Mary Anne Dunkin

2 weeks ago | usmedicine.com | Mary Anne Dunkin

NASHVILLE, TN — Fluoroquinolones (FQs) have long been a standard treatment for urinary tract infections (UTIs), offering effective relief for millions of patients worldwide. Some studies have suggested, however, that the drugs might increase the risk of aortic aneurysm or dissection, leading to safety warnings and restrictions in certain patient population. Other studies have failed to show a connection.

2 weeks ago | usmedicine.com | Mary Anne Dunkin

BETHESDA, MD — Sudden cardiac arrest is a silent and often fatal event that strikes without warning, even among those in peak physical condition. In the civilian world, survival rates for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest are alarmingly low. A new study sheds light, however, on how the U.S. military’s rigorous emergency response protocols and commitment to the philosophy of “leave no one behind” may be saving lives at a much higher rate.

1 month ago | usmedicine.com | Mary Anne Dunkin

IOWA CITY, IA — As the veteran population ages and healthcare options expand, it might be beneficial for the VHA to reassess how it evaluates hospital performance, a new study suggested. The VHA traditionally assesses its hospitals using metrics such as risk-standardized 30-day readmission rates (RSRR), which track how often patients return for care after surgery.

1 month ago | usmedicine.com | Mary Anne Dunkin

LOS ANGELES — Revised treatment algorithms, 24 new recommendations and an expanded literature review on complementary and integrative health (CIH) approaches such as acupuncture, noninvasive brain stimulation, post-stroke spasticity management and technology-based rehabilitation like virtual reality (VR) are among the highlights of the newly updated VA/DOD Clinical Practice Guideline (CPG) for Management of Stroke Rehabilitation.

1 month ago | usmedicine.com | Mary Anne Dunkin

NASHVILLE — More than 30 million U.S. adults—including approximately 25% of veterans—have diabetes, putting them at increased risk of heart disease. Clinical trials have demonstrated that sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2is), an emerging and essential class of medications for treating Type 2 diabetes, can significantly reduce major adverse cardiovascular events.