Larger Volume and Different Activation of the Brain in Response to Threat in Military Officers

Introduction: Military missions involve stressful and life-threatening situations; however, soldiers should have a healthy cognition on the battlefield despite their high-stress levels. This is an ability that should be gained during prior military training. Successful and influential training is suggested to be associated with structural and functional improvements of the brain. Methods: This study investigated the pattern of brain activation while observing videos relevant to life-threatening situations, in addition to brain structure. Accordingly, the obtained data were compared between 20 military members and 26 healthy controls. The study participants were all male, aged between 19 to 24 years, right-handed, studying BSc, and from the same socioeconomic status. Results: The obtained data presented a larger volume in a total number of 1103 voxels of the brain (in 5 brain areas) in the military group. Furthermore, the military group suggested higher brain activation in the visual processing areas of the brain when observing real combat videos; however, this increment was mostly in the areas associated with motor processing and executive functions in the controls. Conclusion: This study indicated that military training is associated with positive structural changes in the brain. Besides, it provided a different brain activation in response to stressful situations. These findings highlighted the importance of qualified military training.

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FEATURES OF FUNCTIONING OF THE IMMUNE SYSTEM UNDER STRESS

Medical academic journal ◽

10.17816/maj191s1123-124 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 19 (1S) ◽

pp. 123-124

Author(s):

N S Zaitseva ◽

L P Syziakina

Keyword(s):

Immune System ◽

Structural Changes ◽

Practical Interest ◽

Military Officers ◽

Special Operations ◽

Immune System Function ◽

Life Threatening ◽

The Military ◽

First Time ◽

Adaptive Reactions

The psychobiological essence of stress is to reprogram the resources of the human body for survival in extreme life-threatening conditions. The study of the activity of the main homeostatic systems in acute and prolonged adaptive reactions in soldiers is of great scientific and practical interest. The immune status was assessed in 42 military officers who participated in special operations for the first time. Not only quantitative, but also structural changes of the immune system function in the military-participants of special operations were revealed. The results require further analysis, study and consideration in assessing the health of soldiers.

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Native Ubiquitin Structural Changes Resulting from Complexation with β-methylamino-L-alanine (BMAA)

10.26434/chemrxiv.12996335.v1 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Katie Mae Wilson ◽

Aurora Burkus-Matesevac ◽

Samuel Maddox ◽

Christopher Chouinard

Keyword(s):

Structural Changes ◽

Noncovalent Complex ◽

Unfolded Protein ◽

Protein Size ◽

High Concentrations ◽

The Unfolded Protein Response ◽

Critical Binding ◽

Protein Response ◽

The Brain ◽

Lateral Sclerosis

β-methylamino-L-alanine (BMAA) has been linked to the development of neurodegenerative (ND) symptoms following chronic environmental exposure through water and dietary sources. The brains of those affected by this condition, often referred to as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis-parkinsonism-dementia complex (ALS-PDC), have exhibited the presence of plaques and neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) from protein aggregation. Although numerous studies have sought to better understand the correlation between BMAA exposure and onset of ND symptoms, no definitive link has been identified. One prevailing hypothesis is that BMAA acts a small molecule ligand, complexing with critical proteins in the brain and reducing their function. The objective of this research was to investigate the effects of BMAA exposure on the native structure of ubiquitin. We hypothesized that formation of a Ubiquitin+BMAA noncovalent complex would alter the protein’s structure and folding and ultimately affect the ubiquitinproteasome system (UPS) and the unfolded protein response (UPR). Ion mobility-mass spectrometry revealed that at sufficiently high concentrations BMAA did in fact form a noncovalent complex with ubiquitin, however similar complexes were identified for a range of additional amino acids. Collision induced unfolding (CIU) was used to interrogate the unfolding dynamics of native ubiquitin and these Ubq-amino acid complexes and it was determined that complexation with BMAA led to a significant alteration in native protein size and conformation, and this complex required considerably more energy to unfold. This indicates that the complex remains more stable under native conditions and this may indicate that BMAA has attached to a critical binding location.

