In patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus, cardiorespiratory fitness and body mass index (BMI) play a role in statin-related progression to insulin therapy, according to a recent study.
Dermatology Group Seeks Better Stevens-Johnson Severity Tool
Stevens-Johnson syndrome/toxic epidermal necrolysis (EN) is a severe adverse mucocutaneous drug reaction with life-threatening implications, usually caused by drug reactions.
Not Enough Research on Pharmacological Treatments for Digital Ulcers
A recent review has found too little evidence on pharmacological treatments for systemic sclerosis (SSc) digital ulcers (DU) and was unable to promote the development of evidence-based treatment guidelines.
Surgical Excision Found More Cost-Effective Than Mohs Surgery
A retrospective study examined the cost differences between total surgical excision and Mohs surgery to treat skin cancer in the Miami VA Healthcare system.
Veterans Who Got COVID Shots More Likely to Accept Flu Vaccine
A new VA study sought to determine whether acceptance of the COVID-19 vaccine might have influenced update of annual influenza vaccination.
Racial Disparity Common in Receipt of High-Dose Influenza Vaccines
Racial disparities in receipt of high-dose influenza vaccine (HDV) have been documented nationally, but a new study sought to determine if small-area geographic variation in such disparities also exists.
Veterans Less Likely to Attribute Suicide Experiences to COVID-19 Pandemic
Veterans were more likely to report past-year suicidal ideation, plans and suicide attempts compared to nonveterans, but they were less likely to attribute their suicide-related experiences to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a recent study.
Comparison of the Adjuvanted, High-Dose Influenza Vaccines for Older Adults
Which provides better protection for older adults: the adjuvanted inactivated influenza vaccine (aIIV) or high-dose inactivated influenza vaccine (HD-IIV)?
Changing How Cancer Immunotherapy Is Delivered Could Save VHA Millions
Changing modes of delivery could save the VHA millions annually on the cost of cancer immunotherapy treatments, according to a new analysis.
How Afghanistan Particulate Matter Affected Deployed Servicemembers
U.S. military personnel who served in Iraq and Afghanistan often present with deployment-related asthma-like symptoms, including distal airway obstruction.
How Lung Volumes Change During Progression of Spirometric COPD
Abnormal lung volumes representing air-trapping identify the subset of smokers with preserved spirometry who develop spirometric chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and adverse outcomes can be identified by abnormal lung volumes representing air-trapping.
Military Plans for Casualty Care After Future Large-Scale Combat Operations
In planning and preparing for the future possibility of large-scale combat operations, military medicine might have to decide which wounded warriors can have delayed evacuations.
Prazosin Reduces Frequency, Impact of Mild Traumatic Brain Injury Headaches
The blood pressure medication prazosin might dramatically reduce the occurrence of headaches following mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI), according to a new study by researchers at VA Puget Sound Health Care System in Seattle.
VA Doctor-Turned-Inventor Works to Prevent Infectious Disease Spread
Part of the inspiration for Chetan Jinadatha, MD, MPH, to specialize in treating infectious disease comes from going to medical school in his native India, which has a high burden of such diseases. However, he also likes to say it’s partly for selfish reasons.
Higher Risk Veterans Vs. Others Challenge Lung Cancer Risk Calculators
Comparing VA patients with higher lung cancer risk to a general population group with lower risk underscored the limitations of using risk calculators in a clinical setting.
Study Found That SBRT Works Well for Multiple Primary Lung Cancers
As survival grows for lung cancer patients, more are presenting with multiple primary lung cancers (MPLCs).
Lung Cancer Affected Minority, Enlisted Servicemembers More Than Others
Non-Hispanic Black veterans and servicemembers had almost twofold greater lung cancer mortality risk compared with those who are non-Hispanic white.
VA Researchers Find Biomarkers for Potentially Serious Parasitic Infections
Asymptomatic Leishmaniasis Infected Nearly 20% of Soldiers in Iraq BETHESDA, MD—New research has identified three chemokines as potential biomarkers for asymptomatic visceral leishmaniasis (VL), a chronic infection caused by Leishmania (L.) donovani or L. infantum....
Racial Disparities Persist in Outcomes for Pregnant and Postpartum Veterans, as Well as Their Infants, Despite VA’s Equal Access System
Racial health disparities in the United States are well documented, but the starkest are with reproductive health and outcomes, according to a VA researcher.
VA Adopts New Standards for Treating Older Veterans in EDs
The VA is trying to better serve its older patient population by adopting accredited geriatric emergency departments in many agency hospitals.
VA Study Points Out Need for Transgender Prostate Cancer Awareness
Because of the risks of prostate removal—leakage of urine and problems with sexual function—the prostate usually is left intact in transgender women.
Second Medication Improves Well-Being in Treatment-Resistant Depression
In older adults with treatment-resistant depression, adding a second medication to their existing antidepressant medication leads to greater improvements in psychological well-being and a higher remission rate from depression, compared to switching to a different medication, according to a new study.
VSOs: Veterans Waiting Too Long for Substance-Abuse Treatment
Veterans in need of residential substance abuse treatment are facing too-long delays in finding beds both at VA facilities and through community care, according to veterans’ service organizations.
PTSD More Likely in Deployed Servicemembers With Childhood Abuse History
Military servicemembers with a history of physical, emotional or sexual abuse in childhood appear to be at a greater risk of developing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) if they are deployed to conflict zones.
Real-World Study Found Paxlovid Lowered Risk of Hospitalization, Death
How effective have oral antivirals actually been in preventing short- and long-term COVID-19–related outcomes? A new study examined that issue during Omicron variant transmission and with limited COVID-19 vaccinations.
Many Servicemembers With Opioid Disorder Fall Through Gaps in Handoff to VA
Veterans with opioid-use disorder (OUD) are at an increased risk for overdose and suicide in the year following discharge. For this reason, VA and DoD place a high value on the firm handoff of patients.
VA Studies Provide Insight Into Improving Survival in Small Cell Lung Cancer
Lung cancer is the third-most-common form of cancer and the leading cause of cancer mortality in the U.S. Because of their high rate of smoking and, potentially, military-related exposures, veterans are at greater risk of lung cancer than the general population.
New Research Suggested That Veterans Exposed to Agent Orange Have Increased Risk of Developing Progressive Blood Cancers, Such as MPNs
For the first time, new research findings have suggested that veterans exposed to Agent Orange might be at increased risk of developing progressive blood cancers, such as myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs).
Female Post-9/11 Veterans More Likely to Have MS Than Males
Among post-9/11 veterans, sex-based differences were common in an assessment of health status. For example, women had higher odds for multiple sclerosis and a range of other conditions compared to men.
Using Ultrasound Measures of Functionality in MS Patients
Can sonography be a useful tool in evaluating changes due to disease progression or therapeutic interventions in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients? A new VA study suggested it could be.
