United States Department of the Army

About: United States Department of the Army is a government organization based out in Arlington, Virginia, United States. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Poison control & Population. The organization has 32668 authors who have published 42453 publications receiving 947075 citations. The organization is also known as: DA & U.S. Department of the Army.

The Essence of Military Group Cohesion

Abstract: In July 2006,Armed Forces & Society published an article by Anthony King, “The Word of Command: Communication and Cohesion in the Military.” This commentary takes exception to certain statements and conclusions in King's article, and in the process, sketches a standard model of military group cohesion. This model is based on social integration in the military and is composed of both primary group cohesion (peer and leader bonding) and secondary group cohesion (organizational and institutional bonding). The essence of peer bonding is given as social relationships based on trust and teamwork. The standard model is presented as a tool to sensitize ethnographers about what to look for when observing military interactions and to help them interpret what they see.

Platelet-rich plasma: Clinical applications in dentistry

Abstract: Background Platelet-rich plasma, or PRP, has become a valuable adjunct in wound healing in dentistry. Postsurgically, blood clots initiate the healing and regeneration of hard and soft tissues. Clinicians and scientists are investigating the use of PRP in dentistry as a way to enhance the body's natural wound-healing mechanisms. Types of Articles Reviewed The authors reviewed scientific articles that discuss the basic knowledge of wound healing mechanisms and that directly studied the growth factors shown to be concentrated in PRP. They also reviewed articles written by clinicians and researchers in dentistry fields, including oral and maxillofacial surgery and periodontics to determine applications of PRP in the field of dentistry. Results All of the reviewed articles expressed promise in PRP use and in the growth factors expressed by the platelets concentrated in PRP—namely platelet-derived growth factor, or PDGF, and transforming growth factor-β, or TGF-β—as an adjunct to postsurgical wound healing. Both PDGF and TGF-β have been shown in vivo to accelerate wound healing through different mechanisms. The development of an autologous PRP has been shown to be relatively easy, to be effective as a surgical adjunct, to retain high levels of the desired growth factors after preparation and to be clinically effective in accelerating postsurgical healing in both periodontal and oral surgery applications. Clinical Implications PRP has proven to be effective at improving surgical results in a variety of procedures in the field of oral and maxillofacial surgery. PRP also shows promise in periodontal regenerative therapy and should continue to be studied by scientists and clinicians alike.

Assessing the carcinogenic potential of low-dose exposures to chemical mixtures in the environment: The challenge ahead

Abstract: Lifestyle factors are responsible for a considerable portion of cancer incidence worldwide, but credible estimates from the World Health Organization and the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) suggest that the fraction of cancers attributable to toxic environmental exposures is between 7% and 19%. To explore the hypothesis that low-dose exposures to mixtures of chemicals in the environment may be combining to contribute to environmental carcinogenesis, we reviewed 11 hallmark phenotypes of cancer, multiple priority target sites for disruption in each area and prototypical chemical disruptors for all targets, this included dose-response characterizations, evidence of low-dose effects and cross-hallmark effects for all targets and chemicals. In total, 85 examples of chemicals were reviewed for actions on key pathways/mechanisms related to carcinogenesis. Only 15% (13/85) were found to have evidence of a dose-response threshold, whereas 59% (50/85) exerted low-dose effects. No dose-response information was found for the remaining 26% (22/85). Our analysis suggests that the cumulative effects of individual (non-carcinogenic) chemicals acting on different pathways, and a variety of related systems, organs, tissues and cells could plausibly conspire to produce carcinogenic synergies. Additional basic research on carcinogenesis and research focused on low-dose effects of chemical mixtures needs to be rigorously pursued before the merits of this hypothesis can be further advanced. However, the structure of the World Health Organization International Programme on Chemical Safety 'Mode of Action' framework should be revisited as it has inherent weaknesses that are not fully aligned with our current understanding of cancer biology.

Liposome carriers in chemotherapy of leishmaniasis

Abstract: An improved method is provided for the chemotherapy of leishmanial infections. The anti-leishmanial agent is encapsulated within liposomes and the liposome-encapsulated drug is injected into the body. Subject use of a liposome carrier has produced marked enhancement of the effectiveness and duration of anti-leishmanial action of meglumine antimoniate, and of sodium stibogluconate, drugs which are recommended widely for therapy of leishmaniasis.

Ebola virus-like particles protect from lethal Ebola virus infection

Abstract: The filovirus Ebola causes hemorrhagic fever with 70–80% human mortality. High case-fatality rates, as well as known aerosol infectivity, make Ebola virus a potential global health threat and possible biological warfare agent. Development of an effective vaccine for use in natural outbreaks, response to biological attack, and protection of laboratory workers is a higher national priority than ever before. Coexpression of the Ebola virus glycoprotein (GP) and matrix protein (VP40) in mammalian cells results in spontaneous production and release of virus-like particles (VLPs) that resemble the distinctively filamentous infectious virions. VLPs have been tested and found efficacious as vaccines for several viruses, including papillomavirus, HIV, parvovirus, and rotavirus. Herein, we report that Ebola VLPs (eVLPs) were immunogenic in vitro as eVLPs matured and activated mouse bone marrow-derived dendritic cells, assessed by increases in cell-surface markers CD40, CD80, CD86, and MHC class I and II and secretion of IL-6, IL-10, macrophage inflammatory protein (MIP)-1α, and tumor necrosis factor α by the dendritic cells. Further, vaccinating mice with eVLPs activated CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, as well as CD19+ B cells. After vaccination with eVLPs, mice developed high titers of Ebola virus-specific antibodies, including neutralizing antibodies. Importantly, mice vaccinated with eVLPs were 100% protected from an otherwise lethal Ebola virus inoculation. Together, our data suggest that eVLPs represent a promising vaccine candidate for protection against Ebola virus infections and a much needed tool to examine the genesis and nature of immune responses to Ebola virus.