Military surgeonPub Date : 2022-04-27DOI: 10.1093/milmed/usac121
Daphne P Morrison Ponce
{"title":"Joining the Navy to Become a Physician: Nothing Typical About It.","authors":"Daphne P Morrison Ponce","doi":"10.1093/milmed/usac121","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/milmed/usac121","url":null,"abstract":"Joining the military and entering a career in medicine are both intensely personal decisions. Individually, becoming a physician or a naval officer requires people to join a profession, represented by the oaths of each group. Both require hard work, demanding schedules, and dedication. Those entering into the Medical Corps will combine these roles. To optimize finding a fulfilling career, students interested in joining the medical corps should identify mentors, which helps them create the career path they want and aids in their self-reflection to discover their motivations and expectations, finally \"Semper Gumby.\" My own path fulfilled my desire to serve and passion for medicine but more importantly afforded me the opportunity to pursue fellowship, gain expertise in academic medicine, and construct a network of mentors, colleagues, and friends around the globe.","PeriodicalId":86137,"journal":{"name":"Military surgeon","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-04-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"48776819","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Military surgeonPub Date : 2022-04-27DOI: 10.1093/milmed/usac117
Eric Goodrich
{"title":"Joining the Navy to Become a Physician: The Typical Experience.","authors":"Eric Goodrich","doi":"10.1093/milmed/usac117","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/milmed/usac117","url":null,"abstract":"INTRODUCTION\u0000The decision to enter the Navy as a physician is a major career choice. However, there are no published studies that address the typical Navy physician's experience in the Health Professions Scholarship Program (HPSP) and Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USUHS) programs. The purpose of this qualitative study is to describe the typical Navy physician's experience in the HPSP and USUHS programs.\u0000\u0000\u0000MATERIALS AND METHODS\u0000An anonymous online survey containing 47 questions was distributed to 63 Navy HPSP and USUHS physicians who started internships from 2008 to 2015. Participants were chosen by using purposeful, criterion, and snowball sampling methods with whom the author had a professional relationship during his military experience. The survey data were plotted in Excel spreadsheets and graphs according to six sub-research questions. Mean, SD, Likert scale 1-5, and grouping of free text responses were recorded.\u0000\u0000\u0000RESULTS\u0000A total of 54 out of 63 Navy physicians (85.7%) responded to the survey. Navy physicians got their first-choice residency selection of 67.3% of the time, 34.6% went straight through residency without interruptions, 44.2% answered definitely or probably that military match changed their residency selection compared to them applying for civilian residency, and 46.2% answered definitely or probably that it was more difficult to get into military versus civilian residency. Participants answered definitely or probably that military experience puts them ahead of civilians in terms of leadership (82.7%), prior medical experience (46.2%), and applying for civilian residency (76.2%). Common positive themes of free-text answers included having financial stability, unique life experiences, and serving their country. Common negative themes included lack of career control, lack of knowledge regarding HPSP/USUHS programs, and delay in residency and career.\u0000\u0000\u0000CONCLUSIONS\u0000The principal findings in this study are that most Navy physicians favored paid medical school/financial support, working overseas and in unique operational climates, having unique life experiences, leadership skills, and prior military experience put them ahead of their civilian colleagues, thought the Navy experience was worth it, and would join again if given the opportunity. However, most Navy physicians had a lack of career control due to needs of the Navy, lack of knowledge regarding residency selection, operational billets, and active duty service obligation, had more difficulty getting into a military residency of their choice versus civilians, and had interrupted residency training/training delays. The Navy would possibly benefit from a nationwide HPSP/USUHS physician mentorship program and an educational seminar to increase medical student applicant knowledge, which may improve recruiting and retention.","PeriodicalId":86137,"journal":{"name":"Military surgeon","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-04-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"47554140","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Military surgeonPub Date : 2022-04-26DOI: 10.1093/milmed/usac116
Amanda M Hall, Stuart D Glass, William A McDonald, Nathaniel B Almond, Andrew P Doan
