Development of an Animal Model for Burn-Blast Combined Injury and Cardiopulmonary System Changes in the Early Shock Stage.

The purposes of this study were to establish an animal model for burn-blast combined injury research and elaborate cardiopulmonary system changes in the early shock stage. In this study, royal demolition explosive or RDX (hexagon, ring trimethylene nitramine) was used as an explosive source, and the injury conditions of the canine test subjects at various distances to the explosion (30, 50, and 70 cm) were observed by gross anatomy and pathology to determine a larger animal model of moderate blast injury. The canines were then subjected to a 35 % total body surface area (TBSA) full-thickness flame injury using napalm, which completed the development of a burn-blast combined injury model.

Lipopolysaccharide pretreatment inhibits LPS-induced human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cell apoptosis via upregulating the expression of cellular FLICE-inhibitory protein.

Mesenchymal stem cell (MSC)-based regenerative therapy is currently regarded as a novel approach with which to repair damaged tissues. However, the efficiency of MSC transplantation is limited due to the low survival rate of engrafted MSCs. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) production is increased in numerous diseases and serves an essential function in the regulation of apoptosis in a variety of cell types.

[Comparison of different methods for the isolation of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells].

Objective: To explore the most appropriate method for the isolation of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) through a comparison of different methods.

Methods: Fifteen umbilical cord specimens from full-term healthy fetus with caesarean birth were completely rinsed with phosphate buffer saline (PBS) and sliced into 1 mm(3) tissue blocks after removal of umbilical vessels and external membrane. These tissue blocks were averagely divided into 4 groups after washing and centrifuge.

Basic fibroblast growth factor/vascular endothelial growth factor in the serum from severe burn patients stimulates the proliferation of cultured human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells via activation of Notch signaling pathways.

Background: Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are the leading cellular constituents used in regenerative medicine. MSCs repair and reconstruct wounds of acute traumata and radiation-induced burns through proliferation, differentiation, and trophic activity. However, repair effect of MSCs on severe burn wounds remain to be clarified because severe burns are much more complex traumata than radiation-induced burns.

[Functions of exogenous application of connective tissue growth factor in stimulating human dermal papilla cells and human hair follicle outer root sheath cells for reconstructive tissue-engineering hair follicles].

Objective: To explore the functions of connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) in the restoration of hair follicles with a mixture of human dermal papilla cells and human hair follicle outer root sheath cells in vitro in nude mice.

Methods: Human hair follicle outer root sheath cells (hfORS) and human hair dermal papilla cells (hDP) were cultured in vitro and mixed in a fixed ratio (hfORS: hDP = 5:1). Flow cytometry was used to detect the content of CD200(+) cells in human hair follicle outer root sheath cells.

[Voltage dependent anion channel 2 involved mitochondrial apoptosis and its possible regulatory signal pathway in hearts of rats with severe scalds].

Objective: To explore the role of voltage dependent anion channel 2 (VDAC2) involved mitochondrial apoptosis in heart injury of rats with severe scald injury and elucidate its possible regulatory signal pathway.

Methods: A total of 60 Wistar rats were divided into sham scald group (n = 30) and scald group (n = 30) according to a random digital table. Blood and heart tissue samples were harvested at Day 1, 7, 14 post scalding.

[Changes in proliferative activity of myoblasts and expression of Akt in skeletal muscle of rats after severe burn injury].

Objective: To investigate changes in proliferative activity of myoblasts in skeletal muscle and potential role of phosphorylated Akt on it, so that a better understanding in mechanisms of skeletal muscle atrophy after burn injury will be got.

Methods: One hundred and twenty Wistar rats were randomly divided into 2 groups: control and severe thermal injury group. Rats in severe thermal injury group were subjected to a 40% total body surface area full-thickness scald injury, and Tibialis Anterior (TA) muscles were collected on 0, 1, 4, 7, 10, 14 days post-injury.

[Effect of intensive insulin therapy on apoptosis-related ligands in serum in rats with severe scald].

Objective: To investigate changes in apoptosis-related ligands in serum in rats with severe scald and the effect of intensive insulin therapy on the changes.

Methods: One hundred and fifty Wistar rats were randomly divided into 3 groups: sham burn (SB), scald (S) and treatment (T) groups. Rats in S and T groups were inflicted with 40% TBSA full-thickness burn, followed by intraperitoneal injection with 40 mL/kg of isotonic saline for resuscitation.

[Preliminary study of skeletal muscle apoptosis after severe thermal injury in rats].

Objective: To investigate changes in skeletal muscle apoptosis after a severe thermal injury in rats.

Methods: One hundred Wistar rats were randomly divided into two groups: sham thermal injury group and severe thermal injury group. They were subdivided into 1, 4, 7, 10, 14 days post-injury with 10 rats in each subgroup.

[Study on the injurious effect of a self designed micro-skin machine on the epithelia].

Objective: To observe the injury on micro-skin induced by a self designed micro-skin machine.

Methods: Micro-skin was produced either with the machine or by hand. Cells at the edge of micro-skin were observed by transmission electron microscope.

[Investigation of p53 gene mutations in keloids using PCR-SSCP].

Objective: To detect gene mutations of p53 gene (exon 4-6) in fibroblasts.

Methods: Samples of keloids were taken from 15 patients. The mutations of p53 gene were detected using polymerase chain reaction, the single-strand conformational polymorphism(SSCP) analysis and DNA sequencing.

[Cell cycle analysis and P53 gene mutation detection of fibroblasts derived from the surrounding skin of keloids].

Objective: To investigate whether there are abnormal fibroblasts in the surrounding skin of keloids for better understanding of the etiological feature of keloids.

Methods: Fresh samples were used for cell culture. Flow cytometry was used for analyzing cell cycles of fibroblasts derived from keloids and the surrounding skin.

[Detection and analysis of Fas gene (exon 1-6) mutations in keloids].

Objective: To detect Fas DNA mutations (exon 1-6) in the fibroblasts of patients with keloids, thereby to understand the clinicopathological implications of altered structure of the keloids.

Methods: PCR followed by single-strand conformational polymorphism analysis and direct DNA sequencing were used to detect Fas gene mutations in 15 patients with keloids.

Results: Insertion and point mutations were identified on the boundary between intron 5 and exon 6 in two patients, while no Fas mutations were found in the fibroblasts derived from normal skin samples of any of the patients.