[Effects of artificial dermis combined with autologous skin in repairing the wounds with exposed bone and/or tendon in fingers of children after electric burns]

Objective: To explore the effects of artificial dermis combined with autologous skin in repairing the wounds with exposed bone and/or tendon in fingers of children after electric burns. Methods: A retrospective observational study was conducted. From January 2017 to December 2022, 14 children with bone and/or tendon exposed wounds in fingers after electric burns who met the inclusion criteria were admitted to Zhengzhou First People's Hospital, including 9 males and 5 females, aged 2 to 11 years. A total of 38 fingers were affected, with 1 wound per finger. After debridement, artificial dermal coverage combined with vacuum sealing drainage was performed in all the wounds in the first stage, with wound area of 2.0 cm×1.0 cm-4.5 cm×2.5 cm after debridement. The second stage surgery was performed to close the wound with autologous thin intermediate thickness skin graft. Then the children were told to perform functional rehabilitation exercise as early as possible. The survival of autologous skin graft was observed at the 7th day after the second stage surgery. The wound healing time was recorded. After 12 months of follow-up, the Vancouver scar scale was used to evaluate the scar hyperplasia at the skin grafting site of the affected finger; the total action mobility (TAM) of the affected finger joint was measured for evaluating the functional recovery of the affected finger; a self-made efficacy satisfaction rating table was used to investigate the parents' satisfaction with the curative effect of the children. Results: At the 7th day after the second stage surgery, all the children had good survival of autologous skin grafts. The wound healing time was (24.1±2.7) d. After 12 months of follow-up, the scar score at the skin grafting site of the affected finger was 5.2±2.4; the TAM of the affected finger joint was (177±40)°; the functional assessment was good in 12 fingers, medium in 23 fingers, and poor in 3 fingers; the parents' satisfaction with the curative effect of the children in the survey was very satisfied in 10 cases, satisfied in 3 cases, and dissatisfied in 1 case. Conclusions: The combination of artificial dermis and autologous thin intermediate thickness skin graft is an alternative surgical method that can effectively repair the bone and/or tendon exposed wounds in fingers of children after electric burns. After wound healing, the scars are slight, the finger function is well recovered, and the parents of the children are highly satisfied with the curative effect of the children, which is worthy of clinical promotion.

[Effects of continuous goal-directed analgesia on fluid resuscitation of massive burn patients during shock]

