title: Effects of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Dilong Injection, on Random Skin Flap Survival in Rats.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Dilong injection as a medicinal preparation extracted from earthworm in traditional Chinese medicine, is used to activate blood circulation and remove blood stasis. In this research, we aim to investigate its potential effect on random skin flap survival in rat models.
  
  
  METHODS
  McFarlane flaps were established in 60 male Sprague-Dawley rats randomly divided into two groups: the control group and the Dilong injection group. Diong injection group was injected with the Diong injection (4 mL/kg) once a day for seven days, and the control group was given an equal volume of saline solution. After seven days, flaps were obtained and stained with Hematoxylin and Eosin. Histological examination was done to determine changes in histology such as thickness of granulation tissue, tissue edema, neutrophil infiltration, and the microvascular density (MVD). In addition, immunohistochemical detection was carried out to show vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression level.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared with the control group, the Dilong group exhibited more fibroblastic proliferation, thinner neutrophil infiltration with less edema through histological examination. The MVD and the VEGF expression of flaps were significantly higher. The mean superoxide dismutase activity was evidently higher in the Dilong group than in the control group, while the mean MDA level was lower.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  According to the comparison made between the two groups for histological and immunohistochemical evaluation, the Dilong injection group has potential effects on the survival of random skin flaps in rat models.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Hand Surgeries , The Second Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University , Wenzhou , China.
authors.forename: Lina
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: a Department of Hand Surgeries , The Second Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University , Wenzhou , China.
authors.forename: Dingsheng
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: a Department of Hand Surgeries , The Second Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University , Wenzhou , China.
authors.forename: Bin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.affiliation: a Department of Hand Surgeries , The Second Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University , Wenzhou , China.
authors.forename: Dongnan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ping
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006085:Graft Survival / Q000187:drug effects*; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D008297:Male; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000378:metabolism; D008516:Medicine, Chinese Traditional / Q000379:methods*; D055806:Microvessels / Q000187:drug effects; D023421:Models, Animal; D009835:Oligochaeta / Q000737:chemistry*; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism; D013524:Surgical Flaps / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000098:blood supply / Q000473:pathology; D014020:Tissue Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D014020:Tissue Extracts; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; C467498:vascular endothelial growth factor A, rat; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase
keywords: Dilong injection; VEGF; inflammation; ischemia-reperfusion injury; random flap survival