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Native Ubiquitin Structural Changes Resulting from Complexation with β-methylamino-L-alanine (BMAA)

10.26434/chemrxiv.12996335 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Katie Mae Wilson ◽

Aurora Burkus-Matesevac ◽

Samuel Maddox ◽

Christopher Chouinard

Keyword(s):

Structural Changes ◽

Noncovalent Complex ◽

Unfolded Protein ◽

Protein Size ◽

High Concentrations ◽

The Unfolded Protein Response ◽

Critical Binding ◽

Protein Response ◽

The Brain ◽

Lateral Sclerosis

β-methylamino-L-alanine (BMAA) has been linked to the development of neurodegenerative (ND) symptoms following chronic environmental exposure through water and dietary sources. The brains of those affected by this condition, often referred to as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis-parkinsonism-dementia complex (ALS-PDC), have exhibited the presence of plaques and neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) from protein aggregation. Although numerous studies have sought to better understand the correlation between BMAA exposure and onset of ND symptoms, no definitive link has been identified. One prevailing hypothesis is that BMAA acts a small molecule ligand, complexing with critical proteins in the brain and reducing their function. The objective of this research was to investigate the effects of BMAA exposure on the native structure of ubiquitin. We hypothesized that formation of a Ubiquitin+BMAA noncovalent complex would alter the protein’s structure and folding and ultimately affect the ubiquitinproteasome system (UPS) and the unfolded protein response (UPR). Ion mobility-mass spectrometry revealed that at sufficiently high concentrations BMAA did in fact form a noncovalent complex with ubiquitin, however similar complexes were identified for a range of additional amino acids. Collision induced unfolding (CIU) was used to interrogate the unfolding dynamics of native ubiquitin and these Ubq-amino acid complexes and it was determined that complexation with BMAA led to a significant alteration in native protein size and conformation, and this complex required considerably more energy to unfold. This indicates that the complex remains more stable under native conditions and this may indicate that BMAA has attached to a critical binding location.

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Fact file 1: Critical care and emergency medicine

10.1093/oso/9780198792079.003.0014 ◽

2017 ◽

Author(s):

Daisy Fancourt

Keyword(s):

Emergency Medicine ◽

Critical Care ◽

Sports Medicine ◽

Orthopaedic Surgery ◽

Extreme Environment ◽

Disaster Medicine ◽

Medical Attention ◽

Life Threatening ◽

Medical Disciplines ◽

The Brain

Emergency medicine involves the care of patients who require immediate medical attention. The specialty encompasses a broad range of medical disciplines, including anaesthesia, cardiology (a field related to the heart), neurology (a field related to the brain), plastic surgery, orthopaedic surgery (surgery relating to the bones or muscles), and cardiothoracic surgery (surgery relating to the heart, chest, or lungs). There are also a number of subspecialties including extreme environment medicine, disaster medicine and sports medicine. Related to emergency medicine is the specialty of critical care medicine, which is concerned with the care of patients with life-threatening conditions often treated in intensive care settings....

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Health and Service-related Impact of Sexual and Stalking Victimization During United States Military Service on LGBT Service Members

Journal of Interpersonal Violence ◽

10.1177/0886260520970312 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 088626052097031

Author(s):

Cary Leonard Klemmer ◽

Ashley C. Schuyler ◽

Mary Rose Mamey ◽

Sheree M. Schrager ◽

Carl Andrew Castro ◽

...

