Prognostic tools for hypertrophic scar formation based on fundamental differences in systemic immunity

Unpredictable hypertrophic scarring (HS) occurs after approximately 35% of all surgical procedures and causes significant physical and psychological complaints. Parallel to the need to understanding the mechanisms underlying HS formation, a prognostic tool is needed. The objective was to determine whether (systemic) immunological differences exist between patients who develop HS and those who develop normotrophic scars (NS) and to assess whether those differences can be used to identify patients prone to developing HS. A prospective cohort study with NS and HS groups in which (a) cytokine release by peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and (b) the irritation threshold (IT) after an irritant (sodium lauryl sulphate) patch test was evaluated. Univariate regression analysis of PBMC cytokine secretion showed that low MCP‐1, IL‐8, IL‐18 and IL‐23 levels have a strong correlation with HS (P < .010‐0.004; AUC = 0.790‐0.883). Notably, combinations of two or three cytokines (TNF‐a, MCP‐1 and IL‐23; AUC: 0.942, Nagelkerke R²: 0.727) showed an improved AUC indicating a better correlation with HS than single cytokine analysis. These combination models produce good prognostic results over a broad probability range (sensitivity: 93.8%, specificity 86.7%, accuracy 90,25% between probability 0.3 and 0.7). Furthermore, the HS group had a lower IT than the NS group and an accuracy of 68%. In conclusion, very fundamental immunological differences exist between individuals who develop HS and those who do not, whereas the cytokine assay forms the basis of a predictive prognostic test for HS formation, the less invasive, easily performed irritant skin patch test is more accessible for daily practice.     

The marks of gunshot wounds to the face

IntroductionThis article deals with the occurrence of health problems due to gunshot wounds to the face among military police officers, in the metropolitan region of Rio de Janeiro, who were submitted to surgery at the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and Traumatology Clinic of Hospital Central da Polícia Militar.ObjectiveTo identify the profile of patients submitted to surgery as a result of gunshot wounds, the anatomical distribution of maxillofacial fractures, the identified sequelae and complications, the health specialties involved in the rehabilitation of these patients, and to discuss the social, emotional and work performance-related effects of work among these subjects.MethodsA retrospective epidemiological study was carried out based on secondary data from military police officers who were submitted to surgery at Hospital Central da Polícia Militar due to gunshot wounds from June 2003 to December 2017.ResultsDuring the study period, 778 surgeries were performed in the operating room by the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and Traumatology service at Hospital Central da Polícia Militar, 186 of which were due to gunshot wounds (23.9%). All patients were males and the mean age 34.7 years. Bone segment loss was the most common sequela. Facial esthetic impairment and reports of insomnia were the most often identified late consequences of impact on health and social life. Regarding the occupational impacts of the sustained injury, the mean time away from work due to medical leave for the treatment of maxillofacial injuries was 11.7 months.ConclusionThe treatment of gunshot wounds patients with facial injuries requires multiple surgical interventions and their rehabilitation requires the involvement of different health specialties. Further studies are needed to qualitatively analyze the impact of this type of facial trauma on the patients' lives and their social consequences.     

基于SOCS通路探讨糖尿病足溃疡治疗中中药“去腐生新”作用的研究进展

糖尿病足溃疡（DFUs）是糖尿病严重的并发症之一，发病率和截肢率高，目前具体发病机制仍未完全明确。相关研究表明，炎症、感染和营养障碍等多种因素共同影响DFUs的转归及预后。抑制相关炎症通路和细胞因子表达，可促使坏死组织脱落促进愈合。此外，细胞因子信号传导抑制因子家族蛋白（SOCS）可通过激活蛋白酪氨酸激酶（JAK）/信号转导和转录活化因子（STAT）信号通路参与细胞因子信号转导，参与DFUs创面炎症反应以及愈合过程。近年来，大量研究发现具有“去腐生新”功效的单味中药及其活性成分、中药复方对DFUs具有很好的疗效，研究中药治疗DFUs的具体机制已成为近些年来研究的热点之一。文章查阅近年文献，就SOCS通路与DFUs的关系及中医药治疗DFUs作用机制进行综述。     

Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide Immunoregulatory Role at the Periapex: Associative and Mechanistic Evidences from Human and Experimental Periapical Lesions

