Transcutaneous cervical vagus nerve stimulation improved motor cortex excitability in healthy adults: a randomized, single-blind, self-crossover design study.

Purpose: To investigate the effect of transcutaneous cervical vagus nerve stimulation (tcVNS) on motor cortex excitability in healthy adults. Method: Twenty eight healthy subjects were assigned to receive real and sham tcVNS for 30 min. The interval between the real and sham conditions was more than 24 h, and the sequence was random. The central and peripheral motor-evoked potential (MEP) of the right first dorsal interosseous (FDI) muscle was measured by transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) before and after stimulation. MEP latency, MEP amplitude and rest motor threshold (rMT) were analyzed before and after stimulation. Results: MEP amplitude, MEP latency and rMT had significant interaction effect between time points and conditions (p < 0.05). After real stimulation, the MEP amplitude was significantly increased (p < 0.001). MEP latency (p < 0.001) and rMT (p = 0.006) was decreased than that of baseline. The MEP amplitude on real condition was higher than that of sham stimulation after stimulation (p = 0.027). The latency after the real stimulation was significantly shorter than that after sham stimulation (p = 0.005). No significantly difference was found in rMT after stimulation between real and sham conditions (p > 0.05). Conclusion: tcVNS could improve motor cortex excitability in healthy adults.

Neuromuscular electrical stimulation improves swallowing initiation in patients with post-stroke dysphagia.

Objective: More than half of post-stroke patients develop dysphagia, which manifests as delayed swallowing and is associated with a high risk of aspiration. In this study, we aimed to investigate the immediate effect of neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) on swallowing initiation in post-stroke patients using videofluoroscopic swallowing study (VFSS) data. Materials and methods: This randomized, self-controlled crossover study included 35 patients with post-stroke dysphagia. All selected patients received real and sham NMES while swallowing 5 ml of thin liquid. Participants completed the conditions in random order, with a 10-min interval between conditions. The primary evaluation indicators included the Modified Barium Swallow Impairment Profile-6 (MBSImp-6) and Penetration-Aspiration Scale (PAS). Secondary indicators included oral transit time (OTT), pharyngeal transit time (PTT), and laryngeal closure duration (LCD). Results: Modified Barium Swallow Impairment Profile-6 (P = 0.008) and PAS (P < 0.001) scores were significantly lower in the Real-NMES condition than in the Sham-NMES condition. OTT (P < 0.001) was also significantly shorter during Real-NMES than during Sham-NMES. However, LCD (P = 0.225) and PTT (P = 0.161) did not significantly differ between the two conditions. Conclusion: Neuromuscular electrical stimulation may represent a supplementary approach for promoting early feeding training in patients with post-stroke dysphagia. Clinical trial registration: [https://clinicaltrials.gov/], identifier [ChiCTR2100052464].

Effects of auricular acupuncture stimulation on healthy adults' upper limb motor-evoked potentials: A randomized, crossover, double-blind study.

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine whether auricular acupuncture has neuromodulatory effects on the motor cortex of healthy adults. Methods: Fourteen healthy subjects received a real auricular acupuncture stimulation (SF1) session and a sham acupuncture stimulation session. The interval between the two types of stimulation was more than 24 h. A finger dexterity test (taping score and taping speed by using ipad) was assessed, and motor-evoked potentials (MEP) were assessed before and after each stimulation. Results: Before the treatment, there were no significant differences in MEP amplitude, tapping score, or tapping speed (P > 0.05) between the real and sham stimulation conditions. After the treatment, the MEP amplitude, tapping score, and tapping speed in the real stimulation condition increased significantly compared to the pre-stimulation measurements and were significantly higher than those in the sham stimulation condition (P < 0.01). In the sham stimulation condition, the MEP amplitude, tapping score, and tapping speed decreased significantly compared to the pre-stimulation measurements (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Acupuncture of auricular points can modulate the excitability of the motor cortex area of controlling the upper limbs. Clinical trial registration: [http://www.chictr.org.cn/index.aspx], identifier [ChiCTR2100051608].

Low-intensity transcranial ultrasound stimulation facilitates hand motor function and cortical excitability: A crossover, randomized, double blind study.

