2020 Vol. 36, No. 1

Academician Forum on the 20th Anniversary of Chinese Journal of Burns·Innovative Technology and Concep
To build a well-developed wound repair department in China with the original mind and mission
Fu Xiaobing
2020, 36(1): 1-4. doi: 10.3760/cma.j.issn.1009-2587.2020.01.001
Abstract:

Based on the spirit of the

regulations about diagnosis and treatment of chronic skin wounds

just issued by National Health Commission, we systematically review the history of the construction of wound repair department in China and discuss the opportunities and challenges faced by the construction of wound repair department in China. We emphasize on seizing historical opportunities and grasping the development direction of the discipline with the original mind and mission to build a well-developed wound repair department in China, so as to benefit the majority of patients.

Expert Forum
Effects of phage therapy on sepsis
Peng Yizhi, Yang Zichen
2020, 36(1): 5-8. doi: 10.3760/cma.j.issn.1009-2587.2020.01.002
Abstract:

Phages can fight against sepsis through directly lysing the bacteria and influence the patients′ self-response to the pathogens through the immunomodulation effects in a coordinated way. Under the situation of the rising antimicrobial resistance, phage has attracted wide attention of researchers at home and abroad. Along with the development of researches and clinical related trials, we believe phage therapy in sepsis treatment can be expected soon in the future.

Minor similarities and major differences between cold injury and burn injury
Yu Jia′ao, Gao Xinxin
2020, 36(1): 9-13. doi: 10.3760/cma.j.issn.1009-2587.2020.01.003
Abstract:

Cold injury is very damaging. This article summarizes the mechanism, types, and rehabilitation of cold injury, focusing on the degree and clinical treatment of frostbite. Frostbite can mainly cause damage of microcirculation and capillary structure, while burn injury can mainly cause damage of cutaneous tissues. Based on this, the key point of management of frostbite is to improve microcirculation and appropriate rewarming, while that of burn injury is wound repair. Up to date, the rate of amputation caused by frostbite is still high, and the rehabilitation for sequela caused by frostbite remains a big challenge in modern medicine. It is worth paying more attention to.

Original Article·Burn Infection
Biological characteristics and genomic information of a bacteriophage against pan-drug resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae in a burn patient and its effects on bacterial biofilm
Qi Ziyi, Yang Shuoyao, Dong Shuwen, Zhao Feifan, Qin Jinhong, Xiang Jun
2020, 36(1): 14-23. doi: 10.3760/cma.j.issn.1009-2587.2020.01.004
Abstract:

Objective To isolate a bacteriophage against pan-drug resistant

Klebsiella pneumoniae

in a burn patient, and to study its biological characteristics, genomic information, and effects on bacterial biofilm. Methods (1) In 2018, pan-drug resistant

Klebsiella pneumoniae

UA168 (hereinafter referred to as the host bacteria) solution isolated from the blood of a burn patient in Ruijin Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine (hereinafter referred to as Ruijin Hospital) was used to isolate and purify the bacteriophage against pan-drug resistant

Klebsiella pneumoniae

from the sewage of Ruijin Hospital with sewage co-culture method, drip plate method, and double-agar plate method. The bacteriophage was named as phage KP168 and the plaque morphology was observed. (2) The phage KP168 solution was taken for cesium chloride density gradient centrifugation and dialysis, and then the morphology of phage KP168 was observed through transmission electron microscope after phosphotungstic acid negative staining. (3) The phage KP168 solution was taken to determine the lytic ability of the phage KP168 against 20 strains of pan-drug resistant

