Burns : journal of the International Society for Burn Injuries
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Burn injury causes major inflammatory activation and cytokine release, however, the temporal resolution of the acute and sub-acute inflammatory response has not yet been fully delineated. To this end, we have quantified 20 inflammatory mediators in plasma from 44 adult patients 0-21 days after burn injury and related the time course of these mediators to % total body surface area (TBSA) burned, clinical parameters, organ failure and outcome. ⋯ In our study, the concentration of IL-10 had prognostic value in patients with burn injury both measured at admission and at 24-48h after injury. However, simple demographic data such as age, % burned TBSA, inhalation injury and their combination, the Baux score and modified Baux score, outperform most of the cytokines, with the exception of IL-8 and MCP-1 levels on admission, in predicting death.
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A numerical-based model was developed and implemented to determine the spatial and temporal temperature distributions within skin tissue resulting from thermal contact with a heated and high thermal conductivity metallic medium. In the presence of wet tissue, boiling is likely to occur, thereby affecting the probability of inducing burns. This investigation deals with how contact between a hot, highly conductive metallic material and skin gives rise to burns. ⋯ Multiple processes and their governing parameters were investigated to assess their impact on burn severity, including the temperature of the metal, the duration of contact, the contact resistance between the surface and the skin, the temperature range over which phase change occurred, and the cooling environment after the exposure. It was discovered that the most important parameters are the surface temperature and exposure duration. The other conditions/parameters had lesser impacts on the results.
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Pediatric burns are preventable with legislative and infrastructural changes. Although retrospective audits of many low- and middle-income countries have aided preventative efforts, the epidemiological status of burns in the Caribbean is not known. This study characterizes pediatric burns in the Dominican Republic (DR) and compares these to age-matched North American records captured by the National Burn Repository. ⋯ This investigation identifies a demographical profile where electrical burns account for a significant percentage of the burn population. This provides a basis for concentrating preventative efforts in vulnerable populations.
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Burn injuries to workers can have a devastating impact, however knowledge of the epidemiology of work-related burn injuries in Australia and New Zealand is limited. ⋯ Almost one in five cases of working-aged people admitted to Australian and New Zealand burns centres was work-related. Through identification of vulnerable groups, this study informs policy and strategies to minimise occupational burn risk.
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As a result of the Spanish healthcare system overhaul, quality of care is becoming increasingly important. All burn service providers are required to measure patient satisfaction with care as an imperative need. Nevertheless, there are very few papers regarding patient satisfaction in burn units or in plastic surgery in general. The aim of this study is to examine patient satisfaction in our burn unit and to identify areas for improvement. ⋯ Patients hospitalised in our burn unit are highly satisfied with the care they receive, especially with regard to subjective quality. The evaluation of the satisfaction outcomes helped us to identify several strengths and weaknesses in the healthcare services we provide as well as strategies to improve the weaknesses. Evaluating care quality and patient satisfaction in any burn unit is appropriate and recommendable given that it offers clients' first-hand opinions.