Subvacuum environment-enhanced cell migration promotes wound healing without increasing hypertrophic scars caused by excessive cell proliferation.

Cell migration and proliferation are conducive to wound healing; however, regulating cell proliferation remains challenging, and excessive proliferation is an important cause of scar hyperplasia. Here, we aimed to explore how a subvacuum environment promotes wound epithelisation without affecting scar hyperplasia. Human immortalized keratinocyte cells and human skin fibroblasts were cultured under subvacuum conditions (1/10 atmospheric pressure), and changes in cell proliferation and migration, target protein content, calcium influx, and cytoskeleton and membrane fluidity were observed. Mechanical calcium (Ca2+ ) channel blockers were used to prevent Ca2+ influx for reverse validation. A rat wound model was used to elucidate the mechanism of the subvacuum dressing in promoting healing. The subvacuum environment was observed to promote cell migration without affecting cell proliferation; intracellular Ca2+ concentrations and PI3K, p-PI3K, AKT1, p-AKT 1 levels increased significantly. The cytoskeleton was depolymerized, pseudopodia were reduced or absent, and membrane fluidity increased. The use of Ca2+ channel blockers weakened or eliminated these changes. Animal experiments confirmed these phenomena and demonstrated that subvacuum dressings can effectively promote wound epithelisation. Our study demonstrates that the use of subvacuum dressings can enhance cell migration without affecting cell proliferation, promote wound healing, and decrease the probability of scar hyperplasia.

Microarray and bioinformatics analysis of circular RNAs expression profile in traumatic lung injury.

Acute lung injury (ALI) and respiratory distress syndrome are common, potentially lethal injuries that predominantly occur following chest trauma. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are stable conserved non-coding RNAs that are widely expressed in different organs. To the best of our knowledge, no previous studies have shown whether circRNAs are involved in traumatic lung injury (TLI). The aim of the present study was to identify highly expressed circRNAs in plasma samples from patients with TLI and explore their potential functions in the pathogenesis of TLI. A high-throughput circRNA microarray was used to investigate the expression profile of circRNAs in plasma samples from five patients with TLI and paired control samples. Subsequently, a total of five abnormally expressed circRNAs were investigated using reverse transcription-quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR). A bioinformatics analysis was performed to predict a competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA) network. In addition, gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analyses were used to identify the main biological processes and pathways. Finally, additional samples were tested to identify the expression profiles of the selected circRNAs. Among the 310 circRNAs that were highly expressed in the microarray analysis, 60 were upregulated and 250 were downregulated in patients with TLI. RT-qPCR results indicated that two downregulated circRNAs (circ_102927 and circ_100562) and one upregulated circRNA (circ_101523) matched the microarray results. The bioinformatics analysis constructed a targeting network based on the three validated circRNAs. GO and KEGG analyses identified the top ten enriched annotations. The expression of homo sapiens circular RNA 102927 (hsa_circRNA_102927) in the plasma of patients with TLI was 0.34-fold compared with the control group in expanded size validation. The results of the present study identified the differentially expressed circRNAs in the plasma of patients with TLI and provided evidence that highly expressed circRNAs involved in the ceRNA network may serve a role in the pathophysiology of TLI.

Relationship between elevated soluble CD74 and severity of experimental and clinical ALI/ARDS.

CD74 is expressed on the cell surface of pulmonary macrophages and contributes to macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF)-induced inflammatory response in acute lung injury (ALI). A circulating form of CD74 (soluble CD74, sCD74) was recently discovered in autoimmune liver disease. Using two murine ALI models and cells culture, we examined the presence of sCD74 in circulation and alveolar space and preliminarily assessed the biological function of sCD74. The concentrations of sCD74 were increased in serum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluids (BALF) of murine ALI models. The elevated levels of sCD74 in BALF positively correlated with lung permeability and inflammation. In addition, sCD74 is secreted by macrophages in response to MIF stimulation and itself can stimulate the production of inflammatory cytokines. Our clinical study confirmed some findings of basic research. Moreover, we also found Day 3 serum sCD74 levels were associated with worse clinical outcomes. In conclusion, higher serum sCD74 levels may reflect more severe lung injury and may be used to help physicians determine prognosis of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).

Epidemiology and outcome analysis of hand burns: A 5-year retrospective review of 378 cases in a burn center in Eastern China.

Hands are frequent sites of burn but few related studies were reported in China. The aim of this study was to examine the impacts of gender, age, seasons, place, etiology, total body surface area (TBSA), depth, infection and comorbidities on prognosis following injury in a cohort of hand burn inpatients. This is a retrospective study of total 378 inpatients admitted to the burn center of Changhai hospital from January 2009 to December 2013. The present research showed the male inpatients were predominant and most of the inpatients aged from 20 to 49. Flame (37.04%) and electricity (25.40%) were the major causes of hand burns. Hand burns happened more commonly in work place (60.85%). The study preliminarily pointed out that male, flame and depth were the most significant factors impacting surgery. The main factors relevant to amputation were identified including the electrical burns and other etiology of burns. In addition, depth of hand burns was proved to have a higher impact on length of hospital stay (LOS) than other factors. The results of this study not only provide the necessary information of hand burns in Eastern China but also give the suggestions for the prevention of hand burns.