OBJECTIVETo explore the mechanism of hypoxic environment lessening in the course of scar maturation.

METHODSThe expression of hypoxia inducible factor 1alpha (HIF-1alpha) and p53 in granulation of burn wound, burn scars of different stages, and normal skin was detected with immunohistochemical staining. The expressions were quantified by the weight method. The relationship between HIF-1alpha and p53 was investigated.

RESULTSWith the scar maturation, the expression of HIF-1alpha gradually decreased while the expression of p53 gradually increased within one year. There was a negative correlation between HIF-1alpha and p53 (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONp53 plays an important role in scar maturation. Associated with p53, HIF-1alpha may induce apoptosis, which decreases oxygen consumption and lightens hypoxia in the scar maturation.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Apoptosis ; Cell Hypoxia ; Child ; Cicatrix ; metabolism ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Hypoxia ; metabolism ; pathology ; Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit ; metabolism ; Male ; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 ; metabolism ; Young Adult

BACKGROUNDHyperostosis is a common pathological change among people more than 50 years old; it is connected with many risk factors, which are all indefinite. The aim of this study was to prospectively investigate the correlation between obesity and female hyperostosis.

METHODSTotally 4326 females were included in this study and their basic information including their age, stature, body weight, course of disease, symptoms, medical complications, frequency of exercise and smoking, and X-ray and bone mineral density (BMD) examination results, was carefully collected for a statistical analysis. The t test or chi(2) test was used to evaluate the differences between two groups; an analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to evaluate the differences among several groups; the relationship between hyperostosis and body mass index (BMI), age, medical complications, exercise, average BMD was analyzed using Logistic regression.

RESULTSThe incidence rate of hyperostosis in obese patients was higher than that in patients with normal weight (P = 0.000). Obesity was relevant to hyperostotic sites (P = 0.000), and the incidence of hyperostosis in one or several sites of the lumbar vertebrae, knee joints, and other sites was higher in obese patients than in patients with normal weight. There was also a difference in the extent of hyperostosis between these two groups. BMI had positive effects on the incidence and degree of hyperostosis, which were also relative to the sites of hyperostosis, and the BMI of patients without hyperostosis were much lower than those of the patients with hyperostosis in their lumbar vertebrae, knee joints, or multiple sites. Obesity, age, and exercise had positive effects on the incidence of hyperostosis (P = 0.002, 0.000, 0.018).

CONCLUSIONSObesity is a significant potential stimulant of hyperostosis, especially hyperostosis in knee joints and multiple sites; keeping fit might be an important way to prevent it.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Body Mass Index ; Female ; Humans ; Hyperostosis ; etiology ; Middle Aged ; Obesity ; complications ; Prospective Studies

Objective:To explore the clinical pathological characteristics and improve the recognition in the diagnosis and treatment of incidental (stage T1a -T1b)prostate cancer.Methods:Seven hundred and seventy-one patients who underwent TURP from May 2004 to September 2013 were analyzed retro-spectively.In our institution,TURP specimens should be totally submitted in an extensive sampling method.The tumor area was outlined by estimation of an experienced genitourinary pathologist and calcu-lated by the image analysis system software (Image J 1.47 h).The tumor area was then multiplied by the thickness of tissue.The total sum of all tumor volume was the estimated tumor volume.The clinical and pathological factors,follow-up results were obtained and we aimed to collect information about the period of watchful waiting (WW),PSA progression status,intervention status during the follow-up,the reason for intervention on WW and the type of intervention.Results:The average age of 771 patients was (71.3 ±5.9)years old,and the average BMI was (23.9 ±3.1)kg/m2 ,preoperative average tPSA was (4.4 ±2.8)μg/L.Eighty-six (11.2%)cases of incidental prostate cancer were detected.The patients in T1a group (77 cases,89.5%)had tumor volumes of (12.3 ±12.6)mm3 ,and the patients in T1b group had tumor volumes of (105.1 ±41.8)mm3 .The range of tumor volume was 0.4 -180.2 mm3 . The volume of all the 86 cases was less than 500 mm3 as the threshold of insignificant cancer.All the pa-tients were managed by WW.The mean follow-up time was 88.9 (27.9 -150.1)months.The Gleason score was <7 in 79 patients,and ≥7 in 7 patients.There was no significant difference in age,preopera-tive tPSA,preoperative PSAD,postoperative tPSA,prostate volume and TURP resection between T1a group and T1b group (P >0.05).Among 84 patients without follow-up losts,PSA progression occurred in 5 patients.One T1a patient underwent radical prostatectomy (RP)as an intervention,and 3 patients underwent hormone therapy.One patient in T1b group underwent radiotherapy for PSA progression and one was treated because of patient preference without evidence of disease progression.There were no pa-tients who died due to prostate cancer.Conclusion:Eighty-six (11.2%)cases of incidental prostate cancer were detected.The tumor volume of all the cases was insignificant cancer.The clinical outcomes of IPCa were satisfactory with the initial treatment of WW in the Chinese population.

