Progress in Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapies.

Hematological malignancies are considered to be one of the most important causes of mortality and morbidity in the modern world [...].

Treatment of Anaemia in Patients with Acute Burn Injury: A Study of Blood Transfusion Practices.

Objective: To determine blood transfusion practices, risk factors, and outcomes associated with the use of blood products in the setting of the acute management of burn patients at the Victorian Adult Burn Service. Background: Patients with burn injuries have variable transfusion requirements, based on a multitude of factors. We reviewed all acute admissions to the Victorian Adult Burns Service (VABS) between 2011 and 2017: 1636 patients in total, of whom 948 had surgery and were the focus of our analysis. Method and results: Patient demographics, surgical management, transfusion details, and outcome parameters were collected and analyzed. A total of 175 patients out of the 948 who had surgery also had a blood transfusion, while 52% of transfusions occurred in the perioperative period. The median trigger haemoglobin in perioperative was 80mg/dL (IQR = 76-84.9 mg/dL), and in the non-perioperative setting was 77 mg/dL (IQR = 71.61-80.84 mg/dL). Age, gender, % total body surface area (TBSA) burn, number of surgeries, and intensive care unit and hospital length of stay were associated with transfusion. Conclusions: The use of blood transfusions is an essential component of the surgical management of major burns. As observed in our study, half of these transfusions are related to surgical procedures and may be influenced by the employment of blood conserving strategies. Furthermore, transfusion trigger levels in stable patients may be amenable to review and reduction. Risk adjusted analysis can support the implementation of blood transfusion as a useful quality indicator in burn care.

Improved experimental burn model on rabbits.

OBJECTIVE: The goal of our study was to find an easy and suitable skin burn model for rabbits, to identify the temperature and contact time to reach a deep 2nd degree burn, and to find the best wound dressing fixation method. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We used New Zealand male rabbits as experimental models. On a pilot study, with a copper device heated to temperatures between 43-48 Celsius degrees, the burn was inflicted using contact timesof 3, 4, 5, and 7 seconds. The burn depth was evaluated histological. Twenty-four rabbits were used to evaluate four dressing fixation methods: regular dressing with retention bandages; skin stapler; collars and body resin cast. RESULTS: A 2nd degree deep burn was obtained at 43 degrees for 4 seconds. The retention elastic bandages were removed within hours and the skin staplers were removed with teeth leaving wounds on the skin. The collars were more successful but produced superficial neck lesions. The body resin casts were the most successful. CONCLUSIONS: The best contention method was the bpdy resin cast.

Ear keloids: a review and update of treatment options.

Ear keloids are among the most challenging plastic surgery conditions and may have significant psychosocial impact for the patient. Their aesthetic considerations are serious and despite a variety of treatment options, they often proved to be recurrent. This paper reviews the management options of ear keloids available in literature up to date. Multiple therapeutic options are discussed, such as: surgical treatment, corticosteroid injections, laser therapy, cryotherapy, radiotherapy, pressure therapy, therapy with antitumor or immunosuppressive agents.