CCATT

INTRODUCTION: Our understanding of the expertise and equipment required to air transport injured soldiers with severe traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) continue to evolve. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective chart review of characteristics, interventions required and short-term outcomes of patients with severe TBI managed by the US Air Force Critical Care Air Transport Teams (CCATTs) deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom between 1 June 2007 and 31 August 2010...

Critical Care Air Transport Teams (CCATT) are specialized military medical personnel who provide high-acuity care in an aeromedical environment. The rate of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms was assessed in CCATT personnel and their rates were compared to general aeromedical evacuation (AE) personnel. As part of a computer-based occupational stress survey, 188 crew members (138 AE nurses and technicians, 50 CCATT nurses and respiratory therapists) completed the PTSD Checklist - Military Version...

BACKGROUND: Critical Care Air Transport Teams (CCATTs) are integral to the U.S. Air Force aeromedical evacuation paradigm. The current study was conducted to evaluate predictors of nontechnical skills (NOTECHS) in CCATT trainees. METHODS: Sixteen CCATTs were studied over a 6-month period. Team members completed a biographical survey and teams were videotaped during a simulated CCATT mission. Teams and individuals were assigned a "red flag score" using a validated assessment tool for NOTECHS...

CONTEXT AND OBJECTIVE: Exposure to air pollutants is one of the factors responsible for hospitalizations due to respiratory diseases. The objective here was to estimate the effect of exposure to particulate matter (such as PM2.5) on hospitalizations due to certain respiratory diseases among residents in Volta Redonda (RJ). DESIGN AND SETTING: Ecological time series study using data from Volta Redonda (RJ). METHODS: Data on hospital admissions among residents of Volta Redonda (RJ), between January 1, 2012, and December 31, 2012, due to pneumonia, acute bronchitis, bronchiolitis and asthma, were analyzed...

CONTEXT AND OBJECTIVE: Exposure to air pollutants is one of the factors responsible for hospitalizations due to respiratory diseases. The objective here was to estimate the effect of exposure to particulate matter (such as PM2.5) on hospitalizations due to certain respiratory diseases among residents in Volta Redonda (RJ). DESIGN AND SETTING: Ecological time series study using data from Volta Redonda (RJ). METHODS: Data on hospital admissions among residents of Volta Redonda (RJ), between January 1, 2012, and December 31, 2012, due to pneumonia, acute bronchitis, bronchiolitis and asthma, were analyzed...

INTRODUCTION: U.S. Critical Care Air Transport Teams (CCATTs) evacuate critically ill patients with acute pain in the combat setting. Limited data have been reported on analgesic administration en route, and no study has reported analgesic use by CCATTs. Our objective was to describe analgesics used by CCATTs for nonintubated, critically ill patients during evacuation from a combat setting. METHODS: We conducted an institutional review board-approved, retrospective review of CCATT records...

BACKGROUND: There are no tools to predict outcomes in the U.S. Air Force Critical Care Air Transport Team (CCATT) trauma patients. The objective of this study was to identify associations between preflight variables and outcomes that could assist planning of ongoing critical care. METHODS: This Institutional Review Board approved retrospective study included all patients evacuated from Afghanistan by CCATT between 2007 and 2011. Preflight variables were assessed for associations and examined in logistic regression models...

Psoriasis vulgaris is a common chronic inflammatory skin disease characterized by the hyperproliferation and abnormal differentiation of keratinocytes. CCATT/enhancer binding protein α (C/EBPα) is abundant in the epidermis and is associated with the proliferation of keratinocytes. However, the role of C/EBPα in the proliferation of keratinocytes and the pathogenesis of psoriasis vulgaris are yet to be elucidated. In the present study, using two-step immunohistochemistry, the expression levels of C/EBPα and Ki-67 were examined in skin biopsies harvested from 30 patients with psoriasis vulgaris and 30 healthy control subjects...

BACKGROUND: US military Critical Care Air Transport Teams (CCATT) transport critically ill burn patients out of theater. Blood transfusion may incur adverse effects, and studies report lower hemoglobin (Hgb) value may be safe for critically ill patients. There are no studies evaluating the optimal Hgb value for critically ill burn patients prior to CCATT evacuation. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to determine if critically ill burn casualties with an Hgb of 10 g/dL or less, transported via CCATT, have similar clinical outcomes at 30 days as compared with patients with an Hgb of greater than 10 g/dL...

BACKGROUND: Military critical care air transport teams (CCATT) evacuate critically ill and injured patients out of theater for tertiary treatment. Teams are led by a physician, nurse, and respiratory technician. Current aeromedical guidelines require a hemoglobin (Hgb) of 9 g/dL or greater to evacuate; however, civilians report that an Hgb of 8 g/dL or less is safe in critically ill patients. This study aimed to compare postflight short-term and 30-day patient outcomes for CCATT patients evacuated out of theater with an Hgb of 8 g/dL or less with those with an Hgb of greater than 8 g/dL...

