, gentamicin, tobramycin, netilmicin, isepamicin and kanamycin against Ab strains were determinated by agar dilution. Five kinds of 16S rRNA methylase genes including armA, rmtA, rmtB, rmtC, rmtD were amplified by PCR, the positive PCR-products were purified and sequenced, and the plasmid were extracted by alkaline lysis. The transferability of drug-resistance were determinated by conjugation and plasmid transformation tests.

RESULTSThe drug-resistance rates of Ab against six aminoglycosides antibiotics was 72.5%, 72.5%, 70.0%, 67.5%, 70.0%, 70.0%, respectively. Twenty five strains were resistant to six aminoglycosides antibiotics (62.5%), among which 10 isolates were armA-positive (40.0%); rmtA, rmtB, rmtC and rmtD-positive isolates were not found. Ten transformants and 10 conjugates showed high-level resistance against aminoglycosides antibiotics, all of which the value of MIC > or = 256 microg/mL carried armA gene.

CONCLUSIONSThe drug-resistance of Ab clinical isolates have high drug-resistance. 16S rRNA methylases gene exists in Ab and locates in plasmid chromosome.

Acinetobacter baumannii ; enzymology ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Burn Units ; Burns ; microbiology ; Drug Resistance, Bacterial ; genetics ; Genes, Bacterial ; Genes, rRNA ; Humans ; Methyltransferases ; genetics ; Plasmids

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of cotransfection of genes of insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) and herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase (HSV-tk) on wound healing.

METHODSThirty male Wistar rats were inflicted with 30% TBSA full-thickness scald. They were then divided into A group (4.6 microg pcDNA3.1/IGF-I+Lipofectamine 2000+saline), B group (3.6 microg pcDNA3.1/HSV-tk+Lipofectamine 2000+saline), C1 group and C2 group (2.3 microg pcDNA3.1/IGF-I+1.8 microg pcDNA3.1/HSV-tk+Lipofectamine 2000+saline), and D group (3.0 microg pcDNA3.1+Lipofectamine 2000+saline) according to the random number table, with 6 rats in each group. The above-mentioned mixtures were subcutaneously injected into left back of each rat the moment after injury and on post scald day (PSD) 7, 14, 21, and 28. Gancyclovir (2.5 mg/100 g) was hypodermically injected into rats in C2 group on PSD 29, 30, 31, 32. Changes in body weight of rats were measured. Wound healing rates were calculated. On PSD 35, the expressions of IGF-I gene in local wound and liver tissue were determined with immunohistochemical staining. The serum expression of IGF-I was determined with radioimmunoassay. Expression of HSV-tk gene in local wound was determined with RT-PCR. Apoptosis of fibroblast in C1 and C2 groups was observed under transmission electron microscope. Data were processed with one-way analysis of variance and Turkey method.

RESULTSBody weight of rats in A, C1, and C2 groups increased from PSD 7 through 35, and the difference between former three groups and B, D groups was statistically significant (with F value respectively 2.764, 4.519, 5.009, 13.449, 5.877, P values all below 0.05). Wound healing rates of rats in A, C1, and C2 groups were higher than those in B, D groups (with F value respectively 5.286, 100.880, 152.380, 127.850, 147.750, P values all below 0.05). IGF-I gene was positively expressed in wound fibroblast in A, C1 and C2 groups, but negatively in liver tissues of all the rats. There was no significant statistical difference among groups in serum content of IGF-I [from (1185+/-170) to (1270+/-130) ng/mL, F=0.355, P=0.838]. HSV-tk gene was positively expressed in rat skin tissue in B, C1 and C2 groups. Fibroblast apoptosis was observed under transmission electron microscope in C2 group, but it was not observed in C1 group.

CONCLUSIONSCotransfection of pcDNA3.1/IGF-I and pcDNA3.1/HSV-tk mediated by liposome can promote wound healing, and inhibit the scar proliferation to some extent.

Animals ; Burns ; genetics ; metabolism ; therapy ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I ; genetics ; metabolism ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Simplexvirus ; enzymology ; Thymidine Kinase ; genetics ; metabolism ; Transfection ; Wound Healing

OBJECTIVETo study the transferrable character of Acinetobacter baumannii (AB) plasmids with 3 types of beta-lactamase gene.

METHODSThe plasmid of multi-drug resistant AB (donor) isolated from burn wound were transferred to E. coil ATCC25922 (receptor) through conjugation, and drug sensitivity was also observed. Drug-resistant gene and stability of filial generation and zygote were analyzed by PCR.

RESULTSThe drug-resistance of donor plasmids to Sulfamethoxazole, Ampicillin, Cefalotin, Cefpodoxime, Cefuroxime, Imipenem/Cilastatin and Ampicillin/Sulbactam, and three types of beta-lactamase gene were transferred to the receptor, and were also stably transmitted for passages. The minimum inhibitor concentration of receptor to Sulfamethoxazole was > 2 mg/L after conjugation with donor, and inhibitory character could be transferred to next generation.

