[Characteristics and replantation of degloving injury of distal finger].

OBJECTIVE: To explore clinical characteristics and replantation methods of degloving injury of distal finger. METHODS: From 2004 to 2009,18 cases of 19 distal finger degloving were admitted, and included 14 males and 4 femals with an average age of 31 years old ranging from 18 to 51 years old. The distal finger degloving injury was divided into 3 types according to the different levels of degloveing digital artery and skin involving 6 fingers of type I, 10 fingers of type II, 3 fingers of type III. Among them, 3 cases of 4 fingers were failed to be replantaed due to severed injured digital artery, and 15 cases of 15 distal finger degloving injury were replanted with microsurgical technique. RESULTS: Among 15 patients (15 fingers) conpleted the reimplant operation, 13 fingers were survived, 2 fingers were necrosis after operation. Thirteen survived fingers were followed up from 6 to 24 months (averaged 14 months). The appearance of injured fingers and nails obtained satisfactory results. According to Chinese Hand Surgery Society Criteria for function assessment replantation, the results were excellent in 9 cases, good in 3 cases and poor in 1. CONCLUSION: Replantation of distal degloving injury is effective and it should strive for replantation.

[Clinical significance of MESS scoring system in the treatment of fractures of lower limb combined with vascular injuries].

OBJECTIVE: To study the clinical significance of MESS scoring system in the treatment of fractures of lower limb combined with vascular injuries, and to evaluate its reliance. METHODS: From March 2006 to March 2008, 28 patients with fractures of lower limb combined with vascular injuries were graded by MESS scoring system. There were 17 patients were male and 11 patients were female, ranging in age from 23 to 53 years, averaged 38 years. Seventeen patients had fractures at the superior segment of tibia and fibia, 7 patients had fractures at the inferior segment of femur, and other 4 patients had dislocation of knee joint. Among the patients, 18 patients had MESS scores more than 7.0 point, in which 13 patients were treated with one-stage amputation, 5 patients were treated with two-stage amputation; the other 10 patients had the MESS scores less than 7.0 point, and were treated with open reduction and internal fixation, in which 8 patients were treated with transplantation of great saphenous vein to repair blood vessles, and 2 patients were treated with vascular end to end anastomosis. RESULTS: Among the patients, including 18 patients whose MESS scores more than 7.0 point were treated with one-stage or two-stage amputation, and 10 patients whose MESS scores less than 7.0 point were treated with limb salvage operations, all the limbs survived. During the follow-up period (ranged from 0.5 to 1 year, the movement and sensory function of the limbs recovered well. CONCLUSION: MESS is a simple and reliable tool to determine the proper strategy for the patients suffering from vascular injuries with fractures.

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma (PPAR-gamma) agonist inhibits transforming growth factor-beta1 and matrix production in human dermal fibroblasts.

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma (PPAR-gamma) agonists are increasingly used in patients with diabetes, and some studies have suggested a beneficial effect on organ fibrosis, but their effects on dermal cell growth and extracellular matrix (ECM) turnover are unknown. To investigate the effect of the PPAR-gamma agonist troglitazone on cell growth and matrix production in human dermal fibroblasts (HDF), HDF were cultured and grown in a different concentration of troglitazone. PPAR-gamma expression and matrix production were measured in HDF in the presence of troglitazone. The mRNA expressions of TGF-beta1, collagen I (Col I) and fibronectin (FN) were determined by quantitative real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The protein of transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1) was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and proteins of Col I and FN were determined by Western blotting. The mRNA expression of TGF-beta1, Col I and FN were significantly decreased in HDF in 15-30 micromol l(-1) troglitazone compared to the control group with Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium (P<0.01). An obvious decrease of TGF-beta1 protein was found in troglitazone-treated groups as compared to the control group (P<0.05). Exposure of HDF to troglitazone reduced col I secretion (P<0.05), and fibronectin secretion (P<0.05). This study suggests that PPAR-gamma agonist will provide a novel approach with therapeutic potential in dermal fibrosis, such as hypertrophic scar, keloid and so on.