Veterans Affairs News and Research

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New procedure can shut down irregular heart rhythms

Researchers from UC San Diego, the University of California Los Angeles and Indiana University report having found, for the first time, that atrial fibrillation or irregular heart rhythms is caused by small electrical sources within the heart, in the form of electrical spinning tops ("rotors") or focal beats. Importantly, they found a way of detecting these key sources, then precisely targeting them for therapy that can shut them down in minutes with long lasting results.

19 Jul 2012

Memantine boosts memory function in people with Down syndrome

Researchers at the University of Colorado School of Medicine have found a drug that boosts memory function in those with Down syndrome, a major milestone in the treatment of this genetic disorder that could significantly improve quality of life.

18 Jul 2012

Many bipolar patients unaware of co-occurring medical conditions

Co-occurring medical conditions are common among patients with bipolar disorder, but many may not be aware that they have such conditions, say researchers.

12 Jul 2012

Researchers identify set of laboratory-based biomarkers that aid in diagnosis of schizophrenia

In the current online issue of PLoS ONE, researchers at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine say they have identified a set of laboratory-based biomarkers that can be useful for understanding brain-based abnormalities in schizophrenia. The measurements, known as endophenotypes, could ultimately be a boon to clinicians who sometimes struggle to recognize and treat the complex and confounding mental disorder.

12 Jul 2012

Mindfulness techniques show health benefits

Specific types of "mindfulness practices" including Zen meditation have research-proven benefits for patients with certain physical and mental health problems, according to a report in the July Journal of Psychiatric Practice.

12 Jul 2012

Study details development of first mouse model for Usher syndrome III

A new study published in the July 11 issue of the Journal of Neuroscience details the development of the first mouse model engineered to carry the most common mutation in Usher syndrome III causative gene (Clarin-1) in North America.

11 Jul 2012

Prolonged exposure to high-fat diets reduces quality of sleep in rats

Research to be presented at the Annual Meeting of the Society for the Study of Ingestive Behavior (SSIB), the foremost society for research into all aspects of eating and drinking behavior, finds that prolonged exposure to a high-fat diet reduces the quality of sleep in rats.

10 Jul 2012

A little exercise per day keeps hypertension away

Researchers have found evidence that shows exercise intensity mediates the progression from prehypertension to hypertension.

9 Jul 2012

Researchers describe inflammatory mechanism of sunburn

The biological mechanism of sunburn - the reddish, painful, protective immune response from ultraviolet (UV) radiation - is a consequence of RNA damage to skin cells, report researchers at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine and elsewhere in the July 8, 2012 Advance Online Publication of Nature Medicine.

9 Jul 2012

Research roundup: Crowded emergency departments, expensive HIV drugs, high deductible insurance plans

Skin In The Game: How Consumer-Directed Plans Affect The Cost And Use Of Health Care -- Consumer-directed health plans, which feature lower premiums and higher deductibles than traditional plans, are designed to reduce costs by discouraging unnecessary care. This brief describes a study of more than 800,000 households that switched from a traditional employer-based plan to a consumer-based plan.

7 Jul 2012

Obesity epidemic requires new focus on controlling energy balance and preventing weight gain

As the United States confronts the growing epidemic of obesity among children and adults, a team of University of Colorado School of Medicine obesity researchers concludes that what the nation needs is a new battle plan - one that replaces the emphasis on widespread food restriction and weight loss with an emphasis on helping people achieve "energy balance" at a healthy body weight.

4 Jul 2012

Viewpoints: Both parties swinging for the fences on health law decision; GOP once supported universal care; Sarah Palin's latest 'whopper'

The ruling by the Supreme Court to uphold most of the health law has put the controversy squarely back on the parties' agendas for the November elections.

2 Jul 2012

Site of care linked to racial imaging disparities in stroke

Patients with stroke are less likely to undergo carotid artery imaging if they are treated at a hospital that serves a population with a high proportion of minority ethnicities, say researchers.

2 Jul 2012

Family history influences age at prodrome and psychosis onset

A family history of psychosis is associated with an earlier age at onset of both prodromal symptoms and full-blown psychosis, US research shows.

28 Jun 2012

Roundup: Conn. budget chair threatens governor on health care cuts; Report faults Pa. on Medicaid monitoring

The House chairwoman of the legislature's budget panel threatened Tuesday to scuttle new restrictions on health care for the poor sought by Gov. Dannel P. Malloy's administration after learning patients were warned of changes before they had been enacted. Rep. Toni Walker, D-New Haven, who not only co-chairs the Appropriations Committee, but also an advisory panel conducting a hearing Tuesday on the changes, charged the Department of Social Services with overstepping its bounds.

28 Jun 2012

BPI clinical study to evaluate computerized, brain-plasticity-based program for schizophrenia

Researchers at San Francisco-based Brain Plasticity, Inc. (BPI) have begun a multi-center study to evaluate the effects of a computerized, brain-plasticity-based program designed to address the cognitive issues associated with schizophrenia.

28 Jun 2012

Federal government makes $13 billion in duplicative payments to veterans

A new study published today in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) found that the federal government made about $13 billion in duplicative payments to provide health-care services to veterans who were simultaneously enrolled in Medicare Advantage plans from 2004-2009.

27 Jun 2012

Safe vitamin D treatment without raising calcium levels

Patients with a gland disorder that causes excessive calcium in their blood who also have vitamin D deficiency can safely receive vitamin D treatment without it raising their calcium levels, a new study has determined. The results with one-year follow-up will be presented Tuesday at The Endocrine Society's 94th Annual Meeting in Houston.

27 Jun 2012

Two major organizations partner in new vendor-neutral health IT innovation network

Two major non-commercial health information technology organizations are working together in a new vendor-neutral health IT innovation network designed to stimulate development of new ideas and shorten the time required to bring new solutions into practice.

27 Jun 2012

VA encourages all veterans to be tested for HIV at least once in their life time

The Department of Veterans Affairs is encouraging all Veterans to be tested for HIV at least once in their lives.

27 Jun 2012

Veterans Affairs News and Research

New procedure can shut down irregular heart rhythms

Memantine boosts memory function in people with Down syndrome

Many bipolar patients unaware of co-occurring medical conditions

Researchers identify set of laboratory-based biomarkers that aid in diagnosis of schizophrenia

Mindfulness techniques show health benefits

Study details development of first mouse model for Usher syndrome III

Prolonged exposure to high-fat diets reduces quality of sleep in rats

A little exercise per day keeps hypertension away

Researchers describe inflammatory mechanism of sunburn

Research roundup: Crowded emergency departments, expensive HIV drugs, high deductible insurance plans

Obesity epidemic requires new focus on controlling energy balance and preventing weight gain

Viewpoints: Both parties swinging for the fences on health law decision; GOP once supported universal care; Sarah Palin's latest 'whopper'

Site of care linked to racial imaging disparities in stroke

Family history influences age at prodrome and psychosis onset

Roundup: Conn. budget chair threatens governor on health care cuts; Report faults Pa. on Medicaid monitoring

BPI clinical study to evaluate computerized, brain-plasticity-based program for schizophrenia

Federal government makes $13 billion in duplicative payments to veterans

Safe vitamin D treatment without raising calcium levels

Two major organizations partner in new vendor-neutral health IT innovation network

VA encourages all veterans to be tested for HIV at least once in their life time

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