Histone modifications on major transcription factor target genes are one of the major regulatory mechanisms controlling adipogenesis. Plant homeodomain finger 2 (PHF2) is a Jumonji domain-containing protein and is known to demethylate the histone H3K9, a repressive gene marker. To better understand the function of PHF2 in adipocyte differentiation, we constructed stable PHF2 knock-down cells by using the mouse pre-adipocyte cell line 3T3-L1. When induced with adipogenic media, PHF2 knock-down cells showed reduced lipid accumulation compared to control cells...

Premature luteinization is a possible cause of infertility in women. It is currently unknown whether environmental chemicals can induce changes associated with premature luteinization. Using rat granulosa cells (GC) in vitro, we demonstrated that exposure to atrazine (ATR), a widely used herbicide, causes GC phenotype that resembles that of human premature luteinization. At the end of the 48-h stimulation with FSH, ATR-exposed GC showed (1) higher levels of progesterone, (2) overexpression of luteal markers (Star and Cyp11a1), and (3) an increase in progesterone:estradiol ratio above 1...

BACKGROUND: Brown algae have been used for their nutritional value as well as a source of bioactive compounds with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and anti-obesity effects. Obesity is an important condition implicated in various diseases, including diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia and coronary heart disease. However, anti-obesity effects of Eisenia bicyclis remain unknown. RESULTS: We investigated the anti-obesity effects of 6,6'-bieckol, 6,8'-bieckol, 8,8'-bieckol, dieckol and phlorofucofuroeckol A isolated from E...

BACKGROUND: Critical Care Air Transport Teams (CCATTs) are a critical component of the United States Air Force evacuation paradigm. This study was conducted to assess the incidence of task saturation in simulated CCATT missions and to determine if there are predictable performance domains. METHODS: Sixteen CCATTs were studied over a 6-month period. Performance was scored using a tool assessing eight domains of performance. Teams were also assessed during critical events to determine the presence or absence of task saturation and its impact on patient care...

IMPORTANCE: Advances in the care of the injured patient are perhaps the only benefit of military conflict. One of the unique aspects of the military medical care system that emerged during Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom has been the opportunity to apply existing civilian trauma system standards to the provision of combat casualty care across an evolving theater of operations. OBJECTIVES: To identify differences in mortality for soldiers undergoing early and rapid evacuation from the combat theater and to evaluate the capabilities of the Critical Care Air Transport Team (CCATT) and Joint Theater Trauma Registry databases to provide adequate data to support future initiatives for improvement of performance...

Critical Care Air Transport Teams (CCATTs) have evolved as a vital component of the U.S. Air Force's aeromedical evacuation system. Previous epidemiological research in this area is limited. The objective of this commentary is to highlight the importance of obtaining robust epidemiological data regarding patients transported by CCATTs. A limited epidemiological analysis was performed to describe CCATT patients transported during Operation Enduring Freedom and the waning months of Operation Iraqi Freedom. CCATT transports for the calendar year 2011 were examined as recorded in the U...

INTRODUCTION: The U.S. Air Force (USAF) School of Aerospace Medicine is conducting a fatigue research study titled "Assessment of Fatigue in Deployed Critical Care Air Transport Team (CCATT) Crews" using two electronic devices onboard USAF aircraft during actual CCATT missions. Both devices were subjected to testing to support a safe-to-fly (STF) recommendation prior to their use in flight. The purpose of the test and evaluation process was to ensure the devices can be safely operated in flight without posing a hazard to the research participant, crewmembers, or aircraft during an actual mission...

Adipose tissue is crucial for energy homeostasis and is a topic interest with respect to investigating the regulation of adipose tissue formation for the ever-increasing health concerns of obesity and type 2 diabetes. Adipocyte differentiation is tightly regulated by the characteristic sequential expression change of adipocyte genes, including members of the CCATT/enhancer binding protein (C/EBP) family of transcription factors, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ and tribbles homolog 3. In the present study, we demonstrate that C/EBPβ and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (but not tribbles homolog 3) are targeted for activation by activating transcription factor 4 (ATF4), a member of cAMP response element-binding/activator transcription factor family...

BACKGROUND: This study investigated whether Critical Care Air Transport Team (CCATT) members are at increased risk for incident post-deployment mental health conditions. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of 604 U.S. Air Force medical personnel without preexisting mental health conditions who had at least one deployment as a CCATT member during 2003-2012 as compared to a control group of 604 medical personnel, frequency matched based on job role, with at least one deployment during the same period, but without CCATT experience...

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to describe the short-term outcomes (during air transport) of patients managed by the United States Air Force Critical Care Air Transport Teams (CCATT). METHODS: This is a retrospective chart review of patients who were transported by CCATT between March 1, 2007 and June 30, 2008. A standardized abstraction form was used. Patients were classified as medical or trauma. Care given inflight was documented, including mechanical ventilation, vasoactive medication administration, and administration of blood products...