Veterans' Health News

Progress Towards a Blood Test for Depression

2010-07-22T07:09:00.000-07:00

A blood test for depression? 07/22/2010. Blood tests have been extremely important tools aiding doctors in making medical diagnoses and in guiding the treatment of many diseases. However, psychiatry is one area of medicine where there are few diagnostic blood tests.
New scientific fields may someday generate blood tests that can be used for these purposes. Some of the areas under increasingly intensive study are genetics, the study of variations in the genes (DNA) that can be extracted from blood cells, and genomics like proteomics, the measurement of the levels of specific proteins in the blood, and gene expression profiling, which measures the levels of RNA produced from DNA as an indication of the level of the "activity" of particular genes.

Using the latter approach, Dutch researchers evaluated blood gene expression profiles in healthy individuals and patients diagnosed with major depressive disorder, or MDD. They identified a set of seven genes in whole blood that was able to distinguish un-medicated MDD patients from healthy controls. Eurekalert!

Gulf War Illness Funding Approved

2010-07-22T03:29:00.000-07:00

VA approves $2.8M for Gulf War Veterans' illness research program 07/22/2010. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has approved $2.8 million to fund three new research projects that focus on testing or developing new treatments for illnesses affecting Veterans who served in the Gulf War 1990-1991. The research incorporates recommendations of the department's Gulf War Veterans' Illnesses Task Force .The Medical News

Rates of PTSD Peak Later in women Than in Men

2010-07-21T02:21:00.000-07:00

Women in their 50s more prone to PTSD than men 07/21/2010. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) rates peak in women later than they do in men. Researchers writing in BioMed Central's open access journal Annals of General Psychiatry found that men are most vulnerable to PTSD between the ages of 41 and 45 years, while women are most vulnerable at 51 to 55. PhysOrg.com

Soldiers With TBI Have Increased Risk of Epilepsy Later in Life

2010-07-20T03:31:00.000-07:00

Soldiers with Brain Injuries at Higher Risk of Epilepsy Decades Later 07/20/2010. Soldiers who receive traumatic brain injuries during war may be at a higher risk of epilepsy even decades after the brain injury occurred. The new research is published in the July 20, 2010, print issue of Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. Newswise

Stellate Ganglion Block for PTSD

2010-07-19T10:13:00.000-07:00

Obama Loves This Freaky PTSD Treatment; the Pentagon, Not So Much 07/19/2010. Military-backed efforts to find an effective treatment for post-traumatic stress are making sluggish progress. The Pentagon is funding all kinds of ideas — from yoga to telepsychology. All have their limitations. But one doctor is convinced he’s found a viable way to treat the estimated 20 percent of troops now coming home with PTSD — if only the Pentagon would give it a shot. Dr. Eugene Lipov, a Chicago-based anesthesiologist, pioneered the modern-day use of stellate-ganglion block (SGB) in 2004, to eliminate hot flashes among post-menopausal women. SGB, which has been used to relieve migraines and chronic pain since the 1920s, involves a single injection into the sympathetic nerve tissue on the right side of a cervical vertebra. Wired

How Anxiety Manifests During Stressful Situations

2010-07-19T08:38:00.000-07:00

Battlefield psychologists investigate stress in combat and after 07/19/2010. Psychologists aren't usually called to the battlefield, but the 2008-09 Gaza War gave Tel Aviv University researchers a unique picture of how anxiety manifests during stressful situations. In a new study in the American Journal of Psychiatry, Prof. Yair Bar Haim of TAU's Department of Psychology reports that people confronted with acute stress -- daily rocket attacks -- tend to dissociate from threats instead of becoming more vigilant. This research overturns accepted convention and may lead to better understanding of the mechanisms underlying acute stress reactions, he says. Eurekalert!

Ecstacy for PTSD?

2010-07-19T03:47:00.000-07:00

MDMA (Ecstasy)-assisted psychotherapy relieves treatment-resistant PTSD 07/19/2010. MDMA (±3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine, also known as Ecstasy), may one day offer hope for individuals with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), even people for whom other treatments have failed. Clinical trial results out today in the Journal of Psychopharmacology, published by SAGE, suggests that MDMA can be administered to subjects with PTSD without evidence of harm and could offer sufferers a vital window with reduced fear responses where psychotherapy can take effect. PhysOrg.com

New PubMed Articles 12 July 2010

2010-07-12T18:18:00.000-07:00

Public reporting on hospital process improvements is linked to better patient outcomes.

Werner RM, Bradlow ET.

Health Aff (Millwood). 2010 Jul;29(7):1319-24.PMID: 20606180 [PubMed - in process]Related citations

Bleeding risks in interventional radiology.

Morris A.

Radiol Technol. 2010 Jul-Aug;81(6):548-59.PMID: 20606049 [PubMed - in process]Related citations

Risk for Fractures with Centrally Acting Muscle Relaxants: An Analysis of a National Medicare Advantage Claims Database(September).

Golden AG, Ma Q, Nair V, Florez HJ, Roos BA.

Ann Pharmacother. 2010 Jul 6. [Epub ahead of print]PMID: 20606016 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]Related citations

Foley catheter practices and knowledge among Minnesota physicians.

Drekonja DM, Kuskowski MA, Johnson JR.

Am J Infect Control. 2010 Jun 3. [Epub ahead of print]PMID: 20605268 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]Related citations

Cost-Effectiveness of Strategies for Diagnosing Pulmonary Embolism Among Emergency Department Patients Presenting With Undifferentiated Symptoms.

Duriseti RS, Brandeau ML.

Ann Emerg Med. 2010 Jun 2. [Epub ahead of print]PMID: 20605261 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]Related citations

Variation in antibiotic treatment for diabetic patients with serious foot infections: A retrospective observational study.

Fincke BG, Miller DR, Christiansen CL, Turpin RS.

BMC Health Serv Res. 2010 Jul 6;10(1):193. [Epub ahead of print]PMID: 20604922 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]Free ArticleRelated citations

Repeatability of ultrasonographic median nerve measures.

Impink BG, Gagnon D, Collinger JL, Boninger ML.

Muscle Nerve. 2010 Jun;41(6):767-73.PMID: 20513104 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]Related citations

Ascertainment of colonoscopy indication using administrative data.

Fisher DA, Grubber JM, Castor JM, Coffman CJ.

Dig Dis Sci. 2010 Jun;55(6):1721-5.PMID: 20393875 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]Related citations

Fecal occult blood test in patients on low-dose aspirin, warfarin, clopidogrel, or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.

Sawhney MS, McDougall H, Nelson DB, Bond JH.

Dig Dis Sci. 2010 Jun;55(6):1637-42. Epub 2010 Mar 3.PMID: 20195757 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]Related citations

10.

Utilization and antiviral therapy in patients with chronic hepatitis C: analysis of ambulatory care visits in the US.

Cheung R, Mannalithara A, Singh G.

Dig Dis Sci. 2010 Jun;55(6):1744-51. Epub 2010 Feb 26.PMID: 20186486 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]Related citations

11.

Resistance to the antilipolytic effect of insulin in adipocytes of African-American compared to Caucasian postmenopausal women.

Fried SK, Tittelbach T, Blumenthal J, Sreenivasan U, Robey L, Yi J, Khan S, Hollender C, Ryan AS, Goldberg AP.

J Lipid Res. 2010 May;51(5):1193-200. Epub 2009 Nov 25.PMID: 19965580 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]Related citations

12.

Surveillance in Barrett's esophagus: an audit of practice.

Ajumobi A, Bahjri K, Jackson C, Griffin R.

Dig Dis Sci. 2010 Jun;55(6):1615-21. Epub 2009 Aug 11.PMID: 19669878 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]Related citations

VA Clinics Ordered to Stop Playing Games With Veterans' Appointments

2010-07-12T18:09:00.000-07:00

VA official to clinics: Stop gaming the system 07/12/2010. After years of complaints from veterans who say they aren’t getting VA medical appointments within 30 days even if Veterans Affairs Department records show they are, a top VA official sent out a memo asking employees to quit “gaming” the system. “It has come to my attention that, in order to improve scores on assorted access measures, certain facilities have adopted use of inappropriate scheduling practices sometimes referred to as ‘gaming strategies,’ ” wrote William Schoenhard, VA’s deputy undersecretary for health for operations and management, in the April 26 memo. NavyTimes

Vanguard Episode: War Crimes

2010-07-11T07:31:00.000-07:00

Anyway, I wanted to give you an advance heads up about this week’s episode of “Vanguard” – “War Crimes" in which Correspondent Kaj Larsen (a former SEAL) takes a sobering look at PTSD and its impact on American soldiers returning from Iraq & Afghanistan. Kaj explores the growing crisis of incarceration among soldiers traumatized in the wars in Iraq & Afghanistan and hears stories from the men and women who, after serving our country, now find themselves behind bars. I know it’s not the most feel-good story, but it’s definitely an issue that needs more awareness. Rob Wilson

Three New VAOIG Reports

2010-07-11T06:55:00.000-07:00

Combined Assessment Program Review of the Central Texas Veterans Health Care System Temple, Texas; Report Number 10-01189-187, 7/9/2010 | Summary | Report (PDF)

Audit of Guide and Service Dog Program; Report Number 10-01714-188, 7/7/2010 | Summary | Report (PDF)

Healthcare Inspection Evaluation of Physician Credentialing and Privileging in Veterans Health Administration Facilities; Report Number 10-02381-185, 7/6/2010 | Summary | Report (PDF)

Veterans Cannot Depend Solely on the DoD or VA for Mental Health Care

2010-07-11T06:44:00.000-07:00

Military And Veterans Mental Health 07/11/2010. American troops returning from Iraq and Afghanistan and other veterans cannot depend solely on the Departments of Defense (DoD) and Veterans Affairs (VA) for mental health care-even though the civilian mental health care system is in crisis, according to the annual convention of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) held this past week. Medical News Today

LA Times: From Swords to Plowshares

2010-07-11T06:40:00.000-07:00

From swords to plowshares: Introducing military veterans to farming 07/11/2010. Veterans Sustainable Agriculture Training and other groups aim to encourage former soldiers, sailors and Marines to consider careers in farming and other food-related businesses. LA Times

New PubMed Articles 11 July 2010

2010-07-11T06:26:00.000-07:00

2,4,6-Trinitrotoluene (TNT) air concentrations, hemoglobin changes, and anemia cases in respirator protected TNT munitions demilitarization workers.

Bradley MD.

Int Arch Occup Environ Health. 2010 Jul 2. [Epub ahead of print]PMID: 20596720 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]Related citations

Two countries divided by a common language: health systems in the UK and USA.

Desai M, Rachet B, Coleman MP, McKee M.

J R Soc Med. 2010 Jul;103(7):283-7.PMID: 20595532 [PubMed - in process]Related citations

Evaluation of a generalizable approach to clinical information retrieval using the automated retrieval console (ARC).

D'Avolio LW, Nguyen TM, Farwell WR, Chen Y, Fitzmeyer F, Harris OM, Fiore LD.

J Am Med Inform Assoc. 2010 Jul-Aug;17(4):375-82.PMID: 20595303 [PubMed - in process]Related citations

Female Veterans Nearly Four Times as Likely as Men to End Up Homeless

2010-07-11T06:11:00.000-07:00

Female Veterans Struggle To Stay Off Streets 07/11/2010. More than 240,000 female service members have been deployed to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, but for many, reintegrating into civilian life and trying to find employment is not within their reach. The Department of Veteran Affairs has acknowledged that women are nearly four times as likely as men to end up homeless. NPR

Obama Promises More Help for Veterans With PTSD

2010-07-10T10:53:00.000-07:00

Obama: More post-traumatic stress help for vets 07/10/2010. The government is taking what President Barack Obama calls "a long overdue step" to aid veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder, making it easier for them receive federal benefits.

