NASHVILLE, TN — Processes leading to impairment in schizophrenia and psychotic bipolar disorder might be more similar than previously assumed, according to a new study.
Following Guidelines Reduced Morality in Veterans at High Risk of Recurrent Stroke
INDIANAPOLIS — Meticulously following clinical guidelines in VA patients who suffered transient ischemic attack or nonsevere ischemic stroke reduced by nearly one-third their risk of death within a year, according to a new study.
Trying to Determine What Leads to Tobacco Cessation in Vets
MINNEAPOLIS — Incidental pulmonary nodules are commonly found on routine chest imaging, but not enough is known about smoking behaviors among patients with IPNs or characteristics of patient-clinician communication that may contribute to these behaviors.
Tests Show No Lung Changes for Recent Veterans
SAN ANTONIO — Significant airborne hazards were reported during military conflicts in southwest Asia, including geologic dusts, burn pit emissions, chemical exposures, and increased rates of smoking.
Political Issues Related to VA’s Limited Approval of Esketamine for Depression
WASHINGTON — A VA panel this summer opted not to add the new depression medication esketamine, Spravato, to the department’s formulary in the usual way. This came despite strong support from President Donald Trump and an effort by VA officials to fast-track the drug for approved use at VA facilities.
VA Study Shows Benefit of PCSK9 Inhibitors After Maximizing Other Therapies
HOUSTON—Veterans who have experienced acute coronary syndrome within the past year face a substantial risk of a repeat event. Proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) inhibitors significantly reduce that risk, but determining who would benefit most and when they should be initiated has been challenging.
New Guidelines Recommend TNFi Biologics as Initial Psoriatic Arthritis Treatment
BIRMINGHAM, AL — For the first time, new guidelines have recommended the use of tumor necrosis factor inhibitor biologics as initial therapy for psoriatic arthritis.
VA-led Study Finds U.S. MS Prevalence Is Double Previous Estimates
WASHINGTON—Researchers and policy makers estimated that 300,000 to 400,000 people in the U.S. had multiple sclerosis in 2010, but new data indicates that number grossly undercounted the number of people affected by the neurological disease.
New Biomarker for MS Discovered; Could Replace MRI for Detection
BALTIMORE—A University of Maryland research team has discovered a biomarker that can determine whether a patients has multiple sclerosis or is relapsing, thanks to VA funding.
Metformin Reduces Dementia Risk in Black Veterans With T2D
ST. LOUIS—Use of metformin for Type 2 diabetes significantly reduces the risk of dementia among African American male veterans older than 50, according to a large observational cohort study.
Tight Glycemic Control Increases Fracture Risk in Veterans with Diabetes
DURHAM, NC — Diabetes mellitus among older men has been associated with increased bone mineral density but paradoxically increased fracture risk, according to a study in the Journal of Bone and Mineral Research.1
Decompensated Diabetes More Common in Certain Racial, Age Groups
ATLANTA—Which diabetes patients are most likely to have decompensated diabetes, defined as diabetic ketoacidosis and hyperosmolar hyperglycemic state?
Debate Continues on Esketamine Efficacy and Safety for Depression Treatment
PHILADELPHIA—Is esketamine a revolutionary treatment for depression or just another moderately effective adjunctive medication with some potentially serious risks? The VA’s Medical Advisory Panel leaned toward the latter position when it decided in June to approve the use of esketamine on a nonformulary basis for individuals who have previously failed at least two trials of other antidepressants.
Army Doctor’s Unique Training Helps Improve Battlefield Medicine
SAN ANTONIO— Col. Andrew Cap, the division chief of Acute Combat Casualty Research at the Army Institute of Surgical Research, admits that he’s the last person you want to ask for advice on how to plan out a career in medical research.
VA Researcher Seeks to Include Veterans’ Voices in Healthcare Decisions
SEATTLE—It’s a big job to ensure that VA’s healthcare system is equipped to provide the best possible care to veterans. It might be an even bigger job to make sure that veterans across the country have access to that care. As VA looks into new ways of getting veterans...
First-Ever Study Focuses on How Well VHA Cares for TIA Patients
INDIANAPOLIS — While many healthcare systems measure the quality of their stroke care, looking at performance early in the vascular disease process can help avoid acute events altogether.
Link Between Pain, Brain Disruption in Gulf War Veterans
MADISON, WI — Chronic musculoskeletal pain (CMP) affects about one-fourth of the 700,000 veterans deployed during the Persian Gulf War in 1990-1991. A study in the journal Pain pointed out that the cause of their pain is unknown, and no efficacious treatments...
VA Patients Lack Testing to Optimize CLL Treatment
SALT LAKE CITY — The presence of deletion 17p (del17), determined by chromosome analysis and/or fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), is a strong negative prognostic marker in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), according to a report in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.1
U.S. Medicine Supplements
CE Credits
