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Dermal substitutes have been introduced to improve the outcome of wound healing. Despite proven efficacy in trials, these skin constructs do not have a firm footing in treatment protocols. This survey aimed to gain insight into the international perspective on dermal substitutes. An open, voluntary and anonymous internet‐based international survey was conducted. Eligible to complete the survey were professionals involved in the surgical treatment of patients with wounds. Information was collected on participant demographics, appointed facilitators, barriers, indications and contraindications related to the use of dermal substitutes, as well as participants' perceptions on the current available evidence and treatment protocols. A total of 148 professionals from 30 countries completed the survey. The majority of participants were male (57%), with 60% being plastic surgeons. Eighty‐three percent of the professionals had experience in using dermal substitutes. The primary facilitators were 'increased scar elasticity' and 'reduction of contractures', while primary barriers included 'costs' and 'contamination risk'. Sixty‐two percent of the professionals acknowledged the efficacy of dermal substitutes; however, the majority emphasised the absence of clear indications and treatment protocols. This study emphasises the acknowledged efficacy of dermal substitutes while highlighting the need for clearer indications and treatment protocols. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Pooling and comparing data from the existing global network of burn registers represents a powerful, yet untapped, opportunity to improve burn prevention and care. There have been no studies investigating whether registers are sufficiently similar to allow data comparisons. It is also not known what differences exist that could bias analyses. Understanding this information is essential prior to any future data sharing. The aim of this project was to compare the variables collected in countrywide and intercountry burn registers to understand their similarities and differences., Methods: Register custodians were invited to participate and share their data dictionaries. Inclusion and exclusion criteria were compared to understand each register population. Descriptive statistics were calculated for the number of unique variables. Variables were classified into themes. Definition, method, timing of measurement, and response options were compared for a sample of register concepts., Results: 13 burn registries participated in the study. Inclusion criteria varied between registers. Median number of variables per register was 94 (range 28 - 890), of which 24% (range 4.8 - 100%) were required to be collected. Six themes (patient information, admission details, injury, inpatient, outpatient, other) and 41 subthemes were identified. Register concepts of age and timing of injury show similarities in data collection. Intent, mechanism, inhalational injury, infection, and patient death show greater variation in measurement., Conclusions: We found some commonalities between registers and some differences. Commonalities would assist in any future efforts to pool and compare data between registers. Differences between registers could introduce selection and measurement bias, which needs to be addressed in any strategy aiming to facilitate burn register data sharing. We recommend the development of common data elements used in an international minimum data set for burn injuries, including standard definitions and methods of measurement, as the next step in achieving burn register data sharing., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest All authors, with the exception of AY, have completed an International Committee of Medical Journal Editors disclosure of interest form at www.icmje.org/disclosure-of-interest/. EB, JM, MB, RLB, LD, ME, YI, LP, NZ, and YS do not have any interests to declare. NB declares financial payments from Central Ohio Trauma Services as an ATLS instructor, Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals as a speaker, Vericel Corporation as an instructor, and Carpenter Lipps and Leland for expert testimony. NB receives a stipend from The Ohio State University for travel and meetings. NB is a board member of the Trauma Intervention Program and Epic Trauma steering board, both of which are unpaid positions. KM declares that the contents of this manuscript relating to the Burn Model System were developed under a grant from the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR grant number 90DPGE0004). NIDILRR is a Center within the Administration for Community Living (ACL), Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The contents of this manuscript do not necessarily represent the policy of NIDILRR, ACL, HHS, and you should not assume endorsement by the Federal Government. OCT is the lead of the German Burn Registry and member of the steering committee of the German Society for Burn Treatment. LMT is a Representative on the Burns Registry of Australia and New Zealand steering committee, and representative on the Australian and New Zealand Burn Association board. KD is the medical director of the International Burn Injury Database. As part of this role, he is the co-chair of the Burn Care Informatics Group. This is a part time role funded by the NHS., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

