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Objective: To explore the efficacies of resuscitation fluid volume after combined burn-blast injury versus a simple burn., Methods: A total of 24 beagle dogs were randomly assigned into 3 groups of normal volume (N), decreased volume (D) and increased volume (I). Fluid volume for group N was calculated with the Parkland formula while groups D and I decreased or increased by 20% respectively. Urinary output (UOP), hemoglobin concentration (HB), cardiac output (CO), intrathoracic blood volume (ITBV), extravascular lung water index (ELWI), oxygen delivery (DO(2)) and oxygen consumption (VO(2)) were determined before and 4, 8, 24, 48 h after injury to evaluate the sufficiency of resuscitation in each group and examine the superiority., Results: UOP were [(0.41 ± 0.13), (0.77 ± 0.17), (0.30 ± 0.13)] ml · kg(-1) · h(-1) at 4 h post-injury in groups N, I and D respectively. Group I was significantly higher than groups N and D (P < 0.001).It were [(0.59 ± 0.05), (0.88 ± 0.05), (0.53 ± 0.06)] ml · kg(-1) · h(-1) at 24 h post-injury in groups N, I and D respectively. Group I was significantly higher than groups N and D (P < 0.001). CO in group I was remarkably higher than those in groups N and D at 4 h and 8 h post-injury [(1.57 ± 0.19) vs (1.25 ± 0.17), (1.05 ± 0.17) L/min; (1.87 ± 0.20) vs (1.57 ± 0.24), (1.20 ± 0.19) L/min respectively] (P < 0.05); ITBV also significantly increased in group I than two other groups at 4 h and 8 h post-injury [(169 ± 16) vs (140 ± 12), (121 ± 12) ml; (161 ± 14) vs (135 ± 22), (112 ± 12) ml] (P < 0.05). VO2 in group I was significantly higher than that in group N at 24 h post-injury [(129 ± 10) vs (106 ± 12) ml · min(-1) · m(-2)] (P < 0.05). No differences were detected among 3 group in ELWI (P > 0.05)., Conclusion: Larger fluid volume may compensate circulatory volume loss sooner, alleviate declining cardiac output better, maintain adequate organ perfusion, promote tissue oxygenation and improve anti-hypervolemia and anti-hypoxia.

Burns are common accidental injuries. The main clinical manifestations of severe burn injury are insulin resistance and high metabolism. Insulin resistance results in hyperglycemia, which may lead to skeletal muscle wasting and suspended wound healing. It also elevates the risk of infection and sepsis. Studies have indicated that insulin receptor (IR) and insulin receptor substrate 1 (IRS1) are essential factors involved in the regulation of blood glucose levels. Moreover, the suppression of the IR/IRS1 signaling pathway results in insulin resistance. Recent studies have also indicated that miRNAs, which are small non-coding RNAs consisting of 20-23 nucleotides, target the 3'-untranslated region (3'-UTR) of IRS1 mRNA and attenuate protein translation. miRNAs also play an important role in the development of type II diabetes (T2D) and obesity-induced insulin resistance. In the present review, we discuss the involvement of miRNAs in burn-induced insulin resistance through the targeting of the IR/IRS1 signaling pathway. We also discuss the possibility of miRNAs a novel therapeutic target in insulin resistance in burn patients.

