The relation between satisfaction with appearance and race and ethnicity: A National Institute on Disability,Independent Living,and Rehabilitation Research burn model system study

Research supports that people of color in the U.S. have poorer outcomes after burn injury compared to White individuals. The current study sought to explore burn health disparities by testing the relationship between racial and ethnic minority status, a proxy for systemic discrimination due to race and ethnicity, with two key constructs linked to functional outcomes, satisfaction with appearance and social community integration. Participants included 1318 burn survivors from the Burn Model System National Database (mean age = 40.2, SD = 12.7). Participants completed measures of satisfaction with appearance and social community integration at baseline, 6-, 12-, and 24-months after burn injury. Linear regressions revealed that racial and ethnic minority status significantly related to lower satisfaction with appearance and social community integration compared to White individuals at all time points. In addition, satisfaction with appearance continued to significantly relate to greater social community integration even while accounting for race and ethnicity, age, sex, burn size, and physical disability at 6-, 12-, and 24-month time points. Overall, the study supports that racial and ethnic minority burn survivors report greater dissatisfaction with their appearance and lower social community reintegration after burn injury.     

(-)-Epigallocatechin-3-gallate,reduces corneal damage secondary from experimental grade II alkali burns in mice

Background

Since recent reports have shown that (-)-Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) could be used for treating proliferative and inflammatory disorders, we explored its use for the management of corneal chemical burns.

The longitudinal validity,reproducibility and responsiveness of the Brisbane Burn Scar Impact Profile (caregiver report for young children version) for measuring health-related quality of life in children with burn scars

BackgroundThe measurement of health-related quality of life (HRQoL) provides information about the perceived burden of the health condition and treatments from a lived experience. The Brisbane Burn Scar Impact Profile (caregiver report for young children, BBSIP^0–8), developed in 2013, is a proxy-report measure of burn scar-specific HRQoL. The aim of this study was to report its psychometric properties in line with an evaluative purpose.MethodsCaregivers of children up to 8 years of age at risk of burn scarring were recruited into a prospective, longitudinal cohort study. Caregivers completed the BBSIP^0–8, Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory and Patient Observer Scar Assessment Scale at baseline (approximately ≥85% of the total body surface area re-epithelialised), 1–2 weeks after baseline and 1-month after baseline. Psychometric properties measured included internal consistency, test–retest reliability, validity and responsiveness.ResultsEighty-six caregivers of mostly male children (55%), of a median age (IQR) of 1 year, 10 months (2 years, 1 month) and total body surface area burn of 1.5% (3.0%) were recruited. Over one third of participants were grafted and 15% had contractures or skin tightness at baseline. Internal consistency of ten item groups ranged from 0.73 to 0.96. Hypothesised correlations of changes in the BBSIP^0–8 items with changes in criterion measures supported longitudinal validity (ρ ranging from ?0.73 to 0.68). The majority of item groups had acceptable reproducibility (ICC = 0.65–0.83). The responsiveness of five item groups was supported (AUC = 0.71–0.90).ConclusionThe psychometric properties tested support the use of the BBSIP^0–8 as an evaluative measure of burn scar-related health-related quality of life for children aged below eight years in the early post-acute period of rehabilitation. Further investigation at longer time period after burn injury is indicated.     

Utilization and Complications of Central Venous Access Devices in Oncology Patients

Purpose: To describe how central venous access devices (CVADs) are utilized for ambulatory oncology patients and to evaluate the rate of complications. Method: Single institution retrospective study of oncology patients with CVADs who received systemic treatment at the Walker Family Cancer Centre (WFCC) between 1 January and 31 December 2018. Results: A total of 480 CVADS were placed in 305 patients, of which 408 (85%) were peripherally inserted central catheters (PICCs) and 72 (15%) were implanted vascular access devices (PORTs). The incidence of early and late complications was 9% and 24%, respectively. For the entire cohort, the rate of venous thromboembolism (VTE) was 16%, of which 9% were CVAD-related thrombosis (CRTs) and 7% were distant VTE. The CRT rates were similar for PICCs and PORTs (9% vs. 7%). A total of 6% of CVADs were complicated by infection (i.e., localized infections and bacteremia), with a total infection rate of 0.43 and 0.26 per 1000 indwelling days for PICCs and PORTs, respectively. The incidence of central line associated bloodstream infections (CLABSI) was greater for PICCs than PORTs, at a rate of 0.22 compared with 0.08 per 1000 indwelling days, respectively. The premature catheter removal rate was 26% for PICCs and 18% for PORTs. PORTs required more additional hospital visits. Conclusions: PICCs were utilized more frequently than PORTs and had a higher rate of premature removal. The rates of VTE and CRT were similar for both CVAD types. PORTs had a lower rate of infection per 1000 indwelling days. However, the management of PORT related complications required more visits to the hospital and oncology clinic.     

