Absence of the adenosine A(2A) receptor attenuates hypertrophic scarring in mice.

Hypertrophic scar following cutaneous wounding is the result of the body overproducing collagen, and it has been shown that the activation of the adenosine A(2A) receptor promotes tissue repair, wound healing, and extracellular matrix production. In this study, we explored the role of adenosine receptor in hypertrophic scarring in adenosine A(2A) receptor knockout mice models. Mechanical stress was applied to a healing wound to produce hypertrophic scars in adenosine A(2A) receptor knockout mice and wild-type controls. Total scar areas were evaluated after routine hematoxylin and eosin and picrosirius red staining and hydroxyproline content measured colorimetrically. Expression of transforming growth factor-ß in scar tissues was measured using the Western blotting method. Compared with the wild-type control group, adenosine A(2A) receptor knockout mice showed significantly less thickness, smaller cross-sectional area, and significantly lower hydroxyproline levels and transforming growth factor-ß levels. These results demonstrate that adenosine A(2A) receptors play an active role in the pathogenesis of dermal fibrosis and suggest a novel therapeutic target in the prevention and treatment of hypertrophic scarring.

Epidemiology of hospitalized burn patients in Shandong Province: 2001-2005.

The aim of the article was to describe the epidemiology of burn injuries requiring hospitalization at Shandong Provincial Hospital and to provide information necessary for the design and implementation of effective prevention programs. The records of patients with burn injury admitted to our burn unit over a 5-year period (1 January 2001 to 31 December 2005) were reviewed. Medical record review provided basic demographic information and details on the extent of injury, time of day burns occurred, month of admission, cause of burn, accident site, first aid, number of operations, length of hospital stay, and mortality. There was no trend in annual admissions. The male-to-female ratio was 3:1. The age distribution of burn patients showed peaks occurring at the age groups of 0 to 10 and 20 to 30 years. Over the course of a day, burn injuries occurred most frequently from 1700 to 1900 hours. Scalds accounted for 45.23% (502) of the 1110 patients, and flame burns accounted for 42.33% (471). Only 29% of all patients received proper first aid with cool water or burn cream. The average length of hospital stay was 22 days. Children under 10 years and adults between 20 and 30 years of age are the most susceptible populations, and first aid is performed poorly in Shandong Province. Burn prevention and first aid education campaigns should be launched to encourage safe lifestyle and work habits.

The influence of recombinant human growth hormone on the apoptosis and intestinal mucosal structure in severely scalded rats / 中华烧伤杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the influence of recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) on the apoptosis and intestinal mucosal structure in severely scalded rats.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Thirty male Wistar rats were randomly divided into three groups, i.e. control, scalding and rhGH groups. The rats in scalding and rhGH groups were inflicted with 25% TBSA III degree scalding on the back and immediately followed by intraperitoneal injection of dexamethasone (80 mg/kg). The scalded rats were administered with normal saline and rhGH (1.33 IU.kg(-1).d(-1)) since 2 postburn hours (PBHs), respectively in the last two groups. The changes of the apoptosis rate, the intestinal mucosal proliferative index (PI) and epithelial ultrastructure and the intestinal mucosal pathomorphology of the distal end of ileal mucosal tissue were observed on 30 and 96 PBHs.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The intestinal mucosa morphology and epithelia in scalding group were severely injured but were significantly ameliorated by rhGH to near those in control group. The PI in rhGH and scalding groups at 30 PBHs was evidently higher that that in control group (P < 0.05 - 0.01). But the PI exhibited no obvious difference between scalding and rhGH groups. While the PI in rhGH group at 96 PBHs was obviously higher than that in both scalding and control groups (P < 0.01). The intestinal mucosal epithelial apoptotic rate in scalding group was significantly higher than that in control group (P < 0.01), while that in rhGH group was evidently lower than that in scalding and control groups (P < 0.05 - 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>rhGH could promote postburn intestinal mucosa epithelial proliferation in slow - action manner and inhibit intestinal mucosal epithelial apoptosis with rapid and obvious effects. As a result, the intestinal mucosal epithelial injury could be ameliorated by rhGH by means of its inhibiting roles and the normal morphological structure of intestinal mucosa was maintained ad hoc.</p>

Long-term results of treatment of 30 patients with primary intracranial germinoma / 中华放射肿瘤学杂志

Objective To report long term results of 30 patients with primary intracranial germinoma and evaluate the treatment policy. Methods After the tumor of these 30 patients was completely or partially removed they were routinely given radiation therapy with the conventional extenal irradiation. Of these 30 patients, 28 received prophylactic whole brain irradiation followed by the cone down technique to the local site to an effective dose except 2 patients who were treated locally without prophylactic irradiation.Nineteen patients received prophylactic spinal cord irradiation.Results The overall 5 ,10 , 15 ,19 year survival rates were 93.1%, 87.6% ,87.6% and 68.2%,respectively.The two patients who did not receive prophylactic whole brain irradiation (1 patient) or too low a dose of that (1 patient) developed metastasis in the brain and spinal cord were given a second course of radiotherapy. One survived for 17 years and the other is living now over 10 years. The overall response rate (CR + PR) was 95%.Conclusions While surgery is indicated to reduce the tumor volume, shunt the hydrocrania and obtain a pathologic diagnosis, radiotherapy is invaluable to cure germinoma. Prophylactic whole brain irradiation of 26～30 Gy is necessary and the curative local dose should be 50～55 Gy. Prophylactic spinal cord irradiation is not indicated routinely except some appropriate patients. For patients younger than 14 years, shielding of the pituitary is necessary while the prophylactic whole brain is being irradiated. The tumor dose at the sella turcica region should be limited to 56 Gy, and the spinal cord need not be irradiated prophylactically.