Comparison of topical iodine and silver sulfadiazine as therapies against sulfur mustard burns in a pig model.

Sulfur mustard (SM) is a powerful vesicant used as an agent of chemical warfare. The severity of lesions incurred after exposure to SM reiterated the need for an efficient and rapid neutralizing agent against SM. Previous studies have shown that postexposure treatment with iodine is effective against SM lesions in rodents.

The Israel National Skin Bank: Quality Assurance and Graft Performance of Stored Tissues.

The Israel National Skin Bank (INSB) was founded jointly by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Medical Corps and the Ministry of Health in 1986. The prime purpose of the Skin Bank is to treat burn victims incurred at war or during mass casualty incidences. The INSB Protocol is comprised of international skin bank protocols and our previous and present research results.

[Vacuum--a novel method for treating chronic wounds].

Chronic wounds represent a major health burden and drain on resources. In spite of advances in our understanding of chronic wound biology and the development of new treatments, there is no one form of treatment suitable for all wounds and patients. Many factors can impair healing--local and systemic.

Flame burn protection: assessment of a new, air-cooled fireproof garment.

A new, air-cooled fireproof garment for tank crewmen was assessed regarding its efficacy for burn protection. A pig model was developed with a flame infliction instrument specially designed for this experiment. This pneumatic tool can initiate eight simultaneous flame injuries where the distance of skin from burn source and exposure time are adjustable.

Silver-sulfadiazine eschar pigmentation mimics invasive wound infection: a case report.

A 3-year-old girl with 52% TBSA scalds, mostly partial thickness, was treated topically with 5% mafenide acetate solution and 1% silver sulfadiazine cream. All blood cultures and wound swabs were negative for the first 5 days. On day 6 gram-negative bacteria and yeast forms were isolated from her wounds.

Cigarette smoking and hearing loss: lessons from the young adult periodic examinations in Israel (YAPEIS) database.

Background: Some studies have indicated a possible link between cigarette smoking and hearing loss.

Objectives: To analyze the association between smoking and hearing loss, other than that induced by noise, and to characterize the type of HL impairment found in smokers.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective cross-sectional study in 13,308 men aged 20-68 (median 34.

[Breast reconstruction--where are we heading?].

Breast reconstruction has become a routine procedure, being performed in a growing part of the mastectomy patients' population. Proven improvement in body image and in coping with breast cancer encouraged plastic and general surgeons to warmly recommend the procedure. The advances in the genetic evaluation of the breast cancer population cause an increase in prophylactic surgery and subsequent reconstructions.

Reconstruction of the mandible by fibula free flap.

Background: The most frequent cause of defect in the mandible is tumor-related surgery. Larger defects or anterior arch defects cause severe morbidity due to disturbances in function and esthetics.

Objectives: To assess the outcome of free tissue transfer for mandible reconstruction.

[National preparedness for biological mass casualty event: between the devil and the deep blue sea].

Species of plants and animals, as well as nations of human beings were extinguished throughout the prehistory and history of this planet. One of the possible explanations for this phenomenon is a large scale epidemic of viral, bacterial or fungal infections. One well-documented example was the smallpox epidemic among native Indians of South America following the European invasion.

Incidental asthma prevention by immune serum globulin.

Background: After a case of hepatitis A in a food handling worker in a military base, the entire exposed population was vaccinated with immune serum globulin (ISG). We analyzed the potential effects of ISG on asthma attacks and respiratory infections.

Methods: The base population was observed for asthma exacerbation for the 3 months after the immunization and was compared with the population of the same base a year earlier.

Risk factor profile for atherosclerosis among young adults in Israel--results of a large-scale survey from the young adult periodic examinations in Israel (YAPEIS) database.

Assessing the prevalence of relevant risk factors among young adults is a critical step in the process of preventing atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases (ASCVD) later in life. The Israel Defense Force Periodic Health Examination Center performs a routine check-up for subjects aged 25-45 years. Medical history, physical examination notes, laboratory results and ECG tracings are recorded, computerized and processed to form the Young Adults Periodic Examinations in Israel (YAPEIS) database.