The biomarker cortisol assesses the impact of biopsychosocial stressors that activate the stress response system. Hair has emerged as a valid and non-invasive means of gauging cumulative cortisol deposited over month-long periods of time. Established protocols for the extraction of hair cortisol are being validated and refined in humans, yet methodological information about hair characteristics on cortisol remains limited. In addition to external hair exposures (e.g. dye, time spent outside), we examined hair categorization or type (e.g. kinky, straight) by extending a hair typing methodology for scientific use that is currently popular among hair care professionals. We then examined the interaction between hair type and race on cortisol levels with a hair questionnaire. Three studies were pooled to investigate how sample weight, hair type, race, heat exposures, and hair treatments impacted cumulative hair cortisol concentrations. Study 1 consisted of Adult Kenyan Medical Workers (N = 44); Study 2 Mexican and Mexican Americans (N = 106); and Study 3 American Youth (N = 107). We found significantly higher cortisol in 5 mg of hair when compared to larger sample weights, and higher cortisol in those who spent more time outdoors. Cortisol concentrations differed between racial groups and varied by hair type; moreover, there were directional differences in cumulative cortisol from straighter to curlier hair types which depended on racial group. In addition to demonstrating the impact of relatively novel control factors like hair sample weight, outdoor exposure, and hair type, the present study illustrates the importance of disentangling hair type and race to understand variability in cumulative hair cortisol. These influences should be included in future studies that measure hair cortisol., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Research Question: Does maternal preconception insulin resistance affect neonatal birth weight among women with obesity? Is insulin resistance associated with circulating bile acids? Do bile acids influence the association between maternal preconception insulin resistance and neonatal birth weight?, Design: An exploratory post-hoc analysis of the LIFEstyle randomized controlled trial comparing lifestyle intervention with conventional infertility treatment in women with a BMI of ≥29 kg/m 2 . Fasting blood samples were collected at randomization and after 3 and 6 months in 469 women. Insulin resistance was quantified using the homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR). Bile acid sub-species were determined by liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry. Singletons were included (n = 238). Birth weight Z-scores were adjusted for age, offspring gender and parity. Multilevel analysis and linear regressions were used., Results: A total of 913 pairs of simultaneous preconception HOMA-IR (median [Q25; Q75]: 2.96 [2.07; 4.16]) and total bile acid measurements (1.79 [1.10; 2.94]) µmol/l were taken. Preconception HOMA-IR was positively associated with total bile acids (adjusted B 0.15; 95% CI 0.09 to 0.22; P < 0.001) and all bile acid sub-species. At the last measurement before pregnancy, HOMA-IR (2.71 [1.91; 3.74]) was positively related to birth weight Z-score (mean ± SD 0.4 ± 1.1; adjusted B 0.08; 95% CI 0.01 to 0.14; P = 0.03). None of the preconception bile acids measured were associated with birth weight., Conclusion: Maternal preconception insulin resistance is an important determinant of neonatal birth weight in women with obesity, whereas preconception bile acids are not., (Copyright © 2021 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

We aimed to study whether lifestyle intervention could reduce systemic oxidative stress (OS) and the association between OS and cardiometabolic outcomes in women with obesity and infertility. From 2009 to 2012, infertile women with a BMI ≥ 29 kg/m 2 were randomly assigned to a six-month lifestyle intervention followed by infertility treatment ( N = 289) or to prompt infertility treatment ( N = 285). Fasting serum free thiols (FT) concentrations were determined by colorimetry at baseline, at three and six months after randomization. Generalized estimating equations and restricted cubic spline regressions were used to estimate mean differences in serum FT levels between groups and to explore associations between serum FT levels and cardiometabolic outcomes. Baseline serum FT levels did not differ between the two groups ( N = 203 in the intervention group vs N = 226 in the control group, 222.1 ± 48.0 µM vs 229.9 ± 47.8 µM, p = 0.09). Body weight decreased by 3.70 kg in the intervention group compared with the control group at six months (95% confidence interval [CI]: -7.61 to 0.21, p = 0.06). No differences in serum FT levels were observed between groups at either three months ( N = 142 vs N = 150, mean differences: -1.03 µM, 95% CI: -8.37 to 6.32, p = 0.78) or six months ( N = 104 vs N = 96, mean differences: 2.19 µM, 95% CI: -5.90 to 10.28, p = 0.60). In a pooled analysis of all available measurements, triglycerides (crude B: 5.29, 95% CI: 1.08 to 9.50, p = 0.01), insulin (crude B: 0.62, 95% CI: 0.26 to 0.98, p = 0.001), and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (crude B: 2.50, 95% CI: 1.16 to 3.38, p < 0.001) were positively associated with serum FT levels. High-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) was negatively associated with serum FT levels (crude B: -0.60, 95% CI: -1.11 to -0.10, p = 0.02). The change in hs-CRP during the lifestyle intervention was strongly and inversely associated with serum FT levels (crude B: -0.41, 95% CI: -0.70 to -0.13, p = 0.005). No significant deviations from linear associations were observed between serum FT and hs-CRP. We do not observe an improvement in systemic OS in women with obesity and infertility with modest weight loss. There were potential associations between OS and biomarkers of cardiometabolic health. Trial registration: This trial was registered on 16 November 2008 at the Dutch trial register (NTR1530).