OBJECTIVE: To explore the current status, evolution, hot topics, and future research trends in the field of burn-related sepsis research through a visual analysis of literature. METHODS: A bibliometric method was employed to retrieve articles related to burn-related sepsis from January 1, 1994, to May 16, 2024, in the China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) and the Web of Science database. The CiteSpace 6.3.R1 software was used to analyze the retrieved literature. The number of publications, authors, countries, and institutions in both Chinese and English literature was statistically analyzed. Co-occurrence analysis, clustering analysis, and co-citation analysis of keywords were performed. RESULTS: A total of 1 090 articles from the CNKI database and 1 143 articles from the Web of Science database were retrieved. Over the past 20 years, the volume of Chinese publications has remained stable, although there has been a slight decline in the past two years. In contrast, the number of English publications, after a period of growth, showed a sharp decline over the past three years. In Chinese literature, 1 457 authors published articles on burn-related sepsis as first authors, with 14 core authors publishing four or more articles. In English literature, 98 authors published articles on burn-related sepsis as first authors. Research on burn-related sepsis was conducted by 76 countries, with the United States having the most collaborations and publications. Globally, 1 349 institutions published articles on burn-related sepsis, with the top institutions being the First Affiliated Hospital of the PLA General Hospital (8 articles) for Chinese literature and the University of Texas Medical Branch (57 articles) for English literature. In the co-occurrence analysis, 208 Chinese keywords and 211 English keywords were included. Excluding keywords related to search terms, the top five most frequent keywords in Chinese literature were burn, sepsis, infection, severe burn, and procalcitonin; the top five most frequent keywords in English literature were sepsis, septic shock, mortality, injury, and burn injury. Chinese keyword analysis identified six clusters, with the largest being sepsis, followed by procalcitonin, infection, and severe burn. English keyword analysis identified seven clusters, with the largest being expression, followed by epidemiology, inhalation injury, and acute kidney injury. The persistent clusters in Chinese literature were procalcitonin, with recent emerging nodes being severe burn, inflammatory response, platelets, and predictive value. In English literature, the persistent clusters were inhalation injury and nitric oxide, with recent emerging nodes being continuous renal replacement therapy, hemorrhagic shock, and early enteral nutrition. The longest-lasting emergent keyword in Chinese literature was delayed resuscitation (2003-2010), with the highest emergent strength being severe burn. In English literature, the longest-lasting emergent keywords, each lasting five years, were nitric oxide (2007-2012), management (2019-2024), and impact (2019-2024), with the highest emergent strength being thermal injury. CONCLUSIONS Research on burn-related sepsis has shifted from focusing on early studies on pathogenesis and mortality to focus on prevention, treatment, and early diagnosis. Future research is expected to focus on early diagnosis and risk factors of burn-related sepsis.
Burns/complications* ; Sepsis/etiology* ; Humans ; Bibliometrics ; China

