Gulf War Research Articles

Impact of the first Gulf war on multiple sclerosis risk in Kuwait: a quasi-experimental study

ObjectiveIt has been reasoned that stressful life events tend to alter immune function thereby increasing the susceptibility to autoimmune diseases including multiple sclerosis (MS). Using the database of Kuwait National MS Registry, this quasi-experimental study assessed the impact of the first Gulf War (Iraqi invasion of Kuwait in 1990) on MS risk in Kuwait.MethodsMS incidence data from 1980 to 2019 were obtained from the Kuwait National MS Registry. Annual age-standardized incidence rates (ASIRs) (per 105 person-years) were computed using the World Standard Population as a reference. Interrupted time series analysis with the option of autoregressive order (1) was used to evaluate the impact of the first Gulf War on MS risk by treating 1990 as an intervention year.ResultsEstimated baseline annual ASIR (per 105 person-years) was 0.38 (95% CI: -1.02, 1.78; p = 0.587). MS ASIRs (per 105 person-years) tended to increase significantly every year prior to 1990 by 0.45 (ASIR per 105 person-years = 0.45; 95% CI: 0.15, 0.76; p = 0.005). During the first year of the first Gulf War, there seemed to be a non-significant increase (step change) in ASIRs (per 105 person-years) of MS (ASIR per 105 person-years = 0.85; 95% CI: − 5.16, 6.86; p = 0.775) followed by a non-significant increase in the annual trend in MS ASIRs per 105 person-years (relative to the preintervention trend i.e., the difference between the pre-first Gulf War versus the post-first Gulf War trends) by 0.65 (ASIR per 105 person-years = 0.65; 95% CI: − 0.22, 1.52; p = 0.138). However, a postestimation measure of the post-first Gulf War trend was statistically significant (ASIR per 105 person-years = 1.10; 95% CI: 0.40, 1.80; p = 0.003), which implies that the post-first Gulf War trend in the annual ASIRs (per 105 person-years) inclined to be the same as was the pre-first Gulf War (i.e., counterfactual of the pre-first Gulf War trend in annual ASIRs (per 105 person-years) as if no first Gulf War took place).The Durbin-Watson test statistic (d = 1.89) showed almost non-significant autocorrelations across the time series observations on ASIRs (per 105 person-years).ConclusionsThis study suggests that the first Gulf War was not significantly associated with the increasing trend in MS risk at population level in Kuwait neither with any short-term change nor with secular trend. Future studies may consider confirming the role of conflict-related stress or other stressful life events in potential exacerbation of MS risk along with unraveling biologically plausible mechanistic pathways.

Mary Kelly’s Gloria Patri and Negative Narcissism

This article revisits Mary Kelly’s 1992 installation Gloria Patri after the spectacle of masculine violence at the Capitol building on 6 January 2021. Whilst Gloria Patri has received less art historical attention that the major works that immediately preceded it, I argue that Kelly’s sophisticated handling of the interactions between masculinity and military technologies in the televisual coverage of the First Gulf War resonates strongly with questions surrounding the digital mediation of gender in our present moment. Addressing a lacuna in Gloria Patri’s critical reception, I introduce the French psychoanalyst André Green’s work on narcissism to explore how his conceptual vocabulary is activated by Kelly’s installation. The article concludes by considering how Kelly’s work creates a historical, aesthetic, and theoretical context for the events of 6 January 2021 at the US Capitol building, which might enrich attempts to track the dynamic interrelations between masculinity, militarism and contemporary media.