The changes that Veteran Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki will announce Monday (07/11/2010) fulfill "a solemn responsibility to provide our veterans and wounded warriors with the care and benefits they've earned when they come home," Obama said in his weekly radio and online address Saturday (07/10/2010). AP

Navy Veterans With Mesothelioma

2010-07-08T07:10:00.000-07:00

US Navy Veterans Diagnosed With Mesothelioma Should Call The Mesothelioma Victims Center First With Its Expanded Free Service 07/08/2010. When it comes to an individual, or family member dealing with a diagnosis of a rare form of cancer called mesothelioma, there is nothing even close to the Mesothelioma Victims Center, and the expanded free help and assistance it provides. Expanded free help and assistance includes assistance with Social Security, or Veterans Administration disability relief, assistance in finding the absolute best health care options in the area of the mesothelioma victim, practical information the family needs to know about this form of cancer, and the names of the absolute best mesothelioma law firms in the US. PR Web

VA to Make PTSD Claims Easier

2010-07-08T03:02:00.000-07:00

Veterans Affairs to Ease Claim Process for Disability 07/08/10. The government is preparing to issue new rules that will make it substantially easier for veterans who have been found to have post-traumatic stress disorder to receive disability benefits, a change that could affect hundreds of thousands of veterans from the wars in Iraq, Afghanistan and Vietnam. NYT

U.S. Representative Patrick Kennedy: "Every day in America, our military veterans are being held behind enemy lines," because of a "Byzantine mental health system."

2010-07-05T08:15:00.000-07:00

Patrick Kennedy Says Military Veterans Are "Being Held Behind Enemy Lines" By Mental Health Care System; Receives NAMI's Highest Honor 05/07/2010. U.S. Representative Patrick Kennedy told the annual convention of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) today that "Every day in America, our military veterans are being held behind enemy lines," because of a "Byzantine mental health system." Medical News Today

New PubMed Articles 5 July 2010

2010-07-05T08:09:00.000-07:00

Water immersion versus standard colonoscopy insertion technique: randomized trial shows promise for minimal sedation.

Leung CW, Kaltenbach T, Soetikno R, Wu KK, Leung FW, Friedland S.

Endoscopy. 2010 Jul;42(7):557-563. Epub 2010 Jun 30.PMID: 20593332 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]Related citations

Sphingosine protects aging hearts from ischemia/reperfusion injury: Superiority to sphingosine 1-phosphate and ischemic pre- and post-conditioning.

Vessey DA, Kelley M, Li L, Huang Y.

Oxid Med Cell Longev. 2009 Jul;2(3):146-51.PMID: 20592769 [PubMed - in process]

Androgen deprivation therapy in prostate cancer: anticipated side-effects and their management.

Kim HS, Freedland SJ.

Curr Opin Support Palliat Care. 2010 Jun 28. [Epub ahead of print]PMID: 20592607 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]Related citations

Utility of the Functional Activities Questionnaire for Distinguishing Mild Cognitive Impairment From Very Mild Alzheimer Disease.

Teng E, Becker BW, Woo E, Knopman DS, Cummings JL, Lu PH.

Alzheimer Dis Assoc Disord. 2010 Jun 29. [Epub ahead of print]PMID: 20592580 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]Related citations

Studying the Effects of ACGME Duty Hours Limits on Resident Satisfaction: Results From VA Learners' Perceptions Survey.

Kashner TM, Henley SS, Golden RM, Byrne JM, Keitz SA, Cannon GW, Chang BK, Holland GJ, Aron DC, Muchmore EA, Wicker A, White H.

Acad Med. 2010 Jul;85(7):1130-1139.PMID: 20592508 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]Related citations

Sleep and Brain Energy Levels: ATP Changes during Sleep.

Dworak M, McCarley RW, Kim T, Kalinchuk AV, Basheer R.

J Neurosci. 2010 Jun 30;30(26):9007-16.PMID: 20592221 [PubMed - in process]Related citations

End-of-Life Care for Veterans With Schizophrenia and Cancer.

Ganzini L, Socherman R, Duckart J, Shores M.

Psychiatr Serv. 2010 Jul;61(7):725-8.PMID: 20592010 [PubMed - in process]Related citations

Associations of housing status with substance abuse treatment and service use outcomes among veterans.

Buchholz JR, Malte CA, Calsyn DA, Baer JS, Nichol P, Kivlahan DR, Caldeiro RM, Saxon AJ.

Psychiatr Serv. 2010 Jul;61(7):698-706.PMID: 20592005 [PubMed - in process]Related citations

Who Terminates From ACT and Why? Data From the National VA Mental Health Intensive Case Management Program.

Mohamed S, Rosenheck R, Cuerdon T.

Psychiatr Serv. 2010 Jul;61(7):675-83.PMID: 20592002 [PubMed - in process]Related citations

10.

Quality of colonoscopy reporting in community practice.

Palmer LB, Abbott DH, Hamilton N, Provenzale D, Fisher DA.

Gastrointest Endosc. 2010 Jun 28. [Epub ahead of print]PMID: 20591430 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]Related citations

11.

Study protocol: home-based telehealth stroke care: a randomized trial for veterans.

Chumbler NR, Rose DK, Griffiths P, Quigley P, McGee-Hernandez N, Carlson KA, Vandenberg P, Morey MC, Sanford J, Hoenig H.

Trials. 2010 Jun 30;11(1):74. [Epub ahead of print]PMID: 20591171 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]Related citations

12.

Clinical supervision for the treatment of adults with severe mental illness: pertinent issues when assisting graduate nursing students.

Buck KD, Lysaker PH.

Perspect Psychiatr Care. 2010 Jul;46(3):234-43.PMID: 20591130 [PubMed - in process]Related citations

13.

The Association Between C-Reactive Protein Levels and Insulin Therapy in Obese vs Nonobese Veterans With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.

Khatana SA, Taveira TH, Dooley AG, Wu WC.

J Clin Hypertens (Greenwich). 2010 Jun;12(6):462-8.PMID: 20591095 [PubMed - in process]Related citations

14.

Improving nurse practitioner assessment of woman veterans.

Fitzgerald CE.

J Am Acad Nurse Pract. 2010 Jul;22(7):339-45.PMID: 20590954 [PubMed - in process]Related citations

15.

Care of the returning veteran.

Quinlan JD, Guaron MR, Deschere BR, Stephens MB.

Am Fam Physician. 2010 Jul 1;82(1):43-9.PMID: 20590069 [PubMed - in process]Related citations

16.

The N141I mutation in PSEN2: implications for the quintessential case of Alzheimer disease.

Yu CE, Marchani E, Nikisch G, Müller U, Nolte D, Hertel A, Wijsman EM, Bird TD.

Arch Neurol. 2010 May;67(5):631-3.PMID: 20457965 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]Related citations

17.

Escitalopram attenuates posterior cingulate activity during self-evaluation in healthy volunteers.

Matthews SC, Simmons AN, Strigo IA, Arce E, Stein MB, Paulus MP.

Psychiatry Res. 2010 May 30;182(2):81-7. Epub 2010 Apr 24.PMID: 20418072 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]Related citations

18.

Age in men does not determine gonadotropin-releasing hormone's dose-dependent stimulation of luteinizing hormone secretion under an exogenous testosterone clamp.

Iranmanesh A, Mulligan T, Veldhuis JD.

J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2010 Jun;95(6):2877-84. Epub 2010 Mar 31.PMID: 20357176 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]Related citations

19.

Medications (NSAIDs, statins, proton pump inhibitors) and the risk of esophageal adenocarcinoma in patients with Barrett's esophagus.

Nguyen DM, Richardson P, El-Serag HB.

Gastroenterology. 2010 Jun;138(7):2260-6. Epub 2010 Feb 23.PMID: 20188100 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]Related citations

20.

Intermittent MTII application evokes repeated anorexia and robust fat and weight loss.

Zhang Y, Collazo R, Gao Y, Li G, Scarpace PJ.

Peptides. 2010 Apr;31(4):639-43. Epub 2009 Dec 23.PMID: 20034526 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]Related citations

Personal Connected Healthcare Technologies Promted for Rural Veterans

2010-07-05T07:57:00.000-07:00

Continua champions use of personal connected healthcare technologies at House Committee on Veterans Affairs hearing 07/05/2010. Continua Health Alliance championed the use of personal connected healthcare technologies to increase veteran access to quality healthcare during last week's hearing of the House Committee on Veterans Affairs Subcommittee on Health. President and Chair of the Continua Board of Directors, Rick Cnossen, testified on behalf of the Alliance to address the issues facing veterans living in rural areas who typically receive lower quality healthcare than the general population due to lack of access. He discussed resolving this by utilizing eCare, defined as a class of health information technologies that can facilitate any kind of virtual visit or electronic connectivity outside of traditional office visits, and personal connected healthcare devices which can provide lower-cost access to quality care. The Medical News

Fully Automated Claims System Under Development by VA

2010-07-05T07:53:00.000-07:00

VA to develop fully automated, online system for handling disability compensation claims 07/05/2010. Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki announced today plans to develop a fully automated, online system for handling Veterans' disability compensation claims. More than a simple digitization of existing paper-based claims, the new system is part of VA's modernization of the end-to-end processing workflow. Automation will substantially reduce processing time and increase accuracy while simplifying the way that Veterans interact with the claims process. The Medical News

New Federal Website to Help Navigate Health Insurance Options

2010-07-05T07:43:00.000-07:00

Federal website intended to help people navigate health insurance options 07/05/2010. The federal government unveiled its new website Thursday for consumers looking for health coverage, on the same day that insurance policies for uninsured people with medical conditions became available through a federally run high-risk insurance program. The new website -- healthcare.gov -- brings together information from more than 1,000 insurance companies and every Medicaid and children's insurance program to offer consumers a menu of personal options that fit them. North Jersey Media Group Inc. via PhysOrg.com

Balanced Vitamin E Complex Levels and Alzheimer's Disease

2010-07-05T07:37:00.000-07:00

High blood levels of vitamin E reduces risk of Alzheimer's 07/05/2010. "Vitamin E is a family of eight natural components, but most studies related to Alzheimer s disease investigate only one of these components, tocopherol", says Dr. Francesca Mangialasche, who led the study. "We hypothesized that all the vitamin E family members could be important in protecting against AD. If confirmed, this result has implications for both individuals and society, as 70 percent of all dementia cases in the general population occur in people over 75 years of age, and the study suggests a protective effect of vitamin E against AD in individuals aged 80+." Journal of Alzheimer's Disease via PhysOrg.com

Iraq Veteran Lost His Arms and Legs to a Bomb

2010-07-03T17:00:00.000-07:00

Spirit Intact, a Soldier Reclaims His Life 07/03/2010. Brendan Marrocco lost his arms and legs to a bomb in Iraq. A year later, he is walking again and is an inspiration to hundreds of fellow veterans. NY Times

New PubMed Articles 03 July 2010

2010-07-03T10:07:00.000-07:00

Mandatory testing of drivers on the basis of age and degenerative diseases: stakeholder opinions.

Adler G, Rottunda SJ.

J Aging Soc Policy. 2010 Jul;22(3):304-19.PMID: 20589556 [PubMed - in process]Related citations

Efficacy of gaze stability exercises in older adults with dizziness.

Hall CD, Heusel-Gillig L, Tusa RJ, Herdman SJ.

J Neurol Phys Ther. 2010 Jun;34(2):64-9.PMID: 20588090 [PubMed - in process]Related citations

Analysis of Stereotactic Accuracy of the Cosman-Robert-Wells Frame and Nexframe Frameless Systems in Deep Brain Stimulation Surgery.

Kelman C, Ramakrishnan V, Davies A, Holloway K.

Stereotact Funct Neurosurg. 2010 Jun 24;88(5):288-295. [Epub ahead of print]PMID: 20588080 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]Related citations

Quercetin and Ethanol Attenuate the Progression of Atherosclerotic Plaques With Concomitant Up Regulation of Paraoxonase1 (PON1) Gene Expression and PON1 Activity in LDLR Mice.

Leckey LC, Garige M, Varatharajalu R, Gong M, Nagata T, Spurney CF, Lakshman RM.

Alcohol Clin Exp Res. 2010 Jun 25. [Epub ahead of print]PMID: 20586760 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]Related citations

Memories from the edge of the abyss: evaluating the oral accounts of World War II veterans.

Walton RE.

