Regeneration of mature dermis by transplanted particulate acellular dermal matrix in a rat model of skin defect wound

Native mammalian extracellular matrix (ECM) has been made in various forms including particles, sheet and mesh which are appropriate for site-specific applications. The ECM particles are usually created by homogenization method and have a wider size distribution. This needs to be improved to produce more uniform ECM particles. In present study, we had successfully developed a method for preparing particulate acellular dermal matrix (PADM) in different gauges. The resultant PADM was approaching a rectangular parallelepiped or cubic shape, with a better or narrower size distribution than other ECM particles in previous reports. It also retained ultrastructure and functional molecules of native ECM. In vivo performances were evaluated after implantation of PADM in an acute full-thickness skin defect wound in rats. Histological analysis showed that allogeneic PADM used as dermal regeneration template could facilitate maturation and improving collagen bundle structure of regenerated dermis at the endpoint of 20 weeks post-surgery. The PADM could be used for further investigation in analyzing the impacts of cellularly and/or molecularly modified PADM on soft tissue regeneration

Inhibitory Effect of Curcumol on Jak2-STAT Signal Pathway Molecules of Fibroblast-Like Synoviocytes in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis

Hyperplasia of synovial membrane in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a critical pathological foundation for inducing articular injury. The janus kinase and signal transducer and activator of transcription (Jak-STAT) pathway plays a critical role in synovial membrane proliferation induced by platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF). To explore the anti-cell proliferation mechanism of curcumol, a pure monomer extracted from Chinese medical plant zedoary rhizome, the changes of Jak2-STAT1/3 signal pathway-related molecules in synoviocytes were observed in vitro. In this study, the fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS) in patients with RA were collected and cultured. The following parameters were measured: cell proliferation (WST-1 assay), cell cycles (fluorescence-activated cell sorting, FACS), STAT1 and STAT3 activities (electrophoretic mobility shift assay, EMSA), and the protein expressions of phosphorylated Jak2, STAT1, and STAT3 (Western blot). It was shown that curcumol could inhibit the RA-FLS proliferation and DNA synthesis induced by PDGF-BB in a dose-dependent manner in vitro. The transcription factors activities of STAT1 and STAT3 were obviously elevated after PDGF-BB stimulation (P < 0.05). Super-shift experiments identified the STAT1 or STAT3 proteins in the complex. Furthermore, the different concentration curcumol could downregulate the DNA binding activities of STAT1 and STAT3 (P < 0.05) and inhibit the phosphorylation of Jak2 while it had no effect on the protein expressions of STAT1 and STAT3. Positive correlations were found between changes of cell proliferation and DNA-binding activities of STAT1 and STAT3, respectively (P < 0.01). In conclusion, curcumol might suppress the FLS proliferation and DNA synthesis induced by PDGF-BB through attenuating Jak2 phosphorylation, downregulating STAT1 and STAT3 DNA-binding activities, which could provide theoretical foundation for clinical treatment of RA

Guidelines for burn rehabilitation in China

Abstract Quality of life and functional recovery after burn injury is the final goal of burn care, especially as most of burn patients survive the injury due to advanced medical science. However, dysfunction, disfigurement, contractures, psychological problems and other discomforts due to burns and the consequent scars are common, and physical therapy and occupational therapy provide alternative treatments for these problems of burn patients. This guideline, organized by the Chinese Burn Association and Chinese Association of Burn Surgeons aims to emphasize the importance of team work in burn care and provide a brief introduction of the outlines of physical and occupational therapies during burn treatment, which is suitable for the current medical circumstances of China. It can be used as the start of the tools for burn rehabilitation.</jats:p

Determination of nuclear transcription factor activity using a modified electrophoretic mobility shift assay

In this work, several major procedures of the electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) were modified including swift extraction of the nucleic protein, labeling of the probe and radioautography. The modified assay required shorter time, simplified the nucleic protein extraction, increased the radioactivity of the labeling probe, skipped the tedious process of gel drying, and produced clear images. Its results were comparable, reproducible and stable. It thus has merited for wide application

Determination of nuclear transcription factor activity using a modified electrophoretic mobility shift assay

In this work, several major procedures of the electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) were modified including swift extraction of the nucleic protein, labeling of the probe and radioautography. The modified assay required shorter time, simplified the nucleic protein extraction, increased the radioactivity of the labeling probe, skipped the tedious process of gel drying, and produced clear images. Its results were comparable, reproducible and stable. It thus has merited for wide application.A determinação da alteração na mobilidade eletroforética (EMSA), o método de mais ampla utilização para o estudo das interações proteínaácidos nucléicos, é tediosa e difícil de dominar. De acordo com os protocolos dacumentados e com base em nossa prática, nós modificamos os diversos processos principais dessa determinação incluindo no que diz respeito a extração de proteiínas nucleicas, marcação das provas e radioautografia. A determinação modificada requer menor tempo, simplifica a extração de ácidos nucleicos, eleva a radioatividade da prova marcada, evita o processo tedioso de secagem do gel e produz claras imagens. Seus resultados são comparáveis, reproduzíveis e estáveis, merecendo, desse modo, ampla aplicação