Objective: To investigate the effects of continuous goal-directed analgesia on fluid resuscitation during shock stage in patients with massive burns, providing a basis for rational optimization of analgesia protocols in patients with burn shock. Methods: A retrospective case series study was conducted. One hundred and thirty-six patients with massive burns who met the inclusion criteria were admitted to Zhengzhou First People's Hospital from January 2015 to December 2020, and the patients were divided into continuous analgesia (CA) group (68 cases,with average age of 44 years old) and intermittent analgesia (IA) group (68 cases,with average age of 45 years old) according to whether sufentanil injection was continuously used for intravenous analgesia during the shock stage. The patients in the 2 groups were predominantly male. Before and at 72 h of treatment, the severity of disease and trauma pain of patients in the 2 groups were scored by the acute physiology and chronic health evaluation Ⅱ (APACHE Ⅱ) and the visual analogue scale (VAS). Hematocrit, heart rate, mean arterial pressure (MAP), central venous pressure (CVP), oxygen saturation in central venous blood (ScvO2), rehydration coefficient, blood lactate value, hourly urine output, and the adverse reactions such as hypotension, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, skeletal muscle tonicity, respiratory depression, bradycardia, pruritus, and drug addiction of patients in the 2 groups during the treatment were recorded at the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd 24 h post-injury. Data were statistically analyzed with analysis of variance for repeated measurement, paired or independent sample t test, Bonferroni correction,chi-square test and Mann-Whitney U test. Results: Before treatment, APACHE Ⅱ and VAS scores of patients in the 2 groups were close (with t values of -0.67 and 0.32, respectively, P>0.05); At 72 h of treatment, APACHE Ⅱ and VAS scores of patients in CA group were 8.5±2.2 and 2.5±1.6, both of which were significantly lower than (15.2±3.0) and (7.9±2.0) of patients in IA group, respectively (with t values of -14.94 and -17.46, respectively, P<0.01). Compared with the pre-treatment period, the APACHE Ⅱ and VAS scores of patients in IA group decreased significantly at 72 h of treatment (with t values of 11.35 and 30.59, respectively, P<0.01); the changes in APACHE Ⅱ and VAS scores of patients at 72 h of treatment in comparison with those of patients before treatment in CA group were all similar to those of patients in IA group (with t values of 4.00 and 4.82, respectively, P<0.01). Compared with those of patients in IA group, there were no significant changes in CVP, hematocrit, heart rate, ScvO2, and MAP of patients in CA group at all three 24 h post-injury (with t values of <0.01, 0.12, 2.10, 1.55, 0.03; 0.13, 0.22, <0.01, 0.17, 0.49; 0.63, 0.06, 0.04, 2.79, and 2.33, respectively, P>0.05). Compared with those of patients in IA group at the 1st 24 h post-injury, CVP, ScvO2 and MAP of patients were significantly higher at the 2nd and 3rd 24 h post-injury (with t values of -10.10, -9.31, -8.89; -10.81, -4.65, and -9.43, respectively, P<0.01), and the heart rate of patients was significantly lower at the 2nd and 3rd 24 h post-injury (with t values of 7.53 and 7.78, respectively, P<0.01), and the hematocrit of patients decreased significantly only at the 3rd 24 h post-injury (t=15.55, P<0.01); the changes of CVP, ScvO2, MAP and heart rate of patients at the 2nd and the 3rd 24 h post-injury, and HCT of patients at the 3rd 24 h post-injury, in comparison with those of patients at the 1st 24 h post-injury in CA group were similar to those of patients in IA group (with t values of -12.25, -10.24, -8.99, 9.42, -8.83, -7.53, -11.57, 10.44, and 12.91, respectively, P<0.01). Compared with those of patients in IA group, the rehydration coefficient of patients in CA group was significantly higher only at the 3rd 24 h post-injury (t=5.60, P<0.05), blood lactate value of patients in CA group was significantly lower at the 1st and 2nd 24 h post-injury (with t values of 4.32 and 14.52, respectively, P<0.05 or P<0.01), the hourly urine output of patients in CA group increased significantly at the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd 24 h post-injury (with t values of 24.65, 13.12, and 5.63, respectively, P<0.05 or P<0.01). Compared with the those of patients at the 1st 24 h post-injury, the rehydration coefficient of patients in IA group decreased significantly at the 2nd and the 3rd 24 h post-injury (with t values of 33.98 and 36.91, respectively, P<0.01), the blood lactate values of patients in IA group decreased significantly at the 2nd and the 3rd 24 h post-injury (with t values of 8.20 and 11.68, respectively, P<0.01), and the hourly urine output of patients in IA group was significantly increased at the 2nd and the 3rd 24 h post-injury (with t values of -3.52 and -5.92, respectively, P<0.01); the changes of rehydration coefficients and blood lactate values of patients at the 2nd and the 3rd 24 h post-injury in comparison with those of patients at the 1st 24 h post-injury in CA group were similar to those of patients in IA group (with t values of 35.64, 33.64, 9.86, and 12.56, respectively, P<0.01), but hourly urine output of patients in CA group increased significantly only at the 3rd 24 h compared with that of patients at the 1st 24 h post-injury (t=-3.07, P<0.01). Adverse reactions such as hypotension, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, bradycardia, and pruritus occurred rarely in patients of the 2 groups, and none of the patients had skeletal muscle tonicity, respiratory depression, or drug addiction. The incidence of adverse reactions of patients in CA group was similar to that in IA group (χ2=0.08, P>0.05). Conclusions: Continuous goal-directed analgesia can effectively relieve pain and improve vital signs of patients with large burns. Meanwhile it has little impact on volume load, which can assist in correcting ischemia and hypoxia during the shock period and help patients get through the shock period smoothly.

[Value of cerebral hypoxic-ischemic injury markers in the early diagnosis of sepsis associated encephalopathy in burn patients with sepsis]

