Orthopedic Activity in Field Hospitals Following Earthquakes in Nepal and Haiti : Variability in Injuries Encountered and Collaboration with Local Available Resources Drive Optimal Response.

Background: Field hospitals have been deployed by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Medical Corps in numerous disaster events. Two recent deployments were following earthquakes in Haiti in 2010 and in Nepal in 2015. Despite arrival in similar timetables, the mode of operation was different-independently in Haiti and in collaboration with a local hospital in Nepal.

Periocular and anterior orbital necrosis after upper eyelid gold weight loading: operation-related or self-inflicted?

A 44-year-old woman, who had undergone gold-weight implantation due to facial palsy and lagophthalmos, arrived at the ophthalmology ward with eyelid swelling and erythema, which rapidly deteriorated under intravenous antibiotics to a necrotic process involving the periocular tissues, the eye, and the anterior orbit. Despite prompt removal of the gold weight, the patient's ocular and systemic condition continued to deteriorate, necessitating evisceration and debridement of necrotic tissue. Cultures showed growth of Staphylococcus epidermidis, Staphylococcus capitis, Candida glabrata, and Candida albicans, and histopathology demonstrated an acute nonspecific necrotizing panophthalmitis.

A novel short-scar breast reduction technique in large breasts.

Background: Short-scar breast reduction techniques have become very popular in the last two decades. These techniques cannot be used very often in patients with exceptionally large breasts because of the excessive amounts of redundant skin. In this article we describe our new approach for dealing with the extra skin remaining in patients with very large breasts so that they may also benefit from the short-scar breast reduction procedure.

Effect of intradermal human recombinant copper-zinc superoxide dismutase on random pattern flaps in rats.

Background: Studies have focused on enhancing flap viability using superoxide dismutase (SOD), but only a few used SOD from human origin, and most gave the compound systemically. We evaluated the ability of SOD to improve random skin flap survival using human recombinant copper-zinc superoxide dismutase (Hr-CuZnSOD) in variable doses, injected intradermally into the flap.

Methods: Seventy male Sprague Dawley rats were randomly assigned into 4 groups.

Anterior rectus fascia back cut: a new modification to relieve the pressure in fascial closure of the superior pedicle of a transverse rectus abdominis myocutaneous flap.

The maintenance of vascular patency is one of the key points to be considered after a pedicled transverse rectus abdominis myocutaneous (TRAM) flap has been raised and when closing the anterior rectus fascia to avoid a hernia. In this study we describe a new approach to closing the most superior part of the fascia to help insure vascular patency. Forty patients who had their breasts reconstructed with TRAM flaps made up the study group.

Using MRI for the assessment of paraoxon-induced brain damage and efficacy of antidotal treatment.

Organophosphate intoxication induces neural toxicity as demonstrated in histological analysis of poisoned animals. Diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DWMRI) enables early noninvasive characterization of biological tissues based on their water diffusion characteristics. Our objectives were to study the application of MRI for assessment of paraoxon-induced brain damage and the efficacy of antidotal treatments.

Stretch test: effectiveness in identifying basal cell carcinoma borders.

Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most common malignant tumor in the world. Total tumor ablation is the gold standard of treatment. Our aim in this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a new clinical method, we dubbed the "stretch test," in reducing the incidence of incomplete excision of BCC.

[A prospective study to evaluate the safety of minor cutaneous surgery during aspirin treatment].

Background: Many patients undergoing cutaneous surgery are treated with aspirin due to its proven advantages. Discontinuation of aspirin prior to surgery is still controversial. We conducted a large-scale, prospective study to evaluate the safety of dermatologic surgery in patients receiving aspirin.

[Effect of dermoscopy on diagnostic accuracy of pigmented skin lesions emphasizing malignant melanoma].

Background: Skin tumors are the most common malignancies in the Western population, with surgical excision being the definitive treatment.

Objectives: The authors' objectives were to compare the precision of clinical diagnosis of malignant melanomas (MM) by a plastic surgeon in a community clinic with and without the use of dermoscopy.

Methods: The control group comprised of all patients operated on solely by one plastic surgeon between 2001 and 2003, at which time dermoscopy was not used.

Medical management of toxicological mass casualty events.

The relative accessibility to various chemical agents, including chemical warfare agents and toxic industrial compounds, places a toxicological mass casualty event, including chemical terrorism, among the major threats to homeland security. TMCE represents a medical and logistic challenge with potential hazardous exposure of first-response teams. In addition, TMCE poses substantial psychological and economic impact.

Osmium tetroxide: a new kind of weapon.

OsO4 is a powerful oxidizer. It affects mainly the skin and mucous membranes. Although unsuitable for a large-scale terrorist attack, mainly due to its scarcity, it could be used in small-scale attacks.

Bromine--the red cloud approaching.

Bromine is a strong and prevalent irritating agent that can spread both as liquid and as fumes. It has a characteristic reddish-brown color. The mainstay of the medical management is supportive and symptomatic therapy that should be given as soon as possible to prevent further damage.

A decade after the Tokyo sarin attack: a review of neurological follow-up of the victims.

Objective: On March 20, 1995, sarin gas was used in Tokyo by members of the Japanese "Uhm-Shinrikiu" cult, killing 12 and injuring >5,500 innocent people. Most of the casualties were mildly injured. This article reviews the neurological follow-up data for some of the victims over the past decade.

[Cyanides--treatment beneath the shade of terror].

Although the use of cyanides as warfare agents has not been documented since the Iran-Iraq war in the 1980s, there are rising fears of cyanide being used by terrorists. An Al-Qaeda terror plot to use cyanide gas in the London Underground was foiled in 2002. The threat of similar events becomes more imminent in light of the terror attacks in our country and worldwide, accompanied by statements and threats by fundamentalist leaders to employ chemical weapons.

Guidelines for treating cardiac manifestations of organophosphates poisoning with special emphasis on long QT and Torsades De Pointes.

Organophosphate poisoning may precipitate complex ventricular arrhythmias, a frequently overlooked and potentially lethal aspect of this condition. Acute effects consist of electrocardiographic ST-T segment changes and AV conduction disturbances of varying degrees, while long-lasting cardiac changes include QT prolongation, polymorphic tachycardia ("Torsades de Pointes"), and sudden cardiac death. Cardiac monitoring of organophosphate intoxicated patients for relatively long periods after the poisoning and early aggressive treatment of arrhythmias may be the clue to better survival.