Saturday, April 3, 2010
Advanced Brain Scans Can Detect TBI Earlier
Developments Lead to TBI Detection Advanced brain scans that can detect injury earlier than before are among several improvements developed by military doctors and scientists to treat servicemembers with traumatic brain injuries. Researchers at the Defense Centers of Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury have focused on early detection and better monitoring of mild traumatic brain injuries, or concussions, which account for most TBI diagnoses. defense.gov
New Book From NAP Dealing With Veterans' Readjustment Needs
Returning Home from Iraq and Afghanistan: Preliminary Assessment of Readjustment Needs of Veterans, Service Members, and Their Families (Free to read or download) Nearly 1.9 million U.S. troops have been deployed to Afghanistan and Iraq since October 2001. Many service members and veterans face serious challenges in readjusting to normal life after returning home. This initial book presents findings on the most critical challenges, and lays out the blueprint for the second phase of the study to determine how best to meet the needs of returning troops and their families. National Academies Press
VA Needs to Revise Steps to Increase Care for Female Veterans
Report: VA Needs to Improve Services for Growing Number of Women Veterans The Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) has taken steps to make services available to women veterans, but needs to revise key policies and improve oversight, according to a new report released Wednesday by the Government Accountability Office (GAO).
The GAO conducted the study because women are a growing subgroup of veterans. In 2008, the VA provided health care to more than 281,000 women veterans. Also, women veterans seeking VA health care need access to an array of services and Congress has raised concerns about how well the VA is prepared to meet the physical and mental health care needs of women. TruthOut
The GAO conducted the study because women are a growing subgroup of veterans. In 2008, the VA provided health care to more than 281,000 women veterans. Also, women veterans seeking VA health care need access to an array of services and Congress has raised concerns about how well the VA is prepared to meet the physical and mental health care needs of women. TruthOut
VA's Plans to Better Address Veterans' Medical Needs
VA Report Calls for More Study of Gulf War Illness 04/03/2010. A new report by a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) task force lays out the department's plans to better address veterans' medical needs and "reenergize" the VA's research into the causes of nervous system illnesses affecting many veterans of the 1990-1991 Gulf War conflict. Of the 700,000 veterans who served in the Gulf War, more than 300,000 have filed disability claims, according to the VA. Of those, more than 85% have illnesses or conditions that were determined to be related to service in either Operation Desert Shield in 1990 or Operation Desert Storm in 1991. Medpage Today
The VA is Looking for Better Ways to Serve OEF/OIF Veterans
As you may know, Guard and Reserve members returning from combat tours are entitled to five years of free VA healthcare and 180 days to obtain a one-time dental evaluation and treatment.
This means we need to get them quickly enrolled in VA. With this generation, a letter in the mail doesn't cut it anymore. There has to be personal contact for the message to get across, and we have designed an outreach office with a plan to do that. VA
New PubMed Articles 03 April 2010
1.
Fasoli DR, Glickman ME, Eisen SV.
2.
Ho PM, Tsai TT, Wang TY, Shetterly SM, Clarke CL, Go AS, Sedrakyan A, Rumsfeld JS, Peterson ED, Magid DJ.
Circ Cardiovasc Qual Outcomes. 2010 Mar 30. [Epub ahead of print]PMID: 20354221 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]Related articles
3.
Oei HB, Hooker RS, Cipher DJ, Reimold A.
Clin Exp Rheumatol. 2009 Nov-Dec;27(6):926-34.PMID: 20149307 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]Related articles
4.
Kienitz S.
Militargesch Z. 2001;60(2):367-402. German. No abstract available. PMID: 20210037 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]Related articles
Thursday, April 1, 2010
Long Range Health Care Costs for Veterans Uncertain
VA uncertain of long-range health costs 04/01/2010. The Department of Veterans Affairs has no way of determining long-range health care costs for the veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, a federal study on the wars' impact released Wednesday shows. Conducted by the federal Institute of Medicine, the study says costs for the nearly 2 million veterans of the two wars will expand over the next 30 years before tapering off. The VA's budget is almost $113 billion and has almost doubled since 2003. USA Today
New PubMed Articles 01 April 2010
1.
Chretien KC, Goldman EF, Craven KE, Faselis CJ.
J Gen Intern Med. 2010 Mar 30. [Epub ahead of print]PMID: 20352363 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]Related articles
2.
McKeachie WJ.
3.
Department of Veterans Affairs.
4.
Department of Veterans Affairs.
5.
Finkel E.
Mod Healthc. 2010 Feb 8;40(6):29. No abstract available. PMID: 20191765 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]Related articles
6.
Armistead-Jehle P, Cifu DX, Wetzel R, Carne W, Klanchar LA.
7.
