Military medicine
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A realistic approach to humanitarian principles in the field of the Law of Armed Conflict should take into account "military necessity." Does military necessity also play a role in the medical field? The provisions regarding the treatment of the wounded and sick seem definite because they are at the core of International Humanitarian Law. The conduct of military medical personnel, the attention to be paid to the wounded and sick, as well as to medical equipment or facilities are provisions that derive from unyielding principles of care, respect, protection, and equality of treatment. To what extent may this analysis be considered as contrary to the common realism of LOAC? How far should medical personnel be requested to implement the Geneva standards in any circumstance? In fact, unless otherwise specified, military necessity can never lead to a reduction in these standards in the course of battle.
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Blastocystis hominis is one of the most common intestinal parasites found in humans. The prevalence of B. hominis carriage in personnel who worked in the First Army Support Command, Chonburi, Thailand, was determined. Forty-four percent of 616 stool samples were positive for B. hominis using both simple smear and concentration (Formalin/ethyl acetate) techniques. ⋯ This finding indicates that they might have acquired B. hominis during their stay at this base. The significantly high prevalence of B. hominis carriage was found in the Ordnance Ammunition Battalion. In this battalion, privates who had education lower than the secondary school level had significantly greater risk of B. hominis carriage.
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This study examines race-specific military service effects on outpatient care utilization in the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) using data from the 1992 National Survey of Veterans. The study population consisted of 4,791 male veterans. After controlling for predisposing, enabling, and need variables, black veterans were 3.7 times more likely than white veterans to use VA outpatient care. ⋯ Hispanic veterans discharged for medical release were 5.3 times more likely than white veterans discharged for the same reason to use VA outpatient care. Korean conflict and mixed war period veterans were more likely to use VA outpatient care than World War II veterans. Racial/ethnic differences in military service characteristics influence the use of VA outpatient care and should be understood in delivering outpatient care to veterans.
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In this study, patients with acute renal failure as a result of crush syndrome after the Marmara earthquake were evaluated retrospectively. Six hundred thirty injured patients were evaluated after the Marmara earthquake at Gülhane Military Medical Academy. Acute renal failure in association with crush syndrome developed in 31 patients. ⋯ Seventy-seven patients underwent fasciotomy, and 6 underwent extremity amputation. The total number of hemodialysis sessions was 173. Six patients died as a result of crush sepsis and adult respiratory distress syndrome.
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Regional anesthesia of the hand can be used in a vast array of hand injuries and minor operations. Local infiltration techniques require multiple injections and higher doses of anesthetic the that make them less preferable to peripheral nerve blocks. Regional anesthesia can be safe and effective as long as the provider has a firm understanding of the anatomy and technique. Multiple peripheral nerve blockade at the wrist can be a safe means of exploring complex wounds to the hand in both the emergency department and the operating room with minimal tissue distortion.