Acne Scars

Zhonghua Shao Shang Za Zhi. 2009 Feb; 25(1): 49-52Li Z, Li SR, Liu JY, Dai X, Tao LOBJECTIVE: To investigate the role of connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) induced TGF-beta 1 in the transdifferentiation of human hypertrophic scar fibroblast (HSFb). METHODS: Human hypertrophic scar fibroblasts were cultured in vitro, 5 cell samples were stimulated with TGF-beta 1 (0, 2.5, 5.0, 7.5, 10.0 ng/mL, respectively) for 48 hours; other cell samples were divided into: normal control (NC) group, CTGF group (with addition of 10 ng/mL rhCTGF into culture medium), TGF-beta 1 group (with addition of 10 ng/mL TGF-beta 1 into culture medium), CTGF ASODN group (with addition of 10% FBS-DMEM after transfection of CTGF ASODN), CTGF ASODN + TGF-beta 1group (with addition of 10 ng/mL TGF-beta 1 after transfection of CTGF ASODN). Expression of CTGF was determined by Western blotting with stimulation of different concentration of TGF-beta 1. Expression of alpha-smooth muscle actin (alpha-SMA) was measured by Western blotting. Positive cell rate of alpha-SMA was examined by flow cytometry. RESULTS: With stimulation of 10.0 ng/mL TGF-beta 1, the expression of CTGF was obviously higher than that of non-stimulation (P < 0.05). Expression of alpha-SMA in the CTGF group and the TGF-beta 1 group was obviously higher than that in NC group (P < 0.01), while there was no obvious difference among NC, CTGF ASODN, CTGF ASODN + TGF-beta 1 groups (P > 0.05). The positive cell rate of alpha-SMA in NC, CTGF, TGF-beta 1, CTGF ASODN, CTGF ASODN + TGF-beta 1 groups was (10.8 +/- 2.8)%, (29.1 +/- 4.0)%, (28.7 +/- 4.8)%, (10.7 +/- 2.3)%, (14.3 +/- 2.9)%, respectively, which was similar to expression of alpha-SMA on statistic analysis. CONCLUSIONS: CTGF is one of the most important downstream effortors for TGF-beta 1 in inducing the transdifferentiation of HSFb.

Burns. 2009 Jul 3; Broerse JE, Zweekhorst MB, van Rensen AJ, de Haan MJBACKGROUND AND AIM: The role of burn survivors in burn research is usually restricted to being objects of study and beneficiaries of research results, while decision-making on research is traditionally the domain of a small group of experts, mainly scientists. In this article we compare the research priorities of burn survivors and professionals and investigate to what extent it is possible to come to a joint research agenda. METHODOLOGY: The project followed the Dialogue Model for research agenda setting. Initially burn survivors and professionals were consulted separately and group-specific lists of research priorities were established, using a literature survey, exploratory interviews (n=10), focus groups (n=58), a questionnaire (n=224) and Delphi rounds (n=12). Subsequently, in a dialogue meeting burn survivors and professionals presented and discussed their priorities, developed one integrated list, and prioritized the 15 most important topics on this list. RESULTS: Considerable overlap was observed between the research priorities of burn survivors and professionals, particularly with respect to biomedical and clinical research on wound healing and scar management. However, differences were also observed, e.g. treatment of itching and oedema on scars and donor places. CONCLUSION: The model proved useful in eliciting research priorities from both professionals and burn survivors, and in stimulating a meaningful dialogue between these groups. The involvement of burn survivors identified burn research areas that are currently not the focus of research in The Netherlands.

Regen Med. 2009 Jul; 4(4): 527-38Huang NF, Lam A, Fang Q, Sievers RE, Li S, Lee RJAIMS: Current efforts to treat myocardial infarction include the delivery of cells and matrix scaffolds. Bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs) are multipotent stem cells that secrete angiogenic growth factors, and fibrin has been shown to be a biomaterial that provides structural support to cells and tissues. The objective of this study was to characterize the attachment and viability of BM-MSCs in fibrin in vitro, and then to assess the efficacy of treatment with BM-MSCs in fibrin for promoting neovascularization in the chronically infarcted myocardium. MATERIALS & METHODS: BM-MSCs were cultured in fibrin and assessed for cell attachment and viability by using immunofluorescence staining for actin filaments and Live/Dead((R)) viability assays, respectively. To determine the efficacy of BM-MSCs in fibrin in vivo, chronically infarcted rat hearts were treated with either cells, cells in fibrin, fibrin or saline (n = 9). After 5 weeks, the infarct scar tissues were assessed for neovascularization. RESULTS: BM-MSCs exhibited robust cell attachment and viability when cultured in fibrin in vitro. Furthermore, when injected together into the infarcted tissue, BM-MSCs in fibrin could enhance neovasculature formation by increasing capillary density, in comparison to treatment by cells or fibrin separately. Concomitant to significant improvement in capillary density was an increase in the levels of VEGF in the infarct scar. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates the angiogenic potential of the combined delivery of BM-MSCs and fibrin, and highlights the advantage of stem cell-matrix approaches for myocardial repair.