Burns : journal of the International Society for Burn Injuries
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Childhood burns in Egypt are a significant problem, especially in families of low socioeconomic status. These families live in overcrowded flats, which lack proper hygiene and tend to use kerosene stoves, which lack any safety measures. Three hundred and five burned children presented to the burn unit of Ain Shams University over a 20 month period. ⋯ There was an increase in the incidence between the ages of 4 to 6 years. Scalds formed 56.7% of the cause of burns, while 38.6% were due to flame. In 3 and 1.6% the cause of burn was electrical and chemical, respectively. 20 patients were victims of industrial accidents showing a major problem of entrance of children between 8-15 years of lower socioeconomic class into the labor force. 87.2% of the patients had minor burns while 13 children (4.3%) died of the consequences of burns during the period of the study.
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The concentration of orally administered sparfloxacin (SPFX), an antimicrobial agent, in exudates from the suture wounds beneath occlusive dressings has been measured. Twenty-one patients who received oral therapy with 100 mg of SPFX prior to surgery and 200 mg/day of SPFX after surgery were studied. ⋯ SPFX values were 0.801+/-0.340 microg/ml (mean+/-SD). The results suggest that wound exudates beneath the occlusive dressing have concentrations of SPFX high enough to prevent infection in most cases when administered orally.
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Failure of GI tract mucosa to act as a barrier against bacterial translocation (BT) has been proposed as a potential source of sepsis and subsequent multiple organ failure post thermal injury. Nitric oxide (NO) is an inorganic radical produced by NO synthase (NOS) from L-arginine. Gut mucosal constitutive NOS (cNOS) provides protection for itself. ⋯ Nitrotyrosine immunostaining of the intestinal mucosa showed a decrease in the SMT-treated group. These findings suggest that SMT, a specific inhibitor for iNOS improves the barrier function after burn by suppression of the intestinal mucosal iNOS activity. The decrease in NO production resulted in decreased formation of peroxynitrite and subsequently decreased damage of mucosal tissue.
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Kangari, an earthenware brazier containing burning charcoal, is used for personal warming during the winter months by most of the people in Kashmir valley. Kangari is usually held close to the lower abdomen or in between the legs while squatting on the ground. ⋯ In the present study 43 patients with Kangari cancer were analyzed prospectively with the objective of understanding their clinico-pathological profile and the response to various treatment modalities. Variables such as age, gender, grade, site of lesion etc., were evaluated for their prognostic significance.