Effectiveness of the 10-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine against radiographic pneumonia among children in rural Bangladesh: A case-control study

BackgroundPneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) effectiveness against radiographic pneumonia in South Asia is unknown. Bangladesh introduced PCV10 in 2015 using a three dose primary series (3 + 0). We sought to measure PCV10 effectiveness for two or more vaccine doses on radiographic pneumonia among vaccine-eligible children in rural Bangladesh.MethodsWe conducted a matched case-control study over two years from 2015 to 2017 using clinic and community controls in three subdistricts of Sylhet, Bangladesh. Cases were vaccine eligible 3–35 month olds at Upazila Health Complex outpatient clinics with World Health Organization-defined radiographic primary endpoint pneumonia (radiographic pneumonia). Clinic controls were matched to cases within a one week time window by age, sex, and clinic and had an illness unlikely to be Streptococcus pneumoniae; community controls were healthy and similarly matched within a one week time window by age and sex, and distance from the clinic. We estimated adjusted vaccine effectiveness (aVE) using conditional logistic regression.ResultsWe matched 1262 cases with 2707 clinic and 2461 community controls. Overall, aVE using clinic controls was 21.4% (95% confidence interval, −0.2%, 38.4%) for ≥2 PCV10 doses and among 3–11 month olds was 47.3% (10.5%, 69.0%) for three doses. aVE increased with higher numbers of doses in clinic control sets (p = 0.007). In contrast, aVE using community controls was 7.6% (95% confidence interval, −22.2%, 30.0%) for ≥2 doses. We found vaccine introduction in the study area faster and less variable than expected with 75% coverage on average, which reduced power. Information bias may also have affected community controls.ConclusionsClinic control analyses show PCV10 prevented radiographic pneumonia in Bangladesh, especially among younger children receiving three doses. While both analyses were underpowered, community control enrollment – compared to clinic controls – was more difficult in a complex, pluralistic healthcare system. Future studies in comparable settings may consider alternative study designs.     

Infecciones de transmisión sexual en hombres internos en prisión: riesgo de desarrollo de nuevas infecciones

ObjectiveTo measure incidence and main risk factors related to sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in Daroca Prison (Zaragoza, Spain).MethodA retrospective cohort study (2005-2013) to measure the incidence of STI and a cross-sectional study to measure risk factors.ResultsOf the 203 inmates, 79 developed an STI, 37 had a previous STI, 55.2% lacked knowledge on STI prevention, and 28.9% showed behaviours unfavourable for STI prevention. The incidence rate was 6.5 STIs per 1,000 inmates-year. The most frequent STIs were hepatitis B (39.7%), Ureaplasma urealyticum (19.1%), herpes simplex (16.2%) and HIV (8.8%). The risk (hazard ratio, HR) of acquiring a new STI was significantly higher in inmates with a history of previous STI (HR = 2.61; 95%CI: 1.01 to 6.69), and was at the limit of significance for non-preventive behaviour (HR = 2.10; 95%CI: 0.98 to 4.53), but not in knowledge related to STIs (HR = 1.33; 95%CI: 0.58 to 3.07).ConclusionThe most important risk factors in prison are behaviours related to STIs and previous history of STIs. Other factors are being a repeat offender, injecting drug use, or being in a methadone programme. Health personnel and peer education can facilitate prevention and control.     

Diffuse skin rash in tropical areas: Dengue fever or COVID-19?

