Alberta spending $116 million on electronic health records for all residents

EDMONTON (CP) - Alberta is injecting $116 million into an electronic health-record system that will allow doctors and pharmacists immediate access to patients' records and drug purchases....More

Bulk of editorial board quits embattled Canadian Medical Association Journal

TORONTO (CP) - The bulk of the editorial board of the Canadian Medical Association Journal resigned Thursday in an ongoing battle with the journal's owner, the Canadian Medical Association, over the issue of editorial independence....More

Next-generation cochlear implants aiming for hearing loss from aging

WASHINGTON (AP) - Cochlear implants may not be just for the profoundly deaf anymore: Iowa scientists are developing the next generation, a "hybrid implant" to combine the best of bionics with regular hearing aids for age-related hearing loss....More

Native people use pliers when they can't afford dental fees: assembly chief

OTTAWA (CP) - A looming funding shortfall of $3 billion over the next five years will force more native people to go without basic health care, warns the Assembly of First Nations. Leaders fear an all-out health crisis fuelled by clawbacks and increasing red tape....More

Gay and lesbian seniors face many obstacles to proper health care: study

MONTREAL (CP) - Gays and lesbians who grew up in the days when homosexuality was considered a mental illness are now seniors who face continued discrimination and self-imposed silence when it comes to accessing the health-care services they need, says a study released Tuesday....More

Drug may delay development of high blood pressure in people prone to it

ATLANTA (AP) - Treating people who don't yet have high blood pressure but are well on their way to it can delay the condition but not permanently prevent it unless drugs are taken lifelong, new research suggests....More

A few easy exercises can prevent fainting, study shows

ATLANTA (AP) - Feeling faint? Cross your ankles. Squeeze your knees. Grip a ball. Simple muscle-tensing exercises like these can keep you from passing out, say researchers who did a scientific study of the problem....More

Ford Motor Co. to limit health care benefits for spouses

DETROIT (AP) - Ford Motor Co. plans to charge an additional fee for salaried employees who want to have their spouses included on the company's health care plan. The fee would apply only to spouses who can obtain health benefits elsewhere....More

2nd Vioxx plaintiff testifies during lawsuit over heart attacks

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (AP) - Frail, pale and struggling to recall his medical history, a former Vioxx user, who blames the painkiller for his heart attack, told jurors Monday about the day he collapsed and suffered a broken hip, triggering a long slide that has left him unable to care for...More

Six men hospitalized in London after severe reactions in test of new drug

LONDON (AP) - Two men were in critical condition Wednesday in a London hospital and four others were in serious condition after suffering serious reactions in trials of a new drug. British regulators ordered the tests suspended....More

Treating a child's croup with steam or mist has no effect, study says

TORONTO (CP) - It's a traditional remedy as embedded in our culture as downing chicken soup to soothe a cold or putting baking soda on a bee sting: when a child has the croup, surround them with steam to help them breathe....More

Roche resumes Tamiflu distribution but tries to block flow to Internet sites

TORONTO (CP) - Roche Canada has resumed sales of its sought-after flu drug Tamiflu to regular pharmacies in Canada....More

Next-generation cochlear implants aiming for hearing loss from aging

WASHINGTON (AP) - Cochlear implants may not be just for the profoundly deaf anymore: Iowa scientists are developing the next generation, a "hybrid implant" to combine the best of bionics with regular hearing aids for age-related hearing loss....More

Native people use pliers when they can't afford dental fees: assembly chief

OTTAWA (CP) - A looming funding shortfall of $3 billion over the next five years will force more native people to go without basic health care, warns the Assembly of First Nations. Leaders fear an all-out health crisis fuelled by clawbacks and increasing red tape....More

Gay and lesbian seniors face many obstacles to proper health care: study

MONTREAL (CP) - Gays and lesbians who grew up in the days when homosexuality was considered a mental illness are now seniors who face continued discrimination and self-imposed silence when it comes to accessing the health-care services they need, says a study released Tuesday....More

Drug may delay development of high blood pressure in people prone to it

ATLANTA (AP) - Treating people who don't yet have high blood pressure but are well on their way to it can delay the condition but not permanently prevent it unless drugs are taken lifelong, new research suggests....More

A few easy exercises can prevent fainting, study shows

ATLANTA (AP) - Feeling faint? Cross your ankles. Squeeze your knees. Grip a ball. Simple muscle-tensing exercises like these can keep you from passing out, say researchers who did a scientific study of the problem....More

2nd Vioxx plaintiff testifies during lawsuit over heart attacks

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (AP) - Frail, pale and struggling to recall his medical history, a former Vioxx user, who blames the painkiller for his heart attack, told jurors Monday about the day he collapsed and suffered a broken hip, triggering a long slide that has left him unable to care for...More

Simple treatment offers new and better way to treat heart failure

ATLANTA (AP) - An amazingly simple method of filtering excess fluid from the bloodstream appears safer and far more effective than the "water pills" that have been used for decades to treat hospitalized heart failure patients, doctors reported Sunday....More

Bipolar pill manufacturer on trial in Calgary for failing to have drug number

CALGARY (CP) - An Alberta company that markets nutritional supplements to treat mental illness says Health Canada's aversion to alternative health products is at the heart of a prosecution which begins Monday in a Calgary court....More

Cholesterol drug reverses heart disease, study finds

ATLANTA (AP) - People in a new study got their bad cholesterol to the lowest levels ever seen and saw blockages in their blood vessels shrink by taking a high dose of cholesterol drug, researchers reported Monday....More

Guidant cautions doctors to check some defibrillators for defects

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - Guidant Corp., which is being acquired for $27 billion US by Boston Scientific Corp., cautioned doctors Monday to check the voltage on certain implantable defibrillators, after the company received several reports of defective devices....More