Objective: Transcranial ultrasound stimulation (TUS) is a new form of non-invasive brain stimulation. Low-intensity TUS is considered highly safe. We aimed to investigate the effect of low-intensity TUS on hand reaction responses and cortical excitability in healthy adults. Methods: This study used a crossover, randomized, and double-blind design. A total of 20 healthy participants were recruited for the study. All the participants received TUS and sham stimulation on separate days in random order. The finger tapping test (tapping score by using a tablet) and motor evoked potential (MEP) were assessed before and after stimulation, and discomfort levels were assessed using a visual analog scale (VAS) score. Results: No significant differences in tapping score or MEP amplitude between the two experimental conditions were registered before stimulation. After stimulation, tapping scores were increased regardless of the specific treatment, and the real stimulation condition receiving TUS (90.4 ± 11.0 points) outperformed the sham stimulation condition (86.1 ± 8.4 points) (p = 0.002). The MEP latency of real TUS (21.85 ± 1.33 ms) was shorter than that of sham TUS (22.42 ± 1.43 ms) (p < 0.001). MEP amplitude of real TUS (132.18 ± 23.28 µV) was higher than that of sham TUS (114.74 ± 25.5 µV, p = 0.005). There was no significant difference in the discomfort score between the two conditions (p = 0.163). Conclusion: Transcranial ultrasound stimulation (TUS) can decrease the hand reaction response time and latency of the MEP, enhance the excitability of the motor cortex, and improve hand motor function in healthy individuals without obvious discomfort.

Different Cortex Activation and Functional Connectivity in Executive Function Between Young and Elder People During Stroop Test: An fNIRS Study.

Objective: The objective of this study was to examine the activation and functional connectivity of the prefrontal and temporal lobe in young and elder people during the Stroop test using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS). Methods: A total of 33 healthy volunteers (20 young people, mean age: 23.7 ± 3.9 years; 13 elder people, mean age: 63.9 ± 4.0 years) participated in the study. All subjects were asked to finish the Stroop Color Word Test. The oxygenated hemoglobin concentration (Delta [HbO2]) signals and the deoxygenated hemoglobin (Delta [HbR]) signals were recorded from temporopolar area (TA), pars triangularis Broca's area (Broca), dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), and frontopolar area (FA) by fNIRS. The coherence between the left and right frontotemporal lobe delta [HbO2] oscillations in four frequency intervals (I, 0.6-2 Hz; II, 0.145-0.6 Hz; III, 0.052-0.145 Hz; and IV, 0.021-0.052 Hz) was analyzed using wavelet coherence analysis and wavelet phase coherent. Results: In the Stroop test, the young group was significantly better than the elder group at the responses time, whether at congruent tasks or at incongruent tasks (congruent: F = 250.295, p < 0.001; incongruent: p < 0.001). The accuracy of the two groups differed significantly when performing incongruent tasks but not when performing congruent tasks (incongruent: F = 9.498, p = 0.001; congruent: p = 0.254). Besides, only elders show significant activation in DLPFC, Broca, FA, and TA (p < 0.05) during the Stroop test, but young people did not show significant differences. In the functional connectivity of task states, younger people had stronger connections between different brain regions in both the left and right brain compared with the elderly (p < 0.05). In particular, the left and right DLPFC showed stronger connection strength in most of the brain areas. The result suggested that younger people had stronger functional connectivity of brain areas than older people when completing the task. Conclusion: According to these results, although the cortical activation in the elder people was higher than the young people, the young showed stronger connectivity in most of the brain areas than the elders. Both sides of DLPFC and right Broca area were the most significant cortical activation in Stroop test. It was suggested that the decrease in functional connectivity in the elder people resulted in the atrophy of white matter, to which we should pay more attention.

Comparative analysis of arthroscopic-assisted Tight-rope technique and clavicular hook plate fixation in the treatment of Neer type IIB distal clavicle fractures.

BACKGROUND: The aim of the present study was to compare the clinical efficacy of arthroscopic-assisted fixation using the Tight-rope system and clavicular hook plate fixation in the treatment of Neer IIB distal clavicle fractures. METHODS: We enrolled 48 consecutive patients with Neer IIB distal clavicle fractures who were treated at our institution from February 2016 and August 2020. These patients were divided into 2 groups based on the fixation method (16 cases with Tight-rope system and 32 cases with clavicular hook plate), and demographics and clinical characteristics of patients in different groups were compared. RESULTS: All 48 patients had functional outcome scores of the affected shoulder available at a mean of 23.8 ± 5.1 months, and there was a statistically significant improvement in the constant score, American shoulder and elbow surgeons (ASES) score, visual analogue scale (VAS) score at the end of follow-up (p < 0.001 respectively). However, the smaller length of skin incision, less estimated blood loss and shorter hospital stay were detected in the Tight-rope technique group patients than those of clavicular hook plate group patients (p < 0.001, respectively). Furthermore, the constant score, ASES score and VAS score were significantly improved in the Tight-rope technique group patients than those of clavicular hook plate group patients (p < 0.05, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Both Tight-rope technique and clavicular hook plate fixation can provide satisfactory clinical and radiological results in the treatment of distal clavicular Neer IIB fracture. However, arthroscopic-assisted fixation using the Tight-rope technique showed better results in terms of length of hospital stay, surgical trauma, clinical scores, and diagnose and treat concomitant glenohumeral pathologies. LEVELS OF EVIDENCE: III, Case-control study Retrospective comparative study.

