In patients who seek medical care for intermediate- or high-risk pulmonary embolism (PE), delaying the start of anticoagulant therapy is associated with increased odds of PE-related mortality, according to a recent study.
Multimodal Exercise Program Promising for Reducing Frailty in MS Patients
Frailty not only is a prevalent and debilitating condition in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients; it also is linked to poorer health outcomes.
Results Similar Between IV and Oral Iron Replacement Therapy With Mitigation
Noting that the long-term outcomes associated with intravenous (IV) vs. oral iron replacement therapy in patients with chronic kidney disease have been unclear, a recent study sought to remedy that.
Eczema Management in Gulf War Veterans: Emerging Therapies, Evolving Treatment Strategies
Persistent skin disorders, including atopic dermatitis (AD), have plagued Gulf War veterans since they were deployed in the early 1990s. Now, they and other patients with AD are benefiting from the development of nonsteroidal topical treatments shown to be effective for their conditions without the bothersome side effects associated with continuous steroid use.
Ultrasound Guided by MRI Effective Therapy for Parkinson’s Symptoms
Magnetic resonance-guided focused ultrasound (MRgFUS) thalamotomy, a noninvasive, incision-free and radiation-free therapeutic technology that uses high-intensity ultrasound waves to destroy specific tissue, guided by real-time MRI for precision, is increasingly used for managing symptoms in patients with essential tremor (ET) and Parkinson’s disease (PD).
New Executive Order Fast-Tracks the Use of Psychedelics to Treat Mental Health Disorders in Veterans
An executive order recently signed by President Donald Trump paves the way for expanded federal research into the use of psychedelics to treat mental health disorders, as well as directing the Food and Drug Administration to fast-track products shown to have promising results.
PTSD Symptoms Reduced by Adding Stellate Ganglion Block to CPT
In military personnel and veterans, adding a stellate ganglion block to cognitive processing therapy significantly reduced post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms and helped these individuals recover more quickly, according to a recent study.
Hyaluronic Acid Knee Injection Usage Increasing With Pain Specialists, Decreasing With Orthopedic Surgeons
Orthopedic surgeons have been decreasing their use of intra-articular hyaluronic acid injections for knee osteoarthritis, but pain specialists are increasing their usage, according to a recent study.
MHS Generally More Guideline-Concordant in Care for Musculoskeletal Shoulder Disorders
While care for musculoskeletal shoulder disorders is generally similar in the Military Health System (MHS) compared to civilian clinics, it also has differed in some notable ways.
Servicemembers, Veterans Are Quitting Psychotherapy Treatment for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
Nearly a quarter of servicemembers and veterans who are being treated for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) quit psychotherapy before they finish treatment, and some key therapies have the highest dropout rates, according to a recent study.
Tendon Injuries Pose a Significant Burden for U.S. Servicemembers, Especially Younger Ones
Tendinopathy, an overuse injury that affects the structure and function of tendons, is a significant concern for U.S. military servicemembers, particularly those just beginning their careers, a new study revealed.
New Approach Shows Promise for Veterans With Binge-Eating Disorder
A new clinical trial suggests that a novel intervention targeting how veterans respond to food cues may be more effective than traditional cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for reducing binge-eating.
Veterans With Mental Health Conditions Less Satisfied With VA-Purchased Community Care
U.S. veterans with mental health conditions may be less satisfied with their experience with VA-purchased community care, highlighting a need to improve community care in this subpopulation of veterans, according to a recent study.
TransCon PTH Offers Benefits Beyond Conventional Therapy for Hypoparathyroidism
Patients with hypoparathyroidism have long relied on conventional therapy—typically high doses of calcium and active vitamin D—to manage symptoms of low calcium levels.
Psilocybin Shows Promise for Improving Mood Dysfunction in Parkinson’s
Could a naturally occurring psychedelic compound be the remedy for mood dysfunction, which is highly prevalent in Parkinson’s disease (PD)?
Active Duty Servicewomen’s Use of Menopausal Hormone Therapy
The use of menopausal hormone therapy among active-duty servicewomen (ADSW) aged 45 to 65 is somewhat lower than in the veteran population of the same age but higher than among the U.S. general population in that age group, according to a new study.
For Younger Veterans, ‘Camaraderie’ Is an Important Feature of VA Healthcare
With all of the political debate about the increasing privatization of VA care—the Trump administration and many Republicans pushing it, while many Democrats are resisting—the voice of one important stakeholder group might be drowned out.
Updated VA/DOD Stroke Rehabilitation Guidelines Enhance Patient Care
Revised treatment algorithms, 24 new recommendations and an expanded literature review on complementary and integrative health (CIH) approaches
VA/DoD Guideline Update Reflects Newest Therapies for Headaches
Expanded recommendations for treatment, preventive therapies and nonpharmacologic therapies are among noteworthy changes in the recently updated VA and Department of Defense (DoD) Clinical Practice Guideline for the Management of Headache.
Vagus Nerve Stimulation Therapy Is Safe Treatment for Drug-Resistant Epilepsy; Has Risks, However
Vagus nerve stimulation therapy is a safe treatment option for drug-resistant epilepsy over long-term follow-up, but the treatment does have risks, according to a recent study.
Study Seeks to Gauge Rehab Benefit With Advanced Prosthetics
Rehabilitation and its possible effects are rarely part of the research that goes into the design or evaluation of prosthetic componentry, according to a prospective new study.
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.
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.
A Review of Long-Acting Injectable Antiretroviral Therapy
Barriers to maintaining viral suppression remain a challenge to ending the HIV epidemic. Among those are medication adherence.
Genetic Risk Factors Lead to Potential Therapeutic Targets for Heart Failure
Heart failure affects nearly 6.2 million adults in the United States and disproportionately impacts veterans. The long-term prognosis of heart failure is poor, with a five-year mortality rate of 50%, raising the demand for new therapeutic opportunities.
Sarah Krein Researches Whatever Is Necessary to Improve Veterans’ Care
Most VA researchers begin their research career because of a fascination with a certain clinical subject–a niche area usually discovered early in their studies that starts them off on a long, relatively straight, journey. Not for Sarah Krein, PhD, RN, who is interested in many subjects but none so deeply as the methodology of research itself.
Sequential Electrical Stimulation Device Relieves Pain in Veterans Study
Despite changes in physical training routines and equipment designed to reduce musculoskeletal injuries in servicemembers and veterans, veterans experience back and joint pain at a higher rate than their contemporaries who have never served.
Novel Treatments Drive Down Lung Cancer Death Rates
The National Lung Screening Trial (NLST), which began at the beginning of the 21st century, compared two ways of detecting lung cancer: low-dose helical computed tomography (CT)—often referred to as spiral CT—and standard chest X-ray.
Choosing the Appropriate Treatment for Fragile Patients with RCC
Targeted therapies have vastly improved survival in renal cell carcinoma (RCC), despite not offering a cure for many patients. More problematically, patients often develop resistance to the drugs.
What Matters in Survival, Treatment of Lymphoid Cancers?
Oncologists balance the most effective treatment against the likelihood of adverse effects for every patient with cancer. Generally, the assumption is that older patients and those with more comorbidities and poorer performance status will experience more negative effects, including potentially fatal toxicity, from aggressive treatment. A study presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology annual meeting in June calls into question this assumption for at least some patients and specific malignancies.