Hormonal changes in veterans with Gulf War Illness

AimsGulf War Illness (GWI) is a multi-system condition of complex etiology and pathophysiology without specific treatment. There is an overlap between the symptoms of GWI and endocrinopathies. This study aimed to identify hormonal alterations in 1990–91 Gulf War (GW) veterans and the relationship between GWI and hormonal dysregulation. Main methodsData from 81 GW veterans (54 with GWI and 27 controls without GWI) was analyzed in a cross-sectional, case-control observational study. Participants completed multiple questionnaires, neuropsychiatric assessments, and a comprehensive set of hormone assays including a glucagon stimulation test (GST) for adult growth hormone deficiency (AGHD) and a high-dose adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) stimulation test for adrenal insufficiency. Key findingsThe GWI group had lower quality of life and greater severity of all symptoms compared to controls. Pain intensity and pain-related interference with general activity were also higher in the GWI group. AGHD was observed in 18 of 51 veterans with GWI (35.3 %) and 2 of 26 veterans without GWI (7.7 %) (p = 0.012 for interaction). Veterans with GWI also exhibited reduced insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) levels and IGF-1 Z-scores compared to controls. One participant with GWI met the criteria for adrenal insufficiency. No significant changes were observed in other hormonal axes. SignificanceThe frequency of AGHD was significantly higher in veterans with GWI compared to controls. Recombinant human growth hormone replacement therapy (GHRT) may become a breakthrough therapeutic option for this subgroup. A large clinical trial is needed to evaluate the efficacy of GHRT in patients with GWI and AGHD.

OR04-04-23 Biomarkers of Depression Improvement Using the Low Glutamate Diet in Gulf War Illness

OR04-04-23 Biomarkers of Depression Improvement Using the Low Glutamate Diet in Gulf War Illness

THE REPATRIATION OF GILGAMESH DREAM TABLET: REBUILDING THE IRAQI RELIGIOUS LEGACY

The Epic of Gilgamesh, a 3600-year 12-tablet collection, was looted from an Iraqi museum during the 1991 Gulf War, and fraudulently imported into the United States. In September, 2021, UNESCO facilitated its repatriation to Iraq, which is seen as an occasion to consolidate Iraq’s efforts to rebuild its legacy, since the Epic of Gilgamesh is of immense cultural, historical and religious value for Iraq The current study examines the Epic of Gilgamesh in the light of the ancient Sumerian and Akkadian traditions. This collection of tablets carries a great legacy of the contemporary Babylonian and Mesopotamian beliefs and socio-religious values, also evident in the use of cuneiform and clay tablets, being ancient forms of writings. The study made use of content analysis and historical and analytical approaches to retrieve data through a documentation research design. The study found that the Epic of Gilgamesh is not only a work of religious literature, but a treatise on civilization. On one hand it narrates the stories engrained in the Mesopotamian mythology, such as those of Ninsun, Shamash and Utnapishtim; on the other hand, owing to its content, literary style and tone, characterization and symbolism, this study would be a great contribution to relive the story of Gilgamesh from current literary, and socio-religious perspective and provide a comprehensive account of the legacy and inheritance that it brings in for the modern generation.

Human Shields and the Gulf War

Abstract From late August to early December 1990, Iraq held hundreds of Western and Japanese civilians at strategic sites as “human shields” against the Gulf War coalition. While there is a consensus that these foreign nationals would have influenced the coalition’s offensive had they not been released before the onset of hostilities, their impact remains poorly understood. This note draws on newly available archival records, among other sources, to throw new light on this old question. The record shows that leaders were reconciled with the prospect of hostage casualties and the expected political fallout. Military necessity and limited intelligence about the hostages’ whereabouts precluded avoiding every shielded target. At the same time, public opinion was divided on the hostage problem, especially in the United States. In response, leaders planned to take special precautionary measures and mount a rescue operation in Kuwait City. These measures, overall, appeared to exceed those employed for other targets, and exposed coalition forces to additional risks. US decision-makers may also have been motivated by the belief that proceeding undeterred could discourage others from resorting to the same stratagem in the future. The findings advance research on the Gulf War and the problem of human shields in war.

Epigenetic analysis in a murine genetic model of Gulf War illness.

