Gulf War and Iraq/Afghanistan veterans have significantly smaller brainstem volumes compared to healthy civilians, and damage to the brainstem structure of these veterans could potentially lead to sleep disturbances and chronic pain, according to a recent study.
New Research Suggests Use of Benzodiazepine Alternatives for COPD Insomnia
The safety and long-term effects of hypnotic medications in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) have been called into question by a new study.
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.
Misinformation or distrust of vaccines can be like a contagion that can spread as fast as measles
Theresa Tam serves as Canada’s Chief Public Health Officer. Like many public health officials during the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Tam was the focus of considerable criticism of her recommendations as the virus spread. Health officials worldwide tried to guide the public on responding to the virus based on few facts. At the time, the virus was new and barely understood. There was no vaccination and little science regarding the COVID-19 virus. Fortunately for all of us, much has improved regarding our understanding and treatment of COVID and other respiratory viruses.
New Guidelines Make Targeted Therapy Recommendations for CRC
The American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) recently developed recommendations for the treatment of patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC).
More Research Needed on MMPs, Especially in CRC Patients With IBD
An important research focus in colorectal cancer concerns the enzymes comprising the 24-member matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) family of zinc- and calcium-dependent endopeptidases.
Understanding of KRAS Variations and Their Management Is Evolving
Since 2010, KRAS molecular testing has been guideline-recommended in the VA healthcare system. The goal has been to help determine how metastatic cancer is likely to respond to anti-EGFR drug therapy.
VA Pushes to Increase Uptake of Genomic, Other Precision-Testing in CRC
Patients receiving oncology care within a VHA facility are eligible for genomic- and other precision-testing, if they have an advanced-stage tumor or blood cancer and can tolerate recommended therapies.
Epidemiological Changes in CRC Will Have Significant Impact on VHA
The VA treats about 3% of all cases of colorectal cancer (CRC) in the United States each year—6% among cases in men. So, any epidemiological changes have an outsized effect on the nation’s largest integrated healthcare system.
Study: Vietnam War-Era Veterans Not at Increased Risk of Suicide Mortality
Veterans who served in the Vietnam War era, either in theater or not deployed, are not at increased risk of suicide mortality compared with the U.S. population, although the number of suicides among these veterans is noteworthy and merits the attention of mental health professionals and policymakers, according to a recent study.
Groups Funded to Help Prevent Veterans Suicides Overwhelmed by Paperwork
For the past two years, VA has overseen the distribution of grants to community organizations whose work is designed to help prevent veteran suicide.
HIV Preexposure Prophylaxis in MHS Not Linked to Higher STI Risk
Consistent use of HIV preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) has been shown to reduce the risk of sexual risk of HIV acquisition by 99% among men who have sex with men (MSM).
VA Study: Microbial Contamination Continues in Hospitals, Even When Recommended Cleaning Protocols Are Followed
Microbial contamination—including pathogenic and potentially pathogenic bacteria—persisted on high-touch hospital surfaces despite compliance with recommended disinfection protocols, according to a study performed at the Central Texas Veterans Healthcare System.
Psychological Distress Complicates Remote mTBI
Recovery from mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) and posttraumatic stress, which are prevalent in military servicemembers, is complicated because the conditions share objective and subjective cognitive symptoms.
Women Veterans With Epilepsy Have More Psychiatric Diagnoses
Women Veterans with epilepsy (WVE) might have unique psychiatric comorbidities that affect presentation, treatment and outcomes.
How Veterans With TBI, GWI Present With Frontotemporal Disorders
Frontotemporal lobe disorders (FTD), which affect personality, behavior and language, are among the most common brain neurodegenerative disorders.
Cannabis-Use Disorder Riskier in Veterans With Mental Health Conditions
Veterans with psychiatric disorders, especially those with serious mental health issues, are especially vulnerable to cannabis-use disorder, according to a new study warning of an increase in the condition.
Bright Light Therapy Remains Underused Within VA Healthcare System
Since the 1980s, when seasonal affective disorder was first identified, one of the first-line treatments has been Bright Light Therapy.
Study Spotlights Barriers to Best Lung Cancer Care Within VHA
While it is well known that veteran populations have higher lung cancer incidence and worse overall survival compared with non-veteran populations, it is not clear how VA lung cancer patients perceive their care.
Patient Selection for Lung Cancer Screening Is Less Than Optimal
Clinician judgment, not patient characteristics, often is the deciding factor in which VA patients are screened for lung cancer, according to a new study.
Military Healthcare Beneficiaries Have Better NSCLS Survival.
Does the universal healthcare provided by the U.S. military health system (MHS) mean better lung cancer survival for patients? A new study suggested that is the case.
Even Mild COVID-19 Infections Caused Impaired Fitness in Military Personnel
Healthy, young members of the military who have had COVID-19 may experience impairments in fitness up to a year after their acute illness has resolved
Deployment Status Plays a Role in Epilepsy Development After TBI
Deployment history appears to play a role in the association between traumatic brain injury (TBI) and epilepsy in recent veterans—but not always in an obvious way.
VA Trying to Pick Up Slack for Rural Veterans Losing Community Healthcare
VA has long struggled to provide care to veterans in rural areas of the country. Veterans living there are frequently required to drive long distances to VA hospitals, and smaller VA clinics are not always available.
White Patients Much More Likely to Receive Knee Arthroplasty In MHS
The U.S. Military Health System is touted as an equal-access medical provider, and scores of studies have demonstrated that few racial inequities exist in the treatment it provides for many conditions.
Critics Strongly Condemn New VA/DoD Guideline on PTSD Treatment
The new VA/DoD posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) clinical practice guideline, published late last year, has drawn strong criticism from some experts in the field.
The fear of death follows from the fear of life. A man who lives fully is prepared to die at any time.
New Year’s Eve 2023 was marked with sadness for my family as my mother-in-law, Susan “Sue” Timperley, passed. Leave it to Sue to pass with fireworks and parties in full swing. She was a vital force within our family, a calming influence on the males of our clan, an example for all and a tireless advocate for her grandchildren. Although she was just a slip of a woman, 5 feet tall and 100 pounds soaking wet, woe to anyone who would mistakenly assume her petite physical appearance belied weakness of character.
Real-World Pneumonitis Rates After Chemotherapy Plus Durvalumab
ANN ARBOR, MI – While adjuvant durvalumab after definitive chemoradiotherapy (CRT) for unresectable stage III non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is well-tolerated in clinical trials, that is not always the case in the real-world, according to a new VA study....
NSCLC Survival Rates Higher with Distant Recurrence vs. De Novo Metastasis
PALO ALTO, CA – Even with new and improved therapies, clinicians remain challenged by how to deal with advanced lung cancer. “The survival profile of patients with metastatic lung cancer remains poorly understood by metastatic disease type (i.e., de novo stage IV vs....