Differences in kinematics of the lumbar spine and lower extremities between people with and without low back pain during the down phase of a pick up task, an observational study.

Background: Limited research exists on lumbar spine and lower extremity movement during functional tasks in people with and without low back pain (LBP).

Objective: To determine differences in lumbar spine and lower extremity kinematics in people with and without LBP during the down phase of a pick up task.

Design: Cross-sectional, observational study.

Analysis of IL-6, IL-10 and IL-17 genetic polymorphisms as risk factors for sepsis development in burned patients.

Infection risk, sepsis and mortality after severe burn are primarily determined by patient age, burn size, and depth. Whether genetic differences contribute to otherwise unexpected variability in outcomes is unknown. We sought to determine whether there was an association between IL-6, IL-10 and IL-17 polymorphisms with cytokine production and development of sepsis.

Reduction of plasma granzyme A correlates with severity of sepsis in burn patients.

The risk of mortality is high in burn patients and correlates with age, burn area extent, and sepsis. Immunosuppression has been reported to occur after severe burn. Cytotoxic cells possess specialized granules containing perforin and a group of serine proteases (granzymes).

Skin dendritic cells in burn patients.

The body's immunological response to burn injury has been a subject of great inquiry in recent years. Burn injury disturbs the immune system, resulting in a progressive suppression of the immune response that is thought to contribute to the development of sepsis. Dendritic cells (DCs) are potent antigen-presenting cells that possess the ability to stimulate naïve T cells.

Serum Levels of Cortisol, Immunoglobulin, and C-reactive Protein in Burn Patients.

Thermal injury is known to induce alterations in the immune system, but the precise mechanisms have yet to be elucidated. It has been shown that thermal injury in more than 20% of the total body surface area (TBSA) leads to disturbances in the cortisol metabolism and the equilibrium of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. We investigated the temporal relationship between serum cortisol levels, C-reactive protein, and immunoglobulin levels in the post-burn period.

Circulating dendritic cells following burn.

Burns are associated with immune suppression and subsequent development of sepsis. Dendritic cells (DCs) are potent antigen-presenting cells that serve as a critical link between the innate and acquired immune systems, and are essential in coordinating the host response to pathogens. Using multicolour flow cytometry, the percentages of LIN(-) DR(+) CD11c(+) myeloid (mDC) and LIN(-) DR(+) CD123(+) plasmacytoid (pDC) subsets were determined in peripheral blood from 32 people (15 septic and 5 non-septic burn victims and 12 age- and gender-matched healthy controls, up to 20 days from injury).

Concentrations of cytokines IL-6 and IL-10 in plasma of burn patients: their relationship to sepsis and outcome.

Burn injury induces a suppression of the Th1 response, which is associated with an increased susceptibility to conditions of infection, morbidity, and mortality. It is well established that cytokines modulate the pathogenesis of burn injury. In this study, plasma levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interleukin-10 (IL-10) were determined in burn patients and correlated with the severity of sepsis.

Local treatment of burns with honeycomb expanded polyurethane (ligasano).

The results are presented of the local treatment of burns with honeycomb expanded polyurethane. This method of treatment can be used both for the medication of burns of limited extent but variable depth and as a mattress for patients confined to bed. In the first case, the purpose of the treatment, which makes use of the product's absorbent and debriding capacity, is either to cure the lesion or to pave the way for the surgical operation.

Staphylococcal Scalded Skin Syndrome: Criteria for Differential Diagnosis from Lyell's Syndrome. Two Cases in Adult Patients.

A review of the relative international literature of the last few years is followed by a description of two cases of staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome in adults. As in both cases the initial diagnosis was that of Lyell's syndrome, the main criteria for the differential diagnosis of the two pathologies are considered in order to permit specific and effective treatment.

Pyoderma Gangrenosum and Full-Thickness Burns: is there a Problem of Differential Diagnosis?

A case is presented of pyoderma gangrenosum, describing its characteristic features with particular reference to the phenomenon of pathergy, which considerably limits the surgical approach to the disease. After an account of the numerous skin ulcerations that have to be taken into consideration in order to make a differential diagnosis, it is noted that pyoderma gangrenosum can only on rare occasions be confused with a full-thickness granulating burn.

The Treatment of Lyell'S Syndrome: our Experience.

In view of the pathogenic mechanisms of Lyell's syndrome, we consider support-only treatment to be insufficient and believe it is necessary to administer i.v. human immunoglobulin.

The local treatment of burns with antibiotics.

After presenting an analysis of the principal antiseptics used for the local treatment of burns, highlighting their toxicity and the limitations of their antibacterial effectiveness, we describe the therapeutic protocol used in our burns centre (where antibacterial treatment consists exclusively of antibiotics for both local and systemic use). We review the data regarding actual and predicted mortality, and mortality due to septicaemia during the years 2000-2003.

Oxidative stress after moderate to extensive burning in humans.

Lipid peroxidation products, lipid antioxidants, and hematologic and blood chemistry changes were evaluated in plasma of patients after acute burning injury involving 10% (n=8), 20% (n=8), and 40% (n=5) of total body surface area (TBSA), 24 h after burning (baseline) up to 30 days after. Markedly increased plasma levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) were observed at baseline in all patients, according to the extent of the injury, then the values declined progressively. However, levels of MDA remained above normal up to 30 days even in less injured patients.

Increased burn patient survival with once-a-day high dose teicoplanin and netilmicin. An Italian multicenter study.

This is the final report of a large, controlled, multicenter Italian study on immuno- and chemotherapy in adult patients with burns affecting 20 to 95% of total body surface area (mean 35%). The antibiotic treatment of burn patients consisted of topical silver sulfadiazine, short-term antimicrobial chemoprophylaxis with pefloxacin (800 mg i.v.