Objective: To explore the value of cerebral hypoxic-ischemic injury markers in the early diagnosis of sepsis associated encephalopathy (SAE) in burn patients with sepsis. Methods: A retrospective case series study was conducted. From October 2018 to May 2021, 41 burn patients with sepsis who were admitted to Zhengzhou First People's Hospital met the inclusion criteria, including 23 males and 18 females, aged 18-65 (35±3) years. According to whether SAE occurred during hospitalization, the patients were divided into SAE group (21 cases) and non-SAE group (20 cases). The gender, age, deep partial-thickness burn area, full-thickness burn area, and acute physiology and chronic health evaluation Ⅱ (APACHE Ⅱ) scores of patients were compared between the two groups. The serum levels of central nervous system specific protein S100β and neuron specific enolase (NSE) at 12, 24, and 48 h after sepsis diagnosis (hereinafter referred to as after diagnosis), the serum levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6), IL-10, tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), Tau protein, adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), and cortisol at 12, 24, 48, 72, 120, and 168 h after diagnosis, and the mean blood flow velocity of middle cerebral artery (VmMCA), pulsatility index, and cerebral blood flow index (CBFi) on 1, 3, and 7 d after diagnosis of patients in the two groups were counted. Data were statistically analyzed with chi-square test, analysis of variance for repeated measurement, independent sample t test, and Bonferroni correction. The independent variables to predict the occurrence of SAE was screened by multi-factor logistic regression analysis. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was drawn for predicting the occurrence of SAE in burn patients with sepsis, and the area under the curve (AUC), the best threshold, and the sensitivity and specificity under the best threshold were calculated. Results: The gender, age, deep partial-thickness burn area, full-thickness burn area, and APACHE Ⅱ score of patients in the two groups were all similar (χ2=0.02, with t values of 0.71, 1.59, 0.91, and 1.07, respectively, P>0.05). At 12, 24, and 48 h after diagnosis, the serum levels of S100β and NSE of patients in SAE group were all significantly higher than those in non-SAE group (with t values of 37.74, 77.84, 44.16, 22.51, 38.76, and 29.31, respectively, P<0.01). At 12, 24, 48, 72, 120, and 168 h after diagnosis, the serum levels of IL-10, Tau protein, and ACTH of patients in SAE group were all significantly higher than those in non-SAE group (with t values of 10.68, 13.50, 10.59, 8.09, 7.17, 4.71, 5.51, 3.20, 3.61, 3.58, 3.28, 4.21, 5.91, 5.66, 4.98, 4.69, 4.78, and 2.97, respectively, P<0.01). At 12, 24, 48, 72, and 120 h after diagnosis, the serum levels of IL-6 and TNF-α of patients in SAE group were all significantly higher than those in non-SAE group (with t values of 8.56, 7.32, 2.08, 2.53, 3.37, 4.44, 5.36, 5.35, 6.85, and 5.15, respectively, P<0.05 or P<0.01). At 12, 24, and 48 h after diagnosis, the serum level of cortisol of patients in SAE group was significantly higher than that in non-SAE group (with t values of 5.44, 5.46, and 3.55, respectively, P<0.01). On 1 d after diagnosis, the VmMCA and CBFi of patients in SAE group were significantly lower than those in non-SAE group (with t values of 2.94 and 2.67, respectively, P<0.05). On 1, 3, and 7 d after diagnosis, the pulsatile index of patients in SAE group was significantly higher than that in non-SAE group (with t values of 2.56, 3.20, and 3.12, respectively, P<0.05 or P<0.01). Serum IL-6 at 12 h after diagnosis, serum Tau protein at 24 h after diagnosis, serum ACTH at 24 h after diagnosis, and serum cortisol at 24 h after diagnosis were the independent risk factors for SAE complicated in burn patients with sepsis (with odds ratios of 2.42, 1.38, 4.29, and 4.19, 95% confidence interval of 1.76-3.82, 1.06-2.45, 1.37-6.68, and 3.32-8.79, respectively, P<0.01). For 41 burn patients with sepsis, the AUC of ROC of serum IL-6 at 12 h after diagnosis for predicting SAE was 0.92 (95% confidence interval was 0.84-1.00), the best threshold was 157 pg/mL, the sensitivity was 81%, and the specificity was 89%. The AUC of ROC of serum Tau protein at 24 h after diagnosis for predicting SAE was 0.92 (95% confidence interval was 0.82-1.00), the best threshold was 6.4 pg/mL, the sensitivity was 97%, and the specificity was 99%. The AUC of ROC of serum ACTH at 24 h after diagnosis for predicting SAE was 0.96 (95% confidence interval was 0.89-1.00), the best threshold was 14.7 pg/mL, the sensitivity was 90%, and the specificity was 94%. The AUC of ROC of serum cortisol at 24 h after diagnosis for predicting SAE was 0.93 (95% confidence interval was 0.86-1.00), the best threshold was 89 nmol/L, the sensitivity was 94%, and the specificity was 97%. Conclusions: Serum Tau protein, ACTH, and cortisol have high clinical diagnostic value for SAE complicated in burn patients with sepsis.

[Clinical effects of medical ozone autologous blood transfusion combined with Xingnaojing in the treatment of septic encephalopathy in burns]