Objective: To observe the therapeutic effects of exogenous pulmonary surfactant (PS) on acute lung injury induced by severe burn-blast combined injury in a rat model., Methods: A total of 180 adult male SD rats were randomly divided into 3 groups of sham, treatment and control (n=60 each). Severe burn-blast combined injury was induced by inflicting rats with a moderate blast injury and a full-thickness burn injury of 25% total body surface area. The treatment and control groups received exogenous PS (2 ml/kg) and saline (2 ml/kg) by trachea respectively. At the time points of 0, 6, 24, 48 and 72 h, 12 rats per timepoint in each group underwent PaO2, PaCO2 and pulmonary function tests respectively. And they were then sacrificed for other analyses. Lung tissues were harvested for histological studies. Their arterial blood samples were collected for blood gas analysis. All data were expressed as mean ± standard deviation and analyzed with SPSS 20.0 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). The differences were considered to be statistically significant at P < 0.05., Results: After removing death drain during the experiment, 8 rats were put equally into five phase points of the last three groups, the results were analyzed statistically. PaO2: At each timepoint of 6, 24, 48, 72 h, the control group PaO2 were obviously lower than the sham group ((69.55 ± 5.11), (62.05 ± 6.54), (53.24 ± 7.65), (50.00 ± 7.45) vs (93.75 ± 3.41), (94.25 ± 2.19), (93.63 ± 2.33), (93.25 ± 1.83) mmHg (1 mmHg = 0.133 kPa), all P < 0.01); at 6 h treatment group was close to sham group ((92.63 ± 3.74) vs (93.75 ± 3.41) mmHg, P=0.594); at 6 h control group PaO2 decreased to 70 mmHg and then gradually declined. And at each timepoint the treatment group PaO2 was significantly higher than the control group ((92.63 ± 3.74), (87.50 ± 3.34), (78.75 ± 3.11), (71.38 ± 3.74) vs (69.55 ± 5.11), (62.05 ± 6.54), (53.24 ± 7.65), (50.00 ± 7.45) mmHg, all P < 0.01); PaCO2: treatment group PaCO2 was lower than that of control group at 6, 24, 48 h ((45.50 ± 6.79), (49.38 ± 7.52), (54.13 ± 4.82) vs (53.25 ± 2.76), (59.50 ± 6.61), (63.60 ± 7.33) mmHg, all P < 0.01), both treatment and control groups were significantly higher than those in the sham group ((59.63 ± 6.87), (68.88 ± 6.85) vs (36.38 ± 1.85) mmHg, all P < 0.01). No difference existed between the control and treatment groups (P = 0.051). Deep inspiratory capacity, central airway resistance, lung compliance and tissue elasticity, treatment group was significantly better than control group at 24 h (P < 0.05). And it was close to sham group (P > 0.05). The treatment group alveolar structural damage and pulmonary hemorrhage and edema were better than those in the control group., Conclusion: Exogenous pulmonary surfactant (PS) can improve oxygenation and alleviate pulmonary edema and pulmonary capillary membrane permeability of rats with severe burn blast combined injury.

Previous studies on cancer cell invasion were primarily focused on its migration because these two events were often considered biologically equivalent. Here we found that T24T cells exhibited higher invasion but lower migration abilities than T24 cells. Expression of Rho-GDPases was much lower and expression of SOD2 was much higher in T24T cells than those in T24 cells. Indeed, knockdown of SOD2 in T24T cells can reverse the cell migration but without affecting cell invasion. We also found that SOD2 inhibited the JNK/c-Jun cascade, and the inhibition of c-Jun activation by ectopic expression of TAM67 impaired Rho-GDPases expression and cell migration in T24T shSOD2 cells. Further, we found that Sp1 can upregulate SOD2 transcription in T24T cells. Importantly, matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) was overexpressed in T24T and participated in increasing its invasion, and MMP-2 overexpression was mediated by increasing nuclear transport of nucleolin, which enhanced mmp-2 mRNA stability. Taken together, our study unravels an inverse relationship between cell migration and invasion in human bladder cancer T24T cells and suggests a novel mechanism underlying the divergent roles of SOD2 and MMP-2 in regulating metastatic behaviors of human bladder T24T in cell migration and invasion.

