Effects of hydrolyzed collagen alone or in combination with fish oil on the gut microbiome in patients with major burns.

Burns are associated with gut dysbiosis. Collagen peptides and omega-3 fatty acids (FAs) are suggested to improve wound healing and the inflammatory response. These are also correlated with microbiome colonization. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the effect of hydrolyzed collagen alone or in combination with fish oil on specific species of the gut microbiome in patients with major burns. In this randomized double-blind clinical trial, 57 adults (aged 18-60 years) with 20-45% total body surface area burns were randomised into three groups to receive either 40 gr hydrolyzed collagen +10 ml sunflower oil, 40 g hydrolyzed collagen +10 ml fish oil or placebo, divided into two daily drinks, for two weeks. Gut bacteria were measured using the real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) method. The mean concentration of Bifidobacterium was significantly reduced in the control (P = 0.002) and collagen (P = 0.005) groups compared with the baseline values, whereas no significant change was observed in the collagen omega-3 group. The Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes ratio decreased significantly in the collagen group (p = 0.002) after supplementation compared to baseline . No significant changes in concentration of Lactobacillus, Enterobacteriaceae, and F.prausnitzii were observed between or within the study groups. Two weeks of supplementation with collagen and omega-3 FAs in patients with major burns did not result in a significant difference in the concentration of bacteria measured between the study groups. However, the addition of omega-3 FAs prevented a significant reduction in gut Bifidobacterium. Future studies are suggested to investigate the potential efficacy of these nutrients in improving the gut microbiota and clinical outcomes in major burns. REGISTRATION NUMBER: IRCT20131125015536N9.

Larval therapy vs conventional silver dressings for full-thickness burns: a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: This is the first clinical trial to investigate the effectiveness of maggot debridement therapy (MDT) for full-thickness burn injuries in comparison to conventional silver dressings. METHODS: Thirty-one cases with full-thickness (grade III based on ICD-10 classifications version 2019) burns were assigned into larval therapy (15 cases) and conventional treatment (16 cases) groups. Participants in the MDT group have received loose larvae on days 0, 2, 4, and 6, while controls received a conventional regimen comprised of sharp debridement, silver sulfadiazine, antibiotic therapy, and offloading every day. The primary and secondary outcomes were defined as the time to debridement (from admission to skin autograft) and time to healing (from admission to complete healing post-skin autograft). Patients in two groups were also compared in terms of necrosis resolution, granulation, and granulation/necrosis (g/n) ratio during study time periods. RESULTS: Participants who received larvae had significantly decreased necrosis on days 2 (p = 0.028) and 4 (p = 0.023) compared to those who received control treatment. Significant differences (p < 0.001) were also observed for granulation between the two groups in favor of MDT and the fold changes of g/n in the larvae group were 5, 15, and 13 times higher than that for the conventional regimen on days 2, 4, and 6 of treatment, respectively. Strikingly, a subgroup analysis of high necrotic burns (necrosis > 50%) revealed a significant improvement (p < 0.001) for MDT compared to the control treatment. There were also significant differences (p < 0.001) for the time to debridement and time to healing between the two groups. However, bacterial contamination did not show significant changes between the two treatment regimens. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings revealed that MDT has a favorable superiority over conventional regimen for the treatment of grade-III burns, and thus further clinical trials with larger sample size are warranted to confirm these results.

Effect of a collagen-enriched beverage with or without omega-3 fatty acids on wound healing, metabolic biomarkers, and adipokines in patients with major burns.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: This study investigated the effects of collagen hydrolysate and omega-3 fatty acids (FAs) on the rate and quality of wound healing, metabolic disorders, and adipose-derived peptides in patients with major burns. METHODS: In this randomized clinical trial, 66 patients with 20-45% deep partial or full-thickness burns were randomly assigned to three groups to receive either a beverage containing collagen (40 gr/d), collagen (40 gr/d) plus 3 gr/d omega-3 (ω-3) FAs, or placebo for four weeks. Wound healing rate, Vancouver scar scale (VSS), as well as baseline, weeks two and three serum concentrations of adiponectin, fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21), neuregulin 4 (NRG4), transforming growth factor (TGF)-ß1, and pre-albumin/hs-CRP ratio were assessed. RESULTS: The wound healing rate during the weeks post-burn (p = 0.006 and p = 0.01), and days of 95% (21.3 ± 6.8 and 22.9 ± 8.7 vs. 34.3 ± 14.8 days, p = 0.003 and p = 0.03) and complete (26 ± 7.7 and 27.4 ± 9.4 vs. 41.1 ± 16.6 days, p = 0.003 and p = 0.01) wound healing were significantly better with Collagen and Collagen. ω-3 compared to the placebo group. The VSS was significantly lower, indicated better scar status, in the both intervention groups compared to the placebo (p = 0.02 and p = 0.01). Wound healing outcomes were not statistically different between the Collagen and Collagen. ω-3 groups. Hs-CRP/pre-albumin ratio was significantly lower in the Collagen. ω-3 than the placebo group at week three (1.2 ± 1.9 vs. 4.8 ± 7.7 dl/l, p = 0.03). The significant decrease in serum adiponectin seen during the trial course within the placebo (10 ± 8.8 to 5.8 ± 4.9 mg/l, p = 0.03) and Collagen (11.8 ± 14 to 8.6 ± 11.7 mg/l, p = 0.03) groups was prevented in the Collagen. ω-3 group (p = 0.4). Circulating FGF21 decreased significantly within the Collagen (p = 0.005) and Collagen. ω-3 (p = 0.02) groups at the end of week three compared to the baseline. CONCLUSIONS: Adding collagen hydrolysate as part of adjunctive therapy improved wound healing rate and quality. These findings as well as the efficacy of omega-3 FAs need to be further confirmed in larger populations. This study was registered with the Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials (IRCT20090901002394N42).

