Projects which supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) in discipline of pharmacology of Chinese medicine between 2010 to 2013 financial years were reviewed. Based on these research items, new features and problems were summarized in this field.
China ; Foundations ; economics ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; economics ; Natural Science Disciplines ; economics ; Research ; economics

OBJECTIVETo establish a long-term in vitro culture of the fibroblasts obtained from burn wounds.

METHODSSkin samples were harvested from normal volunteers and the deep partial thickness burn wound in burn patients on the 5th, 10th, 21st, 28th and 35th postburn days (PBDs). The non-dermal tissue was removed from the samples and primed by chlorhexidine solution in concentration of 2.5 g/L. The skin sample was then digested by trypsin-EDTA in concentration of 1.25 g/L and was centrifuged before the cells were harvested and cultured. When the cells grew nearly to form sheet, multiple passage culture, freezing storage and revivification were carried out with routine methods. The cell morphology was continuously observed during the culture. And the cell doubling time was calculated.

RESULTSThe wound-origin fibroblasts exhibited higher purity and better activity. The cellular growth features and gross morphology kept stable during primary and secondary culture, and during freezing storage and after revivification. The cells kept their activity above 80% of their original after many times of revivification.

CONCLUSIONThe establishment of the in vitro culture of fibroblasts from burn wounds might be useful in the exploration of the pathogenesis and therapeutic measures of scars.

Burns ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cell Culture Techniques ; methods ; Cell Division ; Cell Survival ; Cells, Cultured ; Cryopreservation ; Factor VIII ; analysis ; Fibroblasts ; chemistry ; cytology ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Time Factors

Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating ; administration & dosage ; Child ; Humans ; Intravitreal Injections ; Male ; Melphalan ; administration & dosage ; Neoplasm Seeding ; Retinal Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Retinoblastoma ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Vitreous Body ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the impact of solitary lymph node (LN) metastasis on the prognosis of gastric cancer.

METHODSClinical data of 280 patients with gastric cancer who underwent D(2) radical resection from January 1995 to December 2003 were analyzed retrospectively. Among them, solitary LN metastasis was proven pathologically in 83 cases(solitary LN metastasis group), while node-negative metastasis proven in 197 cases (node-negative group). The 5-year survival rate was compared between two groups and between patients with and without skipping LN metastasis. The prognostic factors were evaluated by uncaria and multivaria analyses.

RESULTSThe 5-year survival rates in the solitary LN metastasis group and the node-negative group were 62.3% and 83.5% respectively with significant difference (P<0.05). The solitary LN metastasis was one of the independent prognostic factors. Logistic regression revealed that the invasion depth was an independent covariate for solitary LN metastasis. The proportion of skip metastasis was 22.9% in gastric cancer patients with solitary LN metastasis. The 5-year survival rates of the patients with and without skipping LN metastasis were 50.0% and 66.1% respectively, which was not significantly different (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe prognosis of patients with solitary LN metastasis is significantly poorer than those without lymph node metastasis. Due to the high incidence of skip LN metastasis in gastric cancer, D(2) radical resection should be performed to ensure oncological clearance.

Aged ; Factor Analysis, Statistical ; Female ; Gastrectomy ; Humans ; Lymph Node Excision ; Lymph Nodes ; pathology ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Stomach Neoplasms ; mortality ; pathology ; Survival Rate

OBJECTIVETo compare the number of retrieved lymph nodes (LN) between laparoscopic resection and conventional open resection for early distal gastric cancer with meta-analysis.

METHODSOriginal articles published from January 2000 to December 2008 were searched in the MEDLINE, EMBASE and Cochrane Controlled Trials Register. According to the criterion, 14 articles were identified which compared the number of retrieved lymph nodes between laparoscopic resection and conventional open resection for early distal gastric cancer. Data were extracted from these trials by 3 reviewers independently and analyzed by Rev Man 5.0 software.

