Effects and Mechanism of Berberine on the Dexamethasone-Induced Injury of Human Tendon Cells.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of berberine (Berb) on dexamethasone- (Dex-) induced injury of human tendon cells and its potential mechanism. METHODS: CCK-8 assay was used to explore the appropriate concentration of Dex-induced injury of tendon cells and the doses of Berb attenuates Dex cytotoxicity; cell wound healing assay was used to detect the effects (P < 0.05) of Berb and Dex on the migration ability of tendon cells; flow cytometry was used to measure cell apoptosis; DCF DA fluorescent probe was used to measure the ROS activity of cells. Western blotting was used to detect the expression of phenotype related factors including smooth muscle actin α (SMA-α), type I collagen (Col I), col III, apoptosis-related factors, caspase-3, cleaved caspase-3, caspase-9, cleaved caspase-9, and PI3K/AKT. RESULTS: CCK-8 assay showed that 1-100 µM Dex significantly inhibited the proliferation of tendon cells in a concentration-dependent manner (P < 0.05), where the inhibitory effect of 100 µM Dex was most significant (P < 0.005), and the pretreatment of 150, 200 µM Berb could reverse those inhibitions (all P < 0.05). Compared with the control group, Dex significantly inhibited cell migration (P < 0.05), while Berb pretreatment could enhance cell migration (P < 0.05). Flow cytometry and ROS assay showed that Dex could induce apoptosis and oxidative stress response of tendon cells (all P < 0.05), while Berb could reverse those responses (P < 0.05). Western blot showed that Dex could inhibit the expression of the col I and III as well as α-SMA (all P < 0.05) and enhance the expression of apoptosis-related factors including cleaved caspase-3 and cleaved caspase-9 (all P < 0.05). Besides, Dex could also inhibit the activation of the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway (all P < 0.05), thus affecting cell function, while Berb treatment significantly reversed the expression of those above proteins (all P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Berb attenuated DEX induced reduction of proliferation and migration, oxidative stress, and apoptosis of tendon cells by activating the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway and regulated the expression of phenotype related biomarkers in tendon cells. However, further studies are still needed to clarify the protective effects of Berb in vivo.

Repair of soft tissue defects of the fingers with medial plantar venous flap.

OBJECTIVE: To report the surgical procedures and efficacy of using medial plantar venous flap for the repair of soft tissue defects of the fingers. METHODS: From March 2010 to April 2012, medial plantar venous flaps were harvested to repair the wounds of 31 fingers in 29 cases. Among them, there were 13 middle fingers with defects at the tips in 11 cases, 7 fingers with defects in the dorsal part in 7 cases, and 11 fingers with defects in the finger pulp in 11 cases. The size of the defects ranged from 1.2cm×1.5 cm to 2.5cm × 3.5cm. Medial plantar venous flaps of 1.5cm × 2cm - 3×4 cm were harvested. Full-thickness skin grafts were adopted for the donor areas. RESULTS: All 31 flaps survived, except for 1 flap with arterial crisis and 2 cases with venous crisis. These conditions were timely corrected by secondary anastomosis of artery and vein and the flaps survived. The wounds and the donor areas achieved healing by the first intention. All grafted skins survived. Postoperative follow-up was conducted for 26 fingers in 24 cases for 4-12 months, excluding 5 cases with lost follow-up. The dorsal part of the damaged fingers had normal morphology, and the skin color and texture were similar to those of the normal skin. After the repair of defects in the fingertip and pulp, fingerprints appeared, and the protective sensation was restored. CONCLUSION: The soft tissue defects of the fingers can be satisfactorily repaired with medial plantar venous flap, and little damage is caused to the donor area. This method is proven effective for the repair of soft tissue defects of the fingers.

Repair of soft tissue defects of the fingers with medial plantar venous flap

SUMMARY OBJECTIVE To report the surgical procedures and efficacy of using medial plantar venous flap for the repair of soft tissue defects of the fingers. Methods From March 2010 to April 2012, medial plantar venous flaps were harvested to repair the wounds of 31 fingers in 29 cases. Among them, there were 13 middle fingers with defects at the tips in 11 cases, 7 fingers with defects in the dorsal part in 7 cases, and 11 fingers with defects in the finger pulp in 11 cases. The size of the defects ranged from 1.2cm×1.5 cm to 2.5cm × 3.5cm. Medial plantar venous flaps of 1.5cm × 2cm - 3×4 cm were harvested. Full-thickness skin grafts were adopted for the donor areas. RESULTS All 31 flaps survived, except for 1 flap with arterial crisis and 2 cases with venous crisis. These conditions were timely corrected by secondary anastomosis of artery and vein and the flaps survived. The wounds and the donor areas achieved healing by the first intention. All grafted skins survived. Postoperative follow-up was conducted for 26 fingers in 24 cases for 4-12 months, excluding 5 cases with lost follow-up. The dorsal part of the damaged fingers had normal morphology, and the skin color and texture were similar to those of the normal skin. After the repair of defects in the fingertip and pulp, fingerprints appeared, and the protective sensation was restored. CONCLUSION The soft tissue defects of the fingers can be satisfactorily repaired with medial plantar venous flap, and little damage is caused to the donor area. This method is proven effective for the repair of soft tissue defects of the fingers.

RESUMO OBJETIVO Relatar os procedimentos cirúrgicos e a eficácia do uso de retalhos plantares mediais venosos para reparo de defeitos de tecidos moles dos dedos. METODOLOGIA De março de 2010 a abril de 2012, foram colhidos retalhos plantares mediais venosos para reparar ferimentos de 31 dedos em 29 casos. Entre eles, 13 dedos médios com defeitos nas pontas em 11 casos, 7 dedos com defeitos na parte dorsal em 7 casos e 11 dedos com defeitos na polpa digital em 11 casos. O tamanho dos defeitos variava de 1,2 cm × 1,5 cm a 2,5 cm × 3,5 cm. Foram colhidos retalhos plantares mediais venosos de 1,5 cm × 2 cm a 3 cm × 4 cm. Foram adotados enxertos de pele de espessura total na área doadora. RESULTADOS Todos os 31 retalhos sobreviveram, com exceção de 1 retalho com crise arterial e 2 casos com crise venosa. Esses problemas foram corrigidos a tempo com anastomoses secundárias das artérias e veias e os retalhos sobreviveram. Os ferimentos e áreas doadoras atingiram cicatrização por primeira intenção. Todos os enxertos de pele sobreviveram. Foi realizado acompanhamento pós-operatório em de 26 dedos em 24 casos por 4 a 12 meses, sendo que dos casos tratados 5 não tiveram acompanhamento. As partes dorsais dos dedos lesionados apresentaram morfologia normal, com cor e textura da pele muito similares a da pele normal. Após o reparo dos defeitos nas pontas e polpas digitais, impressões digitais apareceram e a sensação protetora foi restaurada. CONCLUSÃO Os defeitos de tecido mole dos dedos podem ser reparados de forma satisfatória com retalhos plantares mediais venosos, com poucos danos à área doadora. Este método mostrou se eficaz para o reparo de defeitos de tecido mole dos dedos.