Does prehospital fluid administration impact core body temperature and coagulation functions in combat casualties?

Background: Administration of large amounts of fluids to trauma patients, in the absence of surgical control, may increase bleeding, cause hypothermia and coagulopathy which may worsen the bleeding and increase morbidity and mortality. The purpose of our study is to examine the impact of prehospital fluid administration to military combat casualties on core body temperature and coagulation functions.

Methods: Prospective data were collected on all cases of moderately (9 < or = ISS < or = 14) and severely (ISS > or = 16) injured victims wounded in South Lebanon, treated by Israeli military physicians and evacuated to hospitals in Israel, over a two-year period.

Diagnostic medical auxiliary equipment in a field hospital: experience from the Israeli delegation to the site of the Turkish earthquake at Adapazari.

An earthquake striking a highly populated area is likely to cause a mass casualty situation for even the most advanced trauma center. If the local medical teams are injured and the hospitals are damaged beyond immediate repair, external intervention is needed. In the Turkish earthquake crisis, Israel was one of many states to deploy a field hospital to the crisis site.

How long can cryopreserved skin be stored to maintain adequate graft performance?

Skin graft preservation for the purpose of delayed application is still a basic tool in burn treatment and plastic and reconstructive surgery. As the demand for skin allografts has increased the responsibility for processing, storage and evaluation of graft performance of preserved skin has become an important issue of banking organizations. The present experiments were undertaken to determine how long can cryopreserved cadaveric skin be stored to maintain adequate graft performance? We applied a mouse recipient model, developed by us: Human cadaveric skin cryopreserved and stored for 5,6 or 7 years was grafted on Balb/c mice, and primary take was evaluated by gross observation and predetermined histologic criteria after 7 days.

Military trauma life support: a comprehensive training program for military physicians.

The Israel Defense Forces Medical Corps prepares Israeli physicians for their field duty as providers of prehospital trauma care under combat conditions. Many physicians have no previous experience with emergency medicine. Military trauma education has been improving continuously to meet this challenge.

Prospective cohort studies of shigellosis during military field training.

Epidemiological and clinical features of shigellosis occurring among cohorts of Israeli recruits followed-up for 3-6 months during the summer field training of years 1993-1997 were studied. The incidence rate of culture-proven shigellosis was the highest (78 cases per 1,000 recruits) in 1996 and the lowest (13 cases per 1,000 recruits) in 1995. Shigella sonnei (152 isolates) and Shigella flexneri (151 isolates) were the most common species.

An earthquake disaster in Turkey: assessment of the need for plastic surgery services in a crisis intervention field hospital.

On August 17, 1999, an earthquake of 7.4 magnitude struck Turkey, resulting in the destruction of the cities Golcuk, Izmit, Adapazari, and Yalova. Three days later, the Israel Defense Force Field Hospital arrived at Adapazari, serving as a reinforcement hospital until the rehabilitation of the local medical facilities.

Mortality epidemiology in low-intensity warfare: Israel Defense Forces' experience.

Purpose: an analysis of the mortality epidemiology in low-intensity warfare.

Basic Procedures: we retrospectively reviewed all cases of Israeli soldiers killed in small-scale warfare during 1996-1998, using field data, hospital charts and autopsy reports. Data on injury pattern, offending munitions and time of death were analyzed.

Measles epidemic in Israel-successful containment in the military.

Background: Measles vaccination at ages 12-15 months is a routine part of standard health care in developed countries. Nonetheless, the prevention and control of measles outbreaks remain a challenge, owing to incomplete or variable compliance with immunization programs and primary vaccine failure (approximately 5%). In Israel, vaccination coverage against measles is high, yet sero-epidemiological studies conducted in the early 1990s showed that 15% of 18-year-olds were unprotected.

The fitness-for-work evaluation of a young patient with essential thrombocythemia.

We describe a case of a military cadet, a candidate for submarine service, who was diagnosed with essential thrombocythemia (ET). The estimated risk in the literature for major clinical complications in ET patients is about 5-20%. Our report concerns a young asymptomatic patient where the estimated risk is probably much lower.