Lumbar Laminectomy Precedes Positional Headache and MRI-Confirmed Pseudomeningocele With Duro-Cutaneous Fistula.

Pseudomeningoceles (PMs) are collections of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) occurring as a direct result of a dural rent. This article presents a well-documented case of a 68-year-old male presenting to the emergency department with postoperative lumbar PM with a duro-cutaneous fistula. It was initially recognized on palpation of the patient's postoperative incision site and later diagnosed with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Case Report of Torsion of Cryptorchid Testis Causing Abdominal Pain.

Introduction: A myriad of pathologies can cause abdominal pain. Genitourinary causes including testicular torsion must be considered.

Case Report: In this report, we present a 17-year-old male evaluated in the emergency department for lower abdominal pain.

Study of Active Duty Military Personnel for Environmental Deployment Exposures: Pre- and Post-Deployment Spirometry (STAMPEDE II).

Background: There is significant concern about the respiratory health of deployed military service members given the reported airborne hazards in southwest Asia, which range from geologic dusts, burn pit emissions, chemical exposures, and increased rates of smoking. There has been no previous comparison of pre- and post-deployment lung function in these individuals.

Methods: Military personnel who deployed to southwest Asia in support of ongoing military operations were recruited from the Soldier Readiness Processing Center at Fort Hood, Texas, from 2011 to 2014.

Screening Spirometry in Military Personnel Correlates Poorly with Exercise Tolerance and Asthma History.

Background: Spirometry is an easy-to-perform test for evaluating pulmonary symptoms but has several limitations to include adequate test performance for valid results. Spirometry is not recommended to screen a general population for evidence of pulmonary disease unless symptoms are present or longitudinal screening is done for potential occupational exposures.

Methods: A single-spirometry examination was performed on 900 active duty Army soldiers, ages 18-35 yr, without documented respiratory disease.

Pulmonary Function and Respiratory Health of Military Personnel Before Southwest Asia Deployment.

Background: Significant concern exists regarding the respiratory health of military personnel deployed to Southwest Asia, given their exposures to numerous environmental hazards. Although the deployed military force is generally assumed to be fit, the pre-deployment respiratory health of these individuals is largely unknown.

Methods: Soldiers deploying to Southwest Asia were recruited from the pre-deployment processing center at Fort Hood, Texas.

Deployment-related Respiratory Issues.

Military deployment to Southwest Asia since 2003 in support of Operations Enduring Freedom/Iraqi Freedom/New Dawn has presented unique challenges from a pulmonary perspective. Various airborne hazards in the deployed environment include suspended geologic dusts, burn pit smoke, vehicle exhaust emissions, industrial air pollution, and isolated exposure incidents. These exposures may give rise to both acute respiratory symptoms and in some instances development of chronic lung disease.

Management of Asthma in the Military.

This article examines the evaluation and management of asthma based on current guidelines, advances in therapy, and the challenges of managing asthma in today's military.

Langerhans cell histiocytosis presenting as uncontrolled asthma.

Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) is an uncommon disorder affecting primarily young adult smokers. It is characterized by abnormal proliferation of Langerhans cells, specialized monocyte-macrophage lineage antigen-presenting cells. LCH can affect the lungs in isolation or as part of a systemic disease.