Hypericin damages the ectatic capillaries in a Roman cockscomb model and inhibits the growth of human endothelial cells more potently than hematoporphyrin does through induction of apoptosis.

Hypericin (HY) is a promising photosensitizer (PS) for use in photodynamic therapy (PDT). Port-wine stains (PWSs) are congenital superficial dermal capillary malformations. In this study, we evaluated the photocytotoxic effects of HY for PDT in human vascular endothelial cells and a chicken cockscomb model. HY significantly inhibited the growth of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs), as determined by colorimetric assays and morphological observation, and flow cytometry assays indicated induction of apoptosis and collapse of the mitochondrial membrane potential. In addition, HY more effectively inhibited growth of and induced apoptosis in HUVECs compared with hematoporphyrin (HP). Further experiments performed in a Roman chicken cockscomb model also showed a clear photocytotoxic effect on the cockscomb dermal capillary upon intravenous injection of HY. This effect may be due to the role of HY in the induction of apoptosis. Transmission electron microscopical analysis showed mitochondrial morphological changes such as incomplete ridges and swelling, and immunohistochemical assays showed an increase in the release of cytochrome c. In conclusion, HY exhibited a greater photocytotoxic activity than did HP toward the growth of endothelial cells and may thus represent a potent PS for PWS PDT.

[Analysis of the influence on the prognosis and safety of arginine in patients with severe trauma and burns--a multi-center randomized double blinded, placebo controlled, clinical trail in 86 patients].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the influence on prognosis and possible side-effects of arginine in METHODS: Multi-center clinical trial, randomized double blinded patients with severe trauma and burns. and placebo control methods were employed in the study. Eighty-six patients with severe trauma and burns were randomly divided into control (C, n = 45) and arginine treatment (Arg, n = 41) groups. The patients in Arg group received arginine in dose of 0. 4 g x kg(-1) x d(-1) orally, while those in C group received same dose of placebo (tyrosine) for 7 days. All the patients in both groups were given diet with equal calories and equal nitrogen content. The changes in the wound healing time, hospital stay, and the incidence of side-effects of the medication in both groups of patients were observed and compared before and after the supplementation of arginine. RESULTS: The wound healing time and hospital stay days of severe trauma patient in Arg group (n = 29) were 11. 1+/-2. 8 d and 19+/-6 d, which were all obviously shorter than those in C group (13. 2+/-5. 5 d, 22 +/-6 d, n =33, P <0.05). On the other hand, in severe burn patients there were no significant difference of the wound healing time (20+/-5 d vs 22+/-8 d, n = 12, P > 0. 05) and hospital stay days (28+/-6 d vs 29+/-8 d, n = 12, P >0. 05) between the Arg and C groups. In addition, in C and Arg groups, the occurrence of the side-effects were seldom (2. 44% vs 2. 22% , P = 1. 000) and it disappeared when the supplementation of drugs was stopped. CONCLUSION: Oral feeding of arginine is beneficial in enhancing wound healing, reduction of hospital stay days in severe trauma patients and with little side-effects, but it is not beneficial to improve the prognosis of severe burn patients. Maybe this is due to inadequate number of case involved in the study.

[The changes in the prostaglandin level and the prostaglandin transfer factor mRNA expression in the intestinal mucosa in scalded rats].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the changes in the PGE(2) and PGI(2), TXA(2) levels and PGT mRNA expression in the intestinal mucosa in scalded rats. METHODS: Wistar rats inflicted with TBSA 30% III degree scald were employed as the model. The PGE(2) and PGI(2) and TXA(2) contents in the intestinal mucosa were measured by radioimmunoassay, and the expression of PGT mRNA was detected by in situ hybridization. RESULTS: The PGE(2) and PGI(2) levels in intestinal mucosa were increased at 12 postburn hours (PBHs) and thereafter decreased dramatically (P < 0.05). The TXA(2) level in intestinal mucosa of scalded rats was obviously higher than that of normal level at 24 and 48 PBHs (P < 0.05), and the expression of PGT mRNA seemed to be increased after scalding. CONCLUSION: The decrease of PGE(2) level and the increase of TXA(2) level in the intestinal mucosa of scalded rats might be involved in rat mucosal injury, and PGT played an important role in the regulation of PGs levels.