Military medicine
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Respiratory diseases such as chronic rhinosinusitis and asthma are observed at increased rates in active duty and veteran military members, and they are especially prevalent in individuals who have been deployed in Southwest Asia during Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. Particulate matter, specifically the fine-grain desert sand found in the Middle East, may be a key source of this pathology because of deleterious effects on mucociliary clearance. ⋯ There is a neutralization of the dynamic ciliary response following chronic particulate matter exposure, similar to ciliary pathologies observed in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis. Aerosolized particulate matter endured by military personnel in the Southwest Asia may cause dysfunctional mucociliary clearance; these data help to explain the increased prevalence of respiratory pathology in individuals who are or have been deployed in this region.
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Soldiers must be able to perform a multitude of physically demanding tasks as part of their regular duty, but their physical readiness is often degraded due to pain and musculoskeletal injury (MSKI). The presence of pain with movement has been associated with increased MSKI risk in Soldiers. Improved awareness of the prevalence of painful movements in uninjured Soldiers could help inform Army injury mitigation efforts. The purpose of this study was to identify the prevalence of pain with movement in a population of healthy active duty Soldiers. ⋯ Pain with functional movement patterns was common across a sample of uninjured Soldiers. The presence of pain with movement warrants further evaluation as it may impact a Soldier's physical performance, risk for future injury, and overall quality of life.
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Military health care team cohesion has been linked to improved performance during simulation training. However, there is a gap in current research regarding the processes by which teams become cohesive within simulation training. The purpose of this study was to explore how health care teams evolve during high-fidelity simulation training and the ways in which team cohesion impacts their performance. ⋯ Our qualitative data analysis provided insight into team cohesion as it was forged by participants in real time as the simulation progressed. The results of our study can be used to promote team cohesion not only during simulation training but also within military health care professional teams in order to enhance their performance in the field.