Characteristics of burn deaths from 2003 to 2009 in a burn center: A retrospective study

Mortality remains one of the most important end-point quality control parameters to evaluate a burn care system. We retrospectively reviewed the characteristics and multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS) patterns of burn deaths in our center from January 2003 to December 2009. The mortality rate during this time period was 2.3%. Fifty-six patients died, including 49 males and 7 females. The mean survival time was 28.45 ± 24.60 days. The burn percentage was (76.70 ± 26.86) % total burn surface area (TBSA), with (27.74 ± 24.95) % deep-partial thickness burns and (46.88 ± 33.84) % full-thickness burns. Inhalation injury was diagnosed in 36 (64.29%) patients. Patients who had undergone an operation, particularly in the first week post-burn, had a significantly longer survival time. An average of 5.50 ± 1.35 malfunctioning organs per patient and a mean sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) score of 13.91 ± 3.65 were observed. The most frequently malfunctioning organs were involved in the respiratory, hematologic, circulatory, and central nervous systems. Most of the organ damage occurred during the first week post-burn, followed by 4 weeks later, with relatively less organ damage observed in the third week. Among patients with a TBSA over 50%, non-survivors had larger burn sizes (particularly larger full-thickness burns) and a higher incidence of inhalation injury compared with survivors;nonsurvivors were also more likely to have microorganism-positive blood and sputum cultures. In conclusion, burn deaths are related to a higher burn percentage, inhalation injury, MODS, and infection. Early operation may help improve survival duration.

The progress of Chinese burn medicine from the Third Military Medical University—in memory of its pioneer,Professor Li Ao

Professor Li Ao was one of the founders of Chinese burn medicine and one of the most renowned doctors and researchers of burns in China. He established one of the Chinese earliest special departments for burns at Third Military Medical University (TMMU) in 1958. To memorialize Professor Li Ao on his 100th birthday in 2017 and introduce our extensive experience, it is our honor to briefly review the development and achievement of the Chinese burn medicine from TMMU. The epidemiology and outcomes of admitted burn patients since 1958 were reviewed. Furthermore, main achievements of basic and clinical research for the past roughly 60 years were presented. These achievements mainly included the Chinese Rule of Nine, fluid resuscitation protocol, experience in inhalation injury, wound treatment strategies, prevention and treatment of burn infections, nutrition therapy, organ support therapies, and rehabilitation. The progress shaped and enriched modern Chinese burn medicine and promoted the development of world burn medicine.

Mechanics analysis of thin-walled box continuous girder with variable cross-sections in considering effect of large deflection and shear lag

In order to study the mechanics behavior of a thin-walled box continuous girder with variable crosssections,using potential variation theories,considering the effect of shear lag of flange’s stress and the nonlinear geometry of vertical displacement,and evolving five generalized displacements with the spline function,the large deflection problem of the thin-walled box continuous girder with variable cross-section was transformed to a nonlinear algebraic equation,which was solved using the Newton-Raphon iterative method.The results of the calculation show that different shear lag warp functions to the cantilever,top and bottom plate should be taken to analyze the mechanics behavior of the thin-walled box continuous girder reliably.The thin-walled box continuous girder with variable cross-sections has more reasonable stress state and is more adaptable for the longitudinal change of internal forces than that with equal crosssections.The effect of large deflection on the stress and displacement of the thin-walled box continuous girder with variable cross-sections depends on the values of the load.