Of the nearly 1 million military personnel who participated in the 1990-1991 Gulf War, between 25% and 35% became ill with what now is referred to as Gulf War Illness (GWI) by the Department of Defense. Symptoms varied from gastrointestinal distress to lethargy, memory loss, inability to concentrate, depression, respiratory, and reproductive problems. The symptoms have persisted for 30years in those afflicted but the basis of the illness remains largely unknown. Nerve agents and other chemical exposures in the war zone have been implicated but the long-term effects of these acute exposures have left few if any identifiable signatures. The major aim of this study is to elucidate the possible genomic basis for the persistence of symptoms, especially of the neurological and behavioral effects. To address this, we performed a whole genome epigenetic analysis of the proposed cause of GWI, viz., exposure to organophosphate neurotoxicants combined with high circulating glucocorticoids in two inbred mouse strains, C57BL/6J and DBA/2J. The animals received corticosterone in their drinking water for 7days followed by injection of diisopropylfluorophosphate, a nerve agent surrogate. Six weeks after DFP injection, the animals were euthanized and medial prefrontal cortex harvested for genome-wide DNA methylation analysis using high-throughput sequencing. We observed 67 differentially methylated genes, notably among them, Ttll7, Akr1c14, Slc44a4, and Rusc2, all related to different symptoms of GWI. Our results support proof of principle of genetic differences in the chronic effects of GWI-related exposures and may reveal why the disease has persisted in many of the now aging Gulf War veterans.

The association of military sexual assault and nonsuicidal self-injury in U.S. Gulf War-I era veterans

ABSTRACT Military sexual assault (MSA) is a prevalent issue among military personnel that has been linked to adverse mental and physical health outcomes, including posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and suicidal thoughts and behaviors. The present study sought to investigate the relationship between MSA and nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) in a national sample of Gulf War-I Era U.S. veterans. The study analyzed data from 1,153 Gulf War-I veterans collected through a cross-sectional survey that assessed demographic information, clinical outcomes, military background, and history of MSA and NSSI. MSA was found to be significantly associated with NSSI at the bivariate level (OR = 2.19, p < .001). Further, MSA remained significantly associated with NSSI (AOR = 2.50, p = .002) after controlling for relevant demographics and clinical outcomes. Veterans with a history of MSA were approximately two and half times more likely to engage in NSSI than veterans who had not experienced MSA. The present findings provide preliminary evidence linking MSA and NSSI. Further, the findings highlight the importance of assessing MSA and NSSI in veteran populations, particularly among those seeking treatment for PTSD.

Banana Dream by Hasan Namir

Reviewed by: Banana Dream by Hasan Namir Kate Quealy-Gainer, Editor Namir, Hasan Banana Dream; illus. by Daby Zainab Faidhi. Porter/Holiday House, 2023 [32p] Trade ed. ISBN 9780823451005 $18.99 E-book ed. ISBN 9780823455485 $11.99 Reviewed from digital galleys R 4-7 yrs Mooz’s name means banana in Arabic, and, unfortunately, it’s brought him nothing but trouble, inviting ridicule from cousins and classmates. It’s not just the name they find strange, but what it represents: bananas were a forbidden fruit in Iraq during the Gulf War, when countries limited trade with Mooz’s country. It is for that reason, though, that Mooz’s parents gave him his name; before he was born, his mother was told she couldn’t conceive, but after a dream led his Baba to make [End Page 333] a nine-hour trip to Jordan to get Mama a bunch of bananas, she learned she was pregnant with Mooz. To his parents, his name means hope. Mooz makes a cheerful, appealing narrator, even when lamenting the teasing from his schoolmates, and his voice is absolutely kid-authentic, conveying his personal account while weaving in some of the larger context of his homeland and the challenges he and his family face. The mix of digital, charcoal, and pencil art easily complements Mooz’s narrative approach, with vibrant colors and dynamic textures energizing scenes, while small visual cues—an “out of stock sign” and a war report on the television—place Mooz’s experience within the upheaval of Iraq at that time. An author’s note explains how the book is based on Namir’s childhood experiences and provides a bit more detail on the sanctions and rationing during the Gulf War. Copyright © 2023 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois

Misclassification Bias in the Assessment of Gene-by-Environment Interactions.

