{"title":"Citric acid-modified chitosan hydrogel loaded with shikonin promotes skin wound healing.","authors":"Yuchen Deng, Chao Wen, Fang Wang","doi":"10.1093/jbcr/iraf175","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/jbcr/iraf175","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Despite the advancements of pharmacological treatments and gauze dressings in the field of skin wound healing, these methods present numerous limitations. Therefore, developing a multifunctional material capable of efficiently promoting skin wound healing is particularly crucial.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Citric acid (CA)-modified chitosan (CS) loaded with Shikonin (SK) (CA-CS-SK) hydrogel was prepared via the freeze-thaw method. The physical properties of the hydrogel were profiled through FTIR, SEM, rotational rheometry, swelling experiment, degradation rate analysis, and drug release experiments. Furthermore, the biocompatibility of the hydrogel was comprehensively evaluated through hemolysis assay, CCK-8 cytotoxicity detection, and live/dead cell staining. Antimicrobial activity against E. coli and S. aureus of the hydrogel was gauged in vitro, and its therapeutic performance was ultimately validated in a mouse full-thickness wound model through H&E staining and ELISA.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The CA-CS-SK hydrogel exhibited appropriate rheological properties, swelling ratio, degradation rate, and drug release rate. It effectively suppressed the proliferation of E. coli and S. aureus, with superior inhibitory effects compared to CA-CS hydrogel and SK alone. Additionally, the hydrogel showed no significant toxicity to human dermal fibroblasts and did not cause erythrocyte rupture. Animal model experiments demonstrated that, compared to cotton gauze, CA-CS hydrogel, and SK, the CA-CS-SK hydrogel reduced levels of TNF-α and IL-6 at the wound site, alleviated the inflammatory response, and promoted wound healing.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The CA-CS-SK hydrogel possesses high antibacterial activity, excellent biocompatibility, and efficient wound healing promotion capabilities, making it a highly promising material for skin wound treatment.</p>","PeriodicalId":15205,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Burn Care & Research","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-09-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145029954","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Comprehensive Analysis of Differentially Expressed Genes and Immune Infiltration in Burn Injury: Key Biomarkers and Pathways.","authors":"Kaho Lam, Kapo Lam, Maolong Dong","doi":"10.1093/jbcr/iraf174","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/jbcr/iraf174","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Burn injuries trigger complex immune responses and gene expression changes, impacting wound healing and systemic inflammation. Understanding these changes is crucial for identifying biomarkers and therapeutic targets.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We analyzed two GEO datasets (wound tissue (GSE8056) and blood (GSE37069)) to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in burn injury samples versus controls. Immune cell proportions were assessed using CIBERSORT. Functional enrichment analyses (GO and KEGG) and protein-protein interaction (PPI) networks were constructed to identify key genes and pathways.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>We identified 1170 upregulated and 1227 downregulated DEGs. GO analysis revealed enrichment in neutrophil activation, inflammatory response, and extracellular matrix organization. KEGG analysis highlighted cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction, TNF, and IL-17 signaling pathways. Immune infiltration analysis showed significant changes in neutrophils, macrophages (M1/M2), and T-cell subsets. PPI network analysis identified five hub genes: JUN, STAT1, Bcl2, MMP9, and TLR2.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>This study provides a comprehensive bioinformatic analysis of gene expression and immune responses in burn injuries. The identified DEGs, hub genes, and pathways offer insights into the immune response mechanisms and suggest potential targets for diagnostic and therapeutic interventions in burn injury management.</p>","PeriodicalId":15205,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Burn Care & Research","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-09-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145015503","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Ryan M Johnson, Abigail Plum, Kevin E Galicia, Irena B Helenowski, Madison D Kipp, Mary Grace Murray, Richard Gonzalez, Mashkoor A Choudhry, John C Kubasiak
