Burns : journal of the International Society for Burn Injuries
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Scalds are a common injury in children and a frequent reason for hospitalisation despite being a preventable injury. ⋯ This study highlights that effective burn first aid reduces hospital stay and reinforces the need to encourage, carers and bystanders to deliver effective first aid and the importance of targeted prevention campaigns that reduce the burden of pediatric scald burns in Australia and New Zealand.
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Burns are injuries that affect individuals' physical and emotional health and may impair their quality of life (QOL). This study aimed to evaluate the QOL of individuals from an outpatient burn treatment centre in southern Brazil, according to the Burn Specific Health Scale-Revised (BSHS-R), and to determine the relationships between sociodemographic variables, burns history and the mean domains of BSHS-R. ⋯ Sociodemographic determinants have the greatest effect on determining the QOL of individuals who have suffered burns. Therefore, actions to promote education on preventing burns in workplaces and homes are needed.
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Temporary coverage of severely burned patients with cadaver allograft skin represents an important component of burn care, but is limited by availability and cost. Porcine skin shares many physical properties with human skin, but is susceptible to hyperacute rejection due to preformed antibodies to α-1,3-galactose (Gal), a carbohydrate on all porcine cells. Our preliminary studies have suggested that skin grafts from α-1,3-galactosyltransferase knock out (GalT-KO) miniature swine might provide temporary wound coverage comparable to allografts, since GalT-KO swine lack this carbohydrate. ⋯ In contrast, GalT+xenografts displayed hyperacute rejection, with no signs of vascularization and rapid avulsion from wounds. Furthermore, secondary GalT-KO transplants failed to vascularize, demonstrating that primary graft rejection sensitizes the recipient. We conclude that GalT-KO xenografts may provide temporary coverage of wounds for a duration equivalent to allografts, and thus, could serve as a readily available alternative treatment of severe burns.
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The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of electroacupuncture at ST36 (EA ST36) on gastric emptying and mucosal blood flow during intragastric resuscitation with pyruvate-enriched oral rehydration solution (Pyr-ORS) in scalded rats. ⋯ EA ST36 has a significant effect on improving gastric emptying and mucosal ischemia in the oral resuscitation of burn injury, possibly through the activation of a cholinergic nerve-dependent mechanism. In addition, EA ST36 showed no effects on motilin levels, but requires further investigations.
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The gut is an important target organ after severe insult. Gut microbiota have an important role in immune response. However, the gut microbiota and environment have not been clarified in patients with burns. Therefore, we serially evaluated the gut microbiota and environment in patients with major burns. ⋯ The gut microbiota and environment are severely altered in patients with major burns. Consequently, abnormal gut conditions may have an influence on the systemic inflammatory response and multiple organ dysfunction syndrome. A novel treatment to maintain the gut microbiota and environment is expected in the future.