Objective: To investigate the effect of burn on brown adipose tissue (BAT) in BALB/c mice., Methods: Forty 3-4 months old male BALB/c mice with initial body weight of (20 ± 3) g were randomly divided into control group and burn group (n = 20). BALB/c mice in burn group were subjected to a 30% total body surface area (TBSA) full-thickness thermal injury. BALB/c mice in control group were not treated. The body weight and temperature were observed before and after burn. At 7 days after burn, morphological changes of white adipose tissue (WAT) and BAT were observed, the gene and protein expressions of uncoupling protein 1 (UCP-1) were detected., Results: There was no significant difference in the body weight and body temperature before burn (P > 0.05). At 1, 2, 3, and 4 weeks after burn, the body weight was significantly lower in burn group than in control group (P < 0.05). At 1, 2, 3, and 7 days after burn, the body temperature was significantly higher in burn group than in control group (P < 0.05). At 7 days after burn, the weight of WAT was significantly reduced, and the weight of BAT was significantly increased in burn group (P < 0.05); WAT and BAT cells became smaller, cell number increased, the cytoplasm and mitochondria appeared as compact. The UCP-1 gene and protein expressions of burn group were significantly higher than those of control group (P < 0.05)., Conclusion: BAT plays an important role in burn-induced hypermetabolism.

Objective: To investigate the effect of burn on the fat metabolism by observing the effect of burn serum on the proliferation and adipose differentiation of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes., Methods: Forty-eight male Sprague Dawley rats were randomly divided into sham burn group and burn at 1, 4, 7, 14, and 21 days groups, 8 rats in each group. The rats in burn groups were made the full-thickness thermal burns comprising 30% total body surface area. At 1, 4, 7, 14, and 21 days after burn, the serum of burn rats was collected. The rats in sham burn group were not treated as normal control. The proliferation activity of 3T3-L1 cells was detected using MTT method after treated by normal and burn serum. The burn serum having the highest proliferation inhibitory effect was chosen for subsequent study. The growth of 3T3-L1 cells in normal serum group (group A), burn serum group (group B), normal serum and adipogenic induction group (group C), burn serum and adipogenic induction group (group D) was observed using inverted microscope. After 7 days of treatment, the adipocytes was stained by oil red O and the absorbance (A) value was measured. The mRNA and protein levels of preoxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPAR-γ) and lipoprotein lipase (LPL) were detected by real-time quantitative PCR and Western blot., Results: The proliferation ability of 3T3-L1 cells was significantly reduced in the group treated by 4- or 7-day burn serum (P < 0.05), especially 7-day burn serum treatment group (P < 0.05). Under inverted microscope, the cell morphology in group A and group B had no obvious change, but a large number of fat cells were observed in group C and a few were observed in group D. The positive or weak positive oil red O staining was observed in group C or group D, respectively. The cell counting and A value were significantly higher in group A than in group B, and in group C than in group D (P < 0.05). The mRNA level of PPAR-γ in group B was significantly reduced when compared with that in group A (P < 0.05). No significant difference was found in LPL mRNA levels and protein levels of PPAR-γ and LPL between group A and group B (P > 0.05). The mRNA and protein levels of PPAR-γ and LPL were significantly attenuated in group D when compared with those in group C (P < 0.05)., Conclusion: The adipose differentiation of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes can be significantly reduced after treated by 7-day burn serum of rat.