Pyo J, Pasquina PF, DeMarco M, Wallach R, Teodorski E, Cooper RA.
Measuring the Impact of Visual Impairment
Researchers aim for consensus on measuring the impact of visual impairment 04/01/2010. New guidelines that outline best practices for measuring the economic burden of visual impairment will make it easier for the policy, science and medical communities to draw conclusions and compare results across studies. The guidelines arose from a working group convened by the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) and the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB). They were published this month in the ARVO journal Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science (The Cost of Visual Impairment: Purpose, Perspectives, and Guidance). Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology via Eurekalert!
Electronic Medical Records May Provide Useful Link Between Genomic Data and Clinical Medicine
Electronic medical records may accelerate genome-driven diagnoses and treatments 04/01/2010. A new study reveals an exciting potential benefit of the rapidly accumulating databases of health care information, the ability to make unprecedented links between genomic data and clinical medicine. The research, published by Cell Press in the April issue of the American Journal of Human Genetics, supports the idea that large scale DNA databanks linked to electronic medical record (EMR) systems provide a valuable platform for discovering, assessing and validating associations between genes and diseases. Cell Press via Eurekalert!
Online Monitoring of Diabetes
Wireless health care for diabetes 04/01/2010. Online communities could easily be used to offer people with chronic illnesses, such as diabetes , wireless healthcare services via mobile phones and the internet. The approach, outlined in the International Journal of Networking and Virtual Organisations, would reduce healthcare costs and empower many patients to manage their condition more effectively. Providing optimal healthcare while keeping costs down is important medically and economically for the growing number of people with chronic illnesses such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and asthma. Prevention and early detection of disease, especially when no cure exists, can be critical in this regard allowing a condition to be better managed at a stage when progression to a more serious state can be avoided. Inderscience Publishers via Eurekalert!
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
New PubMed Articles 31 March 2010
1.
Hudetz JA, Hoffmann RG, Patterson KM, Byrne AJ, Iqbal Z, Gandhi SD, Warltier DC, Pagel PS.
J Cardiothorac Vasc Anesth. 2010 Mar 25. [Epub ahead of print]PMID: 20346702 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]Related articles
2.
Gennings C, Heuman D, Fulton O, Sanyal AJ.
J Hepatol. 2010 Mar 6. [Epub ahead of print]PMID: 20346534 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]Related articles
3.
Chang YY, Peng LN, Lin MH, Lai HY, Chen LK, Hwang SJ, Lan CF.
Arch Gerontol Geriatr. 2010 Mar 24. [Epub ahead of print]PMID: 20346525 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]Related articles
4.
Mehta JL, Bursac Z, Mehta P, Bansal D, Fink L, Marsh J, Sukhija R, Sachdeva R.
Am J Cardiol. 2010 Apr 1;105(7):1019-23. Epub 2010 Feb 13.PMID: 20346324 [PubMed - in process]Related articles
5.
Rudolph JL, Inouye SK, Jones RN, Yang FM, Fong TG, Levkoff SE, Marcantonio ER.
J Am Geriatr Soc. 2010 Mar 22. [Epub ahead of print]PMID: 20345866 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]Related articles
6.
Department of Veterans Affairs.
7.
Chen CS, Lee AW, Clarke G, Hayes A, George S, Vincent R, Thompson A, Centrella L, Johnson K, Daly A, Crotty M.
Top Stroke Rehabil. 2009 Nov-Dec;16(6):445-53.PMID: 20139047 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]Related articles
8.
Snowden CP, Prentis JM, Anderson HL, Roberts DR, Randles D, Renton M, Manas DM.
9.
MacGregor AJ, Shaffer RA, Dougherty AL, Galarneau MR, Raman R, Baker DG, Lindsay SP, Golomb BA, Corson KS.
J Head Trauma Rehabil. 2010 Jan-Feb;25(1):1-8.PMID: 20051901 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]Related articles
10.
Tsan L, Langberg R, Gibert C, Davis C, Hojlo C, Pierce J, Phillips Y, Gaynes R, Montgomery O, Danko L, Roselle G.
Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol. 2010 Feb;31(2):191-2. No abstract available. PMID: 20017634 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]Related articles
11.
Powers BJ, Grambow SC, Crowley MJ, Edelman DE, Oddone EZ.
J Gen Intern Med. 2009 Aug;24(8):950-5. Epub 2009 Jun 24.PMID: 19551447 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]Related articles
Neurogenesis Decreases Stress Resilience
New brain nerve cells key to stress resilience, UT Southwestern researchers find 03/31/2010. UT Southwestern Medical Center researchers have found new clues that might help explain why some people are more susceptible to stress than others. In a study of mice, the researchers determined that weeks after experiencing a stressful event, animals that were more susceptible to stress exhibited enhanced neurogenesis – the birth of new nerve cells in the brain. Specifically, the cells that these animals produced after a stressful event survived longer than new brain cells produced by mice that were more resilient. In addition, when researchers prevented neurogenesis in both stress-susceptible and resilient mice, the animals previously susceptible to stress became more resilient.