{"title":"Early Dysregulation of Angiopoietin-1 and -2 as a Predictor of Mortality in Critically Ill Burn Patients.","authors":"Ryan M Johnson, Abigail Plum, Kevin E Galicia, Irena B Helenowski, Madison D Kipp, Mary Grace Murray, Richard Gonzalez, Mashkoor A Choudhry, John C Kubasiak","doi":"10.1093/jbcr/iraf172","DOIUrl":"10.1093/jbcr/iraf172","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Shock-induced endothelial dysfunction plays a critical role in burn pathophysiology, with endothelial glycocalyx layer (EGL) degradation promoting systemic inflammation, vascular instability, and multi-organ failure. The Angiopoietin-TIE2 axis, particularly the Angiopoietin-1 (Ang-1) and Angiopoietin-2 (Ang-2) balance, regulates endothelial function; elevated Ang-2 and a high Ang-2/1 ratio are linked to worse outcomes in critical illness. While well-documented in sepsis and trauma, effects of burn-induced Angiopoietin dysregulation remains unclear. This study evaluates Ang-1, Ang-2, and the Ang-2/1 ratio as biomarkers of endothelial dysfunction and predictors of 30-day mortality in burn patients. In this prospective study, 62 adult burn patients were enrolled (January 2021-November 2024), with serum Ang-1 and Ang-2 measured via ELISA on post-burn day 1 (PBD1). Of 62 patients, 52 were analyzed; 78.05% of survivors and 90.91% of non-survivors were male. Median age was 45 (survivors) vs. 54 years (non-survivors, p = 0.139). Non-survivors trended toward burns >20% TBSA (72.73% vs. 41.46%, p = 0.093). Ang-1 was lower in non-survivors (3.96 vs. 7.97 ng/mL, p<0.001), predicting early mortality (AUROC 0.82) with a cut-off of 4.825 ng/mL and decreased mortality risk (OR 0.63, 95% CI 0.40-0.87, p = 0.017). Ang-2 was higher (6.07 vs. 1.99 ng/mL, p<0.001; AUROC 0.95), with a cut-off of 3.554 ng/mL. The Ang-2/1 ratio was elevated (1.59 vs. 0.23, p<0.001; AUROC 0.93), with a cut-off of 0.504 and increased mortality risk (OR 2.17, 95% CI 1.10-5.12, p = 0.038). Early Ang-1, Ang-2, and Ang-2/1 ratio levels correlate with 30-day mortality and may guide early prognostication.</p>","PeriodicalId":15205,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Burn Care & Research","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-09-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144955515","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"CBRN Certification Now Accredited by the Accreditation Board for Specialty Nursing Certification (ABSNC).","authors":"Gretchen J Carrougher, Amy Grand","doi":"10.1093/jbcr/iraf171","DOIUrl":"10.1093/jbcr/iraf171","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":15205,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Burn Care & Research","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-09-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144955494","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Promoting Patient and Family Engagement in Burn Care Research: Reflections on Prioritizing Outcomes that Matter.","authors":"Jianwei Fang, Tingting Fang","doi":"10.1093/jbcr/iraf162","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/jbcr/iraf162","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":15205,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Burn Care & Research","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144955492","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Paige Deville, Jenna Dennis, Olivia Warren, Cameron Fontenot, Genevieve Messa, Jeffrey E Carter, Herb A Phelan, Jonathan Schoen, Jeffery A Hobden, Robert W Siggins, Patrick M McTernan, Patricia E Molina, Alison A Smith
{"title":"A Pilot Study on the Impact of Smoking on Adipose-Derived Stem Cell Function in Burn Patients.","authors":"Paige Deville, Jenna Dennis, Olivia Warren, Cameron Fontenot, Genevieve Messa, Jeffrey E Carter, Herb A Phelan, Jonathan Schoen, Jeffery A Hobden, Robert W Siggins, Patrick M McTernan, Patricia E Molina, Alison A Smith","doi":"10.1093/jbcr/iraf005","DOIUrl":"10.1093/jbcr/iraf005","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) have an important role in the modulation of burned tissue repair through the release of paracrine factors that stimulate the wound healing response. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that smoking status alters the profile of paracrine factors secreted from ADSCs isolated from damaged adipose tissue. Adipose tissue was collected from adult patients (N = 8) with severe burn injuries (>20% total body surface area) at the index operation. ADSCs were extracted and cultured in vitro. Supernatants were harvested 30 h after plating and used for cytokine determinations by Multiplex assay. Fluorescence-activated single-cell sorting (FACS) confirmed their phenotype with markers CD 90, CD 166, and CD 73. Univariate analyses were performed to compare the 2 cohorts (Smokers vs nonsmokers). Higher amounts of anti-inflammatory cytokines IL-4 (P = .03) and IL-10 (P = .04) and pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-alpha (P = .03), IL-8, and IFN-gamma (P = .03) were detected in burn patients who were current everyday smokers when compared to nonsmokers, or former smokers. No significant differences in supernatant concentrations of IL-17, IL-1 beta, TGF-alpha, IL-6, and IL-13 were observed (P > .05). Mortality was higher in the smoker group when compared to nonsmokers. The results from this study suggest that smoking status in patients with a major burn injury may alter the paracrine factors secreted from ADSCs, and ongoing studies will increase sample size and refine experimental approach. Furthermore, these results support the need for studies examining the systemic effects of smoking status of patients suffering burn injuries impacts the wound healing.