Oral Hist Rev. 2010;37(1):18-34.PMID: 20524245 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]Related citations

Pharmacotherapy of alcohol use disorders in the Veterans Health Administration.

Harris AH, Kivlahan DR, Bowe T, Humphreys KN.

Psychiatr Serv. 2010 Apr;61(4):392-8.PMID: 20360279 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]Related citations

VA Still Not Equiped to Serve Female Veterans

2010-07-03T09:50:00.000-07:00

VA Care for U.S. Military Female Veterans Still Lacking 07/03/2010. More than 230,000 women have served in Iraq and Afghanistan in the past nine years. Women account for 15% of the active-duty military. But when they arrive back home, become civilians once again and start seeking help for PTSD, musculoskeletal problems, reproductive disorders and other maladies, they are shuffled into a veterans' hospital system that can feel like a relic from World War I, back when the phrases our soldiers and our boys were interchangeable. Time via Yahoo News

New PubMed Articles 29 June 2010

2010-06-29T15:12:00.000-07:00

Are 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels adequately monitored following evidence of vitamin D insufficiency in veterans?

Peiris AN, Bailey BA, Manning T, Adebonojo L.

Mil Med. 2010 Jun;175(6):453-6.PMID: 20572480 [PubMed - in process]Related citations

The role of emotional numbing in sexual functioning among veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.

Nunnink SE, Goldwaser G, Afari N, Nievergelt CM, Baker DG.

Mil Med. 2010 Jun;175(6):424-8.PMID: 20572475 [PubMed - in process]Related citations

Characterizing aggression and its association to anger and hostility among male veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder.

Teten AL, Miller LA, Stanford MS, Petersen NJ, Bailey SD, Collins RL, Dunn NJ, Kent TA.

Mil Med. 2010 Jun;175(6):405-10.PMID: 20572472 [PubMed - in process]Related citations

Endothelial function in patients with post-CPAP residual sleepiness.

El-Solh AA, Akinnusi ME, Moitheennazima B, Ayyar L, Relia S.

J Clin Sleep Med. 2010 Jun 15;6(3):251-5.PMID: 20572418 [PubMed - in process]Related citations

The role of rho kinase in sex-dependent vascular dysfunction in type 1 diabetes.

Nuno DW, Lamping KG.

Exp Diabetes Res. 2010;2010:176361. Epub 2010 Mar 24.PMID: 20368772 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]Free PMC ArticleFree textRelated citations

McAndrew LM, Horowitz CR, Lancaster KJ, Leventhal H.

Diabetes Care. 2010 Apr;33(4):736-8. Epub 2010 Jan 12.PMID: 20067972 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]Related citations

Costs and consequences associated with newer medications for glycemic control in type 2 diabetes.

Sinha A, Rajan M, Hoerger T, Pogach L.

Diabetes Care. 2010 Apr;33(4):695-700. Epub 2010 Jan 7.PMID: 20056950 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]Related citations

Transfusion of sickle cells may be a therapeutic option for patients suffering metastatic disease.

Goldberg JS.

Med Hypotheses. 2010 Apr;74(4):629-30. Epub 2009 Dec 21.PMID: 20022432 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]Related citations

Agent Orange Exposure Linked to Graves' Disease

2010-06-29T03:16:00.000-07:00

Agent Orange exposure linked to Graves' disease in Vietnam veterans, UB study finds 06/29/2010. Vietnam-War-era veterans exposed to Agent Orange appear to have significantly more Graves' disease, a thyroid disorder, than veterans with no exposure, a new study by endocrinologists at the University at Buffalo has shown. University at Buffalo via Eurekaleert

New PubMed Articles 26 June 2010

2010-06-26T04:07:00.000-07:00

Ultrasound training for medical students and internal medicine residents-A needs assessment.

Kessler C, Bhandarkar S.

J Clin Ultrasound. 2010 Jun 22. [Epub ahead of print]PMID: 20572065 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]Related citations

The Effect of Aripiprazole on Cue-Induced Brain Activation and Drinking Parameters in Alcoholics.

Myrick H, Li X, Randall PK, Henderson S, Voronin K, Anton RF.

J Clin Psychopharmacol. 2010 Jun 21. [Epub ahead of print]PMID: 20571434 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]Related citations

Relations between brain tissue loss, CSF biomarkers, and the ApoE genetic profile: a longitudinal MRI study.

Tosun D, Schuff N, Truran-Sacrey D, Shaw LM, Trojanowski JQ, Aisen P, Peterson R, Weiner MW; Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative.

Neurobiol Aging. 2010 Jun 4. [Epub ahead of print]PMID: 20570401 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]Related citations

Reduction in central line-associated bloodstream infections by implementation of a postinsertion care bundle.

Guerin K, Wagner J, Rains K, Bessesen M.

Am J Infect Control. 2010 Jun 5. [Epub ahead of print]PMID: 20570395 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]Related citations

Everyday strivings in war veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder: suffering from a hyper-focus on avoidance and emotion regulation.

Kashdan TB, Breen WE, Julian T.

Behav Ther. 2010 Sep;41(3):350-63. Epub 2010 Feb 11.PMID: 20569784 [PubMed - in process]Related citations

Psychometric properties of the state-trait inventory for cognitive and somatic anxiety (STICSA) in friendship dyads.

Gros DF, Simms LJ, Antony MM.

Behav Ther. 2010 Sep;41(3):277-84. Epub 2010 Jan 28.PMID: 20569777 [PubMed - in process]Related citations

Characteristics of Healthcare-Associated Infections Contributing to Unexpected In-Hospital Deaths.

Morgan DJ, Lomotan LL, Agnes K, McGrail L, Roghmann MC.

Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol. 2010 Jun 22. [Epub ahead of print]PMID: 20569114 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]Related citations

National Intrepid Center of Excellence will Treat Veterans Returning From Combat

2010-06-26T03:58:00.000-07:00

UCLA researchers, U.S. military collaborate to open center for traumatic brain injury 06/26/2010. The U.S. Department of Defense and the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund on June 24 officially dedicated the National Intrepid Center of Excellence, a new 72,000-square-foot medical facility in Bethesda, Md., dedicated to researching, diagnosing and treating traumatic brain injury in U.S. military personnel. UCLAMUN

Folate Promotes Healing of Spinal Cord Injuries

2010-06-24T17:53:00.000-07:00

Researchers Discover How Folate Promotes Healing In Spinal Cord Injuries 06/24/2010. The vitamin folate appears to promote healing in damaged rat spinal cord tissue by triggering a change in DNA, according to a laboratory study funded by the National Institutes of Health. National Institutes of Health via PhysOrg.com

New PubMed Articles 24 June 2010

2010-06-24T17:45:00.001-07:00

Customization of Medical Report Data.

Reiner BI.

J Digit Imaging. 2010 Jun 22. [Epub ahead of print]PMID: 20567993 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]Related citations

Comparison of outpatient health care utilization among returning women and men Veterans from Afghanistan and Iraq.

Duggal M, Goulet JL, Womack J, Gordon K, Mattocks K, Haskell SG, Justice AC, Brandt CA.

BMC Health Serv Res. 2010 Jun 22;10(1):175. [Epub ahead of print]PMID: 20565985 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]Free ArticleRelated citations

Trauma and current posttraumatic stress symptoms in elderly German women who experienced wartime rapes in 1945.

Kuwert P, Klauer T, Eichhorn S, Grundke E, Dudeck M, Schomerus G, Freyberger HJ.

J Nerv Ment Dis. 2010 Jun;198(6):450-1.PMID: 20531125 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]Related citations

Serum levels of GM-CSF 20 years after sulfur mustard exposure: Sardasht-Iran Cohort Study.

Amiri S, Ghazanfari T, Yaraee R, Salimi H, Ebtekar M, Shams J, Ghasemi H, Pourfarzam S, Moin A, Sharifnia Z, Soroush MR, Faghihzadeh S, Hassan ZM.

Int Immunopharmacol. 2009 Dec;9(13-14):1499-503. Epub 2009 Sep 4.PMID: 19733693 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]Related citations

New PubMed Articles 23 June 2010

2010-06-23T17:33:00.000-07:00

Cancer Quality-ASSIST supportive oncology quality indicator set: feasibility, reliability, and validity testing.

Dy SM, Lorenz KA, O'Neill SM, Asch SM, Walling AM, Tisnado D, Antonio AL, Malin JL.

Cancer. 2010 Apr 21;116(13):3267-3275. [Epub ahead of print]PMID: 20564637 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]Related citations

Aggressive and unsafe driving in male veterans receiving residential treatment for PTSD.

Kuhn E, Drescher K, Ruzek J, Rosen C.

J Trauma Stress. 2010 Jun 1;23(3):399-402. [Epub ahead of print]PMID: 20564373 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]Related citations

Association between exposure to combat-related stress and psychological health in aging men: The Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Study.

Williams JE, Johnson AM, Heiss G, Rose KM.

J Trauma Stress. 2010 Jun 1;23(3):358-366. [Epub ahead of print]PMID: 20564369 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]Related citations

Internalizing and externalizing personality styles and psychopathology in OEF-OIF veterans.

Rielage JK, Hoyt T, Renshaw K.

J Trauma Stress. 2010 Jun 3;23(3):350-357. [Epub ahead of print]PMID: 20564367 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]Related citations

Internalizing and externalizing classes in posttraumatic stress disorder: A latent class analysis.

Forbes D, Elhai JD, Miller MW, Creamer M.

J Trauma Stress. 2010 May 14;23(3):340-349. [Epub ahead of print]PMID: 20564366 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]Related citations

Approximate models for aggregate data when individual-level data sets are very large or unavailable.

Peköz EA, Shwartz M, Christiansen CL, Berlowitz D.

Stat Med. 2010 Jun 16. [Epub ahead of print]PMID: 20564302 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]Related citations

How might VA-Medicare differences inform the delivery of end-of-life cancer care?

Lorenz KA, Malin JL.

Cancer. 2010 Apr 29. [Epub ahead of print] No abstract available. PMID: 20564077 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]Related citations

End-of-life care for older cancer patients in the Veterans Health Administration versus the private sector.

Keating NL, Landrum MB, Lamont EB, Earle CC, Bozeman SR, McNeil BJ.

Cancer. 2010 May 5. [Epub ahead of print]PMID: 20564065 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]Related citations

Development of a four-day service-learning rotation for third-year medical students.

Packer CD, Carnell RC, Tomcho PM, Scott JG.

Teach Learn Med. 2010 Jul;22(3):224-8.PMID: 20563946 [PubMed - in process]Related citations

10.

Religious moral beliefs as mental health protective factor of war veterans suffering from PTSD, depressiveness, anxiety, tobacco and alcohol abuse in comorbidity.

Hasanović M, Pajević I.

Psychiatr Danub. 2010 Jun;22(2):203-10.PMID: 20562748 [PubMed - in process]Related citations

11.

Influence of Body Mass Index on Changes in Disease-Specific Quality of Life of Veterans Completing Pulmonary Rehabilitation.

Velasco R, Pirraglia PA, Casserly B, Nici L.

J Cardiopulm Rehabil Prev. 2010 Jun 18. [Epub ahead of print]PMID: 20562710 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]Related citations

12.

Endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration of pancreatic masses in a veteran population: comparison of results with 22- and 25-gauge needles.

Siddiqui AA, Lyles T, Avula H, Davila R.

Pancreas. 2010 Jul;39(5):685-6. No abstract available. PMID: 20562582 [PubMed - in process]Related citations

13.

A systematic review of suicide prevention programs for military or veterans.

Bagley SC, Munjas B, Shekelle P.

Suicide Life Threat Behav. 2010 Jun;40(3):257-65.PMID: 20560747 [PubMed - in process]Related citations

14.

National suicide rates a century after Durkheim: do we know enough to estimate error?

Claassen CA, Yip PS, Corcoran P, Bossarte RM, Lawrence BA, Currier GW.

Suicide Life Threat Behav. 2010 Jun;40(3):193-223.PMID: 20560743 [PubMed - in process]Related citations

15.

Prevalence of osteoporosis in men in a VA rehabilitation center.