Klebsiella pneumoniae

isolated from the burned patients′ blood in Ruijin Hospital by the drip plate method, and then the lysis rate was calculated. (4) The phage KP168 solution at a initial titer of 9.3×1011 plaque-forming unit (PFU)/mL (400 μL per tube) and the host bacteria solution at a concentration of 1×109 colony-forming unit (CFU)/mL (4 mL per tube) were conventionally shaking cultured together for 4 hours at multiplicity of infection (MOI) of 10.000, 1.000, 0.100, 0.010, or 0.001, respectively (1 tube per MOI). The titer of phage KP168 was measured by the double-agar plate method (the measurement method was the same below) to select the optimal MOI. The experiment was repeated three times. (5) The host bacteria solution at a concentration of 1×109 CFU/mL (4 mL per tube) and the phage KP168 solution at an adjusted titer of 5×107 PFU/mL (400 μL per tube) were mixed at the MOI of 0.005. The plaques were counted 0 (immediately), 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 15, and 30 minutes (1 tube at each time point) after mixing by the double-agar plate method (the counting method was the same below), and the percentage of adsorbed phages was calculated to screen for the optimal adsorption time. The experiment was repeated three times. (6) The host bacteria solution at a concentration of 1×109 CFU/mL (300 μL per tube) and the phage KP168 solution at a titer of 5×108 PFU/mL (60 μL per tube) were mixed at MOI of 0.005 and conventionally shaking cultured after standing for the optimal adsorption time. The phage KP168 titer was measured 0 (immediately), 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, and 100 minutes after culture, and a one-step growth curve was drawn. The experiment was repeated three times. (7) The phage KP168 solution at a titer of 2.5×1010 PFU/mL was left to stand for 1 hour at 37, 40, 50, 60, or 70 ℃ (3 tubes at each time point, 1 mL per tube) for counting the plaques, and then the thermal stability curve was drawn. SM buffer at a pH values of 5.0, 6.0, 7.0, 7.4, 8.0, 9.0, or 10.0 were added to the phage KP168 solution at a titer of 3.0×1010 PFU/mL, respectively. The mixed solution was left to stand for 1 hour at 37 ℃ (3 tubes of each pH, each tube containing 100 μL phage KP168 solution and 900 μL SM buffer), and then the plaques were counted, and an acid-base stability curve was drawn. (8) The phage KP168 solution was taken for DNA extraction and sequencing after dialysis as in experiment (2). The whole genome was annotated with Prokka to obtain the coding sequence of phage KP168. Nucleotide′s BLAST function was used to proceed nucleic acid sequence alignment for finding a known phage with the highest similarity to the phage KP168 nucleic acid sequence, and Blastx function was used to translate the coding sequence into protein for its function prediction. The comparison with Antibiotic Resistance Genes Database and Virulence Factors Database was proceeded. (9) In a 96-well plate, at a MOI of 1.000, 0.100, 0.010 or 0.001 (3 wells per MOI), 20 μL phage KP168 solution at a initial titer of 5.8×1010 PFU/mL was added to 200 μL host bacteria solution at a concentration of 1.5×108 CFU/mL (the same concentration below) for co-cultivation for 48 hours. After 200 μL host bacteria solution was left to stand for 48 hours, 20 μL phage KP168 solution at a titer of 1×106, 1×107, 1×108, 1×109, or 1×1010 PFU/mL (3 wells per titer) was added respectively for action for 4 hours. In both experiments, 200 μL host bacteria solution added with 20 μL SM buffer (3 wells) acted as a negative control, and 220 μL LB culture medium (3 wells) acted as a blank control. Absorbance values were measured by a microplate reader, and inhibition/destruction rates of biofilm were calculated. The experiments were both repeated three times. Results (1) The plaques of phage KP168 successfully isolated and purified were transparent and round, and its diameter was approximately 1.5 mm. (2) The phage KP168 has a regular polyhedron structure with a diameter of about 50 nm and without a tail. (3) The phage KP168 could lyse 13 of 20 strains of

Klebsiella pneumoniae

from burned patients, with a lysis rate of 65.0%. (4) When MOI was 1.000, the titer was the highest after co-culturing the phage KP168 with the host bacteria for 4 hours, which was the optimal MOI. (5) After the mixing of the phage KP168 with the host bacteria for 4 minutes, the percentage of the adsorbed phage reached the highest, which was the optimal adsorption time. (6) The one-step growth curve showed that during the lysis of the host bacteria by phage KP168, the incubation period was about 10 minutes, and the lysis period was about 40 minutes. (7) With the condition of 40 ℃ or pH 7.4, the number of plaques and the activity of phage KP168 reached the highest. (8) The genome of phage KP168 was a linear double-stranded DNA with a length of 40 114 bp. There were 48 possible coding sequences. It had the highest similarity to Klebsiella phage_vB_Kp1. The most similar known proteins corresponding to the translated proteins of coding sequences contained 23 hypothetical proteins and 25 proteins with known functions. No resistance genes or virulence factor genes were found. The GeneBank accession number was KT367885. (9) After 48 hours of co-cultivation of the phage KP168 and the host bacteria at each MOI, the inhibition rates of biofilm were similar, with an average of about 45%. After the phage KP168 with a titer of 1×109 PFU/mL acted on the biofilm formed by the host bacteria for 4 h, the destruction rate of biofilm was the highest, reaching an average of 42%. Conclusions In this study, a bacteriophage against pan-drug resistant

Klebsiella pneumoniae

from a burn patient, phage KP168, is isolated from sewage, which belongs to the tailless phage. It has a wide host spectrum, short adsorption time, and short incubation period, with certain thermal and acid-base stability. Its genomic information is clear, and it does not contain resistance genes or virulence factor genes. It also has an inhibitory effect on the formation of bacterial biofilm and a destructive effect on the formed bacterial biofilm.

