Objective To study the effect of dexamethasone to protect flaps from an ischemia-reperfusion injury and elucidate its mechanism of regulating the death course of the neutrophils.Methods The rats were randomly divided into 3 groups.The vein of the rat was clamped for 8 h after the flap had formed. Group A: the normal flap; Group B: the saline control flap; Group C: the treatment flap with dexamethasone. The survival area of the flaps was measured at 7 days; the apoptotic and necrotic neutrophils,tumor necrosis factor α （TNF-α）, and interleukin 10 （IL-10） concentrations were measured. Results The flap survival areas in Groups A and C were larger than those in Group B. The apoptotic neutrophils in Group B were fewer than those in Groups A and C on the 1st and 3rd days after operation; however, they were more in number in Group B than in groups A andC on the 6th day. The necrotic cells in Group B were more in number than those in Groups A and C. In Group B, the plasma TNF-α concentration reached the maximum level at 1 h,while the IL-10 level reached the lowest 3 h after the reperfusion. In Group C, the TNF-α concentration was lower than that in Group B and decreased dramatically at 6 h. The IL-10 concentration was the lowest at 1 h, and increased rapidly at 3 h. Thus, ischemia reperfusion could injure the flaps, probably through the abnormal action of the neutrophils, such as the disordered secretion of the cytokines and abnormal death course of the neutrophils. Conclusion Dexamethasone can protect the flap from an ischemia-reperfusion injury by its regulation for the neutrophil function.
Objective To investigate the effect of bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP-2) and dexamethason (DXM) on proliferation and differentiation of human dental pulp cellsin vitro. Methods Primary human dental pulp cells were cultured in vitro by tissue culture method. The 3rd generation cells were used to identify cell phenotype for vimentin and cytokeratin by immunocytochemistry staining. The 3-5 generations of human dental pulp cells were randomly divided into 4 groups: 100 ng/mL BMP-2 (group A), 1×10–8 mol/L DXM (group B), and both 100 ng/mL BMP-2 and 1×10–8 mol/L DXM (group C) were added; neither BMP-2 nor DXM was added in group D as control group. The cell growth curve was drawn at 1, 3, 5, and 7 days after culture. The expressions of osteo/dentanogenic genes including alkaline phosphatase (ALP), dentin sialophoshoprotein (DSPP), and dentin matrix protein 1 (DMP-1) were detected by RT-PCR analysis at 5 and 7 days after culture, the ratio between the positive staining area and the total area by ALP staining at 14 days, and absorbance (A) value at 562 nm by alizarin red staining at 21 days after culture. Results Human dental pulp cells were successfully isolated and cultured, which were long fusiform and showed a positive reaction for vimentin and a negative reaction for cytokeratin. The growth curve indicated that cells increased with the extending of incubation time, reached a peak at 5 days, then reduced at 7 days to the level at 3 days. At 5 days after culture, the cells were significantly more in groups A, B, and C than group D (P<0.05), in group C than group A (P<0.05), and in group A than group B (P<0.05). RT-PCR analysis showed that the mRNA expressions of ALP, DSPP, and DMP-1 at 5 days were significantly higher in groups A, B, and C than group D (P<0.05), and in group C than groups A and B (P<0.05), but no significant difference was found between groups A and B (P>0.05); the mRNA expression of DSPP in groups A, B, and C was significantly higher than that in group D (P<0.05), but there was no significant difference in mRNA expressions between other groups at 7 days (P>0.05). At 14 days, positive staining in varying degrees was observed in each group, especially in group C; the ratio between the positive staining area and the total area was significantly higher in group C than groups A, B, and D (P<0.05), and in groups A and B than group D (P<0.05), but there was no significant difference between groups A and B (P>0.05). At 21 days, there were a variety of mineralized nodules in groups A, B, and C in nonuniformly scattered or clustered distribution, but no mineralized nodules were observed in group D. TheA values of mineralized nodules showed significant difference between groups (P<0.05). Conclusion BMP-2 may be more effective in promoting proliferation of human dental pulp cells than DXM. Combined application of BMP-2 and DXM can remarkably promote the proliferation and differentiation of human dental pulp cells.
