JOURNAL OF MILITARY MEDICINE
Year:2006 | Volume:8 | Issue:1 (27)|Papers Count:17

Background: Mustard gas had been used against Iranian soldiers during Iraq-Iran war for several times and caused numerous physical and mental impairments. Mustard gas injury and P.T.S.D. decrease the general health of victims. The aim of this study was to evaluate the incidence of psychological health in mustard gas exposed Iraq-Iran war veterans.Methods and materials: In a descriptive-analytic study, 100 mustard gas injured veterans referred to Baqyatallah and Sadr hospitals were evaluated for general health with using general health questionnaire (G.H.Q-28). Relations between G.H.Q. and education, job, wife's education and other demographic data were evaluated. Frequencies, means, correlation and analysis of variance were computed with SPSS software.Results: Mean age of selected persons was 41 years (S.D. =5.86). The mean of general health in mustard injured persons was 47.34 indicating impaired health in this group. There were significant correlation between G.H.Q. and education, job and psychiatric ward admission.Discussion: Differences between some variables were significant or had shift toward being significant These findings revealed importance of plans and preventive measures for these patients.

Background: Measles is a contagious respiratory. viral infection whose outbreak. continues to occur in adults in recent decades especially in soldiers.Methods: this is a review study that has compared the immunity against measles before and after vaccination. We also have accumulated the results and considerations of other studies about measles immunity in adults and have analyzed these data.Results: Two previous studies in military forces have shown, that 22.5% of personnel were non immune to measles before vaccination but this rate is decreased to 2.2% after mass vaccination that it could control the measles outbreak. Also, the ministry of health hasn't reported any measles case after mass vaccination.Discussion: The most studies in Iran and other countries showed outbreak. of measles in adults and they have considered measles vaccination in recent years. Therefore, military health office vaccinated all persons between 5- 25 years old. In future for measles control, .they should vaccinate all soldiers and new staff who have recruited to army, if not immune to measles disease, to control it.

Military medicine and biodefense research is vital for protection against weapons of mass destructions' specially threat of chemical and biological warfare and bioterrorism. Great advances in the life sciences, like biotechnology, genetic engineering and molecular biology have created a pressing need for steps that must be taken to reduce this threat to humanity.The biosafety regulations and code of conduct for scientists may provide a tool nationally adopted by each state party to the -BWC convention in implementation of its obligations under the convention and in accordance with its constitutional process and put into force within its territory.The scientists should be encouraged to convene seminars, workshops and prepare research papers to raise the awareness. Training programs and materials on biosafety regulations and, GLP (good laboratory practice) and biomedical ethics should also be improved and inserted in university curricula.Codes of conduct should not leave individuals and scientists with the impression that codes are designed against them or their scientific activities. Due respect should be extended to the scientific community as members of the society who serve the noble objectives of humanity through the advancement of science. Wider contributions by the scientists in promotion.The promotion of international scientific and technological cooperation and exchange of information according to article X of the BWC regarding results of scientific research constitutes yet another effective assurance for the use of biosciences to remain peaceful.Codes of conduct should avoid any restrictions on exchange of scientific discoveries in the field of biology for research, development, prevention, diagnosis and treatment or disease and other peaceful purposes.

Introduction: Premature discharge is known as a cause of relapse of psychiatric disorder and readmission. Health supervisors and researchers are eager to keep this kind of discharge minimal. Current study was done to evaluate the frequency of Discharge Against Medical Advice (AMA) from psychiatric ward and correlated variables.Materials and methods: In this case-control retrospective study, the chart of 908 admissions in psychiatry ward of Baqiatallab hospital between 1997 and 2003 were studied. Random sampling was done. Patients were divided to patients discharged AMA and those discharged with Medical Advice. Demographic -and mental health related variables were registered and compared in two groups. Results: 31 subjects (3.4%) were discharged Against Medical Advice and 877 (96.6%) with Medical Advice. Discharge AMA was significantly correlated with psychotic disorders and depressive disorders, but not with personality disorder, anxiety disorder and bipolar disorders. Age, being soldier, socioeconomic status', military duty, familial history of mental health disorder in relatives, history of suicide, using drugs and cigarette was not significantly correlated with discharge AMA.Conclusion: Over 3% of subjects who admit to Baqyiatallah hospital are discharged against medical advice. Patients with depressive or psychotic disorders are at higher risk for discharge with AMA. With respect to decrease the frequency of discharge against medical advice, it seems t be essential to give instruction to some groups of patients such as those with depressive or psychotic disorders. Further studies are recommended.

