During the recent war in Afghanistan (2001-2014), invasive fungal wound infections (IFIs) among US combat casualties were associated with risk factors related to the mechanism and pattern of injury. Although previous studies recognized that IFI patients primarily sustained injuries in southern Afghanistan, environmental data were not examined. We compared environmental conditions of this region...

This report describes compiled data on wound patterns for casualties sustained by Special Operations Forces (SOF) of the Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force-Arabian Peninsula during Operation Iraqi Freedom. The intent of this report is to provide information to the SOF Medic on the types of combat-related wounds that are most common in the ongoing Iraq war. During the period evaluated,...

Warfare-related torso/abdominal wounds are often unique and complex and can pose a significant reconstructive challenge. The objective of this manuscript is to report the unique and successful management of a complex warfare-related abdominal wound. A dermal regenerate template in combination with negative pressure wound therapy was used to reconstitute lateral abdominal wall integrity after ra...

BACKGROUND Survivors of combat trauma can have long and challenging recoveries, which may be complicated by infection. Invasive fungal infections are a rare but serious complication with limited treatment options. Currently, aggressive surgical debridement is the standard of care, with antifungal agents used adjunctively with uncertain efficacy. Anecdotal evidence suggests that antifungal agent...

This article is a comparative study of similar experiences in the American short story collection, Fire and Forget: Short Stories from the Long War edited by Roy Scranton and Matt Ghalagher and the Persian short story collection, A Vital Killing by Ahmad Dehghan as they belong to two different languages, different cultures, and different worldviews. It is an exploration of an overwhelmed psycho...

Although it was discovered in 1928 by Alexander Fleming, a microbiologist at St. Mary’s Hospital in London, penicillin languished for more than a decade before its importance was noticed. As its antimicrobial properties became more apparent, large enough quantities were produced for clinical trials through the efforts of Florey et al. [1]. Then came World War II, and the U.S. government became ...

Sulphur mustard is a vesicant (blistering agent), which produces chemical burns with widespread blistering. It was used extensively as a chemical warfare agent in the First World War, and has allegedly been employed in a number of conflicts since then, most recently by Iraq against Iran (1984-1987). The potential further use of mustard in military conflicts and by terrorists remains a significa...

During 2003-05, states faced some of the largest budget shortfalls since World War II. With a focus on Medicaid and SCHIP, we examine budget decisions in eight states during this period. Increasing Medicaid enrollment because of the economic down-turn and rising health care costs compounded state budget shortfalls as state revenues dropped; problems peaked in 2004. States, however, were relucta...