Effect of aerobic exercise on neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio, platelet-lymphocyte ratio, and lymphocyte-monocyte ratio in burn patients: A randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to investigate the effects of aerobic exercises in addition to standard treatment on parameters such as neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), and lymphocyte-monocyte ratio (LMR) in patients with burns. METHODS: A total of 31 hospitalized patients included in the study were divided into two groups using covariate adaptive randomization method according to burn percentage and burn type (1st:standard treatment, 2nd: standard treatment + aerobic training). NLR, PLR, and LMR were evaluated for 5 weeks in all groups. Independent samples t-test and Mann-Whitney U test were used to examine differences between the two groups. For comparing more than two groups, Friedman's test was used for non-normally distributed variables and Bonferroni test was used as the post hoc pairwise comparison method. RESULTS: Intragroup comparison of individuals in group 1 showed that the NLR values on days 7 and 14 were significantly higher than those on days 28 and 35 (p < 0.05). Intragroup comparison of individuals in group 2 showed that the NLR values on days 1, 7, and 14 were significantly higher than those on days 21 and 35. Additionally, the NLR values on day 14 were higher than those on day 28. Individuals in group 1 showed a significant increase in PLR values each week (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The addition of aerobic training to standard treatment in patients with burns may be more effective in improving inflammation markers such as NLR, PLR, and LMR.

Machine learning models for early prediction of mortality risk in patients with burns: A single center experience.

Mortality rate is considered as the most important outcome measure for assessing the severity of burn injury. A scale or model that accurately predicts burn mortality can be useful to determine the clinical course of burn injuries, discuss treatment options and rehabilitation with patients and their families, and evaluate novel, innovative interventions for the injuries. This study aimed to use machine learning models to predict the mortality risk of patients with burns after their first admission to the center and to compare the performances of these models. Overall, 1064 patients hospitalized in burn intensive care and burn service units between 2016 and 2022 were included in the study. In total, 40 parameters, including demographic characteristics and biochemical parameters of all patients, were analyzed in the study. Furthermore, the dataset was randomly divided into two clusters with 70% of the data used for artificial neural networks (ANNs) training and 30% for model success testing. The ANN model proposed in this study showed high success across all machine learning methods tried in different variants, with an accuracy of 95.92% in the test set. Machine learning models can be used to predict the mortality risk of patients with burns. This study may help validate the use of machine learning models for applications in clinical practice. Conducting multicenter studies will further contribute to the literature.

A content comparison of 4 commonly used adult upper limb amputee outcome measurements with application of the refinements of International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health linking rules.

INTRODUCTION: The application of the refinements of linking rules to the outcome measurement methods provides an opportunity to obtain information concerning what the available instruments actually measure and how the instrument measures certain outcomes. The purpose of the study was to analyze the content of 4 commonly used upper limb amputee scales using the refined International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health (ICF) linking rules. METHODS: The Upper Extremity Functional Status module of the Orthotics and Prosthetics User Survey (OPUS-UEFS), Trinity Amputation and Prosthesis Experience Scales, Southampton Hand Assessment Procedure (SHAP), and Quick Disability of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand were analyzed by 2 health professionals for a content comparison based on ICF categories. The Kappa statistic was used to calculate the degree of agreement between 2 professionals. RESULTS: The scale questions were linked with 43 different ICF codes in this study. Trinity Amputation and Prosthesis Experience Scale addresses all ICF domains. All items of SHAP and most items of OPUS-UEFS were linked to the activity-participation domain. Quick Disability of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand items were linked with activity-participation and body function domains. The perspectives of OPUS-UEFS and SHAP are descriptive. The perspectives of Quick Disability of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand were descriptive and appraisal. The perspectives of Trinity Amputation and Prosthesis Experience Scale subscales were descriptive, appraisal, and needs or dependency. Estimated kappa values ranged from 0.44 to 0.91 for ICF codes. CONCLUSIONS: Most concepts in the scales were frequently linked to the activity-participation domain. We think that the results of this study will be a useful guide to clinicians and researchers in selecting relevant and appropriate outcome measurements for upper limb amputee rehabilitation.

