Burns : journal of the International Society for Burn Injuries
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Nitric oxide is a wound mediator that promotes wound healing. We hypothesized that topical application of nitric oxide would speed reepithelialization, enhance angiogenesis, and reduce scar thickness in a partial thickness porcine burn model. ⋯ Treatment of partial thickness porcine burns with high concentrations of topical NO resulted in earlier reepithelization and increased angiogenesis but not reduced scar thickness compared with its control vehicle in a partial thickness porcine burn model.
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Platelet cells, or thrombocytes, have additional roles to haemostasis. After burn injury, platelet counts drop to a nadir at days 2-5 then rise to a peak between days 10-18. The nadir has previously been associated with mortality but there is currently no thorough investigation of its potential to predict sepsis in adults. The primary objective of this study is to assess whether platelet count can predict survival and sepsis in adults with severe burn injuries. ⋯ A reduced peak platelet count is a strong predictor of 50-day mortality. Platelet count nadir may have some association with sepsis.
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It is well demonstrated that adequate burns first aid treatment (BFAT) improves clinical outcomes for the injured but adequacy remains low in many studies. This study presents a twelve month assessment of the adequacy of burns first aid treatment for patients managed by the Burns Service, Royal Darwin Hospital (RDH). ⋯ Overall adequacy of BFAT is low in the Top End of the Northern Territory. Remote dwellers and Indigenous persons are at increased risk of not applying or receiving adequate BFAT. The poor level of adequate BFAT demonstrated in this study suggests that the Top End community particularly remote and Indigenous persons would benefit from targeted BFAT education programs that are delivered in a culturally and linguistically appropriate fashion.
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The aesthetic outcome after burn of exposed areas such as the hand and face is of high importance. A number of wound dressings used for the treatment of superficial and partial thickness burns promise rapid wound healing and reduced scarring. Previously, wound healing of hands and faces with superficial burns treated with Dressilk® compared to Biobrane® was evaluated intra-individually with similar results. Nevertheless, up to date objective information regarding the scarring after superficial burns treated with Dressilk® does not exist. ⋯ Dressilk® is an interesting alternative to Biobrane® for the treatment of superficial burns of aesthetic and functional important areas.
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To explore the prevalence of pediatric (0-72 months old) scalds, and to clarify its relationship with household vacuum flasks. ⋯ Prevalence of pediatric scalds (0-72 months old) was rather high, which might be related to the extensive insecure usage of household vacuum flasks.