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D'Alessandro M, Mackie R, Wolf S, McGhee JS, Curry I. Physiological Fitness of U.S. Army Aviators Compared to the U.S. General Population. Aerosp Med Hum Perform 2024; 95:175-186. [PMID: 38486315 DOI: 10.3357/amhp.6371.2024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/17/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: U.S. Army aviators are required to maintain a level of physiological fitness as part of their qualifying process, which suggests that they are generally physically healthy. However, it has not been statistically proven that they are more "physiologically fit" than the general population.METHODS: This retrospective study compares physiological measurements of U.S. Army aviators from the Aeromedical Electronic Resource Office database to the U.S. general population using the Center for Disease Control's National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data. To enable an accurate comparison of physiological metrics between U.S. Army aviators and the U.S. general population, aviators were categorized into the same age groups and biological genders used for segmentation of the national population data.RESULTS: On average, pulse rate was 4.85 bpm lower in male aviators and 6.84 bpm lower in female aviators. Fasting glucose levels were, on average, 10.6 mg · dL-1 lower in aviators compared to the general population. Key metrics like pulse rate and fasting glucose were lower in aviators, indicating cardiovascular and metabolic advantages. However, parameters like cholesterol showed less consistent differences.DISCUSSION: While aviation physical demands and administrative policies selecting for elite physiological metrics produce improvements on some dimensions, a nuanced view accounting for the multitude of factors influencing an aviator's physiological fitness is still warranted. Implementing targeted health monitoring and maintenance programs based on assessments conducted more frequently than the current annual flight physical may optimize aviator safety and performance over the course of a career.D'Alessandro M, Mackie R, Wolf S, McGhee JS, Curry I. Physiological fitness of U.S. Army aviators compared to the U.S. general population. Aerosp Med Hum Perform. 2024; 95(4):175-186.
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Lall M, Datta K, Iyengar MRA, Shakya A, Kanitkar M. M3: The military medicine module: A focussed competency-based program. Med J Armed Forces India 2021; 77:S99-S106. [PMID: 33612939 PMCID: PMC7873731 DOI: 10.1016/j.mjafi.2021.01.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2020] [Accepted: 01/03/2021] [Indexed: 10/22/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Military medicine is a unique and specific field for the armed forces doctors providing skill-based training on military specific injuries and diseases arising due to the unique occupational conditions. The current study retrospectively studied the planning and implementation of the military medicine module which was carried out with the aim of imparting the requisite skills to military doctors. METHODS The study was a qualitative research, carried over two years, 2017-2019. The study population included two batches of recently graduated medical doctors about to be commissioned . The methodology included needs assessment and gap analysis which was carried out by consulting experts from the tri services. Feedback was taken by medical education experts from both the batches using surveys, and modifications were done after brainstorming with experts keeping feedback in mind. RESULTS There was an improvement in the rating scores and an improved performance by participants was seen in the competencies. CONCLUSION In conclusion the module was developed and implemented keeping in mind the important skills that military physicians need to learn through training as these are not been taught in any educational syllabus. To achieve such skills and capabilities, gap analysis is essential and programs should be implemented keeping scope for modification depending on the feedback after brainstorming. Feedback remains important in development of such modules and hence should be collected anonymously.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mahima Lall
- Resource Faculty, NMCRC for Medical Education Technologies, AFMC Pune & Professor, Dept of Microbiology, AFMC Pune, India
| | - Karuna Datta
- Convener, NMCRC for Medical Education Technologies, Coordinator, Dept of Medical Education & Professor, Dept of Sports Medicine, AFMC, Pune, India
| | | | - Ashwani Shakya
- Training Officer, Armed Forces Medical College, Pune, India
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Scultetus AH, Jefferson MA, Haque A, Hubbell JN, Arnaud FG, Moon-Massat P, McCarron RM, Malone DL. Histopathological Evidence of Multiple Organ Damage After Simulated Aeromedical Evacuation in a Swine Acute Lung Injury Model. Mil Med 2020; 185:57-66. [PMID: 32074309 DOI: 10.1093/milmed/usz248] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Rapid aeromedical evacuation (AE) is standard of care in current conflicts. However, not much is known about possible effects of hypobaric conditions. We investigated possible effects of hypobaria on organ damage in a swine model of acute lung injury. METHODS Lung injury was induced in anesthetized swine via intravenous oleic acid infusion. After a stabilization phase, animals were subjected to a 4 hour simulated AE at 8000 feet (HYPO). Control animals were kept at normobaria. After euthanasia and necropsy, organ damage was assessed by combined scores for hemorrhage, inflammation, edema, necrosis, and microatelectasis. RESULTS Hemodynamic, neurological, or hematologic measurements were similar prior to transport. Hemodynamic instability became apparent during the last 2 hours of transport in the HYPO group. Histological injury scores in the HYPO group were higher for all organs (lung, kidney, liver, pancreas, and adrenal glands) except the brain, with the largest difference in the lungs (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS Swine with mild acute lung injury subjected to a 4 hour simulated AE showed more injury to most organs and, in particular, to the lungs compared with ground transport. This may exacerbate otherwise subclinical pathology and, eventually, manifest as abnormalities in gas exchange or possibly end-organ function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anke H Scultetus
- Neuro Trauma Department, Naval Medical Research Center, 503 Robert Grant Avenue, Silver Spring, MD 20910.,Department of Surgery, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, 4301 Jones Bridge Road, Bethesda, MD 20814
| | - Michelle A Jefferson
- Department of Pathology, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, 503 Robert Grant Avenue, Silver Spring, MD 20910
| | - Ashraful Haque
- Neuro Trauma Department, Naval Medical Research Center, 503 Robert Grant Avenue, Silver Spring, MD 20910.,Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, 6720A Rockledge Drive, Bethesda, MD 20817
| | - Jordan N Hubbell
- Neuro Trauma Department, Naval Medical Research Center, 503 Robert Grant Avenue, Silver Spring, MD 20910.,Parsons, 100 West Walnut Street, Pasadena, CA 91124.,Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, 6720A Rockledge Drive, Bethesda, MD 20817
| | - Francoise G Arnaud
- Neuro Trauma Department, Naval Medical Research Center, 503 Robert Grant Avenue, Silver Spring, MD 20910.,Department of Surgery, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, 4301 Jones Bridge Road, Bethesda, MD 20814.,Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, 6720A Rockledge Drive, Bethesda, MD 20817
| | - Paula Moon-Massat
- Neuro Trauma Department, Naval Medical Research Center, 503 Robert Grant Avenue, Silver Spring, MD 20910.,Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, 6720A Rockledge Drive, Bethesda, MD 20817
| | - Richard M McCarron
- Neuro Trauma Department, Naval Medical Research Center, 503 Robert Grant Avenue, Silver Spring, MD 20910.,Department of Surgery, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, 4301 Jones Bridge Road, Bethesda, MD 20814
| | - Debra L Malone
- Neuro Trauma Department, Naval Medical Research Center, 503 Robert Grant Avenue, Silver Spring, MD 20910.,Department of Surgery, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, 4301 Jones Bridge Road, Bethesda, MD 20814.,Department of Surgery, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, 4494 North Palmer Road, Bethesda, MD 20889
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