{"title":"Sleep Deprivation and Self-Harm Associated With Excessive Gaming: A Case Report.","authors":"Amanda M Hall, Stuart D Glass, William A McDonald, Nathaniel B Almond, Andrew P Doan","doi":"10.1093/milmed/usac116","DOIUrl":"10.1093/milmed/usac116","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Excessive gaming may be associated with sleep deprivation and self-harm. One active duty member committed self-injurious behavior to avoid work-related consequences. It was discovered that the patient participated in a video-gaming binge throughout an entire 72-hour weekend liberty. The patient experienced severe sleep deprivation to the point where he overslept and failed to report to work. He injured himself and fabricated a robbery and assault to avoid disciplinary consequences. Military health care providers should consider excessive gaming in patients presenting with sleep issues, self-harm, and disciplinary problems. As the prevalence of gaming increases, the military leadership should be aware that excessive gaming can degrade force readiness.</p>","PeriodicalId":86137,"journal":{"name":"Military surgeon","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-04-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"46287827","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Protective Effect and Possible Mechanisms of Artemisinin and Its Derivatives for Diabetic Nephropathy: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis in Animal Models.","authors":"Haoyue Feng, Tingchao Wu, Qi Zhou, Hui Li, Tianyi Liu, Xitao Ma, Rensong Yue","doi":"10.1155/2022/5401760","DOIUrl":"10.1155/2022/5401760","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Artemisinin and its derivatives have potential antidiabetic effects. There is no evaluation of reported studies in the literature on the treatment of diabetic nephropathy (DN), one of the commonest diabetic microangiopathies, with artemisinins. Here, we aimed to evaluate preclinical evidence for the efficacy and possible mechanisms of artemisinins in reducing diabetic renal injury.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We conducted an electronic literature search in fourteen databases from their inception to November 2021. All animal studies assessing the efficacy and safety of artemisinins in DN were included, regardless of publication or language. Overall, 178 articles were screened according to predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria. Finally, 18 eligible articles were included in this systematic review. The SYstematic Review Center for Laboratory animal Experimentation (SYRCLE) risk-of-bias tool was used to assess the risk of bias in the included studies. The primary outcomes were kidney function, proteinuria, and renal pathology. Secondary endpoints included changes in fasting plasma glucose (FPG) levels, body weight, and relevant mechanisms.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Of the 18 included articles involving 418 animal models of DN, 1, 2, 6, and 9 used dihydroartemisinin, artemether, artesunate, and artemisinin, respectively. Overall, artemisinins reduced indicators of renal function, including blood urea nitrogen (<i>P</i> < 0.00001), serum creatinine (<i>P</i> < 0.00001), and kidney index (<i>P</i> = 0.0001) compared with control group treatment. Measurements of proteinuria (<i>P</i> < 0.00001), microalbuminuria (<i>P</i> < 0.05), and protein excretion (<i>P</i> = 0.0002) suggested that treatment with artemisinins reduced protein loss in animals with DN. Artemisinins may lower blood glucose levels (<i>P</i> = 0.01), but there is a risk of weight gain (<i>P</i> < 0.00001). Possible mechanisms of action of artemisinins include delaying renal fibrosis, reducing oxidative stress, and exerting antiapoptotic and anti-inflammatory effects.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Available evidence suggests that artemisinins may be protective against renal injury secondary to diabetes in preclinical studies; however, high-quality and long-term trials are needed to reliably determine the balance of benefits and harms.</p>","PeriodicalId":86137,"journal":{"name":"Military surgeon","volume":"126 1","pages":"5401760"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-04-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9073547/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"82890336","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Military surgeonPub Date : 2022-04-23DOI: 10.1093/milmed/usac109
D. S. Krauth
