BACKGROUND: Transforming growth factor-β(TGF-β) is an essential factor for pathological scar formation. Smad protein group is the signal protein of lower reaches of TGF-β receptor. Asiaticoside can inhibit proliferation of fibroblasts and synthesis of collagen to reduce TGF-β expression in the scar.OBJECTIVE: To study the mechanism of asiaticoside on proliferation of scar fibroblasts and phosphorylated Smad2 and Smad7.DESIGN: Controlled study with observation, in which cell was taken as the object.SETTING: Department of burn and plastic surgery of a hospital affiliated to a university.PARTICIPANTS: The experiment was performed in Surgical Laboratory in Sun Yat-sen University from April 2002 to March 2003. The specimens were selected from 6 inpatients receiving plastic operation due to hyperplasic scar including 3 male and 3 female cases aged varied from 1 to 35 years. The hyperplasic scar fibroblasts were obtained generated from original culture in laboratory of surgical department.INTERVENTIONS: In the research, the experiment group and the control group were divided. In the experiment group, asiaticoside was applied on fibroblasts; in the control group, asiaticoside was not prescribed. The changes of every index were observed before and after medication.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: ① Effect of asiaticoside on expression of phosphorylated Smad2 and Smad7; ② Effect of asiaticoside on cell cycle and apoptosis.RESULTS: Asiaticoside inhibited scar fibroblasts entering M phrase from S phrase and reduced the content of phosphorylated Smad2 in fibroblasts, which did not present significant difference in two groups ( t = 1.53, P =0.08).The content of Smad7 in the cells was (50. 80 ± 22.40)% in the experiment group and (32.18 ± 17.84)% in the control group, which indicated significant difference ( t = 2. 17, P = 0. 024).CONCLUSION: Asiaticoside inhibits scar formation by Smad passage.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the bacterial epidemiology in our department in recent years, so as to provide assistance to the clinical management of burn patients.

METHODSA retrospective analysis was carried out with 345 bacterial cultures from burn wound and drug-sensitivity results in 784 burn patients during 1993 to 1999 in our department.

RESULTS(1) Among all the bacteria, gram negative (G(-)) bacilli accounted for 56.8%, while gram positive (G(+)) cocci and fungi in 3.8%. (2) Among all the G(+) cocci, 65.4% were Staphylococcus aureus, in which MRSA was identified in 53.9% during 1993 - 1999 and in 64.3% during 1998 - 1999. Pseudomonus aeruginosa accounted for 37.2% of all G(-) bacilli. (3) The 3rd generation of cephalosporins shew excellent anti-bacterial capabilities, but the bacterial resistance to them increased significantly. (4) MRSA was very sensitive to both vancomycin and norvancomycin with no report of antibiotic resistance to them.

CONCLUSIONG(-) bacilli were still predominant bacteria in our burn department when compared to G(+) cocci. The 3rd generation cephalosporins are the routine antibiotics for the present. But resistant bacteria are on the increase. There are also more and more MRSAs isolated from burn wounds. For this, vancomycin and norvancomycin should be preferably used.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; pharmacology ; Burns ; microbiology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Middle Aged ; Pseudomonas aeruginosa ; drug effects ; Retrospective Studies ; Staphylococcus aureus ; drug effects

【Objective】 To investigate the possible mechanism of the asiaticoside used for the treatment of hypertrophic scar. 【Method】 Using microscope, electron microscope, MTT test, 3　H-TdR and 3　H-Pro line incorpo ration to study the effect of the asiaticoside on DNA synthesis and collagen bi osynthesis of fibroblast in vitro culture. 【Results】 The asiaticoside not only affected the ultrostructure of fibroblast, but also inhibted the DNA synthesis a nd collagen biosynthesis.【Conclusion】 Asiaticoside can play an important role in the prevntion and treatment of scars, the mechanism may be that the asiaticos ide can inhibted the DNA synthesis and collagen biosynthesis of fibroblast.

To elaborate the opinion on the modernization of Chinese materia medica(CMM) processing piece as CMM modernization has been fast developed with some blemish and obstacle yet.Modern CMM processing piece,guided by traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) theory,is made by science and technology of nowadays and the quality control is performed by HPLC-13C-NMR quantitative fingerprints.Also,it is evaluated through modern pharmacology and by TCM evaluation theory.Modern CMM processing piece is improved from the essence of "effective extract" and "effective fraction".CMM Granula in prescription is only considered as a primitive and junior form of the modern CMM processing piece.So modern CMM processing piece,which is feasible,controllable,compatible,and practical,is the key of the modernization and internationalization of CMM.