"This work shows that there is a period of time during which it may be possible to alter memories relevant to a social situation by manipulating adult-generated nerve cells in the brain," said Dr. Amelia Eisch, associate professor of psychiatry at UT Southwestern and senior author of the study, available in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. "This could eventually lead to a better understanding of why, in humans, there is an enormous variety of responses to stressful situations." UT Southwestern Medical Center via Eurekalert!
"This work shows that there is a period of time during which it may be possible to alter memories relevant to a social situation by manipulating adult-generated nerve cells in the brain," said Dr. Amelia Eisch, associate professor of psychiatry at UT Southwestern and senior author of the study, available in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. "This could eventually lead to a better understanding of why, in humans, there is an enormous variety of responses to stressful situations." UT Southwestern Medical Center via Eurekalert!
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Mindfulness vs Depression
Could new psychological treatment be a viable alternative to anti-depressants? 03/30/2010. Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT), an emerging psychological treatment which focuses on targeting negative thinking and behaviour, is the subject of new research at the Universities of Bristol and Exeter into ways to prevent relapse of depression without prescription drugs. University of Bristol via PhysOrg.com
New PubMed Articles 03/30/2010
1.
Barth SK, Kang HK, Bullman TA, Wallin MT.
Am J Ind Med. 2010 Mar 25. [Epub ahead of print] No abstract available. PMID: 20340099 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]Related articles
2.
Cook DB, Stegner AJ, Ellingson LD.
J Pain. 2010 Mar 23. [Epub ahead of print]PMID: 20338824 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]Related articles
3.
Grella CE, Stein JA, Weisner C, Chi F, Moos R.
Drug Alcohol Depend. 2010 Mar 23. [Epub ahead of print]PMID: 20338696 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]Related articles
4.
Choma NN, Huang RL, Dittus RS, Burnham KE, Roumie CL.
Circ Cardiovasc Qual Outcomes. 2009 Jul;2(4):392-8. Epub 2009 Jun 16.PMID: 20031866 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]Related articles
5.
Mancini GB, Bates ER, Maron DJ, Hartigan P, Dada M, Gosselin G, Kostuk W, Sedlis SP, Shaw LJ, Berman DS, Berger PB, Spertus J, Mavromatis K, Knudtson M, Chaitman BR, O'Rourke RA, Weintraub WS, Teo K, Boden WE; COURAGE Trial Investigators and Coordinators.
Circ Cardiovasc Qual Outcomes. 2009 Jul;2(4):320-7. Epub 2009 Jun 2.PMID: 20031857 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]Related articles
6.
Fihn SD.
Circ Cardiovasc Qual Outcomes. 2009 Jul;2(4):294-6. No abstract available. PMID: 20031853 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]Related articles
7.
Abrams TE, Vaughan-Sarrazin M, Rosenthal GE.
Circ Cardiovasc Qual Outcomes. 2009 May;2(3):213-20. Epub 2009 Apr 28.PMID: 20031840 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]Related articles
Spinal Cord Stimulator for Intractable Pain
Spinal Cord Stimulator Offers Patients Relief 03/30/2010. Nearly four years ago during physical training, Staff Sgt. Shawntel Lotson experienced a pain in her back so excruciating her legs gave out on her. The pain hasn’t stopped for the now-technical developer writer at Fort Lee, Va., and she has tried nearly everything to ease the pain that would force her to bed for days at a time. Physical therapy, MRIs, a spinal epidural shot, and water aerobics in addition to the list of pain medications so extensive Lotson has to take a couple deep breaths whilst rattling them off. Military Health System
Clinical Findings in the Chronic Phase of Traumatic Brain Injury
The consequences of brain contusion (Free full text) 03/30/2010. It has been thought that the loss of physical and psychological function after traumatic brain injury is closely related to injuries in brain structures. However, in the current edition of Deutsches Ärzteblatt International (Dtsch Arztebl Int 2010; 107[12]: 199-205), Rainer Scheid and D. Yves von Cramon conclude that this is not the case.
In Germany, traumatic brain injury is more frequent than stroke and is mostly caused by traffic accidents, falls, or blows to the head. The authors analyzed the data from 320 patients treated in the Cognitive Neurology Outpatient Clinic at the University of Leipzig between 1996 and 2007. They investigated whether the imaging, clinical, and neuropsychological findings were correlated. The most frequent findings were crush injuries to the brain (contusions), microbleeds, and atrophy. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed no visible changes in 49 of the patients examined. The analysis failed to find any convincing correlations with the patients' general condition or with their performance in neuropsychological tests. However, almost 15% of the patients suffered from posttraumatic epilepsy and the authors showed that this was correlated with isolated brain contusions. Max-Planck-Institut für Kognitions- und Neurowissenschaften via Eurekalert!
