Military medicine
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Diagnostic radiology in the deployed military environment (in-theater diagnostic radiology) was greatly improved in the early 1990s with the addition of CT systems installed in military-grade one-sided expandable ISO-shelters. These shelters were provided with limited radiation shielding by several flexible lead curtains covering only a small portion of the shelter walls, necessitating placement of deployed CT systems at substantial distances from the field medical facility to limit exposures to personnel from secondary radiation. The newest generation deployable CT system is housed in a two-sided ISO-shelter with radiation shielding applied to the shelter walls. To ensure compliance with military and national standards for protection against ionizing radiation, we developed a simple method to calculate safe distances based on workload, frequencies of the various CT exams performed, and occupancy of controlled and uncontrolled areas. ⋯ The shielding in the new deployable CT ISO-shelter substantially reduces the distance between it and the surgical shelters of the field medical unit necessary to ensure radiation safety. Safe distances depend on several factors including workload, types and frequencies of CT exams, occupancy factors, and classification of the area around the ISO-shelter, i.e., controlled and uncontrolled.
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Pilots of high-performance F15 and F16 jets must undergo periodic assessment of +8.5 Gz tolerance in a centrifuge, which is classified as a high-intensity exercise. Prior research has indicated that exercise performance may be correlated with alpha-actinin3 (ACTN3) and angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) genes, frequently termed the sports genes. This study aimed to investigate how ACTN3 and ACE genotypes correlate with high-g tolerance of Korean F15 and F16 pilots. ⋯ In a preliminary study, the RR ACTN3 genotype showed a significant correlation with +8.5 Gz tolerance. Pilots with the DI genotype showed the highest high-g tolerance in this test; however, the test pass rate was higher in pilots with the DD genotype in the preliminary study. This result shows the possibility of test passing and tolerance superiority consisting of two different factors in the relationship between high-g tolerance and ACE genotype. This study showed that pilots with the RR + DI genotype had the highest high-g tolerance, which correlated with the presence of the R and D alleles of the ACTN3 and ACE genes, respectively. However, body composition parameters were not significantly correlated with genotype. These results could suggest a plural gene effect on high-g tolerance; further follow-up is required to determine the practical usage and applications of these results.
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Enterobius vermicularis is the most common helminthic infection in the United States, infecting an estimated 40 million persons. A rare complication of E. vermicularis infestation is appendicitis. The diagnosis must be considered during pathologic examination to ensure appropriate treatment with anti-helminthic therapy.