Effect of Intensive Oropharyngeal Training on Radiotherapy-Related Dysphagia in Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Patients.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of intensive oropharyngeal functional training on swallowing in patients with dysphagia after radiotherapy for nasopharyngeal carcinoma. METHODS: Fourteen patients with nasopharyngeal carcinomas and dysphagia after radiotherapy received intensive oropharyngeal training for two weeks. The Functional Oral Intake Scale (FOIS) and videofluoroscopic swallowing studies (VFSS) were used to evaluate swallowing function before and after intensive oropharyngeal training. Spatiotemporal parameters of the VFSS were analyzed using a digital image analysis system. RESULTS: After training, the FOIS, Rosenbek penetration-aspiration score, DIGEST, normalized residue ratio scale, and spatiotemporal parameters of VFSS were significantly improved (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: This study indicated that intensive oropharyngeal training improves swallowing function after radiotherapy in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Observing errors in a combination of error and correct models favors observational motor learning.

BACKGROUND: Imitative learning is highly effective from infancy to old age; however, little is known about the effects of observing errors during imitative learning. This study aimed to examine how observing errors affected imitative learning performance to maximize its effect. METHODS: In the pre-training session, participants were instructed to pinch at a target force (8 N) with auditory feedback regarding generated force while they watched videos of someone pinching a sponge at the target force. In the pre-test, participants pinched at the target force and did not view a model or receive auditory feedback. In Experiment 1, in the main training session, participants imitated models while they watched videos of pinching at either the incorrect force (error-mixed condition) or target force (correct condition). Then, the exact force generated was measured without receiving auditory feedback or viewing a model. In Experiment 2, using the same procedures, newly recruited participants watched videos of pinching at incorrect forces (4 and 24 N) as the error condition and the correct force as the correct condition. RESULTS: In Experiment 1, the average force was closer to the target force in the error-mixed condition than in the correct condition. In Experiment 2, the average force in the correct condition was closer to the target force than in the error condition. CONCLUSION: Our findings indicated that observing error actions combined with correct actions affected imitation motor learning positively as error actions contained information on things to avoid in the target action. It provides further information to enhance imitative learning in mixed conditions compared to that with correct action alone.

Re-evaluating the necessity of routine laboratory tests after high tibial osteotomy surgery.

BACKGROUND: To assess the utility of routine postoperative laboratory tests for patients undergoing high tibial osteotomy (HTO) surgery. METHODS: The associations between clinical risk factors and postoperative clinical treatment were analyzed. Additionally, a logistic regression analysis was performed to detect independent risk factors for patients requiring postoperative clinical treatment. RESULTS: A total of 482 patients with symptomatic isolated medial compartment osteoarthritis from January 2015 to May 2020 were included in the present study and underwent examination by the full set of postoperative laboratory tests within 3 days after HTO surgery. However, only a small proportion of the patients with anemia (3.9 %), hypoalbuminemia (4.1 %), and abnormal serum potassium levels (3.5 %) required clinical intervention after surgery. Binary logistic regression analysis showed that the body mass index (BMI), preoperative hemoglobin level, estimated blood loss and operative duration were independent risk factors for postoperative blood transfusion in patients who underwent HTO surgery, and factors associated with albumin supplementation were female sex and preoperative albumin level. In addition, these results indicated that preoperative potassium was potential risk factor for patients who required potassium supplementation postoperatively. CONCLUSIONS: Based on the analysis, we conclude that routinely ordering postoperative laboratory tests after HTO surgery is unnecessary. However, for patients with identified risk factors, routine postoperative laboratory tests are still needed.

Comparing the efficacy and safety of femtosecond laser-assisted vs conventional penetrating keratoplasty: a meta-analysis of comparative studies.

