You can't judge a book, or a warrior, by its cover
Editor-in-Chief, Chester ‘Trip’ Buckenmaier III, MD, COL, MC, USA.
'Don't judge a book by its cover'is perhaps the most common phrase in the English language used to convey the idea that one should not judge the worth of something based on outward appearance.
A wounded warrior, friend, and colleague of mine recently related an event that happened to him. It caused me to again appreciate the wisdom of this old English metaphorical phrase.
Recently the annual Army 10-miler was held in our nation’s capital. An article in Military.com began with, “Arlington, VA—More than 50 wounded, visually impaired, and amputee athletes signed up for the 2010 Army Ten-Miler Sunday, competing against each other in categories of their own for the first time ...” If you were to meet my friend on the street you would not initially label him as a wounded warrior.
However, I have the benefit of knowing his history. I have seen the photograph of the mangled vehicle he was in when the improvised explosive device ripped it apart. I am aware of the burst fracture he sustained to his third cervical vertebrae, the fractures to his face (Le Fort I & II), the bleeding in his spine (epidural and subdural hematomas), and the moderate traumatic brain injury. More
HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE DECEMBER ISSUE OF U.S. MEDICINE
Servicemembers and Veterans Use Programs to Help Each Other Overcome Stigma WASHINGTON, DC—Veterans and servicemembers may be able to help each other overcome stigma in seeking psychological help, officials said during a webinar on combating stigma in the military hosted by the Defense Centers of Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury (DCoE). More
Worldwide HIV Elimination Difficult but Necessary, Leading Researcher Contends BETHESDA, MD— “In 1981, we were not at all prepared in the attitude at the time, and in the availability of responsible, qualified basic medical virologists. I was there. I know how people got involved, and it wasn’t by responsibility, but by chance.” This is how Robert Gallo, MD, described the state of virology when AIDS first began making itself known to the medical community in the early 1980s.Please read this article and participate in this month's online opinion poll about globalization and disease.More
Report Examines How to Increase Flu Vaccination Rates WASHINGTON, DC—A report released last month by a nonprofit organization calls for increased education efforts to encourage flu vaccination, especially among minority groups. More http://www.usmedicine.com/infectiousdisease/report-examines-how-to-increase-flu-vaccination-rates.html
Research Examines Link Between PTSD and Inflammation BETHESDA, MD—The science into the biological mechanisms behind the psychological symptoms of PTSD is still in its infancy, but studies have linked PTSD to other serious health problems, including cardiovascular disease, chronic pain, fatigue, and metabolic disorders. Research funded by NIH is suggesting that the cause of this link might have its roots in endocrine and immune function differences in patients with PTSD and most significantly in those with co-morbid major depressive disorder. More
New Drugs Hold Promise for Veterans with HCV WASHINGTON, DC—The hepatitis C (HCV) treatment program in VA marks its 10-year anniversary this year on a note of hopeful expectation. For years the only treatment for HCV has been combination pegylated interferon and ribavirin—a treatment with harsh side effects and a cure rate between 20% and 25% among VA patients. But several new drugs currently in development promise to almost double that success rate, which is good news for VA’s 150,000 HCV patients. More
