Since the beginning of the 21st century, uterine cancer mortality has increased, especially among Black and Hispanic women, according to a new study.
Pandemic Declines in Cancer Diagnoses Persisted for Two Years
Early in the COVID-19 pandemic, significant declines in cancer diagnoses occurred. But what happened from the end of 2020, the first year, and after widespread vaccination occurred?
Daily Naltrexone Use Doesn’t Negatively Affect Performance in Soldiers
Daily use of naltrexone, a medication that blocks the effects of opioids with minimal side effects, doesn’t adversely affect the physical, cognitive or marksmanship performance of U.S. Army soldiers, according to a recent study.
Military Health Mammography Lapses During Pandemic Spotlights Disparities
Breast cancer screening within the Military Health System (MHS) plummeted by 74% in the early COVID-19 pandemic period and 22% in the late pandemic period, compared with the prepandemic period.
Frailty in Older Veterans Increases Their Risk for Long COVID Symptoms
Older veterans diagnosed with frailty are at much greater risk of developing long COVID after acute infection with SARS-CoV-2, according to a new study. Making that especially significant is that so many older VHA patients, including those living in the community, meet the criteria for frailty.
VA Researchers Spotlight Racial, Ethnic Disparities in Liver Cancer Care
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the most common form of primary liver cancer, is the fastest-growing cause of cancer-related death in the United States. But a new study points out that the burden of the often deadly cancer is not spread equally.
Trial of Fluticasone Furoate Didn’t Show Benefits for COVID-19 Outpatients
Inhaled glucocorticoids do not appear to be effective in shortening the time to symptom resolution or preventing hospitalization or death among outpatients with mild-to-moderate COVID-19, according to a recent study.
Liver Cancer Risk Low for Veterans Who Clear HCV Without Treatment
The risk of developing hepatocellular carcinoma, the most common type of liver cancer, is low for veterans who spontaneously clear hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection.
No Excess Late Mortality for Veterans Who Survived COVID-19
The devastating toll of acute COVID-19 infections on human lives is well documented. Yet a pressing question remains: Do survivors of acute COVID-19 face a higher risk of mortality in the aftermath of their infection and, if so, for how long does this risk persist?
Heat-Related Illness Among Veterans Showing Nationwide Rise
Environmental heat can adversely affect health, resulting in heightened healthcare demands, disability and even mortality. The combination of particular medical conditions with the ongoing global temperature increase may exacerbate susceptibility to heat-related ailments.
Genetic Risk Factors Lead to Potential Therapeutic Targets for Heart Failure
Heart failure affects nearly 6.2 million adults in the United States and disproportionately impacts veterans. The long-term prognosis of heart failure is poor, with a five-year mortality rate of 50%, raising the demand for new therapeutic opportunities.
Deportation Increases Risk of Poor Health for Noncitizen U.S. Veterans
For noncitizen U.S. military servicemembers, deportation can increase the risk of poor physical and mental health outcomes, making this group a vulnerable and often overlooked health disparity population, according to a recent study.
Healthy Older Veterans Not Getting CRC Screening That Could Benefit Them
Even though clinical guidelines recommend that clinicians selectively offer colorectal cancer (CRC) screening to older adults aged 76 to 85 years, taking into account their life expectancy, values, and preferences.
Concern Is Growing About Sharp Increase in Asian American, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander Veteran Suicide Rates
Growing suicide rates among Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) veterans are of increasing concern, according to a new study.
Army Files Charges Against Anesthesiologist, Alleges Inappropriate Sexual Conduct
Sexual-assault charges have been filed by the Army against Maj. Michael Stockin, MD, an anesthesiologist stationed at the pain clinic at Joint Base Lewis-McChord’s Madigan Army Medical Center.
TBI Triples Suicide Rate Among Veterans vs. General US Population
As suicide deaths have reached shocking highs among American adults as a whole, the rates for U.S. veterans are even higher—57.3% greater than for nonveterans.
With Influx of Patients, VA Loses Ground in Filling Key Healthcare Positions
Despite a recent hiring surge, VA has been losing ground in filling key healthcare positions, with the number of severe shortages rising from this time last year.
Number of VA Patients Prescribed Opioids Has Plummeted in the Last Decade
The number of VHA patients with opioid prescriptions has plummeted by 67% since 2012, primarily because of the agency’s Opioid Safety Initiative (OSI) beginning a decade ago.
Statin, Ezetimibe Therapy Combo Shows Promise for Reducing CVD Risk
Combining two different medications used to lower high cholesterol levels, optimized statin therapy and ezetimibe, appears to be associated with reducing cardiovascular risk in U.S. military veterans with coronary artery disease, according to a new study.
Review Looks at Higher Alzheimer’s Rates Among Blacks in U.S.
Why do Black/African-American (AA) individuals have a higher risk of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) than white non-Hispanic persons of European ancestry (EUR)?
More Flexible Lookback Periods for Dementia Also Useful
Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD) often are identified using a list of claims codes and a fixed lookback period of three years of data.
Monogalactosyl Diglyceride Levels Rise With Alzheimer’s Progression
While many clinical studies have reported brain lipidomic abnormalities in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) that affect glycerophospholipids, sphingolipids and fatty acids, no consensus exists about those abnormalities and whether they relate to disease progression.
DoD Grant Supports Innovative Treatment for Orthopedic Conditions
In September, the Department of Defense granted a small Maryland-based company up to $7.4 million to develop a targeted therapeutic that could have a big impact on the care of military personnel and veterans with orthopedic injuries and degenerative diseases.
VA Expands Program Caring for Pregnant Veterans, New Mothers
As of this month, mothers treated by the VA healthcare system pre- and post-partum have access to maternity care coordinators from the beginning of their pregnancy to 12 months after birth. That is a change from the previous end-date of 8 weeks post-partum.
New Journal Article Decries Lack of Recognition for Military Medicine;
A new Special Communication in JAMA Network Open decried that military medicine’s contribution to healthcare advances often are overlooked and that not enough communication occurs between civilian and military clinicians.
Sarah Krein Researches Whatever Is Necessary to Improve Veterans’ Care
Most VA researchers begin their research career because of a fascination with a certain clinical subject–a niche area usually discovered early in their studies that starts them off on a long, relatively straight, journey. Not for Sarah Krein, PhD, RN, who is interested in many subjects but none so deeply as the methodology of research itself.
The rights of every man are diminished when the rights of one man are threatened.
I have been enjoying the summer months (notwithstanding the heat we escaped by hiding out up north), and I hope my readers are doing the same. Sadly, some irritating and tragic medical events have interrupted my otherwise blissful season. The first issue involved my newly minted grandson, who required a routine ultrasound for a skin mass that was determined to be a benign cyst. This was and should have remained a “nothing burger” until my daughter called to tell us she had been hit with a $937 co-pay for the scan.
Thrombosis Risk With Cancer Treatment Varies With VA Patient Characteristics
PORTLAND, OR -- Has cancer-directed therapy changed patterns of the incidence and risk of cancer-associated thrombosis (CAT) at the VA? That was the question raised in a cohort study of 434,203 veterans with solid tumors and hematologic neoplasms within the VHA....
High Serum TARC Levels Predict Hodgin Lymphoma Years Before Diagnosis
A study found that TARC levels measured in pre-diagnostic serum samples had notably increased values in most patients up to over six years before diagnosis.
Lymphoma Most-Common Cancer Diagnosed in Active-Duty Military Personnel
SAN ANTONIO –Active-duty servicemembers diagnosed with lymphoma within the MHS had better overall survival than a matched civilian cohort, but the authors of a study with that finding emphasized that more information is needed to ensure optimal treatment for those...
