Biomedical Research ; Cicatrix ; pathology ; Humans

So far, studies on the mechanism of scar formation have mainly focused on cells, cytokines and extracellular matrix. Some studies have shown that fibroblast is one of the most important element in the process of scar formation, while epidermal and endothelial cells exert synergistic effects as well. Genetic factor can not be ignored in scar formation, either. Recently, studies have shown decisively the loss or damage of the three-dimensional structure of dermal tissue is the initiator of scar formation. Thus, the defect of epidermis template is proposed as a theory in order to explain the mechanism of scar formation. There are various techniques for scar treatment. The commonly accepted methods are physical therapy, pressure therapy, pharmaceutical therapy, radiotherapy, etc.
Cicatrix ; metabolism ; pathology ; therapy ; Dermis ; pathology ; Humans

PURPOSE: This study investigated the morphological characteristics of hypertrophic scars of various ages. METHODS: This was a retrospective study. Tissue samples from 170 normal skin (control) and 126 scar tissue after undergoing conservative treatment (CT) (n=62) or split thickness skin graft (STSG) (n=64) were obtained. Time from injury (CT) or surgery (STSG) was grouped into periods as follows: first 6 months (period 1), 7~12 months (period 2), 13~24 months (period 3), 25~120 months (period 4), >120 months (period 5). Epidermal thickness (ET), dermal thickness (DT), and dermal collagen fiber thickness and length (CFT, CFL) were measured using an image analyzer. RESULTS: Scar tissue ET was significantly thicker compared to normal skin (P<0.05) and was greatest at period 1. Scar tissue DT was significantly thicker compared to normal skin (P<0.05), which increased until period 3 but then decreased afterwards. Scar tissue CFT was significantly thinner compared to normal skin (P<0.05) except for period 5. Scar tissue CFL was significantly longer compared to normal skin (P<0.05). Significant differences were observed especially in younger scar ET, DT, CFT, and CFL. CONCLUSION: These findings may assist to increase the understanding of the pathohistological changes in burn scar tissues over time and provide guidance in receiving burn treatment.
Burns ; Cicatrix* ; Cicatrix, Hypertrophic* ; Collagen ; Pathology ; Retrospective Studies ; Skin ; Transplants

Dermal defection and the degree of its loss determine the natural process of wound healing, which is the key reason leading to excess scar hyperplasia. The function of tri-dimensional structure in dermis acts as a template to regulate the properties of reparative cells. The template structure induces the reparative cells to grow into the structure which changes the skin mechanic status on wound area. Also, the component of extracellular matrix can affect behaviours of fibroblasts negatively or positively, for the reason that the structure of dermal tissue has a permissive effect on the dermal components in regulating behaviours of reparative cells. Therefore, the behaviors of cells depend on the structure of the template. The suitable tri-dimensional structure of dermis facilitates normal cell cycling. The more the structure of dermis closed to its physiological status, the better the biological behaviors of cells act. Moreover, the integrity as well as the continuity of dermal tissue is the prerequisite for serving as a template. The damage to the integrity and the continuity of dermal tissue may be one of the key reasons to lead abnormal tissue repair and scar formation. Thus, we hypothesize that the loss of dermal template may be one of the mechanism of abnormal scar formation and propose the theory of extracellular matrix framework deficiency or destruction.
Cicatrix ; pathology ; Dermis ; pathology ; Epidermis ; pathology ; Humans ; Wound Healing

OBJECTIVES: To determine a measurement standard of irregular scar area by comparing the advantages and disadvantages of different measurement methods in measuring same irregular scar area. METHODS: Irregular scar area was scanned by digital scanning and measured by coordinate reading method, AutoCAD pixel method, Photoshop lasso pixel method, Photoshop magic bar filled pixel method and Foxit PDF reading software, and some aspects of these methods such as measurement time, repeatability, whether could be recorded and whether could be traced were compared and analyzed. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in the scar areas by the measurement methods above. However, there was statistical difference in the measurement time and repeatability by one or multi performers and only Foxit PDF reading software could be traced back. CONCLUSIONS The methods above can be used for measuring scar area, but each one has its advantages and disadvantages. It is necessary to develop new measurement software for forensic identification.
Anthropometry/methods* ; Cicatrix/pathology* ; Humans ; Software

