Burns : journal of the International Society for Burn Injuries
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Camp "Sababa" operates in Israel through the Burn Advocate Network of New Jersey, to help children with burn injuries cope with consequences of injury. The study assessed adolescents' perceptions of their participation in the camp, and its effect on their self-esteem and quality of life. ⋯ The positive results suggest that burn camps should be part of the rehabilitation process of adolescents with burn injury, with emphasis on challenging, age-appropriate activities, and peer group participation.
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Utility of palm and hand surface area in approximating burn extent in Burundian adults and children.
The use of palm and hand surface areas to approximate the extent of burns is as widespread as it is facile. However, direct comparison of measured palm and hand surface areas to total body surface areas (TBSA) have demonstrated variable accuracy in different patient populations. We measured the palm and hand surface areas of 353 Burundian adults and children, including 23 underweight children and compared those values with 0.5% and 1%, respectively, of the calculated TBSA via Mosteller, Dubois, and Haycock formulae. ⋯ For 253 Burundian children, the mean palm and hand surface are represented 0.44% and 0.86% TBSA, respectively. Subgroup analysis of underweight children (BMI < 18.5 or Z-score ≤-2 weight for height) revealed values of 0.45% and 0.88% for palm and hand areas. Our data indicate that using values of 0.5% TBSA for the palm and/or 1% TBSA for the hand overestimates the actual burn extent and would be improved with a correction factor for Burundian patients.
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As a calcium antagonist, the mechanism of nifedipine for treating chilblain has not been reported. In the present study, we established the chilblain model by using -20 ℃ 95% ethanol to freeze the right back foot of SD rats, and investigated the effects of this drug. Hematoxylin-eosin (HE) examination indicated most of pannus in the skin tissue of chilblain rats had disappeared, and the local inflammatory cells were also greatly reduced when given nifedipine at 15.0 mg/kg/d. ⋯ The RT-PCR analysis showed that nifedipine down regulated mRNA levels of TRPC-6 and VEGF in skin tissue. Furthermore, immunohistochemical examination showed nifedipine inhibited expression of IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α inflammatory protein and further inhibited expression of TRP (transient receptor potential) family proteins TRPM-7, TRPC-1, TRPC-3 and TRPC-6 and reduced expression of VEGF in skin and relieved erythema and oedema. This study demonstrated that nifedipine as an old medicine can be new use for the treatment of chilblain by acting on TRPs family and inflammatory proteins.
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Glycerol-preserved skin allograft (GPA) plays a vital role, especially in the management of burns injury. Where it is utilized as temporary wound closure, the considerably cost-effective, simpler handling and storage of GPA makes it preferable in almost all clinical indications. The GPA was first introduced to the Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia in 2001. The supply was imported from Euro Skin Bank, Beverwijk, The Netherlands. In the year 2013, our center had started maintaining an in-house glycerolized skin bank. ⋯ The selective and strategic use of the GPA in major burn patients assure effective advantages in the treatment of burns. The clinical significance of skin allograft usage is very high. The cost-effectiveness of maintaining an in-house skin bank made it possible for various centers for skin allograft usage.