PURPOSE: To investigate the safety and efficacy of femtosecond laser-assisted penetrating keratoplasty (FLAK) versus conventional penetrating keratoplasty (CPK). METHODS: A literature search of PubMed, Cochrane, Embase, Web of Science, and Clinicaltrials.gov was conducted for comparative studies published from January 2007 to October 2019. Studies that involved both FLAK and CPK groups and reported on the relevant efficacy and/or safety parameters were included. The Newcastle-Ottawa quality assessment scale was used to analyse the methodological quality of these studies. Further, weighted mean differences (WMDs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated. RESULTS: From the screened articles, a total of 1991 eyes from nine comparative studies were included. FLAK was not statistically superior for twelve-month postoperative best corrected visual acuity (WMD = - 0.06; 95% CI [- 0.16, 0.04]; P = 0.22), corneal astigmatism (WMD = - 0.81; 95% CI [- 1.63, 0.01]; P = 0.05) or six-month postoperative uncorrected visual acuity (WMD = - 0.11; 95% CI [- 0.27, 0.06]; P = 0.21). There were no significant differences in corneal graft rejection rate and the graft failure between FLAK and CPK at twelve months postoperative. However, best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and corneal astigmatism corrected with FLAK were better than those with CPK six months postoperative after elimination of data heterogeneity. CONCLUSION: Visual outcomes improvement in FLAK was better than that in CPK at six months postoperative, but not twelve months postoperative. This review recommends selecting a technique based on patients' work demands and economic burdens.

Benefits and Mechanisms of Exercise Training for Knee Osteoarthritis.

Knee osteoarthritis is a chronic degenerative disease. Cartilage and subchondral bone degeneration, as well as synovitis, are the main pathological changes associated with knee osteoarthritis. Mechanical overload, inflammation, metabolic factors, hormonal changes, and aging play a vital role in aggravating the progression of knee osteoarthritis. The main treatments for knee osteoarthritis include pharmacotherapy, physiotherapy, and surgery. However, pharmacotherapy has many side effects, and surgery is only suitable for patients with end-stage knee osteoarthritis. Exercise training, as a complementary and adjunctive physiotherapy, can prevent cartilage degeneration, inhibit inflammation, and prevent loss of the subchondral bone and metaphyseal bone trabeculae. Increasing evidence indicates that exercise training can improve pain, stiffness, joint dysfunction, and muscle weakness in patients with knee osteoarthritis. There are several exercise trainings options for the treatment of knee osteoarthritis, including aerobic exercise, strength training, neuromuscular exercise, balance training, proprioception training, aquatic exercise, and traditional exercise. For Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) experimental animals, those exercise trainings can reduce inflammation, delay cartilage and bone degeneration, change tendon, and muscle structure. In this review, we summarize the main symptoms of knee osteoarthritis, the mechanisms of exercise training, and the therapeutic effects of different exercise training methods on patients with knee osteoarthritis. We hope this review will allow patients in different situations to receive appropriate exercise therapy for knee osteoarthritis, and provide a reference for further research and clinical application of exercise training for knee osteoarthritis.

The risk factors for early conversion to total knee arthroplasty after high tibial osteotomy.

The primary aim was to identify potential risk factors for early conversion to total knee arthroplasty (TKA) in patients with high tibial osteotomy (HTO) surgery. A retrospective study was conducted and 240 patients received HTO surgery between January 2008 and January 2014 were included in this study. The associations between different clinical factors and HTO survivorship were analyzed. A logistic regression analysis was performed to detect independent risk factors for HTO survivorship. The cut-off value, sensitivity and specificity of these independent factors were calculated by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. In this study, thirty-five (14.6%) patients were early conversion to TKA within a 5-year follow-up. These results indicated that age, body mass index (BMI), preoperative Kellgren-Lawrence (K-L) grade and preoperative visual analogue scale (VAS) score were potential risk factors for HTO survivorship. The cut-off values of those factors were 60 years, 25.35 kg/m2, 2 and 5, respectively. The combination of age, BMI, preoperative K-L grade and preoperative VAS score has the highest predictive value for HTO survivorship (AUC = 0.896, P < 0.001). Based on the present study, the five-year HTO survivorship for the treatment of medial compartment osteoarthritis of the knee was approximately 85.4%. We identified age >60 years, BMI >25.35 kg/m2, preoperative K-L grade >2 and preoperative VAS score >5 as independent risk factors for early conversion to TKA in patients with HTO surgery, and those factors combined had the highest predictive value for predicting early conversion to TKA.

