Identification of Key Genes in Severe Burns by Using Weighted Gene Coexpression Network Analysis.

The aims of this work were to explore the use of weighted gene coexpression network analysis (WGCNA) for identifying the key genes in severe burns and to provide a reference for finding therapeutic targets for burn wounds. The GSE8056 dataset was selected from the gene expression database of the US National Center for Biotechnology Information for analysis, and a WGCNA network was constructed to screen differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Gene Ontology and pathway enrichment of DGEs were analyzed, and protein interaction network was constructed.

[Mode of debridement, negative-pressure therapy combined with tissue transplantation for treatment of complicated and refractory wounds].

Objective: To observe therapeutic effect of negative-pressure treatment combined with tissue transplantation on complicated and refractory wounds after debridement.

Methods: After debridement, 20 patients with 20 complicated and refractory wounds hospitalized in our burn wards from May 2008 to June 2010 were randomly divided into treatment group (T, treated with negative-pressure from -19 kPa to -8 kPa, n = 10) and control group (C, covered with petrolatum gauze overlaid with saline gauze and dry gauze, n = 10) according to alternating method. On post treatment day (PTD) 4, 7, and 14, granulation tissues of wound surface in size of 4 mm × 3 mm × 2 mm were harvested for histopathological observation (including capillary growth, inflammatory cells, and collagen arrangement) with HE staining, and the numbers of vascular endothelial cells (VEC, with addition of rabbit anti-human coagulation factor VIII related antigen polyclonal antibody) and proliferation period cells (with addition of mouse anti-human Ki-67 monoclonal antibody) were counted by immunohistochemical staining.

[Influence of rhubarb on gastrointestinal motility and intestinal mucosal barrier in patients with severe burn].

Objective: To observe the influence of rhubarb on gastrointestinal motility and intestinal mucosal barrier in patients with severe burn.

Methods: Thirty patients with severe burn admitted to our burn wards within 48 hours after burn injury from December 2009 to December 2010 were divided into therapeutic group (T, treated with 10 g rhubarb by nasal feeding and 5 g L-glutamine by oral administration beginning from 6 hours after admission, three times per day, and also given enteral nutrition beginning from 24 hours after admission, n = 16) and control group (C, received the same treatment as used in T group but without rhubarb, n = 14) according to the random number table. Gastrointestinal function indexes including restoration of bowel sound within 24 hours, abdominal distension, tolerance to enteral nutrition, and defecation were observed after treatment.

[Correction of claw hand deformity after burns by elastic traction].

Objective: To investigate a new method for correction of claw hand deformity after burns.

Methods: From May 2006 to Jul. 2010, 12 patients with claw hands deformities after burns were treated with skin grafts (11 hands) and skin flap (1 hand) with unsatisfactory results.

[Analysis of the proteomic changes of the serum of the Smad3 targeted deficient mice].

We have studied the proteomic changes of the serum of the Smad3 targeted deficient mice using 2-DE and PMF approaches. 7 proteins expressed at different level in wild type mice and the Smad3 deficient mice were identified. These results would benefit the research on diagnosis and therapy of osteoarthritis and provided clues to studying the important function of Smad3 mediated TGF-beta signals during the skeletal development.

[Generation and characterization of chondrocyte specific Cre transgenic mice].

A chondrocyte specific transgenic construct (pcol2A1-Cre) containing the cartilage specific type II collagen A1 promoter, the Cre recombinase gene and the polyA of human growth factor gene was generated. The 9.3 kb DNA fragments were recovered from Not I digested fragments and microinjected into 323 fertilized eggs.