Burns : journal of the International Society for Burn Injuries
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Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a major cause of illness and death in the United States, and diabetic patients are at increased risk for burn injury. We therefore sought to examine the impact of pre-existing DM on the risk of inpatient mortality and hospital acquired infections (HAI) among burn patients. ⋯ Pre-existing DM significantly increases the risk of developing an HAI in patients following burn injury, but does not significantly impact the risk of inpatient mortality. Further understanding of the immune modulatory mechanism of burn injury and DM is imperative to better attenuate the acquisition of HAIs.
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Human adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ASCs) have potential utility as modulators of the regeneration of tissue that is inflamed or scarred secondary to injuries such as burns or trauma. However, the effect of ASCs on one particular type of scarring, keloidal disease, remains unknown. The absence of an optimal model for investigation has hindered the development of an effective therapy using ASCs for keloids. ⋯ These results suggest that ASCs are associated with the inhibition of fibrosis in keloids by a paracrine effect. This phenomenon may have utility as a therapeutic approach in the clinical environment.
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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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Randomized controlled clinical trials (CTs) are gold standard tools for assessing interventions. Although burn CTs have improved care, their status, publication frequency, and publication quality are not known. ⋯ Burn researchers should aim to register and report on all clinical trials regardless of outcome. Superior a priori design can reduce precocious termination and mandatory reporting of data fields can improve quality of reporting. Systematic review registration number: CRD42017068549.
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Pruritis after burn is one of the most common chronic complaints in burn survivors. Pruritus is often indistinguishable from neuropathic pain. There is a paucity of studies reporting the use of gabapentin and pregabalin to treat both pruritus and neuropathic pain. The purpose of this current study is to explore and document the effect of gabapentin and pregabalin in children and adolescent burn survivors. ⋯ Gabapentin and pregabalin are effective in relieving pruritus and neuropathic pain in most burn survivors. In some instances, these medications can be given together. Few individuals reported side effects.