Burns : journal of the International Society for Burn Injuries
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The evaluation of scar colour is, at present, usually limited to an assessment according to a scar assessment scale. Although useful, these assessment scales only evaluate subjectively the degree of scar colour. In this study, the reliability of the subjective assessment of scar colour by observers is compared to the reliability of the measurements of two objective colour measurement instruments. ⋯ The agreement between the observers for the pigmentation categories also turned out to be unacceptably low (k = 0.349). This study shows that an overall evaluation of scar colour with the DermaSpectrometer and the Minolta Chromameter is more reliable than the evaluation of scar colour with observers. Of both instruments for measuring scar colour, we prefer, because of its feasibility, the DermaSpectrometer.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Effects of enteral supplementation with glutamine granules on intestinal mucosal barrier function in severe burned patients.
Glutamine is an important energy source in intestinal mucosa, the small intestine is the major organ of glutamine uptake and metabolism and plays an important role in the maintenance of whole body glutamine homeostasis. The purpose of this clinical study is to observe the protection effects of enteral supplement with glutamine granules on intestinal mucosal barrier function in severe burned patients. Forty-eight severe burn patients (total burn surface area 30-75%, full thickness burn area 20-85%) were randomly divided into two groups: burn control group (B group, 23 patients) and glutamine treated group (Gln group, 25 patients). ⋯ On the other hand, the levels of plasma DAO activity and urinary L/M ratio in Gln group were lower than those in B group. In addition, the wound healing was better and hospital stay days were reduced in the Gln group (46.59 +/- 12.98 days versus 55.68 +/- 17.36 days, P < 0.05). These results indicated that glutamine granules taken orally could abate the degree of intestine injury, lessen intestinal mucosal permeability, ameliorate wound healing and reduce hospital stay.
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Both experimental and clinical studies have shown that oxygen-derived free radicals rise in the plasma after thermal injury and participate in the pathogenesis of tissue damage. Hence, various antioxidant molecules have been used in treatment of burn injury both experimentally and clinically. Caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE), an active component of propolis from honeybee hives, is known to have potent antioxidant property. ⋯ They were assessed by biochemical methods at 1st, 3rd, 7th, and 14th post-burn days. In conclusion, CAPE was shown to possess antioxidant activity by saving SOD activity, preventing XO activity and decreasing the levels of MDA, and NO. Our study showed that CAPE may be beneficial in burn injury.