Age-related immune responses after burn and inhalation injury are associated with altered clinical outcomes.

This prospective study aimed to address changes in inflammatory response between different aged populations of patients who sustained burn and inhalation injury. Plasma and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) samples were collected from 104 patients within 15h of their estimated time of burn injury. Clinical variables, laboratory parameters, and immune mediator profiles were examined in association with clinical outcomes.

Discrete β-adrenergic mechanisms regulate early and late erythropoiesis in erythropoietin-resistant anemia.

Background: Anemia of critical illness is resistant to exogenous erythropoietin. Packed red blood cells transfusions is the only treatment option, and despite related cost and morbidity, there is a need for alternate strategies. Erythrocyte development can be divided into erythropoietin-dependent and erythropoietin-independent stages.

Terminal Maturation of Orthochromatic Erythroblasts Is Impaired in Burn Patients.

Mechanisms of erythropoietin (Epo)-resistant anemia in burn patients are poorly understood. We have recently found that administering a nonselective beta 1,2-adrenergic blocker propranolol (PR) was effective in reversing myelo-erythroid commitment through MafB regulation and increase megakaryocyte erythrocyte progenitors in burn patients' peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC)-derived ex vivo culture system. Having known that Epo-dependent proliferation of early erythroblasts is intact after burn injury, here we inquired whether or not Epo-independent maturation stage of erythropoiesis is affected by burn injury and the relative role of PR on late-stage erythropoiesis.

Cutaneous Burn Injury Promotes Shifts in the Bacterial Microbiome in Autologous Donor Skin: Implications for Skin Grafting Outcomes.

Introduction: The cutaneous microbiome maintains skin barrier function, regulates inflammation, and stimulates wound-healing responses. Burn injury promotes an excessive activation of the cutaneous and systemic immune response directed against commensal and invading pathogens. Skin grafting is the primary method of reconstructing full-thickness burns, and wound infection continues to be a significant complication.

Improving Nutritional Support of Burn Service Patients by Increasing the Number of Days When 100% of Prescribed Formula Is Given.

The authors sought to increase the number of days when burn service patients receive 100% of prescribed enteral nutrition. The authors first performed a retrospective review of 37 patients (group 1) receiving enteral nutrition. The authors then created and implemented a nurse-directed feeding algorithm, placing patients into three age groups addressing maximum hourly infusion rates, high residual limits, initiating feeding, refeeding residuals, and replacing formula.