Objective:To explore the causal relationship between human inhalation injury and circulating inflammatory proteins.Methods:This research was based on two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis. With inhalation injury as the exposure factor and circulating inflammatory proteins as the result, data on inhalation injury (216 993 samples) and 91 circulating inflammatory proteins (14 824 samples) were obtained from the genome-wide association study database, and analysis was conducted by two-sample MR analysis methods. Based on linkage disequilibrium analysis, independent site single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that were significantly associated with inhalation injury were identified as the instrumental variables. The inverse variance weighted (IVW) method was mainly used to analyze the causal relationship between inhalation injury and 91 circulating inflammatory proteins, which were further verified using the weighted median method, weighted pattern method, MR-Egger method, and simple pattern method. Based on the aforementioned IVW method analysis results, SNPs of inhalation injury conformed to the hypothesis were subjected to Cochran's Q test for heterogeneity assessment, the MR-Egger regression test and MR-PRESSO outlier test for assessment of horizontal pleiotropy, and the leave-one-out method analysis for reliability assessment.Results:Six SNPs with a significant threshold ( P<5×10 -5) were identified as representative instrumental variables of inhalation injury, with F values greater than 10, indicating strong correlated instrumental variables. Based on the 6 inhalation injury SNPs, the IVW method analysis revealed a significant causal relationship between inhalation injury and interleukin-20 (IL-20), IL-20 receptor subunit alpha (IL-20RA), IL-5, and tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily member 9 (TNFRSF9), with odds ratios of 1.01, 1.01, 1.02, and 1.01, respectively, and 95% confidence intervals of 1.00-1.02, 1.00-1.03, 1.01-1.03, and 1.00-1.03, respectively, P<0.05. Verification through the weighted median method and MR-Egger method confirmed that the causal relationships between inhalation injury and IL-5 (with odds ratios of 1.02 and 1.03, respectively, confidence intervals of 1.00-1.04 and 1.01-1.04, respectively, P<0.05) as well as TNFRSF9 (with odds ratios of 1.02 and 1.03, respectively, confidence intervals of 1.00-1.04 and 1.01-1.04, respectively, P<0.05) were statistically significant. Conversely, verification through the weighted pattern method and simple pattern method indicated that the causal relationships between inhalation injury and IL-20, IL-20RA, IL-5, and TNFRSF9 were not statistically significant (with all P values >0.05), thus still needing IVW method results as standards. Based on the aforementioned IVW method analysis results, the Cochran's Q test demonstrated there was no significant heterogeneity in the 6 inhalation injury SNPs that had significant causal relationships with IL-20, IL-20RA, IL-5, and TNFRSF9 (with Q values of 2.67, 5.00, 5.17, and 5.29, respectively, P>0.05); assessments using the MR-Egger regression test along with MR-PRESSO outlier test showed that none of the 6 inhalation injury SNPs that had significant causal relationships with IL-20, IL-20RA, IL-5, and TNFRSF9 had significant horizontal pleiotropy (with intercepts of 0.01, <0.01, -0.02, and -0.03, respectively, RSSobs values of 3.33, 9.00, 7.88, and 7.26, respectively, P>0.05); the leave-one-out method analysis showed that the significant causal relationship between inhalation injury and IL-20, IL-20RA, IL-5, and TNFRSF9 was stable and reliable after removing the 6 inhalation injury SNPs one by one. Conclusions:Through two-sample MR analysis, it is clear that there is a significant causal relationship between inhalation injury and four circulating inflammatory proteins, namely IL-20, IL-20RA, IL-5, and TNFRSF9, suggesting the production of the above four circulating inflammatory proteins is in an increasing trend following inhalation injury.

Nutritional therapy plays an important role in the treatment of severe burns. With the deepening understanding of metabolic patterns and body responses after severe burns, the concepts and measures of nutritional therapy are also constantly developing and improving. Permissive hypocaloric nutrition is a nutritional management approach for critically ill patients, which generally refers to a nutritional administration method in which energy intake is lower than 70% of caloric requirement. This article aims to review the metabolic characteristics after severe burns, as well as the implementation timing, duration, target calories, and nutritional content of permissive hypocaloric nutrition, in order to provide reference for clinical decision-making by clinical physicians, improve the efficacy of nutritional treatment for severe burn patients, and improve patients' prognosis.

In acute or chronic lung diseases, inappropriate immune response and abnormal repair process can lead to irreversible damage to lung tissue, which in turn leads to decreased lung function and even respiratory failure or death. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and their derivatives have shown wide application prospects in cell therapy and acellular therapy of lung diseases and are entering the clinical transformation stage because of their unique physiological functions and characteristics, but the safety and efficacy of MSCs and their derivatives are still controversial. Nebulization therapy provides new opportunities and challenges for the innovative treatment of MSCs and their derivatives in lung diseases. In a number of preclinical studies and clinical trials, there have been evidence that atomization therapy of MSCs and their derivatives is safe and effective. This method could be an optimal solution for the treatment of various complex lung diseases. However, extensive research should be carried out on various strategies and their compatibility with different nebulizers before this method can be used in clinical setting. In this paper, we review the research progress of MSCs and their derivatives by nebulization in the treatment of pulmonary diseases.

