[ role of negative pressure wound therapy in the treatment of war wounds]

Wartime injuries are frequently high-energy wounds. In modern warfare wounds involve in many cases the musculoskeletal system and therefore military orthopedic surgeons have assumed a pivotal role in the frontline treatment of these injuries. The majority of injuries were caused by exploding [approximately 55 percent] and approximately 20 percent were from gunshot wounds. The increased numbers of extremity injuries have led to the necessity for new technologies in managing complex war wounds. In warfare situations and particularly from long-distance evacuations, it became necessary to develop alternate forms of wound management. Sometimes, due to massive secretion, dressing changes were necessary twice daily. Therefore, starting 2003 negative pressure wound therapy [NPWT] dressings were instituted to treat the complex war injury. However, the use of NPWT for the care of complex war wounds at battlefield trauma hospitals and/or in the aeromedical evacuation transport system aboard aircraft is still a new application of this wound treatment not yet accepted as doctrine

[Zinc plasma level in patient with human immunodeficiency virus infection that come to high risk behavior consult center or admit in infectious disease ward in Imam Khomeini hospital and compare to HIV negative group in 2005]

Zinc is one of the essential micronutrients and its role in immune system function is an interesting matter for researchers. HIV/AIDS as an immune system disorder, presents with impairing in elements of immune system. This study was designed for assessment of zinc level of serum in a group of HIV[+] patients and compare with non-HIV people. Determining relationship between zinc level of serum and count of immune cells was another aim of this study. This cross-sectional study was conducted with 96 people in 2 groups: 48 HIV[+] and 48 HIV[-]. HIV negative group was divided in 2 subgroups: IV Drug Users [IDUs] and non- IDUs. Zinc level of serum was measured with atomic absorption method and statistical analysis was conducted with SPSS for Windows. Levels of zinc were compared in different groups. Overall means of main groups had significant differences, and HIV[+] group showed a significant difference with 2 other groups too. In addition, 2 groups of HIV[-] had significant difference. There was a relationship between count of CD4 cells and zinc level of serum. Zinc showed lowest level in HIV[+] IDUs, then HIV[-] IDUs and finally HIV[-] non-IDUs. The results demonstrate zinc level impairment in HIV[+] cases and its association with decrease in determinant parameters of survival such as count of CD4 cells