Background: Ear, as vestibuloauditory system, can be damaged by many causes. In army personnel who have been exposed to trauma ear can be traumatized. Many of ear injuries are irreversible. Because of eight years war in Iran and as far as there has not been any study in Golestan province about such abnormalities, this research was done to determine te common otologic findings in war victims of Golestan province.Methods: This is a descriptive cross-sectional study on 256 war victims of Golestan, which were chosen with simple randomized sampling. Hearing loss, tinnitus, othorea, vertigo and tympanic membrane perforation as otologic findings, and the kind of trauma were considered. B.C over than 15db considered as hearing loss. Hearing loss was divided in few groups and the questionnaire was filled for an of the sample population. Data was analyzed by SPSS software and Fisher exact test.Results: In this study, the sample population was exclusively male of whom 21.5% suffered nom audiologic problems. 94.6% of them had hearing loss (83.6% with tinnitus) and all the others had tinnitus without clinical hearing loss, but there were some findings of hearing loss in their otologic findings. 80% of hearing loss was bilateral, 10.9% on the right and 9.1% on the left side. Type of hearing loss in 89% was neuronal. And in 88% it was in high nequencies. The intensity of hearing loss in 48.5% of sample population was 15-30db, 6.4% of them had tympanic membrane rupture, only 3.6% of them had othorea and none of them had vertigo.Discussion: Although there are few years passed nom the end of the war but the hearing abnormalities are still common problems in war victims. Therefore it is necessary not only to anufacture sound protective instruments but also to proper special trainings for army personnel been in war front. On the condition where the sound can cause reversible lesions, the health care personnel should be ready to look after victims. Also the risk factors should be omitted to preserve the remained hearing in the war victims.

Introduction: Islamic Republic of Iran was frequently attacked by Chemical Warfare Agents (CWA) during Iraq- Iran war. Today and after 15 to 20 years of exposure many injured patients are constantly suffering from long-term effects of these agents. But nowadays danger of chemical terrorism and also bioterrorism are not merely related to war time and most communities are liable to such threats. In this regard OPCW conducts several educational programs for physicians and specific relief agents of the associated countries each year. Ukraine maneuver, from 2005/10/8 until 2005/10113, was the second medical and non-medical chemical defense conducted by OPCW in collaboration with NATO members. Iranian chemical defense team, member of International chemical injured treatment and education station, has participated very actively in this maneuver.Methods: Current study has performed according to scientific issues about acute and chronic complications due to chemical warfare's, managements protocols and challenging with chemical attacks, prevention. methods and treatment of injured patients and also triage and structure of chemical emergency and obtain experiences from 8 years war of Iraq against Iran and also participation in national and international chemical maneuvers with an analytic view to different medical, operational and technical aspects of chemical maneuver in Ukrain with participation of all the NATO countries, we would compared it with Iranian national maneuver.Results: We could define several weaknesses and strengths of our anti-biochemical training programs. We have also designed a sketch for future collaboration with other countries in an international level to respond properly in case of biochemical accidents.Discussion: Although we have experienced valuable results during chemical war Iraq against Iran, but if we don't publish these experiences about management of chemical veterans and don't education them, they would be forgotten. Nowadays world have a lot of worries about terrorist chemical attacks and education of prevention and medical aspects is an issue of importance and also publishing and educating of such findings would result increasing.in self esteem about our scientific practical, technical and tactical knowledge if accompanied with using experiences of other countries to repair our defects.

