Carnitine supplementation vs. medium-chain triglycerides in postburn nutritional support.

The effect of dietary supplementation of carnitine on protein metabolism was studied in a burned guinea-pig model. Animals bearing a 30 per cent total body surface area burn were enterally infused with three isocaloric and isonitrogenous diets via gastrostomy feeding tubes for 14 days. Two diets contained safflower oil (long-chain triglycerides, LCT) and another diet contained medium-chain triglycerides (MCT) as their lipid sources (30 per cent of total calories as lipid).

Effects of fish oil on postburn metabolism and immunity.

The metabolic effects and immune responses of different levels of fish oil in enteral formulas for postburn nutritional support were studied. Thirty-seven burned guinea pigs with previously placed gastrostomy feeding tubes were given diets containing 5, 15, 30, or 50% of nonprotein calories as fish oil. These diets were isonitrogenous, isocaloric, and contained identical amounts of vitamins and minerals.

Lack of effect of enteral antibiotics on the post-burn hypermetabolic response.

Burn patients who survive the initial 24 h following major burn injury commonly develop a marked hypermetabolism. One of the possible mechanisms of this increased metabolic rate is gut translocation of bacteria and endotoxin following burn injury. We attempted to decrease the hypermetabolism by administering various antibiotic and endotoxin binding agents enterally in a burned guinea-pig model.

The effect of route of nutrient administration on the nutritional state, catabolic hormone secretion, and gut mucosal integrity after burn injury.

So that the efficacy of route of nutrient administration in thermal injury could be determined, a comparison was made between immediate enteral vs parenteral feedings in burned guinea pigs. Thirty-five guinea pigs underwent both catheter gastrostomy and jugular vein catheterization. On postoperative day 8, burned animals [30% total body surface area (TBSA)] were divided into an intragastrically (ig) fed group (N = 14) and a parenterally (iv) fed group (N = 14).

The effect of the thromboxane synthetase inhibitor Dazmegrel (UK-38,485) on wound healing, dermal ink perfusion and skin blood flow measurements in deep partial thickness burns.

A guinea-pig model was used to evaluate the effect of Dazmegrel (UK-38,485), a new highly selective inhibitor of thromboxane synthetase, on burn wound healing. Dazmegrel had a beneficial effect on wound healing when given systemically at a dosage of 3.4 mg kg-1 day-1 but higher doses had no effect.