Illness and injury among U.S. prisoners of war from Operation Desert Storm

United States prisoners of war had to endure a variety of medical problems during Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. All but one of the prisoners suffered some form of injury or illness. Orthopedic injuries were most common. Hematologic, dermatologic, neurologic, and infectious disorders were also noted. Some injuries were combat-related and others were due to mistreatment during incarceration. The prisoners' condition upon repatriation reflected their limited access to appropriate medical care, sanitation, and nutritional support.     

Concussive and psychological symptom predictors of aeromedical evacuation following possible brain injury among deployed military personnel.

Over 2.5 million U.S. military members have deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) and Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF), and more than 48,000 service members have been aeromedically evacuated (A/E'ed) from both theaters for both battle and nonbattle injuries. The purpose of this study was to consider differences in clinical presentation associated with dispositional status among a sample of 157 deployed service members evaluated subsequent to a suspected brain injury and to identify which symptomatic variables are most associated with the decision to recommend A/E. Results from an in-theater hospital suggest that symptoms persisting to the point of clinical evaluation were associated more strongly with disposition than symptoms reported immediately postinjury. When considering a range of common concussive and psychological symptoms associated with brain injury, only memory problems, irritability, and hearing problems were associated with increased likelihood for A/E from a combat zone following suspected brain injury. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2011 APA, all rights reserved)     

Comparing annual dental utilization rates of active duty U.S. military personnel and their employed civilian cohorts

The aim of the study was to determine the effect of renal tumor embolization on nonspecific immunity by evaluating lysozyme activity and leucocytosis in 45 patients and 40 healthy people. Lysozyme activity was assessed in the non-diluted serum (A1) and in the tenfold diluted serum (B1) prior to embolization and after embolization (A2, B2) and in control group. Prior to embolization, lysozyme activity was lower in the experimental group (A1 and B1), compared to the control groups, the differences being statistically significant (p < 0.05). After embolization, the activity became normalized (A2), reaching the control value and even exceeding it (C) in the diluted serum (B2). Leucocytosis prior to embolization (L1) resembled that of control group, increasing slightly after embolization (L2). The differences observed in the changes in lysozyme activity and leucocytosis were statistically significant (p < 0.05). Our findings indicate an inhibitory effect of the neoplastic process on nonspecific immunity. Embolization causes ischemic necrosis of tumor and products of neoplastic tissue disintegration exert a stimulating effect on granulopoiesis, by increasing the turnover of neutrophilic granulocytes. Granulocytic-monocytic infiltrations in tumor stroma are the source of lysozyme, enhancing not only local but also systemic immunity, which is manifested in the increased lysozyme activity in blood serum.     

Cultural strengths as moderators of the relationship between acculturation to the mainstream U.S. Society and eating- and body-related concerns among Mexican American women.

This study explored whether 3 culturally relevant variables (i.e., ethnic identity, familism, and enculturation) operated as sources of strength for 209 Mexican American women by buffering the relationship between their acculturation to the mainstream U.S. society and eating- and body-related concerns. In an effort to capture the underlying dimensions of women’s eating- and body-related concerns, the authors used principal components analysis to identify 3 components: control concerns, restricted eating, and body dissatisfaction. As hypothesized, results from a series of hierarchical regressions suggested familism significantly buffered the links between acculturation to the mainstream U.S. society and all 3 eating- and body-related variables. However, enculturation did not moderate the associations, and ethnic identity moderated only the link between acculturation and restricted eating. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)