Effects of sodium tanshinone II A sulfonate on proliferation of fibroblasts in scar and the mRNA and protein expressions of transforming growth factor beta 1 and alpha smooth muscle actin / 中华烧伤杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the effects of sodium tanshinone II A sulfonate (STS) on proliferation of fibroblasts (Fbs) in human hypertrophic scar (HS), the mRNA and protein expressions of transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-β1) and alpha smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), and to investigate the scar inhibition mechanism of STS.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Fbs were isolated from HS tissues that were removed from eight patients after burn injury, and they were cultured in vitro. Cells from the 3rd to the 6th passages were used in the experiment. Fbs were divided into control group and experimental group according to the random number table, and cells in the experimental group was divided into 0.050, 0.075, 0.100, 0.125, 0.150, 0.200 mg/mL STS subgroups. Cells in each subgroup were cultured with the corresponding concentration of STS, and cells in control group were cultured in equal volume of serum-free medium. After being cultured for 24 and 48 h, cell morphology was observed with inverted phase contrast microscope; cell proliferation was determined with MTT method and the proliferation inhibition rate (IR) was calculated. After being cultured for 48 h, the protein levels of TGF-β1 and α-SMA were determined with Western blotting; the mRNA expressions of TGF-β1 and α-SMA were determined with RT-PCR (no 0.200 mg/mL STS subgroup was set for these two indicators). Data were processed with factorial analysis of variance; differences between groups were processed with LSD test or Games-Howell test for unequal variances.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>(1) Fbs grew well in control group, but reduction in adherence and disorderly arranged Fbs were observed in experimental group. The cells in experimental group became smaller and round, with increasing intracellular particles and necrosis. A large amount of necrotic debris of cells was observed in 0.200 mg/mL STS subgroup. (2) The absorbance value of Fbs in each experimental subgroup was significantly lower than that in control group (with P values all below 0.01). Along with the increase in the concentration of STS and extension of culture time, the IR value increased, showing a certain degree of time-concentration dependence. After being cultured with STS for 24 and 48 h, IR values of cells in the experimental subgroups were respectively 23.58%, 32.11%, 37.56%, 57.98%, 79.53%, 96.69% and 34.72%, 38.48%, 47.62%, 64.40%, 89.70%, 98.01%. (3) Except for the 0.050 mg/mL STS subgroup, the protein levels of TGF-β1 and α-SMA in the other subgroups were significantly lower than those in control group (with F values respectively 57.674, 47.795, P values all below 0.001). The protein levels of TGF-β1 and α-SMA reached the nadir in 0.150 mg/mL STS subgroup, respectively 0.34 ± 0.06, 0.33 ± 0.07. The relative expression amounts of TGF-β1 and α-SMA mRNA in the experimental subgroups were obviously decreased compared with those in control group (with F values respectively 68.548, 47.522, P values all below 0.001), which was most significant in 0.150 mg/mL STS subgroup, with TGF-β1 mRNA and α-SMA mRNA respectively 0.39 ± 0.07 and 0.42 ± 0.08.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>STS can inhibit the proliferation of Fbs, reduce the protein and mRNA expressions of TGF-β1 and α-SMA, which may be beneficial to ameliorate the formation and contracture of HS, and it is assumed as a potential drug for treating scars.</p>

An investigation of bacterial ecology and analysis of bacterial resistance to antibiotics in a burn ward in Nanning district / 中华烧伤杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the changes in the bacterial ecology and to analyze the bacterial resistance to antibiotics in a burn ward in Nanning district during the past 15 years, so as to provide reference to the clinical management of burn infection under subtropical climate.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Five thousand eight hundred and fifty-five strains of bacteria were isolated from the wounds and blood of 2269 burn patients admitted to our hospital from April of 1989 to March of 2004. Kiry-Bauer method was employed for the detection of antibiotic sensitivity test. The bacterial examination and bacterial resistance were analyzed in spans of every five years.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Burn patients in our district were mainly infected by the gram negative bacilli (3559 strains, accounting for 60.79%), among which Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Enterobacter cloacae and Nitrate negative bacilli were major ones in every period. Gram positive cocci accounted for 33.99% (1990 strains), which ranked the second, among which Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, and Coagulase negative staphylococci (MRCNS) were the most predominant ones. The bacterial resistance to multiple antibiotics, such as Gentamicin, third generation of Cephalosporin, and Norfloxacin showed a tendency of increase or maintained at high level while the incidence of resistance to Imipenem and Vancomycin was very low.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The climate and the way of using antibiotics exerted direct effects on the status of the bacterial ecology and change in bacterial resistance to various antibiotics.</p>