A 35-year-old male patient was admitted in October, 2018 to Burn and Plastic Surgery Department, Sanya Central Hospital (Hainan Third People’s Hospital) with diagnosis of complex pressure ulcer, hip arthritis, urethral fistula. The patient was treated with systemic support, debridement, negative pressure drainage, bilateral gluteus maximus myocutaneous flap and scrotal flap. After the two-week treatment with this method, the wounds were healed completely.

A 35-year-old male patient was admitted in October, 2018 to Burn and Plastic Surgery Department, Sanya Central Hospital (Hainan Third People’s Hospital) with diagnosis of complex pressure ulcer, hip arthritis, urethral fistula. The patient was treated with systemic support, debridement, negative pressure drainage, bilateral gluteus maximus myocutaneous flap and scrotal flap. After the two-week treatment with this method, the wounds were healed completely.

The incidence and clinical manifestations of scars and keloids are different in different races, and Asians are more likely to suffer from this disease than Caucasians. China and Japan are the representative countries for medical development in Asia. There is no comprehensive study on the similarities and differences between the academic circles in the two countries in the diagnosis and treatment of scars and keloids. By comparing and analyzing the latest expert consensus in the field of scars and keloids between the two countries, we found that the organization form of expert team and main contents of the consensus from the two countries are basically similar. However, there are obvious differences in the composition of experts, logical thinking and organizational form of consensus contents, and details of the specific schemes for scar assessment, diagnosis, and treatment. The differences in the diagnosis and treatment of scars and keloids in China and Japan may indicate the direction of future cooperative research. It is necessary for the academic circles of China and Japan to strengthen academic exchanges and work hard to cooperate in high-quality research in the field of scars and keloids.

