Veterans Affairs News and Research

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Eliminating ABCB5-expressing cells crucial for successful colorectal cancer treatment

Researchers at Children's Hospital Boston have found a marker called ABCB5 that both tags a small proportion of cells within colorectal cancers and fuels resistance in those cells to standard treatments. The results indicate that eliminating ABCB5-expressing cells is crucial for successful colorectal cancer treatment, while adding to the growing body of evidence for a theory of cancer growth called the cancer stem cell hypothesis.

9 Jun 2011

University of Maryland School of Pharmacy to host National Leadership Roundtable on June 9

With a collective eye on ongoing health care reform efforts, the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy on June 9 will be hosting a timely and wide-ranging National Leadership Roundtable on how an expanded role for pharmacists is improving health outcomes and health care expenditures in communities nationwide.

8 Jun 2011

Women may be as resilient to combat-related stress as men

In what is believed to be the first published study on the topic, researchers affiliated with the Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM) believe female military service-members from Operation Enduring Freedom OEF)/Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) may be as resilient to combat-related stress as men. These findings currently appear on-line in the Journal of Abnormal Psychology.

8 Jun 2011

Apple peel reduces muscle atrophy and promotes muscle growth in mice

For Popeye, spinach was the key to extra muscle. For the mice in a new University of Iowa study, it was apples, or more precisely a waxy substance called ursolic acid that's found in apple peel.

8 Jun 2011

Key heart failure therapies could prevent nearly 68,000 deaths each year

A national study has found that nearly 68,000 deaths potentially could be prevented each year by optimally implementing key national guideline-recommended therapies, including critical medications and cardiac devices, for all eligible heart failure patients.

7 Jun 2011

New targeted therapy may halt tumor growth in men with advanced prostate cancer

A new targeted therapy for prostate cancer halts tumor growth in animals with advanced prostate cancer that is resistant to hormone therapy, a new study finds. The results will be presented Saturday at The Endocrine Society's 93rd Annual Meeting in Boston.

6 Jun 2011

Older veterans with stroke can benefit from yoga

An Indiana University study that exposed older veterans with stroke to yoga produced "exciting" results as researchers explore whether this popular mind-body practice can help stroke victims cope with their increased risk for painful and even deadly falls.

6 Jun 2011

Scientists find way to protect kidney from cancer drug toxicity

Scientists may have a way to make the powerful cancer drug cisplatin less toxic to the kidneys and more effective against some cancers.

4 Jun 2011

Study investigates challenges that paper, computer workarounds pose to use of electronic health records

A new research study investigates the challenges that pen and paper workarounds or computerized communication breakdowns pose to the use of electronic health records. Understanding these challenges may lead to improved coordination of care supported by health IT.

4 Jun 2011

Transcendental Meditation reduces symptoms of PTSD in veterans just within 8 weeks

Veterans of the Iraq/Afghanistan wars showed a 50 percent reduction in their symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after just eight weeks of practicing the stress-reducing Transcendental Meditation technique, according to a pilot study published in the June 2011 issue of Military Medicine.

2 Jun 2011

Scans, hospital infections at heart of new quality issues

A new diagnostic imaging test that can detect plaque in the arteries of the heart is not an efficient tool for screening people not experiencing symptoms of heart disease, a recent study found.

1 Jun 2011

Some Veterans' health jeopardized due to poor infection control

Herman Williams came home safely after fighting in the jungles of Vietnam as a Marine. He was shocked to learn four decades later that his military service had again placed him in jeopardy — this time, because he got a tooth pulled. Williams is among 13,000 U.S. veterans who have been warned in the last two years that their blood should be tested for potentially fatal infections after possible exposures by improper hygiene practices at five VA hospitals in Ohio, Florida, Georgia, Missouri and Tennessee.

31 May 2011

Recombinant partners with U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs in genomic research program

Recombinant Data Corp., a Massachusetts-based healthcare data warehousing and clinical intelligence solutions provider, today announced its continued contributions to innovative IT tools for clinical research, through the company's key role in the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs' Million Veteran Program (MVP).

27 May 2011

Leukemia, psoriasis drugs may treat vascular diseases

A drug that has been on the market for decades to treat leukemia and skin disorders such as acne and psoriasis may be a possible therapy for vascular diseases, including atherosclerosis and hypertension, which can lead to heart attack or stroke.

27 May 2011

Defense, VA wrestle with health record system

Members of a Senate committee expressed concern Wednesday that reforms taken by the departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs have done little to cut the maze of bureaucracy experienced by many service members and veterans trying to navigate the military health-care system.

27 May 2011

First Edition: May 26, 2011

"If 60 Plus' goal was to inoculate Corwin from attacks on the Medicare issue, the effort failed badly. Corwin was beaten soundly by Democratic opponent Kathy Hochul, partly because of voter fears about House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan's proposal to sharply transform Medicare".

26 May 2011

Researchers propose 'advance directives' for driving

Researchers studying driving habits and accident rates among the elderly found a majority surveyed supported mandatory retesting of drivers based on age while saying they would hand over the keys if a doctor or loved one said they were no longer fit to drive.

26 May 2011

Probiotic bacterial protein could offer new oral therapeutic option for inflammatory bowel disorders

A protein isolated from beneficial bacteria found in yogurt and dairy products could offer a new, oral therapeutic option for inflammatory bowel disorders, suggests a study led by Vanderbilt University Medical Center researcher Fang Yan, M.D., Ph.D.

24 May 2011

Scientists discover genetic regions that affect severity of cystic fibrosis

A team of international researchers, including Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, have discovered regions of the genome that affect the severity of the genetic disease cystic fibrosis, the most common lethal genetic disease affecting children in North America.

24 May 2011

UM Board of Regents approves $13.7M renovation project for new health care policy institute

A new health care policy institute – one that is expected to become one of the largest of its kind in the nation – will be established at the University of Michigan's North Campus Research Complex.

21 May 2011

Veterans Affairs News and Research

Eliminating ABCB5-expressing cells crucial for successful colorectal cancer treatment

University of Maryland School of Pharmacy to host National Leadership Roundtable on June 9

Women may be as resilient to combat-related stress as men

Apple peel reduces muscle atrophy and promotes muscle growth in mice

Key heart failure therapies could prevent nearly 68,000 deaths each year

New targeted therapy may halt tumor growth in men with advanced prostate cancer

Older veterans with stroke can benefit from yoga

Scientists find way to protect kidney from cancer drug toxicity

Study investigates challenges that paper, computer workarounds pose to use of electronic health records

Transcendental Meditation reduces symptoms of PTSD in veterans just within 8 weeks

Scans, hospital infections at heart of new quality issues

Some Veterans' health jeopardized due to poor infection control

Recombinant partners with U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs in genomic research program

Leukemia, psoriasis drugs may treat vascular diseases

Defense, VA wrestle with health record system

First Edition: May 26, 2011

Researchers propose 'advance directives' for driving

Probiotic bacterial protein could offer new oral therapeutic option for inflammatory bowel disorders

Scientists discover genetic regions that affect severity of cystic fibrosis

UM Board of Regents approves $13.7M renovation project for new health care policy institute

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