IntroductionThe balance between the host proinflammatory immune response and the counteracting anti-inflammatory and reparative responses supposedly determine the outcome of periapical lesions. In this scenario, the vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) may exert a protective role because of its prominent immunoregulatory capacity. In this study, we investigated (in a cause-and-effect manner) the potential involvement of VIP in the development of human and experimental periapical lesions.MethodsPeriapical granulomas (n = 124) and control samples (n = 48) were comparatively assessed for VIP and multiple immunologic/activity marker expression through real-time polymerase chain reaction. Experimental periapical lesions (C57Bl/6 wild-type mice) were evaluated regarding endogenous VIP expression correlation with lesion development and the effect of recombinant VIP therapy in lesion outcome. CCR4KO and IL4KO strains and anti-glucocorticoid-induced TNFR-related protein inhibition were used to test the involvement of Treg and Th2 cells in VIP-mediated effects.ResultsVIP expression was more prevalent in periapical granulomas than in controls, presenting a positive association with immunoregulatory factors and an inverse association/correlation with proinflammatory mediators and the receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa B ligand/osteoprotegerin ratio. Endogenous VIP expression up-regulation was temporally associated with lesion immunoregulation and a decline of bone loss. VIP therapy in mice prompted the arrest of lesion development, being associated with an anti-inflammatory and proreparative response that limits the proinflammatory, Th1, Th17, and osteoclastogenic response in the periapex. The VIP protective effect was dependent of Treg migration and activity and independent of interleukin 4.ConclusionsOur results show that VIP overexpression in human and experimental periapical lesions is associated with lesion inactivity and that VIP therapy results in the attenuation of experimental lesion progression associated with the immunosuppressive response involving Treg cells.     

谷氨酸对腺苷A2A受体调节一氧化氮合酶活力的影响

目的探讨谷氨酸是否能够影响腺苷A2A受体对一氧化氮合酶（NOS）活力的调节。方法用1000ng／ml脂多糖（LPS）刺激小胶质细胞，分别加入100nmol／L A2A受体激动剂CGS21680以及不同浓度的谷氨酸（0，1，0，25，0，5mmol／L）干预，观察NOS活力变化。结果LPS诱导NOS活力增高，激活A2A受体可以产生抑制作用；0，25及0．5mmoL／L谷氨酸和A2A受体激动剂同时存在时，NOS活力进一步增高。结论高浓度谷氨酸可逆转腺苷A2A受体激动剂抑制升高NOS活力的作用。     

海水浸泡爆炸伤延期植皮最佳时机的研究

目的确定海水浸泡爆炸伤延期植皮的最佳时机。方法建立海水浸泡爆炸伤动物模型后，分别于0、3、7、14d切取创面组织作病理切片，镜下观察创面受床的病理改变；同期对创区实施植皮术，通过计算机全自动图像分析系统准确计算出各组的皮片成活率。结果分别于伤后0、3、7、14d，对皮肤缺损区施行植皮术，发现不同时机植皮成活率不同，伤后7d对海水浸泡爆炸伤皮肤缺损区植皮，皮片成活率最高。结论海水浸泡爆炸伤延期7d后植皮是对创面实施植皮术的最佳时机。     

还原型谷胱甘肽联合甘草酸二铵对腹部开放伤后海水浸泡犬肝功能损伤的治疗作用

Objective To investigate effect of reduced glutathione and diammonium glycyrrhizinate on the treatment of hepatic damage in experimental dogs following open abdominal injuries coupled with seawater immersion. Methods Twenty-four dogs with open abdominal injuries were randomly divided into 3 groups: the control group (given with simple observation after 1.5 h seawater immersion); the routine treatment group (given routine care and fluid transfusion after 1.5 h seawater immersion) ; the hepatic treatment group (given routine are, fluid transfusion and hepatic treatment as well, after 1.5 h seawater immersion). Each group consisted of 8 dogs. Blood samples were taken at different time points to measure total bilirubin (TB), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), prothromin time (PT), endotoxin, tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and pathological examination was also made at the same time. Results For the control group, contents of TB, ALT, AST and LDH increased significantly and survival time was less than 24 hours. Contents of TB, ALT, AST and LDH of the routine treatment group also increased significantly, but survival time of all the experimental animals was mere than 24 hours. Reduced glutathione and diammonium glycyrrhizinate could reduce the extent of lesion quite significantly 12～24 hours following open abdominal injuries. Conclusions Reduced glutathione and diammonium glycyrrhizinate seemed to have good effects on the treatment and prevention against hepatic damage induced by trauma coupled with seawater immersion. It could be used as a primary means for the treatment of such kind of hepatic damage.     

海水浸泡兔脑挫伤后caspase-8及caspase-3表达的研究

目的建立海水浸泡颅脑挫裂伤模型,观察海水浸泡对实验性脑挫裂伤后创伤性脑水肿的影响及研究兔脑挫伤后不同时间caspase-8及caspase-3表达的变化。方法采用立体定向自由落体伤模型进行持续海水浸泡作为实验组,对照组采用同样的方法致伤后不进行海水浸泡。观察创伤组织的病理改变,并通过免疫组化染色和计算机图像分析技术用半定量化的方法检测不同干预不同时程caspase-8和caspase-3的活性表达强弱差异。结果实验组和对照组均发生了创伤性脑水肿,但水肿高峰期出现时间不一致,严重程度也不一致。实验组caspase-8和caspase-3活性表达强度均高于对照组。结论海水浸泡促进了挫裂伤周边缺血水肿区神经细胞凋亡的增加。