Burns : journal of the International Society for Burn Injuries
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The NLRP3 inflammasome is a multi-protein complex that assembles in response to tissue damage or infection, triggering activation of caspase-1, an enzyme that converts interleukin (IL)-1β into its active form. A role for the NLRP3 inflammasome is emerging in inflammatory pain, but its influence in other pain types is largely unexamined. Therefore the aim of this study was to assess the role of the NLRP3 inflammasome and its downstream product caspase-1 in a model of acute burn-induced pain in male mice. ⋯ Burn-induced edema was significantly reduced in Ice-/- mice only. Burn-induced weight bearing changes were attenuated in Nlrp3-/- mice and mice administered MCC950 72h after burn only. This study suggests that NLRP3 and its downstream product caspase-1 have a limited role in the development of burn-induced pain.
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Portable pulsed xenon ultraviolet disinfection (PPX-UVD) may reduce healthcare associated infections (HAI). There is limited data to inform use in burn intensive care units (BICU), where multidrug-resistant organisms (MDRO), especially gram negative rods (GNR), commonly cause disease. We evaluated PPX-UVD effects on environmental bioburden and rates of HAI and MDRO acquisition in a BICU. ⋯ The 379 colonies largely represented skin commensals, without identified MDRO. Following PPX-UVD, no changes in device-associated infections, overall MDRO, or MDR GNR were seen, though a prolonged interval without healthcare-associated Clostridium difficile infection was observed. PPX-UVD in a BICU reduced overall environmental bioburden, without a statistically significant impact on HAI or MDRO.
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Conventional reconstructive methods fail to achieve satisfactory results in total eyelid defect cases. Vascularized composite tissue allotransplantation might provide both good appearance and function for these patients. We developed an orthotopic periorbital transplantation model in rats to facilitate further experimentation in this field. ⋯ A periorbital subunit orthotopic transplantation model was established, which might facilitate future eyelid allotransplantation-related experimentation.
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Burns are associated with activation of the innate immunity that can contribute to complications. Damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) released after tissue injury play a critical role in the activation of the innate immunity, which appears to be mediated via toll-like receptors (TLRs). Previous findings have shown that TLRs and TLR-mediated responses are up-regulated after burn. ⋯ All cytokine levels were increased as early as 3h and remained elevated up to 24h. Circulating CD11b+ monocytes were increased at 24h after burn and showed increased expression of TLR-2. In conclusion, these findings support the concept that burn-induced elevations in circulating DAMPs are in part responsible for monocyte activation and the development of inflammatory complications under such conditions and warrants further investigation.