Swislocki A, Green JA, Heinrich G, Barnett CA, Meadows ID, Harmon EB, Rank MF, Noth RH.

Am J Manag Care. 2010 Jun;16(6):427-33.PMID: 20560686 [PubMed - in process]Free ArticleRelated citations

16.

Risk factors for and estimated incidence of community-associated Clostridium difficile infection, North Carolina, USA.

Kutty PK, Woods CW, Sena AC, Benoit SR, Naggie S, Frederick J, Evans S, Engel J, McDonald LC.

Emerg Infect Dis. 2010 Feb;16(2):197-204.PMID: 20113547 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]Free ArticleRelated citations

New Issue of VA Research Currents

2010-06-23T17:26:00.000-07:00

VA Research Currents June 2010. 06/23/2010. In this issue: Shingles vaccine safe but not widely used;The smaller the better: Seeking new drugs that can reach the brain;Trial provides insight on Parkinson’s treatment; Pilot program cuts postsurgery pneumonia; New saliva test may help diagnose heart attack; Career Milestones; Shaping the future of women’s care in VA; Study finds range of readjustment problem. VA

New Issue of the Journal of Rehabilitation Research & Development

2010-06-23T17:18:00.000-07:00

Journal of Rehabilitation Research & Development Vol. 47(4); 2010. 06/23/2010. Traumatic Limb Loss: National Survey Results Single-Topic Issue JRRD

Soldiers With Migraines Frequently Suffer From Poor Sleep Quality

2010-06-23T03:15:00.000-07:00

Sleep quality of soldiers with migraine is poor 06/23/2010. Some 19 percent of soldiers returning from Iraq have migraine and migraine is suspected in another 17 percent. While prevalence of migraine among the U.S. military is well documented , little is known about sleep quality in soldiers with chronic headaches including post-traumatic headache and migraine. A research team from the Madigan Army Medical Center in Tacoma, WA presenting at American Headache Society's 52nd Annual Scientific Meeting in Los Angeles this week found that although sleep quality is poor in soldiers with post-traumatic headache, treatment including education can improve the condition. American Headache Society via Eurekalert!

New PubMed Articles 22 June 2010

2010-06-22T19:33:00.001-07:00

Kimerling R, Street AE, Pavao J, Smith MW, Cronkite RC, Holmes TH, Frayne SM.

Am J Public Health. 2010 Jun 17. [Epub ahead of print]PMID: 20558808 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]Related citations

Atheromas Feel the Pressure. Biomechanical Stress and Atherosclerosis.

Pyle AL, Young PP.

Am J Pathol. 2010 Jun 17. [Epub ahead of print]PMID: 20558573 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]Related citations

Recurrent herpes simplex virus type 2 meningitis in elderly persons.

Davis LE, Guerre J, Gerstein WH.

Arch Neurol. 2010 Jun;67(6):759-60.PMID: 20558398 [PubMed - in process]Related citations

Copayments for medications after June 30, 2010. Interim final rule.

Department of Veterans Affairs.

Fed Regist. 2010 Jun 9;75(110):32670-3.PMID: 20533616 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]Related citations

Copayments for medications. Final rule.

Department of Veterans Affairs.

Fed Regist. 2010 Jun 9;75(110):32668-70.PMID: 20524258 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]Related citations

Multivariate predictors of failure after flap coverage of pressure ulcers.

Keys KA, Daniali LN, Warner KJ, Mathes DW.

Plast Reconstr Surg. 2010 Jun;125(6):1725-34.PMID: 20517098 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]Related citations

New PubMed Articles 21 June 2010

2010-06-21T16:14:00.000-07:00

Fatal Copper Deficiency From Excessive Use of Zinc-Based Denture Adhesive.

Afrin LB.

Am J Med Sci. 2010 Jun 15. [Epub ahead of print]PMID: 20555248 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]Related citations

Health Care Delivery Restructuring and Productivity Change: Assessing the Veterans Integrated Service Networks (VISNs) Using the Malmquist Approach.

Ozcan YA, Luke RD.

Med Care Res Rev. 2010 Jun 16. [Epub ahead of print]PMID: 20555017 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]Related citations

The relationship between urinary melatonin metabolite excretion and posttraumatic symptoms following traumatic injury.

McFarlane AC, Barton CA, Briggs N, Kennaway DJ.

J Affect Disord. 2010 May 27. [Epub ahead of print]PMID: 20554012 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]Related citations

Neural Correlates of Altered Pain Response in Women with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder from Intimate Partner Violence.

Strigo IA, Simmons AN, Matthews SC, Grimes EM, Allard CB, Reinhardt LE, Paulus MP, Stein MB.

Biol Psychiatry. 2010 May 28. [Epub ahead of print]PMID: 20553750 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]Related citations

Spouses of older adults with late-life drinking problems: health, family, and social functioning.

Moos RH, Brennan PL, Schutte KK, Moos BS.

J Stud Alcohol Drugs. 2010 Jul;71(4):506-14.PMID: 20553658 [PubMed - in process]Related citations

Violent and nonviolent suicide in veterans with substance-use disorders.

Ilgen MA, Conner KR, Valenstein M, Austin K, Blow FC.

J Stud Alcohol Drugs. 2010 Jul;71(4):473-9.PMID: 20553655 [PubMed - in process]Related citations

Neoadjuvant systemic therapy for urological malignancies.

Sonpavde G, Sternberg CN.

BJU Int. 2010 Jul;106(1):6-22.PMID: 20553475 [PubMed - in process]Related citations

Determinants of medical system delay in the diagnosis of colorectal cancer within the Veteran Affairs Health System.

Fisher DA, Zullig LL, Grambow SC, Abbott DH, Sandler RS, Fletcher RH, El-Serag HB, Provenzale D.

Dig Dis Sci. 2010 May;55(5):1434-41. Epub 2010 Mar 18.PMID: 20238248 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]Related citations

Suicide in Veterans More Likely Due to Violence Than to Overdose

2010-06-21T13:18:00.000-07:00

Violence, not overdose, the likely method of suicide in veterans with substance use disorders 06/21/2010.
Veterans with substance use disorders who die by suicide are more likely to use violent means (such as a firearm) rather than nonviolent means (such as a drug overdose), new research suggests.
In a study of more than 5,000 Veterans Affairs (VA) patients with substance use disorders, researchers found that, despite having access to potentially lethal substances, 70% of those who died by suicide used violent means. The study was reported in the July issue of the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs. Eurekalert!

Camp Lejeune Marines Exposed to Toxic Drinking Water Now Recieving VA Benefits

2010-06-20T10:34:00.000-07:00

VA quietly giving benefits to Marines exposed to toxic water 06/20/2010. Former Marine Corps Cpl. Peter Devereaux was told about a year ago that he had just two or three years to live.

More than 12 months later, at 48, he still isn't ready to concede that the cancer that's wasting his innards is going to kill him. He swallows his pills and suffers the pain and each afternoon he greets his 12-year-old daughter, Jackie, as she steps off her school bus in North Andover, Mass.

The U.S. Department of the Navy says that more research is needed to connect ailments suffered by Marines such as Devereaux who served at Camp Lejeune and their families who lived there to decades of water contamination at the 156,000-acre base in eastern North Carolina. Meanwhile, however, the Department of Veterans Affairs has quietly begun awarding benefits to a few Marines who were based at Lejeune. McClatchy Newspapers

June 2010 VA Research Currents

2010-06-19T13:19:00.000-07:00

June, 2010 In this issue: Shingles vaccine safe but not widely used;The smaller the better: Seeking new drugs that can reach the brain;Trial provides insight on Parkinson’s treatment; Pilot program cuts postsurgery pneumonia; New saliva test may help diagnose heart attack; Career Milestones; Shaping the future of women’s care in VA; Study finds range of readjustment problem. VA

Three New VAOIG Reports

2010-06-19T13:15:00.000-07:00

Combined Assessment Program Review of the Southeast Louisiana Veterans Health Care System, New Orleans, Louisiana; Report Number 10-00558-176, 6/17/2010 | Summary | Report (PDF)

Healthcare Inspection Community Based Outpatient Clinic Reviews Smithville, MS and Memphis (Memphis-South), TN Knoxville, TN and Norton, VA Chattanooga and Nashville (Vine Hill), TN; Report Number 10-00627-174, 6/16/2010 | Summary | Report (PDF)

Combined Assessment Program Review of the VA New Jersey Health Care System, East Orange, New Jersey; Report Number 10-00470-172, 6/15/2010 | Summary | Report (PDF)

Filing Claims Now Easier for Veterans

2010-06-19T13:10:00.000-07:00

VA Makes Filing Claims Easier and Faster for Veterans 06/19/2010. As part of Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki’s effort to break the back of the backlog, the Department of Veterans Affairs is reducing the paperwork and expediting the process for Veterans seeking compensation for disabilities related to their military service. VA

VA a 'Hostile' Work Environment?

2010-06-19T13:05:00.000-07:00

VA faces flood of new claims and charges of a 'hostile' work environment 06/19/2010. The Veterans Affairs Department faces a wave of more than a million new disability claims this year, a workload compounded by delays in developing automated systems to process them, department officials and representatives of veterans services organizations told House lawmakers on Wednesday (06/16/2010). NextGov

VA Works Towards Secure Version of Virtual Lifetime Electronic (Health) Record (VLER)

2010-06-19T12:58:00.000-07:00

VA backs ‘direct’ avenues to health info exchange 06/19/2010. The Veterans Affairs Department will incorporate options for rudimentary health information exchange (HIE) into its strategy for creating a virtual lifetime electronic record (VLER) for its beneficiaries, a senior VA official said. Government Health IT

VA Struggling to Keep-up With Disability Claims

2010-06-19T12:49:00.000-07:00

VA still battling errors, backlog in disability claims 06/19/2010. Retired Marine Sgt. Michael Madden of Prescott, Ariz., knows what it means to battle. In Vietnam, he was shot in the head, forcing him to undergo spinal cord surgery that has left him in a wheelchair. But the fight was not over for Madden. After being told by a Veterans Affairs doctor to file for funding to make his home and car wheelchair-adaptable, Madden has spent the last decade in a jungle of bureaucracy, legalese and claim denials. More than $6,000 of out-of-pocket expenses and a suspended Arizona driver's license later, Madden is still searching for answers. Federal Times

New PubMed Articles 19 June 2010

2010-06-19T12:42:00.000-07:00

Predicting suicidal behavior in veterans with traumatic brain injury: the utility of the personality assessment inventory.

Breshears RE, Brenner LA, Harwood JE, Gutierrez PM.

J Pers Assess. 2010 Jul;92(4):349-55.PMID: 20552509 [PubMed - in process]Related citations

Strengthening organizations to implement evidence-based clinical practices.

VanDeusen Lukas C, Engle RL, Holmes SK, Parker VA, Petzel RA, Nealon Seibert M, Shwartz M, Sullivan JL.

Health Care Manage Rev. 2010 Jul-Sep;35(3):235-45.PMID: 20551771 [PubMed - in process]Related citations

Randomized trial of web-based training about opioid therapy for chronic pain.

Sullivan MD, Gaster B, Russo J, Bowlby L, Rocco N, Sinex N, Livovich J, Jasti H, Arnold R.

Clin J Pain. 2010 Jul-Aug;26(6):512-7.PMID: 20551726 [PubMed - in process]Related citations

A Population Study of the Frequency of High-Dose Acetaminophen Prescribing and Dispensing(July/August).

Albertson TE, Walker Jr VM, Stebbins MR, Ashton EW, Owen KP, Sutter ME.

Ann Pharmacother. 2010 Jun 15. [Epub ahead of print]PMID: 20551297 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]Related citations

Correlates of Anger and Hostility in Iraq and Afghanistan War Veterans.

Elbogen EB, Wagner HR, Fuller SR, Calhoun PS, Kinneer PM; Mid-Atlantic Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center Workgroup, Beckham JC.

Am J Psychiatry. 2010 Jun 15. [Epub ahead of print]PMID: 20551162 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]Related citations

Peaceful mind: an open trial of cognitive-behavioral therapy for anxiety in persons with dementia.