Investigation of glucose, serum insulin levels, and insulin resistance in patients with major burn: a retrospective cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Many studies have reported that insulin resistance (IR) is present and persistent in patients with major burns; however, the evidence remains insufficient. This study was planned to investigate insulin levels and IR in the early post-traumatic period in patients with major burns and to determine the prevalence of IR after burn injury. METHODS: This study included 68 patients. These patients were followed up once a week for 4 weeks after hospitalization. In the follow-up examinations, demographic and burn injury characteristics; HbA1c, procalcitonin serum glucose, and insulin levels; and IR were evaluated. RESULTS: IR was seen in some weeks only in 25 of the 68 patients included in the study. Among all patients, IR was determined in only 11 (16.17%) patients from the 1st day of hospitalization until discharge. Patients with and without IR were evaluated as 2 groups, and their biochemical parameters were compared, and no significant difference was found between glucose and procalcitonin levels (P>0.05). Glucose levels were >100 mg/dL in the first few weeks in all patients who were followed up; however, they returned to the normal range in the following weeks. CONCLUSION: In patients with IR, there was insufficient evidence to conclude that the condition persists. We believe that the HOMA-IR value is not directly related to burn injuries and that other additional pathologies may cause it during treatment.

Establishment of a core outcome set for burn care research: development and international consensus.

Objective: To develop a core outcome set for international burn research. Design: Development and international consensus, from April 2017 to November 2019. Methods: Candidate outcomes were identified from systematic reviews and stakeholder interviews. Through a Delphi survey, international clinicians, researchers, and UK patients prioritised outcomes. Anonymised feedback aimed to achieve consensus. Pre-defined criteria for retaining outcomes were agreed. A consensus meeting with voting was held to finalise the core outcome set. Results: Data source examination identified 1021 unique outcomes grouped into 88 candidate outcomes. Stakeholders in round 1 of the survey, included 668 health professionals from 77 countries (18% from low or low middle income countries) and 126 UK patients or carers. After round 1, one outcome was discarded, and 13 new outcomes added. After round 2, 69 items were discarded, leaving 31 outcomes for the consensus meeting. Outcome merging and voting, in two rounds, with prespecified thresholds agreed seven core outcomes: death, specified complications, ability to do daily tasks, wound healing, neuropathic pain and itch, psychological wellbeing, and return to school or work. Conclusions: This core outcome set caters for global burn research, and future trials are recommended to include measures of these outcomes.

The effects of early physiotherapy on biochemical parameters in major burn patients: A burn center's experience.

BACKGROUND: This study sets out to investigate the effects of early physiotherapy on biochemical parameters in major burn patients. METHODS: Ten women (50%) and 10 men (50%) aged 21-47 years old were included in this study. Participants were divided into two groups: the first group was the treatment group and the second group was the control group. In the treatment group, patients were admitted to the physiotherapy programme from the first day they have been hospitalised, in addition to their routine treatment (e.g. medical, surgery), for four days per week. The physiotherapy programme consisted of parameters, such as early mobilisation and ambulatory training, chest physiotherapy, and both active and passive normal joint movement exercises. The days of treatment were determined as of Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Patients could not be treated on a Monday because that was surgery day. The control group consisted of patients who could not receive physiotherapy due to various reasons. All patients included in this study were evaluated weekly for six weeks after admission to the hospital. Parameters, such as demographic information, characteristics of burn injury, C-reactive protein, fibronectin, transferrin and prealbumin, were evaluated. RESULTS: When the results obtained in this study were considered, there was a significant difference in favour of the treatment group for all biochemical parameters (p<0.05). From the second week, a significant increase was observed in prealbumin values in the treatment group (p<0.05). A significant increase was observed in fibronectin after the fourth week (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: We believe that early physiotherapy should be included in the treatment in major burns. Early physiotherapy may reduce the effects of hypermetabolic response after major burns. There is a need for multi-centered and broader studies.