(1) Background: Burn injuries in children present a significant public health concern due to their potential for severe physical and psychological impact. (2) Methods: This study investigates the determinants of pediatric burn severity by analyzing the interplay of demographic and environmental factors. Through a retrospective analysis of pediatric burn cases over five years, encompassing patient demographics, burn causative agents, and clinical outcomes, this research aims to identify significant predictors of burn severity. (3) Results: This study presents a comprehensive analysis of pediatric burn injuries, focusing on the severity, clinical outcomes, and multifactorial aspects influencing recovery. We reviewed 1498 pediatric burn cases from January 2015 to December 2020. The mean age of patients was 5.8 years, with a slight male predominance (54%). Scalds (45%), flame burns (30%), and contact burns (15%) were the most common burn types. Our findings indicate significant differences in burn severity based on TBSA, with 32.5% of cases having TBSA greater than 20%. Multivariate logistic regression identified rural residence, male gender, flame burns, and lower socioeconomic status as significant predictors of severe burn outcomes. The overall mortality rate was 2.5%, with higher rates among patients with TBSA greater than 40%. These results highlight the need for targeted prevention strategies and improved access to specialized burn care. (4) Conclusions: Understanding these factors can inform targeted prevention strategies and improve treatment protocols.

Micronutrients and nutraceuticals play crucial roles in wound healing and tissue regeneration, supporting various physiological processes. This review aims to synthesize and evaluate the functions of various micronutrients and nutraceuticals, emphasizing the synergistic interactions among different nutrients that facilitate wound healing processes. A thorough literature review was performed using electronic databases, including PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Embase, Google Scholar, and Cochrane Library, to identify molecular studies, animal models, randomized controlled trials, and observational human studies published up to January 2000. Two independent reviewers screened the articles, extracted data, and evaluated the Risk of Bias using the Risk of Bias 2 (RoB 2) tool for the 190 studies that met the inclusion criteria. Evidence suggests that bioactive compounds found in functional foods and dietary supplements can help prevent chronic conditions and promote wellness beyond basic nutrition. Vitamins A, C, and E, as well as minerals such as zinc, selenium, and iron, are essential for cell proliferation and the formation of new tissues. Additionally, nutraceuticals, including omega-3 fatty acids, glutamine, arginine, and polyphenols, exhibit anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, which promote healing and reduce the risk of infection. Probiotics and other bioactive compounds in nutraceuticals contribute to maintaining the balance of microbiota, reducing inflammation, and stimulating cell regeneration. Significant variability was noted in study design, sample size, intervention dosage, and outcome measures. This evidence underscores the necessity for further well-designed clinical trials to determine the optimal dosages and combinations for specific wound types across diverse patient populations. This systematic review was prospectively registered in PROSPERO (ID: 1072091).

Skin aging is a complex biological process influenced by intrinsic factorssuch as genetic predispositions and hormonal changes as well as extrinsic factors including ultraviolet radiation, environmental pollution, and lifestyle habits. This process culminates in a progressive decline in the structural and functional integrity of the skin. This review delves into the protective roles of carotenoids, highlighting their significant anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory, and photoprotective properties. We included studies that investigated the effects of dietary or topical carotenoids on skin aging markers in human and animal models. Eligible studies were identified through searches of PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Embase, Google Scholar, and the Cochrane Library from January 2000 to March 2025. Risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane RoB tool for randomized trials and animal studies. A total of 176 studies were included, and data were synthesized narratively due to heterogeneity in study designs and outcomes. The findings indicate that carotenoids mitigate oxidative stress-induced cellular damage by scavenging reactive oxygen species (ROS) and Reactive Nitrogen Species (RNS), attenuating chronic inflammation, and enhancing dermal matrix integrity via collagen biosynthesis and modulation of matrix metalloproteinases. Additionally, they support skin hydration and elasticity by indirectly regulating aquaporins and promoting hyaluronic acid synthesis. This review further explores emerging strategies that incorporate carotenoid supplementation in lifestyle medicine and preventive dermatology. By elucidating the cellular pathways through which carotenoids exert their effects and modulate mitochondrial function, this review highlights their translational potential in anti-aging skincare. Ongoing research is essential to comprehend the complex connections between carotenoids, skin physiology, and overall health. This understanding will ultimately facilitate the creation of personalized nutritional and dermocosmetic strategies.