</p>","PeriodicalId":15205,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Burn Care & Research","volume":" ","pages":"776-781"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-08-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143006018","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Ilias Petrou, Athanasios Papas, Georgina Panopoulou, Andreas Vassiliou
{"title":"Assessment of Health-Related Quality of Life in Postburn Adult Survivors: A Cross-sectional 4 Years of Experience Study From Cyprus.","authors":"Ilias Petrou, Athanasios Papas, Georgina Panopoulou, Andreas Vassiliou","doi":"10.1093/jbcr/irae213","DOIUrl":"10.1093/jbcr/irae213","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Burn injuries have a significant impact on various aspects of survivors' lives. This study evaluates, assesses, and interprets the health-related quality of life in postburn adult survivors. Of 135 patients admitted from 2019 to 2023 in the burns intensive care unit, 70 responded to a questionnaire. Primary socio-demographic data and details about the cause and extent of burns were collected. A brief EuroQol-5 Dimension-5 Levels (EQ-5D-5L) questionnaire was completed by interviewing burn survivors, and data were then analyzed. The mean age of participants was 52.12 years, and the prevalent gender was males (61.4%). Thermal burns were the most common cause of burn-related injury (91.4%)-most subjects (55.8%) suffered from partial-thickness burns, followed by full-thickness burns affecting 42.8%. The most presented percentage of total body surface area (%TBSA) burned was 1%-10%, accounting for 60% of cases. The most required hospitalization timeframe was 1-5 days. Regarding participants' quality of life (QoL), most reported no problem in the 5 health dimensions. The health dimensions that were mainly affected were depression/anxiety followed by pain/discomfort. All participants' mean EQ-visual analogue scale (EQ-VAS) score was 80.98. Our findings disclose a compromised health-related quality of life for postburn individuals, particularly in dimensions of depression/anxiety followed by pain/discomfort. There is a pressing need to establish long-term support for burn survivors by relevant organizations.</p>","PeriodicalId":15205,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Burn Care & Research","volume":" ","pages":"768-775"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-08-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12397683/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143772533","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Identification of Shared Genes and Immune Profiling for Pathological Scar.","authors":"Shuqian Dou, Yue Deng, Di Wang, Wenjun Liu","doi":"10.1093/jbcr/iraf046","DOIUrl":"10.1093/jbcr/iraf046","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Pathological scar (PS), encompassing hypertrophic scars (HS) and keloids, significantly impacts skin morphology and functions. Evidence suggests both exhibit hyperactive immune-inflammatory responses, yet research remains limited. This study used bioinformatics to explore shared genes and immune response characteristics in PS. Transcriptomic datasets (GSE181540 and GSE158395) were explored to investigate differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between normal skin and HS/ keloids using the \"limma\" package. Overlapping up- and downregulated genes were visualized via a Venn diagram and subjected to GO and KEGG enrichment to highlight immune-related processes, particularly in chemotaxis, indicating immune response abnormalities in both scar types. Differentially expressed immune-associated genes (DEIGs) were identified by overlapping DEGs with immune-associated genes. Seventy-eight DEIGs were mapped to protein-protein interaction (PPI) networks, revealing VCAM1, THBS1, and SERPINE1 as the key hub genes. Immunohistochemical staining showed these genes were highly expressed in keloid and HS tissues but expressed at lower levels in normal skin. Ultimately, immune cell infiltration analysis unveiled increased immune cell proportions in HS and keloids, with keloid tissue displaying higher immune cell abundance.</p>","PeriodicalId":15205,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Burn Care & Research","volume":" ","pages":"870-885"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-08-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144009457","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Tiffany Jeong, Nicolas M Kass, Hilary Y Liu, Mare G Kaulakis, Christopher J Fedor, José Antonio Arellano, J Peter Rubin, Francesco M Egro
