Publications by authors named "James K Wright"

Background: At the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), a multi-tiered military-civilian partnership (MCP) has evolved since 2006. We aimed to outline this model to facilitate potential replication nationally.

Methods: We performed a comprehensive review of the partnership between UAB, the United States Air Force Special Operations Command, and the Department of Defense (DoD) reviewing key documents and conducting interviews with providers.

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Background: SARs-Cov-2 infections can produce prolonged illness and significant disability. Patients recovering from COVID-19 can have persistent symptoms leading to long-term morbidity.

Methods: Six patients with long-lasting (> 30 days) COVID-19 symptoms were treated with hyperbaric oxygen (HBO2) therapy.

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Objective: First, to demonstrate that B-level evidence exists for the use of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) as an effective treatment in mild to moderate traumatic brain injury/persistent postconcussion syndrome (mTBI/PPCS). Second, to alert readers and researchers that currently used pressurized air controls (≥21% O2, >1.0 ATA) are therapeutically active and cannot be utilized as sham controls without further validation.

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The authors review the diagnostic overlap that exists between posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and traumatic brain injury (TBI). Achieving the correct diagnosis is much more difficult and the potential to inappropriately treat patients is greater than most physicians realize. The need to properly diagnose and select appropriate treatment strategies is essential, especially with TBI cases.

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The current debate surrounding the use of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO2) for neurological indications, specifically mild to moderate chronic traumatic brain injury (mTBI) and post-concussion syndrome (PCS), is mired in confusion due to the use of non-validated controls and an unfamiliarity by many practitioners of HBO2 therapy with the experimental literature. In the past 40 years, the use of an air sham (21% oxygen, 1.14-1.

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Objectives: To develop a statistical model that predicts the likelihood of success or failure of military training candidates using tests administered before initial skill training as inputs.

Methods: Data were acquired from candidates before the start of U.S.

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Two United States Air Force Airmen were injured in a roadside improvised explosive device (IED) blast in Iraq in January 2008. Both airmen suffered concussive injuries and developed irritability, sleep disturbances, headaches, memory difficulties and cognitive difficulties as symptoms of mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). Six months after injury, repeat Automated Neuropsychological Assessment Metrics (ANAM) testing showed deterioration, when compared to pre-injury baseline ANAM assessment, in all measured areas (simple reaction time, procedural reaction time, code substitution learning, code substitution delayed, mathematical processing, and matching to sample).

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The purpose of this investigation is to determine if intraosseous infusion (IO) is a suitable method for the delivery of recombinant human factor VIIa (rFVIIa) during hemorrhagic shock. The measures that were used to evaluate IO delivery suitability included: (1) determination of clinically significant local or systemic toxicity and (2) demonstration that systemic blood levels of rFVIIa increased rapidly following administration. Our results indicate that there was no evidence of significant local or systemic toxicity following infusion and that the systemic blood concentration of rFVIIa peaks immediately after the end of infusion.

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Background: Uncontrolled hemorrhage accounts for the majority of deaths in combat. Effective topical hemostatic agents suitable for use on the battlefield may be valuable in controlling hemorrhage until definitive surgical intervention is possible. In an effort to identify a hemostatic agent suitable for battlefield use, we evaluated several potential hemostatic agents in a swine injury model and noted thermal injury to tissues with a granular mineral hemostatic agent (QuikClot).

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As new wound care treatments become available, correct initial treatment selection and dynamic modification of regimens, based on wound response to treatment, must be applied to improve outcomes and reduce cost. One alternative is wound morphometry using digital wound images to evaluate wound response to treatment in realtime. To determine whether wound area measurements taken during the first 3 weeks of hyperbaric oxygen treatment predict eventual treatment response and how demographic and disease factors impact hyperbaric oxygen treatment response, a retrospective study using digital wound images, demographic data, and available clinical laboratory values was conducted.

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Neurologic and respiratory decompression sickness (DCS) symptoms occurring in the same individual represent complications rarely observed in altitude research. A case is presented of multi-symptom serious DCS resulting from exposure to 12,192 m (40,000 ft). Following 90 min of preoxygenation, the patient was decompressed in a hypobaric chamber from ground level to 12,192 m in 30 s.

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Background: Hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) has been used for more than 25 years as therapy for extreme blood loss in cases where transfusion has been unavailable. The use of HBO for lesser amounts of blood loss to avoid the transfusion of blood products has not been investigated.

Hypothesis: Hyperbaric oxygen up-regulates hemoglobin synthesis after acute blood loss in an animal model of moderate (30%) blood loss.

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