Objective: To investigate the clinical effects of medical ozone autologous blood transfusion combined with Xingnaojing in the treatment of septic encephalopathy in burns. Methods: The retrospective cohort study was conducted. From August 2015 to May 2019, 90 patients with burn septic encephalopathy and conforming to the inclusion criteria were admitted to Zhengzhou First People's Hospital. Forty-six patients (25 males and 21 females, aged (35±4) years ) treated with Xingnaojing were included in Xingnaojing alone group, and forty-four patients (20 males and 24 females, aged (34±5) years) treated with medical ozone autologous blood transfusion combined with Xingnaojing were included in ozone autologous blood transfusion+Xingnaojing group. Heart rate, body temperature, mean arterial pressure, acute physiology and chronic health evaluation Ⅱ(APACHEⅡ) score and Glasgow coma score (GCS) of patients in 2 groups were recorded before treatment and on 7 d after treatment. The blood-brain barrier injury markers including occludin, nitric oxide synthase (NOS), neuron-specific enolase (NSE), central nervous system specific protein S100β, glial fibrillar acidic protein (GFAP), and excitatory amino acid (EAA) in serum of patients in 2 groups were detected before treatment and on 1, 3, and 7 d after treatment. Computer tomography perfusion imaging for brain was performed in patients of 2 groups to calculate the region of interest cerebral blood flow (rCBF), region of interest blood volume (rCBV), and region of interest mean transit time (rMTT) before treatment and on 1, 3, and 7 d after treatment. Data were statistically analyzed with chi-square test, analysis of variance for repeated measurement, independent sample t test, and Bonferroni correction. Results: On 7 d after treatment, heart rate, body temperature, and mean arterial pressure of patients in 2 groups were decreased compared with those before treatment, heart rate of patients in ozone autologous blood transfusion+Xingnaojing group was obviously higher than that in Xingnaojing alone group (t=2.886, P<0.01), body temperature of patients in ozone autologous blood transfusion+Xingnaojing group was obviously lower than that in Xingnaojing alone group (t=5.020, P<0.01), and mean arterial pressure of patients in 2 groups were close (t=0.472, P>0.05). On 7 d after treatment, APACHEⅡ score of patients in ozone autologous blood transfusion+Xingnaojing group was obviously lower than that in Xingnaojing alone group (t=3.797, P<0.01), and GCS of patients in ozone autologous blood transfusion+Xingnaojing group was obviously higher than that in Xingnaojing alone group (t=4.934, P<0.01). On 3 and 7 d after treatment, the levels of occludin, NOS, NSE, S100β, GFAP, and EAA in serum of patients in ozone autologous blood transfusion+Xingnaojing group were significantly lower than those in Xingnaojing alone group (t=2.100, 2.090, 2.691, 2.013, 2.474, 2.635, 2.225, 4.011, 3.150, 2.691, 3.145, 2.781, P<0.05 or P<0.01). On 1, 3, and 7 d after treatment, rCBF and rCBV of patients in ozone autologous blood transfusion+Xingnaojing group were significantly increased compared with those in Xingnaojing alone group (t=3.127, 3.244, 3.883, 7.274, 3.661, 2.777, P<0.01). On 7 d after treatment, rMTT of patients in ozone autologous blood transfusion+Xingnaojing group was (3.02±0.57) s, which was significantly lower than (3.11±1.20) s in Xingnaojing alone group (t=2.409, P<0.05). Conclusions: Transfusion of medical ozone autologous blood combined with Xingnaojing therapy can effectively relieve brain injury and improve cerebral blood perfusion in patients with burn septic encephalopathy, which is with safety and credibility.

[Value of renal injury marker protein in early diagnosis of acute kidney injury in burn patients with delayed resuscitation]