CONCLUSIONbla(TEM-1), bla(PER-1) and bla(OXA-23) genes carried in the plasmid of AB can be transferred through conjugation and stably transmitted for passages, and it is one of the molecular mechanisms for AB with multi-drug resistance after burn infections.

Acinetobacter Infections ; Acinetobacter baumannii ; enzymology ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Burns ; microbiology ; Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial ; genetics ; Genes, Bacterial ; Humans ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Plasmids ; beta-Lactamases ; genetics

OBJECTIVE: To observe the changes of expression of phosphorylation c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase (p-JNK) during the skin burned wound healing in patients and discuss the molecular mechanism of burned wound healing. METHODS: The staining intensity and distribution of p-JNK were detected by immunohistochemistry and routine histology in burned skin samples of 12 patients and normal skin samples of 12 control subjects. RESULTS: In normal skin, the positive signals of p-JNK were mostly localized in basal layer cells of the epidermis, with a positive rate of (8.8+/-1.3)%. In the burned group, the positive signals of p-JNK were mainly localized in the epidermal cells and some inflammatory cells, with a significantly higher positive rate of (31.2+/-3.3)% than the normal group(P<0.01). CONCLUSION The changes of p-JNK expression after skin burned might correlate with wound healing.
Adult ; Burns/enzymology* ; Female ; Forensic Medicine ; Humans ; JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases/metabolism* ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Phosphorylation ; Random Allocation ; Skin/injuries* ; Wound Healing

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of escharectomy during shock stage on tissue high mobility group box-1 protein (HMGB1) expression and balance of pro-/anti-inflammatory cytokines, and to elucidate the potential mechanism underlying beneficial effect of early escharectomy after severe burns.

METHODSWistar rats inflicted by 30% full-thickness thermal injury were randomly divided into thermal injury group, 24 h escharectomy group and 72 h escharectomy group, in which escharectomy were performed at 24 and 72 h postburn, respectively. Gene expression of HMGB1, interleukin-10 (IL-10), and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) in liver and lungs was detected with reverse-transcription PCR, and protein levels of IL-10 and TNF-alpha in liver and lung tissues were measured by ELISA. The plasma AST and ALT contents, and pulmonary myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity were also assayed.

RESULTSThe mRNA expression of HMGB1 and TNF-alpha in liver and lungs was up-regulated on postburn day 2, with IL-10 over-expression on postburn day 8. In the 24 h escharectomy group, HMGB1 and TNF-alpha mRNA expression in liver and lungs was down-regulated on postburn day 4, and IL-10 expression returned to normal range on postburn day 8, while the down-regulation of HMGB1, TNF-alpha and IL-10 were not noted in the 72 h escharectomy group. There were two peaks in liver TNF-alpha protein levels appearing on postburn days 2 and 8, respectively, with an unexpected marked decrease on day 4 in thermal injury controls, yet liver TNF-alpha levels maintained in normal range in animals of 24 h and 72 h escharectomy groups. The ratios of TNF-alpha to IL-10 protein levels in liver tissue were significantly increased on postburn days 2 and 4 (P = 0.0001 and 0.002, respectively), while escharectomy during shock stage markedly reduced hepatic TNF-alpha to IL-10 ratios (P = 0.0008 and 0.040, respectively). No significant changes in TNF-alpha protein levels in lung tissue were observed. Additionally, plasma AST as well as ALT contents, and pulmonary MPO activity were markedly decreased on postburn days 4 and 8 in the 24 h escharectomy group compared to the 72 h escharectomy group or thermal injury controls (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSEscharectomy during burn shock stage could inhibit the over-expression of both early and late inflammatory mediators, and maintain the balance of pro-/anti-inflammatory response, thereby improving multiple organ functions in rats following severe burns.

Alanine Transaminase ; metabolism ; Animals ; Aspartate Aminotransferases ; metabolism ; Burns ; complications ; surgery ; HMGB1 Protein ; genetics ; metabolism ; Interleukin-10 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Liver ; enzymology ; metabolism ; Lung ; enzymology ; metabolism ; Male ; Peroxidase ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Shock, Traumatic ; etiology ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; genetics ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo explore the role of 19S regulator compound protein in the degradation of skeletal muscle protein in scalded rats.

METHODSWistar rats were scalded and they were randomly divided into normal and 1, 2, 3, 5, and 7 postburn day (PBD) groups with 8 rats in each group. The 19S regulator compound of skeletal muscle in scalded rats was isolated and purified with chromatography. Rabbit-anti-rat antibody IgG of 19S regulator compound was prepared conventionally. The antibody was injected to rats in injection group (I) in which 19S antibody in dose of 3 mg/kg BW was injected for two times via tail vein with 6-hour interval. The rats in I group were decapitated on 1, 2 and 3 post-injection days, respectively. The scalded rats in control group (C) were treated in the same way, except that the antibody was replaced by normal saline. The change in content of 19S regulator compound was determined by western-blot. Meanwhile, the releasing rate of tyrosine from the skeletal muscle of scalded rats was also detected by fluorescent photography.