Introduction: Warfare in addition to damaged and psychosomatic problems on combatants also it put their families exposed to danger. This research performed with object for the effect of Training conflict resolution Of QOL of Spouse's Of War Veterans post traumatic stress disorder.Material and Method: This present research is a Quazi experimental study of clinical trial type that carried out on 28 war veterans spouse in Baqiyatallah hospital (a.s) and Sadr psychiatric center. They were divided into conflict resolution Group (Interventional Groups) and control groups randomly. The education program was performed for intervention group at 3 sessions in 2 hours a week however, no training was done for the control group. The Quality of life in both groups were determining at before, and after training to 2 stage in 6 week &12 week after training (follow up & post test) by SF 36 questionnaire. The data were analysed by using spss with descriptive and inferential statistics.Results: Independent t-test showed that the quality of life mean rank before training had not a significant different between the groups (p>0.05). But after intervention he same test indicated a significant difference between two groups (p=0.001). Paired t-test revealed that the quality of life mean rank before and after the group intervention with p=0/000 has a significant difference. The Friedman test showed that there was significance in total mean rank of Q.o.l in intervention group in before -after and final test (p=0.0001).DISCUSSION: Considering the results, it is recommended that the conflict resolution skill program should be used to promotion the health and quality of life's individuals especially veterans family.

Introduction: The most common mosquito repellent formulations available on the market contain deet (N, N-diethyl- m-toluamide), which has shown good repellency against biting insects. Although effectiveness, deet is not the ideal product. as allergic and toxic effects have been documented. To avoid these adverse effects, research on repellents derived from plant extracts and some other chemical repellents, to replace deet. The repellent dimethyl phthalate (DMP) is again attended due to its safety to human. This study investigates the repellency and effective dosage of DMP, which is synthesized and formulated in Iran, comparing with Germany dimethyl phthalate against Anopheles stephensi and Culex pipiens using human bait methods.Material and Method: Two repellents includes Iranian and Merck dimethyl phthalate (DMP) were evaluated against Anopheles stephensi and Culex pipiens, using American Society for Testing and Material (ASTM) standard procedure, a free choice method based on the variable dose-fixed time. Also a modified of ASTM method we used for determination of effective dosages of the repellents. In laboratory repellent test dimethyl phthalate was evaluated against An. stephensi and Cx. pipeins when applied to human skin. The experiments with two models of cages conducted twice on each of the four human volunteers (4 males). Results: In ASTM method there were no significant differences between the two repellents (Iranian and Merck's DMP) as indicated by the ED50 and ED90 values (P>0.05). But, there were significant differences in repellent sensitivity between An. stephensi and Cx. pipiens at the ED50 level. In modified ASTM method there were no significant differences between the two repellents against An.stephensi, as indicated by the ED50 values (p>0.05). But, there are significant differences between the two repellents against Cx. pipiens based on ED50 value. Discussion: Results of this study showed that the Iranian synthesized DMP has necessary potential and specificity to compare with Merck manufactured product. With both methods relative difference of effective dose of different repellents can be indicated, but standard method is better than modified method. Based on the result of our study, An.stephensi was distinguished as ideal species for repellents test in the laboratory.

