Military medicine
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This study investigated the influence of stimulus color wavelength on cognitive performance in a virtual reality (VR) Go/No-Go task by assessing participant's reaction time and accuracy. Previous research has indicated that color has a variety of cognitive, physiological, and behavioral effects on individuals, differentiating their performance. However, there is a gap in understanding the influence of color on performance on VR cognitive tasks. An understanding of how stimulus color wavelength influences human performance could enhance the control over the design and interpretation of assessment and training outcomes in VR. ⋯ Shorter color wavelengths were associated with higher accuracy in a VR Go/No-Go task. These findings support the importance of color selection in VR tasks and trainings, especially in scenarios that include decision-making and require accuracy. Realistic colors encountered in real-life military operations into VR training environments may better prepare individuals for real-world challenges. Future research in this area could explore color effects in additional tasks and incorporate realistic color-based cues in VR training scenarios.
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Musculoskeletal injuries (MSIs) pose a significant problem for active duty service members (ADSMs). MSIs may compromise readiness and are one of the main reasons for separation from the Navy and long-term disability. Implementation of optimal treatment strategies rests on understanding the characteristics of MSI complaints in a given population. This study reports on the frequency and nature of MSI complaints of ADSMs seeking care at a military treatment facility (MTF). ⋯ Back and knee injuries were most prevalent in ADSMs reporting an MSI at a Navy shore-based MTF. Shoulder injuries were also common. Of interest, 80% of ADSMs reported at least one MSI comorbidity and 80% reported chronic injury in this study. These rates are higher than those found in a previous study of ADSMs deployed on a carrier. This is notable because chronicity and multiple MSIs are obstacles to readiness. Our findings suggest that ADSMs reporting to shore-based facilities may be at higher risk for disability than their deployed counterparts. This information is important to the development of targeted care to improve readiness in this population.
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Exposure to high doses of ionizing radiation can result in hematopoietic acute radiation syndrome. Currently, there is no radiation medical countermeasure approved by the U.S. FDA which can be used before radiation exposure to protect exposed individuals. Here we aimed to evaluate the therapeutic potential of an aqueous suspension of synthetic genistein nanoparticles (BIO 300) as a radioprotectant in a pilot efficacy study using a nonhuman primate model of total body irradiation. ⋯ BIO 300's mechanism of action is complex and protection against irradiation is attainable without much improvement in the complete blood count (CBC) profile. BIO 300's mechanism for radioprotection involves multiple biological pathways and systems.
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Addressing hazing within the U.S. Military has become a critical concern to safeguard the well-being of service members; recent attempts to assess hazing prevalence in the military have been unsuccessful due to under representative data. ⋯ Distinct elements of military culture, such as the hierarchical chain of command, loyalty to the brotherhood/sisterhood, and the emphasis on resilience, likely amplify these responses. This study adds to the mounting evidence showcasing gaps in assessing hazing within the U.S. Military. It emphasizes the necessity for a comprehensive hazing prevention program. Presently, prevention relies on mandatory training, often integrated into safety briefings or harassment workshops. However, service members require further assistance in recognizing, rejecting, and reporting instances of hazing despite these trainings.
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Extensive trauma, commonly seen in wounded military Service Members, often leads to a severe sterile inflammation termed systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS), which can progress to multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS) and death. MODS is a serious threat to wounded Service Members, historically causing 10% of all deaths in trauma admissions at a forward deployed combat hospital. The importance of this problem will be exacerbated in large-scale combat operations, in which evacuation will be delayed and care of complex injuries at lower echelons of care may be prolonged. The main goal of this study was to optimize an existing mouse model of lethal SIRS/MODS as a therapeutic screening platform for the evaluation of immunomodulatory drugs. ⋯ We optimized a TBX mouse model of SIRS/MODS for the purpose of evaluating novel therapeutic interventions to prevent trauma-related pathophysiologies in wounded Service Members. Negative effects of K/X on lethality of TBX should be further evaluated, particularly in the light of widespread use of ketamine in treatment of pain. By mimicking muscle crush, bone fracture, and necrosis, the TBX model has pleiotropic effects on physiology and immunology that make it uniquely valuable as a screening tool for the evaluation of novel therapeutics against trauma-induced SIRS/MODS.