Veterans Affairs News and Research

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No significant difference between safety-net, non-safety-net hospitals in emergency patient's length of stay

Time can be important in an emergency department especially in a busy Level 1 Trauma Center like MetroHealth Medical Center in Cleveland, when getting patients appropriate care is essential. However, when the quality of an emergency department is judged by a patient's length of stay, time takes on a new meaning.

1 Feb 2012

Potential way to block second wave of death from pneumonia treatment

An international research team may have found a way to block a second wave of death that can result from pneumonia treatment.

1 Feb 2012

Certain strains of P. aeruginosa cause WBCs to produce high levels of histamine

Could some cases of asthma actually be caused by an allergic reaction to a common environmental bacteria? New research findings published in the Journal of Leukocyte Biology suggests that this idea may not be as far-fetched as it seems. In a research report appearing in the February 2012 print issue, researchers show a link between common environmental bacteria and airway inflammation.

1 Feb 2012

Crizotinib can treat ROS1-driven tumors

A report from investigators at the Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) Cancer Center has defined the role of a recently identified gene abnormality in a deadly form of lung cancer. Tumors driven by rearrangements in the ROS1 gene represent 1 to 2 percent of non-small-cell lung cancers (NSCLC), the leading cause of cancer death in the U.S.

1 Feb 2012

Most young people do not receive emergency mental health assessment after deliberate self-harm

A national study of Medicaid data shows most young people who present to emergency departments with deliberate self-harm are discharged to the community, without receiving an emergency mental health assessment.

1 Feb 2012

Study takes a closer look at high fructose corn syrup and table sugar

With growing concern that excessive levels of fructose may pose a great health risk - causing high blood pressure, kidney disease and diabetes - researchers at the University of Colorado School of Medicine, along with their colleagues at the University of Florida, set out to see if two common sweeteners in western diets differ in their effects on the body in the first few hours after ingestion.

24 Jan 2012

First lady praises academic institutions for dedication to America's warriors

As part of a White House effort to ensure that America's military heroes receive care worthy of their service, the UCLA Health System and the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA have pledged to mobilize their uniquely integrated missions in education, research and clinical care to help train physicians to meet the special needs of veterans, active service members and their families.

20 Jan 2012

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

Veterans Affairs News and Research

No significant difference between safety-net, non-safety-net hospitals in emergency patient's length of stay

Potential way to block second wave of death from pneumonia treatment

Certain strains of P. aeruginosa cause WBCs to produce high levels of histamine

Crizotinib can treat ROS1-driven tumors

Most young people do not receive emergency mental health assessment after deliberate self-harm

Study takes a closer look at high fructose corn syrup and table sugar

First lady praises academic institutions for dedication to America's warriors

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

How Omics Technologies Are Transforming Biological Research and Drug Discovery

How microplastics and bacteria interact to drive antibiotic resistance

Single-cell proteomics: Revealing proteome diversity from cellular heterogeneity to non-canonical biology

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