Analysis of distribution and drug resistance of pathogens isolated from 159 patients with catheter-related bloodstream infection in burn intensive care unit
Luo Xiaoqiang, Gong Yali, Zhang Cheng, Liu Meixi, Shi Yunlong, Peng Yizhi, Li Ning
2020, 36(1): 24-31. doi: 10.3760/cma.j.issn.1009-2587.2020.01.005
Abstract:

Objective To analyze the distribution and drug resistance of pathogens isolated from patients with catheter-related bloodstream infection (CRBSI) in burn intensive care unit (BICU). Methods From January 2011 to December 2018, among 2 264 patients who were peripherally inserted central venous catheter at the BICU of the First Affiliated Hospital of Army Medical University (the third Military Medical University), hereinafter referred to as the author′s unit, 159 patients were diagnosed CRBSI, including 131 males and 28 females, aged 43 (1, 79) years. The pathogens primarily isolated from peripheral venous blood and central venous catheter blood/anterior central venous catheter specimen of patients with CRBSI were retrospectively analyzed. API bacteria identification kits and automatic microorganism identification instrument were used to identify pathogens. Broth micro-dilution method or Kirby-Bauer paper disk diffusion method was used to detect the drug resistance of the pathogens to 5 antifungal drugs including fluconazole and itraconazole, etc., and 37 antibacterial drugs including tigecycline and imipenem, etc. Modified Hodge test was used to further identify imipenem- and meropenem-resistant

Klebsiella pneumonia

. D test was used to detect erythromycin-induced clindamycin resistant

Staphylococcus aureus

. The WHONET 5.6 software was applied to analyze the annual incidence of CRBSI, mortality of patients with CRBSI, incidence of CRBSI cases, distribution of infection site, and duration of catheterization, detection of Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria, fungi, methicillin-resistant

Staphylococcus aureus

(MRSA), and methicillin-sensitive

Staphylococcus aureus

(MSSA), and drug resistance of fungi and major Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria to the commonly used antibiotics in clinic. Results (1) The incidence of CRBSI was 7.0% (159/2 264) during the eight years, which was slightly higher in 2014 and 2017 with 13.6% (30/221) and 11.1% (24/217) respectively. The mortality rate of patients with CRBSI was 7.5% (12/159). (2) The incidence of CRBSI cases was 14.9% (338/2 264); the main infection site was femoral vein, totally 271 cases (80.2%), and the duration of catheterization of this site was 9 (2, 25) d. (3) During the eight years, totally 543 strains of pathogens were isolated, including 353 (65.0%) strains of Gram-negative bacteria, 140 (25.8%) strains of Gram-positive bacteria, and 50 (9.2%) strains of fungi. The top three isolated pathogens with isolation rate from high to low were

Acinetobacter baumannii, Staphylococcus aureus,

and

Pseudomonas aeruginosa,

accounting for 23.2% (126/543), 17.1% (93/543), and 15.7% (85/543), respectively. Fungi were mainly

Candida parapsilosis

. Among the

Staphylococcus aureus,

the detection rate of MRSA was 98.9% (92/93), and that of MSSA was 1.1% (1/93). (4) Except for the low drug resistance rates to polymyxin B, minocycline, and tigecycline, the drug resistance rates of

Acinetobacter baumannii

to the other antibiotics were considerably high (80.1%-100.0%).

Pseudomonas aeruginosa

was not resistant to polymyxin B but highly resistant to netilmicin (88.7%) and piperacillin (92.6%), with resistance rates to the other antibiotics from 34.5% to 62.7%.

Klebsiella pneumoniae

was not resistant to tigecycline and lowly resistant to imipenem and meropenem (28.9%, 9 imipenem- and meropenem-resistant strains were further confirmed by modified Hodge test), with resistance rates to the other antibiotics from 40.9% to 95.2%. The resistance rates of MRSA to most antibiotics were higher than those of MSSA. MRSA was not resistant to linezolid, vancomycin, teicoplanin, sulfamethoxazole, or tigecycline. The resistance rates of MRSA to clindamycin and erythromycin were 7.9% and 62.0%, respectively, and those to the other antibiotics were higher than 91.5%. Except for the complete resistance to penicillin G and tetracycline, MSSA was not resistant to the other antibiotics. Thirty-three strains of

Staphylococcus aureus

showed resistance to erythromycin-induced clindamycin. Fungi was not resistant to amphotericin B, with drug resistance rates to voriconazole, itraconazole, ketoconazole, and fluconazole from 4.2% to 6.2%. Conclusions The incidence of CRBSI and mortality of patients with CRBSI are high in BICU of the author′s unit, and the main infection site is femoral vein. There are various types of pathogens in patients with CRBSI, and most of them are Gram-negative. The top three isolated pathogens are

Acinetobacter baumannii, Staphylococcus aureus,

and

Pseudomonas aeruginosa,

accompanying with grim drug resistance phenomenon.