Misclassification bias is a common concern in epidemiologic studies. Despite strong bias on main effects, gene-environment interactions have been shown to be biased towards the null under gene-environment independence. In the context of a recent article examining the interaction between nerve agent exposure and paraoxonase-1 gene on Gulf War Illness, we aimed to assess the impact of recall bias-a common misclassfication bias-on the identification of gene-environment interactions when the independence assumption is violated. We derive equations to quantify the bias of the interaction, and numerically illustrate these results by simulating a case-control study of 1000 cases and 1000 controls. Simulation input parameters included exposure prevalence, strength of gene-environment dependence, strength of the main effect, exposure specificity among cases, and strength of the gene-environment interaction. We show that, even if gene-environment independence is violated, we can bound possible gene-environment interactions by knowing the strength and direction of the gene-environment dependence ( ) and the observed gene-environment interaction ( )-thus often still allowing for the identification of such interactions. Depending on whether is larger or smaller than the inverse of , is a lower (if ) or upper (if ) bound for the true interaction. In addition, the bias magnitude is somewhat predictable by examining other characteristics such as exposure prevalence, the strength of the exposure main effect, and directions of the recall bias and gene-environment dependence. Even if gene-environment dependence exists, we may still be able to identify gene-environment interactions even when misclassification bias is present.

0321 Manually scoring actigraphy in the absence of a sleep diary: Reliability analysis in Gulf War veterans

Abstract Introduction Sleep disturbance and chronic health conditions are common in military and veteran populations. These individuals may have difficulty accurately and consistently completing sleep diaries, which traditionally have been used as a prominent data input in scoring actigraphy. While actigraphy is considered an objective sleep measure, the process of manually scoring actigraphy data can be subjective, particularly in military/veteran and clinical populations. Few studies utilize and report clear actigraphy scoring guidelines. To promote internal consistency and replicability in actigraphy scoring procedures, this study developed a detailed actigraphy scoring protocol for cases without sleep diary data and performed an inter-rater reliability analysis using a sample of veterans with Gulf War Illness (GWI). Methods One hundred fifty-nine nights of actigraphy (Phillips Respironics) data from a random subsample of 25 veterans with GWI were independently, manually scored using the protocol. Mean values for the start and end of rest intervals and derived sleep parameters—time in bed (TIB), total sleep time (TST), and sleep efficiency (SE)—and mean differences were calculated. Inter-rater reliability was evaluated using intra-class correlation (ICC). Results No significant differences were observed between manual scorers for mean values for the end of manually scored rest intervals and derived sleep parameters (TIB, TST, and SE). There were significant differences in the start of a rest interval, though the magnitude of the difference (0:06 ± 28) was less than the clinically important 15-minute difference noted in the literature. ICC demonstrated excellent agreement between manual scorers for rest interval start (0.98) and end times (0.99), TIB (0.94), TST (0.98), and SE (0.97). Conclusion This protocol may serve as a reproducible set of guidelines for researchers manually scoring actigraphy and enhance internal consistency for studies using this actigraphy scoring software, especially for those working with military populations and clinical populations with significant sleep disturbance and related difficulties yielding quality sleep diary data. Support (if any) Veterans Affairs, Office of Research and Development, Clinical Science Research and Development under Merit Review Grant #SPLD-013-13S.

The Gulf War Illness andthe Iraqi Population's Forgotten Pain andSuffering.

Exposure to chemical warfare agents results in long-term biopsychosocial complaints. A recent study has revealed an association between exposure to a low dose of Sarin and Gulf War illness in American veterans from the Gulf War. The prevalence of Gulf War illness has not been studied in the Iraqi population. In light of recent research results, Iraqi chemical warfare agent survivors' multiple physical and mental illnesses should be highlighted. For this reason, establishing both legislation and medical commissions is most needed.

