Military medicine
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West Nile virus infection has quickly become a feared cause of neurologic disability and death, particularly when it presents with encephalitis. Recent epidemics in endemic regions of Eurasia and Africa, as well as its recent spread to North America, have highlighted the need for all physicians to be aware of its clinical presentation and course. In particular, because of the increased susceptibility of West Nile virus infection during outdoor activities, as well as during travel to the Middle East and Southeastern Europe, military physicians should be informed about case recognition, management, and prevention to maintain the health of soldiers and their families.
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Comparative Study
Evaluation of oral or rectal midazolam as conscious sedation for pediatric patients in oral surgery.
This study was undertaken with a view to determine the acceptance and treatment possibilities of midazolam, depending upon its oral and rectal application for pediatric patients requiring an oral surgery procedure (tooth extraction) and having a pretreatment behavioral score of 1 or 2 according to the Frankl Scale. Oral (0.5 mg/kg) and rectal (0.35 mg/kg) midazolam was compared in view of acceptance of the mode of treatment and local anesthesia, level of amnesia, and adverse effects. Although oral or rectal midazolam application has similar characteristics in respect to ease of working, the oral midazolam application should generally be preferred because it is more easily accepted by pediatric patients.
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Antitank mines inflict devastating injuries that are usually fatal. The objective of this retrospective study was to analyze antitank mine casualties in South Croatia during the period from 1991 to 1995. ⋯ Although injuries from antitank mines were ravaging, and frequently fatal, a significant number of patients survived.
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We analyzed the causes of deaths among the members of the 4th Guardian Brigade (GB) of the Croatian Army during the war in Croatia from 1991 to 1995: the site of the lethal injuries, the type of wounds, and estimated the severity of injuries with lethal outcome according to the Abbreviated Injury Scale. ⋯ During the war in Croatia, the leading causes of death were mines and explosions, and, in a minor proportion, gunshot wounds.