Influence of abaR gene knockout on growth metabolism and biofilm formation of Acinetobacter baumannii
Guo Haina, Chen Zheng, Xiang Jun
2020, 36(1): 32-36. doi: 10.3760/cma.j.issn.1009-2587.2020.01.006
Abstract:

Objective To investigate the influence of

abaR

gene knockout on growth metabolism and biofilm formation of

Acinetobacter baumannii

. Methods The

abaR

gene was knocked out from

Acinetobacter baumannii

standard strain ATCC 17978 (wild strain) by homologous recombination method, and then the ATCC 17978

abaR

knockout strain (ATCC 17978/ΔabaR: : Kn) was obtained and verified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) electrophoresis and sequencing. The growth curves of

Acinetobacter baumannii

wild strain and

Acinetobacter baumannii

knockout strain were determined by microplate reader within cultivation hour (CH) 18, and the biofilm formation ability was measured by crystal violet staining at CH 8, 24, and 48, respectively. The sample number at each time point was 3.The results were denoted as absorbance value. Data were processed with analysis of variance of factorial design, one-way analysis of variance,

t

test, and least-significant difference test. Results (1) The length of PCR product of target fragment ΔabaR: : Kn was 3 029 bp. The

abaR

gene was knocked out to obtain the knockout strain ATCC 17978/ΔabaR: : Kn. The length of PCR product of the knockout strain was 3 300 bp. The

abaR

gene was successfully knocked out. (2) At CH 2, 3, and 4, the absorbance values of

Acinetobacter baumannii

wild strain were slightly higher than those of the knockout strain. The absorbance values of

Acinetobacter baumannii

wild strain and knockout strain were similar from CH 5 to 18. (3) At CH 8 and 24, the biofilm formation ability of

Acinetobacter baumannii

wild strains (0.644±0.066, 0.574±0.184) was similar to that of knockout strains (0.559±0.008, 0.394±0.030,

t

=2.209, 1.167,

P

>0.05). At CH 48, the biofilm formation ability of

Acinetobacter baumannii

wild strains (1.157±0.259) was significantly stronger than that of

Acinetobacter baumannii

knockout strains (0.576±0.026,

t

=3.865,

P

<0.05). The biofilm formation ability of

Acinetobacter baumannii

wild strains at CH 48 was significantly stronger than that at CH 8 and 24 (

P

<0.05). The biofilm formation ability of

Acinetobacter baumannii

knockout strains at CH 24 was significantly weaker than that at CH 8 and 48 (

P

<0.05). Conclusions The

abaR

gene of

Acinetobacter baumannii

ATCC 17978 can be successfully knocked out by homologous recombination to obtain its knockout strain ATCC 17978/ΔabaR: : Kn. The

abaR

gene does not affect the growth and metabolism of

Acinetobacter baumannii

but can weaken its biofilm formation ability.

Analysis of the pathogenic characteristics of fungal bloodstream infection in severe burn patients
Zhang Cheng, Gong Yali, Luo Xiaoqiang, Liu Meixi, Shi Yunlong, Liu Tengfei, Li Hangyu, Peng Yizhi
2020, 36(1): 37-41. doi: 10.3760/cma.j.issn.1009-2587.2020.01.007
Abstract:

Objective To retrospectively analyze the diagnosis time, pathogen distribution, and drug resistance of fungal bloodstream infection in severe burn patients. Methods Blood samples were collected from 55 severe burn patients with fungal bloodstream infection (including 46 males and 9 females, aged 42 (1, 78) years) admitted to the intensive care unit of the Institute of Burn Research of the First Affiliated Hospital of Army Medical University (the Third Military Medical University) from July 2011 to May 2019 for retrospective analysis. Microbial monitoring system was used to cultivate pathogens, API yeast identification kit and

Candida

chromogenic medium were used to identify pathogens, and Kirby-Bauer paper disk diffusion method was used to detect drug resistance of fungi to fluconazole, amphotericin B, itraconazole, ketoconazole, and voriconazole. The positive rate of blood fungal culture, mortality rate, distribution of local fungal proliferation sites, the diagnosis time distribution of fungal bloodstream infection, the distribution of fungal species, resistance to commonly-used antifungal drugs, and the use of antibiotics were assessed. The WHONET 5.6 software was applied to analyze the distribution and drug resistance of fungi. Results (1) Totally 4 839 blood samples were collected during the 9 years, and 122 strains of fungi were isolated, with positive rate of 2.52%. The mortality rate was 14.55% (8 patients) in 55 patients. Catheter fungal proliferation ranked the first among 30 cases of local fungal proliferation. (2) The diagnosis time of fungal bloodstream infection mainly distributed in ≤1 week of hospitalization [32.73% (18/55)]. (3) Among the 55 strains of fungi detected, the detection rate of

Candida parapsilosis

ranked the first (21.82%, 12 strains),

Candida glabrata

was the second (18.18%, 10 strains), and

Candida tropicalis

was tied with

Candida albicans

in the third place (14.55%, 8 strains). All the detected fungi were sensitive to amphotericin B, and the resistance rates to voriconazole, fluconazole, itraconazole, and ketoconazole were between 4.5% and 9.1%. (4) Droad-spectrum antibiotics were used in all the 55 patients, ≥3 kinds of antibiotics were used in 44 patients, and 37 patients used antibacterial drugs ≥7 days. Conclusions The diagnosis time of fungal bloodstream infection in the 55 severe burn patients was mainly within 1 week of hospitalization.