Phantom limb pain (PLP) is a frequent and often persistent consequence of limb amputation, characterized by pain perceived in the absent limb. Despite decades of research, its biological basis remains incompletely understood, and available treatments often provide inconsistent relief. This reflects the complex and heterogeneous nature of phantom limb pain, which cannot be explained by a single anatomical site or pathological process. Current evidence suggests that phantom limb pain emerges from the interaction of changes occurring at multiple levels of the nervous system. Peripheral nerve injury associated with amputation induces molecular and cellular alterations that may influence early nociceptive signaling. These changes can interact with adaptive and maladaptive responses within the spinal cord, including altered synaptic transmission and neuron–glia interactions, which may facilitate sustained amplification of pain-related signals. At supraspinal levels, long-term adaptations within distributed neural networks involved in sensory, motor, and affective processing may contribute to the persistence of pain perceptions in the absence of ongoing peripheral input. Immune-related signaling and long-term regulation of gene expression further modulate these processes and may contribute to inter-individual variability. In this narrative review, we synthesize current experimental and clinical evidence addressing the molecular and cellular processes associated with phantom limb pain following lower limb amputation. Findings are integrated across peripheral, spinal, and supraspinal levels, with consideration of immune-related and regulatory influences. By highlighting areas of convergence, uncertainty, and existing knowledge gaps, this review aims to provide a coherent biological framework that may support future experimental and translational research in this challenging field.

V-set and immunoglobulin domain-containing 1 (VSIG1) is a member of the immunoglobulin superfamily that has attracted increasing attention as a differentiation-associated protein in gastrointestinal neoplasia. Although initially described as a gastric-specific marker, accumulating evidence indicates that VSIG1 more accurately reflects gastric-enriched epithelial differentiation rather than strict anatomical origin. This conceptual shift has implications for phenotype-oriented tumor classification and diagnostic interpretation in the context of lineage plasticity. A structured and transparently reported literature search was conducted in PubMed/MEDLINE, Web of Science, and Scopus, covering studies published between 2000 and 2024. Eligible studies included original research and relevant reviews evaluating VSIG1 expression in normal tissues and digestive tract tumors, with emphasis on immunohistochemical patterns and clinicopathological correlations. In gastric cancer, VSIG1 expression consistently correlates with preserved glandular architecture and epithelial differentiation, whereas reduced or absent expression accompanies dedifferentiation and architectural disorganization. Outside the stomach, VSIG1 positivity is uncommon but reproducible in tumors exhibiting gastric-type or mixed differentiation, including settings of hepato-gastric phenotypic overlap. These patterns support interpretation of VSIG1 as a context-dependent indicator of lineage engagement and differentiation state rather than tumor origin or aggressiveness. Current data on independent prognostic value are limited and partially conflicting, and predictive roles remain unsupported, while functional data remain limited.

Uterine smooth muscle tumors (USMTs) represent a diagnostically and clinically challenging subset of uterine mesenchymal neoplasms. Up to 5% of these tumors exhibit ambiguous histological features that preclude definitive classification as either benign leiomyomas or malignant leiomyosarcomas. This review provides a comprehensive synthesis of the evolving diagnostic criteria, histopathological variants, and recent advancements in immunohistochemical and molecular profiling of smooth muscle tumors with uncertain malignant potential (STUMPs). The review traces the historical development of diagnostic criteria, from the original mitotic thresholds to the “Stanford criteria,” which incorporate mitotic index, cytological atypia, and tumor cell necrosis. Contemporary WHO guidelines largely uphold these principles, with nuanced refinements for spindle, myxoid, and epithelioid subtypes. However, recent studies suggest additional morphologic indicators, such as atypical mitoses, infiltrative margins, and vascular invasion, may provide prognostic insight. Notably, necrosis remains the most reliable histologic predictor of recurrence, while mitotic activity and atypia, though important, are less specific. In conclusion, STUMPs represent a heterogeneous group with unpredictable behavior that requires long-term clinical follow-up. While existing histological and molecular tools aid classification, definitive prognostic markers remain elusive. Further studies integrating histopathology, immunohistochemistry, and molecular biology are essential to refine diagnosis and improve therapeutic decision-making in this diagnostically ambiguous group of uterine tumors.