Paukert AL, Calleo J, Kraus-Schuman C, Snow L, Wilson N, Petersen NJ, Kunik ME, Stanley MA.

Int Psychogeriatr. 2010 Jun 16:1-10. [Epub ahead of print]PMID: 20550745 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]Related citations

Comparison of health outcomes for male seniors in the Veterans Health Administration and Medicare Advantage plans.

Selim AJ, Berlowitz D, Kazis LE, Rogers W, Wright SM, Qian SX, Rothendler JA, Spiro A 3rd, Miller D, Selim BJ, Fincke BG.

Health Serv Res. 2010 Apr;45(2):376-96. Epub 2009 Dec 30.PMID: 20050934 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]Related citations

Two New VA Tweets

2010-06-19T12:37:00.000-07:00

VeteransHealth: Do you hear ringing that isn't there? Find out how VA is trying to find treatments for this condition, called tinnitus. http://ow.ly/1ZOeK

VeteransHealth: Need help finding a local PTSD treatment program? Use VA's PTSD Program Locator. http://ow.ly/1Wg8c

New VA Surgery Rating System Affects Where Vets Get Care

2010-06-19T12:35:00.000-07:00

Veterans Travel Farther For Surgery With New Policy 06/19/2010. A new rating system now restricts the types of surgery performed at certain Veterans Affairs facilities in five states. The new policy will prompt some veterans to travel farther to reach other VA facilities or civilian hospitals for more complex surgeries. The policy comes after investigations found that surgical mistakes had caused nine deaths in the department's Marion, Ill., hospital a few years ago. NPR

New PubMed Articles 17 June 2010

2010-06-17T18:39:00.000-07:00

Medication Adherence, Ethnicity, and the Influence of Multiple Psychosocial and Financial Barriers.

Zeber JE, Miller AL, Copeland LA, McCarthy JF, Zivin K, Valenstein M, Greenwald D, Kilbourne AM.

Adm Policy Ment Health. 2010 Jun 12. [Epub ahead of print]PMID: 20549327 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]Related citations

Use of Administrative Claims Models to Assess 30-Day Mortality Among Veterans Health Administration Hospitals.

Ross JS, Maynard C, Krumholz HM, Sun H, Rumsfeld JS, Normand SL, Wang Y, Fihn SD.

Med Care. 2010 Jun 11. [Epub ahead of print]PMID: 20548253 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]Related citations

The VA Nursing Academy Embedded Clinical Education Model.

Rittman M, Hinze M, Citty S, Chappell J, Anderson C.

Nurse Educ. 2010 Jul-Aug;35(4):167-71.PMID: 20548187 [PubMed - in process]Related citations

Prognostic implications of the urinary albumin to creatinine ratio in veterans of different ages with diabetes.

O'Hare AM, Hailpern SM, Pavkov ME, Rios-Burrows N, Gupta I, Maynard C, Todd-Stenberg J, Rodriguez RA, Hemmelgarn BR, Saran R, Williams DE.

Arch Intern Med. 2010 Jun 14;170(11):930-6.PMID: 20548004 [PubMed - in process]Related citations

Systematic Review: NIH State-of-the-Science Conference: Factors Associated With Risk for and Possible Prevention of Cognitive Decline in Later Life.

Plassman BL, Williams JW Jr, Burke JR, Holsinger T, Benjamin S.

Ann Intern Med. 2010 Jun 14. [Epub ahead of print]PMID: 20547887 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]Related citations

Structure of posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms and psychosocial functioning in Veterans of Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom.

Pietrzak RH, Goldstein MB, Malley JC, Rivers AJ, Southwick SM.

Psychiatry Res. 2010 May 21. [Epub ahead of print]PMID: 20546925 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]Related citations

The relationship between baseline Organizational Readiness to Change Assessment subscale scores and implementation of hepatitis prevention services in substance use disorders treatment clinics: a case study.

Hagedorn HJ, Heideman PW.

Implement Sci. 2010 Jun 14;5(1):46. [Epub ahead of print]PMID: 20546584 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]Related citations

Posttraumatic stress disorder and risk of dementia among US veterans.

Yaffe K, Vittinghoff E, Lindquist K, Barnes D, Covinsky KE, Neylan T, Kluse M, Marmar C.

Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2010 Jun;67(6):608-13.PMID: 20530010 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]Related citations

Eight recommendations for policies for communicating abnormal test results.

Singh H, Vij MS.

Jt Comm J Qual Patient Saf. 2010 May;36(5):226-32.PMID: 20480756 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]Related citations

10.

Disparities in health-related internet use by US veterans: results from a national survey.

McInnes DK, Gifford AL, Kazis LE, Wagner TH.

Inform Prim Care. 2010;18(1):59-68.PMID: 20429979 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]Related citations

11.

Desmoplastic small round-cell tumor: an adult with previous exposure to agent orange.

Baz W, El-Soueidi R, Nakhl F, Aoun N, Chin N, Dhar M.

Jpn J Clin Oncol. 2010 Jun;40(6):593-5. Epub 2010 Apr 8.PMID: 20382635 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]Related citations

12.

Antagonists of growth hormone-releasing hormone inhibit the proliferation of human benign prostatic hyperplasia cells.

Siejka A, Schally AV, Block NL, Barabutis N.

Prostate. 2010 Jul 1;70(10):1087-93.PMID: 20232355 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]Related citations

PTSD: Gene That Codes for the Serotonin Transporter Affects Vulnerability and Treatment

2010-06-17T07:12:00.000-07:00

PTSD: The serotonin system influences vulnerability and treatment 06/17/2010. There is a great deal of interest in factors that contribute to the vulnerability to developing post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD. One factor that appears to contribute to the heritable vulnerability to PTSD is a variation in the gene that codes for the serotonin transporter, also known as the serotonin uptake site. Elsevier via Eurekalert!

Stem Cells Help Heal Bone Injuries in Soldiers

2010-06-17T06:12:00.000-07:00

Stem Cells from Fat May Help Heal Bone in Wounded Soldiers 06/17/2010. Soldiers in combat suffer massive wounds to bone and tissue quite unlike most injuries that civilian doctors treat. Explosive blasts, rarely encountered in civilian life, cause about 2/3 of the injuries in Iraq. Musculoskeletal injuries account for about 70% of war wounds, and 55% of those are wounds to the arms and legs. Fractures account for 26% of combat injuries. PhysOrg.com

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Veterans Affairs Researchers Study PTSD Symptoms Related To Anger And Aggressiveness

2010-06-16T17:18:00.000-07:00

Specific PTSD Symptoms Related To Anger And Aggressiveness Among Iraq/Afghanistan Veterans 06/16/2010. Focusing on certain PTSD symptoms may be key to treating anger among Iraq/Afghanistan Veterans, according to a study by University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Veterans Affairs researchers. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine via Medical News Today

American Psychiatric Association Study Addresses Postdeployment Anger And Aggressiveness In Veterans Of Iraq And Afghanistan Wars

2010-06-16T17:13:00.000-07:00

Study Addresses Postdeployment Anger And Aggressiveness In Veterans Of Iraq And Afghanistan Wars 06/16/2010. Hyperarousal symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), including sleep problems, irritability, difficulty concentrating, jumpiness, and feeling constantly "on guard" are associated with anger and hostility in soldiers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. American Psychiatric Association via Medical News Today

VA Physician on Benefits of Vitamin D

2010-06-16T17:04:00.000-07:00

Vitamin D: Not just for bones, says San Francisco VA physician 06/16/2010. It is well-known that vitamin D is essential for strong and healthy bones. However, in an article in the online "In Press" section of "Trends in Endocrinology and Metabolism," a San Francisco VA Medical Center physician reviews recent scientific literature suggesting that the vitamin may also play a role in preventing cancer, fighting infection, and controlling or preventing auto-immune disease. University of California, San Francisco via PhysOrg.com

$300 Million for the Mess We Left Behind

2010-06-16T17:00:00.000-07:00

$300 mln to cope with Agent Orange in Vietnam 06/16/2010. Thirty-five years after the Vietnam War, a $300 million price tag has been placed on the most contentious legacy still tainting U.S.-Vietnam relations: Agent Orange. PhysOrg.com

New PubMed Articles 15 June 2010

2010-06-15T17:26:00.000-07:00

Embedded Indices of Effort In The Repeatable Battery For The Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (Rbans) In A Geriatric Sample.

Barker MD, Horner MD, Bachman DL.

Clin Neuropsychol. 2010 Jun 8:1-14. [Epub ahead of print]PMID: 20544558 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]Related citations

Effectiveness of Brief VR Treatment for PTSD in War-Fighters: A Case Study.

Miyahira SD, Folen RA, Hoffman HG, Garcia-Palacios A, Schaper KM.

Stud Health Technol Inform. 2010;154:214-9.PMID: 20543300 [PubMed - in process]Related citations

Integrated health systems.

Shortell SM, McCurdy RK.

Stud Health Technol Inform. 2010;153:369-82.PMID: 20543254 [PubMed - in process]Related citations

Assessment of Hospice Patients' Goals of Care at the End of Life.

Kumar G, Markert RJ, Patel R.

Am J Hosp Palliat Care. 2010 Jun 11. [Epub ahead of print]PMID: 20543162 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]Related citations

Veterans and the justice system: the next forensic frontier.

Pinals DA.

J Am Acad Psychiatry Law. 2010;38(2):163-7. No abstract available. PMID: 20542935 [PubMed - in process]Related citations

Tobacco Use and Cessation Among Veterans Recovering From Stroke or TIA: A Qualitative Assessment and Implications for Rehabilitation.

Zillich AJ, Hudmon KS, Damush T.

Top Stroke Rehabil. 2010 Mar-Apr;17(2):140-50.PMID: 20542856 [PubMed - in process]Related citations

Psychological and marital distress in spouses of Vietnam veterans: Importance of spouses' perceptions.

Renshaw KD, Rodebaugh TL, Rodrigues CS.

J Anxiety Disord. 2010 May 24. [Epub ahead of print]PMID: 20541905 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]Related citations

Lactate dyscrasia: a novel explanation for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

Vadakkadath Meethal S, Atwood CS.

Neurobiol Aging. 2010 Jun 10. [Epub ahead of print]PMID: 20541840 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]Related citations

An examination of the construct validity of posttraumatic stress disorder with veterans using a revised criterion set.

Grubaugh AL, Long ME, Elhai JD, Frueh BC, Magruder KM.

Behav Res Ther. 2010 May 27. [Epub ahead of print]PMID: 20541179 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]Related citations

10.

Medical clinics versus usual care for patients with both diabetes and hypertension: a randomized trial.

Edelman D, Fredrickson SK, Melnyk SD, Coffman CJ, Jeffreys AS, Datta S, Jackson GL, Harris AC, Hamilton NS, Stewart H, Stein J, Weinberger M.

Ann Intern Med. 2010 Jun 1;152(11):689-96.PMID: 20513826 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]Related citations

11.

Connection domain mutations in treatment-experienced patients in the OPTIMA trial.

Dau B, Ayers D, Singer J, Harrigan PR, Brown S, Kyriakides T, Cameron DW, Angus B, Holodniy M.