Candida parapsilosis

is the most commonly detected fungal species. Catheter fungal proliferation occurs most commonly among the 30 patients with local fungal proliferation. All the detected fungi were sensitive to amphotericin B, with low drug resistance to voriconazole, fluconazole, itraconazole, and ketoconazole. Broad-spectrum antibiotics were overused in the severe burn patients with fungal bloodstream infection.

2020, 36(1): 31-31. doi: 10.3760/cma.j.issn.1009-2587.2020.01.102
Abstract:
2020, 36(1): 31-31. doi: 10.3760/cma.j.issn.1009-2587.2020.01.101
Abstract:
2020, 36(1): 69-69. doi: 10.3760/cma.j.issn.1009-2587.2020.01.105
Abstract:
2020, 36(1): 69-69. doi: 10.3760/cma.j.issn.1009-2587.2020.01.103
Abstract:
2020, 36(1): 69-69. doi: 10.3760/cma.j.issn.1009-2587.2020.01.104
Abstract:
Original Article
Value of joint prediction model based on the modified systemic inflammatory response syndrome score for predicting mortality risk of patients with large area burns at early stage after admission
Fan Junhao, Sun Yifang, Wu Guosheng, Wang Kang′an, Wei Jiao, Sun Yu
2020, 36(1): 42-47. doi: 10.3760/cma.j.issn.1009-2587.2020.01.008
Abstract:

Objective To investigate the predictive value of the joint prediction model based on the modified systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) score (hereinafter referred to as the joint prediction model) for the mortality risk of patients with large area burns within 24 hours after admission. Methods The clinical data of 158 patients [111 males, 47 females, aged 40 (28, 50) years] admitted to the Department of Burn Surgery of the First Affiliated Hospital of Naval Medical University from January 2005 to January 2018, conforming to the study criteria, were analyzed retrospectively by the method of case-control study. The age, gender, total burn area, full-thickness burn area, injury cause, with or without inhalation injury, severity of inhalation injury, and tracheotomy condition of patients were recorded, and the modified SIRS score and the modified Baux score of patients were calculated. According to the final outcome, all patients were divided into survival group (

n

=123) and death group (

n

=35). The clinical data of patients between two groups, except for modified Baux score, were compared by chi-square test or Mann-Whitney

U

test to screen the death-related factors of patients. The indexes with statistically significant difference between the two groups were included in the multivariate logistic regression analysis to screen the independent risk factors related to the death of patients, and the prediction model was constructed by combining the modified SIRS score. The receiver′s operating characteristic curves of the modified SIRS score, the modified Baux score, and the joint prediction model of 158 patients were drawn to analyze their ability to predict death of patients. The area under curve (AUC) of the receiver′s operating characteristic and the sensitivity and specificity of optimal threshold were calculated, and the quality of AUC of the three prediction indexes was compared with Jonckheere-Terpstra test. Results (1) There were statistically significant differences between the two groups in the modified SIRS score, age, total burn area, full-thickness burn area, severity of inhalation injury, with or without inhalation injury, and tracheotomy condition of patients (

Z

=-4.356, -3.568, -5.291, -6.052, -4.720,

χ

2=12.967, 19.692,

P

<0.01). (2) The modified SIRS score, age, full-thickness burn area were the independent risk factors for the death of patients with large area burn (odds ratio=2.699, 1.069, 1.029, 95% confidence interval=1.447-5.033, 1.029-1.109, 1.005-1.054,

P

<0.05). (3) The AUC of modified SIRS score, the joint prediction model, and the modified Baux score for predicting death of 158 patients within 24 hours after admission were 0.730, 0.879, and 0.895 respectively (95% confidence interval=0.653-0.797, 0.818-0.926, 0.836-0.938,

P

<0.01). The sensitivities of the three optimal threshold values to death prediction were 54.3%, 91.4%, and 82.9% respectively, while the specificities were 81.3%, 76.4%, and 84.6% respectively. The AUC quality of the joint prediction model was similar to that of the modified Baux score (95% confidence interval=-0.057-0.088,

P

>0.05), and both of them were significantly better than that of the modified SIRS score (95% confidence interval=0.072-0.259, 0.023-0.276,

P

<0.05 or

P

<0.01). Conclusions Both the joint prediction model and the modified Baux score are considered to be good to predict the death rate of patients with large area burns at early stage after admission. However, the joint prediction model has better clinical practice value due to its advantage of simple scoring and easier access to data acquisition.

