Biomedical subjects

B Bohnker

Publications and source records attributed to B Bohnker.

5 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2003

Navy hearing conservation program: hearing threshold comparisons to Navy SEALS and divers.

The study examined hearing threshold for Navy special operations personnel (SEALS (Sea-Air-Land): N = 212; divers: N = 165). Hearing threshold values were obtained and age adjusted using Mantel Haenzel Weighted odds ratio (MHOR) to compare with information in the Navy Hearing Conservation Database. For any threshold above 20 dB in the 500 through 3000 Hz range, the SEALS were significantly less at risk (MHOR = 0.54, p = 0.022) in the right ear, while the divers were significantly less at risk in the left ear (MHOR = 0.61, p = 0.047). For hearing thresholds at 4000 Hz above 40 dB, SEALS were significantly more at risk in both left ear (MHOR = 2.03, p = 0.0043) and right ear (MHOR = 2.58, p = 0.000089), while divers were not different. Risk assessment based on these findings must consider the multiple exposure hazards and critical mission profiles for the Navy special operations personnel. Requirements for mission accomplishment in hazardous environments may deem these risks acceptable.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1993

Explosive outbreak of gastroenteritis on an aircraft carrier: an infectious disease mass casualty situation.

An aircraft carrier experienced 777 cases of acute gastroenteritis while deployed in the eastern Mediterranean over a 16-d period. These cases were noted in the 5,000-man crew, suggesting a cumulative incidence rate of 15%, though many sailors did not seek medical care for their symptoms. The onboard medical department response included epidemiological investigation with unique shipboard facility considerations, development of a treatment plan, and implementation of preventive/educational programs. Implications for nontrauma related mass casualty situations are discussed. Flight surgeons and operational medicine physicians must have a solid foundation in general preventive medicine to fulfill their responsibilities.

Acute Disease↗

PubMed1992

Psychiatric diagnoses aboard an aircraft carrier.

A descriptive study was conducted for 150 consecutive patients with a psychiatric diagnosis evaluated over 11 months by the medical staff onboard an aircraft carrier. Patients with sole diagnosis of alcohol abuse or dependence were excluded. Axis II diagnoses, or personality disorders, were more common (N = 120) than Axis I diagnoses (N = 46). The most common Axis I diagnoses were adjustment disorder and major depression. Axis II diagnoses were significantly more likely (OR = 7.33, 95% CI 4.45-12.16, p = 0.000) in sailors less than 23 years of age compared to ship's population. Suicide behavior was demonstrated in 68% (102/150) of the patient population. This study emphasized the requirement for extensive psychiatric training for the clinical aerospace medicine specialists providing operational support to aircraft carrier crews.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1991

Primary flight training performance of student naval aviators with vision waivers.

Performance was studied for student naval aviators with waivers for defective uncorrected distance visual acuity who underwent primary flight training at NAS Whiting Field, FL, for fiscal year 1987 (cases = 45). Outcome variables were completion rate, primary flight training grades and flight hours. Controls for completion rate were all other students during that period (N = 1443). For training grades and hours, controls were selected who completed the same training squadron within 1 month of the case. Two controls were selected who progressed to the jet pipeline, with two additional controls selected who progressed to the same pipeline as the cases, either maritime/patrol or helicopter (controls = 180). Results demonstrated the cases were significantly more likely to complete training (p = 0.029), but not significantly different in primary flight grades or hours. These results suggest student naval aviators on vision waivers were competitive with their contemporaries.

Aviation↗

PubMed1991

Inflight anxiety conditions presenting with "break-off" symptoms.

The psychological dimension of disorientation is explored through two experienced pilots who developed inflight anxiety conditions. These were associated with "break-off" symptoms, which are inflight sensations of separation from the ground, the environment, and the aircraft. Following extensive psychiatric and medical evaluations, one aviator was diagnosed as having agoraphobia without panic disorder, and the other as having an otherwise unspecified anxiety disorder. These patient reports demonstrate the need for the clinical aerospace medicine specialist to investigate inflight anxiety conditions for underlying neuropsychiatric disorders. The reports also contrast some of the historical aeromedical concepts with modern psychiatric diagnostic nomenclature.

Adult↗