Objective: To explore the value of renal injury marker protein in early diagnosis of acute kidney injury (AKI) in burn patients with delayed resuscitation. Methods: The retrospective case-control research was conducted. Forty-three burn patients with delayed resuscitation (27 males and 16 females, with age of 18-75 (35±3) years)who were admitted to Zhengzhou First People's Hospital from May 2018 to May 2020 met the inclusion criteria. The patients were divided into AKI group with 23 patients and non-AKI group with 20 patients according to whether AKI occurred within 7 days after burns. The gender, age, deep partial-thickness burn area, full-thickness burn area, and acute physiology and chronic health evaluation Ⅱ of patients were compared between the two groups.The fluid supplement volume and serum creatinine at 12, 24, and 48 h after burn, serum albumin/fibrinogen ratio (AFR), urinary heat shock protein 70 (HSP70), tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-2 (TIMP-2)×insulin-like growth factor binding protein 7 (IGFBP-7), and neutrophil gelatinase associated lipocalin (NGAL)at 12, 24, 48, 72, 120, and 168 h after burn were detected.Data were statistically analyzed with Mann-Whitney U test, analysis of variance for repeated measurement, independent-samples t test, chi-square test and Bonferroni correction. The independent variable to predict the occurrence of AKI was screened by multi-factor logistic regression analysis. The receiver's operating characteristic curve was drawn for predicting the occurrence of AKI in burn delayed resuscitation patients, and the area under the curve (AUC), the best threshold, and the sensitivity and specificity under the best threshold were calculated. Results: The gender, age, deep partial-thickness burn area, full-thickness burn area, acute physiology and chronic health evaluation Ⅱ of patients in two groups were similar (χ(2)=1.98, t=1.98, 1.99, 1.99, 1.99, P>0.05). The fluid supplement volume of patients in AKI group at 24 and 48 h after burn was significantly less than that in non-AKI group (t=15.37, 6.51, P<0.01). The serum creatinine of patients in AKI group at 12, 24, and 48 h after burn was significantly higher than that in non-AKI group (Z=2.16, 5.62, 6.72, P<0.01). The serum AFR of patients in AKI group at 12, 24, 48, 72, 120, and 168 h after burn was significantly lower than that in non-AKI group (t=16.14, 35.35, 19.60, 20.47, 30.20, 20.17, P<0.01). The levels of urinary HSP70 of patients in AKI group at 12, 24, 48, 72, 120, and 168 h after burn were (6.89±0.87), (6.42±0.73), (5.81±0.72), (5.17±0.56), (4.63±0.51), (3.89±0.51) μg/L, which were significantly higher than (3.89±0.75), (3.57±0.63), (2.66±0.41), (1.83±0.35), (1.48±0.19), (1.28±0.19) μg/L in non-AKI group (t=12.00, 13.61, 17.39, 22.98, 26.34, 21.59, P<0.01). Urinary TIMP-2×IGFBP-7 and NGAL of patients in AKI group at 12, 24, 48, 72, 120, 168 h after burn were significantly higher than those in non-AKI group (t=26.94, 101.11, 35.50, 66.89, 17.34, 14.30, 14.00, 13.78, 12.32, 14.80, 21.36, 22.62, P<0.01). Urinary HSP70 and serum AFR at 12 h after burn, urinary TIMP-2×IGFBP-7 and NGAL at 24 h after burn were included into multi-factor logistic regression analysis (odds ratio=2.42, 3.47, 7.52, 5.61, 95% confidence interval=1.99-2.95, 1.86-3.92, 2.87-9.68, 2.14-14.69, P<0.01). For 43 patients with burn delayed resuscitation, the AUC of receiver's operating characteristic curve of serum AFR at 12 h after burn for predicting AKI was 0.739 (95% confidence interval=0.576-0.903), the optimal threshold was 9.90, the sensitivity was 82%, and the specificity was 90%. The AUC of urinary HSP70 at 12 h after burn was 0.990 (95% confidence interval=0.920-1.000), the optimal threshold was 1.40 μg/L, the sensitivity was 98%, and the specificity was 96%. The AUC of urinary TIMP-2×IGFBP-7 at 24 h after burn was 0.715 (95% confidence interval=0.512-0.890), the optimal threshold was 114.20 μg(2)/L(2), the sensitivity was 91%, and the specificity was 95%. The AUC of urinary NGAL at 24 h after burn was 0.972 (95% confidence interval=0.860-1.000), the optimal threshold was 78 μg/L, the sensitivity was 95%, and the specificity was 96%. Conclusions: Urinary HSP70 and NGAL have higher value in early diagnosis of AKI in burn patients with delayed resuscitation.

[Successful rescue of one severe burn patient accompanied by asphyxia, sudden cardiac arrest, and acute respiratory distress syndrome]

On March 14, 2017, a thirty years old male severe burn patient accompanied by asphyxia, sudden cardiac arrest, and acute respiratory distress syndrome was admitted to Zhengzhou First People's Hospital. During the shock stage, the pulse contour cardiac output was monitored for the restrictive rehydration, tracheotomy was performed, and fibrobronchoscope lavage was performed for the treatment of inhalation injury and pulmonary infection. An alternate application of suspended bed and turning bed was conducted to balance the treatment of cerebral edema and pulmonary infection; targeted antibiotics were used for anti-infective treatment; multiple operations were performed for eschar excision and skin grafting. At last, the wounds were all healed, the lung infection was cured, and the patient was discharged with severe disturbance of consciousness. Asphyxia and acute respiratory distress syndrome post-cardiopulmonary resuscitation are serious complications in severe burn patients. The clinical treatment of such patients is very difficult and should be highly alerted.

[Effects of citric acid on patients with severe burn complicated with acute renal injury treated by continuous renal replacement therapy]