Effect of different pulse numbers of transcranial magnetic stimulation on motor cortex excitability: Single-blind, randomized cross-over design.

AIMS: We aimed to investigate the effect of different pulse numbers of high-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) over the motor cortex on cortical excitability in healthy participants. METHODS: Fifteen healthy participants received 600 and 1200 pulses of 5-Hz rTMS on separate days in a random order. Stimulation (duration, 2 seconds and interval, 1 seconds) was delivered over the left primary motor cortex for the hand, at 90% of resting motor threshold (rMT). The rMT and motor evoked potential (MEP) were measured before stimulation, and at 0 and 30 minutes after rTMS. RESULTS: No significant differences were observed between the two conditions for MEP (P = .919) or rMT (P = .266). Compared with baseline, MEP was increased significantly at 0 (P < .001) and 30 minutes (P < .001) after stimulation. After stimulation, rMT was decreased at 0 minute for the 600 and 1200 pulse conditions (P < .001), but had recovered by 30 minutes (P = .073). CONCLUSION: Subthreshold 5-Hz rTMS increased motor cortex excitability in healthy humans. However, the number of pulses may exhibit a ceiling effect in that beyond a certain point, that is, increasing the number of pulses may exhibit no further increase in cortical excitability.

Scaffolds for the repair of bone defects in clinical studies: a systematic review.

BACKGROUND: This systematic review aims to summarize the clinical studies on the use of scaffolds in the repair of bony defects. METHODS: The relevant articles were searched through PubMed database. The following keywords and search terms were used: "scaffolds," "patient," "clinic," "bone repair," "bone regeneration," "repairing bone defect," "repair of bone," "osteanagenesis," "osteanaphysis," and "osteoanagenesis." The articles were screened according to inclusion and exclusion criteria, performed by two reviewers. RESULTS: A total of 373 articles were obtained using PubMed database. After screening, 20 articles were identified as relevant for the purpose of this systematic review. We collected the data of biological scaffolds and synthetic scaffolds. There are eight clinical studies of biological scaffolds included collagen, gelatin, and cellular scaffolds for bone healing. In addition, 12 clinical studies of synthetic scaffolds on HAp, TCP, bonelike, and their complex scaffolds for repairing bone defects were involved in this systematic review. CONCLUSIONS: There are a lot of clinical evidences showed that application of scaffolds had a good ability to facilitate bone repair and osteogenesis. However, the ideal and reliable guidelines are insufficiently applied and the number and quality of studies in this field remain to be improved.

Expression of mTOR/70S6K signaling pathway in pathological scar fibroblasts and the effects of resveratrol intervention.

The aim of the study was to examine the expression of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR)/70S6K signaling pathway in pathological scar fibroblasts and the effects of resveratrol (Res) intervention. The mTOR and 70S6K in pathological scar and normal skin fibroblasts were detected by immunofluorescence following treatment with different concentrations of Res. RT-PCR and western blot analysis were used to detect the expression of mTOR and 70S6K mRNA and protein, respectively. Immunofluorescence showed that the expression of 70S6K and mTOR was significantly enhanced in pathological scar fibroblasts, and mainly expressed in the nucleus, but not in normal skin fibroblasts. RT-PCR and western blot analysis showed that after different concentrations of Res treatments, the mTOR and 70S6K mRNA and protein expression significantly (P<0.05) decreased in a dose­dependent manner. In conclusion, the expression of mTOR/70S6K signaling pathway in pathological scar fibroblasts was significantly enhanced. Res can downregulate the expression of mTOR and 70S6K to achieve the inhibition of pathological scar fibroblast proliferation.

Expression of TGF-ß1/mTOR signaling pathway in pathological scar fibroblasts.

The aim of the present study was to detect the expression of the key molecules, including transforming growth factor­ß1 (TGF-ß1), phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K), protein kinase B (Akt) of TGF­ß1/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway in pathological scar fibroblasts. Immunofluorescence, reverse transcription­polymerase chain reaction (RT­PCR) and western blot analysis were used to detect the expression of the key molecules TGF­ß1, PI3K, Akt, mTOR in fibroblasts of normal skin tissue and pathological scar tissue. Immunofluorescence showed that the expression of TGF­ß1, PI3K and Akt was significantly enhanced (P<0.05) in pathological scar fibroblasts, and mainly expressed in the cell nucleus, but not in normal skin tissue or fibroblasts. RT­PCR and western blot test results revealed that the TGF­ß1, PI3K, Akt, and mTOR mRNA and protein expression in pathological scar fibroblasts were significantly higher (P<0.05) than in the normal skin tissue. Expression of the TGF­ß1/mTOR signaling pathway in pathological scar fibroblasts was significantly increased. Data suggest that this expression may be an important mechanism for pathological scar formation.

