Small-dose capsaicin reduces systemic inflammatory responses in septic rats

We investigated the influence of small- and large-dose capsaicin in modulating systemic inflammatory responses during different stages of sepsis in rats. Rats were divided into six groups: group C, control; group S, sepsis; group CLC, small dose of capsaicin (1 mg/kg subcutaneously); group SLC, small dose of capsaicin plus sepsis; group CHC, large dose of capsaicin (150 mg/kg subcutaneously); group SHC, large dose of capsaicin plus sepsis. Rats were made septic by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP). Each group was subdivided into two subgroups. The animals were killed at 9 or 18 h after CLP. Plasma concentrations of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, interleukin (IL)-6, IL-10, and total nitrite/nitrate (NOx) were measured. Superoxide dismutase and malondialdehyde (MDA) were determined in liver, lung, and heart tissues. CGRP was increased in groups S, CLC, and SLC when compared with the other groups. In the SLC group, plasma concentrations of TNF-alpha, IL-6, NOx, and tissue MDA levels were reduced and IL-10 level was increased when compared with groups S and SHC 18 h after CLP (P < 0.05). Small-dose capsaicin treatment increased antiinflammatory IL-10 levels and attenuated the increases in proinflammatory cytokines, NOx, and tissue MDA in septic rats.     

Epidemiology of adults' and childrens' burns in a Turkish burn center

From 1 January 1979 to 1 January 1985, 4094 patients were treated for burn injury in our centre. Of these, 84.9 per cent were treated as outpatients and 617 (15.1 per cent) were hospitalized. Of the 617 patients, 56.7 per cent were under 15 years of age (birth to 6 years: 67.7 per cent; 7-15 years, 32.3 per cent) and 43.3 per cent were over 15 years. The causes of burns in the over 15 years group were: flame, 36.3 per cent; electrical, 28.0 per cent; scalding, 18.4 per cent; liquefied petroleum (LP) gas explosion, 11.0 per cent; and others, 6.3 per cent. The burn cases in the under 15 years group were: scalding, 58.0 per cent; flame, 24.6 per cent; electrical, 10.0 per cent; hot meals, 5.2 per cent; and others, 2.0 per cent. After being resuscitated, these patients were treated with systemic antibiotics, local chemotherapy and silver-nitrate-incorporated amniotic membrane. Despite all medical efforts, 217 (35.7 per cent) of the hospitalized patients died as a result of various complications. At the same time, 3477 patients were treated as outpatients: 72.0 per cent of these were under 15 years old (birth to 6 years, 82.9 per cent, 7-15 years, 18.8 per cent) and 28.0 per cent patients were over 15 years of age. The causes of burn injury in these patients were: hot liquids, 61.7 per cent; flame, 17.0 per cent; hot meals, 8.4 per cent; hot metal, 5.8 per cent; electrical, 3.6 per cent; and chemical, 1.7 per cent.     

Systemic Sclerosis Quality of Life Questionnaire (SScQoL): translation into Turkish and assessing its psychometric properties

Clinical Rheumatology - Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a chronic autoimmune disease that affects the connective tissues and leads to physical, emotional, and social challenges for patients. Evaluating...