RESULTSA total of 1454 patients with early gastric cancer were enrolled, including 815 patients in the laparoscopic group and 630 patients in the conventional group. The mean number of dissected lymph nodes per patient was 3.26 less in the laparoscopic group as compared to the conventional group (WMD -3.26,95% CI -6.24~-0.27,P=0.03). The differences were not statistically significant in the articles published during 2005-2008 years (WMD -2.84, 95% CI -6.79~1.11, P=0.16), in D(1)(+)alpha/beta lymph node dissection (WMD -2.80, 95% CI -7.57~1.97, P=0.25), and in retrospective non-randomized trials (WMD -2.89, 95% CI -6.48~0.70,P=0.11).

CONCLUSIONWith the improvement in surgical skills, laparoscopic surgery and open surgery do not differ significantly in the number of retrieved lymph nodes for early distal gastric cancer with D(1)(+)alpha/beta lymph node dissection.

Gastrectomy ; Humans ; Laparoscopy ; Laparotomy ; Lymph Node Excision ; Lymph Nodes ; pathology ; Stomach Neoplasms ; pathology ; surgery

OBJECTIVETo investigate the mechanism of hyperlipidemia- and imflammation-induced functional impairment of the endothelium.

METHODSThe experiment was conducted using 3 groups of rats fed for 20 weeks with standard chow (control group), high-fat diet and high-fat diet with daily fenofibrate treatment (10 mg/kg, starting since the fifth week), respectively. After 4 and 20 weeks of feeding, respectively, serum lipid level and NO concentration were measured in the rats, and the epithelial vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) expression and cell adhesiveness to the aortic endothelium were observed.

RESULTSCompared with the control group, the rats with hyperlipidemia induced by long-term high-fat diet feeding showed lower NO concentration and increased leukocyte accumulation on the endothelial surface, exhibiting also stronger and more extensive endothelial expression of VCAM-1. In contrast, the hyperlipidemic rats with fenofibrate treatment shoed significantly decreased VCAM-1 expression and leukocyte adhesion with recovery of the NO level.

CONCLUSIONNO deficiency and activation of inflammation are involved in vascular impairment in rats with high-fat diet-induced hyperlipidemia, and fenofibrate can effectively prevent atherosclerosis by restoring NO concentration and down-regulating VCAM-1 expression in these rats.

Animals ; Atherosclerosis ; prevention & control ; Cell Adhesion ; Endothelium, Vascular ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Fenofibrate ; pharmacology ; Hyperlipidemias ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Inflammation ; Leukocytes ; cytology ; Nitric Oxide ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo explore the pattern of solitary lymph node(LN) metastasis in gastric cancer and its prognosis.

METHODSThe clinical records of 83 patients with gastric cancer presenting solitary LN metastasis who underwent D2 radical resection from January 1995 to December 2003 were analyzed retrospectively. The precise stations of the metastasis of LN and their correlation with the location of primary tumor were studied. The 5-year survival rates were compared between patients with and without skipping LN metastasis. The prognostic factors were evaluated by using univariate and multivariate analyses.

RESULTSAmong the 83 patients with pathologically proven solitary LN metastasis, 64 cases (77%) presented with the perigastric nodes metastasis (N1 area), and 19 cases (23%) in N2 area without N1 involvement (skipping LN metastasis). For tumors in the upper and middle third stomach, the No. 3 station was the most common first metastasized LN station (40% and 42%, respectively). While for tumors in the lower third stomach, the No.6 station was the mostly affected LN (33%). Of the patients, 77 cases were followed up for 5-14 years, the median survival time was 77.0 months, and the overall 5-year survival rate was 63%. The 5-year survival rates of the patients with and without skipping LN metastasis was 52% and 67% respectively, there was no significant difference between the two groups (P>0.05). The serosal invasion and pathological types were influencing factors of the 5-year survival rate on univariate analysis. But with multivariate analysis, only the serosal invasion was an independent factor affecting the survival.

CONCLUSIONSPerigastric nodes are the most common first sites of tumor metastasis, making them the main targets of operative sentinel lymphatic mapping procedures. The patients with serosal invasion have poorer prognosis.

Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Gastrectomy ; Humans ; Lymph Node Excision ; Lymph Nodes ; pathology ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Stomach Neoplasms ; pathology ; surgery

OBJECTIVETo explore an ideal skin substitute with its appearance and texture similar to normal skin, to repair wounds with full-thickness skin defect.

