Growing evidence indicates that bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs) enhance wound repair via paracrine. Because the extent of environmental oxygenation affects the innate characteristics of BM-MSCs, including their stemness and migration capacity, the current study set out to elucidate and compare the impact of normoxic and hypoxic cell-culture conditions on the expression and secretion of BM-MSC-derived paracrine molecules (e.g., cytokines, growth factors and chemokines) that hypothetically contribute to cutaneous wound healing in vivo. Semi-quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) analyses of normoxic and hypoxic BM-MSCs and their conditioned medium fractions showed that the stem cells expressed and secreted significantly higher amounts of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF),vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A) interleukin 6 (IL-6) and interleukin 8 (IL-8) under hypoxic conditions. Moreover, hypoxic BM-MSC-derived conditioned medium (hypoCM) vs. normoxic BM-MSC-derived conditioned medium (norCM) or vehicle control medium significantly enhanced the proliferation of keratinocytes, fibroblasts and endothelial cells, the migration of keratinocytes, fibroblasts, endothelial cells and monocytes, and the formation of tubular structures by endothelial cells cultured on Matrigel matrix. Consistent with these in vitro results, skin wound contraction was significantly accelerated in Balb/c nude mice treated with topical hypoCM relative to norCM or the vehicle control. Notably increased in vivo cell proliferation, neovascularization as well as recruitment of inflammatory macrophages and evidently decreased collagen I, and collagen III were also found in the hypoCM-treated group. These findings suggest that BM-MSCs promote murine skin wound healing via hypoxia-enhanced paracrine.

Burn infection delays wound healing and increases the burn patient mortality. Consequently, a new dressing with antibacterial and anti‐inflammatory dual properties is urgently required for wound healing. In this study, we propose a combination of methacrylate gelatin (GelMA) hydrogel system with silver nanoparticles embed in γ‐cyclodextrin metal–organic frameworks (Ag@MOF) and hyaluronic acid‐epigallocatechin gallate (HA‐E) for the burn wound infection treatment. Ag@MOF is used as an antibacterial agent and epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) has exhibited biological properties of anti‐inflammation and antibacterial. The GelMA/HA‐E/Ag@MOF hydrogel enjoys suitable physical properties and sustained release of Ag⁺. Meanwhile, the hydrogel has excellent biocompatibility and could promote macrophage polarization from M1 to M2. In vivo wound healing evaluations further demonstrate that the GelMA/HA‐E/Ag@MOF hydrogel reduces the number of the bacterium efficiently, accelerates wound healing, promotes early angiogenesis, and regulates immune reaction. A further evaluation indicates that the noncanonical Wnt signal pathway is significantly activated in the GelMA/HA‐E/Ag@MOF hydrogel treated group. In conclusion, the GelMA/HA‐E/Ag@MOF hydrogel could serve as a promising multifunctional dressing for the burn wound healing.

Severe burn wounds face two primary challenges: dysregulated cellular impairment functions following infection and an unbalanced wound hydration microenvironment leading to excessive inflammation and collagen deposition. These results in hypertrophic scar contraction, causing significant deformity and disability in survivors. A three-dimensional (3D) printed double-layer hydrogel (DLH) was designed and fabricated to address the problem of scar formation after burn injury. DLH was developed using methacrylated silk fibroin (SFMA) and gelatin methacryloyl (GelMA) for the upper layer, and GelMA and hyaluronic acid methacryloyl (HAMA) for the lower layer. To combat infection, copper-epigallocatechin gallate (Cu-EGCG) was incorporated into the lower layer bioink, collectively referred to as DLS. To balance wound hydration levels, HaCaT cells were additionally encapsulated in the upper layer, designed as DLS/c. DLH demonstrated suitable porosity, appropriate mechanical properties, and excellent biocompatibility. DLS exhibited potent antimicrobial properties, exerted anti-inflammatory effects by regulating macrophage polarisation, and may enhance angiogenesis through the HIF-1α/VEGF pathway. In the DLS/c group, animal studies showed significant improvements in epidermal formation, barrier function, and epidermal hydration, accompanied by reduced inflammation. In addition, Masson's trichrome and Sirius red staining revealed that the structure and ratio of dermal collagen in DLS/c resembled that of normal skin, indicating considerable potential for scarless wound healing. This biomimetic matrix shows promise in addressing the challenges of burn wounds and aiming for scarless repair, with benefits such as anti-infection, epidermal hydration, biological induction, and optimised topological properties. Shown in Acknowledgements.