{"title":"Clinical Pathways When Considering Antimicrobials for the Treatment of Mild-to-Moderate COVID-19.","authors":"D. S. Krauth","doi":"10.1093/milmed/usac109","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/milmed/usac109","url":null,"abstract":"Amidst a constrained supply of novel therapeutics for the outpatient treatment of mild-to-moderate COVID-19, clinicians face new challenges, especially among those practicing at overseas military treatment facilities. Although prescribers may be unfamiliar with these medications, appropriate use necessitates detailed query of patient symptomatology and familiarization with each drug's side effect profile. Risk stratification also requires careful consideration to patient-specific comorbidities and immunization status for determining whom to treat and how. In recognition of these complexities, a stepwise guide is provided here to aid clinicians in their management of outpatients with mild-to-moderate COVID-19.","PeriodicalId":86137,"journal":{"name":"Military surgeon","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-04-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"45251545","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Military surgeonPub Date : 2022-04-22DOI: 10.1093/milmed/usac106
Caleb Chitwood, Karlie L Haug, Cody Wenthur, Carly Gillis, James D Maloney, Diane Johnson
{"title":"Evaluation of Prescribing Patterns Following Surgical Procedures in Opioid Naïve Patients at a Veterans Affairs Teaching Hospital.","authors":"Caleb Chitwood, Karlie L Haug, Cody Wenthur, Carly Gillis, James D Maloney, Diane Johnson","doi":"10.1093/milmed/usac106","DOIUrl":"10.1093/milmed/usac106","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>To evaluate facility postoperative opioid prescribing patterns in comparison to published guidelines and adherence to opioid safety mandates.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This quality analysis was performed between November 2019 and March 2020. Patients were identified to have been opioid naïve prior to receiving a new opioid prescription postoperatively during the study period. Patient charts were reviewed, and patients were contacted to collect desired data. Statistical analysis was performed to evaluate distributions of morphine equivalent daily dose and opioid day supply prescribed across study subpopulations.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Ninety-four of 100 prescriptions evaluated were determined to be within quantity or duration recommendations of the selected guideline. Statistical analysis found no significantly different distributions between the duration and quantity of opioid prescribed at discharge and patient-specific risk factors. Forty-eight patients did not use the entire quantity of the initial opioid prescription dispensed. Of those patients, 26 still had opioids within the home. Opioid risk review documentation was completed in 19 of 65 patients indicated for documentation.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Most opioid prescriptions provided within the study period aligned with recommendations from author-selected guidelines. However, a review of risk prior to opioid prescribing frequently was not performed. The number of patients utilizing less than 50% of prescribed opioids, and few refills indicate that reductions in opioids prescribed would improve safety for both patients and the surrounding community without increasing the risk for the under-treatment of postoperative pain. Improved prescribing habits and patient safety will be targeted through provider education regarding risk review documentation in opioid naïve patients.</p>","PeriodicalId":86137,"journal":{"name":"Military surgeon","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-04-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"45124509","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Modeling Injury Risk From Multiple-Impulse, Area-Distributed Flash-bangs Using an Uncertainty Bounding Approach to Dose Accumulation.","authors":"Jessica Swallow, Emily Fedele, Felicia Sallis-Peterson","doi":"10.1093/milmed/usac083","DOIUrl":"10.1093/milmed/usac083","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Modeling of injury risk from nonlethal weapons including flash-bangs is a critical step in the design, acquisition, and application of such devices for military purposes. One flash-bang design concept currently being developed involves multiple, area-distributed flash-bangs. It is particularly difficult to model the variation inherent in operational settings employing such devices due to the randomness of flash-bang detonation positioning relative to targets. The problem is exacerbated by uncertainty related to changes in the mechanical properties of auditory system tissues and contraction of muscles in the middle ear (the acoustic reflex), which can both immediately follow impulse-noise exposure. In this article, we demonstrate a methodology to quantify uncertainty in injury risk estimation related to exposure to multiple area-distributed flash-bang impulses in short periods of time and analyze the effects of factors such as the number of impulses, their spatial distribution, and the uncertainties in their parameters on estimated injury risk.