Military medicine
-
Randomized Controlled Trial
A Randomized Trial of Mentored vs Nonmentored Military Medics Compared in the Application of a Wound Clamp Without Prior Training: When to Shut Up and Just Watch!
Hemorrhage control is a basic task required of first responders and typically requires technical interventions during stressful circumstances. Remote telementoring (RTM) utilizes information technology to guide inexperienced providers, but when this is useful remains undefined. ⋯ Thirty-three medics participated (16 mentored and 17 nonmentored). All (100%) successfully applies the WC to arrest the simulated hemorrhage. RTM significantly slowed hemorrhage control (P = 0.000) between the mentored (40.4 ± 12.0 seconds) and nonmentored (15.2 ± 10.3 seconds) groups. On posttask questionnaire, all medics subjectively rated the difficulty of the wound clamping as 1.7/10 (10 being extremely hard). Discussion: WC application appeared to be an easily acquired technique that was effective in controlling simulated extremity exsanguination, such that RTM while feasible did not improve outcomes. Limitations were the lack of true stress and using simulation for the task. Future research should focus on determining when RTM is useful and when it is not required.
-
To characterize and compare the scholarly activity of applicants to Army First Year Graduate Medical Education (FYGME) general surgery positions over the course of a residency. ⋯ The majority of applications for general surgery residencies have no prior research publications. However, after 6 years, graduates of a general surgery residency have significantly published out those not selected for training.
-
Ex-vivo normothermic limb perfusion (EVNLP) has been proven to preserve limb viability better than standard cold storage. Perfusates containing packed red blood cells (pRBC) improve outcomes when compared to acellular perfusates. Limitations of pRBC-based perfusion include limited availability, need for cross match, mechanical hemolysis, and activation of pro-inflammatory proteins. Hemoglobin-based oxygen carrier (HBOC)-201 (Hemopure) is a solution of polymerized bovine hemoglobin, characterized by low immunogenicity, no risk of hemolytic reaction, and enhanced convective and diffusive oxygen delivery. This is a preliminary study on the feasibility of EVNLP using HBOC-201 as an oxygen carrier. ⋯ An HBOC-201-EVNLP produced outcomes similar to RBC-EVNLP with preservation of muscle contractility and mitochondrial structure.
-
Gulf War Illness (GWI) currently has no known cure and affects soldiers deployed during the Persian Gulf War. It is thought to originate from exposure to neurotoxicants combined with battlefield stress, and previous research indicates that treatment first involves inhibition of interleukin-2 and tumor necrosis factor alpha, followed by the glucocorticoid receptor. However, the off-target effects of pharmaceuticals hinder development of a drug treatment therapy. ⋯ Development of a drug treatment therapy for GWI is threatened by the tight interplay between the immune and hormonal systems, often leading to drug interactions. Increasing knowledge of these interactions can lead to break-through therapies.
-
To demonstrate the broad utility of the remotely supervised transcranial direct current stimulation (RS-tDCS) protocol developed to deliver at-home rehabilitation for individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS). ⋯ RS-tDCS is feasible and tolerable for MS participants. The RS-tDCS protocol can be used to reach those in locations without clinic access and be paired with training or rehabilitation in locations away from the clinic. This protocol could be used to deliver tDCS paired with training or rehabilitation activities remotely to service members and veterans.