The “CNN Effect” and Its Influence on US Foreign Policy Decision-Making

The “CNN effect” is a term that has been used to describe the influence of 24-hour news coverage on foreign policy decision-making, particularly in the context of the United States. The term was coined in the early 1990s following the Gulf War, during which CNN's live coverage of the conflict was widely credited with shaping public opinion and influencing US foreign policy decisions. Since then, the concept of the “CNN effect” has been the subject of much debate and analysis in the field of media and foreign policy. The aim of this paper is to examine the impact of the 'CNN effect' on US foreign policy, with a specific focus on its role in shaping public opinion and influencing policy outcomes. Through a case study of US foreign policy initiatives in Somalia, this study analyzes the relationship between media coverage and policy decisions. The methodology used in this study involves conducting an in-depth analysis of media coverage and policy decisions in the selected cases. A combination of primary and secondary sources, including news reports, government documents, and academic literature, was used to develop a comprehensive understanding of the “CNN effect” on US foreign policy decision-making. The findings of this study suggest that the “CNN effect” is a real phenomenon that has had a significant influence on US foreign policy decision-making. Media coverage can create pressure on policymakers to take action by generating a sense of urgency and demand for response among the public and other stakeholders. In addition, media coverage can shape the international community's response to a crisis or conflict, which can further influence policymakers. However, the impact of media coverage on foreign policy decisions is complex and multifaceted, as decision-makers must balance the information presented in the media with other factors, such as strategic interests and long-term goals. This paper contributes to the understanding of the relationship between media coverage and foreign policy decision-making, highlighting the importance of considering the influence of media in policy outcomes. Understanding the “CNN effect” can inform the strategies of policymakers, journalists, and the general public in shaping the discourse and decisions of US foreign policy.&#x0D; &#x0D; Received: 05 May 2022 / Accepted: 18 May 2023 / Published: 20 May 2023

Cognitive and Cellular Effects of Combined Organophosphate Toxicity and Mild Traumatic Brain Injury.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is considered the most common neurological disorder among people under the age of 50. In modern combat zones, a combination of TBI and organophosphates (OP) can cause both fatal and long-term effects on the brain. We utilized a mouse closed-head TBI model induced by a weight drop device, along with OP exposure to paraoxon. Spatial and visual memory as well as neuron loss and reactive astrocytosis were measured 30 days after exposure to mild TBI (mTBI) and/or paraoxon. Molecular and cellular changes were assessed in the temporal cortex and hippocampus. Cognitive and behavioral deficits were most pronounced in animals that received a combination of paraoxon exposure and mTBI, suggesting an additive effect of the insults. Neuron survival was reduced in proximity to the injury site after exposure to paraoxon with or without mTBI, whereas in the dentate gyrus hilus, cell survival was only reduced in mice exposed to paraoxon prior to sustaining a mTBI. Neuroinflammation was increased in the dentate gyrus in all groups exposed to mTBI and/or to paraoxon. Astrocyte morphology was significantly changed in mice exposed to paraoxon prior to sustaining an mTBI. These results provide further support for assumptions concerning the effects of OP exposure following the Gulf War. This study reveals additional insights into the potentially additive effects of OP exposure and mTBI, which may result in more severe brain damage on the modern battlefield.

Asymmetric spillover of geopolitical risk and oil price volatility: A global perspective

This paper uses the generalized VAR framework to study the asymmetric spillover between geopolitical risk and oil price volatility for six major regions in the world. Based on the geopolitical risk spillovers, we find that developed countries are net risk transmitters while emerging countries are relatively net receivers. Dynamic patterns uncover strong spillovers under historical events like the two Gulf Wars, Arab Spring, and trading conflicts, and the Middle East has high risk exposure for oil volatility. From an asymmetric analysis, we obtain significantly strong spillover effects, bidirectionally, between geopolitical tensions and bad oil volatility. However, extreme geopolitical risk tends to contribute substantially to good oil volatility. Furthermore, we observe the risk-volatility connectedness in the Middle East is higher than in other regions, whereas the geopolitical risk in North America receives a relatively low spillover from oil.