In this review, we introduce the basic principle and technology progress of tissue optical imaging from both diffuse optical imaging and coherence domain imaging, which include the continuous-wave imaging, time-resolved optical tomography, diffuse photon density waves tomography, ultrasound-modulated optical tomography, optical coherence tomography and laser speckle imaging. Applications of optical imaging in brain activity and tissue function are also discussed.
Brain ; physiology ; Humans ; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted ; instrumentation ; methods ; Lasers ; Spectrophotometry, Infrared ; instrumentation ; methods ; Tomography, Optical ; instrumentation ; methods ; Ultrasonography

OBJECTIVETo study the regulatory effect of Qinghuo Baidu Yin (QHBDY, a mixture prepared with Chinese drugs) on immune function of patients with extremely severe burn (ESB).

METHODSThirty patients with ESB were divided into two groups, conventional therapy was given to both groups, but QHBDY was given to the treated group additionally. Immunological indices, including peripheral blood T-lymphocyte subsets, immunoglobin (IgG, IgA and IgM) and complement (C3 and C4) were determined 3 weeks after treatment to evaluate and compare the therapeutical effect in the two groups.

RESULTSCompared with the control group, CD3, CD4, CD4/CD8, immunoglobin (IgG, IgA and IgM) and complement (C3 and C4) levels were markedly decreased in degree, and recovered earlier and quicker, with CD8 increased mildly (P < 0.01) and turned back more quickly. And so did the parameters of the treated group in comparing with that of the control group at anytime (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONChinese drugs mixture shows the regulatory effect on both cellular and humoral immune function in patients with ESB.

Adjuvants, Immunologic ; therapeutic use ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Burns ; drug therapy ; immunology ; Complement C3 ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin G ; blood ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Phytotherapy

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationshion between the angiogenesis of different kinds of scar and expression of HO-1. METHODS: The expression of heme oxygenase-1 and vessel counted by CD34 of biopsies from different kinds of scars such as hypertrophic scar, keloid, surgical scar and normal skin of 24 cases was valued by immunochemical method, and the relationship was compared between them. RESULTS: The vessel count of hypertrophic scar, keloid was significantly abundant compared with surgical scar or normal skin (P < 0.01). While the expression of HO-1 of hypertrophic scar, keloid was obviously higher than that in surgical scar or normal skin (P < 0.01), decreased from hypertrophic scar, keloid, surgical scar to normal skin. There existed a positive correlation between vessel count and the expression of HO-1 (r = 0. 761, P < 0.01) as well as the number of fibroblastic cells (r = 0. 731, P < 0.01) in the study groups. CONCLUSION HO-1 might play a important role in the angiogenesis of scar formation. The cause of these changes may be local. Over angiogenesis is one symbol of pathological scar.
Adult ; Cicatrix ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cicatrix, Hypertrophic ; metabolism ; pathology ; Female ; Heme Oxygenase-1 ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Humans ; Keloid ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neovascularization, Pathologic ; Skin ; blood supply

OBJECTIVE: To study the biological characteristics of human endostatin (hEndo) gene transfected adult skin melanoma cells in vitro and in vivo. METHODS: The plasmid pcDNA3.1 (-)-hEndo was transfected into adult skin melanoma cells by electroporation, and then the stable clones were selected with G418. The transcription and expression of hEndo gene in the transfected melanoma cells were verified by RT-PCR and agarose gel electrophoresis analysis and Western blot. The biological activities of hEndo protein were investigated by MTT in vitro. Stable clones expressing endostatin were subcutaneously injected into the right flank of BALB/c-nu/nu mice of 4 to approximately 6 weeks old. Then the growth of transduced tumors in vivo was investigated. RESULTS: The bands of 624 bp and 5.4 kb were identified from digested plasmid pcDNA3.1 (-)-hEndo. The stable clones were selected with G418 after the eletroporation, the expression of hEndo mRNA was verified by RT-PCR, and Western blot displayed the expression product of hEndo was about 20 kD in the transfected melanoma cells. MTT showed that the conditioned medium of melanoma cells transduced with recombination human endostatin expression vector could inhibit the proliferation of human umbilical vein endothelial cells in vitro. The growth of transduced cells in vivo showed that transfected melanoma cells grew in vivo at a slower rate than the control cells (P < 0.05). RT-PCR showed that endostatin expressed in the transduced tumors. CONCLUSION Adult skin melanoma cells in vitro transfected with exogenetic hEndo gene can express and secrete active hEndo, and inhibit the growth of transduced tumors in vivo.
Animals ; Electroporation ; Endostatins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Genetic Therapy ; Genetic Vectors ; Humans ; Melanoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Mice, Nude ; Recombinant Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Skin Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Transduction, Genetic ; Transfection ; Tumor Cells, Cultured

