Burns : journal of the International Society for Burn Injuries
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In patients with severe burns, morbidity and mortality are high. One factor related to poor prognosis is acute kidney injury. According to the AKIN criteria, acute kidney injury has 3 stages based on urine output, serum creatinine level, and renal replacement therapy. In this study, we aimed to create a decision tree for estimating risk of acute kidney injury in patients with severe burn injuries. ⋯ The Baskent University model for acute kidney injury may be helpful to determine risk of acute kidney injury in burn patients. This determination would allow appropriate treatment to be given to high-risk patients in the early period, reducing the incidence of acute kidney injury.
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Observational Study
Early protein C activation is reflective of burn injury severity and plays a critical role in inflammatory burden and patient outcomes.
Navigating the complexities of a severe burn injury is a challenging endeavour where the natural course of some patients can be difficult to predict. Straddling both the coagulation and inflammatory cascades that feature strongly in the burns systemic pathophysiology, we propose the pleiotropic protein C (PC) system may produce a viable biomarker to assist traditional evaluation methods for diagnostic and prognostic purposes. ⋯ An early functional depletion of the cytoprotective PC system provides a physiological link between severe burns and the cytokine storm, likely contributing to worse outcomes. Our findings on the changes in APC, PC and PC activation during this pathological state support APC and PC as early diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers, and provides a basis for their therapeutic potential in severe burn injuries.
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There is an urgent need to empower practitioners to undertake quality improvement (QI) projects in burn services in low-middle income countries (LMICs). We piloted a course aimed to equip nurses working in these environments with the knowledge and skills to undertake such projects. ⋯ The course demonstrated that by bringing nurses together, through interactive teaching and online forums, a supportive community of practice can be created. Future work will include investigating ways to scale up access to the course so staff can be supported to initiate and lead quality improvement in LMIC burn services.
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Early acute kidney injury (AKI) after burn contributes to disastrous prognoses for severely burned patients. Burn-induced renal oxidative stress and secondary proinflammatory mediator release contribute to early AKI development, and Toll-like receptor (TLR) 4 regulates inflammation. Heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) is a stress-responsive enzyme that plays a vital role in protecting against ischemia-induced organ injury via its antioxidant properties and regulation of inflammation. We investigated the potential effect of HO-1 induction in preventing burn-induced early AKI and its related mechanism. ⋯ The present study demonstrated that HO-1 induction prevented burn-induced early AKI by targeting renal inflammation, which was mediated via regulation of the TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway.
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Burn injury survivors usually experience multiple psychosocial problems, which occur commonly in low and middle-income countries. However, the previous literature provides limited information about the unique roles of coping strategies, social support, and mindfulness in improving the psychological well-being of burn survivors. Therefore, this study identified the role of coping strategies, social support, and mindfulness in improving the psychological well-being of burn survivors. ⋯ Therefore, confrontive coping, social support, and mindfulness-based supportive interventions could be helpful in providing enhanced support to burn survivors.