The Negotiated Desecuritization Of Turkey in Saudi Foreign Policy

AbstractSaudi‐Turkey relations hit one of their lowest points due to the Arab uprisings and the regional shock of the Gulf crisis. The tension resulted from, and in turn exacerbated, a process of securitization of Saudi discourse, whereby officials labeled Turkey as a threat. But after three and a half years of the Gulf crisis, the Al‐Ula accords allowed reconciliation among the regional states and opened the way for the construction of new understandings based on diplomacy, tolerance of differences on regional and domestic security, and respect of sovereignty. This spurred Saudi policy makers to de‐securitize their discourse concerning Turkey—that is, to talk of it not as a threat, but as a potential partner. This process continues to develop gradually through cooperation on economics and investment, but it has required time to re‐establish confidence among Saudi decision makers. This article analyzes the discourses of Saudi leaders and policy makers and shows how they affected Saudi Arabia's relations with Turkey, both negatively and positively.

The Department of Veterans' Affairs Depleted Uranium Cohort in the Time of COVID-19: Translating a Traditional Surveillance Protocol to a Telehealth Platform.

In 2021, 37 members of a cohort of depleted uranium-exposed Gulf War I veterans were evaluated using a protocol tailored to accommodate COVID-19 safety practices on a telehealth platform. Individual elements of the legacy protocol were reviewed for urgency and feasibility of inclusion in a modified, telehealth platform. The redesigned protocol included a participant readiness for telehealth assessment, nurse and physician telehealth visits, collection of usual health questionnaires, and urine collections for exposure monitoring for uranium and other fragment-related metal measures. Despite some limitations in scope, the telehealth platform permitted a visual "visit" with surveillance participants who expressed a high comfort level with the format. The telehealth platform has apparent utility for occupational surveillance and should be explored as a standard approach for surveillance outside of public health emergencies.

Teaching Democratic Humility to Improve Classroom Discussion

Democratic discussion in the classroom has been viewed as a way to increase consensus, however the spread of false and misleading information through social media and influencers can make classroom discussions problematic. This electronic text analysis study will highlight the social media site of Quora and posts related to the Gulf War. Posts related to the Gulf War will be critically analyzed and their potential impacts will be examined This study will also analyze the posts and potential impacts of a conservative influencer named James Lindsay. The study will analyze specific polarizing posts that Lindsay has made on Instagram and highlight the potential impacts on classroom discussions of some of these posts. A purpose of the study is to analyze negative potential impacts of social media on student’s views and on classroom discussions. The study also highlights two potential solutions to overcoming these negative potential impacts. One solution is to use Stanford History Education Group’s Civic Online Reasoning, and another solution is to explicitly teach Democratic humility. With democratic humility, individuals learn not to make hyperbolic claims about their beliefs. Students could also be taught when learning about democratic humility, the importance of suspending judgement until they have gathered sufficient information on the topic.

Probiotic Treatment Ameliorates Exercise Intolerance, Deficits in Fear Learning and Systemic and Neuro-inflammation in a Mouse Model of Gulf War Illness