J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr. 2010 Jun;54(2):160-6.PMID: 20130473 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]Related citations

Focusing on Certain PTSD Symptoms May be Key to Treating Anger Among Iraq/Afghanistan Veterans

2010-06-15T03:11:00.000-07:00

Study: Specific PTSD symptoms related to anger and aggressiveness among Iraq/Afghanistan veterans 06/15/2010. Focusing on certain PTSD symptoms may be key to treating anger among Iraq/Afghanistan Veterans, according to a study by University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Veterans Affairs researchers. "Most returning veterans don't have PTSD or difficulty with anger or aggressiveness, but for the small subset who do, this study helps to identify related risk factors," said Eric Elbogen, PhD, lead author of the study, an assistant professor of psychiatry in the UNC School of Medicine and a staff psychologist at the VA Medical Center in Durham, N.C. University of North Carolina School of Medicine via Eurekalert

4 New VAOIG Reports

2010-06-13T08:24:00.000-07:00

Combined Assessment Program Review of the Chillicothe VA Medical Center Chillicothe, Ohio; Report Number 10-00049-169, 6/10/2010 | Summary | Report (PDF)

Healthcare Inspection Allegations Concerning Respiratory Therapy and Nursing VA Medical Center Memphis, Tennessee; Report Number 09-03815-170, 6/10/2010 | Summary | Report (PDF)

Healthcare Inspection Suicide After Hospitalization At a Veterans Health Facility; Report Number 10-01346-167, 6/9/2010 | Summary | Report (PDF)

Combined Assessment Program Review of the VA Puget Sound Health Care System Seattle, Washington; Report Number 10-00465-168, 6/9/2010 | Summary | Report (PDF)

VA to Increase Some Veterans' Medication Co-pay by $1 for 30 Day Supply

2010-06-13T08:18:00.000-07:00

VA Announces Change to Medication Copays for Some Veterans 06/13/2010. As previously announced on January 7, 2010, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) froze prescription copayment increases for six months. Veterans who generally have higher income and no service-connected disabilities - referred to as Priority Groups 7 and 8 Veterans - will now pay an additional $1 for each 30-day supply of outpatient medications. Taking effect July 1, the increase to $9 from $8 is the first change in VA’s medication copay since Jan. 1, 2006. VA

DARPA Moves Ahead With Online PTSD Project Despite Lack of Funding

2010-06-13T08:12:00.000-07:00

With possibility of no funding, Defense still moves on PTSD online project 06/13/2010. The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency plans to hold a conference on Friday to inform industry about a project that would create virtual worlds, social media sites and telehealth services to help treat troops suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder and brain injuries -- even though Congress killed funding for it earlier this year. DARPA officials said it will develop its ambitious Healing Heroes project using guidance by a board of advisers drawn from the Defense and Veterans Affairs departments, particularly the Defense Centers of Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury. NextGov

Are Some Veterans Getting 'Hooked' on Over-prescribed Medications?

2010-06-13T08:04:00.000-07:00

Vets Hooked by Over Prescribed Meds 06/13/2010. Two doctors who worked at the Hampton VA Medical Center say powerful narcotics are being over prescribed to veterans there, leaving them addicted while their underlying medical conditions go untreated. Military.com

New PubMed Articles 13 June 2010

2010-06-13T08:01:00.000-07:00

Racial Disparities in All-Cause Mortality Among Veterans with Type 2 Diabetes.

Lynch CP, Gebregziabher M, Echols C, Gilbert GE, Zhao Y, Egede LE.

J Gen Intern Med. 2010 Jun 8. [Epub ahead of print]PMID: 20532659 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]Related citations

Factor Structure and Risk Factors for the Health Status of Homeless Veterans.

Goldstein G, Luther JF, Haas GL, Appelt CJ, Gordon AJ.

Psychiatr Q. 2010 Jun 8. [Epub ahead of print]PMID: 20532627 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]Related citations

Posttraumatic stress disorder and risk of dementia among US veterans.

Yaffe K, Vittinghoff E, Lindquist K, Barnes D, Covinsky KE, Neylan T, Kluse M, Marmar C.

Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2010 Jun;67(6):608-13.PMID: 20530010 [PubMed - in process]Related citations

Use of Outpatient Care in Veterans Health Administration and Medicare among Veterans Receiving Primary Care in Community-Based and Hospital Outpatient Clinics.

Liu CF, Chapko M, Bryson CL, Burgess JF Jr, Fortney JC, Perkins M, Sharp ND, Maciejewski ML.

Health Serv Res. 2010 May 28. [Epub ahead of print]PMID: 20528989 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]Related citations

Bringing Peace to Troubled Veterans

2010-06-13T07:35:00.000-07:00

Bringing peace to troubled veterans (Opinion from Denver Post) 06/13/2010. Troops returning from Iraq and Afghanistan have been getting short shrift on several fronts. But, as Jose Barco's case shows, the legal system usually cuts them no slack and sometimes slams them extra hard precisely because they wore a U.S. uniform. Prison is where "Frontline" interviewed him for the documentary, "The Wounded Platoon," which aired last month on Public Broadcasting Service stations. He is one of 17 men returning to the Fort Carson who, over a five-year period, were convicted or charged with homicide or attempting it. Denver Post

TechRadium's IRIS to Provide Cloud-computing-based System for Notifying Federal Employees of When H1N1 Vaccinations are Available

2010-06-13T07:18:00.000-07:00

VA selects IRIS to provide communication system for notifying federal employees on H1N1 vaccinations 06/13/2010. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has selected TechRadium's IRIS to provide a cloud-computing-based, interoperable communications system for notifying key federal employees of when H1N1 vaccinations are available for them. The Medical News

Cincinnati Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center Involved in Dialysis Study

2010-06-13T07:14:00.000-07:00

Researchers receive funding to study care processes in patients beginning dialysis 06/13/2010. Researchers at the University of Cincinnati (UC) and the Cincinnati Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Center have received funding to study the care processes that lead to placement of arteriovenous fistulas in patients beginning dialysis. The Medical News

Three New VA Tweets

2010-06-13T07:08:00.000-07:00

VeteransHealth: RT @mdvagov: #My HealtheVet is a powerful tool for Vets to manage their own #personal #health care. http://ow.ly/1QQ8I

VeteransHealth: RT @VAPittsburgh: Where can you find the highest quality health care in the U.S.? #Veterans Health Admin. (Market Watch): http://ht.ly/1SXmq

VeteransHealth: Games and puzzles as a cure? You bet! Watch this VA video about traumatic brain injury recovery: http://ow.ly/1MxL9

Red Wine and Green Tea Combination Fight Prostate Cancer

2010-06-09T18:00:00.000-07:00

Polyphenols in red wine and green tea halt prostate cancer growth 06/09/2010. In what could lead to a major advance in the treatment of prostate cancer, scientists now know exactly why polyphenols in red wine and green tea inhibit cancer growth. This new discovery, published online in The FASEB Journal, explains how antioxidants in red wine and green tea produce a combined effect to disrupt an important cell signaling pathway necessary for prostate cancer growth. PhysOrg.com

Promising TBI Treatment

2010-06-09T17:56:00.000-07:00

Treatment For Headaches And Dizziness Caused By Traumatic Brain Injury Appears Promising, Study Says 06/09/2010. A recent retrospective study by four Michigan physicians shows strong evidence that symptoms of headache, dizziness and anxiety in some patients with traumatic brain injury potentially could be alleviated or even eliminated with specialized eyeglass lenses containing prisms. Medical News Today

Combat Soldiers Frequently Suffer From Insomia

2010-06-09T17:54:00.000-07:00

Sleep Problems Common In US Soldiers Returning From Wartime Deployment 06/09/2010. There is an extremely high prevalence of sleep disturbances in U.S. soldiers returning from wartime deployment, according to a research abstract presented Tuesday, June 8, 2010, in San Antonio, Texas, at SLEEP 2010, the 24th annual meeting of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies LLC. Medical News Today

Improving Nerve Growth Following SCI

2010-06-09T17:45:00.001-07:00

Improving recovery from spinal cord injury 06/09/2010. Once damaged, nerves in the spinal cord normally cannot grow back and the only drug approved for treating these injuries does not enable nerve regrowth. Publishing online this week in the Early Edition of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, researchers at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine show that treating injured rat spinal cords with an enzyme, sialidase, improves nerve regrowth, motor recovery and nervous system function. Eurekalert!

Three New VAOIG Reports

2010-06-08T16:47:00.000-07:00

Review of Fraud Management for the Non-VA Fee Care Program; Report Number 10-00004-166, 6/8/2010 | Summary | Report (PDF)

Audit of VISN Procurement Practices for FSS Professional and Allied Healthcare Staffing Services; Report Number 08-00270-162, 6/7/2010 | Summary | Report (PDF)

Review of Federal Supply Schedule 621 I -- Professional and Allied Healthcare Staffing Services; Report Number 08-02969-165, 6/7/2010 | Summary | Report (PDF)

Veterans Will soon be Able to Download Their Personal Health Information

2010-06-08T16:38:00.000-07:00

HHS, VA will add download feature to patient portals 06/08/2010. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and the Veterans Affairs Department plan to add a feature to their electronic patient portals to let beneficiaries download their personal health information into a patient health record or other electronic media of their choosing. To date, veterans and seniors have been able only to review their data on CMS’s MyMedicare.gov and VA’s MyHealtheVet patient Web portals. The “blue button” initiative, named for a new electronic button on the portal sites, will let patients use their data in any way they choose, said Todd Park, HHS’s chief technology officer. Government Health IT

New Pubmed Articles 08 June 2010

2010-06-08T16:32:00.000-07:00

The Relationship Between Mortality and Preexisting Cardiac Disease in 5,971 Trauma Patients.

Ferraris VA, Ferraris SP, Saha SP.

J Trauma. 2010 Jun 3. [Epub ahead of print]PMID: 20526211 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]Related citations

Serum urate and its relationship with alcoholic beverage intake in men and women: findings from the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) cohort.

Gaffo AL, Roseman JM, Jacobs DR Jr, Lewis CE, Shikany JM, Mikuls TR, Jolly PE, Saag KG.

Ann Rheum Dis. 2010 Jun 4. [Epub ahead of print]PMID: 20525839 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]Related citations

Improving PTSD/Substance Abuse Treatment in the VA: A Survey of Providers.

Najavits LM, Norman SB, Kivlahan D, Kosten TR.

Am J Addict. 2010 May 1;19(3):257-263.PMID: 20525033 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]Related citations

Memories from the edge of the abyss: evaluating the oral accounts of World War II veterans.

Walton RE.

Oral Hist Rev. 2010;37(1):18-34.PMID: 20524245 [PubMed - in process]Related citations

10% of Soldiers Returning From Iraq Experience PTSD or Depression

2010-06-08T16:21:00.000-07:00

Depression Or Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Affecting About 10% Of Soldiers Returning From Iraq 06/08/2010. Posttraumatic stress disorder or depression affects between 8.5% and 14% of soldiers returning from Iraq, says a report published in Archives of Psychiatry, a JAMA/Archives journal - causing serious functional impairment. Medical News Today

New Research May Explain the Lasting Effects of PTSD

2010-06-08T16:15:00.000-07:00

New research could help explain the lasting effects of PTSD 06/08/2010. For the first time, researchers at the Department of Veterans Affairs are taking a comprehensive look at the long-term effects of PTSD and its connection to other serious health issues that develop decades after military service ends. Stars and Stripes

New Pubmed Articles 07 June 2010

2010-06-07T15:55:00.000-07:00

Prevention of Urinary Tract Infections in Persons with Spinal Cord Injury in Home Health Care.

Eves FJ, Rivera N.

Home Healthc Nurse. 2010 Apr;28(4):230-241.PMID: 20520263 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]Related citations

The Care Coordination Home Telehealth (CCHT) rural demonstration project: a symptom-based approach for serving older veterans in remote geographical settings.

Luptak M, Dailey N, Juretic M, Rupper R, Hill RD, Hicken BL, Bair BD.

Rural Remote Health. 2010 Apr-Jun;10(2):1375. Epub 2010 Jun 1.PMID: 20518592 [PubMed - in process]Related citations

Opioid use in young veterans.

Wu PC, Lang C, Hasson NK, Linder SH, Clark DJ.