Keyword(s):

United States ◽

Military Service ◽

The United States ◽

Active Duty ◽

Service Members ◽

United States Military ◽

Service Outcomes ◽

Study Participants ◽

The Military ◽

Stalking Victimization

Prior research among military personnel has indicated that sexual harassment, stalking, and sexual assault during military service are related to negative health sequelae. However, research specific to LGBT U.S. service members is limited. The current study aimed to explore the health, service utilization, and service-related impact of stalking and sexual victimization experiences in a sample of active-duty LGBT U.S. service members ( N = 248). Respondent-driven sampling was used to recruit study participants. U.S. service members were eligible to participate if they were 18 years or older and active-duty members of the U.S. Army, U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps, or U.S. Air Force. This study included a sizeable portion of transgender service members ( N = 58, 23.4%). Sociodemographic characteristics, characteristics of military service, health, and sexual and stalking victimization in the military were assessed. Regression was used to examine relationships between health and service outcomes and sexual and stalking victimization during military service. Final adjusted models showed that experiencing multiple forms of victimization in the military increased the odds of visiting a mental health clinician and having elevated somatic symptoms, posttraumatic stress disorder symptomatology, anxiety, and suicidality. Sexual and stalking victimization during U.S. military service was statistically significantly related to the mental and physical health of LGBT U.S. service members. Interventions to reduce victimization experiences and support LGBT U.S. service members who experience these types of violence are indicated. Research that examines the role of LGBT individuals’ experiences and organizational and peer factors, including social support, leadership characteristics, and institutional policies in the United States military is needed.

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Visuopathy of prematurity: is retinopathy just the tip of the iceberg?

Pediatric Research ◽

10.1038/s41390-021-01625-0 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Sigrid Hegna Ingvaldsen ◽

Tora Sund Morken ◽

Dordi Austeng ◽

Olaf Dammann

Keyword(s):

Visual Processing ◽

Structural Changes ◽

Developmental Trajectories ◽

Visual Pathway ◽

Visual Stream ◽

Visual Deficits ◽

Cortical Areas ◽

Cellular Architecture ◽

Increased Risk ◽

Dorsal Visual Stream

AbstractResearch on retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) focuses mainly on the abnormal vascularization patterns that are directly visible for ophthalmologists. However, recent findings indicate that children born prematurely also exhibit changes in the retinal cellular architecture and along the dorsal visual stream, such as structural changes between and within cortical areas. Moreover, perinatal sustained systemic inflammation (SSI) is associated with an increased risk for ROP and the visual deficits that follow. In this paper, we propose that ROP might just be the tip of an iceberg we call visuopathy of prematurity (VOP). The VOP paradigm comprises abnormal vascularization of the retina, alterations in retinal cellular architecture, choroidal degeneration, and abnormalities in the visual pathway, including cortical areas. Furthermore, VOP itself might influence the developmental trajectories of cerebral structures and functions deemed responsible for visual processing, thereby explaining visual deficits among children born preterm.

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Unilateral mydriasis in a child with a ventriculoperitoneal shunt for obstructive hydrocephalus: a diagnostic dilemma

BMJ Case Reports ◽

10.1136/bcr-2020-237257 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 13 (12) ◽

pp. e237257

Author(s):

Monidipa Banerjee ◽

Eiman Haj Ahmed ◽

Kathryn Foster ◽

Arundoss Gangadharan

Keyword(s):

Ipratropium Bromide ◽

Obstructive Hydrocephalus ◽

Sudden Onset ◽

Unique Case ◽

Diagnostic Dilemma ◽

Vp Shunt ◽

Life Threatening ◽

Unilateral Mydriasis ◽

The Brain ◽

Rule Out

There are several causes for sudden onset unilateral mydriasis, however impending transtentorial uncal herniation needs to be ruled out. This unique case highlights an uncommon adverse response to a common mode of treatment that leads to a diagnostic dilemma. A 3-year-old boy with a ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt for an obstructive hydrocephalus presented with an acute respiratory distress. He developed unilateral mydriasis with absent light reflex during treatment with nebulisers. An urgent CT scan of the brain did not show any new intracranial abnormality. A case of pharmacological anisocoria was diagnosed that resolved completely within 24 hours of discontinuation of ipratropium bromide. Although ipratropium-induced anisocoria has been reported in children, but to our knowledge none in a child with VP shunt for hydrocephalus. This emphasises the urgency in evaluating unilateral mydriasis to rule out life-threatening conditions. Clinicians should remember that ipratropium administered through ill-fitting face masks could cause this completely reversible adverse effect.