METHODSComposite skin (CS) in question was composed of allo/xenogeneic acellular dermal matrix (ADM) and razor thin autoskin. One step skin grafting was employed in the experimental study and clinical trial. Razor thin autoskin alone was used as the control in the study. Changes in the antigenicity of ADM and the reformation of basement membrane (BM) structure at epidermis-dermis junction (EDJ) of ADMs were studied at designated time points after the grafting with biochemical and immunohistochemical methods. Fifty-three patients with full thickness skin defects due to various causes, including scar excision were grafted with CS, and survival rate and long-term result were observed.

RESULTSThe grafted CS survived satisfactory. The reformation of the basement membrane structure was clearly observed at the 28th post-graft week. The basement membrane cells grew with polarization in an undulating arrangement. There was reformation of dermal papillae and ridges. The antigenicity of allo-ADM was obviously lower than that of xeno-ADM. Sixty-five out of 70 pieces of CS grafting (92.9%) survived totally, two of them survived partially, and three failed due to infection. The longest follow-up period was 8 and a half years. The grafted CS appeared similar to the normal skin in regard to the texture and color, especially allo-ADM, and no evident rejection reaction was seen.

CONCLUSIONADM possessed very low antigenicity, thus serving a lasting framework after grafting. In addition, it could serve as a "dermal template" for the induction of tissue regeneration.

Animals ; Burns ; surgery ; Dermis ; transplantation ; Follow-Up Studies ; Graft Survival ; Humans ; Male ; Rabbits ; Skin Transplantation ; methods ; Swine ; Transplantation, Autologous ; Transplantation, Heterologous ; Transplantation, Homologous ; Treatment Outcome ; Wound Healing

OBJECTIVETo establish a rat model of scalding with controllable depth and area by high pressure steam.

METHODSHigh pressure steam apparatus consisting of an autoclave and a self-made scalding frame was employed in the study. The rats were inflicted with scalding with 0.12 Mpa (1 Mpa = 7500 mmHg) high pressure steam on the back through a hole of 2.6 cm in diameter for 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 seconds, with five wounds at each time point. The tissue samples were harvested at 24 post injury hour (PIH) for pathomorphological examination. The depth of scald was measured, and injury to the sweat gland and hair follicles injury, the hair growth in scalded area, and the wound healing condition were observed with Photoshop software.

RESULTSThere was positive correlation between the scalding depth and scalding time. The injury time for superficial and deep partial thickness burn and full thickness burn were 3, 5 and 7 seconds respectively. The wound healing time was similar even the scalding became more and more serious when injury time increased from 7 to 10 seconds.

CONCLUSIONThe scalding depth and area in this model could be controlled, and the degree of scald injury could be graded accurately with easy manipulation. The result showed that it was an ideal model of skin burn wound.

Animals ; Burns ; pathology ; Disease Models, Animal ; Male ; Pressure ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Steam

OBJECTIVETo investigate the change in neuropeptide substance P (SP) in the burn wound skin in scalded rats.

METHODSThe SP distribution density in the rat skin samples from the burn wound, peri-wound area and remote area of scalded rats were determined by immunohistochemistry technique. The mRNA expression of SP was observed by in situ hybridization.

RESULTSThe distribution density of SP in the skin samples from the above three areas decreased obviously since 15 mins postburn, dropped to the lowest level during 6 - 12 postburn hou (PBH), and then recovered thereafter. Comparatively, the recovery in peri-wound area occurred earlier. In addition, there was emigration of macrophage-like large cells with positive SP immunoreactivity from local blood vessels in the dermal layer of the burn wound and peri-wound areas. The large cells were closely related to the local SP-containing nerve fibres at 12 PBHs. Intensified staining of the cells was identified at 24 PBHs with the disintegration of the cells into pieces with release of large amounts of positive SP immunoreactive granules, followed by disappearance of the cells at 48 PBHs. It was indicated by in situ hybridization that the preprotachykinin A (PPTA) mRNA encoding and synthesizing SP was expressed in various cells at 6 PBHs.

CONCLUSIONSP might be synthesized and released from cutaneous nerve ending or from local inflammatory cells after skin burn injury.

Animals ; Burns ; metabolism ; pathology ; In Situ Hybridization ; Male ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Skin ; metabolism ; Substance P ; metabolism ; Wound Healing ; physiology