J Opioid Manag. 2010 Mar-Apr;6(2):133-9.PMID: 20481178 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]Related citations

Link Between PTSD and Dementia in Elderly Veterans

2010-06-07T15:50:00.000-07:00

Post-traumatic stress disorder associated with dementia among older veterans 06/07/2010. Older veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) appear more likely to develop dementia over a seven-year period than those without PTSD, according to a report in the June issue of Archives of General Psychiatry. PhysOrg.com

Bright Light Therapy for PTSD

2010-06-07T03:18:00.000-07:00

Bright light therapy has significant effects on sleep disturbances associated with combat-related PTSD 06/07/2010. Bright light therapy has significant effects on sleep disturbances associated with combat-related post-traumatic stress disorder, according to a research abstract that will be presented Monday, June 7, 2010, in San Antonio, Texas, at SLEEP 2010, the 24th annual meeting of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies LLC. The Medical News

VAOIG Inspection Evaluation of Quality Management in Veterans Health Administration Facilities Fiscal Year 2009

2010-06-06T10:11:00.000-07:00

Healthcare Inspection Evaluation of Quality Management in Veterans Health Administration Facilities Fiscal Year 2009 Report Number 09-00069-161 06/06/2010. The evaluation was conducted to determine whether Veterans Health Administration (VHA) facilities had comprehensive, effective quality management (QM) programs designed to monitor patient care activities and coordinate improvement efforts and whether VHA facility senior managers actively supported QM efforts and appropriately responded to QM results. Although all 44 facilities reviewed had established comprehensive QM programs and performed ongoing reviews and analyses of mandatory areas, 4 facilities had significant weaknesses. Senior managers at all facilities reported that they support their QM programs and actively participate. To improve operations, we recommended that VHA reinforce requirements for: A systematic approach to planning, delivering, measuring, and improving health care, which includes tracking open action items. Peer review timeliness, action documentation, trend analyses, and reports to the Medical Executive Committee. Defining staff who need life support training, systematically tracking training status, and taking appropriate actions when needed training is not maintained. Systematic review processes of the quality of medical record entries. Documented plans addressing the delivery of services to patients held in temporary bed locations and non-admitted patients placed in overflow locations. VAOIG

Time Can't Erase D-Day Memories

2010-06-06T10:04:00.000-07:00

Time Can't Erase D-Day Memories 06/06/2010. Nearly seven decades after John Chrenka slid across the English Channel in a boat headed toward Omaha Beach, the memory still hits him like gunfire. "There were three of us in the front row, shells flying all over the place, guys hollering," said Chrenka, 88, of Riverside, Ill. "If you say you weren't scared, you're a liar because I was scared stiff." Military.com

Two New Articles on Dealing With Stress and Anger

2010-06-06T09:59:00.000-07:00

Exercise Is Good Medicine For Preventing And Reducing An Angry Mood 06/06/2010. Numerous studies have examined the positive effects of exercise on improving mood. However, little research has been designed to investigate the effect of exercise on feelings of anger. A recent study presented at American College of Sports Medicine's 57th Annual Meeting in Baltimore discovered that exercise might have a beneficial affect on anger in men. American College of Sports Medicine via Medical News Today

Feel More Alive - Spend Time In Nature 06/06/2010. eing outside in nature makes people feel more alive, finds a series of studies published in the June 2010 issue of the Journal of Environmental Psychology. And that sense of increased vitality exists above and beyond the energizing effects of physical activity and social interaction that are often associated with our forays into the natural world, the studies show. "Nature is fuel for the soul, " says Richard Ryan, lead author and a professor of psychology at the University of Rochester. "Often when we feel depleted we reach for a cup of coffee, but research suggests a better way to get energized is to connect with nature," he says. Journal of Environmental Psychology via Medical News Today

PTCB Certification Now Requires for GS-6 Pharmacy Technicians

2010-06-06T09:51:00.000-07:00

VA now requires PTCB certification for pharmacy technicians employed at grade GS-6 06/06/2010. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) now requires Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) certification for VA pharmacy technicians employed at grade GS-6 and above. VA's decision came after formal recommendations from the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs and is reflected in the VA Handbook 5005/15. The Medical News

Deep Brain Stimulation Benefits Veterans With Parkinson's Disease

2010-06-06T09:48:00.000-07:00

VA Research Offers Insight on Parkinson’s Disease - 06/06/2010. Veterans and others with Parkinson’s disease who undergo deep brain stimulation (DBS) may benefit from research co-sponsored by the Department of Veterans Affairs and published recently in the prestigious New England Journal of Medicine. VA

Five New VA Tweets

2010-06-06T09:41:00.000-07:00

VeteransHealth: @Crohnsdisease :Ofc of Patient Advocate is expecting your call: 316-685-2221 x5773

VeteransHealth: #Veteran caregivers rock our world! That’s why new Caregiver Legislation will help support them for supporting our #Veterans:...

VeteransHealth: Check out a list of VA med centers to see their rating for “surgical complexity.” Learn more: http://ow.ly/1Sqal

VeteransHealth: VA values quality, and our new hospital rating system will help ensure quality care for #Veterans: http://ow.ly/1Sq8y

VeteransHealth: Are you a caregiver for a #Veteran or servicemember? You help us, so we want to help you! Find caregiver perks here: http://ow.ly/1Sq79

New PubMed Articles 06 June 2010

2010-06-06T09:35:00.000-07:00

Multivariate predictors of failure after flap coverage of pressure ulcers.

Keys KA, Daniali LN, Warner KJ, Mathes DW.

Plast Reconstr Surg. 2010 Jun;125(6):1725-34.PMID: 20517098 [PubMed - in process]Related citations

Stability of sodium bicarbonate solutions in polyolefin bags.

Wear J, McPherson TB, Kolling WM.

Am J Health Syst Pharm. 2010 Jun 15;67(12):1026-9.PMID: 20516474 [PubMed - in process]Related citations

Quality of Nonmetastatic Colorectal Cancer Care in the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Jackson GL, Melton LD, Abbott DH, Zullig LL, Ordin DL, Grambow SC, Hamilton NS, Zafar SY, Gellad ZF, Kelley MJ, Provenzale D.

J Clin Oncol. 2010 Jun 1. [Epub ahead of print]PMID: 20516431 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]Related citations

In Vitro Antituberculosis Activities of ACH-702, a Novel Isothiazoloquinolone, against Quinolone-Susceptible and Quinolone-Resistant Isolates.

Pucci MJ, Ackerman M, Thanassi JA, Shoen CM, Cynamon MH.

Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2010 Jun 1. [Epub ahead of print]PMID: 20516287 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]Related citations

The impact of the Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel Enhancement Act of 2004 on VA physicians' salaries and retention.

Weeks WB, Wallace TA, Wallace AE.

J Health Care Finance. 2009 Summer;35(4):13-23.PMID: 20515006 [PubMed - in process]

Processes of care associated with acute stroke outcomes.

Bravata DM, Wells CK, Lo AC, Nadeau SE, Melillo J, Chodkowski D, Struve F, Williams LS, Peixoto AJ, Gorman M, Goel P, Acompora G, McClain V, Ranjbar N, Tabereaux PB, Boice JL, Jacewicz M, Concato J.

Arch Intern Med. 2010 May 10;170(9):804-10.PMID: 20458088 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]Related citations

Proton pump inhibitors and risk for recurrent Clostridium difficile infection.

Linsky A, Gupta K, Lawler EV, Fonda JR, Hermos JA.

Arch Intern Med. 2010 May 10;170(9):772-8.PMID: 20458084 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]Related citations

Vaccination, squalene and anti-squalene antibodies: facts or fiction?

Lippi G, Targher G, Franchini M.

Eur J Intern Med. 2010 Apr;21(2):70-3. Epub 2009 Dec 29. Review.PMID: 20206873 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]Related citations

Computerized prompting and feedback of diabetes care: a review of the literature.

Boren SA, Puchbauer AM, Williams F.

J Diabetes Sci Technol. 2009 Jul 1;3(4):944-50. Review.PMID: 20144344 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]Related citations

10.

Relationship of combat experiences to alcohol misuse among U.S. soldiers returning from the Iraq war.

Wilk JE, Bliese PD, Kim PY, Thomas JL, McGurk D, Hoge CW.

Drug Alcohol Depend. 2010 Apr 1;108(1-2):115-21. Epub 2010 Jan 8.PMID: 20060237 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]Related citations

11.

Late-life and life history predictors of older adults' high-risk alcohol consumption and drinking problems.

Moos RH, Schutte KK, Brennan PL, Moos BS.

Drug Alcohol Depend. 2010 Apr 1;108(1-2):13-20. Epub 2009 Dec 6.PMID: 19969428 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]Related citations

New Hotline for Homeless Veterans

2010-06-03T19:11:00.000-07:00

VA Secretary Announces New Hotline for Homeless Veterans 06/03/2010. Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki announced today the establishment of a new telephone hotline to provide emergency support and resources to homeless Veterans. He made the announcement as he toured the facility at the VA medical center in Canandaigua, N.Y. VA

New PubMed Articles 03 June 2010

2010-06-03T19:05:00.000-07:00

Medical clinics versus usual care for patients with both diabetes and hypertension: a randomized trial.

Edelman D, Fredrickson SK, Melnyk SD, Coffman CJ, Jeffreys AS, Datta S, Jackson GL, Harris AC, Hamilton NS, Stewart H, Stein J, Weinberger M.

Ann Intern Med. 2010 Jun 1;152(11):689-96.PMID: 20513826 [PubMed - in process]Related citations

Carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii and Klebsiella pneumoniae across a hospital system: impact of post-acute care facilities on dissemination.

Perez F, Endimiani A, Ray AJ, Decker BK, Wallace CJ, Hujer KM, Ecker DJ, Adams MD, Toltzis P, Dul MJ, Windau A, Bajaksouzian S, Jacobs MR, Salata RA, Bonomo RA.

J Antimicrob Chemother. 2010 May 31. [Epub ahead of print]PMID: 20513702 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]Related citations

Reintegration Problems and Treatment Interests Among Iraq and Afghanistan Combat Veterans Receiving VA Medical Care.

Sayer NA, Noorbaloochi S, Frazier P, Carlson K, Gravely A, Murdoch M.

Psychiatr Serv. 2010 Jun;61(6):589-97.PMID: 20513682 [PubMed - in process]Related citations

Stigma, barriers to care, and use of mental health services among active duty and national guard soldiers after combat.

Kim PY, Thomas JL, Wilk JE, Castro CA, Hoge CW.

Psychiatr Serv. 2010 Jun;61(6):582-8.PMID: 20513681 [PubMed - in process]Related citations

Screening for alcohol misuse and alcohol-related behaviors among combat veterans.

Santiago PN, Wilk JE, Milliken CS, Castro CA, Engel CC, Hoge CW.

Psychiatr Serv. 2010 Jun;61(6):575-81.PMID: 20513680 [PubMed - in process]Related citations

Anticonvulsant use, bipolar disorder, and risk of fracture among older adults in the Veterans Health Administration.

Mezuk B, Morden NE, Ganoczy D, Post EP, Kilbourne AM.

Am J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2010 Mar;18(3):245-55.PMID: 20224520 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]Related citations

Increasing incidence of herpes zoster among Veterans.

Rimland D, Moanna A.

Clin Infect Dis. 2010 Apr 1;50(7):1000-5.PMID: 20178416 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]Related citations

VAOIG 2009 Evaluation of Quality Management in Veterans Health Administration Facilities

2010-06-02T16:37:00.000-07:00

Healthcare Inspection Evaluation of Quality Management in Veterans Health Administration Facilities Fiscal Year 2009 06/02/2010. The evaluation was conducted to determine whether Veterans Health Administration (VHA) facilities had comprehensive, effective quality management (QM) programs designed to monitor patient care activities and coordinate improvement efforts and whether VHA facility senior managers actively supported QM efforts and appropriately responded to QM results. Although all 44 facilities reviewed had established comprehensive QM programs and performed ongoing reviews and analyses of mandatory areas, 4 facilities had significant weaknesses. Senior managers at all facilities reported that they support their QM programs and actively participate. To improve operations, we recommended that VHA reinforce requirements for: A systematic approach to planning, delivering, measuring, and improving health care, which includes tracking open action items. Peer review timeliness, action documentation, trend analyses, and reports to the Medical Executive Committee. Defining staff who need life support training, systematically tracking training status, and taking appropriate actions when needed training is not maintained. Systematic review processes of the quality of medical record entries. Documented plans addressing the delivery of services to patients held in temporary bed locations and non-admitted patients placed in overflow locations. VAOIG

New Pubmed Articles

2010-06-02T13:49:00.000-07:00

A communication competence approach to examining health care social support, stress, and job burnout.

Wright KB, Banas JA, Bessarabova E, Bernard DR.