OBJECTIVE:To observe the effect of dexamethasone to intracellular free Ca2+ of frozen RPE cells. METHODS:The cultured human RPE cells were frozen for 30s at --70deg;C. The RPE cells were loaded with Fura-2/AM and analyzed using a digital imaging microscopy system,the effect of dexamethasone to intracellular free Ca2+ was measured at a serial concentration of 40, 60,100,150,200mu;g/ml. RESULTS:The concentration of intracellular free Ca in frozen human RPE cells was increased to 18.6%~29.8% by dexamethasone at concenlration of 40mu;g/ml~60mu;g/ml,while was decreased to 28.4%~35.2% at 150mu;g/ml~200mu;g/ml. CONCLUSIONS:Effect of dexamethasone showed two aspects of effect to frozen cultured human RPE ceils,that it was inhibitor at high concentration and stimulator at low concentration （Chin J Ocul Fundus Dis,1997,13: 86-88）
Objective To observe the clinical efficacy of pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) combined with dexamethasone intravitreal implant (DEX) in the treatment of proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR). MethodsA prospective randomized controlled study. A total of 57 PDR patients with 79 eyes diagnosed by Department of Ophthalmology of The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University from May 2021 to February 2023 were included in the study. Best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and optical coherence tomography (OCT) were performed in all affected eyes. Central macular thickness (CMT) was measured by OCT. The patients were randomly divided into control group and experimental group, with 27 cases and 35 eyes and 30 cases and 44 eyes, respectively. All eyes were treated with routine 25G PPV and intraoperative whole-retina laser photocoagulation. At the end of the operation, the experimental group was given 0.7 mg DEX intravitreal injection. At 1, 4, 12, and 24 weeks after operation, the same equipment and methods were used for relevant examinations. The improvement after surgery was assessed according to the diabetic retinopathy severity score (DRSS). Mixed analysis of variance was used to compare logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution BCVA and CMT between the two groups and within the two groups before and after operation. ResultsAt 1, 4, 12 and 24 weeks after surgery, BCVA was significantly improved at different time points after surgery, and the differences were statistically significant (P＜0.001). At different time after operation, BCVA and CMT in experimental groups were significantly better than that in control group, with statistical significance (P＜0.05). Compared with the CMT before surgery, the CMT at all time point after surgery in experimental group were significantly decreased, and the difference were statistically significant (P＜0.05). There was no significant difference one week after eye operation in control group (P=0.315). At 4, 12 and 24 weeks after operation, CMT decreased in control group, and the differences were statistically significant (P＜0.05). Compared with before surgery, DRSS increased two steps higher at 1, 4, 12 and 24 weeks after surgery in 20 (45.45%, 20/44), 26 (59.10%, 26/44), 32 (72.73%, 32/44) and 31 (70.45%, 31/44) eyes in the experimental groups, respectively. The control group consisted of 15 (42.86%, 15/35), 15 (42.86%, 15/35), 16 (45.71%, 16/35) and 18 (51.43%, 18/35) eyes, respectively. There was no significant difference in DRSS at 1, 4 and 24 weeks after operation between the control group and the experimental group (P=0.817, 0.178, 0.105). At 12 weeks after surgery, the difference was statistically significant (P=0.020). ConclusionPPV combined with intravitreal injection of DEX in the treatment of PDR can improve postoperative visual acuity, alleviate postoperative macular edema and improve the severity of DR.
ObjectiveTo systematically review the efficacy and safety of dexamethasone in the treatment of viral myocarditis.MethodsThe Cochrane Library, PubMed, EMbase, Biosis Preview, Web of Science, CBM, WanFang Data, VIP, and CNKI databases were electronically searched to collect randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on dexamethasone for patients with viral myocarditis from inception to April 30th, 2021. Two reviewers independently screened literature, extracted data, and assessed the risk of bias of the included studies. Meta-analysis was then performed using RevMan 5.4 software.ResultsA total of 7 RCTs involving 749 patients were included. The results of meta-analysis showed that the dexamethasone treatment group exhibited an increased efficacy rate (RR=1.26, 95%CI 1.18 to 1.34, P<0.000 01), decreased levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) (MD=?11.49, 95%CI ?19.25 to ?3.72, P=0.004), cardiac troponin I (cTnI) (MD=?26.14, 95%CI ?40.82 to ?11.47, P=0.0005), and creatine kinase MB (CK-MB) (MD=?20.06, 95%CI ?28.35 to ?11.77, P<0.000 01), and a decreased adverse event rate (RR=0.40, 95%CI 0.24 to 0.65, P=0.000 3).ConclusionsCurrent evidence shows that dexamethasone can significantly improve the efficacy rate, reduce the levels of CRP, cTnI, and CK-MB, and reduce the incidence of adverse events in patients with viral myocarditis. Due to the limited quantity and quality of included studies, more high-quality studies are required to verify above conclusions.