Objective: To explore the effect and mechanism of ryanodine receptor antagonist dantrolene on skeletal muscle of rats with severe scald injury., Methods: A total of 56 Wistar rats were divided into control, scald and dantrolene treatment groups according to a random digital table. Rats in scald and dantrolene treatment groups were subject to 50% total body surface area (TBSA) full-thickness scald by a 12-second immersion of back and a 6-second immersion of abdomen in 94 °C water and then received an intraperitoneal injection of Ringer's solution. At the same time, the rats in scald group received 5% mannitol through caudal vein while those in dantrolene treatment group received dantrolene 2 mg/kg (dissolved in 5% mannitol). Rats in control group were sham-injured through an immersion of back and abdomen into 37 °C warm water. Tibialis anterior muscle samples were harvested at Days 1, 4 and 7 post-scalding. Changes of skeletal muscle ultrastructure were observed by transmission electron microscope, subcellular calcium ion (Ca(2+)) contents of skeletal muscle (including cytoplasm, mitochondria & sarcoplasm reticulum) were detected by electron probe X-ray microanalysis (EPMA) and the levels of calpain-1 and calpain-2 protein were determined by Western blot. And the activities of calpain were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay., Results: In scald group, assorted arrangement appeared immediately at Day 1 post-injury and partial disappearance of Z lines at Day 7 post-injury. There were no significant ultrastructure changes in dantrolene treatment group at Day 1 and 4 post-injury. Curled filament and mild fracture occurred merely in dantrolene treatment group at Day 7 post-injury. The cytoplasmic contents of Ca(2+) were significantly higher in scald group than those in control group at Day 1 and 4 ((0.964 ± 0.060), (0.639 ± 0.067) vs (0.266 ± 0.029) µmol/L respectively, all P < 0.05) while the contents of Ca(2+) within sarcoplasm reticulum were obviously lower in scald group than those in control group at Day 1 and 4 ((0.368 ± 0.060), (0.814 ± 0.089) vs (1.337 ± 0.112) µmol/L respectively, all P < 0.05). However, those subcellular regions in dantrolene treatment group ((0.310 ± 0.069), (0.490 ± 0.039) and (1.241 ± 0.073), (1.161 ± 0.094) µmol/L) had no significant difference with control group (all P > 0.05). Calpain-1 and calpain-2 protein levels in scald group increased significantly at Day 1 and 4 post-injury versus control group (1.371 ± 0.034, 1.214 ± 0.030 vs 0.838 ± 0.017 & 1.464 ± 0.015, 1.390 ± 0.023 vs 0.806 ± 0.026 respectively, all P < 0.05), whereas calpain-1 and calpain-2 protein levels in dantrolene treatment (0.984 ± 0.031, 0.935 ± 0.023 and 0.836 ± 0.014, 0.741 ± 0.020) obviously were lower than those in scald group respectively (all P < 0.05). The activities of calpain in scald and dantrolene treatment groups at Day 1, 4 and 7 post-injury were (8.33 ± 0.21), (9.33 ± 0.21), (10.59 ± 0.18) and (7.76 ± 0.28), (7.86 ± 0.20), (7.91 ± 0.22) µmol/L respectively while the activity of calpain in control group was (7.62 ± 0.19) µmol/L. The activities of calpain in scald group were significantly higher than those in dantrolene treatment and control groups (all P < 0.05) whereas the activities of calpain in dantrolene treatment group had no obvious change versus control group (all P > 0.05)., Conclusions: Dantrolene offers significant protection from skeletal muscle tissue damage and minimizes the ultrastructural change of tibialis anterior muscle induced by severe scald injury. The mechanism is probably through inhibiting an excessive release of Ca(2+) within sarcoplasm reticulum and down-regulated cytoplasmic expression and activity of calpain-1 and calpain-2.