Introduction A series of retrospectively recorded patients with cleft lip and palate was uniquely investigated to demonstrate and analyze the complications after cleft repairing operations in a selected Chinese population. Material and Methods From January 2005 to January 2012, a selected group of 2100 patients with cleft lip and/or palate who have complete records were chosen from a large sample in the units. Complete data were retrieved, including sex, age, clinical classification, surgical modality, complications, and follow-up results. The complications were classified into 2 categories: early and long-term complications. After surgery, most patients with cleft lip remained in the hospital for 7 days and cleft palate repairs for 10 days. A standard regimen of antibiotics was administered for 3 to 5 days clinically. Results Of the 2100 patients, there were 1360 males and 760 females who had congenital cleft deformity with complete clinical records in the department of oral and maxillofacial surgery. The age distribution was as follows: 1600 patients in the group of 3 months to 2 years, 320 patients in the group of 2 to 10 years, 130 patients in the group of 11 to 19 years, and 50 patients in the group of older than 20 years. As to the treatment modality, cleft lips were repaired by rotation advancement method with various minor modifications or Tennison modality. The cleft palates were closed using the von Langenbeck, Veau/Wardill/Kilner, or Furlow technique. The overall complication rate was 16.8% of the patients. Of the early complications, there were 6 cases of asphyxia, 17 cases of pyrexia, 5 cases of edema of the respiratory tract, 8 cases of upper respiratory tract infection, 6 cases of bronchiolitis, 7 cases of pneumonia, 9 cases of diarrhea and vomiting, 6 cases of hemorrhage, 5 patients of odontoptosis, 11 cases of erosion of the corner of mouth, 5 cases of drowsiness, 11 cases of incision dehiscence, 9 cases of wound infection, 6 cases of palatal dehiscence/fistula, 3 cases of nostril floor breakdown, 7 cases of conjunctivitis, as well as 3 cases of mortality. The long-term complications included 30 cases of secondary lip/nasal deformity, 10 cases of dehiscence of lip, 14 cases of palatal fistula/decencies, 18 cases of hearing problem/otitis media, 21 cases of poor ventilation/snoring, 66 cases of velopharyngeal incompetence, and 58 cases of voice disorder. Conclusions Complications after cleft surgery are unavoidable clinically. More attention should be paid to the etiologic factors to minimize the prevalence of complications. Mortality can be found in patients with cleft, which is a deadly complication. Problems of respiratory tract and hemorrhage should be emphasized and treated seriously.

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), the most frequent of all oral cancers, is a type of highly malignant tumors with a high capacity to invade locally and form distant metastases. An increasing number of studies have shown that microRNAs (miRNAs) play an important role in regulating cancer metastasis and invasion. In the present study, we detected the expression of miR-221 in two highly metastatic OSCC cell lines and two OSCC cell lines that are less metastatic using quantitative real-time PCR analysis (qRT-PCR). The qRT-PCR results indicate that miR-221 is upregulated in highly metastatic OSCC cell lines. Then, miR-221 expression was knocked down by transfection with miR-221 inhibitor, and UM1 cell migration and invasion were assessed using transwell migration and invasion assays. The results indicate that inhibition of miR-221 suppressed migration and invasion of UM1 cells. Furthermore, methyl-CpG binding domain protein 2 (MBD2) was identified as a direct target gene of miR-221. Additionally, MBD2 silencing could partly reverse the effect of miR-221 on cell migration and invasion. In conclusion, downregulation of miR-221 inhibits cell migration and invasion at least partially through targeting MBD2 in the human OSCC cell line UM1.