Objective:To explore the epidemiological characteristics and treatment outcomes of patients with inhalation injuries combined with total burn area less than 30% total body surface area (TBSA).Methods:A retrospective observational study was performed on medical records of 266 patients with inhalation injuries combined with total burn area less than 30%TBSA who were admitted to the First Affiliated Hospital of Naval Medical University from January 2008 to December 2016 and met the inclusion criteria. The following statistical data of the patients were collected, including gender, age, injury site, injurious factors of inhalation injury, degree of inhalation injury, combined total burn area, tracheotomy, time of tracheotomy, mechanical ventilation, whether stayed in intensive care unit (ICU) or not, microbial culture results of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, length of hospital stay, length of ICU stay, mechanical ventilation days, and respiratory tract infections. Single factor and multivariate linear regression analysis were used to screen out the risk factors impacting the length of hospital stay, length of ICU stay, and mechanical ventilation days of patients. Single factor and multivariate logistic regression analysis were used to screen out the risk factors impacting respiratory tract infections of patients.Results:The 266 patients included 190 males and 76 females, with the majority age of above or equal to 21 years and below 65 years (217 patients). The major injury site was confined space. The major factor causing inhalation injury was hot air. Mild and moderate inhalation injuries were more common in patients. The combined total burn area was 9.00% (3.25%, 18.00%) TBSA. In 111 patients who had tracheotomy, most of them received the procedures before being admitted to the First Affiliated Hospital of Naval Medical University. The length of hospital stay of patients was 27 (10, 55) days. The length of ICU stay of 160 patients who were hospitalized in ICU was 15.5 (6.0, 40.0) days. The mechanical ventilation days of 109 patients who were conducted with mechanical ventilation were 6.0 (1.3, 11.5) days. A total of 119 patients were diagnosed with respiratory tract infections, with 548 strains including 35 types of pathogens isolated, mainly Gram-negative bacteria. Single factor linear regression analysis showed that age, injurious factors of inhalation injury, combined total burn area, degree of inhalation injury (moderate and severe), tracheotomy, mechanical ventilation, and respiratory tract infections were the factors impacting the length of hospital stay of patients ( β=-0.198, -0.224, 0.021, 0.127, 0.164, -0.298, 0.357, 0.447, 95% confidence interval (CI)=-0.397--0.001, -0.395--0.053, 0.015-0.028, 0.009-0.263, 0.008-0.319, -0.419--0.176, 0.242-0.471, 0.340-0.555, P<0.1). Multivariate linear regression analysis showed that with mechanical ventilation and respiratory tract infections were the independent risk factors impacting the length of hospital stay of patients ( β=0.146, 0.383, 95% CI=0.022-0.271, 0.261-0.506, P<0.05 or P<0.01). Single factor linear regression analysis showed that injurious factors of inhalation injury, combined total burn area, degree of inhalation injury (moderate and severe), tracheotomy (no tracheotomy and prophylactic tracheotomy), mechanical ventilation, and respiratory tract infections were the factors impacting the length of ICU stay of patients ( β=0.225, 0.008, 0.237, 0.203, -0.408, -0.334, 0.309, 0.523, 95% CI=0.053-0.502, 0.006-0.010, -0.018-0.457, -0.022-0.428, -0.575--0.241, -0.687--0.018, 0.132-0.486, 0.369-0.678, P<0.1). Multivariate linear regression analysis showed that with respiratory tract infections was the independent risk factor impacting the length of ICU stay of patients ( β=0.440, 95% CI=0.278-0.601, P<0.01). Single factor linear regression analysis showed that injury site, injurious factors of inhalation injury (smoke and chemical gas), combined total burn area, degree of inhalation injury (moderate and severe), tracheotomy (no tracheotomy and prophylactic tracheotomy), and respiratory tract infections were the factors impacting mechanical ventilation days of patients ( β=-0.300, 0.545, 0.163, 0.005, 0.487, 0.799, -0.791, -0.736, 0.300, 95% CI=-0.565--0.034, 0.145-0.946, 0.051-1.188, 0.001-0.009, 0.127-0.847, 0.436-1.162, -1.075--0.508, -1.243--0.229, 0.005-0.605, P<0.1). Multivariate linear regression analysis showed that smoke inhalation, severe inhalation injury, and respiratory tract infections were the independent risk factors impacting mechanical ventilation days of patients ( β=0.210, 0.495, 0.263, 95% CI=0.138-0.560, 0.143-0.848, 0.007-0.519, P<0.05 or P<0.01). Single factor logistic regression analysis showed that age, injury site, combined total burn area (10%-19%TBSA and 20%-29%TBSA), degree of inhalation injury (moderate and severe), tracheotomy (prophylactic tracheotomy and no tracheotomy), and mechanical ventilation were the factors impacting respiratory tract infections of patients (odds ratio=1.079, 0.815, 1.400, 1.331, 1.803, 1.958, 0.990, 0.320, 3.094, 95% CI=0.840-1.362, 0.641-1.044, 1.122-1.526, 1.028-1.661, 1.344-2.405, 1.460-2.612, 0.744-1.320, 0.241-0.424, 2.331-4.090, P<0.1). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that with mechanical ventilation was the independent risk factor impacting respiratory tract infections of patients (odds ratio=4.300, 95% CI=2.152-8.624, P<0.01). Conclusions:The patients with inhalation injuries combined with total burn area less than 30%TBSA are mainly young and middle-aged males. Smoke inhalation, degree of inhalation injury, with mechanical ventilation and respiratory tract infections are the factors that affect the outcomes of patients with inhalation injuries combined with total burn area less than 30%TBSA. Additionally, prophylactic tracheotomy shows its potential value in reducing respiratory tract infections in patients with moderate or severe inhalation injuries.

