Impact and Recovery of VHA Epilepsy Care Services During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Background: The Epilepsy Centers of Excellence (ECoE) is a network of facilities within the Veterans Health Administration that evaluates and treats veterans with epilepsy and seizure disorders. This article outlines how the COVID-19 pandemic impacted ECoE services and recovery.

Methods: Directors of 17 ECoEs were surveyed 4 times between May 2020 and July 2022 on 5 domains: functioning of outpatient epilepsy clinics, outpatient electroencephalogram, epilepsy monitoring unit, anticipated permanent operational changes, and utility of national and local recommendations.

Supportive Touch in Psychedelic Assisted Therapy.

In August 2024, The U.S. Food and Drug Administration rejected Lykos Therapeutics, Inc.

Nurse Experiences in an Electronic Health Record Transition: A Mixed Methods Analysis.

Transitions from one EHR to another can be enormously disruptive to care. Nurses are the largest group of EHR users, but nurse experiences with EHR transitions have not been well documented. We sought to understand nurse experiences with an EHR transition at the US Department of Veterans Affairs.

The African Initiative for Bioinformatics Online Training in Neurodegenerative Diseases (AI-BOND): Investing in the next generation of African neuroscientists.

Unlabelled: Neurodegenerative disorders, including Alzheimer's disease and AD-related dementias (AD/ADRD), pose significant challenges to health care systems globally, particularly in Africa. With the advances in medical technology and research capabilities, especially in next-generation sequencing and imaging, vast amounts of data have been generated from AD/ADRD research. Given that the greatest increase in AD/ADRD prevalence is expected to occur in Africa, it is critical to establish comprehensive bioinformatics training programs to help African scientists leverage existing data and collect additional information to untangle AD/ADRD heterogeneity in African populations.

Comparing Teleretinal Screening-Identified Diabetic Retinopathy With Diabetic Nephropathy and Other Markers of Systemic Disease.

Purpose: Diabetic retinopathy and diabetic nephropathy are two major life-altering complications of diabetes mellitus. Identifying permissive and protective factors for diabetic retinopathy and nephropathy is imperative so that diabetic quality of life can be optimized and downstream complications can be minimized.

Methods: We performed a large retrospective chart review of 997 patients at a county medical center with a majority Hispanic population.

The Epilepsy Centers of Excellence at the Veterans Health Administration.

Introduction: The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Epilepsy Centers of Excellence (ECoE) was established in 2008 to provide specialized care for veterans with epilepsy. Although established more than a decade ago, there has been no systematic evaluation of the ECoE's performance in key mission areas. We evaluated their performance in several key mission areas-clinical care, research, education, and outreach-since inception to evaluate their success in meeting the initial mandate.

Asian neuropsychologists: Current state, gaps, barriers, and future directions.

As the field of neuropsychology continues expanding efforts to better recruit providers and serve individuals from diverse populations, understanding the training and practice experiences of neuropsychologists from diverse backgrounds is crucial. Given the diversity of Asian populations, the experiences of Asian neuropsychologists offer a unique opportunity to reflect on the progress made in addressing issues related to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). This information will help address challenges related to education, training, and clinical practice, particularly in meeting growing demands for neuropsychological evaluations among Asian populations and addressing unique challenges.

Sinusitis and rhinitis among US veterans deployed to Southwest Asia and Afghanistan after September 11, 2001.

Background: Post-9/11 veterans were exposed to environmental and occupational pollutants during deployment.

Objective: Our aim was to determine associations between deployment-related exposures and sinusitis and rhinitis.

Methods: Between April 2018 and March 2020, veterans with land-based deployment after 9/11 who were living within 25 miles of 6 Department of Veteran Affairs medical centers were randomly chosen by using a Defense Manpower Data Center roster.

Chlorthalidone vs Hydrochlorothiazide and Kidney Outcomes in Patients With Hypertension: A Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: Hypertension is a risk factor for the development and progression of chronic kidney disease (CKD). It is unclear whether different thiazide diuretics have a differential impact on kidney outcomes.

Objective: To compare kidney outcomes in patients with hypertension taking chlorthalidone and hydrochlorothiazide.

Older Adults' Experiences of Emergency Department Admission Decisions: A Qualitative Study in a Public Safety Net Hospital.

Background: Hospital admission is a significant event in the healthcare trajectory of older adults (age 60 +). Numerous harms such as delirium, falls, and adverse medication events can arise that outweigh the benefits of admission. Little is known about how older adults feel about being hospitalized or what they think admission will achieve for them.

Young adults with acute coronary syndrome undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention: Insights from the Houston Methodist Young ACS-PCI Registry.

Background: Limited data exist on the risk profile and prognosis of young patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for acute coronary syndrome (ACS). This study sheds light on the burden of cardiovascular risk factors and outcomes in this population.

Methods: The Houston Methodist Young ACS-PCI registry is a retrospective analysis of young adults (18 to 50 years) undergoing PCI for ACS between 2010 and 2022.

Association of Insulin Resistance With Radiographic Lung Abnormalities and Incident Lung Disease: The Framingham Offspring Study.

Objective: Insulin resistance (IR) may be a risk factor for lung disease, but objective evidence is limited. We sought to define the relationship of longitudinal IR with radiographic imaging outcomes and examiner-identified incident lung disease in the Framingham Offspring Study.

Research Design And Methods: Participants without baseline lung disease underwent repeated measurements of fasting insulin and glucose levels over an average period of 13.

How do GPs communicate the urgent suspected cancer referral pathway to patients? A qualitative study of GP-patient consultations.

Background: The UK National Institute for Health and Care (NICE) recommends that GPs inform patients referred onto the Urgent Suspected Cancer (USC) pathway about what to expect from the service. However, there is a lack of evidence on patient experience and information needs at the point of referral. It is a challenge for GPs to communicate the reasons for referral and provide reassurance.