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.
Jennifer Marquez
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.
Mortality Is Higher Than Expected in Post-9/11 Veterans With TBI
In the 20th century, military servicemembers were found to be healthier than the average individual, with lower mortality rates than their U.S. civilian counterparts.
In-Hospital Weight Loss Signals Improved Clinical Outcomes in HF Patients
Nearly all patients hospitalized for acute heart failure are acutely congested due to fluid retention and have gained weight by the time of their admission.
Brain Stimulation Improves Memory in Veterans with Early Alzheimer’s Disease
Transcranial magnetic stimulation, or TMS, is a technique that uses strong magnetic pulses to stimulate regions of the brain, producing electric currents that may affect neuron activity.
Why Does Sex Make a Difference in Statin Use Among Older Veterans?
Cardiovascular disease is the No. 1 cause of death for women in the United States, and female veterans are at particular risk.
Which Military Personnel Are Most at Risk of Skin Cancer? Study Has Answers.
Since the 1990s, both melanoma and nonmelanoma skin cancer have become more prevalent in the United States. Across the nation, more than 9,500 people are diagnosed with skin cancer every day.
Who Receives Video Telemental Health Services at VA? It Depends.
Across specialties, the COVID-19 pandemic has prompted an unprecedented shift toward the use of telemedicine. At the same time, the pandemic has produced a surge in demand for mental health services, as depression and anxiety have dramatically increased.
Conference Highlights Concerns About Increased CV Risk Factors in Veterans
New research is adding to the evidence that veterans are at increased risk for cardiometabolic conditions and poor cardiovascular outcomes.
Military Researchers Strongly Urge Curbing Steroid Use in IBD Patients
Finding alternatives to steroids in treating inflammatory bowel disease has taken on new urgency with the COVID-19 pandemic.
How Solar Activity Impacts Blood Pressure in Older Adults
Hypertension is a known risk factor for cardiovascular disease, the leading cause of death in the United States.
Fresh Whole Blood Transfusion Improves Outcomes in Military Settings
For much of the history of modern medicine, whole blood was the best—and only—option for patients needing transfusion after surgery or major trauma.
Anxiety Sensitivity Linked to PTSD Among Women Who’ve Experienced MST
Anxiety isn’t just mental. It can also cause physical symptoms, such as heart palpitations, sweaty palms or shortness of breath. Anxiety sensitivity reflects the belief that those bodily sensations are harmful and dangerous.
Ketogenic Diet With Coaching Appears Beneficial for Veterans With Diabetes
Diabetes affects more than 34 million—or nearly 10% of—Americans and is the seventh-leading cause of death in the U.S. The prevalence is even higher among U.S. veterans; approximately 25% of individuals who’ve served in the military have diabetes.
VHA Observational Study Finds No Links Between Testosterone, CV Events
Hormone replacement therapy can have a number of beneficial effects—improving libido and sexual function, lifting energy and mood, increasing muscle mass and bone mineral density and decreasing fat mass—in men with low levels of testosterone, according to studies.
For Veterans With Cancer, Teleoncology Offers High Patient Satisfaction
Approximately 50,000 U.S. military veterans are diagnosed with cancer annually, representing 3% of all cancers across the nation.
Insomnia Has Affected Nearly 1 in 5 Veterans During the Pandemic
Sleep is essential to mental and physical well-being, and not getting enough sleep can lead to stress or difficulties concentrating, solving problems—even fighting off infection. At the same time, stress and anxiety can also lead to disrupted sleep.
Study Describes the Success of the VA’s Hepatic Innovation Team Collaborative
Hepatitis C can lead to serious liver diseases including cirrhosis and liver cancer—particularly hepatocellular carcinoma, which accounts for about 90% of all liver cancer cases.
Nasopharyngeal Swabs Superior for Diagnosing SARS-COV-2 Infection
Identifying SARS-CoV-2 infections quickly and accurately is critical to managing the COVID-19 pandemic and reducing community spread of the virus.