Effects of sodium butyrate on intestinal barrier of severe scald mice and the related mechanism
Liang Jingbing, Wang Pei, Feng Yanhai, Huang Yalan, Wang Fengjun, Ren Hui
2020, 36(1): 48-53. doi: 10.3760/cma.j.issn.1009-2587.2020.01.009
Abstract:

Objective To investigate the effects of sodium butyrate on intestinal barrier of the severe scald mice and the related mechanism. Methods Eighteen C57BL/6 female mice, aged eight to twelve weeks, were divided into sham scald group, pure scald group, and scald+ sodium butyrate group according to random number table, with 6 mice in each group. Back of each mouse in pure scald group and scald+ sodium butyrate group were immersed into 90 ℃ water for 9 s, causing full-thickness scald of 30% total body surface area, while back of each mouse in sham scald group were immersed into 37 ℃ water for 9 s, causing sham injury. All of the mice in 3 groups were intraperitoneally injected with 1 mL sterile lactated Ringer′s solution immediately after injury. Besides, mice in scald+ sodium butyrate group were intraperitoneally injected with 300 mg/kg sodium butyrate at 30 min before injury and immediately after injury, while mice in sham scald group and pure scald group were intraperitoneally injected with the same volume of sterile phosphate buffer solution. At post injury hour (PIH) 24, portal vein of mice in 3 groups was harvested, intestinal permeability was measured by fluorescin isothiocyanate-dextran fluorescence probe tracing method, then lileal tissue of mice in 3 groups was harvested, protein expressions of zonula occludens l (ZO-1), occludin, claudin-1, claudin-2, nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-containing protein-like receptor family pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and IL-18 were detected by Western blotting, and distribution of ZO-1 in intestinal mucosa was observed by indirect immunofluorescence. Data were processed with one-way analysis of variance, least-significant difference test, and Bonferroni correction. Results (1) At PIH 24, the intestinal permeability of mice in sham scald group, pure scald group, and scald+ sodium butyrate group was 0.88±0.19, 2.62±0.48, 1.23±0.16, respectively. Compared with that in sham scald group, the intestinal permeability of mice in pure scald group was significantly elevated (

P

<0.01), while the intestinal permeability of mice in scald+ sodium butyrate group showed no obvious change (

P

>0.05). Compared with that in pure scald group, the intestinal permeability of mice in scald+ sodium butyrate group was significantly decreased (

P

<0.01). (2) At PIH 24, compared with those in sham scald group, the protein expressions of ZO-1, occludin, and claudin-1 of mice in pure scald group and scald+ sodium butyrate group were significantly decreased (

P

<0.05), while the protein expression of claudin-2 was significantly increased (

P

<0.05). At PIH 24, compared with those of pure scald group, the protein expressions of ZO-1 and occludin of mice in scald+ sodium butyrate group were significantly elevated (

P

<0.05), while the protein expression of claudin-2 was significantly decreased (

P

<0.05), the protein expression of claudin-1 showed no significant difference (

P

>0.05). (3) At PIH 24, compared with those in sham scald group, the protein expressions of NLRP3, IL-1β, and IL-18 of mice in pure scald group and scald+ sodium butyrate group were significantly increased (

P

<0.05). Compared with those of pure scald group, the protein expressions of NLRP3, IL-1β, and IL-18 of mice in scald+ sodium butyrate group were significantly decreased (

P

<0.05). (4) At PIH 24, ZO-1 in intestinal mucosa of mice in sham scald group was distributed smoothly, continuously and homogeneously along the membrane. ZO-1 in intestinal mucosa of mice in pure scald group was distributed unsmoothly with breaks. The distribution of ZO-1 in intestinal mucosa of mice in scald+ sodium butyrate group was ameliorated compared with that in pure scald group. Conclusions Sodium butyrate can inhibit the activation of NLRP3 inflammasome and decrease the production of IL-1β and IL-18 in intestinal mucosa of severe scald mice, which protects the intestinal barrier function by alleviating the alteration of tight junction protein expression and localization.

Brief Original Article
Occurrence of deep venous thrombosis in adult burn patients and its risk factors
Zhang Wei, Zhang Junfeng, Wang Mi, Xia Chengde, Wang Lijie, Liu Baohui, Di Haiping, Xue Jidong, Lou Jihe
2020, 36(1): 54-57. doi: 10.3760/cma.j.issn.1009-2587.2020.01.010
Abstract:

Objective To investigate the occurrence and risk factors of deep venous thrombosis (DVT) in adult burn patients. Methods The clinical data of 1 219 adult burn patients admitted to the Department of Burns of Zhengzhou First People′s Hospital from January 1, 2015 to August 31, 2016, conforming to the study criteria, were analyzed retrospectively by the method of case-control study, including 811 males and 408 females, aged 18-102 years. According to whether DVT occurred during hospitalization or not, the patients were divided into group DVT (

n

=12) and non-DVT group (

n

=1 207). The incidence of DVT, the diagnosis time of DVT, affected limbs, and DVT classification were counted and recorded. The gender, age, total burn area, D-dimer, lower limb burn, full-thickness burn, femoral vein indwelling central venous catheter (CVC) , inhalation injury, sepsis/infection shock, surgical operation, and infusion of concentrated red blood cells of patients between the two groups were compared with chi-square test, and then the indicators with statistically significant differences between the two groups were processed by multivariate binary logistic regression analysis to screen the independent risk factors of DVT in the adult burn patients. Results (1) The incidence of DVT of adult burn patients was 0.98% (12/1 219), and DVT was diagnosed 24-138 days after injury, with a median of 61.5 days. DVT occurred in the right lower limb of 2 patients, left lower limb of 8 patients, and bilateral lower limbs of 2 patients, and DVT classification included 6 cases of mixed type and 6 cases of peripheral type. (2) There were no statistically significant differences in gender, age, and full-thickness burn of patients between the two groups (