Objective: To explore the effects of citric acid on patients with severe burn complicated with acute renal injury treated by continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT). Methods: Medical records of 83 patients with large area of burn complicated with acute renal injury admitted to intensive care unit (ICU) of our department from January 2015 to December 2018 and meeting the inclusion criteria were analyzed retrospectively. The patients were divided into heparin group [n=43, 25 males and 18 females, aged (35.0±2.5) years] and citric acid group [n=40, 22 males and 18 females, aged (37.0±6.6) years] according to different anticoagulation methods. After admission, routine support treatment and CRRT were performed after being diagnosed with acute renal injury in patients in 2 groups. Patients in heparin group were treated with low molecular weight heparin for anticoagulation with first dosage of 20 U/kg and an increase of 2.5 to 5.0 U per hour, and patients in citric acid group were given citric acid of 0.02 g/mL with dosage of 150~200 mL/h for anticoagulation. The use time of blood filter, recovery time of urine volume, and time of staying in ICU, and platelet count, activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), prothrombin time (PT), and serum creatinine, urea nitrogen, cystatin C, procalcitonin, C-reactive protein, and neutrophil, leukocyte count, blood sugar, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and heart rate, body temperature, and mean arterial pressure before treatment and post treatment hour (PTH) 24 were recorded. Besides, occurrence of hemorrhage, hypocalcemia, metabolic acidosis, metabolic alkalosis, and death within 28 days post injury were recorded. Data were processed with t test and chi-square test. Results: The use time of blood filter of patients in citric acid group was (28.7±3.2)h, significantly longer than (19.4±2.6) h in heparin group (t=14.139, P<0.01). The recovery time of urine volume and time of staying in ICU of patients in citric acid group were respectively (7.6±0.9) and (9.6±1.3) d, significantly shorter than (9.2±1.5) and (11.2±1.8) d in heparin group (t=5.516, 4.697, P<0.01). Before treatment, there were no statistically significant differences in platelet count, APTT, and PT of patients in 2 groups (t=1.235, 0.515, 1.279, P>0.05). At PTH 24, the platelet count of patients in citric acid group was significantly higher than that in heparin group (t=10.947, P<0.01), and APTT and PT of patients in citric acid group were significantly shorter than those in heparin group (t=7.069, 9.142, P<0.01). Before treatment, there were no statistically significant differences in serum creatinine, urea nitrogen, and cystatin C of patients in 2 groups (t=1.684, 1.878, 1.472, P>0.05). At PTH 24, the serum creatinine, urea nitrogen, and cystatin C of patients in citric acid group were significantly lower than those in heparin group (t=7.778, 9.776, 5.117, P<0.01). Before treatment, there were no statistically significant differences in serum procalcitonin and C-reactive protein of patients in 2 groups (t=1.413, 0.898, P>0.05). At PTH 24, the serum procalcitonin and C-reactive protein of patients in citric acid group were significantly lower than those in heparin group (t=2.635, 2.297, P<0.05). Before treatment, there were no statistically significant differences in neutrophil, leukocyte count, blood sugar, AST, and ALT of patients in 2 groups (t=0.555, 0.816, 0.470, 1.896, 0.982, P>0.05). At PTH 24, the neutrophil, leukocyte count, blood sugar, AST, and ALT of patients in citric acid group were significantly lower than those in heparin group (t=2.054, 3.314, 7.185, 2.151, 3.013, P<0.05 or P<0.01). Before treatment, there were no statistically significant differences in heart rate, body temperature, and mean arterial pressure of patients in 2 groups (t=1.406, 0.474, 0.720, P>0.05). At PTH 24, the heart rate, body temperature, and mean arterial pressure of patients in citric acid group were significantly lower than those in heparin group (t=2.307, 4.498, 2.056, P<0.05 or P<0.01). The incidence of hemorrhage of patients in citric acid group while in hospital was significantly lower than that in heparin group (χ(2)=4.949, P<0.05). There were no statistically significant differences in incidence of hypocalcemia, metabolic acidosis, metabolic alkalosis, and death rate within 28 days post injury of patients in 2 groups while in hospital (χ(2)=3.346, 0.884, 0.297, 0.324, P>0.05). Conclusions: Citric acid has significant anticoagulant effect on patients with large area of burn complicated with acute renal injury treated by CRRT, which can prolong the use time of the blood filter, shorten the recovery time of urine volume and time of staying in ICU, improve renal function indexes, blood biochemical indexes, and inflammation indexes, maintain the stability of internal environment, and reduce the risk of hemorrhage.

[Clinical effect of free anterolateral thigh flap in repairing large annular soft tissue defect of lower leg after burn]