There have been several clinical manifestations associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection since 2019, including dermatological signs and symptoms. In this article, the authors report a case of a previously healthy patient with COVID-19 who was mistakenly diagnosed with dengue fever due to a skin rash. By the time the patient's investigation was initiated, Joinville (Santa Catarina, Brazil) had approximately 5,000 confirmed cases of dengue fever and 1,700 cases of COVID-19 in 2020. Thus, the authors emphasize that in endemic regions such as Brazil, the two diseases must be considered until proven otherwise. Finally, the authors warn of the possibility of co-infection with these two viruses in regions that are facing both epidemics at the same time.     

Photodynamic therapy to control microbial biofilms

Microorganisms thrive in well-organized biofilm ecosystems. Biofilm-associated cells typically show increased resistance to antibiotics and contribute significantly to treatment failure. This has prompted investigations aimed at developing advanced and novel antimicrobial approaches that could effectively overcome the shortcomings associated with conventional antibiotic therapy. Studies are ongoing to develop effective curative strategies ranging from the use of peptides, small molecules, nanoparticles to bacteriophages, sonic waves, and light energy targeting various structural and physiological aspects of biofilms. In photodynamic therapy, a light source of a specific wavelength is used to irradiate non-toxic photosensitizers such as tetrapyrroles, synthetic dyes or, naturally occurring compounds to generate reactive oxygen species that can exert a lethal effect on the microbe especially by disrupting the biofilm. The photosensitizer preferentially binds to and accumulates in the microbial cells without causing any damage to the host tissue. Currently, photodynamic therapy is increasingly being used for the treatment of oral caries and dental plaque, chronic wound infections, infected diabetic foot ulcers, cystic fibrosis, chronic sinusitis, implant device-associated infections, etc. This approach is recognized as safe, as it is non-toxic and minimally invasive, making it a reliable, realistic, and promising therapeutic strategy for reducing the microbial burden and biofilm formation in chronic infections. In this review article, we discuss the current and future potential strategies of utilizing photodynamic therapy to extend our ability to impede and eliminate biofilms in various medical conditions.     

The impact of foot shock-induced stress on pain-related behavior associated with burn injury

Acute pain is prevalent following burn injury and can often transition to chronic pain. Prolonged acute pain is an important risk factor for chronic pain and there is little preclinical research to address this problem. Using a mouse model of second-degree burn, we investigated whether pre-existing stress influences pain(sensitivity) after a burn injury. We introduced a contribution of stress in two different ways: (1) the use of foot-shock as a pre-injury stressor or (2) the use of A/J mice to represent higher pre-existing stress compared to C57Bl/6 mice. C57Bl/6 and A/J mice were exposed to repeated mild foot shock to induce stress for 10 continuous days and mice underwent either burn injury or sham burn injury of the plantar surface of the right hind paw. Assessments of mechanical and thermal sensitivities of the injured and uninjured paw were conducted during the shock protocol and at intervals up to 82-day post-burn injury. In both strains of mice that underwent burn injury, thermal hypersensitivity and mechanical allodynia appeared rapidly in the ipsilateral paw. Mice that were stressed took much longer to recover their hind paw mechanical thresholds to baseline compared to non-stressed mice in both burn and non-burn groups. Analysis of the two mouse strains revealed that the recovery of mechanical thresholds in A/J mice which display higher levels of baseline anxiety was shorter than C57Bl/6 mice. No differences were observed regarding thermal sensitivities between strains. Our results support the view that stress exposure prior to burn injury affects mechanical and thermal thresholds and may be relevant to as a risk factor for the transition from acute to chronic pain. Finally, genetic differences may play a key role in modality-specific recovery following burn injury.     

Parenchymal calcification is associated with the neurological prognosis in patients with congenital rubella syndrome

Congenital rubella syndrome (CRS) results from maternal rubella virus infection in early pregnancy. Abnormal neuroimaging findings have been analyzed in a small number of CRS patients in the past; however, their clinical significance has been poorly addressed. Therefore, we have investigated the neuroimaging findings of 31 patients with CRS from previous studies. The most common finding was parenchymal calcification, which was observed in 18 of 31 patients (58.1%). A multivariable logistic regression model showed that it was associated with psychomotor or mental retardation (p = 0.018), suggesting that parenchymal calcification in CRS could be a prognostic factor.