Objective To compare the clinical effect between alginate calcium dressing and radix yarn dressing after anal fistula surgery. Methods A survey of 128 patients with anal fistula from April to October 2008 were studied. Patients were divided into two groups using a simple random method: 64 cases in therapy group which were treated with alginate calcium dressing and 64 cases in control group which were treated with traditional radix yarn dressing. The difference of the wound recovery indexes between two groups was compared.Results With regard to age, gender, anal fistula type, the proportion of preoperative diabetes and the diameter of wound, there was no statistical significance between therapy group and control group (Pgt;0.05). The proportion of slight pain during dressing change in therapy group (45.32%, 29/64) was more than control group (25.00%, 16/64), which had statistical significance (Pgt;0.05). The incidence of skin allergy was significantly different between two groups (29.69% vs. 60.94%, P＜0.05). Also, the rotten tissue and the soakage disappears with a shorter period, which both had statistical significance 〔(8.60±2.37) d vs. (12.22±3.29) d， (16.96±5.83) d vs. (22.02±5.90) d〕， Plt;0.05.Conclusion With the shorten of inflammatory and increment stage of the wound recovery, alginate calcium dressing is an ideal material for the postoperative duration of surgery of anal fistula.
ObjectiveTo observe the growth characteristics of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (hUCMSCs) cultured on the alginate gel scaffolds and to explore the feasibility of hUCMSCs-alginate dressing for wound healing. MethodshUCMSCs were separated from human umbilical cords and cultured in vitro. After the 4th passage cells were co-cultured with alginate gel (experimental group), the cell growth characteristics were observed under the inverted phase contrast microscope. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) content was measured and the number of cells was counted at 0, 3, 6, and 9 days after culture; and the cell migration capacity was observed. The hUCMSCs were cultured without alginated gel as control. The model of full-thickness skin defects was established in 32 8-weekold Balb/c male mice and they were randomly divided into 4 groups (n=8): wounds were covered with hUCMSCsalginate gel compound (MSC-gel group), cell supernatants-alginate gel compound (CS-gel group), 10% FBS-alginate gel compound (FBS-gel group), and 0.01 mol/L PBS-alginate compound (PBS-gel group), respectively. Wound healing rates at 5, 10, and 15 days were observed and calculated; and the wound tissues were harvested for histological and immunohistochemical staining to assess new skin conditions at 15 days after operation. ResultshUCMSCs grew well with grape-like proliferation on the alginate gel, but no cell migration was observed at 7 days after cultivation. VEGF expression and cell number in experimental group were significantly less than those in control group at 3 days（P<0.05）; then they gradually increased, and VEGF expression and cell number were significantly more than those in control group at 9 days (P<0.05). The wound healing rates of MSC-gel and CS-gel groups were significantly higher than those of FBSgel and PBS-gel groups at 5, 10, and 15 days (P<0.05). The squamous epithelium, fibroblasts, sebaceous glands, capillaries and VEGF expression of the new skin in MSC-gel and CS-gel groups were significantly more than FBS-gel and PBS-gel groups (P<0.05). But there was no significance between MSC-gel and CS-gel groups (P>0.05). ConclusionhUCMSCs can continuously express VEGF in alginate gel, which is necessary for wound healing. The hUCMSCs-alginate compound is probably a good wound dressing.