Kangfuxin solution alleviates esophageal stenosis after endoscopic submucosal dissection: A natural ingredient strategy

Figure 2 Kangfuxin solution administration improved pathological structure and collagen remodeling of the esophagus after full circumferential endoscopic submucosal dissection. A: Representative images of hematoxylin-eosin staining of the esophageal tissue, magnification 20 × , 50 × , and 200 × , respectively (n = 4); the blue arrows and the yellow arrows indicate the inflammatory cells and fibroblasts, respectively; B: Quantitation of inflammatory cells in (A) (n = 4); C: Quantitation of fibroblasts in the regenerative tissue beneath the mucosa in (A) (n = 4); the number of inflammatory cells and the presence of fibroblasts in the esophageal submucosa were significantly reduced in both the Kangfuxin solution (KFX) and prednisolone (PDNN) groups; D: Representative images of Masson staining of the esophageal tissue, magnification 20 × and 50 × respectively (n = 4); in contrast to the Control group, both KFX and PDNN groups showed decreased fibrotic areas and more loosely arranged collagen structure; E: Quantitation of the total fibrotic area in (A) (n = 4); F: Quantitation of the newly formed fibrosis thickness beneath the mucosa in (A) (n = 4); the yellow arrow indicates the distance of fibrosis thickness measurement under the mucosa of the esophagus. Data are presented as mean ± SE. ^aP < 0.001 vs the control group, ^cP < 0.05 vs the control group, ^dP < 0.001 vs the PDNN group, ^eP < 0.01 vs the PDNN group, ^fP < 0.05 vs the PDNN group. KFX: Kangfuxin solution; PDNN: Prednisolone.