ObjectiveTo study the effect of transforming growth factor β3 (TGF-β3), bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP-2), and dexamethasone (DEX) on the chondrogenic differentiation of rabbit synovial mesenchymal stem cells (SMSCs). MethodsSMSCs were isolated from the knee joints of 5 rabbits (weighing, 1.8-2.5 kg), and were identified by morphogenetic observation, flow cytometry detection for cell surface antigen, and adipogenic and osteogenic differentiations. The SMSCs were cultured in the PELLET system for chondrogenic differentiation. The cell pellets were divided into 8 groups: TGF-β3 was added in group A, BMP-2 in group B, DEX in group C, TGF-β3+BMP-2 in group C, TGF-β3+DEX in group E, BMP-2+DEX in group F, and TGF-β3+BMP-2+DEX in group G; group H served as control group. The diameter, weight, collagen type II (immuohistochemistry staining), proteoglycan (toluidine blue staining), and expression of cartilage related genes [real time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) technique] were compared to evaluate the effect of cytokines on the chondrogenic differentiation of SMSCs. Meanwhile, the DNA content of cell pellets was tested to assess the relationship between the increase weight of cell pellets and the cell proliferation. ResultsSMSCs were isolated from the knee joints of rabbits successfully and the findings indicated that the rabbit synovium-derived cells had characteristics of mesenchymal stem cells. The diameter, weight, collagen type II, proteoglycan, and expression of cartilage related genes of pellets in groups A-F were significantly lower than those of group G (P<0.05). RT-qPCR detection results showed that the relative expressions of cartilage related genes (SOX-9, Aggrecan, collagen type II, collagen type X, and BMP receptor II) in group G were significantly higher than those in the other groups (P<0.01). Meanwhile, with the increase of the volume of pellet, the DNA content reduced about 70% at 7 days, about 80% at 14 days, and about 88% at 21 days. ConclusionThe combination of TGF-β3, BMP-2, and DEX can make the capacity of chondrogenesis of SMSCs maximized. The increase of the pellet volume is caused by the extracellular matrix rather than by cell proliferation.
To discuss the effect of dexamethasone in preventing fat embol ism syndrome (FES) in cemented hi p arthroplasty patients. Methods Forty patients scheduled for unilateral cemented hi p arthroplasty between January 2008 and December 2009 were randomly divided into trial group (n=20) and control group (n=20). In trial group, there were 6 males and 14 females with an average age of 73.2 years (range, 54-95 years), including 4 cases of osteoarthritis, 3 cases ofavascular necrosis of femoral head, and 13 cases of femoral neck fracture; the disease duration was 4 days to 6 years (median, 0.8 year). In control group, there were 10 males and 10 females with an average age of 71.9 years (range, 59-91 years), including 2 cases of osteoarthritis, 3 cases of avascular necrosis of femoral head, and 15 cases of femoral neck fracture; the disease duration was 3 days to 5 years (median, 0.6 year). There was no significant difference in gender, age, or disease duration (P gt; 0.05) between 2 groups. Cemented total or bipolar hip arthroplasty (with the same brand of cement and prosthesis) in 2 groups were performed by a group of surgeons. The patients were given intravenously injected with dexamethasone (20 mg) in trial group before 1 hour of cement injection and intravenously injected with normal sal ine (2 mL) in control group. Amount of 5 mL vein blood were withdrawn before surgery, after 4, 8, and 24 hours of cement injection to test the number and average diameter of fat droplets. According to Gurd diagnosis standard, related FES symptoms and signs were inspected. Results Primary heal ing of incision was achieved in all cases of 2 groups. According to Gurd standard of diagnosis, no FES occurred in each group at 2 weeks postoperatively; deep venous thrombosis occurred in 2 cases (10%) of trial group and in 5 cases (25%) of control group, showing significant difference (P lt; 0.05). The number and diameter of fat droplets in trial group were significantly lower than those in control group at 4, 8, and 24 hours of cement injection (P lt; 0.01). All cases were followed up 7.4 months on average (range, 3-13 months). The postoperative Harris score was 89.5 ± 6.1 in trial group and 87.9 ± 8.3 in control group, showing no significant difference (P gt; 0.05). No loosening occurred during follow-up period. Conclusion Intravenous injection withdexamethasone can effectively reduce the number and diameter of venous fat droplets in cemented hip arthroplasty, which can decrease the risk of postoperative FES.
