Burns : journal of the International Society for Burn Injuries
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A retrospective and prospective management of 665 patients of electrical burn injuries out of 10,000 burn cases admitted between 1996 and 2004 (9 years) was analyzed. The problems encountered and their solutions are presented. One hundred and fifty-five (155) of them had their limbs amputated, i.e. (24%). ⋯ Under these situations, a stable wound was obtained on the 12th day [average]. Split skin grafts and loco-regional flaps, using time-old principles of rotation, advancement, transposition served well in most of our cases. Through this paper, some unusual wounds in unusual clinical situations, which were managed with various methods of reconstruction, following the reconstructive ladder are presented.
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Rosiglitazone, a PPAR-gamma ligand, protects against burn-induced oxidative injury of remote organs.
Severe burn induces the activation of an inflammatory cascade that contributes to the development of subsequent immunosuppression, increased susceptibility to sepsis, as well as generation of reactive oxygen radicals and lipid peroxidation, leading to multiple organ failure. In the present study, we investigated whether rosiglitazone, a peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma (PPAR-gamma) ligand is protective against burn-induced remote organ injury. Under brief ether anaesthesia, shaved dorsum of the rats were exposed to 90 degrees C (burn group) or 25 degrees C (control group) water bath for 10s. ⋯ Similarly, serum ALT, AST and BUN levels, as well as LDH, IL-1 beta and TNF-alpha were elevated in the burn group as compared to the control group. Rosiglitazone treatment reversed all these biochemical indices. According to the findings of the present study, rosiglitazone possesses a anti-inflammatory effect that prevents burn-induced damage in remote organs and protects against organ damage.
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This cross-sectional study was conducted to examine the prevalence and risk factors of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after severe burn, and the need for psychological intervention for burn patients in southern Taiwan. Participants (N=82) were assessed by means of the Mini-International Neuropsychiatry Interview (MINI) scale with a structured questionnaire. Results showed that the prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder in burn patients who met the DSM-IV criteria for PTSD was 26.8%. ⋯ PTSD patients needed more psychological intervention than the non-PTSD patients. These results suggest that PTSD after severe burn was not uncommon in southern Taiwan. The identified risk factors could provide clues to help burn care professionals provide multidisciplinary intervention.
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Tap water scalds among those >or=60 years old are often attributed to physical impairments with aging. This study assesses socio-economics associated with tap water scalds among seniors and the elderly. ⋯ These findings report that tap water scalds result in significant morbidity, mortality and health care costs for local seniors and the elderly. Socio-economic factors play a significant role in these injuries and must be assessed when planning prevention efforts.
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Pressure garments have been used prophylactically and to treat hypertrophic scars, resulting from serious burns, since the early 1970s. They are custom-made from elastic fabrics by commercial producers and hospital staff. However, no clear scientifically established method has ever been published for their design and manufacture. ⋯ These measurements confirm the limitations of current pressure garment construction methods used in UK hospitals. A new method for designing pressure garments that will exert specific known pressures is proposed and evaluated for human thighs. Evaluation of the proposed design method is ongoing for other body parts.