OBJECTIVE: To explore the effects of nandrolone phenylpropionate (NP) on the expression level of pro alpha 1 (I) collagen after burn in rats and the possible mechanism involved in the process. METHODS: Thirty-two Wistar rats with a deep second-degree scald injury and 20% of total body surface area were randomly divided into two groups to receive either 5 mg/kg NP(NP group) or normal saline (control group) every other day. We analyzed the mean integrated optical density(mIOD) of androgen receptor (AR) to determine the distribution and expression of AR in fibroblasts by immunohistochemistry, and measured expression level of pro alpha 1 (I) collagen mRNA by quantitative fluorescent RT-PCR to find the relation between expressions of AR and pro alpha 1 (I) collagen mRNA. The total specimens were obtained from the scalded rats after 4, 7, 14 and 21 of after burn. RESULTS: The expression of pro alpha 1 (I) collagen mRNA in NP group was significantly higher than that in control group on the 7th, 14th and 21st days(P lt; 0.05), but there was no significant difference on the 4th day. The density of AR in fibroblasts had significant difference (P lt; 0.05) between the two groups after 4, 7, 14 and 21 days. A positive relationship existed between the expression of pro alpha 1 (I) collagen mRNA and quantity of AR in fibroblasts(r = 0.836). CONCLUSION: The nandrolone phenylpropionate increased the expression of pro alpha 1 (I) collagen mRNA and enhanced the density of AR in fibroblasts. The higher expression of pro alpha 1 (I) collagen mRNA had a relation with the change of quantity of AR in fibroblasts.
OBJECTIVE: To study the therapeutic effect of Suyuping in which liposome is the main constituent on II degree burn wound. METHODS: From October 1998 to October 1999, 42 cases with II degree burn wound were adopted in this study. Among them, there were 30 males and 12 females, the average wound area was (23.4 +/- 9.7)%. The wounds on the left side of body were managed with sulfadiazine argentum(SD-Ag) while that on the right side with Suyuping. Healing and other situation about the burn wounds were observed and recorded at times. RESULTS: Forty-two patients completely healed when discharged from hospital. The average wound area managed with Suyuping was (11.2 +/- 7.3)% and the area with SD-Ag was (9.4 +/- 5.8)%. The mean healing time of Suyuping group was(18.4 +/- 4.7) days while that of SD-Ag was (23.5 +/- 7.9) days, there was significant difference(P lt; 0.05). Suyuping group presented few wound pain, allergy, bleeding and the side effect was less. CONCLUSION: Suyuping can accelerate wound healing and attenuate wound pain, allergy and bleeding, it is a potential and specific topical agent for treating II degree burn wound.
OBJECTIVE L-arginine is a semiessential dibasic amino acid for humans and animals. This paper aims to investigate the therapeutic effect of L-arginine supplementation on partial-thickness burned patients. METHODS A randomized controlled clinical trial was designed to evaluate the cellular immune function (T cell count, ratio of CD4/CD8, natural killer cell activity and IL-2 level) and protein metabolism (transferrin, prealbium and nitrogen balance) of patients in the experimental group which daily given 15 g arginine and the control group which daily given 25 g glycine. RESULTS The natural killer cell activity and IL-2 production in the experimental group were higher than that of the control group. The suppression of transferrin and prealbium was alleviated and the nitrogen balance was improved in the experimental group. CONCLUSION It suggests that exogenous arginine supplementation is beneficial for recovery of cellular immunity function and protein anabolism in partial-thickness burned patients.