RESULTS19S regulator compound with high purity was obtained. The content of 19S regulator compound in rat skeletal muscle was increased significantly after 2 PBD. But the protein degradation rate was also obviously increased on 2 PBD. The antibody of 19S compound might inhibit the enhancement of protein degradation.

CONCLUSIONBurn injury might up-regulate the protein level of skeletal muscle 19S regulator compound, which therefore activated the protein degradation by 26S protease compound. This might be an important factor leading to postburn negative nitrogen balance.

Adenosine Triphosphatases ; immunology ; isolation & purification ; metabolism ; Animals ; Antibodies ; pharmacology ; Blotting, Western ; Burns ; enzymology ; metabolism ; Endopeptidases ; immunology ; isolation & purification ; metabolism ; Immunoglobulin G ; pharmacology ; Male ; Muscle, Skeletal ; drug effects ; enzymology ; metabolism ; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Time Factors ; Tyrosine ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the changes of the mRNA expression and the intestinal mucosal cyclooxygenase (COXs) activity in scalded rats.

METHODSWistar rats inflicted with 30% TBSA III degree scalding were employed as the model. The changes of COX-1, COX-2 activities were determined by substrate fluorescence analysis and the mRNA expressions of COX-1 and COX-2 by RT-PCR.

RESULTSThe mRNA expressions and the activities of COX-2 in rat intestinal mucosa increased obviously after injury. But those of COX-1 exhibited lower range of change.

CONCLUSIONThe pathological mechanism of rat intestinal mucosa injury after scalding might be closely related to the COXs participation by different styles between the two enzymes.

Animals ; Burns ; enzymology ; genetics ; pathology ; Cyclooxygenase 1 ; Cyclooxygenase 2 ; Female ; Gene Expression ; Intestinal Mucosa ; enzymology ; Isoenzymes ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; metabolism ; Male ; Membrane Proteins ; Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; biosynthesis ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of taurine on myocardial mitochondria and their enzyme activities in rats with severe burn.

METHODSOne hundred and twenty healthy adult Wistar rats were subjected to 30% TBSA full-thickness burn. They were randomly divided into burn group (B, with intraperitoneal injection of isotonic saline), treatment group (T, with intraperitoneal injection of taurine, 200 mg/kg),with 60 rats in each group . Ten rats with sham scald were used as control (S group). The myocardial tissue samples in B and T groups were harvested at 1, 3, 6, 12, 24 and 48 postburn hours (PBH) for determination of activity respectively of succinate dehydrogenase (SDH), cytochrome oxidase (CCO), the superoxide dismutase (SOD), Ca2+ -ATPase in mitochondria, and contents of cytochrome c (Cyt c), cytochrome aa3 (Cyt aa3), malondialdehyde (MDA), and Ca2+ in mitochondria and cytoplasm . The myocardial tissue samples of controls were harvested at 1 PBH for determination of above indices.

RESULTSThe activity of CCO in B group was decreased at 1 PBH , especially at 6 ,12 PBH. The activity of SDH in B group was decreased to lowest level at 6 PBH, and its value was lower than that of S group at each time point. The activity of CCO or SDH in T group was not obviously decreased, and the activity of CCO at 3, 6, 12 PBH showed significant difference compared with B group (P < 0.05). The contents of Cyt aa3 and Cyt c in B group at 3, 6, 12, 24 PBH were obviously decreased, which were significantly lower than those in T group (P < 0.05). The activity of SOD in B group at 3, 6, 12 PBH was obviously decreased, the activity of Ca2+ -ATPase at 3, 6, 12 and 24 PBH was decreased to different extent, which was significantly lower than those in T group (P < 0.05). The MDA contents in B and T groups were higher than that in S group at 3-48 PBH ,and it was highest in B group (P < 0.05). The Ca2+ content of mitochondria in B group at 1 PBH was increased (13.7 +/- 1.5), and it was (24.8 +/- 2.6), (29.7 +/- 3.1), (16.3 +/- 1.9) and (13.5 +/- 1.7) at 3, 6, 12, 24 PBH respectively,and they were all higher than that of S group (10.7 +/- 1.6, P < 0.05). The Ca2 contents of cytoplasm in group B at 3 - 24 PBH were also higher than that in S group (P < 0.05). The Ca2+ content of mitochondria in T group at 3, 6, 12, 24 PBH was (16.8 +/- 2.8), (18.7 +/- 1.9), (10.5 +/- 1.8) and (13.3 +/- 1.7)respectively, which were lower than that in B group at every time point.

CONCLUSIONTaurine have protective effect on mitochondria and their enzyme activities in myocardium in rats with severe burn, and it may be attributable to improving the ability of eradicating oxygen free radicals and alleviating Ca2+ overload in the mitochondria.

Animals ; Burns ; drug therapy ; enzymology ; metabolism ; Calcium ; metabolism ; Calcium-Transporting ATPases ; metabolism ; Cytochromes c ; metabolism ; Electron Transport Complex IV ; metabolism ; Female ; Male ; Mitochondria, Heart ; enzymology ; metabolism ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Succinate Dehydrogenase ; metabolism ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism ; Taurine ; therapeutic use