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UMMS assistant professor recognized with Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers

University of Massachusetts Medical School Assistant Professor Thomas G. Fazzio, PhD, was recognized as a rising scientific star by President Obama with a Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers.

9 Jan 2014

Implantation of sleep apnea device can lead to improvements for patients with OSA

Implantation of a sleep apnea device called Inspire- Upper Airway Stimulation therapy can lead to significant improvements for patients with obstructive sleep apnea, according to a study published today in the New England Journal of Medicine.

9 Jan 2014

MicroRNA biomarker shows promise in predicting treatment response of ovarian cancer

Researchers at Case Western Reserve University have identified a microRNA biomarker that shows promise in predicting treatment response in the most common form of ovarian cancer - a breakthrough that has the potential to improve outcomes for patients with the disease.

9 Jan 2014

Study finds significant decline of MRSA infections in VA long-term care facilities

Four years after implementing a national initiative to reduce methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus rates in Veterans Affairs long-term care facilities, MRSA infections have declined significantly, according to a study in the January issue of the American Journal of Infection Control, the official publication of the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology.

7 Jan 2014

Study: Alpha tocepherol, fat-soluble vitamin E, antioxidant may slow functional decline in AD patients

Difficulty with activities of daily living often affect Alzheimer's patients, which is estimated to affect as many as 5.1 million Americans. These issues are among the most taxing burdens of the disease for caregivers, which total about 5.4 million family members and friends.

1 Jan 2014

Patients with Medicaid insurance seek care in emergency department due to lack of alternatives

A study from the University of Colorado School of Medicine shows patients with Medicaid insurance seeking care in an emergency department may be driven by lack of alternatives instead of the severity of their illness. The study is published in the Journal of General Internal Medicine.

31 Dec 2013

Viewpoints: Impact of 'meddling with' health law; antibiotics on farms; 'Let thirtysomethings' join Medicare

[A]ll of these last-minute policy shifts confuse people who were already struggling to understand a complex new system, ... The cumulative effect is that at least some people - we hope not many - will misunderstand their responsibilities under the law or be deterred from seeking coverage. The biggest danger is that the Obama administration is encouraging politicians to meddle in the health-care system every time a few vocal constituents get upset about its requirements (12/21).

24 Dec 2013

Changes to LZTR1 gene predispose people to develop schwannomas

Changes to a gene called LZTR1 predispose people to develop a rare disorder where multiple tumors called schwannomas form near nerve pathways, according to a study published today in the journal Nature Genetics and led by researchers from the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

24 Dec 2013

Six common diseases arise from DNA changes, finds new research

Many rare disorders are caused by gene mutation, like sickle cell anemia. Yet until now the underlying genetic cause of more common conditions - for example, rheumatoid arthritis - has evaded scientists for years.

22 Dec 2013

Studies offer new insight into diverticulosis

Diverticulosis, a condition that develops when pouches form in the wall of the colon, is increasing in frequency. It affects the majority of those reaching the age of 80 - a growing portion of the population - and imposes a substantial burden on health-care resources, but curiously there is a lack of data and unanswered questions around this condition.

18 Dec 2013

New regulations could improve vets' access to care for some traumatic brain injuries

The Department of Veterans Affairs has approved new regulations to make it easier for veterans to receive health care and compensation for certain illnesses, including Parkinsonism, dementia, and depression, which have been linked to traumatic brain injury

17 Dec 2013

First Edition: December 16, 2013

Today's headlines include findings from an Associated Press poll probing Americans thoughts about the health law.

16 Dec 2013

Research roundup: Long-term care use varies dramatically by state; health spending slowdown explained

In 2012, about 58,500 paid, regulated long-term care services providers served about 8 million people in the United States. Long-term care services were provided by 4,800 adult day services centers, 12,200 home health agencies, 3,700 hospices, 15,700 nursing homes, and 22,200 assisted living and similar residential care communities. Each day in 2012, there were 273,200 participants enrolled in adult day services centers, 1,383,700 residents in nursing homes, and 713,300 residents in residential care communities; in 2011, about 4,742,500 patients received services from home health agencies, and 1,244,500 patients received services from hospices. Provider sectors differed in ownership, and average size and supply varied by region (Harris-Kojetin et al., 12/12).