χ

2=1.524, 0.021, 3.115,

P

>0.05). There were statistically significant differences in total burn area, lower limb burn, inhalation injury, sepsis/infection shock, D-dimer, femoral vein indwelling CVC, surgical operation, and infusion of concentrated red blood cells among patients between the two groups (

χ

2=17.975, 6.206, 3.987, 8.875, 5.447, 15.124, 10.735, 14.031,

P

<0.05 or

P

<0.01). (3) Total burn area, D-dimer, and femoral vein indwelling CVC were independent risk factors for DVT in adult burn patients (odds ratio=10.927, 4.762, 9.394, 95% confidence interval=3.078-38.789, 1.197-18.934, 2.631-33.540,

P

<0.05 or

P

<0.01). Conclusions The incidence of DVT in adult burn patients is relatively low, and the diagnosis time of DVT is 3 weeks after burn, with DVT classification of mixed type and peripheral type. The total burn area, femoral vein indwelling CVC, and D-dimer are independent risk factors for predicting DVT in adult burn patients.

Epidemiological investigation of 511 adult inpatients with gas burns
Fan Youfen, Chen Cui, Pan Yanyan, Cui Shengyong, Huang Neng, Li Jiliang, Xu Pei, Yu Yaohua
2020, 36(1): 58-63. doi: 10.3760/cma.j.issn.1009-2587.2020.01.011
Abstract:

Objective To analyze the epidemiological characteristics of adult inpatients with gas burns in the Department of Burns of Hwa Mei Hospital of University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (hereinafter referred to as the author′s unit) , so as to provide evidence for the prevention of gas burn. Methods Medical records of all inpatients with flame burns admitted to the author′s unit from January 2011 to December 2017 were collected. The percentage of adult inpatients with gas burns in total inpatients with flame burns in the same period, and their gender, age, injury season, accident place, burn severity, common compound injury, complication, population caliber, education, industry, as well as the pre-injury disease and prognosis of elderly inpatients with gas burns were retrospectively analyzed. In addition, the age, accident place, education, and industry of the floating population in the adult inpatients with gas burns were analyzed separately and compared with the total population of adult inpatients with gas burns in 7 years. Data were processed with chi-square test or Fisher′s exact probability test (Monte Carlo algorithm). Results During the 7 years, 1 490 inpatients with flame burns were admitted to the author′s unit, among which 511 were adult inpatients with gas burns, accounting for 34.30%. The number of adult inpatients with gas burns increased gradually during the 7 years, but its percentage in the total inpatients with flame burns during the same period showed no significant difference (

χ

2=7.087,

P

>0.05). Among the 511 adult inpatients with gas burns (hereinafter referred to as the patients in this group), there were 315 males and 196 females, with a male/female ratio of 1.61 to 1.00, and the middle-aged patients were the most, up to 270 cases, accounting for 52.84%. The distribution of adult inpatients with gas burns during the 7 years was significantly different in gender and age (

χ

2=54.810, 27.832,

P

<0.01). Among the patients in this group, most were injured in summer, totally 251 cases, accounting for 49.12%, and the accident place was mainly at home, totally 388 cases, accounting for 75.93%. The distribution of adult inpatients with gas burns during the 7 years was significantly different in injury season (

χ

2=42.254,

P

<0.01), but not in accident place (

χ

2=6.782,

P

>0.05). The patients in this group were mainly with moderate burns (237 cases, accounting for 46.38%), and the distribution trend of burn severity of adult inpatients with gas burns was basically the same during the 7 years (

χ

2=19.680,

P

>0.05); 176 patients (34.44%) were accompanied by inhalation injury, and 30 patients (5.87%) were accompanied by blast injury of lung; post injury complications occurred in 20 patients (3.91%). In the elderly inpatients with gas burns, 44.44% (32/72) were accompanied by pre-injury basic diseases, and the proportion of death or unhealed reached 18.06% (13/72). Most of the patients in this group were permanent residents (358 cases, accounting for 70.06%) and received secondary education (304 cases, accounting for 59.49%), and the majority of them were engaged in manufacturing/construction (138 cases, accounting for 27.01%), self-employed business (90 cases, accounting for 17.61%), and catering (90 cases, accounting for 17.61%) industries. The distribution of adult inpatients with gas burns during the 7 years was significantly different in population caliber, education, and occupation (

χ

2=17.496, 29.898, 88.896,

P

<0.05 or

P

<0.01). Among the patients of this group, the floating population were mainly young (90 cases, accounting for 58.82%) and middle-aged (62 cases, accounting for 40.52%), with main accident place at home (97 cases, accounting for 63.40%), generally received secondary education (101 cases, accounting for 66.01%), and were mainly engaged in manufacturing/construction (71 cases, accounting for 46.41%), self-employed business (26 cases, accounting for 16.99%), and catering (20 cases, accounting for 13.07%) industries. Compared with the total adult inpatients with gas burns in 7 years, the floating population were younger, more injured in the workplace, and more concentrated in industry (