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether there is an impaired Akt and eNOS activation in cirrhotic livers, and to investigate the feasibility of transferring adenovirus-mediated Akt gene to the liver for portal hypertension. METHODS: Recombinant adenovirus Ad-myr-HA-Akt and Ad-EGFP were produced by homologoas recombination in 293 cells . The Methods of compound factor, carbon tetrachloride (CCl4), corn flour, and cholesterol plus alcohol were used to construct the hepatic cirrhosis rat models. Ten normal rats were served as a normal control group, and 40 cirrhotic rats were divided into 4 groups randomly: an untreated group, an Ad-myr-HA-Akt treated group, an Ad-EGFP group, and a saline group. Ad-myr-HA-Akt, Ad-EGFP, and saline were transduced into the Ad-myr-HA-Akt treated group, Ad-EGFP group, and saline group via the tail vein respectively. Portal vein pressure, mean arterial pressure, and heart rate were measured in all rats. Protein abundance and phosphorylation status of Akt and eNOS were examined by Western blot. Spectrophotometry was used to measure the NO level. Frozen sections of the liver, heart, lung, kidney, brain, spleen, and testis were made to examine the expression of enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) by fluorescence microscopy on Day 3 in the Ad-EGFP group. RESULTS: The concentration of recombinant adenovirus Ad-myr-HA-Akt after the purification was 5.5 x 10(11)vp/mL and that of Ad-EGFP was 6.0 x 10(11)vp/mL. Akt and eNOS phosphorylations in the liver of cirrhotic rats were obviously impaired. Adenoviral delivery of myr-Akt restored eNOS phosphorylation, increased the NO level and decreased the portal pressure after 3 days of adenoviral infection. In contrast, the livers infected with Ad-EGFP and saline were not changed. The EGFP expression was mainly found under the fluorescence microscopy on the frozen section of liver. Very little fluorescence was detected in the lung and kidney; and there was no detectable EGFP in other organs. CONCLUSION There is an impaired Akt and eNOS activation in the cirrhotic livers; myr-Akt gene therapy can restore the Akt activation and NO production in the cirrhotic liver, suggesting that this therapy may be helpful in treating portal hypertension.
Adenoviridae ; genetics ; metabolism ; Animals ; Carbon Tetrachloride ; Carbon Tetrachloride Poisoning ; Genetic Therapy ; Hypertension, Portal ; etiology ; therapy ; Liver Cirrhosis, Experimental ; complications ; metabolism ; therapy ; Male ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III ; metabolism ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt ; genetics ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the efficacy and safety of recombinant human granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (rhGM-CSF) hydrogel in wound healing in patients with deep partial thickness burn.

METHODSThe study was a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled parallel clinical trial. Three hundred and twenty-one patients (302 cases finally fulfilled the protocol) with deep partial thickness burn were divided into A group (n = 200, with treatment of rhGM-CSF hydrogel, 100 microg/10 g/100 cm2/d), C group (n = 102,with treatment of placebo). Side-effect, systemic condition, wound healing time, wound healing rate, and total effective rate at different time points were observed.

RESULTSThere were no obvious differences in vital signs, wound secretion, wound edge reaction, blood and urine routine, liver and kidney function between two groups (P > 0.05). No side-effect was observed. The median wound healing time was 17 days in A group, which was obviously shorter than that in C group (20 days, P < 0.01). The mean wound healing rate in A group was 24.5%, 70.5%, 95.3%, 99.6% respectively on 8th, 14th, 20th, 28th day after treatment, which were obviously higher than that in C group (15.1%, 51.4%, 84.6%, 97.1%, respectively, P < 0.01). The total effective rates in A group on 8th, 14th, 20th day after treatment were also higher than that in C group (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONrhGM-CSF hydrogel can significantly accelerate wound healing in patients with deep partial thickness burn with certain safety.

Burns ; drug therapy ; Double-Blind Method ; Female ; Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Hydrogels ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Placebos ; Recombinant Proteins ; Wound Healing

In order to explore the factors that affect CD62p expression in platelet during the whole course of cryopreservated platelets preparation, CD62p expression of platelet was evaluated by flow cytometry assay. The whole course of cryopreservated platelets preparation in order included whole blood collection, centrifugation for fresh platelet-rich plasma preparation, addition of dimethyl sulfoxide, and freeze in -80 degrees C refrigerator and thaw in 38 degrees C water bath. Result showed that the CD62p expressed slowly from whole blood collection to addition of dimethyl sulfoxide, but expressed abruptly after freeze and thaw and it occupied 82 per cent of the whole expression. It was concluded that the whole blood collection, centrifugation for fresh platelet enriched plasma preparation and addition of dimethyl sulfoxide were optimized in the whole course, but the damage to platelets in the whole course of cryopreservation could not be avoided. It suggests that improved techniques are needed to reduce the damage to cryopreservated platelets.
Blood Platelets ; metabolism ; Blood Preservation ; methods ; standards ; Cryopreservation ; methods ; standards ; Flow Cytometry ; Humans ; P-Selectin ; biosynthesis