Health Commun. 2010 Jun;25(4):375-82.PMID: 20512719 [PubMed - in process]Related citations

Effect of sulfonylurea dose escalation on hemoglobin A1c in Veterans Affairs patients with type 2 diabetes.

Hurren KM, Bartley EP, O'Neill JL, Ronis DL.

Acta Diabetol. 2010 May 29. [Epub ahead of print]PMID: 20512383 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]Related citations

Comorbidity of chronic disease and potential treatment conflicts in older people dispensed antidepressants.

Caughey GE, Roughead EE, Shakib S, McDermott RA, Vitry AI, Gilbert AL.

Age Ageing. 2010 May 27. [Epub ahead of print]PMID: 20511245 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]Related citations

Antidepressant Prescribing in US Nursing Homes Between 1996 and 2006 and Its Relationship to Staffing Patterns and Use of Other Psychotropic Medications.

Hanlon JT, Handler SM, Castle NG.

J Am Med Dir Assoc. 2010 Jun;11(5):320-324.PMID: 20511098 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]Related citations

Differences in Nurse and Surgeon Perceptions of Teamwork: Implications for Use of a Briefing Checklist in the OR.

Carney BT, West P, Neily J, Mills PD, Bagian JP.

AORN J. 2010 Jun;91(6):722-729.PMID: 20510945 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]Related citations

Addressing Patients' Concerns about Pain Management and Addiction Risks.

Goebel JR, Sherbourne CD, Asch SM, Meredith L, Cohen AB, Hagenmaier E, Lanto AB, Simon B, Rubenstein LV, Shugarman LR, Lorenz KA.

Pain Manag Nurs. 2010 Jun;11(2):92-98. Epub 2009 Sep 12.PMID: 20510839 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]Related citations

Predictors of Comprehension during Surgical Informed Consent.

Fink AS, Prochazka AV, Henderson WG, Bartenfeld D, Nyirenda C, Webb A, Berger DH, Itani K, Whitehill T, Edwards J, Wilson M, Karsonovich C, Parmelee P.

J Am Coll Surg. 2010 Jun;210(6):919-26.PMID: 20510800 [PubMed - in process]Related citations

Sexual Violence, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, and the Pelvic Examination: How Do Beliefs About the Safety, Necessity, and Utility of the Examination Influence Patient Experiences?

Weitlauf JC, Frayne SM, Finney JW, Moos RH, Jones S, Hu K, Spiegel D.

J Womens Health (Larchmt). 2010 May 29. [Epub ahead of print]PMID: 20509787 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]Related citations

Beyond beta: Lessons Learned from Implementation of the Department of Veterans Affairs Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Prevention Initiative.

Garcia-Williams AG, Miller LJ, Burkitt KH, Cuerdon T, Jain R, Fine MJ, Jernigan JA, Sinkowitz-Cochran RL.

Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol. 2010 May 28. [Epub ahead of print]PMID: 20509763 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]Related citations

New PubMed Articles 31 May 2010

2010-05-31T16:59:00.000-07:00

A new hypnotic technique for treating combat-related posttraumatic stress disorder: a prospective open study.

Abramowitz EG, Lichtenberg P.

Int J Clin Exp Hypn. 2010 Jul;58(3):316-28.PMID: 20509071 [PubMed - in process]Related citations

The Effect of Patient Race on Total Joint Replacement Recommendations and Utilization in the Orthopedic Setting.

Hausmann LR, Mor M, Hanusa BH, Zickmund S, Cohen PZ, Grant R, Kresevic DM, Gordon HS, Ling BS, Kwoh CK, Ibrahim SA.

J Gen Intern Med. 2010 May 28. [Epub ahead of print]PMID: 20509053 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]Related citations

Auto-Titrating Continuous Positive Airway Pressure for Patients With Acute Transient Ischemic Attack. A Randomized Feasibility Trial.

Bravata DM, Concato J, Fried T, Ranjbar N, Sadarangani T, McClain V, Struve F, Zygmunt L, Knight HJ, Lo A, Richerson GB, Gorman M, Williams LS, Brass LM, Agostini J, Mohsenin V, Roux F, Yaggi HK.

Stroke. 2010 May 27. [Epub ahead of print]PMID: 20508184 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]Related citations

Predictors of Health Utility among 60-Day Survivors of Acute Kidney Injury in the Veterans Affairs/National Institutes of Health Acute Renal Failure Trial Network Study.

Johansen KL, Smith MW, Unruh ML, Siroka AM, O'Connor TZ, Palevsky PM; for the VA/NIH Acute Renal Failure Trial Network.

Clin J Am Soc Nephrol. 2010 May 27. [Epub ahead of print]PMID: 20507953 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]Related citations

Survival Benefits with Vitamin D Receptor Activation: New Insights Since 2003.

Kovesdy CP.

Clin J Am Soc Nephrol. 2010 May 27. [Epub ahead of print]PMID: 20507950 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]Related citations

The Effect of Telephone Support Groups on Costs of Care for Veterans With Dementia.

Wray LO, Shulan MD, Toseland RW, Freeman KE, Vásquez BE, Gao J.

Gerontologist. 2010 May 27. [Epub ahead of print]PMID: 20507926 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]Related citations

A formalized teaching, practice, and research partnership with the Veterans Affairs North Texas Health Care System: a model for advancing academic partnerships.

Hall RG 2nd, Foslein-Nash C, Singh DK, Zeiss RA, Sanders KM, Patry R, Leff R.

Am J Pharm Educ. 2009 Dec 17;73(8):141.PMID: 20221334 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]Free PMC ArticleFree textRelated citations

Outcomes associated with serum calcium level in men with non-dialysis-dependent chronic kidney disease.

Kovesdy CP, Kuchmak O, Lu JL, Kalantar-Zadeh K.

Clin J Am Soc Nephrol. 2010 Mar;5(3):468-76. Epub 2010 Jan 7.PMID: 20056754 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]Related citations

Agreement between central venous and arterial blood gas measurements in the intensive care unit.

Treger R, Pirouz S, Kamangar N, Corry D.

Clin J Am Soc Nephrol. 2010 Mar;5(3):390-4. Epub 2009 Dec 17.PMID: 20019117 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]Related citations

10.

Pharmacist-led group medical appointment model in type 2 diabetes.

Taveira TH, Friedmann PD, Cohen LB, Dooley AG, Khatana SA, Pirraglia PA, Wu WC.

Diabetes Educ. 2010 Jan-Feb;36(1):109-17. Epub 2009 Dec 4.PMID: 19966072 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]Related citations

Wide Reach of the Tobacco Industry and its Influence on Young People, Military Veterans and National Health Care Reform

2010-05-31T06:01:00.000-07:00

Tobacco Industry Influence On Health Policy Detailed By UCSF Analyses 05/31/2010. Three new UCSF studies describe the wide reach of the tobacco industry and its influence on young people, military veterans and national health care reform. The analyses will be published in a special July edition of the American Journal of Public Health titled "Modeling to Advance Tobacco Control Policy." Findings are available online at http://www.ajph.org/first_look.shtml. University of California - San Francisco via Medical News Today

Look Into My Eyes: Hypnotic Technique to Treat PTSD

2010-05-29T10:18:00.000-07:00

A new hypnotic technique for treating combat-related posttraumatic stress disorder: a prospective open study. Many combat veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) have an olfactory component to their traumatic memories that might be utilized by a technique called hypnotherapeutic olfactory conditioning (HOC). Thirty-six outpatients with chronic PTSD, featuring resistant olfactory-induced flashbacks, were treated with six 1.5-hour sessions using hypnosis. The authors used the revised Impact of Events Scale (IES-R), Beck Depression Inventory, and Dissociative Experiences Scale as outcome measures. Significant reductions in symptomatology were recorded by the end of the 6-week treatment period for the IES-R, as well as for the Beck Depression Inventory and the Dissociative Experiences Scale; 21 (58%) of the subjects responded to treatment by a reduction of 50% or more on the IES-R. Improvement was maintained at 6-month and 1-year follow-ups. Use of medication was curtailed. HOC shows potential for providing benefit to individuals suffering from PTSD with olfactory components. The International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis via PubMed

VAOIG Report to Congress

2010-05-29T07:56:00.000-07:00

Office of Inspector General Department of Veterans Affairs Semiannual Report to Congress (SAR) October 1, 2009 - March 31 2010 05/29/2010. The Semiannual Report to Congress summarizes the results of OIG oversight, provides statistical information, and lists all reports issued October 1, 2009 - March 31, 2010. During this reporting period, OIG audits, investigations, inspections, evaluations, and other reviews identified over $673 million in monetary benefits for a return of $14 for every dollar invested in OIG oversight. OIG issued a total of 120 reports on VA programs and operations and OIG investigations led to 269 arrests and 232 administrative sanctions. VAOIG

U.S. Medicine Report: Veterans Underserved by VA & Material Exposure a Major Concern

2010-05-29T07:53:00.000-07:00

Gulf War Vets Underserved by VA, Hazardous Material Exposure a Major Concern 05/29/2010. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the start of deployment for Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm—the defining combat operations of the Gulf War. According to a report released last month by a VA task force, veterans of that war—of which there are nearly 700,000—are being underserved by VA, and the agency needs to readjust its outreach and treatment strategies to in order to address their needs. U.S. Medicine

GAO Report States VA Workload for Mental Health Services Could Be Improved.

2010-05-29T07:48:00.000-07:00

VA Health Care: Reporting on Spending and Workload for Mental Health Services Could Be Improved. 05/29/2010. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) provides, or pays for, a range of mental health services for veterans. To effectively manage resources and ensure access to eligible veterans, VA needs complete spending and workload information for mental health services. This information is also important for congressional oversight. GAO was asked to examine VA’s mental health spending and workload. GAO

VA Implements New Onsite Inspections Following Recent Data Breacch

2010-05-29T07:37:00.000-07:00

VA begins on-site audits following data breaches 05/29/2010. The Department of Veterans Affairs began on-site inspections of its contractors' security procedures this week following two recent data breaches that put at risk the financial identities of 4,000 veterans, VA assistant secretary for information and technology Roger Baker said today. Government Health IT

Novel Treatments for Battlefield Injuries and Scars

2010-05-29T07:28:00.000-07:00

Supporting Human Studies Of Novel Treatments For Battlefield Injuries And Scars 05/29/2010. A two-year, $12 million contract with the U.S. Department of Defense Office of Technology Transition (OTT) will jumpstart human trials of three innovative research programs that aim to replace scars and defects with healthy, functional tissues, announced officials of the University of Pittsburgh and the McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine today at the Institute's Second Annual Open Session, Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall, Oakland. University of Pittsburgh Schools of the Health Sciences via Medical News Today

New PubMed Articles 29 May 2010

2010-05-29T07:20:00.000-07:00

"Could I Add Something?": Teaching Communication by Intervening in Real Time During a Clinical Encounter.

Back AL, Arnold RM, Tulsky JA, Baile WF, Edwards K.

Acad Med. 2010 Jun;85(6):1048-1051.PMID: 20505408 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]Related citations

Operative Blood Loss, Blood Transfusion, and 30-Day Mortality in Older Patients After Major Noncardiac Surgery.

Wu WC, Smith TS, Henderson WG, Eaton CB, Poses RM, Uttley G, Mor V, Sharma SC, Vezeridis M, Khuri SF, Friedmann PD.

Ann Surg. 2010 May 25. [Epub ahead of print]PMID: 20505504 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]Related citations

Effect of trajectories of glycemic control on mortality in type 2 diabetes: a semiparametric joint modeling approach.

Gebregziabher M, Egede LE, Lynch CP, Echols C, Zhao Y.

Am J Epidemiol. 2010 May 15;171(10):1090-8. Epub 2010 Apr 27.PMID: 20427326 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]Related citations

Association between blood lead and the risk of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

Fang F, Kwee LC, Allen KD, Umbach DM, Ye W, Watson M, Keller J, Oddone EZ, Sandler DP, Schmidt S, Kamel F.

Am J Epidemiol. 2010 May 15;171(10):1126-33. Epub 2010 Apr 20.PMID: 20406759 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]Related citations