VA Research Currents -- Newsletter for the Office of Research & Development

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VA Research Currents

VA Research Currents is produced 8 to 10 times per year by the Office of Research and Development of the Department of Veterans Affairs. The newsletter provides stakeholders of VA research with news about research results, new initiatives, major awards, research funding, and other matters of interest.

To be added to the print or email mailing list for VA Research Currents, or to receive bulk copies for distribution at a VA medical center or clinic, please email varesearchcurrents@va.gov or call 410-962-1800, x252.

March-April, 2012 In this issue: -Buddy system: African American Veterans with diabetes benefit from peer mentor program, -Study: 'Mantram' meditation eases PTSD -Flying high with diabetes: Story of a peer mentor -Seeking the 'optimal dose' for seniors? weightlifting -What makes Navy SEALs tick? Study suggests key to stress control -Men, women equally likely to use VA homeless services	- View online - Download the PDF
February, 2012 In this issue: Probing war’s effects on women; Study highlights effective route to employment for Veterans with PTSD; Inside PTSD: VA researcher’s book offers compelling account through Veterans’ stories; Stopping tumors by cutting off their blood supply; In pilot study, Veterans with PTSD and traumatic brain injury benefit from prolonged exposure therapy; Marijuana less harmful than tobacco—at least to lungs	- View online - Download the PDF
December-January, 2012 In this issue: Handling data from the Million Veteran Program is the health informatics challenge of an era; Brain studies sort out physical, emotional scars of war; Shorter drug regimen could help eradicate TB; Lab scientists pay close attention to biological gaps between the species; VA-led study on police points to stress biomarker	- View online - Download the PDF
October-November, 2011 In this issue: Can Vitamin D slow prostate cancer?; Exploring insulin's role in Alzheimer’s disease; Research on schizophrenia genes spans oceans; 'ACT' psychotherapy effective for pain; 'Cav-1' protein spurs brain-cell growth; Gulf War follow-up tracks health changes; Clinical trial: Copper in hospital rooms kills germs; Gene variant found to double rate of mental decline; Four VA researchers receive presidential award	- View online - Download the PDF
September, 2011 In this issue: Mind over matter: Mindfulness program helps Veterans cope with potentially debilitating gut disorder; The quest for lung cancer biomarkers; VA study applies 'natural language' technology to electronic medical records to find post-surgery complications; Blood exchange between young, old mice rejuvenates the brain; New artificial lung design mimics structure of natural organ; Career milestones: Kathryn Magruder, PhD, MPH; Daniel Anaya, MD; Robert Henry‚ MD; Michael Fine, MD, MSc	- View online - Download the PDF
July-August, 2011 In this issue: The ups and downs of blood pressure measurement; Taking blood pressure: Does your clinic get it right? In Purple Heart medal, researchers seek clues to resilience; Gene discovery sheds light on mystery nerve pain; Can the omega-3 fatty acid DHA ward off dementia? Human Protection; Program that boosts safeguards for VA research volunteers gets new accreditation; Study tracks drug, alcohol use in OEF/OIF Veterans using VA; In cancer care, VA compares favorably with private sector; Gastric bypass surgery may not prolong life for high-risk patients; Doctors doing research are happier with jobs	- View online - Download the PDF
May-June, 2011 In this issue: Super-smart computer of ‘Jeopardy!’ fame now being pumped full of medical information; Meeting convened by VA R&D seeks to expand study of complementary, alternative therapies for PTSD; Caring for the medic; Sleep monitoring at home works just as well; Pre-surgery informed consent: Is less more?; Study finds sharp drop in heart bypass rates; Tobacco byproduct halts memory loss in lab study	- View online - Download the PDF
April, 2011 In this issue: New guidebook for researchers will ease VA-DoD collaboration; Former bench scientist, now with VA’s Office of R&D, cited by Urban League for community role; Magnuson Award given to stroke rehab innovator; Research Week 2011: ‘Discovery and Collaboration for Exceptional Health Care’; Discovery could speed progress on titanium implants; NFL grant expands brain-injury research; Turning findings into action: A snapshot of QUERI; Beyond randomized clinical trials: 'point of care' studies; Rapid HIV test studiedin high-risk Veterans	- View online - Download the PDF
