Military medicine
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Previous studies in our laboratory have demonstrated that a magnetic resonance imaging method called diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) can differentiate between crush and complete transection peripheral nerve injuries in a rat model ex vivo. DTI measures the directionally dependent effect of tissue barriers on the random diffusion of water molecules. In ordered tissues such as nerves, this information can be used to reconstruct the primary direction of diffusion along fiber tracts, which may provide information on fiber tract continuity after nerve injury and surgical repair. ⋯ DTI tractography is a noninvasive tool that can yield a visual representation of a partial nerve transection as early as 1 week after surgical repair.
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Retracted Publication
PTSD Susceptibility and Challenges: Pathophysiological Consequences of Behavioral Symptoms.
Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can develop during the aftermath of traumatic events. Although many are impacted by several stressors, nearly 3.6% suffer from PTSD in the United States with higher incidence reported in military service personnel. Any injury to the blood-brain barrier can ignite an array of biological signaling molecules in the immune-privileged brain parenchyma, which can disrupt the synaptic neural network, resulting in altered behavior. ⋯ Identification of neural biomarkers is essential to understand the subclinical symptoms for the diagnosis PTSD, which may not be visible by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI/fMRI) and may take years to clinically manifest.
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Multicenter Study
The Effectiveness of the DoD/VA Mobile Device Outcomes-Based Rehabilitation Program for High Functioning Service Members and Veterans with Lower Limb Amputation.
The objective was to determine if the Mobile Device Outcomes-based Rehabilitation Program (MDORP) improved strength, mobility, and gait quality in service members (SMs) and Veterans with lower limb amputation (LLA). ⋯ Preliminary MDORP results are promising in its ability to improve basic and high-level mobility, lower limb strength, and gait quality in a group of SMs and Veterans with LLA. In addition, "booster" prosthetic training may be justified in an effort helps maintain an active lifestyle, promotes prosthetic use, and mitigates secondary health effects.