Burns : journal of the International Society for Burn Injuries
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Burn injuries may cause gastrointestinal dysfunction leading to intestinal barrier dysfunction, abdominal compartment syndrome, and acute mesenteric ischemia. In the absence of major vascular occlusion, non-occlusive mesenteric ischemia (NOMI) often occurs in critically ill intensive-care burn patients. ⋯ NOMI represents a potentially fatal condition for the burn patient. The current lack of sensitive biomarkers and accurate diagnostic tools for the early detection of NOMI onset is a major factor behind the overall poor prognosis. We propose the intra-arterial administration of alprostadil as a novel approach to targeted treatment for NOMI.
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There are an estimated 10 million hot water bottles (HWB) currently in use within the United Kingdom (UK), and HWB related burn injuries represent a significant resource burden to UK Burns Services. These injuries can be caused through a variety of mechanisms including scalds sustained when filling the bottle or scalds from leaking or rupture. The fuel poverty crisis started in February 2022 leading to an estimated six-fold increase in alternative sources of heating, in particular hot water bottles. In this study, we wish to understand the impact that this may have had upon burn injuries sustained by these products. ⋯ Our epidemiological study on hot water bottle (HWB)-related burn injuries within the United Kingdom has shown that the dramatic rise in fuel prices, which sparked the fuel poverty crises, has coincided with a 43.4 % increase in HWB burns incidence on the health service in that year alone. This alarming rise in HWB-related injuries highlights the continued need for targeted public awareness campaigns to ensure a safe and proper use of these devices.
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This study aimed to examine the prevalence and predictors of reconstructive surgery among pediatric burn patients in the Netherlands. ⋯ Our study provided an overview of the prevalence and independent predictors of reconstructive surgery in the pediatric burn population.
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If not accurately diagnosed and treated, postburn pathological scars, such as keloids and hypertrophic scars, can lead to negative clinical outcomes. However, differential diagnosis at the molecular level for postburn pathological scars remains limited. Using single-cell sequencing analysis, we investigated the genetic nuances of pathological scars at the cellular level. This study aimed to identify molecular diagnostic biomarkers to distinguish between postburn keloids and hypertrophic scars. ⋯ Single-cell sequencing analysis unveiled 29 and 30 cell clusters in keloids and hypertrophic scars, respectively, predominantly composed of fibroblasts. Bulk differential gene analysis showed 96 highly expressed genes and 69 lowly expressed genes in keloids compared to hypertrophic scars. By incorporating previous research, Gene Set Enrichment Analysis was conducted to select fibroblasts as the focus of research. According to the single-cell data, 301 genes were stably expressed in fibroblasts from both types of pathological scars. Consistently, Weighted Gene Co-expression Network Analysis revealed that the blue module genes were mostly hub genes associated with fibroblasts. After intersecting fibroblast-related genes in single-cell data, Weighted Gene Co-expression Network Analysis-hub module genes, and bulk differential expression genes, insulin-like growth factor binding protein 6 and tumour necrosis factor alpha-induced protein 6 were identified as key genes to distinguish keloids from hypertrophic scars, resulting in diagnostic accuracies of 1.0 and 0.75, respectively. Immunohistochemical Staining and Quantitative Reverse Transcription PCR revealed that the expression levels of tumour necrosis factor alpha induced protein 6 and insulin-like growth factor binding protein 6 were significantly lower in postburn keloids than in hypertrophic scars- CONCLUSIONS: Tumour necrosis factor alpha induced protein 6 and insulin-like growth factor binding protein 6, exhibiting high diagnostic accuracy, provide valuable guidance for the differential diagnosis and treatment of postburn pathological scars.
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Burns carries a high risk of severe physical damage, prolonged recovery, and mental health implications for both patients and their caregivers. While distress among caregivers of burn patients has been studied, less attention has been given to potential positive psychological changes. This study focuses on the prevalence, temporal dynamics, and predictors of posttraumatic growth (PTG) among caregivers. ⋯ This is the first study of burn injury caregiver PTG. The study indicates caregivers of burn patients may undergo positive psychological transformation. Variations in predictive factors necessitate validation through longitudinal research. The dynamic interplay of psychological outcomes between patients and caregivers requires further exploration.