December, 2010 In this issue: Researchers explore new technologies to help the blind get around; Alzheimer's imaging study expands; Providence VA dedicates new home for research center; Smoking cessation and PTSD;Lab study sheds light on growth hormone effects;Virtual reality for PTSD: What do therapists think?; DHA supplement fails to slow Alzheimer's; 'MOVE!' program helps Veterans shed pounds; Consortium will foster research on military suicide; Career Milestones	- View online - Download the PDF
October-November, 2010 In this issue: Super-charging research on spinal cord injury; Study finds similar outcomes with home or clinic monitoring of blood thinner, Greater medical burden seen in Veterans with PTSD; Altitude may figure in U.S. West's high suicide rate;Is chocolate good for your heart?; VA Research helps launch course for clinicians on genetics and colorectal cancer; Polytrauma conference in December; Amendments to nurse practitioner study	- View online - Download the PDF
September, 2010 In this issue: Hand transplants to be evaluated; Trial tests therapies for chronic, disabling grief; Therapy helps Veteran after loss of daughter; Can the Internet help smokers kick the habit?; VA, NIH fund new studies on substance abuse; Social factors may explain race gap in use of heart procedures; Immune-system genes linked to Parkinson’s; Glutamine pathway in bowel disease; Military sexual trauma; Studies find intriguing link between PTSD, dementia	- View online - Download the PDF
July-August, 2010 In this issue: Survey of Veterans with limb loss finds many positives, despite serious health issues; New model of primary care being studied across VA; Actors in study reveal doctors' failings to tailor care; Study finds little hard evidence for lifestyle steps to keep brain sharp, but suggests further research	- Download the PDF
June, 2010 In this issue: Shingles vaccine safe but not widely used;The smaller the better: Seeking new drugs that can reach the brain;Trial provides insight on Parkinson’s treatment; Pilot program cuts postsurgery pneumonia; New saliva test may help diagnose heart attack; Career Milestones; Shaping the future of women’s care in VA; Study finds range of readjustment problems	- Download the PDF
May, 2010 In this issue: In robotics study, gains seen even years after stroke; VA space experiment among last to fly on Discovery shuttle; 'Dr. Brain Dude'; Study finds some evidence of ALS link to head injury; Protein test may help predict breast cancer spread; Nurse practitioners rate high among VA patients; 'Orphan' cancer drug may have more uses;Study supports use of advance directives;Chiropractic pain treatments for OEF/OIF Veterans	- Download the PDF
February, 2010 In this issue: VA has key role in 80-site blood pressure study; Brain scans yield potential biomarker for PTSD; Robotic system may put more tasks within wheelchair users’ reach; Mental diagnoses tied to higher use of non-mental VA care in OEF/OIF study; Low-carb diet edges out weight-loss drug for lowering blood pressure; New gene technique could speed drug discovery; Artificial lens may help cataracts; Can hypertension drugs thwart Alzheimer’s?; Study compares surgery antiseptics	- Download the PDF
January, 2010 In this issue: Toxins as therapy; Studies seek best ways to draw homeless veterans into primary care; Who’s at risk for PTSD? VA-DoD research seeks answers; Career Milestones	- Download the PDF
November-December, 2009 In this issue: Young bioengineers inspired by VA training; Heart bypass trial finds better results with older 'on-pump' method; Managing antipsychotics' metabolic side effects; Nonprofits give critical boost to VA research	- Download the PDF
October, 2009 In this issue: Seeking genetic clues to schizophrenia, bipolar disorder; TBI research featured in JRRD; Passion for 'building things' drives prosthetics career; 'Comparative effectiveness' event highlights VA role; High blood pressure and combat deployment; Genetic link to rare bone cancer; Past violence tied to suicide risk; Racial, ethnic disparities in breast cancer care; The Alzheimer's brain on fish oil: Mixed results in studies; Career Millestones	- Download the PDF
September, 2009 In this issue: Study on Vietnam-era women veterans will be largest ever; Prostate cancer vaccine in phase 2 clinical trial; A time and place to heal; VA, NIH to fund $7 million in substance abuse studies; Implantable patch may mend ailing hearts	- Download the PDF
August, 2009 In this issue: Study suggests rise in wars' mental toll; White House awards for VA scientists; Researchers probe strategy to make flu drugs go further; Study will boost role of electronic records in care, research; Naps boost creativity; Vision and traumatic brain injury; PTSD links to specific physical ailments prove elusive; Electronic-records project tackles MRSA, PTSD	- Download the PDF
