In the more than 90 years since the VA established its first tumor research laboratory at the Hines, Ill., VA hospital, the agency has published some of the most instrumental studies in cancer in the U.S.
Recurrent Hyperkalemia Found to Be Higher in Black, Hispanic Veterans
In U.S. veterans with incident hyperkalemia, the risk of recurrent hyperkalemia within one year is higher in Black and Hispanic patients, according to a recent study.
Supplements Marketed to Military Contain Dangerous, Illegal Substances
Dietary supplements for weight loss are widely promoted online and through social media, with many claiming to have the added benefits of building lean muscle and enhancing energy and performance.
Fewer Deaths After Serious Illness in Veterans Treated With PARC Care Model
After a serious illness, veterans who received medical care via the Post-Acute Recovery Center (PARC) model experienced fewer deaths and more days outside of the hospital compared to those not treated with PARC, according to a recent study.
Prospective Memory Deficits Explained in Multiple Sclerosis Patients
Patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) have been found to have prospective memory (PM) deficits. A new study sought to better understand how and why that occurs.
Veterans With MS Face Disparities in VA Smoking-Cessation Treatment
Even though smoking is a risk factor for multiple sclerosis (MS) development, symptom burden, decreased medication efficacy and increased disease-related mortality, veterans with the disease continue to smoke at critically high rates, according to a new study.
Why Does Epstein-Barr Lead to Multiple Sclerosis in Some Patients?
Only a small proportion of patients infected with the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) develop multiple sclerosis (MS). A new military study sought to determine why that is and what the underlying mechanisms are.
Kidney Disease Defined by KDIGO Guidelines Riskier for Veterans With HF
Is chronic kidney disease (CKD) diagnosed based on a single estimated glomerular filtration rate measurement significantly different from that diagnosed using the Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) guideline?
Editorial Director
Thanks to cutting-edge efforts to use targeted testing and strict guideline-adherence, the care of patients with serious illnesses is arguably better than ever at the VA and military healthcare systems.
VA Clinicians Tackle Issue of Defining and Combatting ‘Diabetes Distress’
The term “diabetes distress” is used to describe the emotional response to living with diabetes, a life-threatening illness that requires chronic and demanding self-management.
Atopic Dermatitis, Other Skin Issues Are Challenging for U.S. Military
Military servicemembers are often exposed to drastic climates, environments, and living conditions which may make them more susceptible to cutaneous diseases, according to a new study.
Higher MIBC Rate but No More Mortality in Black Veterans vs. Whites
Black patients presented with the highest rates of de novo muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) at the VA, a new study has found.
SGLT-2i, Testosterone Combo Can Increase Risk of Erythocytosis
Red blood cell production is stimulated with the combination of sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT-2i) and testosterone replacement therapy TRT), based on clinical trial findings.
Olfactory Function Loss in GW Veterans Linked to Cognitive Deficits
A disorder related to military service in the 1991 Gulf War (GW), Gulf War illness (GWI)/Chronic Multisymptom Illness (CMI) includes symptoms such as fatigue, pain and cognitive dysfunction.
Bramhall Works to Resolve Common Hearing Loss in Military Veterans
It’s such a common ailment among veterans that it’s almost a given: If you served any time in the military, you’re walking out with some type of hearing problem. That usually presents as hearing loss or tinnitus—a persistent ringing sound in the ears.
New Therapies Have Improved Survival for Prostate Cancer Patients
Improved treatment has meant better overall survival for many men diagnosed with prostate cancer, according to a new research letter. For older patients, however, the benefits of the new therapies weren’t as effective, the authors pointed out.
GOP Lawmakers Challenge Data That COVID-19 Vaccine Protected Troops
Recent data from DoD seems to confirm what researchers and physicians have been saying for years—that individuals who receive the COVID-19 vaccine are less likely to experience long-term health effects than those who do not.
HCC Tumor Recurrence After Radiologic Responses
How often does local recurrence occur in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients who undergo selective transarterial radioembolisation (TARE) or transarterial chemoembolisation (TACE) and achieve a complete response (CR) radiologically?
Biomarkers Help Predict Which Cirrhosis Patients Develop HCC
It can be difficult to determine which patients with cirrhosis will go on to develop hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).
Misclassification Affects Estimates of Opioid-Use Disorder Medications
Is misclassification of people who inject drugs (PWID) and are hospitalized because of infections affecting the analysis of outcomes from medications for opioid-use disorder (MOUD?
Long-Acting Benzodiazepines Best for Alcohol Withdrawal in Veterans
An extensive study of VA patients concluded that the best way to manage alcohol withdrawal in hospitalized settings is the use of long-acting benzodiazepines with symptom-triggered therapy, as recommended in American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) guidelines.
Study: Racism Contributes to Low OUD Prescribing in MHS
Rates of prescribing for medication for opioid-use disorder (MOUD) are low in the MHS and show evidence of institutional racism, according to a new study.
Psychoactive Drug Ibogaine Effectively Treats TBI Complications
The signature injury of U.S. veterans from recent military conflicts, traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a leading cause of injury-related disability.
More Research Needed on High Melanoma Rates in AI/AN People
Non-Hispanic American Indian/ Alaskan Native (AI/AN) people have the second-highest rate of melanoma in the United States after non-Hispanic white people.
Cause of Kidney Injury After Procedures Not Always Contrast Media
The administration of iodinated contrast media is not responsible for all changes in creatinine levels in patients undergoing the procedures.
Black Veterans Get CKD Younger, Have Lower Death Rates
The younger age of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in Black patients can help explain some of the differences and disparities compared to white patients with CKD, according to a new study.
Much More Dual Testing for CKD Needed Within VHA
A new study that included VA researchers made the case for much more dual testing for chronic kidney disease (CKD) in high-risk patients to improve disease management and patient outcomes.
Some Veterans With Dementia Might Have Treatable Cirrhosis Brain Effects
Could 1 in 10 veterans diagnosed with dementia actually have reversible cognitive decline caused by advanced liver disease?
Cold, Heat Waves Can Present Extra Danger for COPD Patients
Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are adversely impacted by extreme weather conditions, and the effects vary by gender and ethnic backgrounds.
Legislators Told AI Both Promising, Scary for Improving VA Healthcare
The speed at which artificial intelligence (AI) is being embraced at the VA has legislators both hopeful and concerned, optimistic that it can improve veterans’ health but worried about data privacy and the possibility of software superseding human decision-making in clinical settings.