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Collective aeromedical evacuations of SARS-CoV-2-related ARDS patients in a military tactical plane: a retrospective descriptive study

BMJ Military Health ◽

10.1136/bmjmilitary-2021-001876 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. bmjmilitary-2021-001876

Author(s):

Thibault Martinez ◽

K Simon ◽

L Lely ◽

C Nguyen Dac ◽

M Lefevre ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Intensive Care Unit ◽

Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome ◽

Intensive Care ◽

Respiratory Distress Syndrome ◽

Selection Criteria ◽

Distress Syndrome ◽

Descriptive Study ◽

Military Aircraft ◽

Life Threatening ◽

The Military

After the appearance of the COVID-19 pandemic in France, MEROPE system was created to transform the military tactical ATLAS A400M aircraft into a flying intensive care unit. Collective aeromedical evacuations (aero-MEDEVAC) of patients suffering from SARS-CoV-2-related acute respiratory distress syndrome was performed from June to December 2020. A total of 22 patients were transported during seven missions. All aero-MEDEVAC was performed in safe conditions for patients and crew. No life-threatening conditions occurred during flight. Biohazard controls were applied according to French guidelines and prevented crew contamination. Thanks to rigorous selection criteria and continuous in-flight medical care, the safe transportation of these patients was possible. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first description of collective aero-MEDEVAC of these kinds of patients using a tactical military aircraft. We here describe the patient’s characteristics and the flight’s challenges.

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Multidisciplinary Approach to Suspected Sudden Death Caused by Arteriovenous Malformation Rupture: A Case Report

Medicina ◽

10.3390/medicina57070644 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 57 (7) ◽

pp. 644

Author(s):

Federico Giuseppe Patanè ◽

Massimiliano Esposito ◽

Andrea Giovanni Musumeci ◽

Monica Palermo ◽

Marco Torrisi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Arteriovenous Malformation ◽

Cause Of Death ◽

Venous Malformation ◽

Healthy Woman ◽

Unexpected Death ◽

Medical Problems ◽

Variable Diameter ◽

Life Threatening ◽

Brain Avms ◽

The Brain

Arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) are rare congenital conditions with a prevalence of less than 1% and are mostly asymptomatic. However, these malformations can suddenly cause intense pain or bleeding, leading to life-threatening medical problems. This report presents a case of an unexpected death in a 37-year-old previously healthy woman due to an intra-cerebellum arteriovenous malformation rupture identified during autopsy. While infective processes where preliminarily excluded, a Post Mortem Computed Tomography (PMCT) identified a tetra ventricular hemorrhage and intra-cerebellum hemorrhage. Toxicological examination was negative for most substances of abuse. During autopsy an intense hemorrhagic infiltrate in the subarachnoid space was observed. After formalin fixation of the brain the cerebellum showed hemorrhagic infarction on fourth ventricle sides, as well as several small reddish infarctions across the entire cerebellum parenchyma. Histological examination of the brain and cerebellum showed a suffusion of erythrocytes in the sub-arachnoid region. Evidence of an arterio-venous malformation, with several intertwine vessels of variable diameter, surrounded by hemorrhagic evidence. The autopsy played a crucial role in identifying the location and the possibly affected vessel, as well as defining the cause of death. It is necessary to have a greater number of autopsies to make an epidemiological contribution. Furthermore, it is crucial to create a multicenter data network with other authors from other departments to improve information about epidemiological, clinical, diagnostic and therapeutic data. Most brain AVMs as cause of death are often undiscovered.

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