ObjectiveTo investigate the efficacy and nursing strategy of Comfeel transparent paste in treating peripheral inserted central catheter (PICC)-associated allergic dermatitis. MethodsSixty patients with PICC puncture-associated local allergic dermatitis treated between June 2011 and March 2013 were randomly divided into experimental group and control group with 30 patients in each group. The experimental group was treated with dexamethasone sodium phosphate and Comfeel transparent paste, while the control group was treated with dexamethasone sodium phosphate and 3M transparent dressing. The curative effect was compared between the two methods. ResultsTwelve patients were cured with a curing rate of 40.0% in the control group and 22 patients were cured, and the curing rate was 73.3% in the experimental group. The difference between them was significant (P<0.05). ConclusionTreatment with dexamethasone sodium phosphate and Comfeel transparent paste for PICC-associated allergic dermatitis is quite effective, and the patients felt comfortable with low pains. In addition, it reduces the extubation rate of PICC and improves the care quality.
Objective Dexamethasone (DXM) can regulate the balance of neutrophil and cytokine and enhance the ischemia-reperfusion tolerance of the skin flap; amlodipine besylate (AB) can selectively expand the peripheral blood vesselsand rel ieve the vascular smooth muscle spasm. To investigate the percutaneous penetration abil ity of DXM/AB compound gel and evaluate its effect on survival of ischemic skin flap. Methods Sodium carboxymethylcellulose was used to make blank gel, which was mixed in DXM, AB, azone (AZ), and progylene glycol (PG) respectively to make the compound gel containing 0.3%DXM/0.5%AB only (group D), the compound gel containing 3%AZ/2%PG, 3%AZ, and 2%PG (groups A, B, and C), the 0.3%DXM gel containing 3%AZ/2%PG (group E), the 0.5%AB gel containing 3%AZ/2%PG (group F). The accumulative penetration of DXM and AB in compound gel, 0.3%DXM gel, 0.5%AB gel through excised rat skin and its penetration within flap tissue were investigated by ultraviolet spectrophotometry. Fifty SD rats were selected to make 100 mm × 10 mm random flap at the back, and were randomly divided into 5 groups according to different gels which were used to treat flaps (n=10): compound gel group (group A1), 0.3%DXM gel group (group B1), 0.5%AB gel group (group C1), blank gel group (group D1), and peritoneal injection of DXM (5 mg/kg) and AB (2 mg/kg) (group E1). The survival area of ischemic random skin flap was measured on the 7th day by planimetry. Twenty-four SD rats were selected to make 100 mm × 10 mm random flap at the back, and were randomly divided into 2 groups (n=12). The accumulative penetration of DXM and AB within skin flap were also detected at 2 and 6 hours after appl ication of 2 g of compound gel containing 3%AZ/2%PG (group A2) and peritoneal injection AB (2 mg/kg) / DXM (5 mg/kg) (group B2). Results The accumulative penetration of DXM and AB in compound gel were increased in time-dependent manner (P lt; 0.05), and it was the highest in group A, and was significantly higher than that in group B and group C (P lt; 0.01), but there was no significant difference when compared with group E or group F (P gt; 0.05). The accumulative penetration of DXM and AB in groups A, B, and C were significant higher than that in group D (P lt; 0.05). After 7 days, the survival area of flaps in groups A1, B1, C1, D1, and E1 were (695.0 ± 4.6), (439.3 ± 7.1), (477.5 ± 14.5), (215.2 ± 3.8), and (569.4 ± 9.7) mm2, respectively; group A1 was significantly higher than other groups (P lt; 0.05). After 2 and 6 hours, the quantities of DXM and AB in skin flap of group A2 were significantly higher than that of group B2 (P lt; 0.05). Conclusion In 0.3%DXM/0.5%AB compound gel, DXM and AB might penetrate into skin tissue, which could significantly increase the survivalarea of ischemic skin flap.