Objective: To explore the clinical effect of free anterolateral thigh flap in repairing large annular soft tissue defect of lower leg after burn. Methods: From January 2014 to December 2018, 9 patients with large annular soft tissue defects of lower legs after burns were hospitalized in Zhengzhou First People's Hospital, including 1 case with wounds on both legs. After debridement, area of wounds was 16 cm×11 cm-38 cm×21 cm, and the burn wounds were repaired with free anterolateral thigh flaps in the area of 18 cm×12 cm-32 cm×24 cm. End-to-end anastomosis of posterior tibial vessels or anterior tibial vessels with lateral circumflex femoral vessels was performed in manual way or by microvascular stapler. For the affected legs without condition for anastomosis, the sound medial lower leg flaps with areas of 10 cm×8 cm-15 cm×10 cm were excised and made into skin tubes, the posterior tibial vessels of the flaps were anastomosed with the vessels of free anterolateral femoral flaps, and the wounds of the injured lower legs were repaired by bridge-type cross-over free transplantation of anterolateral thigh flaps. The pedicles were broken 4 to 5 weeks later. The donor site was transplanted with autologous intermediate split-thickness skin graft from thigh. The outcome of the treatment, the number of perforators included in the flaps, and the anastomotic vessel in the recipient area of patients were recorded. The anastomosis time between manual way and microvascular staplers was recorded and compared. The patency of blood vessels, methods of free transplantation, and follow-up condition were recorded. Data were processed with Wilcoxon rank sum test for two independent samples. Results: All the 10 free flaps and skin grafts of 9 patients survived, and all the wounds were closed by primary operation. Seven flaps contained two perforators each, and three flaps contained three perforators each. The anastomotic vessels were posterior tibial vessels in 6 recipient areas and anterior tibial vessels in 4 recipient areas. Microvascular stapler was used to anastomose 12 veins, while 8 veins and 10 arteries were anstomosed manually. The time consumed by the former method was 4.00 (3.55, 4.38) min, significantly shorter than 12.80 (12.13, 13.40) min of the latter (W=78.00, P<0.01). The patency rates of veins and arteries were 100%. There was no vascular crisis due to vascular anastomosis. Three patients underwent bridge-type cross-over free transplantation, while the others underwent conventional free transplantation. Follow-up for 3 to 30 months showed that the donor site of the thigh had good motor function, without numbness or pain, but hypertrophy of scar could be seen. Four patients had slightly overstaffed flaps transplanted in the recipient area of the lower legs, while the other patients were satisfied with their appearance, and the walking function of the affected limbs gradually recovered. Conclusions: Free anterolateral thigh flap transplantation is a safe and reliable clinical limb salvage method for the repair of large annular soft tissue defect of lower leg after burn. Intraoperative application of microvascular stapler for venous anastomosis can shorten the time of vascular anastomosis and has great clinical application value.

Amide-linked local anesthetics induce apoptosis in human non-small cell lung cancer

BACKGROUND

A retrospective analysis of patients undergoing cancer surgery suggested that using local anesthetics could reduce cancer recurrence and improve survival rate. Previous studies have indicated that local anesthetics may induce apoptosis in several kinds of cells in vitro, but the mechanism is unclear.

METHODS

Cell viability was analyzed by MTS; reactive oxygen species (ROS), mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP, ∆Ψm), cell cycle distribution, and cell apoptosis assay were detected by flow cytometry; DNA damage was measured by comet assay; cell invasion and migration were observed by microscopy; The expression level of related proteins was detected by western blot assay.

RESULTS

The results indicated that lidocaine and ropivacaine could decrease viability, induce G0/G1 phase arrest and apoptosis in human non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells A549 and H520. Invasion and migration were suppressed. Western blot indicated the related apoptotic pathways proteins changed accordingly. Additionally, lidocaine and ropivacaine downregulated ∆Ψm, provoked DNA damage, upregulated ROS production and activated mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways in A549 and H520 cells.

CONCLUSIONS

The cytotoxic effect of amide-linked local anesthetics on NSCLC cells were mainly due to apoptosis. The antitumor mechanism of lidocaine and ropivacaine may involve apoptotic pathways and MAPK pathways.

First Report of Cercospora concors Causing Cercospora Leaf Blotch of Potato in Inner Mongolia, North China

