Veterans Affairs News and Research

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Women aged 67 years with normal bone mineral density may not need screening again for 15 years

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force and other organizations have recommended that women ages 65 and older be routinely screened for osteoporosis using bone mineral density (BMD) screening. However, how often women should be screened is a topic that remains controversial and undecided, with no definitive scientific evidence to provide guidance.

19 Jan 2012

Study finds high hospital-patient acceptability of nurse-delivered SBIRT

The U.S. Joint Commission recently approved new hospital accreditation measures related to alcohol screening, brief intervention, and referral to treatment (SBIRT) for all hospitalized patients. Yet little is known about the effectiveness of brief interventions (BIs) or inpatient acceptability of SBIRT when performed by healthcare professionals other than physicians. A new study has found high hospital-patient acceptability of and comfort with nurse-delivered SBIRT.

17 Jan 2012

Collaborative behavioral management may be effective in reducing abuse among paroled marijuana users

A study from Rhode Island Hospital has found that collaborative behavioral management may be effective in reducing substance abuse among convicted marijuana users who are paroled. The findings have important implications for the management of a substantial proportion of the U.S. community correctional population.

11 Jan 2012

Tobacco more harmful to lungs than marijuana

A large-scale national study suggests low to moderate use of marijuana is less harmful to users' lungs than exposure to tobacco, even though the two substances contain many of the same components. This comprehensive study, led by UCSF and University of Alabama at Birmingham, collected data from more than 5,000 U.S. adults for more than 20 years.

11 Jan 2012

Older women with significant height loss at increased risk for broken bones and death

Older women who have lost more than two inches in height face an increased risk of breaking bones and dying, according to a new study published in the January issue of the Journal of Bone and Mineral Research and funded by the National Institutes of Health.

11 Jan 2012

Health IT spending set to grow

With money tight, congressional appropriators rarely insist that agencies spend money. Yet the omnibus spending bill passed Dec. 17 approved $100 million for a joint Pentagon and Department of Veterans Affairs effort to develop digital medical records - even though they missed deadlines for requesting the money.

10 Jan 2012

First Edition: January 9, 2012

Today's early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including reports about the government's health law defense and the weekend's GOP presidential primary debates.

9 Jan 2012

Study to determine user experience for several popular functions of My HealtheVet

Although personal health records are now securely accessible online to a large and growing number of individuals, little research has been conducted on opinions about their ease of use.

6 Jan 2012

Shorter Chk1 protein neutralizes longer sibling to potentially benefit cancer patients

Scientists have found at least one instance when the smaller sibling gets to call the shots and cancer patients may one day benefit.

4 Jan 2012

Hydrogen sulfide decreases manufacture of kidney scarring matrix proteins

Hydrogen sulfide, a gas notorious for its rotten-egg smell, may have redeeming qualities after all. It reduces high glucose-induced production of scarring proteins in kidney cells, researchers from The University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio report in the Journal of Biological Chemistry.

4 Jan 2012

Researchers evaluate sexual activity and satisfaction in older women

A new study of sexually active older women has found that sexual satisfaction in women increases with age and those not engaging in sex are satisfied with their sex lives. A majority of study participants report frequent arousal and orgasm that continue into old age, despite low sexual desire.

3 Jan 2012

Research roundup: Unraveling why elderly men are tested for prostate cancer; Difficulty paying medical bills

Medical Center Characteristics Associated With PSA Screenings In Elderly Veterans With Limited Life Expectancy -- Medical guidelines recommend against prostate-specific antigen (PSA) screenings for prostate cancer in men with limited life expectancy, but studies have shown that many elderly men still get the test.

23 Dec 2011

$First study to explore impact of crowding on children with fracture-related pain$

First study to explore impact of crowding on children with fracture-related pain

Crowding in hospital emergency departments has led to a decrease in the timely and effective use of pain medication in children suffering acute long bone fractures, according to a new study by the University of Colorado School of Medicine.

23 Dec 2011

CWRU receives NIDDK grant to study role of innate immunity in IBD

Investigators at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine received a $6.75 million Program Project Grant from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) to study the role of innate immunity in inflammatory bowel disease.

21 Dec 2011

LFA praises Congress for vital lupus funding in Fiscal Year 2012 Omnibus Appropriations Bill

The Lupus Foundation of America (LFA) applauds Congress for including vital lupus funding in the Fiscal Year 2012 Omnibus Appropriations Bill, which passed today, Saturday, December 17.

19 Dec 2011

Certain measures of kidney health may predict who is likely to die prematurely

Certain measures of kidney health may predict who is likely to die prematurely, according to a study appearing in an upcoming issue of the Journal of the American Society Nephrology.

16 Dec 2011

New approaches can improve cancer care delivery

Physicians can use medical records to track the quality of cancer care and determine whether their patients are receiving the right treatments at the right time. Yet the patient is the only one who ultimately can evaluate the quality of his or her experience while receiving treatment.

15 Dec 2011

Mandatory screening helps identify more athletes with SCT

In response to a lawsuit after a college football player died from complications due to sickle cell trait (SCT) during a workout, the NCAA implemented mandatory SCT screening of all Division I student-athletes.

14 Dec 2011

Brain atrophy is evident in Parkinson's patients with MCI

Atrophy in the hippocampus, the region of the brain known for memory formation and storage, is evident in Parkinson's disease (PD) patients with cognitive impairment, including early decline known as mild cognitive impairment (MCI), according to a study by researchers in the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania.

13 Dec 2011

Intertwined diseases may both contribute to cognitive decline in Parkinson's

A method of classifying brain atrophy patterns in Alzheimer's disease patients using MRIs can also detect cognitive decline in Parkinson's disease, according to a new study by researchers from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. Researchers also found that higher baseline Alzheimer's patterns of atrophy predicted long-term cognitive decline in cognitively normal Parkinson's patients.

13 Dec 2011

Veterans Affairs News and Research

Women aged 67 years with normal bone mineral density may not need screening again for 15 years

Study finds high hospital-patient acceptability of nurse-delivered SBIRT

Collaborative behavioral management may be effective in reducing abuse among paroled marijuana users

Tobacco more harmful to lungs than marijuana

Older women with significant height loss at increased risk for broken bones and death

Health IT spending set to grow

First Edition: January 9, 2012

Study to determine user experience for several popular functions of My HealtheVet

Shorter Chk1 protein neutralizes longer sibling to potentially benefit cancer patients

Hydrogen sulfide decreases manufacture of kidney scarring matrix proteins

Researchers evaluate sexual activity and satisfaction in older women

Research roundup: Unraveling why elderly men are tested for prostate cancer; Difficulty paying medical bills

First study to explore impact of crowding on children with fracture-related pain

CWRU receives NIDDK grant to study role of innate immunity in IBD

LFA praises Congress for vital lupus funding in Fiscal Year 2012 Omnibus Appropriations Bill

Certain measures of kidney health may predict who is likely to die prematurely

New approaches can improve cancer care delivery

Mandatory screening helps identify more athletes with SCT

Brain atrophy is evident in Parkinson's patients with MCI

Intertwined diseases may both contribute to cognitive decline in Parkinson's

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