Shriners Hospitals for Children - Galveston

About: Shriners Hospitals for Children - Galveston is a healthcare organization based out in Galveston, Texas, United States. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Burn injury & Lean body mass. The organization has 249 authors who have published 420 publications receiving 15311 citations.

Leucine Supplementation Has an Anabolic Effect on Proteins in Rabbit Skin Wound and Muscle

Abstract: We investigated the effect of leucine supplementation on protein metabolism in skin wounds and muscle in anesthetized rabbits. l-[ring-(13)C(6)]phenylalanine was infused on d 7 after the ear was scalded, and the scalded ear and uninjured hindlimb were used as arteriovenous units to reflect protein kinetics in skin wounds and muscle. In comparison with a commercially available amino acid solution (10% Travasol), isonitrogenous [1638 micromol/(kg . h)] infusion of the amino acid solution with supplemental leucine to account for 35% of total nitrogen increased the net phenylalanine balance (P < 0.05) in the skin wound and muscle from -6.7 +/- 6.1 to 0.9 +/- 1.4 and from -4.4 +/- 2.4 to -1.0 +/- 0.4 micromol/(100 g . h), respectively. Infusion of leucine alone did not significantly improve the net phenylalanine balance in either skin wounds [-4.0 +/- 4.6 micromol/(100 g . h)] or muscle [-2.7 +/- 0.7 micromol/(100 g . h)]. We conclude that leucine supplementation had an anabolic effect on proteins in skin wounds and muscle, provided that adequate additional amino acids were also available.

The Use of Virtual Reality Facilitates Dialectical Behavior Therapy® "Observing Sounds and Visuals" Mindfulness Skills Training Exercises for a Latino Patient with Severe Burns: A Case Study.

Abstract: Sustaining a burn injury increases an individual's risk of developing psychological problems such as generalized anxiety, negative emotions, depression, acute stress disorder, or post-traumatic stress disorder. Despite the growing use of Dialectical Behavioral Therapy® (DBT®) by clinical psychologists, to date, there are no published studies using standard DBT® or DBT® skills learning for severe burn patients. The current study explored the feasibility and clinical potential of using Immersive Virtual Reality (VR) enhanced DBT® mindfulness skills training to reduce negative emotions and increase positive emotions of a patient with severe burn injuries. The participant was a hospitalized (in house) 21-year-old Spanish speaking Latino male patient being treated for a large (> 35% TBSA) severe flame burn injury. Methods: The patient looked into a pair of Oculus Rift DK2 virtual reality goggles to perceive the computer-generated virtual reality illusion of floating down a river, with rocks, boulders, trees, mountains and clouds, while listening to DBT® mindfulness training audios during 4 VR sessions over a one month period. Study measures were administered before and after each VR session. Results: As predicted, the patient reported increased positive emotions and decreased negative emotions. The patient also accepted the VR mindfulness treatment technique. He reported the sessions helped him become more comfortable with his emotions and he wanted to keep using mindfulness after returning home. Conclusions: Dialectical Behavioral Therapy is an empirically validated treatment approach that has proved effective with non-burn patient populations for treating many of the psychological problems experienced by severe burn patients. The current case study explored for the first time, the use of immersive virtual reality enhanced DBT® mindfulness skills training with a burn patient. The patient reported reductions in negative emotions and increases in positive emotions, after VR DBT® mindfulness skills training. Immersive Virtual Reality is becoming widely available to mainstream consumers, and thus has the potential to make this treatment available to a much wider number of patient populations, including severe burn patients. Additional development, and controlled studies are needed.

Lipid Metabolism in Diet-Induced Obese Rabbits Is Similar to That of Obese Humans

Abstract: Whereas diet-induced obese rabbits have been used to study various aspects of obesity, alterations of lipid metabolism in this model have not been clarified. This study aimed to compare plasma nonesterified fatty acid (NEFA) and triglyceride (TG) kinetics in obese and lean rabbits by means of U-(13)C16-palmitate infusion. Young female rabbits consumed either a high-fat diet (49% energy from fat) ad libitum to develop obesity (n = 6) or a normal diet (7.9% energy from fat) as lean control (n = 5). After 10 wk of feeding, the body weight of obese rabbits (5.33 +/- 0.05 kg) was greater (P < 0.001) than that of lean rabbits (3.89 +/- 0.07 kg). The obese rabbits had higher concentrations of plasma NEFA and TG and a greater rate of fatty acid (FA) turnover. Whereas the fractional secretion rates of hepatic TG did not differ, 100% of hepatic secretory TG was synthesized from plasma NEFA in the lean rabbits compared to 59% in the obese rabbits (P < 0.001). In the lean rabbits, hepatic lipase-mediated hydrolysis of lipoprotein TG did not contribute to the FA pool for synthesis of secretory TG, consistent with the naturally occurring deficit in hepatic lipase in this species. We conclude that lipid metabolism in diet-induced obese rabbits is similar to that in obese humans. The deficiency in hepatic lipase in rabbits simplifies the quantitation of hepatic lipid kinetics.