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>We conducted Monte Carlo simulations of dispersion and timing of a mortar-and-submunition flash-bang device that distributes submunitions over an area, using the Auditory 4.5 model developed by L3 Applied Technologies to estimate the risk of hearing loss (permanent threshold shift) in an exposure area. We bound injury risk estimates by applying limiting assumptions for dose accumulation rules applied to short inter-pulse intervals and varied impulse-noise-intensity exposure characteristic of multi-impulse flash-bangs. The upper bound of risk assumes no trading of risk between the number of impulses and intensity of individual impulses, while the lower bound assumes a perfectly protective acoustic reflex.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>In general, the risk to individuals standing in the most hazardous zone of the simulation is quite sensitive to the pattern of submunitions, relative to the sensitivity for those standing farther from that zone. Larger mortar burst radii (distributing submunitions over a wider area) reduce expected peak risk, while increasing the number of submunitions, the intensity of individual impulses, or the uncertainty in impulse intensity increases expected risk. We find that injury risk calculations must factor in device output variation because the injury risk curve in the flash-bang dose regime is asymmetric. We also find that increased numbers of submunitions increase the peak risk in an area more rapidly than scene-averaged risk and that the uncertainty related to dose accumulation in the acoustic reflex regime can be substantial for large numbers of submunitions and should not be ignored.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>This work provides a methodology for exploring both the role of device parameters and the choice of dose accumulation rule in estimating the risk of significant injury and associa","PeriodicalId":86137,"journal":{"name":"Military surgeon","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-04-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"43425051","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Military surgeonPub Date : 2022-04-21DOI: 10.1093/milmed/usac100
Michael McMahon, Kevin Kniery, Daniel Wingard, Craig Destree, Colin Brown, Thomas G Nessler
{"title":"A Deployed Soldier Presenting With Dyspnea and Orthopnea Due to a Morgagni Hernia.","authors":"Michael McMahon, Kevin Kniery, Daniel Wingard, Craig Destree, Colin Brown, Thomas G Nessler","doi":"10.1093/milmed/usac100","DOIUrl":"10.1093/milmed/usac100","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Shortness of breath is an important complaint in the austere setting with a broad differential diagnosis. The difficulty of deployed patient movement and lack of diagnostic testing at treatment sites complicates its evaluation. This case highlights a young Soldier presenting with shortness of breath caused by a Morgagni hernia. A 25-year-old deployed male presented with a 1-month history of dyspnea with exertion and right-sided chest tightness. After initial diagnoses of bronchitis, later chest radiographs demonstrated a linear opacity in the right middle lobe (RML). The patient was transferred to a higher level of care where a chest computer tomography scan was consistent with Morgagni hernia. Morgagni hernias can present with a wide variety of clinical complaints, including gastrointestinal symptoms, dyspnea, and chest pain. A lack of familiarity among providers who care for adults and the nonspecific nature of the symptoms frequently cause a diagnostic delay in diagnosis. CXR is helpful in this diagnosis, although this case demonstrates that this hernia may appear similar to RML atelectasis or pneumonia.6 Computed tomography remains the modality of choice to confirm the diagnosis, as well as provide anatomical details and rule out complications. While most experts agree that Morgagni hernias should be surgically repaired, the optimal surgical technique remains uncertain.3 Despite its rarity, Morgagni hernia is important to consider in a broad range of clinical presentations. Its nonspecific symptoms, combined with radiographs that can mimic other disease entities, can lead to a delay in diagnosis, mistreatment, prolonged patient suffering, and complications.</p>","PeriodicalId":86137,"journal":{"name":"Military surgeon","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-04-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"42395381","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Military surgeonPub Date : 2022-04-21DOI: 10.1093/milmed/usac095
Stephan Rudzki