Comparing Auditory and Visual Distractions for Reducing Pain Severity and Pain Anxiety in Older Outpatients with Burn: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Pain and anxiety are major issues among older patients with burn injuries. Complementary medicine and non-pharmacological methods can relieve pain and anxiety in older people, but comparison of the effects of these methods needs further research. This study aimed to compare the effects of auditory and visual distractions on pain severity and pain anxiety in older outpatients referred to a burn clinic for dressing change. In this randomized controlled clinical trial, older men were randomly assigned to three groups as auditory distraction, visual distraction, and control (n = 45 in each group). The Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and the Burn Specific Pain Anxiety Scale (BSPAS) were used to asses pain severity and pain anxiety before and immediately after the interventions, and after wound dressing. Reduction in pain severity and pain anxiety after visual distraction was reported. Auditory distraction only reduced pain anxiety. Therefore, visual distraction had a better effect on alleviating pain anxiety compared with auditory distraction. Visual distraction is suggested to be used during dressing changes for older outpatients with burn injuries in outpatient clinics in order to reduce their burn-related suffering and improve their collaboration with the therapeutic regimen.

Effect of low-level laser therapy on the healing process of donor site in patients with grade 3 burn ulcer after skin graft surgery (a randomized clinical trial).

Skin graft is a standard therapeutic technique in patients with deep ulcers, but managing donor site after grafting is very important. Although several modern dressings are available to enhance the comfort of donor site, using techniques that accelerate wound healing may enhance patient satisfaction. Low-level laser therapy (LLLT) has been used in several medical fields, including healing of diabetic, surgical, and pressure ulcers, but there is not any report of using this method for healing of donor site in burn patients. The protocols and informed consent were reviewed according to Medical Ethics Board of Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences (IR.SBMU.REC.1394.363) and Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials (IRCT2016020226069N2). Eighteen donor sites in 11 patients with grade 3 burn ulcer were selected. Donor areas were divided into 2 parts, for laser irradiation and control randomly. Laser area was irradiated by a red, 655-nm laser light, 150 mW, 2 J/cm2, on days 0 (immediately after surgery), 3, 5, and 7. Dressing and other therapeutic care for both sites were the same. The patients and the person who analyzed the results were blinded. The size of donor site reduced in both groups during the 7-day study period (P < 0.01) and this reduction was significantly greater in the laser group (P = 0.01). In the present study, for the first time, we evaluate the effects of LLLT on the healing process of donor site in burn patients. The results showed that local irradiation of red laser accelerates wound healing process significantly.

Effects of low level laser therapy on the prognosis of split-thickness skin graft in type 3 burn of diabetic patients: a case series.

Significant populations in burn centers are diabetic burn patients. Healing process in these patients is more difficult due to diabetes complications. The gold standard treatment for patients with grade 3 burn ulcer is split-thickness skin grafting (STSG), but in the diabetic patients, the rate of graft failure and amputation is high due to impaired tissue perfusion. The technique of low level laser therapy (LLLT) improves tissue perfusion and fibroblast proliferation, increases collagen synthesis, and accelerates wound healing. The purpose of this case report is introducing a new therapeutic method for accelerating healing with better prognosis in these patients. The protocols and informed consent were reviewed according to the Medical Ethics, Board of Shahid Beheshti Medical Sciences (IR.SBMU.RAM.REC.13940.363). Diabetic type 2 patients with 13 grade 3 burn ulcers, candidate for amputation, were enrolled in the study. We used a 650-nm red laser light, 2 J/Cm for the bed of the ulcer and an 810-nm infrared laser light 6 J/Cm(2) for the margins along with intravenous laser therapy with a 660-nm red light, before and after STSG for treating grade 3 burn ulcers in 13 diabetic ulcers. The results of this study showed complete healing in the last 8 weeks for all patients who were candidates for amputation. In this case series, we present 13 cases of diabetic ulcer with type 3 burn wound, candidate for amputation, who healed completely using LLLT and STSG. This is the first time that these two techniques are combined for treatment of burn ulcer in diabetic patients. Using LLLT with STSG might be a promising treatment for burn victims especially diabetic patients.