Objective:To evaluate the efficacy and safety of cell sheets containing allogeneic keratinocytes and fibroblasts in the treatment of partial-thickness burn wounds.Methods:The cell sheets containing allogeneic keratinocytes and fibroblasts were constructed using polyurethane biofilm as carrier. Then gross observation and histological observation were conducted. From April 2016 to December 2017, Changhai Hospital of Naval Medical University recruited patients with acute partial-thickness burn wounds that met the inclusion criteria for this prospective and positively self-controlled clinical trial. Recruitment of 40 acute partial-thickness burn wounds were planned with each selected single wound being not smaller than 10 cm×10 cm and not more than 5% total body surface area (TBSA). Each wound was equally divided into two areas, which were recruited into cell sheet group and conventional treatment group according to the random number table. The wounds in cell sheet group were covered by cell sheet and then sterile gauze as secondary dressings. Depending on the wound healing and exudation, the sterile gauze was replaced every 1 to 3 day (s) after the treatment was started, and the cell sheet was replaced every 7 days (namely dressing changing). The wounds in conventional treatment group were covered by sulfadiazine silver cream gauze and then dressed with sterile gauze, with the dressings changed every 2 to 3 days depending on wound exudation. On treatment day 5, 7, 10, and 14, the wound healing rates in the two groups were calculated. The complete wound healing time, the total number of dressing changes, and the status of wound infection during treatment were recorded. The Visual Analogue Scale was used to score the pain at the first dressing change. Scar formation of patients was followed up for 6 to 12 months after injury. Safety indicators including vital signs, laboratory examination indexes, and adverse reactions during treatment were observed. Data were statistically analysed with Wilcoxon rank sum test and Bonferroni correction.Results:(1) Each prepared cell sheet had a diameter of about 8 cm and was about 49 cm 2 in size, containing 2 or 3 layers of keratinocytes and fibroblasts. (2) A total of 43 patients were enrolled, of whom 3 patients dropped out of the study. Of the 40 patients who completed the treatment, there were 22 males and 18 females who were aged 1 to 57 year (s), with total burn area of 2% to 26% TBSA. (3) On treatment day 5, 7, 10, and 14, the wound healing rates in cell sheet group were significantly higher than those in conventional treatment group ( Z=4.205, 4.258, 3.495, 2.521, P<0.05 or P<0.01). The complete wound healing time in cell sheet group was 7 (6, 8) days, which was significantly shorter than 11 (7, 14) days in conventional treatment group ( Z=4.219, P<0.01). The total number of wound dressing changes in cell sheet group was 1 (1, 2) times, which was significantly less than 6 (4, 7) times in conventional treatment group ( Z=5.464, P<0.01). (4) The wounds in cell sheet group in 31 patients healed before the first dressing change. The pain score of wounds in the first dressing change in cell sheet group of 9 patients was 1 (0, 1) point, while the pain score of wounds in the first dressing change in conventional treatment group of 40 patients was 2 (1, 3) points. There was no obvious infection in the wounds in both groups of 40 patients before the wound healing. Nine patients completed the follow-up after the trial. In 6 patients, no scar formation was observed in cell sheet group or conventional treatment group. The color of wounds in cell sheet group was consistent with normal skin, and there was only a small amount of pigment deposition in the wounds of conventional treatment group. Three patients developed pigment deposition only in the wounds of cell sheet group but obvious scars in conventional treatment group. (5) The abnormal fluctuations of vital signs including body temperature, blood pressure, heart rate, respiratory rate, and laboratory examination indexes of all patients during treatment were alleviated through the process of burn wound healing. No obvious adverse reactions or abnormalities related to the treatment were observed. Conclusions:The cell sheet containing allogeneic keratinocytes and fibroblasts can reduce the number of dressing changes, accelerate wound epithelialization, shorten wound healing time, reduce pain during dressing change in the treatment of partial-thickness burn wounds, and it may reduce scar hyperplasia after wound healing because of accelerating wound epithelization. Its clinical application is simple, safe, and effective.

Since the outbreak and spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, Chinese government has taken various steps to protect people′s health. Medical workers across the country including medical and nursing staffs from burn departments have taken active actions and participated in the battles against COVID-19.