In Germany, traumatic brain injury is more frequent than stroke and is mostly caused by traffic accidents, falls, or blows to the head. The authors analyzed the data from 320 patients treated in the Cognitive Neurology Outpatient Clinic at the University of Leipzig between 1996 and 2007. They investigated whether the imaging, clinical, and neuropsychological findings were correlated. The most frequent findings were crush injuries to the brain (contusions), microbleeds, and atrophy. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed no visible changes in 49 of the patients examined. The analysis failed to find any convincing correlations with the patients' general condition or with their performance in neuropsychological tests. However, almost 15% of the patients suffered from posttraumatic epilepsy and the authors showed that this was correlated with isolated brain contusions. Max-Planck-Institut für Kognitions- und Neurowissenschaften via Eurekalert!
Monday, March 29, 2010
VAOIG Review of Overton Brooks VA Medical Center Shreveport, Louisiana
Combined Assessment Program Review of the Overton Brooks VA Medical Center Shreveport, Louisiana 03/29/2010. The purpose of the review was to evaluate selected operations, focusing on patient care administration and quality management (QM). During the review, we also provided fraud and integrity awareness briefings to 170 employees. This review focused on seven operational activities. The medical center complied with selected standards in the medication management activity. We made recommendations for improvement in the following six activities: Coordination of care. Environment of care. Physician credentialing and privileging. QM. Reusable medical equipment. Suicide prevention safety plans. VAOIG
VA’s Fiduciary Program Reviewed by the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO)
VA's Fiduciary Program: Improved Compliance and Policies Could Better Safeguard Veterans' Benefits 03/29/2010. Many individuals receiving monthly compensation and pension benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) have mental impairments that prevent them from managing their finances. VA’s Fiduciary Program selects and oversees third parties, called fiduciaries, to help manage and protect beneficiaries’ funds. GAO examined (1) how effective program policies and procedures are in monitoring fiduciaries and safeguarding beneficiary assets, and (2) challenges VA faces in improving program performance and oversight. GAO reviewed program policies, analyzed a nationally representative random sample of case files, interviewed Central Office managers and staff, and conducted three site visits to Fiduciary Program offices which accounted for 25 percent of program beneficiaries. During these visits GAO interviewed regional office managers and staff and conducted 32 file reviews. GAO
New PubMed Articles 29 March 2010
1.
Gade DM, Wenger JB.
Health Econ. 2010 Mar 24. [Epub ahead of print]PMID: 20336640 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]Related articles
2.
Brooks MS, Fulton L.
3.
Hung JJ, Jeng WJ, Hsu WH, Wu KJ, Chou TY, Hsieh CC, Huang MH, Liu JS, Wu YC.
4.
[No authors listed]
Healthcare Benchmarks Qual Improv. 2010 Feb;17(2):13-5.PMID: 20162976 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]Related articles
5.
Woodhead C, Sloggett A, Bray I, Bradbury J, McManus S, Meltzer H, Brugha T, Jenkins R, Greenberg N, Wessely S, Fear N.
6.
Faris JA, Douglas MK, Maples DC, Berg LR, Thrailkill A.
J Am Acad Nurse Pract. 2010 Jan;22(1):35-44.PMID: 20074195 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]Related articles
7.
Steele BG, Belza B, Cain K, Coppersmith J, Howard J, Lakshminarayan S, Haselkorn J.
J Cardiopulm Rehabil Prev. 2010 Jan-Feb;30(1):53-60.PMID: 20068424 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]Related articles
8.
Green-Riviere E, Giori N.
9.
Frayne SM, Miller DR, Sharkansky EJ, Jackson VW, Wang F, Halanych JH, Berlowitz DR, Kader B, Rosen CS, Keane TM.
Am J Med Qual. 2010 Jan-Feb;25(1):42-50. Epub 2009 Oct 23.PMID: 19855046 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]Related articles
Sunday, March 28, 2010
New Game Operated by Eye Movements
Playing 'Pong' with the blink of an eye 03/28/2010. University students have developed a computer game that is operated by eye movements, which could allow people with severe physical disabilities to become 'gamers' for the first time, they announce today. The students, from Imperial College London, have adapted an open source game called 'Pong', where a player moves a bat to hit a ball as it bounces around the screen. The adaptation enables the player to move the bat using their eye. Imperial College London via Eurekalert!
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