Veterans of the Persian Gulf War (GW) continue to suffer from Gulf War Illness (GWI) characterized by cognitive deficit and fatigue. Our group and others have suggested possible involvement of the microbiota-gut-brain axis in GWI pathology (Kozlova et a., 2021a; 2021b). The current study tested the hypothesis that probiotic treatment (P) prevents GWI symptoms, and systemic and neuro-inflammation. Adult male C57Bl/6N mice were separated into 4 groups (n=16/group): GW group was exposed to 8.7 mg/kg/d pyridostigmine bromide (PB) in saline (150uL/30g bw, oral gavage), 1.3 mg/kg PER in 100% DMSO (dermal), and 33% DEET in 70% EtOH (dermal) for 28 days (5 days/week). CON/S group was sham-treated. CON/S+P and GW+P groups were treated with a probiotic (P) cocktail of L. reuteri, L. rhamnosus, L. casei, B. longum (10 8 CFU/mL, oral gavage) 3 times/week for 2 weeks prior to and during sham/GW agent treatment and until sacrifice (post-treatment (PT) 150). All groups were subjected to restraint stress (5 min/d for 28 d). RT-qPCR on fecal pellets showed bacteria colonization of all strains except L. rhamnosus and B. longum after administration of 6-7 doses. At PT1, all strains showed increased colonization relative to baseline, which persisted to PT150, except B. longum. Body weight, fat, lean mass at PT150 showed no changes among groups. An exercise endurance (EE) test was performed to measure differences in fatigue. GW mice tired faster relative to CON/S at PT56 which persisted at PT150. Probiotic normalized exercise endurance to CON/S levels at PT56. On the passive avoidance test all groups behaved normally at PT50 but GW showed deficits on day 1 acquisition trial of fear learning when tested again 14 weeks later at PT150. GW+P behaved similarly to CON/S. Strength and depression-like behavior was examined before and after exercise stress to simulate post-exertional malaise. Mean percent time spent mobile on tail suspension test (TST) were significantly lower for GW but not GW+P at PT50. All groups were normal at PT150. There was no effect of GW agents or probiotics on the hanging wire test. Systemic and neuroinflammatory markers: C-reactive protein (CRP), high mobility group box 1 (HMGB1), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) were examined using ELISA. Liver and plasma CRP was increased in GW group but not GW+P in liver (p=0.06 in plasma). Plasma HMGB1 was reduced and brain IL-6 was elevated in GW mice but not GW+P. Immunofluorescence analysis in fixed hippocampal sections showed more Iba-1 positive cells in CA1 and DG in GW vs CON/S, while GW+P showed no significant changes vs CON/S. These results show that GW mice can be used to model long-lasting fatigue and other GWI symptoms as well as systemic and neuro-inflammation concurrently. After exercise stress GW agents produced depression. Importantly, probiotic treatment improved exercise endurance, depression, systemic and neuro-inflammation in GW mice, indicating its potential therapeutic use in GWI. Clara Berdasco and Elena Kozlova are co-first authors. Supported by DoD #W81XWH-19-1-0802 (MCC). This is the full abstract presented at the American Physiology Summit 2023 meeting and is only available in HTML format. There are no additional versions or additional content available for this abstract. Physiology was not involved in the peer review process.

PTSD symptom severity mediates the impact of war zone stress exposure on postdeployment physical health: The Fort Devens Gulf War veterans cohort.

Exposure to traumatic events is associated with increased risk for negative physical health outcomes, but more work is needed to advance understanding of the mechanisms underlying this relationship. As military deployments frequently involve trauma exposure, this issue has clear implications for veteran populations. This longitudinal study examined the role of mental health symptomatology (i.e., PTSD, depression, and anxiety) in the association between war zone stress and postdeployment physical health in Gulf War veterans. Data were collected in three waves over 7 years from a sample of 2,929 (92% male) Army personnel who were deployed to the 1990-1991 Gulf War. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to examine the associations linking war zone stress exposure reported at deployment return with subsequent physical health 6 to 7 years later, including the postdeployment onset of health symptoms and conditions and health functioning. The roles of PTSD, depression, and anxiety symptom severity as potential risk mechanisms linking stress exposure with later health outcomes were examined. Self-reported higher stress exposure was linked with greater severity of PTSD, depression, and anxiety symptoms. SEM analyses revealed that PTSD symptom severity was the only significant mediator of stress exposure on subsequent physical health. Findings support the unique and significant role of PTSD in the development of physical health problems in the wake of war zone stress for Gulf War veterans. These results suggest that targeted PTSD interventions could reduce or prevent future physical health problems that can result from trauma exposure and mental health sequelae linked to military service. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).