Veterans Affairs News and Research

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Researchers develop first imaging tool to examine myelin damage in MS

Researchers have made an exciting breakthrough - developing a first-of-its-kind imaging tool to examine myelin damage in multiple sclerosis (MS). An extremely difficult disease to diagnose, the tool will help physicians diagnose patients earlier, monitor the disease's progression, and evaluate therapy efficacy.

24 Sep 2013

Experts discuss ways to improve preoperative surgical site cleaning to minimize risk of infection

Infection is the most common complication of surgery and occurs at a rate of 1-15%. A group of experts from the Surgical Infection Society recently convened to discuss how to optimize the preoperative surgical site cleaning done by the patient to minimize the risk of infection.

20 Sep 2013

New blood test accurately differentiates viral and bacterial infections

A blood test developed by researchers at Duke Medicine showed more than 90-percent accuracy in distinguishing between viral and bacterial infections when tested in people with respiratory illnesses.

19 Sep 2013

Patients with pre-existing dementia may experience delirium when hospitalized

More than half of all patients with pre-existing dementia will experience delirium while hospitalized. Failing to detect and treat their delirium early leads to a faster decline of both their physical and mental health, according to health researchers.

17 Sep 2013

Financial incentives only partial solution for hypertension control

Providing financial incentives to general practitioners goes some way toward improving hypertension control in their patients, shows research published in JAMA.

16 Sep 2013

New technique provides better understanding of factors causing Smith-Lemli-Opitz Syndrome

The first proteomic analysis of an animal model of a rare, sometimes deadly birth defect, Smith-Lemli-Opitz Syndrome (SLOS), has revealed that the molecular mechanisms that cause it are more complex than previously understood.

12 Sep 2013

Financial incentives on hypertension care shows increased blood pressure control

In an examination of the effect of financial incentives on hypertension care at 12 outpatient clinics, physician-level (individual) financial incentives, but not practice-level or combined incentives, resulted in greater blood pressure control or appropriate response to uncontrolled blood pressure, according to a study in the September 11 issue of JAMA.

11 Sep 2013

Causes of obesity, insulin resistance tied to fructose generated by the body

Researchers at the University of Colorado School of Medicine reported today that the cause of obesity and insulin resistance may be tied to the fructose your body makes in addition to the fructose you eat.

11 Sep 2013

Researchers discover 4 novel gene variations linked with blood pressure

Case Western Reserve University is part of a landmark study that has discovered four novel gene variations associated with blood pressure. The 19-site meta-analysis, involving nearly 30,000 African-Americans, also found that the set of genetic mutations are also associated with blood pressure across other populations.

11 Sep 2013

For veterans, malpractice payouts reach 12-year high

Christopher Ellison went to a veterans medical center in Philadelphia to get eight teeth extracted in 2007. What should have been a routine dentist visit left him permanently incapacitated.

10 Sep 2013

HHV cleared of all lawsuit charges, continues to help veterans and their families

Help Hospitalized Veterans (HHV), the charitable organization that for more than 42 years has helped in the recovery of wounded, sick or disabled American veterans, announced today that the lawsuit brought by the California attorney general had been settled and that HHV will continue helping veterans reclaim their lives.

7 Sep 2013

Obama administration to provide veterans' same-sex spouses benefits

Attorney General Eric Holder told Congress in a letter that the recent Supreme Court decision clears the way for this change in policy.

6 Sep 2013

Case Western researchers establish Kruppel-like factors as master regulators of vascular health

Case Western Reserve researchers have identified a genetic factor that blocks the blood vessel inflammation that can lead to heart attacks, strokes and other potentially life-threatening events.

5 Sep 2013

Indicators of poor preoperative health predict risk of major medical complications

For older adults undergoing surgery for spinal stenosis, some simple indicators of poor preoperative health predict a high risk of major medical complications, reports a study in the September 1 issue of Spine. The journal is published by Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, a part of Wolters Kluwer Health.

4 Sep 2013

New joint program could improve patient care, physician and staff morale

The common refrain about health care is that it's a broken system. A new joint program between the University of California, Los Angeles and the University of Southern California, demonstrates a way to mend the system with a new patient-centered program that is getting raves from patients, as well as the residents and nurses who provide their care. Results from the program are highlighted in a study being released in September.

3 Sep 2013

Omecamtiv mecarbil fails to achieve primary endpoint in phase II ATOMIC-AHF study

Omecamtiv mecarbil, a cardiac myosin-activator, did not achieve its primary efficacy endpoint in reducing dyspnoea (shortness of breath) in patients with acute heart failure, according to the results of the phase II ATOMIC-AHF (Acute Treatment with Omecamtiv Mecarbil to Increase Contractility in Acute Heart Failure) study.

3 Sep 2013

Research: Male sexual development less stable than other genetic programs

The idea that men and women are fundamentally different from each other is widely accepted. And throughout the world, this has created distinct ideas about which social and physical characteristics are necessary in each gender to maintain healthy human development.

3 Sep 2013

Viewpoints: Rove says job losses growing under health law; GOP strategists say health overhaul is aiding their path to white house; Mich. Senators who opposed Medicaid expansion gave themselves lifetime medical benefits

Thousands of American higher-education administrators will spend part of Labor Day weekend trying to plumb the meaning of the ideas President Obama dropped on them last week to "reform" the American college and university system.

30 Aug 2013

Wal-Mart to offer health benefits to same-sex partners of employees

The nation's largest private employer said it's making the move to have one policy for the entire company, which must otherwise navigate each state's laws regarding civil unions and domestic partnerships.

29 Aug 2013

Pulmonary hypertension may be caused by molecular pathway that damages blood vessels

Pulmonary hypertension, a deadly form of high blood pressure that develops in the lungs, may be caused by an inflammation-producing molecular pathway that damages the inner lining of blood vessels, according to a new study by researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine.

29 Aug 2013

Veterans Affairs News and Research

Researchers develop first imaging tool to examine myelin damage in MS

Experts discuss ways to improve preoperative surgical site cleaning to minimize risk of infection

New blood test accurately differentiates viral and bacterial infections

Patients with pre-existing dementia may experience delirium when hospitalized

Financial incentives only partial solution for hypertension control

New technique provides better understanding of factors causing Smith-Lemli-Opitz Syndrome

Financial incentives on hypertension care shows increased blood pressure control

Causes of obesity, insulin resistance tied to fructose generated by the body

Researchers discover 4 novel gene variations linked with blood pressure

For veterans, malpractice payouts reach 12-year high

HHV cleared of all lawsuit charges, continues to help veterans and their families

Obama administration to provide veterans' same-sex spouses benefits

Case Western researchers establish Kruppel-like factors as master regulators of vascular health

Indicators of poor preoperative health predict risk of major medical complications

New joint program could improve patient care, physician and staff morale

Omecamtiv mecarbil fails to achieve primary endpoint in phase II ATOMIC-AHF study

Research: Male sexual development less stable than other genetic programs

Viewpoints: Rove says job losses growing under health law; GOP strategists say health overhaul is aiding their path to white house; Mich. Senators who opposed Medicaid expansion gave themselves lifetime medical benefits

Wal-Mart to offer health benefits to same-sex partners of employees

Pulmonary hypertension may be caused by molecular pathway that damages blood vessels

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