{"title":"Burn Surgery Bibliometric Analysis of Research Funding at American Burn Association-Verified Burn Centers.","authors":"Tiffany Jeong, Nicolas M Kass, Hilary Y Liu, Mare G Kaulakis, Christopher J Fedor, José Antonio Arellano, J Peter Rubin, Francesco M Egro","doi":"10.1093/jbcr/iraf072","DOIUrl":"10.1093/jbcr/iraf072","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Evidence-based burn surgery and management rely on high-quality research to inform practice and policy. However, burn surgical research is costly, and the distribution of American Burn Association (ABA)-verified burn centers is unequal. This study examines the relationship between research funding, productivity, and ABA-verification in burn surgery. PubMed was queried for all burn surgery/reconstruction articles, collecting data on article title, funding, type, and affiliation. ABA-verified burn centers and their academic affiliations were identified via the ABA website and Google search. The query identified 16 138 burn surgery articles, with 3001 affiliated with US institutions and published in 1785 journals. Notable journals include Burns (n = 2992) and Journal of Burn Care and Research (n = 1558). Only 16.6% of articles reported grant funding, primarily from non-US government sources. High-level evidence (clinical trials and systematic reviews/meta-analyses) comprised 2.7% of articles but were more likely to be funded (32.4% vs. 16.1%, P < .001). Articles from ABA-verified centers represented 13.5% of publications and were significantly more likely to receive funding (3.5% vs. 14.4%, P < .001). ABA affiliation doubled the odds of research funding (OR: 2.014, P < .001), and US-based institutional affiliation increased funding odds by 122.8% (OR: 2.228, P < .001). High-level evidence comprises a minority of articles in burn surgery literature but is significantly associated with research funding. Furthermore, ABA-verified burn centers have a higher percentage of their research funding. While we are unable to elucidate whether ABA verification or research funding drives this phenomenon, it remains clear that high-level burn surgery research, funding, and ABA verification often coexist.</p>","PeriodicalId":15205,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Burn Care & Research","volume":" ","pages":"753-757"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-08-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143992908","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Moussa Nassar, Mohamed I Mohamed, Maryam Shahid, Rama Taha, Rashed W Alweshah, Marwa R Yousef, Yousra Eltagouri, Diaz G Gustavo
{"title":"Topical Heparin in Burns: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Studies.","authors":"Moussa Nassar, Mohamed I Mohamed, Maryam Shahid, Rama Taha, Rashed W Alweshah, Marwa R Yousef, Yousra Eltagouri, Diaz G Gustavo","doi":"10.1093/jbcr/iraf168","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/jbcr/iraf168","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Burns are associated with significant inflammation and pain. Topical agents like heparin can modulate these processes and improve outcomes. Our study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of using topical heparin (TH) in patients with burns. On August 7, 2024, we conducted a literature search on PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science. Only randomized controlled studies were included. Data were extracted on analgesic drug usage, bleeding events, sepsis, visual analog scale pain scores, length of hospital stay, and mortality. Statistical analysis was performed using R software (version 4.4.1). heterogeneous data. Seven RCTs (503 patients; TH: 249, Control: 254) were included. Analgesic use (1-2 times/day: RR = 3.04, p = 0.68; 3-4 times/day: RR = 0.06, p = 0.18), bleeding (RR = 5.06, p = 0.37), sepsis (RR = 0.77, p = 0.40), hospital stay, and mortality (RR = 0.13, p = 0.90) showed no significant differences. TH reduced local wound infections by 60% (RR = 0.40, p < 0.01) and lowered VAS pain scores (MD = -3.34, p < 0.01). However, sensitivity analysis excluding an outlier nullified the pain reduction (MD = -4.17, p = 0.57). All studies had a high risk of bias, especially in outcome measurement and randomization. Topical heparin reduces pain and local wound infections in burn patients without having an impact on other outcomes. Evidence is limited by a high risk of bias. Well-designed randomized trials are needed to determine its broader clinical value.</p>","PeriodicalId":15205,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Burn Care & Research","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-08-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144955523","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}