Introduction: X-ray is a high energy electromagnetic wave that can pass through many materials including human tissues. X-ray is one of the ionizing electromagnetic waves which have wide spectrums. The waves are used for different purposes including medicine, industrial applications, and research projects. One of the applications of Xray is using it in security screening system at airports. In these places, a lot of operator are exposed to Ionization radiations. In order to prevent the risk of exposure, It is necessary to control the X-ray radiation and also the operator must know the X-ray and its side effects on their body. Airport is on of the workplaces in which x-ray instruments are being used widely. The aim of this study was to measure the x-ray exposure among personnel of inspection gate units.Methods and Materials: The x-ray machines which are available in inspection gates at mehrabad airport are RAPISCAN and HEIMANN. In order to measure the rate of x-ray level in different inspection gates, the measurement of x-ray rate was performed in men and women gats and in different conditions.Results: The total mean of measured x-ray was 2.68±0.73.At the exit of luggage (open situation), the mean of x-ray was 4.25±1.75 and close situation it was 2.5±1.2 At the beside of the machine, x-ray rate was 1.3±0.07 The rate of x-ray which was measured in men section and in women were 4.07±1.24 and 1.3±0.13, respectively. It must be added that total rate of x-ray in RAPISCAN and HEIMANN machines were investigated 2.07±0.61 and 3.3±1.34, respectively.Discussion: The rate of x-ray exposure in different positions was less than occupational standard level. Never the less, these limit, of x-ray would be harmful for health situation, it should be useful for personnel to be informed about safe working with x-ray machine that can reduce the risk of exposure.

Introduction: Because the loss of study about military officers' job satisfaction and its relation with mental and personality characters, our aim was to evaluate this relationship in superior and inferior officers in a military unit of Sepah-E-Pasdaran of Islamic Revolution. It is hypothesized that there is correlation between job satisfaction with mental health, personality traits and demographic variables in military officers; and can predict job satisfaction from these variables.Method: As a cross-sectional study, 207 of superior & inferior officers of a military unit were selected randomly and assessed with Job Descriptive Index (JDI), 16PF Cattell Questionnaire, General Health Questionnaire (GHQ) and demographic Questionnaire.Results: The result of Pearson correlation coefficient showed that high job satisfaction has a positive correlation with high mental health, personality and demographic characters; and the job satisfaction increased with increasing in score of leadership and adjustment. Other results showed "social function" as a mental health, "control" as a personality character and age can predict 11.3 percent of military forces job satisfaction (p<0.05)Discussion: This research showed that more attention must be paid to job satisfaction of military officers and suggested that mental health and personality characteristics can predict job satisfaction; therefore these can be used as worship variables to employing and screening variables of new officers. Anyway there are many important factors in this problem as we discussed about.

Introduction: HCV and HBV that are two main causes of hepatic disorders, have many extra hepatic complications that some of them, like progression to antiphospholipid antibodyv syndrome, are still under study. The goal of this research was to evaluate the presence deep vein thrombosis (DVT) as a probable extra hepatic complication of these two diseases. Methods: 148 IV drug abusers, referred to some of Isfahan hospitals and health care centers from 2002 to 2004 were selected with a simple non- randomized method. They were examined for limb thrombosis. Limb affection and duration of IV drug abuse in patients with DVT were obtained. Then, the patients were divided in to two groups: 72 (48%) with thrombosis and 76 (52%) without it. Infection with HBV and HCV were confirmed -by HBS-Ag and HCV-Ab tests respectively (ELISA mathod) and the correlation between thrombosis and HBV, HCV and demographic factors were analyzed Via x2 and logistic regression tests. P<0.05 was considered significant.Results: 45.8% of IV drug abusers with DVT and 34.2 % of those without DVT were HCV positive (P > 0.05). 16.6% of those with DVT and 9.2% of those without it were HBV positive (P > 0.05). Appositive correlation was seen between duration of drug abuse and Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, and DVT (P= 0.0004, 0.001, and 0.0001, respectively). The most thrombosis limb was right leg (33.3%).Conclusion: Regarding to data analysis, (there was) no significant relationship between infection of HBV and HCV with DVT. However, there is some evidences show increase in anti- cardiolipin antibody and anti- phospholipids antibody syndrome in chronic hepatitis patients. Because of some controversies in results of researches, this subject needs more investigation. Also, we concluded that the longer duration of drug abuse, not only increases HBV and HCV infections, but also DVT, which is important for IV drug abusers.