June, 2009 In this issue: Studies boost Alzheimer's home safety; RNA revelation; New screening tool for dementia; VA study probes care for American Indians, Native Alaskans; Image rehearsal' may ease PTSD nightmares; Among older veterans, women less likely to get immunized; Depression common in kidney disease; Transplanted neurons reduce spinal cord pain in rats; HIV therapy linked to low bone density; Parsing press releases; Effort launched to stem mental-health stigma	- Download the PDF
May, 2009 In this issue: VA conducting 'optimization study' of advanced prosthetic arm, Technology speeds hunt for disease-linked genes, Survey of veterans shows most would support and take part in genomic research, Organ-transplant pioneer honored at VA Research Week event	- Download the PDF
April, 2009 In this issue: Defining the role of race in health research; Research Week 2009: 'Turning Hope into Reality'; Depression and heart disease: What's the link?; Compound in saffron shows promise for pancreatic cancer; Grape-derived antioxidant stops lung tumors in lab study	- Download the PDF
March, 2009 In this issue: Study to track burn outcomes; Probing the genes of a 'bad bug'; A more sensible approach to managing tinnitus; VA Health Services R&D holds its largest meeting ever; HSR&D awardee known for work on 'excesses of American medicine'; VA’s Evidence Synthesis Program, "Strategies for Suicide Prevention in Veterans"	- Download the PDF
February, 2009 In this issue: VA-NIH trial backs brain stimulation for some Parkinson's patients; 'Local Accountability for Research’; Easing spinal cord pain; Study sheds light on how brain recalls past events; Identifying higher-risk periods for suicide; Effects on thinking skills similar between blast, non-blast brain injuries; Genome study homes in on diabetes genes; Compounds seen as promising cancer-fighters; VA study to expand on 'Spouse Battlemind' ; Diabetes, dementia and the brain; It’s about teamwork Studying how nurses, doctors work together	- Download the PDF
January, 2009 In this issue: Reaching out to provide PTSD care with telehealth programs; Trial compares methods for brain injury rehab; Presidential award to VA bone researcher; Arkansas-based study will use interactive video for PTSD therapy; Researcher explores how to aid recovery from coma; Easing the transition home for Puerto Rican veterans	- Download the PDF
November, 2008 In this issue: Yoga study finds mix of health benefits; VA screenings yield data on military sexual trauma; Gene therapy for chronic pain gets first test in people; Leading the charge toward evidence-based medicine; Self-monitoring of anti-clot drug has some pluses; Drinking green tea may stop skin cancer; Obesity and prostate cancer risk; Kidney impairment linked to bone loss; Drug found ineffective for heart failure; Privacy curtains in hospitals could spread germs; Psychologist cited for Iraq role; Neural-regeneration researchers garner awards	- Download the PDF
October, 2008 In this issue: VA to play role in Defense-funded research on PTSD, TBI; At Baltimore VA, stroke recovery studied from many angles; Treadmill gains seen even decades after stroke; African Americans at greater risk for colon polyps; Older patients often want unnecessary tests; Compound may ease spinal-cord damage; Doctors often miss opportunities for empathy; Drug treatment of older veterans with PTSD found to be 'conservative, cautious'; Putting polytrauma care 'on the map'; Cancer gene hunter—Sushanta Banerjee, PhD	- Download the PDF
September, 2008 In this issue: Study backs expansion of low-vision program; Artificial kidney will offer 'dialysis on the go'; A new approach to detecting mild brain injuries; Innovative carts make life easier for spinal-cord-injured veterans	- Download the PDF
July, 2008 In this issue: In diabetes, no added heart benefit from tighter sugar control; Nanotechnology team aims to build a better electrode; Grape-derived compounds shine in lab studies; Study highlights new way to clear arteries; At Palo Alto VA, physicians are 'sharpening their image'	- Download the PDF
June, 2008 In this issue: Future directions in PTSD research and care; Study links gene variation to cardiac effects of mental stress; More is not better: VA-NIH study yields surprising finding on treatment for acute kidney injury; Primary care counseling spurs home-based workouts; Scientists cited for work in cancer, diabetes, schizophrenia; VA research fellows play role in China earthquake relief,Brain injury and vision,Web feature on high blood pressure	- Download the PDF
April, 2008 In this issue: Understanding the effects of blasts on the brain, VA Research Week spotlights our investigators’ achievements, Career milestones, Studies under way in VA to advance genomic medicine, Heart hormones may be effective cancer treatment	- Download the PDF
