Red Wine and Green Tea Combination Fight Prostate Cancer

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

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

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

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

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

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

1.

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

2.

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

3.

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

4.

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

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

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

1.

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

2.

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

3.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

1.

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

2.

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

3.

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

4.

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

5.

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]

6.

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

7.

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

8.

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

9.

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