Objective: To investigate the effects of different concentrations of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) on proliferation and apoptosis of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (hUCMSCs) in vitro, and to explore their possible mechanism., Methods: hUCMSCs from umbilical cord tissue of full-term healthy fetus delivered by caesarean section were isolated and cultured in vitro using tissue attachment method. The 3rd passage hUCMSCs were used in the study. Cells were divided into groups A, B, C, D, and E, which were treated with DMEM/F12 medium containing 0, 0.1, 1.0, 10.0, and 100.0 µg/mL of LPS respectively. In groups B, C, D, and E, methyl-thiazole-tetrazolium assay was used to detect proliferative activity of hUCMSCs at post treatment hour (PTH) 12, 24, and 48 (denoted as absorption value), with 5 samples in each group at each time point; apoptosis of hUCMSCs at PBH 24 was identified with acridine orange-ethidium bromide (AO-EB) staining, with 4 samples in each group; apoptotic rate of hUCMSCs was determined by flow cytometer, with 5 samples in each group. Above-mentioned indexes were determined in group A at the same time points. Data were processed with analysis of variance and LSD- t test., Results: (1) There was no statistically significant difference in proliferative activity of hUCMSCs at PTH 12 among groups A, B, C, D, and E (with t values from -1.67 to 1.33, P values above 0.05). Compared with that of group A, proliferative activity of hUCMSCs was increased in groups B, C, and D at PTH 24 and 48 (with t values from -13.42 to 17.34, P < 0.05 or P < 0.01), especially so in group C. Proliferative activity of hUCMSCs was lower in group E at PTH 24 and 48 than in group A (with t values respectively 8.64 and 17.34, P values below 0.01). (2) Obvious apoptosis of hUCMSCs was observed in group E but not in the other 4 groups with AO-EB staining. (3) Apoptosis rates of hUCMSCs in groups A, B, C, D, and E were respectively (3.1 ± 0.6)%, (2.6 ± 0.7)%, (2.9 ± 0.8)%, (3.1 ± 0.4)%, (25.1 ± 2.7)% (F = 272.19, P < 0.01). Apoptotic rate of hUCMSCs in group B, C, or D was respectively close to that in group A (with t values respectively 1.22, 0.57, -0.14, P values above 0.05), but it was higher in group E than in group A (t = -17.63, P < 0.01)., Conclusions: hUCMSCs proliferation may be promoted by low concentration of LPS. hUCMSCs proliferation is inhibited or induced to apoptosis along with the increase in concentration of LPS, and it may be related to activation of different major molecular signaling pathways by different concentrations of LPS.

Objective: To explore the effects of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) pretreatment on endotoxin tolerance of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (hUCMSCs) and its possible mechanism., Methods: hUCMSCs (1×10(4) cells/well) were exposed to 0, 0.1, 1.0, 10.0, 20.0, 30.0, 40.0, 50.0 µg/ml LPS for 24 h respectively. And the cell viability of hUCMSCs was detected by 3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT). 1 µg/ml and 50.0 µg/ml LPS were used as pretreatment and apoptosis induction concentrations respectively. Pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC) (20 µmol/L, pretreatment for 20 min) was used as a specific inhibitor of nuclear transcription factor NF-κB. hUCMSCs were randomly divided by Stata software into 7 groups: control (A), LPS induction (B), pretreatment + LPS induction (C), PDTC (D), PDTC+ pretreatment + LPS induction (E), pretreatment (F) and PDTC + pretreatment (G). The apoptosis of hUCMSCs was measured by Hoechst 33258 staining and flow cytometry (FCM). The expressions of NF-κB p65 and cellular FLICE-inhibitory protein (c-FLIP) were measured by Western blot., Results: The cell viability of 0, 0.1, 1.0, 10.0, 20.0, 30.0, 40.0, 50.0 µg/ml LPS groups were 100%, (117.0 ± 8.8)%, (134.7 ± 6.9)%, (105.3 ± 8.3)%, (99.2 ± 8.3)%, (84.2 ± 9.3)%, (66.4 ± 6.6)% and (59.2 ± 8.0)% respectively. In comparison with 0 µg/ml LPS group, the cell viability of 1.0 µg/ml LPS group increased significantly (P = 0.004) while decreased in 40 and 50 µg/ml LPS groups (P = 0.005, 0.002). Hoechst 33258 staining indicated that chromatin of hUCMSCs was distributed evenly in group A; the apoptotic cell in group B dramatically increased; and the apoptotic cell in group C significantly decreased in comparison with that in group B. Apoptotic rates of groups A, B, C, D and E were (2.8 ± 0.8)%, (29.7 ± 3.4)%, (17.8 ± 3.0)%, (2.9 ± 0.4)% and (23.2 ± 2.6)% respectively. Compared with group A, apoptosis rate significantly increased in group B (P < 0.001). The apoptotic rate in group C significantly decreased than that in group B (P < 0.001) while group E was higher than group C (P = 0.015). The levels of NF-κB p65 and c-FLIP in group F (0.851 ± 0.031, 0.534 ± 0.053) was higher than that in group A (0.220 ± 0.021, 0.049 ± 0.009) (both P < 0.001), G (0.418 ± 0.007, 0.299 ± 0.061) (P < 0.001, P = 0.007)., Conclusions: LPS pretreatment can resist LPS-induced hUCMSCs apoptosis and enhance the ability of endotoxin tolerance. And the mechanism may be related with activating the NF-κB signaling pathway and up-regulating the expression of c-FLIP.