{"title":"Is PTSD an Evolutionary Survival Adaptation Initiated by Unrestrained Cytokine Signaling and Maintained by Epigenetic Change?","authors":"Stephan Rudzki","doi":"10.1093/milmed/usac095","DOIUrl":"10.1093/milmed/usac095","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Treatment outcomes for PTSD with current psychological therapies are poor, with very few patients achieving sustained symptom remission. A number of authors have identified physiological and immune disturbances in Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) patients, but there is no unifying hypothesis that explains the myriad features of the disorder.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>The medical literature was reviewed over a 6-year period primarily using the medical database PUBMED.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The literature contains numerous papers that have identified a range of physiological and immune dysfunction in association with PTSD. This paper proposes that unrestrained cytokine signaling induces epigenetic changes that promote an evolutionary survival adaptation, which maintains a defensive PTSD phenotype. The brain can associate immune signaling with past threat and initiate a defensive behavioral response. The sympathetic nervous system is pro-inflammatory, while the parasympathetic nervous system is anti-inflammatory. Prolonged cholinergic withdrawal will promote a chronic inflammatory state. The innate immune cytokine IL-1β has pleiotropic properties and can regulate autonomic, glucocorticoid, and glutamate receptor functions, sleep, memory, and epigenetic enzymes. Changes in epigenetic enzyme activity can potentially alter phenotype and induce an adaptation. Levels of IL-1β correlate with severity and duration of PTSD and PTSD can be prevented by bolus administration of hydrocortisone in acute sepsis, consistent with unrestrained inflammation being a risk factor for PTSD. The nervous and immune systems engage in crosstalk, governed by common receptors. The benefits of currently used psychiatric medication may arise from immune, as well as synaptic, modulation. The psychedelic drugs (3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), psilocybin, and ketamine) have potent immunosuppressive and anti-inflammatory effects on the adaptive immune system, which may contribute to their reported benefit in PTSD. There may be distinct PTSD phenotypes induced by innate and adaptive cytokine signaling.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>In order for an organism to survive, it must adapt to its environment. Cytokines signal danger to the brain and can induce epigenetic changes that result in a persistent defensive phenotype. PTSD may be the price individuals pay for the genomic flexibility that promotes adaptation and survival.</p>","PeriodicalId":86137,"journal":{"name":"Military surgeon","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-04-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"47951786","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Military surgeonPub Date : 2022-04-21DOI: 10.1093/milmed/usac094
Stephan Rudzki, Stephan Praet
{"title":"Five-Year PTSD Symptom Remission in Two Patients Following Treatment With Rivastigmine.","authors":"Stephan Rudzki, Stephan Praet","doi":"10.1093/milmed/usac094","DOIUrl":"10.1093/milmed/usac094","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>The beneficial effect of rivastigmine, an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor (AChEi), which increases levels of acetylcholine (ACh), was first reported in 2013. This paper replicates those findings and reports sustained symptom remission.</p><p><strong>Methods and materials: </strong>The high-frequency (HF) component of heart rate variability (HRV) is a measure of cholinergic withdrawal and was measured using a Zephyr Bioharness HR monitor, pre- and post-commencement of treatment. Data analysis was performed using Kubios HRV software. PTSD symptom severity was assessed using the Post-Traumatic Checklist-Civilian (PCL-C).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Low HF HRV was observed in both patients before rivastigmine treatment and reductions in PCL-C scores paralleled increases in HF HRV values. Follow-up revealed low HF HRV values in both patients despite PCL-C scores indicating remission. Sympathetic nervous system hyperactivity was observed in one patient, just before a suicide attempt. Following rivastigmine treatment, the patient had no further suicidal ideation or attempts. Another patient reported worsening of her PTSD symptoms in the peri-menstrual period, which was abolished by rivastigmine. She also experienced symptom relapse following prolonged infections.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Low HF HRV has been reported in PTSD patients, but findings have been inconsistent. Cholinergic withdrawal could explain the disturbances in sleep, learning, and memory seen in PTSD patients. The relapse of symptoms following prolonged infection implicates the immune system as a possible initiator of the disorder. ACh and estrogen have anti-inflammatory properties, supporting a possible role of inflammation in initiating PTSD. The effect of rivastigmine treatment should be tested in properly controlled clinical trials.</p>","PeriodicalId":86137,"journal":{"name":"Military surgeon","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-04-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"47410612","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}