Zofia Górecka

Background: Donor-site morbidity after split-thickness skin graft (STSG) harvest remains a significant clinical concern, with pain representing one of the most burdensome early postoperative symptoms. Electrospun nanofiber matrices have emerged as a promising wound management strategy, yet clinical evidence supporting their use in STSG donor sites remains limited. We evaluated the clinical performance of a nanofiber matrix for donor-site management after STSG harvest. Methods: This single-center randomized comparative study enrolled 40 adult patients undergoing STSG harvest into either the nanofiber matrix group (n=20) or the conventional dressing group with chlorhexidine paraffin gauze and povidone-iodine gauze (n=20). Pain intensity was measured on a 0– 10 scale on postoperative days 1, 2, 5, and 14. Secondary outcomes included donor-site healing time, pruritus during healing, late scar hyperpigmentation, scar elevation, late pruritus, and local or systemic signs of infection. Results: Compared with conventional management, the nanofiber matrix significantly reduced donor-site pain on postoperative day 1 (p< 0.001), day 2 (p< 0.001), and day 5 (p=0.015), but not on day 14 (p=0.36). The nanofiber group also healed faster than the control group (15.05± 2.34 vs 18.15± 4.38 days; p=0.045). Pruritus during healing did not differ significantly between groups (p=0.97). At late follow-up, we found no significant between-group differences in hyperpigmentation (p=0.11), scar elevation (p=0.051), or late pruritus (p=1.0). Mild exudate occurred in 3 patients in the nanofiber group, without a significant between-group difference (p=0.12), and we identified no other infection-related complications. Conclusion: Nanofiber matrix dressing reduced early postoperative pain and shortened healing time at STSG donor sites compared with conventional dressing, while late scar outcomes and short-term safety remained comparable between groups. These findings support the potential of nanofiber-based donor-site management as a clinically relevant translational application of electrospinning technology.

Background: Burns in children represent a significant public health issue, as there is no single targeted dressing for the treatment of burn wounds in children. The alloplastic epidermal skin substitute is the dressing of choice for treating burns in children in our burn center. However, it sometimes occurs that the dressing separates from the wound too early, before the process of full re-epithelialization. The inflammatory phase of wound healing seems to be crucial for maintaining the adhesion of the dressing, and thus, changes in parameters such as leukocyte levels and protein changes are of clinical significance. The aim of our study is to find laboratory factors that could contribute to premature dressing separation. Methods: The documentation of 182 children treated for acute burns at a major Polish burn center in the years 2009–2023 was analyzed. A demographic analysis was performed to collect information. The group was split into the following two categories based on the condition of the dressing: “attached to the wound” and “detached from the wound”. Laboratory tests were collected on admission and with control tests 3–5 days after injury. Results: The results indicate that only a few of the parameters studied showed a statistically significant difference between the groups of patients in whom the dressing did or did not attach. The most pronounced relationship was found for the pre-treatment leukocyte level (leuk1). Statistical significance was also demonstrated for hemoglobin levels and changes in protein (protein_diff) and also glucose levels (glucose_diff). Conclusions: Our study shows that there are blood parameters (leukocyte, protein, and glucose levels) that influence the adhesion of the dressing. Unfortunately, there are no other studies on this topic in the literature, so it seems very important to expand research in this direction.

There is an increase in the number of obese patients in burn units. Obesity is strongly associated with metabolic syndrome and chronic diseases, including cardiovascular and gastrointestinal disorders and diabetes. However, there is evidence that moderate obesity and overweight have a potentially protective effect on mortality among severely burned patients. The “obesity paradox” may result from the protective effect of adipose tissue due to its thermal conductivity and the regenerative potential resulting from the presence of mesenchymal stem cells in the subcutaneous tissue. This review aims to summarize available data showing correlation between Body Mass Index (BMI; kg/m2) and clinical outcome of the treatment of burns, including its impact on mortality. We pointed out direction of further research that should be conducted to more precisely examine the relationship between weight and course of treatment of burn patients. A systemic search was conducted of the relevant literature up to and including July 2024 – using database PubMed. The presented articles confirm the J-shaped and U-shaped correlation between BMI and mortality in burn patients. Being overweight or moderately obese proved to be protective compared to having a normal BMI or more severe obesity. Obesity is undoubtedly associated with several adverse health effects and requires additional challenges for health care in the process of treating its undesirable effects. However, the presented articles prove that overweight and obesity can have a protective effect on patients with severe burns. Słowa kluczowe: obesity, body mass index, burns, mortality

Background: Children make up a large percentage of those affected by burns worldwide, with most of them suffering from severe injuries that necessitate skilled medical attention. Despite medical progress, there is still no ideal dressing for the treatment of burn wounds in children. The aim of the study was to assess the impact of epidermal substitutes in the treatment of burn wounds in children. Materials and Methods: This retrospective study evaluates the use of three dressings in the treatment of pediatric burns at a major Polish burn center. A patient database was used to identify children who received treatment with silver dressings, paraffin dressings or epidermal substitutes from 2009 to 2023. A demographic analysis was performed to collect the following information: causes of burns, procedural details and patient outcomes. Results: There were 439 patients aged between 1 month and 18 years. For severe burns, the number of interventions was lowest among children with epidermal substitute application (p = 0.039). Paraffin gauze resulted in the greatest number of skin grafts, whereas alloplastic replacement produced the least amount of transplantation (p < 0.005) regardless of the severity of the burn. Conclusions: Epidermal substitutes offer a good dressing option for burn wounds to improve their treatment and reduce the need for skin graft coverage. In the future, extended comparative or randomized trials are needed to confirm our results.

Introduction and objective: Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death worldwide, highlighting the need for analyzing the effect of various factors on their development and progression. The role of coffee – one of the world’s most popular beverages – in shaping the risk of...

Background: Non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is one of the most frequently diagnosed diseases among all types of lung cancer. Infectious diseases contribute to morbidity and mortality by delaying appropriate anti-cancer therapy in patients with NSCLC. Methods: The study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of vaccination with the 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13) in 288 newly diagnosed NSCLC patients. The analysis of the post-vaccination response was performed after vaccination by assessing the frequency of plasmablasts via flow cytometry and by assessing the concentration of specific anti-pneumococcal antibodies using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Results: The results of the study showed that NSCLC patients responded to the vaccine with an increase in the frequencies of plasmablasts and antibodies but to a lesser extent than healthy controls. The immune system response to PCV13 vaccination was better in patients with lower-stage NSCLC. We found higher antibody levels after vaccination in NSCLC patients who survived 5 years of follow-up. Conclusions: We hope that our research will contribute to increasing patients′ and physicians′ awareness of the importance of including PCV13 vaccinations in the standard of oncological care, which will extend the survival time of patients and improve their quality of life.

Introduction and objective: Proper diet is a crucial factor in maintaining human health. Fats are among the essential nutrients in the diet, and 90% of dietary energy from fats should come from unsaturated fats. Omega-3 fatty acids, which are polyunsaturated fatty acids, are believed to play a...