After healing of burn wound, skin of scar, transplanted skin grafts, and healed donor site wound suffer from temporary or permanent loss of function of sebaceous glands and dysfunction of skin surface lipid film formation, resulting in desiccation, desquamation, and sensitiveness of the skin, making areas of newly formed skin unsatisfactory. Therefore a good rehabilitation may fail. In this paper, the composition, physiochemical properties, and reconstruction of skin surface lipid film are discussed.
Cicatrix ; Lipids ; physiology ; Skin ; pathology ; Skin Transplantation ; Wound Healing

Burns ; therapy ; Cicatrix ; therapy ; Ear Canal ; pathology ; Humans ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo study the expression of P57(kip2) and Maspin in the pathological scar and their possible role in the pathogenesis of abnormal scars.

METHODSImmunohistochemistry integrated image analysis and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-RCR) were performed to detect the expression of P57(kip2) and Maspin in hypertrophic scar, keloid, mature scar and normal skin. Statistics was used to analyze the datas.

RESULTSThe expression of P57(kip2) protein was fixed to fibroblast intranuclear in abnormal scar, and the expression of P57(kip2) protein and P57(kip2) mRNA decreased (P < 0.05). The expression of Maspin protein was fixed to fibroblast cytoplasm and intranuclear in abnormal scar, and the expression of Maspin protein and Maspin mRNA decrease, compared with that in normal group (P < 0.05). There was positive correlation between P57(kip2) protein and Maspin protein expression (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSThe decreased expression of P57(kip2) and Maspin in abnormal scar shows that they are cicatrix-related genes. There is a positive relationship between the two genes. It may be one of the mechanisms of pathogenesis of abnormal scar. It makes effect through fibroblasts.

Cicatrix ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cicatrix, Hypertrophic ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p57 ; metabolism ; Fibroblasts ; metabolism ; Humans ; Serpins ; metabolism

Acne is a common chronic inflammatory disease of the skin that often occurs on the face, and acne scars are often secondary to the healing process of acne, which often leads to impaired appearance and psychological disorders of patients. The current treatment for acne scars is extremely difficult. With the development of regenerative medicine, stem cell transplantation has become a new treatment for acne scars. In recent years, it has been reported that stem cells and their derivatives can effectively antagonize the formation of acne scars. Therefore, this paper briefly reviews the basic and clinical researches on the treatment of acne scars with various mesenchymal stem cells and their derivatives, aiming to provide theoretical basis and reference for the stem cell therapy of acne scars.
Acne Vulgaris/pathology* ; Cicatrix/pathology* ; Humans ; Mesenchymal Stem Cells ; Skin/pathology* ; Stem Cell Transplantation

When ischemia or hemorrhagic stroke occurs, astrocytes are activated by a variety of endogenous regulatory factors to become reactive astrocytes. Subsequently, reactive astrocytes proliferate, differentiate, and migrate around the lesion to form glial scar with the participation of microglia, neuron-glial antigen 2(NG2) glial cells, and extracellular matrix. The role of glial scars at different stages of stroke injury is different. At the middle and late stages of the injury, the secreted chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan and chondroitin sulfate are the main blockers of axon regeneration and nerve function recovery. Targeted regulation of glial scars is an important pathway for neurological rehabilitation after stroke. Chinese medicine has been verified to be effective in stroke rehabilitation in clinical practice, possibly because it has the functions of promoting blood resupply, anti-inflammation, anti-oxidative stress, inhibiting cell proliferation and differentiation, and benign intervention in glial scars. This study reviewed the pathological process and signaling mechanisms of glial scarring after stroke, as well as the intervention of traditional Chinese medicine upon glial scar, aiming to provide theoretical reference and research evidence for developing Chinese medicine against stroke in view of targeting glial scarring.
Astrocytes ; Axons/pathology* ; Cicatrix/pathology* ; Gliosis/pathology* ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Nerve Regeneration ; Stroke/drug therapy*