Vanguard Episode: War Crimes

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

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

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

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

1.

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

2.

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

3.

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

4.

Percutaneous intervention of Cabrol graft-left main anastomosis during acute myocardial infarction.

Hoskins MH, Kacharava AG, Green TF, Mavromatis K; Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Decatur, GA.

Int J Cardiol. 2010 Apr 15;140(2):e27-9. Epub 2008 Dec 24.PMID: 19108906 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]Related citations

5.

Preoperative coronary artery revascularization and long-term outcomes following abdominal aortic vascular surgery in patients with abnormal myocardial perfusion scans: A sub-group analysis of the CARP trial.

Garcia S, Rider JE, Moritz TE, Pierpont G, Goldman S, Larsen GC, Shunk K, Littooy F, Santilli S, Rapp J, Reda DJ, Ward HB, McFalls EO.

Catheter Cardiovasc Interv. 2010 Jul 2. [Epub ahead of print]PMID: 20602474 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]Related citations

6.

Pilot weight control intervention among US veterans to promote diets high in fruits and vegetables.

Allicock M, Ko L, der Sterren EV, Valle CG, Campbell MK, Carr C.

Prev Med. 2010 Jun 22. [Epub ahead of print]PMID: 20600260 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]Related citations

7.

Continuous administration of a selective alpha7 nicotinic partial agonist, DMXBA, improves sensory inhibition without causing tachyphylaxis or receptor upregulation in DBA/2 mice.

Stevens KE, Cornejo B, Adams CE, Zheng L, Yonchek J, Hoffman KL, Christians U, Kem WR.

Brain Res. 2010 Jul 2. [Epub ahead of print]PMID: 20599427 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]Related citations

8.

The trials and tribulations of enrolling couples in a randomized, controlled trial: A self-management program for hyperlipidemia as a model.

Voils CI, Yancy WS Jr, Weinberger M, Bolton J, Coffman CJ, Jeffreys A, Oddone EZ, Bosworth HB.

Patient Educ Couns. 2010 Jul 2. [Epub ahead of print]PMID: 20599337 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]Related citations

9.

Screening for mild traumatic brain injury in the presence of psychiatric comorbidities.

Chapman JC, Andersen AM, Roselli LA, Meyers NM, Pincus JH.

Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2010 Jul;91(7):1082-6.PMID: 20599047 [PubMed - in process]Related citations

10.

Service utilization during and after outpatient treatment for comorbid substance use disorder and depression.

Worley MJ, Trim RS, Tate SR, Hall JE, Brown SA.

J Subst Abuse Treat. 2010 Jul 2. [Epub ahead of print]PMID: 20598832 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]Related citations

11.

Insomnia Severity Is Associated with a Decreased Volume of the CA3/Dentate Gyrus Hippocampal Subfield.

Neylan TC, Mueller SG, Wang Z, Metzler TJ, Lenoci M, Truran D, Marmar CR, Weiner MW, Schuff N.

Biol Psychiatry. 2010 Jul 1. [Epub ahead of print]PMID: 20598672 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]Related citations

12.

Nurses' identification of important yet under-utilized end-of-life care skills for patients with life-limiting or terminal illnesses.

Reinke LF, Shannon SE, Engelberg R, Dotolo D, Silvestri GA, Curtis JR.

J Palliat Med. 2010 Jun;13(6):753-9.PMID: 20597709 [PubMed - in process]Related citations

13.

Increasing poisoning mortality rates in the United States, 1999-2006.

Bohnert AS, Fudalej S, Ilgen MA.

Public Health Rep. 2010 Jul-Aug;125(4):542-7.PMID: 20597454 [PubMed - in process]Related citations

14.

Recurrent herpes simplex virus type 2 meningitis in elderly persons.

Davis LE, Guerre J, Gerstein WH.

Arch Neurol. 2010 Jun;67(6):759-60. Review.PMID: 20558398 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]Related citations

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

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

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

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

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."

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

1.

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

2.

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]

3.

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

4.

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

5.

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

6.

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

7.

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

8.

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

9.

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

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

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

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

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