χ

2=42.924, 9.390, 27.819,

P

<0.01). Conclusions Gas burn was the leading injury cause of inpatients with flame burns in the author′s unit, which mainly occurred in summer and at home; the patients were mainly male, young and middle-aged, and permanent residents, most of which were with moderate burn, often accompanied by inhalation injury. Most of the patients were of secondary education, engaged in manufacturing/construction, self-employed business, and catering industries, among which the floating population were younger, more injured in the workplace, and more concentrated in industry. In order to prevent gas burn, we should pay more attention to the propaganda and education of gas safety among young and middle-aged men, floating population, retired old people and housewives, especially in summer, we should do a good job in gas safety inspection at home. In addition, we should urge enterprises to further strengthen the supervision of production safety.

Case Report
Cytological diagnosis of one burn patient with cicatrix carcinoma after amputation combined with right thigh proximal medial metastasis
Yu Qing, Li Hui
2020, 36(1): 64-66. doi: 10.3760/cma.j.issn.1009-2587.2020.01.012
Abstract:

On 18th October 2018, a 49 years old man with right thigh proximal medial swelling and pain was received in the Department of Pathology, People′s Hospital of Deyang of Sichuan Province. The patient had experienced amputation twice because of burn in right lower limb 46 years ago. Cicatricial squamous cell carcinoma metastasis in right thigh proximal medial was diagnosed by fine needle aspiration cytology in our hospital. The wound remained ulcered and unhealed after biopsy in a higher level hospital. The patient died in ten days after first chemotherapy which was required by the patient. This case suggests that clinician should perform pathological examination on burn patients with scar ulcer as soon as possible to avoid delay in treatment, which may cause carcinogenesis deterioration and metastasis.

Wounds after recision in recurrence of dermatofibrosarcoma protuberan in the left shoulder and chest repaired with anteromedial thigh perforator flap instead of anterolateral thigh perforator flap: a case report
Pan Dongjing, Jiang Wei, Li Hanwei
2020, 36(1): 67-69. doi: 10.3760/cma.j.issn.1009-2587.2020.01.013
Abstract:

On October 23, 2017, a 52-year-old male patient with 3 recurrences of dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans in the left shoulder and chest was admitted to the Department of Burns and Plastic Surgery of Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture People′s Hospital. Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans on the skin were completely resected, leaving wound defect of 10 cm×10 cm. The wound was planned to be repaired by the transplantation of right anterolateral thigh perforator free flap. However, the anterolateral thigh perforator branch was absent during flap removal, and only one small perforating branch was found. Moreover, it was difficult to separate. Therefore, this flap cutting was given up. The anteromedial thigh perforator was explored through the same incision, and a thicker perforator was found, which was supplied by an independent iatrogenic artery. The length and diameter of the vascular pedicle matched with the blood vessels in the receiving site. An anteromedial thigh perforator flap (10 cm×10 cm) was cut to repair the defect. The postoperative 9-month follow-up revealed that the color, texture, and thickness of the flap were good, the two-point discrimination distance was 30 mm, and the linear scar remained at the donor site of right thigh.

Review
Advances in the research of Fournier gangrene
Kong Xiangli, Shi Kai, Xue Yan, Yu Jia′ao, Zhang Lei, Wu Zhendong, Zhang Xiuhang
2020, 36(1): 70-76. doi: 10.3760/cma.j.issn.1009-2587.2020.01.014
Abstract:

Fournier gangrene is a relatively rare clinical critical disease, and its clinical symptoms are not specific and easily unrecognized by some clinicians. It has the features of acute onset, quick development, severe illness, and often accompanied by infection shock which is seriously life-threatening. It is difficult in treatment with high medical costs and long length of hospitalization, which increases pain for patients and relatives and brings heavy economic and psychological burden on patients, society, and medical workers. By reviewing the literature home and abroad and combined with clinical practice, I summarize the researches on concept, epidemiology, clinical manifestation, diagnosis and treatment of Fournier gangrene, in order to provide reference for vast number of clinical workers.

Advances in the research of pain assessment and non-drug intervention in burn children
Wu Weiwei, Lu Yinghui, Cheng Dan, Wu Shifeng
2020, 36(1): 76-80. doi: 10.3760/cma.j.issn.1009-2587.2020.01.015
Abstract:

Children are a high-risk group of burn, and burn pain is a special type of pain. Because children of different ages have different cognitive ability and behavioral response to pain, thus it is particularly difficult to effectively evaluate the pain. It is very important for medical staff to understand the pain of children, to define the adverse reactions of pain, to evaluate and take appropriate pain intervention measures in time and effectively. In this paper, different evaluation methods of burn pain in children and non-drug intervention related measures were reviewed in order to provide references for clinical practice.