16 Dec 2013

U.S. Marines investigate association between traumatic brain injury and risk of PTSD

In a novel study of U.S. Marines investigating the association between traumatic brain injury (TBI) and the risk of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) over time, a team of scientists led by researchers from the Veterans Affairs San Diego Healthcare System and University of California, San Diego School of Medicine report that TBIs suffered during active-duty deployment to Iraq and Afghanistan were the greatest predictor for subsequent PTSD, but found pre-deployment PTSD symptoms and high combat intensity were also significant factors.

12 Dec 2013

Researchers may have figured out ways to attack Meniere's disease

Researchers at University of Colorado School of Medicine may have figured out what causes Meniere's disease and how to attack it. According to Carol Foster, MD, from the department of otolaryngology and Robert Breeze, MD, a neurosurgeon, there is a strong association between Meniere's disease and conditions involving temporary low blood flow in the brain such as migraine headaches.

7 Dec 2013

Quadriplegics have heightened risk of central sleep apnea

There are over a million people with spinal cord injuries in the United States alone with an estimated 11,000 new cases every year. Furthermore, it is estimated that there are, at least, 100,000 veterans with SCI, making the VA the largest integrated health care system in the world for SCI care. But despite this large prevalence, researchers are still discovering all the various ways that SCI affect those with this condition beyond the obvious paralysis.

6 Dec 2013

Research show that risk of diverticulosis is lower than previously thought

People who have diverticulosis, or pouches in the lining of the colon, often worry that they will eventually develop a painful and sometimes serious condition called diverticulitis, as previous research has shown that one in four, or up to 25 percent, of those with the condition will.

3 Dec 2013

Newly identified protein could prove promising new drug target for AIDS

Researchers have identified a protein that causes loss of function in immune cells combatting HIV. The scientists report in a paper appearing online Dec. 2 in the Journal of Clinical Investigation that the protein, Sprouty-2, is a promising target for future HIV drug development, since disabling it could help restore the cells' ability to combat the virus that causes AIDS.

2 Dec 2013

Long-term untreated PTSD symptoms may increase risk of cardiovascular health

There is growing concern that long-term untreated posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms may increase the risk of developing a number of medical problems, particularly compromised cardiovascular health.

2 Dec 2013

Lockheed Martin donates funds to new telehealth suite dedicated for wounded warriors

Thanks to a $4 million gift from Lockheed Martin, UCLA Health System's Operation Mend now has a state-of-the-art telehealth suite, which will enable improved communication between the program's personnel, patients and partners, and a renovated recovery area for the wounded warriors who undergo surgery at the Westwood facility.

26 Nov 2013

Veterans Affairs News and Research

UMMS assistant professor recognized with Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers

Implantation of sleep apnea device can lead to improvements for patients with OSA

MicroRNA biomarker shows promise in predicting treatment response of ovarian cancer

Study finds significant decline of MRSA infections in VA long-term care facilities

Study: Alpha tocepherol, fat-soluble vitamin E, antioxidant may slow functional decline in AD patients

Patients with Medicaid insurance seek care in emergency department due to lack of alternatives

Viewpoints: Impact of 'meddling with' health law; antibiotics on farms; 'Let thirtysomethings' join Medicare

Changes to LZTR1 gene predispose people to develop schwannomas

Six common diseases arise from DNA changes, finds new research

Studies offer new insight into diverticulosis

New regulations could improve vets' access to care for some traumatic brain injuries

First Edition: December 16, 2013

Research roundup: Long-term care use varies dramatically by state; health spending slowdown explained

U.S. Marines investigate association between traumatic brain injury and risk of PTSD

Researchers may have figured out ways to attack Meniere's disease

Quadriplegics have heightened risk of central sleep apnea

Research show that risk of diverticulosis is lower than previously thought

Newly identified protein could prove promising new drug target for AIDS

Long-term untreated PTSD symptoms may increase risk of cardiovascular health

Lockheed Martin donates funds to new telehealth suite dedicated for wounded warriors

Industry Focus eBook - Cell & Gene Therapy (1st Edition) eBook

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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