Cercospora leaf blotch disease of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) caused by Cercospora concors (Casp.) Sacc (synonym Mycovellosiella concors (Casp.) Deighton) occurs worldwide but mainly has been reported in the cool and temperate climates of Europe, Asia, North America, and eastern Africa. Cercospora leaf blotch is usually a minor disease and may go unnoticed since it commonly occurs simultaneously with other potato leaf diseases such as late blight (caused by Phytophthora infestans) and early blight (caused by Alternaria solani) (2). Symptoms of Cercospora leaf blotch first appear on lower leaves as small, yellowish green, irregular blotches and later may appear on middle and upper leaves. As the leaves expand, the blotches enlarge and become purplish brown or black. Conidiophores and conidia form on the underside of the lesions, giving the lesions a mildewed appearance similar to late blight. Necrotic lesions are distinguished from those caused by the early blight pathogen A. solani by the lack of concentric rings (1). In more severe epidemics of Cercospora leaf blotch, potato leaves may be killed, stem lesions become dark and entire plants die, but no resulting yield loss from the disease has been documented. Potato tubers are not infected. From August to September of 2005, yellow-brown lesions appeared on the upper side of potato leaves (cv. Zihuabai, certified virus free) and gray mildew developed on the underside of leaves in potato field trials conducted in Jining County, 41°N, 113°E of Inner Mongolia, North China. The infections were observed mostly on lower and middle leaves of plants; 20 to 30% of plants were infected. In the laboratory, the mildew was scraped with a sterile scalpel and examined microscopically. The conidiophores were irregular in width, grayish, and highly branched. The conidia were numerous, light to dark, straight or slightly bent, cylindrical or obclavate, with conspicuous scars, and zero to six septa. The mature spores were from 16 to 59 μm long and 4 to 6 μm wide. The teleomorph of the fungus was not found. On the basis of the morphological characters, the causal agent was identified as C. concors. C. concors has been previously identified from potato leaves in the Engshi District of Hubei Province, China (3), but to our knowledge, this is the first report of the fungus causing Cercospora leaf blotch of potato in Inner Mongolia, North China. References: (1) G. D. Franc and B. I. Christ. Page 22 in: Compendium of Potato Diseases. 2nd ed. W. R. Stevenson et al., eds. American Phytopathological Society, St. Paul, MN, 2001. (2) E. R. French. Page 19 in: Compendium of Potato Diseases. 2nd ed. W. R. Stevenson et al., eds. American Phytopathological Society, St. Paul, MN, 2001. (3) S. M. Tian et al. China Potato J. 1:13, 1997.

First Report of Helminthosporium solani Causing Silver Scurf of Potato in Hebei Province, North China

Silver scurf disease of potato (Solanum tuberosum) caused by Helminthosporium solani Durieu & Mont. occurs worldwide. Severe occurrence of the disease, the resulting weight loss of stored potatoes, and lower market classes of potato caused by the fungus have been documented in Europe and North America (1). Tubers infected with the pathogen develop tan-to-gray lesions that have a characteristic silvery appearance when moist. In 2005, gray spots with a defined margin and silvery appearance when seen against light were observed on potato tubers of cv. Weishu No. 1. The silver symptoms were distinguished from those of black rot disease of potato caused by Colletotrichum coccodes. The potato tubers were obtained from Weichang County of Hebei Province, North China. Conidia were scraped from the spots with a sterile scalpel and identified primarily as the fungus H. solani on the basis of morphological characters of the spores. The fungus was isolated, purified, and cultured on potato dextrose agar (PDA) amended with penicillin and streptomycin. To produce conidia, the fungus was incubated on V8 juice medium at 20 ± 2°C for 15 days under near-UV light (360 to 400 nm, 12-h light/dark cycles). The culture colony developed slowly and is gray to brown. Conidia form in whorls on conidiophores that are black, unbranched, irregular, and multiseptate. Conidia are appreciably tapered, straight or slightly curved, brown, thick walled, and have two to eight pseudosepta. The size of the conidia ranged from 14 to 70 μm long and 4 to 9 μm wide. The spore suspension was adjusted to 1.5 × 10⁵ spores per ml by using sterile distilled water containing 0.2% Tween 20. Twenty healthy tubers were washed with distilled water and then inoculated by spraying the spore suspension onto the surface with a hand atomizer, while 10 washed tubers were sprayed with distilled water as controls. Inoculated tubers were kept in containers covered with plastic and placed in an incubation chamber at 20°C for 3 weeks. Gray-to-brown blemishes with a silvery appearance as described above were observed on tubers inoculated with the fungus and the tuber surface areas infected were from 1 to 10%, whereas no infection was visible on tubers inoculated with water. The causal agent was reisolated, cultured, and identified microscopically as H. solani. H. solani has been identified from potato tubers in Yunnan Province, Southwest China (2), but to our knowledge, this is the first report of H. solani causing silver scurf of potato in Hebei Province, North China. References: (1) D. Errampalli et al. Plant Pathol. 50:141, 2001. (2) K. Y. Ryu et al. China Potato. 15:195, 2001.

Effects of hydrostatic pressure on the structure and biological activity of infectious bursal disease virus

The effects of high hydrostatic pressure on the structure and biological activity of infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV), a commercially important pathogen of chickens, were investigated. IBDV was completely dissociated into subunits at a pressure of 240 MPa and 0 degrees C revealed by the change in intrinsic fluorescence spectrum and light scattering. The dissociation of IBDV showed abnormal concentration dependence as observed for some other viruses. Electron microscopy study showed that morphology of IBDV had an obvious change after pressure treatment at 0 degrees C. It was found that elevating pressure destroyed the infectivity of IBDV, and a completely pressure-inactivated IBDV could be obtained under proper conditions. The pressure-inactivated IBDV retained the original immunogenic properties and could elicit high titers of virus neutralizing antibodies. These results indicate that hydrostatic pressure provides a potential physical means to prepare antiviral vaccine.