Military medicine
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Upon injury, skeletal muscle undergoes a multiphase process beginning with degeneration of the damaged tissue, which is accompanied by inflammation and finally regeneration. One consequence of an injured microenvironment is excessive production of reactive oxygen species, which results in attenuated regeneration and recovery of function ultimately leading to fibrosis and disability. The objective of this research was to test the potential of the antioxidant, N-Acetyl-L-Cysteine (NAC), as a mediator of reactive oxygen species damage that results from traumatic muscle injury in order to support repair and regeneration of wounded muscle tissue and improve function recovery. ⋯ These results suggest that NAC treatment of skeletal muscle after injury may be a viable option for the prevention of long-term fibrosis and scar formation, facilitating recovery of muscle function.
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Previous studies in our laboratory have demonstrated that a magnetic resonance imaging method called diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) can differentiate between crush and complete transection peripheral nerve injuries in a rat model ex vivo. DTI measures the directionally dependent effect of tissue barriers on the random diffusion of water molecules. In ordered tissues such as nerves, this information can be used to reconstruct the primary direction of diffusion along fiber tracts, which may provide information on fiber tract continuity after nerve injury and surgical repair. ⋯ DTI tractography is a noninvasive tool that can yield a visual representation of a partial nerve transection as early as 1 week after surgical repair.
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Multicenter Study
The Effectiveness of the DoD/VA Mobile Device Outcomes-Based Rehabilitation Program for High Functioning Service Members and Veterans with Lower Limb Amputation.
The objective was to determine if the Mobile Device Outcomes-based Rehabilitation Program (MDORP) improved strength, mobility, and gait quality in service members (SMs) and Veterans with lower limb amputation (LLA). ⋯ Preliminary MDORP results are promising in its ability to improve basic and high-level mobility, lower limb strength, and gait quality in a group of SMs and Veterans with LLA. In addition, "booster" prosthetic training may be justified in an effort helps maintain an active lifestyle, promotes prosthetic use, and mitigates secondary health effects.