Military/Veterans

The DSM-5 Got PTSD Right: Comment on Friedman (2013)
In this commentary, I argue that (a) the placement of PTSD in the DSM-5 category of Trauma and Stressor-Related Disorders is a major advance because it draws attention to the role of "nurture" when there is an overemphasis on "nature" by some; (b) the broader construct of PTSD in DSM-5 is justified because it includes clinically important problems and can be reliably diagnosed; and (c) the web surveys contributed substantially to the provision of data needed to support proposed changes. Kilpatrick DG. J Trauma Stress. 2013 Oct;26(5):563-6. PMID: 24151004

Could a 'Trojan horse' better identify traumatic brain injury?
Accurately diagnosing traumatic brain injuries and concussions is difficult, as standard CT or MRI scans can't see most changes to the brain caused by these injuries. Clinicians must rely on patients accurately and candidly describing their symptoms, which many patients – such as soldiers and athletes – are hesitant to do for fear of being removed from action with their unit or team.

Borrowing a tactic used to identify lung infections, University of Virginia School of Medicine researchers have discovered a potential method to identify traumatic brain injuries that uses positron emission tomography scans and the body's immune response to a brain injury. MedicalXpress

MRSA declines are sustained in veterans hospitals nationwide
Five years after implementing a national initiative to reduce methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) rates in Veterans Affairs (VA) medical centers, MRSA cases have continued to decline, according to a study in the November issue of the American Journal of Infection Control, the official publication of the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC). Eurekalert!

Surviving -- then thriving
Last year, junior investigator Dr. Sharon Dekel and Prof. Zahava Solomon of TAU's Bob Shapell School of Social Work found that individuals with Holocaust-survivor parents may be less likely to suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder in the wake of their own traumas. In a study published in the Journal of Traumatic Stress, the researchers set out to see if so-called second-generation Holocaust survivors also undergo more post-traumatic "growth." AFTAU

Efficacy of cranial electric stimulation for the treatment of insomnia: a randomized pilot study
The researchers identified a nearly significant increase in total time slept after three cranial electric stimulation treatments among all study subjects. A closer examination of this group revealed an interesting gender bias, with men reporting a robust increase in total time slept after one treatment, decay in effect over the next two interventions, and then an increase in total time slept after the fourth treatment. Lande RG, Gragnani C. Complement Ther Med. 2013 Feb;21(1):8-13. Epub 2012 Dec 21. PMID: 23374200

Adding chiropractic manipulative therapy to standard medical care for patients with acute low back pain: results of a pragmatic randomized comparative effectiveness study
The results of this trial suggest that CMT in conjunction with SMC offers a significant advantage for decreasing pain and improving physical functioning when compared with only standard care, for men and women between 18 and 35 years of age with acute LBP. Goertz CM, Long CR, Hondras MA, Petri R, Delgado R, Lawrence DJ, Owens EF, Meeker WC. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2013 Apr 15;38(8):627-34. PMID: 23060056

Primary blast lung injury prevalence and fatal injuries from explosions: insights from postmortem computed tomographic analysis of 121 improvised explosive device fatalities
Following IED strikes, mounted fatalities are primarily caused by head and chest injuries. Lower extremity trauma is the leading cause of death in dismounted fatalities. Mounted fatalities have a high incidence of PBLI, suggesting significant exposure to primary blast. This has not been reported previously. Further work is required to determine the incidence and clinical significance of this severe lung injury in explosive blast survivors. In addition, specific characteristics of the vehicles should be considered. Singleton JA, Gibb IE, Bull AM, Mahoney PF, Clasper JC. J Trauma Acute Care Surg. 2013 Aug;75(2 Suppl 2):S269-74. PMID: 23883919

Performance improvement evaluation of forward aeromedical evacuation platforms in Operation Enduring Freedom
MERT achieves greater than predicted survival, which may be related to the additional capabilities onboard. This supports the adoption of a versatile medical evacuation system with scalable crew and equipment configurations that adapt to meet the medical, tactical, and operational needs of future conflicts. Apodaca A, Olson CM Jr, Bailey J, Butler F, Eastridge BJ, Kuncir E. J Trauma Acute Care Surg. 2013 Aug;75(2 Suppl 2):S157-63. PMID: 23883901