Background: Burn units are intensive care facilities specialized in the treatment of patients with severe burns. As burn injuries have a major impact in physical, psychosocial, and spiritual health, palliative care can be a strengthening component of integrated care. Aim: To review and appraise the existing evidence about the integration of palliative care in burn intensive care units with respect to (1) the concept, model and design and (2) the benefits and outcomes of this integration. Design: A systematic review was conducted following PRISMA guidelines. Protocol registered with PROSPERO (CRD42018111676). Data sources: Five electronic databases were searched (PubMed/NLM, Web of Science, MEDLINE/TR, Ovid, and CINAHL/EBSCO) until May 2019. A narrative synthesis of the findings was constructed. Hawker et al.’s tool was used for quality appraisal. Results: A total of 299 articles were identified, of which five were included for analysis involving a total of 7353 individuals. Findings suggest that there may be benefits from integrating palliative care in burn units, specifically in terms of patients’ comfort, decision-making processes, and family care. Multidisciplinary teams may experience lower levels of burden as result of integrating palliative care in burn units. Conclusion: This review reflects the challenging setting of burn intensive care units. Evidence from these articles suggests that the integration of palliative care in burn intensive care units improves patients’ comfort, decision-making process, and family care. Further research is needed to better understand how the integration of palliative care in burn intensive care units may be fostered and to identify the outcomes of this integration.

Objectives The aim of this article is to review and synthesize the evidence on end-of-life in burn intensive care units. Methods Systematic scoping review: Preferred Reporting Items for Systemic Reviews extension for Scoping Reviews was used as a reporting guideline. Searches were performed in 3 databases, with no time restriction and up to September 2021. Results A total of 16,287 documents were identified; 18 were selected for analysis and synthesis. Three key themes emerged: (i) characteristics of the end-of-life in burn intensive care units, including end-of-life decisions, decision-making processes, causes, and trajectories of death; (ii) symptom control at the end-of-life in burn intensive care units focusing on patients’ comfort; and (iii) concepts, models, and designs of the care provided to burned patients at the end-of-life, mainly care approaches, provision of care, and palliative care. Significance of results End-of-life care is a major step in the care provided to critically ill burned patients. Dying and death in burn intensive care units are often preceded by end-of-life decisions, namely forgoing treatment and do-not-attempt to resuscitate. Different dying trajectories were described, suggesting the possibility to develop further studies to identify triggers for palliative care referral. Symptom control was not described in detail. Palliative care was rarely involved in end-of-life care for these patients. This review highlights the need for early and high-quality palliative and end-of-life care in the trajectories of critically ill burned patients, leading to an improved perception of end-of-life in burn intensive care units. Further research is needed to study the best way to provide optimal end-of-life care and foster integrated palliative care in burn intensive care units.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a common chronic condition associated with genetic and environmental factors in which fat abnormally accumulates in the liver. NAFLD is epidemiologically associated with obesity, type 2 diabetes, and dyslipidemia. Environmental factors, such as physical inactivity and an unbalanced diet, interact with genetic factors, such as epigenetic mechanisms and polymorphisms for the genesis and development of the condition. Different genetic polymorphisms seem to be involved in this context, including variants in PNPLA3, TM6SF2, PEMT, and CHDH genes, playing a role in the disease’s susceptibility, development, and severity. From carbohydrate intake and weight loss to omega-3 supplementation and caloric restriction, different dietary and nutritional factors appear to be involved in controlling the onset and progression of NAFLD conditions influencing metabolism, gene, and protein expression. The polygenic risk score represents a sum of trait-associated alleles carried by an individual and seems to be associated with NAFLD outcomes depending on the dietary context. Understanding the exact extent to which lifestyle interventions and genetic predispositions can play a role in the prevention and management of NAFLD can be crucial for the establishment of a personalized and integrative approach to patients.