March, 2008 In this issue: Flat growths that elude colonoscopy may account for many cancers;Alzheimer’s-caregiver study results being implemented at 20 VA sites, Large trial links fitness to longer life; Study reveals ‘selective publication’ of research on antidepressants; Experimental Therapeutics’ award to Alzheimer’s researcher; Recent publications and presentations by VA investigators; Impaired sense of smell may be key part of early detection for Parkinson’s disease; Physician-investigator cited for equity research; VA’s Magnuson Award to director of Seattle-based prosthetics and limb-loss-prevention center	- Download the PDF
February, 2008 In this issue: Evaluating VA’s homelessness programs; Thermometer helps ward off diabetic foot ulcers; Lithium gives brain boost to rats, may show promise for Alzheimer’s; New ‘CRADA’ policy will foster collaborations; Massage shown to help surgery patients recover; New method may ease use of ‘nanocomposites’ in medicine, industry; Central Texas VA team to study brain injuries; Stroke-rehab innovator to hold endowed professorship	- Download the PDF
December, 2007 In this issue: New research center to focus on returning veterans; Study sheds doubt on pain rating scale; Brain-computer interfaces: Has science fiction become reality?; Two genes found to play major role in progression of HIV to AIDS	- Download the PDF
November, 2007 In this issue: Researchers seek efficient strategy to cope with drug-resistant germ; Peer-visitor project fosters mutual help among veterans with polytrauma; Blood test may offer early detection for Alzheimer’s disease; VA scientists receive presidential awards; VA research highlighted in House hearing; PTSD research conference to involve VA, DoD, NIH	- Download the PDF
October, 2007 In this issue: Brain-imaging tool may offer quick mental-health diagnostics; Studies find some benefits to limits on new doctors' work hours; Scientist traces genetic ties between alcoholism, anxiety; Tampa VA researcher receives 'Service to America' medal; VA-tested shingles vaccine now available for veterans	- Download the PDF
August, 2007 In this issue: New bionic ankle debuts at Providence VA; VA-UCLA team discovers link between Parkinson's disease, narcolepsy; Study sheds light on mechanisms of rosacea; Adult-stem-cell therapy to be tested as adjunct to heart surgery; Which providers are most likely to order inappropriate prostate screenings?; Wheelchair innovator to be honored by Multiple Sclerosis Society	- Download the PDF
July, 2007 In this issue: New model agreement will ease VA-industry drug trials; Durham study to probe benefits of guided imagery for PTSD; Healing the injured brain: How can research help?; Promising multiple sclerosis therapy in clinical trial; Current VA research on brain injury	- Download the PDF
June, 2007 In this issue: Fatty liver disease: a new epidemic?; New genomics lab in Little Rock will move VA toward 'personalized medicine'; Muscle-repair research yields insights on adult stem cells; Engineers seek smoother, more natural control of prosthetic arms; VA system tops private hospitals in infection-control study;	- Download the PDF
May, 2007 In this issue: Study tracks mental-health effects of Gulf War deployment; VA presents Middleton awards to two West Coast researchers; VA investigators garner honors at SGIM meeting; Can education close the racial gap in joint-replacement therapy?; Remembering William Chardack, MD, cardiac-pacemaker pioneer	- Download the PDF
April, 2007 In this issue: VA clinical trial casts doubt on routine use of angioplasty, stenting; Drug helps PTSD nightmares; New book offers insights, advice for researchers writing proposals; Loma Linda team identifies gene tied to bone density; Duct tape: Does it really help warts?	- Download the PDF
March, 2007 In this issue: VA partnering with DoD, NIH on trials of virtual reality therapy for PTSD; Review study links marijuana use to breathing difficulties; Research identifies key measure for justifying repeat prostate biopsies; Exposure therapy surpasses supportive intervention in trial of women veterans with PTSD; HSR&D national meeting features push toward more collaboration with RR&D	- Download the PDF
February, 2007 In this issue: Evidence-based prosthetics is focus of new workshops; New certification process will boost data security; Study suggests controlling iron levels early in life may cut future heart risk; Observational study designs - The cohort study; Salt Lake City research to target prosthetic infections; The birth of nuclear medicine in VA; Health Affairs paper analyzes role of electronic health record in VA diabetes care	- Download the PDF
January, 2007 In this issue: Health Services R&D director named; Study to probe risk factors, outcomes of violence against servicewomen; Brown/VA scientist profiled in Discover; Palo Alto alcoholism researcher cited for findings on natural vs. treated remission; Stopping cancer in its tracks - Lab seeks compounds to halt metastasis; Balance training may top tai chi for fall prevention; Who's at risk for falls?	- Download the PDF