Wound healing is a dynamic and complicated process, which generally takes three overlapping phases: inflammation, proliferation, and remodeling. If wounds complicated by severe trauma, diabetes, vascular dysfunction disease, or a massive burn injury failed to pass through the three normal phases of healing, they might end up as chronic and refractory wounds. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) play different important roles in the regulation of all the phases of wound healing. MSCs can be recruited into wound and differentiated into wound repair cells, as well as promote wound healing by exerting functions like anti-inflammation, anti-apoptosis, and neovascularization. This review focuses on the role and mechanism of MSCs in each phase of the wound healing process.

Objective: To investigate the effect of the serum from severe burn patients on the biology characteristics of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (hUCMSCs) in vitro, so as to explore the feasibility of hUCMSCs transplantation for treating severe burn., Methods: The 3rd passage of hUCMSCs were randomly divided into 3 groups: 10% fetal bovine serum group (group A), 10% normal serum group (group B), and 10% burn serum group (group C). At 24 hours, 72 hours, and 6 days after culture, the cell morphology and density were observed by inverted microscope; the cell proliferation was assessed by MTT; after 6 days of culture, the cell cycle by propidium iodide staining and flow cytometry, the apoptosis by acridine orange/ ethidium bromide staining, and the cell senescence by beta-galactosidase staining; the levels of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin 1 (IL-1), platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) in serum were detected by a double-antibody sandwich ELISA kit., Results: hUCMSCs were long spindle/polygon in 3 groups. The cell fusion of group C was obviously faster than that in group A and group B. The cell proliferation curves showed that the velocity and number of cell proliferation in group C were significantly higher than those in group A and group B at 2-6 days after culture (P < 0.05). The rates of proliferation period (S) of hUCMSCs were 9.21% +/- 1.02%, 11.79% +/- 1.87%, and 20.54% +/- 2.03%, respectively in groups A, B, and C at 6 days, and group C was significantly higher than that of group A and group B (P < 0.05). The hUCMSCs showed normal morphology and structure in 3 groups, and no apoptosis cells was observed. The positive cells percentage of group C (2.6% +/- 0.1%) was significantly lower than that of group A (4.8% +/- 0.2%) and group B (3.8% +/- 0.4%) (P < 0.05). The levels of TNF-alpha, IL-1, PDGF, and IGF-1 in group C were significantly higher than those in group B (P < 0.05)., Conclusion: The higher levels of cytokines in serum from the severe burn patients can significantly stimulate hUCMSCs proliferation, prevent cells apoptosis, and reduce cells senescence. Therefore, it is feasible to use hUCMSCs transplantation for treating severe burn patients.

Nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) is a key transcriptional factor family that consists of five members in mammalian cells, including NF-kappaB1 (p50), NF-kappaB2 (p52), RelA (p65), RelB and c-Rel. NF-kappaB is implicated in multiple physiological and pathological processes, including cell proliferation and differentiation, inflammatory and immune response, cell survival and apoptosis, cellular stress reactions and tumorigenesis. Recent studies by our group and others have highlighted the novel functions of the p50 protein. In this review, we will focus on the regulation and functions of NF-kappaB p50.