Effect of Wubeizi ointment aqueous solution on the expression of type I and III procollagen genes in keloid fibroblasts.

We evaluated the effect of Wubeizi (WBZ) ointment on keloids. Keloid-derived fibroblast primary cultures were used to evaluate the effect of the different concentration of WBZ ointment on the expression of type I and III procollagen in keloid fibroblast primary cultures using dot blot assay. Type I and II precollagen cDNA probes labeled with non-radioactive digoxin were used for dot blot. Cell cultures were divided into 4 groups: The large dose group received 1 g/ml of WBZ, middle dose, and small dose groups received 0.5 and 0.25 g/ml of WBZ, respectively. The control group received serum-free medium without WBZ. Our results showed that type I and III procollagen mRNA expression was reduced significantly in the large dose and middle dose groups compared to the control group. Type I and III procollagen mRNA expression level in the small dose group had no statistically significant difference with the control group. However, the difference between the large dose group and the small dose group was statistically significant. We concluded that WBZ ointment aqueous solution restricted keloid fibroblast proliferation by downregulating the expression of type I and III procollagen and therefore reducing collagen deposition in keloid tissue.

Effects of resveratrol on the proliferation, apoptosis and telomerase ability of human A431 epidermoid carcinoma cells.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of resveratrol on cell apoptosis, ability of telomerase and the human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) protein expression in human A431 epidermoid carcinoma cells. A431 cells were treated with different concentrations of resveratrol, and the cell appearance was then observed under a microscope. In addition, the cell proliferation was examined using an MTT assay, and the ability of telomerase was detected using telomeric repeat amplification protocol-polymerase chain reaction-ELISA. Resveratrol significantly inhibited the ability of telomerase and decreased the expression of hTERT protein in a concentration-dependent manner. In conclusion, resveratrol is capable of downregulating the expression of hTERT protein and inhibits the ability of telomerase of A431, which is an important mechanism of action of resveratrol with regard to inhibition of A431 cell proliferation.

Resveratrol Inhibits Proliferation and Induces Apoptosis of Pathological Scar Fibroblasts Through the Mechanism Involving TGF-ß1/Smads Signaling Pathway.

The objective of this study was to determine the effect of resveratrol (Res) treatment on pathological scar fibroblasts and the changes in TGF-ß1/Smads signaling pathway. For this purpose, cultured pathological scar fibroblasts were treated with various concentrations of Res (10, 50, and, 100 µmol/l), and the morphological changes in target cells were studied using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The cellular proliferation was assessed by MTT assay; the mRNA and protein expressions of TGF-ß1 and Smad-2,3,4,7 were determined by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and immunofluorescence assay, respectively. We found that Res-treated fibroblasts exhibited the typical apoptotic morphological changes. As shown by MTT assay, the OD values of Res-treated fibroblasts, as a measure of cell growth, were significantly lower than those of controls (P < 0.05). In addition, as compared to controls, TGF-ß1 and Smad-2,3,4 mRNA/protein expression decreased but those of Smad7 increased in a dose-dependent manner (P < 0.05). It was, therefore, concluded that Res treatment inhibited the pathological scar fibroblast proliferation and induced cell apoptosis through the mechanism involving downregulation of TGF-ß1, Smad-2,3,4, and upregulation of Smad7.

The effects of Wubeizi ointment on the proliferation of keloid-derived fibroblasts.

UNLABELLED: To evaluate the effectiveness of the Wubeizi (WBZ) ointment on keloid-derived fibroblasts. The primary cells of the keloid-derived fibroblasts were cultured and the effectiveness of the WBZ ointment at different concentrations was examined by MTT colorimetric methods on keloid-derived fibroblasts. The WBZ ointment showed inhibitory effects on proliferating the keloid-derived fibroblasts (P < 0.01)in a time- and dose-dependent manner. The proportion of cells in S stage was significantly higher in each of the WBZ ointment group than in the control group (P<0.01), and the proportion of G2 + M stage cells was significantly lower than that of control group, which was statistically significant (P < 0.01).The inhibitory effects of the S and G2 + M stage increased with higher drug concentrations (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The WBZ ointment can inhibit the proliferation of the keloid-derived fibroblasts in a time- and dose- dependent manner.