Background: Loss of muscle mass and strength in patients who have experienced severe burns is dramatic and associated with subsequent functional impairment. Past work has shown that exercise and oxandrolone, an anabolic steroid, individually improve muscle function and muscle mass in severely burned patients. This study aims to evaluate the effect of oxandrolone treatment combined with resistance exercise on muscle atrophy and investigate the protein synthesis and mitochondrial biogenesis pathways in a hindlimb suspension model.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Lower empowerment of women is a critical social issue with adverse public health implications. In India, deeply ingrained gender norms shape a patriarchal structure that creates systemic disadvantages for women relative to men. These gender norms-socially constructed expectations about the roles, behaviors, and attributes of men and women-perpetuate inequality and limit women's opportunities.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe study investigated the impact of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) on burn-induced coagulopathy in severely burned patients. Patients with a greater than 20% TBSA were identified in the TriNetX research network and categorized into receiving or not receiving NSAIDs in the first week after the burn. The statistical significance of the rate of burn-induced coagulopathy, mortality and sepsis in the week following injury was analysed.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFTemporary Childbirth Migration (TCM) involves women returning to their natal homes during or after pregnancy, a common but understudied practice in India and South Asia. This study examines social support practices influencing TCM decisions among Indian women. Factors such as family support, especially from husband, in-laws and parents, play a crucial role in migration decisions during the perinatal period.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFHealing of deep cutaneous wounds often results in detrimental sequelae, including painful and debilitating scars. Current therapies for full-thickness injuries that target specific phases of wound healing have moderate success; however, full resolution remains incomplete and negative consequences persist if skin homeostasis is not achieved. Photoactivated molecules can modulate cellular responses by generating reactive oxygen species and may provide a novel therapeutic option to improve wound healing.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPurpose: The standard of care for burned patients experiencing hyperglycemia associated with the hypermetabolic response is insulin therapy. Insulin treatment predisposes burn patients to hypoglycemia, which increases morbidity and mortality. Metformin has been suggested as an alternative to insulin therapy for glycemic control in burn patients given its safety profile, but further research is warranted.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFGenital burns are unique and complex injuries that impact patients physically and emotionally. This study investigates the specific impact of genital burns on psychosocial and physical outcomes. A retrospective cohort study was conducted using the TriNetX database, encompassing over 117 million patients from U.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIntroduction: The COVID-19 pandemic profoundly affected the provision of and demand for routine health services in the world. The objective of this scoping review was to synthesize the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic on primary maternal and child health (MCH) services in sub-Saharan Africa.
Methods: The studies searched original studies reporting on the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic on primary MCH services.
Introduction And Hypothesis: We evaluated a pilot multi-component reintegration intervention to improve women's physical and psychosocial quality of life after genital fistula surgery.
Methods: Twelve women undergoing fistula repair at Mulago Specialized Women and Neonatal Hospital (Kampala, Uganda) anticipated in a 2-week multi-component intervention including health education, psychosocial therapy, physiotherapy, and economic investment. We assessed feasibility through recruitment, retention, and adherence, acceptability through intervention satisfaction, and preliminary effectiveness through reintegration, mental health, physical health, and economic status.
Introduction: Centering affected individuals and forming equitable institutional-community partnerships are necessary to meaningfully transform care delivery systems. We describe our use of the PRECEDE-PROCEED framework to design, plan, and implement a novel care delivery system to address perinatal inequities in San Francisco.
Methods: Community engagement (PRECEDE phases 1-2) informed the "Pregnancy Village" prototype, which would unite key organizations to deliver valuable services alongside one another, as a recurring "one-stop-shop" community-based event, delivered in an uplifting, celebratory, and healing environment.
Severely burned patients often develop cardiac dysfunction and heart failure. The purpose of this retrospective study is to evaluate the role of cardiac troponin I (cTI) and its association to patients with burns. Patients deidentified data were collected from a national database in May 2023.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFStudies conflict on the significance of burn-induced coagulopathy. We posit that burn-induced coagulopathy is associated with injury severity in burns. Our purpose was to characterize coagulopathy profiles in burns and determine relationships between % total burn surface area (TBSA) burned and coagulopathy using the International Normalized Ratio (INR).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Women in South Asia often return to their natal home during pregnancy, for childbirth, and stay through the postpartum period-potentially impacting access to health care and health outcomes in this important period. However, this phenomenon is understudied (and not even named) in the demographic or health literature, nor do we know how it impacts health.
