Burns : journal of the International Society for Burn Injuries
-
After similar extent of injury there is considerable variability in scarring between individuals, in part due to genetic factors. This study aimed to identify genetic variants associated with scar height and pliability after burn injury. An exome-wide array association study and gene pathway analysis were performed on a prospective cohort of 665 patients treated for burn injury. ⋯ Using this approach biological processes related to the nervous system and cell adhesion were the predominant gene pathways associated with both SH and SP. This study suggests genes associated with innervation may be important in scar fibrosis. Further studies using similar and larger datasets will be essential to validate these findings.
-
The scalp is the only hidden donor site for split thickness skin grafts. Nevertheless, it is underappreciated due to fear of iatrogenic scarring alopecia. Long-term data showing whether androgenetic hair loss can reveal previously hidden scarring alopecia is unavailable. We aimed to evaluate results and patient satisfaction up to 30years after skin harvest from the scalp. ⋯ Long-term morbidity of scalp skin harvest and the risk of clinically significant alopecia is very low while patient satisfaction is high. AGA is unlikely to reveal harvest damage previously hidden by regrown hair.
-
Randomized Controlled Trial
Evaluation of the analgesic effects of duloxetine in burn patients: An open-label randomized controlled trial.
To evaluate efficacy of addition of duloxetine to usual analgesic regimens in management of burn pain. ⋯ Addition of duloxetine may increase efficacy of the other analgesics in reduction of the burn pain.
-
Ephrin ligand/Eph receptor signaling is important in both tissue development and homeostasis. There is increasing evidence that Ephrin/Eph signaling is important in the skin, involved in hair follicle cycling, epidermal differentiation, cutaneous innervation and skin cancer. However, there is currently limited information on the role of Ephrin/Eph signaling in cutaneous wound healing. ⋯ The loss of Ephrin-A2 and A5 ligands did not impact on the rate of wound closure or re-innervation after injury. However, changes in the gross morphology of the healed scar and in collagen histology of the scar dermis were observed in transgenic mice. Therefore Ephrin-A2 and A5 ligands may play an important role in final scar appearance associated with collagen deposition and structure.
-
The prevalence of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) in mechanically ventilated burn patients is 33%, with mortality varying from 11-46% depending on ARDS severity. Despite the new Berlin definition for ARDS, prompt bedside diagnosis is lacking. We developed and tested a bedside technique of fiberoptic-bronchoscopy-based optical coherence tomography (OCT) measurement of airway mucosal thickness (MT) for diagnosis of ARDS following smoke inhalation injury (SII) and burns. ⋯ OCT is a useful tool to quantify MT changes in the airway following SII and burns. OCT may be effective as a diagnostic tool in the early stages of SII-induced ARDS and should be tested in humans.