Response Rates for Waldenström Macroglobulinemia Improve With Use of New First-Line, Better-Tolerated Treatments

As the number of first-line treatments for Waldenström Macroglobulinemia increased, older adults experienced marked improvements in survival Among older patients, median progression-free survival improved from 28.3 months in the early era to 63.3 months in the modern era, according to a new study. Younger patients, on the other hand, showed almost no improvement in median progression-free survival between eras, the authors pointed out.

Retention Rates Remain Low for Substance Use Disorder Programs

A common explanation for the high dropout rate and failure of a substance use disorder program is that patients fear symptoms of opioid withdrawal. A new study suggested that is for good reason, especially since patients who are exposed to full opioid agonists chronically are recommended to already be experiencing moderate withdrawal symptoms before they can get drugs to alleviate the symptoms. That’s why the FDA has approved new alternatives, including auricular stimulators, to help patients through the difficult withdrawal symptoms.

COVID-19 Infection Increased Suicide Attempts in Some Younger Veterans With Schizophrenic, Schizoaffective Disorder

Authors of a new study strongly urged that patients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder who have a history of suicide attempt and are younger than 59 or obese, should be monitored closely during the COVID-19 pandemic. They warned of the possibility of symptom exacerbation in those patients when they have severe COVID-19 since postmortem examination of brains in that cohort have revealed infection-related impaired brain neurotransmission.

Low Muscle Mass Along with High Tumor IL-6 Expression Strongly Associated with Mortality in Renal Cancer

The combination of low muscle mass and high tumor IL-6 expression predicts early death in patients with clear cell renal cell carcinoma, according to a new study. As with some other malignancies, cachexia is a major cause of mortality in ccRCC, the authors warned, noting that the combination of low muscle mass and high tumor IL-6 expression should raise alarms.

The Fungus Really Is Among Us: Its Role in Airway Disease, Nasal Polyps

What is the role of fungus in allergic airway diseases? VA researchers found that many conditions, including chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS), allergic fungal rhinosinusitis, asthma, allergic bronchopulmonary mycosis/aspergillosis, and cystic fibrosis (CF have a shared immunological signature. In some cases, nasal polyps can occur.

A Rare Cancer Prompts Sleuthing at the VA; New Options for MDS

VA researchers solved a mystery involving younger veterans who developed unusual and deadly cancers. They determined that patients currently using certain drugs, thiopurines, had triple the risk of myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) and acute myeloid leukemia (AML) on an adjusted basis compared to those never exposed. The risks resolved with discontinuation.

Early Colonoscopy in Veterans With IBD Lowers Overall Mortality

Well-timed colonoscopy appears to improve overall survival in inflammatory bowel disease patients, but many VA patients aren’t getting screened regularly. A new study supported current VA practice guidelines that recommend colonoscopy intervals from one year to three years among patients with IBD who have extensive colitis or left-sided colitis.

Risk Factors Change for HCC With More Effective Hepatitis C Treatment

Risk factors for hepatocellular carcinoma have undergone dramatic changesin recent years. Metabolic conditions such as obesity and diabetes, as well as associated nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, now sit at the top of the list. Alcohol use disorders also are on the increase, fueling alcoholic liver disease and alcoholic cirrhosis. At the same time, however, with more effective treatment and prevention, hepatitis C and hepatitis B infections have decreased in prevalence.

VA Researchers Look at Role of Estrogen, Menopause In Elevated Rates of Glaucoma in Women

VA Researchers Look at Role of Estrogen, Menopause In Elevated Rates of Glaucoma in Women

Women represented less than 10% of U.S. veterans in 2017, according to the National Center for Veterans Analysis and Statistics, but the number of women veterans receiving VHA care has increased by 22.1%, from 423,642 in 2014 to 517,241 in 2018 and is predicted to burgeon even more in the future. That’s why studies such as one examining the role of estrogen and menopause in glaucoma are so important to the VA.

Genetic Changes Increase Likelihood of Poor COVID-19 Outcomes in Chronic Lung Diseases; Environmental Exposures, Lifestyle Put Veterans at Higher Risk

Genetic Changes Increase Likelihood of Poor COVID-19 Outcomes in Chronic Lung Diseases; Environmental Exposures, Lifestyle Put Veterans at Higher Risk

Because they are molecularly susceptible to SARS-CoV-2, patients with chronic lung diseases appear to be primed for worse outcomes after infection, through the dysregulation of genes related to viral replication and the innate immune response in epithelial cells, and basal differences in inflammatory cell gene expression programs, according to a new study. The authors cautioned that patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis are most at risk but the greater danger also affects those with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and interstitial lung disease.