Objective: The aim of this study is to measure the magnitude, timing, duration, risk factors and impact on care of this phenomenon, which we name Temporary Childbirth Migration.
Introduction: Hypertension is a prevalent condition in the United States and leads to an increased risk of developing various comorbidities. However, the impact of new-onset hypertension after severe burns on patient outcomes is not known. We posit that hypertension onset after severe burn is associated with increased risk of developing comorbidities and mortality.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIntroduction: Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) afflicts a significant portion of burn patients. This study aims to analyze the morbidity, prevalence, and treatment of PTSD in the burn population.
Methods: Using the TriNetX database, we identified burned patients > 18 years of age without (A) or with (B) a PTSD diagnosis.
Background: Significant disruptions in the perinatal continuum of care occur postpartum in India, despite it being a critical time to optimize maternal health and wellbeing. Group-oriented mHealth approaches may help mitigate the impact of limited access to care and the lack of social support that characterize this period. Our team developed and pilot tested a provider-moderated group intervention to increase education, communication with providers, to refer participants to in-person care, and to connect them with a virtual social support group of other mothers with similarly aged infants through weekly calls and text chat.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Female genital fistula is a traumatic debilitating injury, frequently caused by prolonged obstructed labor, affecting between 500,000-2 million women in lower-resource settings. Vesicovaginal fistula causes urinary incontinence, and other morbidity may occur during fistula development. Women with fistula are stigmatized, limit social and economic engagement, and experience psychiatric morbidity.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIntroduction: Globally, 600,000 mothers (15-49 years) die every year due to pregnancy and childbirth-related complications. Wide variations are seen in cultural practices and beliefs surrounding this period of a woman's life. The present study explores the cultural beliefs and practices of women and families during pregnancy and the postnatal period in order to understand what behavioral management strategies are required to improve maternal and infant outcomes during pregnancy and the postpartum period.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjectives: The reproductive desire of women following genital fistula repair surgery is complex, varied and often not addressed, although it carries significant consequences. The aim of this study was to better understand the fertility desires and sexual behaviours of women who recently underwent surgical repair of a genital fistula.
Methods: This is a secondary analysis of a retrospective cohort study designed to assess the effectiveness of Beyond Fistula, a reintegration programme for women recovering from genital fistula surgery in Eldoret, Kenya.
Objective: Severe maternal morbidity (SMM) is increasing and characterized by substantial racial and ethnic disparities. Analyzing trends and disparities across time by etiologic or organ system groups instead of an aggregated index may inform specific, actionable pathways to equitable care. We explored trends and racial and ethnic disparities in seven SMM categories at childbirth hospitalization.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF: The prevalence of hypertrophic scarring after a burn is approximately 70%. Despite advances in burn management, there is currently no gold standard treatment to reduce or prevent its occurrence. Glucocorticoids are frequently given to patients early after burns for other therapeutic purposes and have been shown to induce scar regression.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Opioids remain crucial in the management of burn pain. A comprehensive analysis of opioid use in burns and their complications has not been investigated.
Methods: Data were collected from TriNetX, a large multicenter database with de-identified patient information.
Background: Postnatal care, crucial for preventing and assessing complications after birth, remains low in India. An interactive mHealth community-based postnatal intervention was implemented to promote healthy maternal behaviors through knowledge and social support in rural Northern India. However, there is limited information on how virtual health interventions in resource-constrained settings are perceived by the users and which elements influence their engagement and sustained participation.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: In the advent of increasing antibiotic resistance, several studies sought to determine antibiotic prescription trends; however, no pattern has been firmly identified particularly for the burned population. We performed a query of burned patients in a large established database to understand differences in antibiotic use related to patient-specific factors.
Methods: Burned patients with systemic antibiotics given within 7 days of injury were identified on the TriNetX database.