Blumea balsamifera Oil for the Acceleration of Healing of Burn Injuries.

Blumea balsamifera oil (BBO) is a main extract obtained from Blumea balsamifera (L.) DC (Ainaxiang) leaves, which are widely used as a traditional medicine by the Miao and Li Nations to promote skin trauma or burn injury healing. This study was initiated to investigate the healing efficacy in deep second-degree burn model in rats. The rats were treated by BBO for 21 consecutive days. The rate of healing, scabs dropped time and re-epithelialization time were observed every three days for 21 days after burn injury. The samples were collected from different treated rats by sacrificing the animals on the 1st, 2nd, 5th, 9th, 14th, and 21st day post-burn creation. Then, the water content of burn tissue was measured. Plasma interleukin-1 (IL-1) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) levels were evaluated, and the tissue expressions of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-ß) were determined along with skin histopathology. The results showed that the water content of tissue was significantly reduced, the scabs dropped time shortened, and healing accelerated after treatment with BBO in the burn injury rats. Furthermore, the expressions of growth factors were significantly increased in the tissue; however, the levels of inflammatory factors on plasma decreased. This study confirms the efficacy of BBO consumption on burn injuries.

MR imaging of human pancreatic cancer xenograft labeled with superparamagnetic iron oxide in nude mice.

The aim of this work was to investigate the MRI findings on tumor xenografts induced in nude mice by the inoculation of human pancreatic cancer cells labeled with superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO), and to monitor the kinetics of SPIO distribution in tumor xenografts. The labeled cancer cells were subcutaneously inoculated into 11 nude mice to induce tumor xenograft. The unlabeled cancer cells served as a control inoculated into nine nude mice. MR imaging was performed with a 1.5 T MR scanner for the tumor xenograft at the first, second and third week after the inoculation. We found that the tumor xenograft was induced in 100% nude mice on MR imaging for both groups in the first week after the inoculation. In the SPIO group, the tumors showed homogeneous hypointensity on T1 - and T2 -weighted and FIESTA images 1 week after inoculation. Two and 3 weeks after inoculation, the center of the tumors was still hypointense on all the above sequences. The tumor periphery was isointense on T1 -weighted, and hyperintense on T2 -weighted and FIESTA images. The tumors in control group were homogeneously hypointense or isointense on T1 -weighted, and hyperintense on T2 -weighted and FIESTA images in the first, second and third week after the inoculation. The size and signal-to-noise ratio of the tumor center in the SPIO group had decreased subsequent to the inoculation in all T1 - and T2 -weighted images and FIESTA. Our results showed the human pancreatic cancer cells labeled with SPIO can induce tumor xenograft in nude mice and MRI can monitor the kinetics of SPIO distribution in tumor xenografts.

Magnetic resonance imaging for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas induced by N-nitrosobis (2-oxopropyl) amine in Syrian golden hamsters.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to study magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas (PDAs) induced by N-nitrosobis (2-oxopropyl) amine (BOP) in Syrian hamsters. METHODS: A total of 101 female hamsters, 8 weeks old, were randomized into 3 groups. They were randomized into a BOP-treated group (n = 80; with weekly subcutaneous injections of BOP [10 mg/kg body weight] for 7 consecutive weeks), a saline-treated group (n = 16), and an untreated group (n = 5). Hamsters underwent abdominal MRI on 1.5-T MR scanners with a dedicated animal radiofrequency coil. Findings of the tumor from the MRI were compared those from histology. RESULTS: Pancreata in the saline-treated and in the untreated groups were normal. In the BOP-treated group, there were 23 and 31 BOP-induced PDAs on macroscopy and microscopy, respectively. Of the PDAs detected on macroscopy, 65.2% were depicted on MRI. As early as 13 and 19 weeks after the first injection of BOP, PDAs in hamsters were found on histology and MRI, respectively. Moreover, the tumor volume on MRI was correlated with the tumor weights excised (r = 0.96, P = 0.000, n = 15). CONCLUSIONS: N-nitrosobis (2-oxopropyl) amine successfully induced PDAs in hamsters. Magnetic resonance imaging has the ability to detect healthy pancreas and PDAs in hamsters and has the potential to monitor the development of PDAs.

[One stage treatment of infected tibial defects combined with skin defects with Ilizarov technique].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the therapeutic effectiveness of Ilizarov technique in treatment of infected tibial defects combined with overlaying skin defects. METHODS: Twenty-one cases with infected tibial defects combined with skin defects were treated between 2001 and 2008 includeing 18 males and 3 females with an average age of 31 years ranging from 19 to 43 years. The length of bone defect ranged from 3 to 13 cm (means 6 cm). Skin defect area was from 3 cm x 3 cm to 6 cm x 10 cm; 11 cases combined with drop foot, 5 cases with arthrocleisis of knee. Preoperative X-ray of the affected limb was performed and zone of skin necrosis was marked, then the point and length of osteotomized bone, and scope of bone and soft tissue need for removing were determined. The internal fixation were removed. Opening irrigation, vacuum sealing drainage (VSD), and dressing changing were appllied. The skin was fixed with Kirschner wire and bone was transferred with Ilizarov technique in all patients. The lengthening of bone and skin was carried out for 4 to 7 days after surgery, 1/6 to 1/4 mm once, 4 to 6 times a day. The clinical effectiveness was determined mainly through wound and lengthening of skin. RESULTS: All patients were followed up for from 6 to 62 months (means 49.5 months). Fourteen of 21 cases received one stage treatment, there was still secretion from end of bone in 3 patients whose bone healed after debridement, the other 4 patients were cured via trimming end of bone and compression fusion. The defects of bone were extended to full length in 18 patients. Abutting end was slightly absorbed and became rattailed in 2 cases, there was lack of blood supply to abutting ends in one patient who was cured via bone graft from iliac bone. Skin defects was cured in 18 patients with one stage treatment, the other 3 patients were cured after infection was controlled. The deformity of drop foot were corrected in 11 patients, and function of knee was improved in five patients. The external fixator was removed at 1.2 to 2.6 years after surgery. At last, bone infections were cured, defects of bone and skin recovered in all patients. CONCLUSION: One stage treatment of infected tibial defects combined with skin defects using Ilizarov technique has minimal invasion with less complex surgeries, could reduce the time and expense of treatment.