Doctors' deal enrages public sector unions heading into negotiations

VANCOUVER (CP) - British Columbia could be facing serious labour disruptions as disgruntled teachers, healthcare and government workers announced Monday they aren't happy. A leaked letter to doctors from the president of the B.C....More

Antibiotics in first year of life may boost risk of childhood asthma: study

TORONTO (CP) - Children given antibiotics in the first year of life may have a higher risk of developing asthma - although there is no evidence the drugs are directly responsible for causing the increasingly common disease, Canadian researchers say....More

Adding blood thinner to aspirin to prevent heart attacks proves risky

ATLANTA (AP) - People taking the blood thinner Plavix on top of aspirin to try to prevent heart attacks, as many doctors recommend, now have good reason to stop....More

Canadian Medical Association restructures CMAJ oversight committee

TORONTO (CP) - The former editor of the New England Journal of Medicine resigned from the editorial board of the Canadian Medical Association Journal on Monday in an ongoing dispute with the journal's owners over editorial independence....More

Beverage report brews trouble for scientists funded by tea company

(AP) - Some prominent nutrition experts put out new guidelines Wednesday urging Americans to cut back on calorie-rich sodas while allowing more leeway for alcohol and lots of room for tea and coffee - more than a litre per day....More

B.C. government amends law to allow leave for workers to care for sick family

VICTORIA (CP) - Workers in British Columbia shouldn't have to choose between their loved ones or their jobs, Labour Minister Mike de Jong said Thursday. The B.C....More

Health Canada advises pregnant women on SSRIs of potential risk to babies

TORONTO (CP) - Health Canada has issued a warning for women taking antidepressants drugs known as selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors - drugs like Prozac and Paxil - and who are pregnant or thinking of becoming pregnant....More

Publicly funded labs shouldn't be allowed to hoard flu data: U.S. researcher

(CP) - A leading scientist in the field of genetic sequencing is calling on publicly funded U.S. researchers and research organizations to throw open their collections of H5N1 avian flu viruses to allow others to work toward lessening the pandemic threat the virus poses....More

Nipple piercing may have caused fatal infection in Newfoundland 17-year-old

(CP) - A 17-year-old Newfoundland girl is believed to have died from toxic shock syndrome - and the infection that killed her may have resulted from a nipple piercing, the province's chief medical examiner says....More

Immigrant support groups call on Quebec government to waive health wait

MONTREAL (CP) - Immigrant aid organizations are calling on the Quebec government to abolish a three-month waiting period before immigrants to the province have access to health care coverage....More

Harper avoiding showdown over Alberta's Third Way health plan

OTTAWA (CP) - Prime Minister Stephen Harper appears to be backing away from a confrontation with Alberta over its Third Way health proposals....More

Bipolar pill manufacturer on trial in Calgary for failing to have drug number

CALGARY (CP) - An Alberta company that markets nutritional supplements to treat mental illness says Health Canada's aversion to alternative health products is at the heart of a prosecution which begins Monday in a Calgary court....More

Study casts doubt on value of thalidomide against bone-marrow cancer

(AP) - Thalidomide, a drug that caused ghastly birth defects a generation ago but has been resurrected in recent years as a promising cancer treatment, failed in a study to prolong the lives of patients with multiple myeloma....More

Scottish hospital scraps McDonald vouchers for kids; cites fears of obesity

LONDON (AP) - A hospital in Scotland has scrapped a program under which young patients were given vouchers for fast food at McDonald's after a legislator complained that the gifts could make "the so-called ticking time bomb of obesity even bigger and more explosive....More

Quebec government preparing for a possible influenza pandemic

QUEBEC (CP) - Quebec is preparing for a worst-case scenario in which 2.6 million people in the province would be infected in the event of a human influenza pandemic, says Health Minister Philippe Couillard. Couillard said everyone is worried about the occurrence of a pandemic....More

Experts, activists attempt to bridge divide on Lyme disease rates in Canada

TORONTO (CP) - Experts and activists are attempting to bridge the divide on the controversial issue of Lyme disease diagnosis and prevalence in Canada....More

Saskatchewan government nixes funding for expensive cancer drug Avastin

REGINA (CP) - The Saskatchewan government will not pay for a cutting-edge but expensive drug used to treat advanced colorectal cancer. The decision leaves dozens of terminally ill patients worried that their lives will be cut even shorter by the disease....More

Deadly H5N1 bird flu virus found in weasel-like mammal in Germany

BERLIN (AP) - The H5N1 bird flu virus has been found in a weasel-like mammal called a stone marten, a German laboratory said Thursday, indicating the disease has spread to another animal species....More

Beverage report brews trouble for scientists funded by tea company

(AP) - Some prominent nutrition experts put out new guidelines Wednesday urging Americans to cut back on calorie-rich sodas while allowing more leeway for alcohol and lots of room for tea and coffee - more than a litre per day....More

B.C. government amends law to allow leave for workers to care for sick family

VICTORIA (CP) - Workers in British Columbia shouldn't have to choose between their loved ones or their jobs, Labour Minister Mike de Jong said Thursday. The B.C....More

One dose not enough to stop world's leading cause of preventable blindness

CHICAGO (AP) - A two-year study in eight Ethiopian villages found that a single dose of an antibiotic is not enough to end infections that cause trachoma, the world's leading preventable cause of blindness....More

Nurse facing drugging charges said was victim of similar crime: ex-employer

TORONTO (CP) - A nurse facing criminal charges in Alberta after co-workers complained of having their food and drink drugged said she was a victim of a similar crime while working in Ontario, her former employer said Wednesday....More

Nurse facing drug charges said she was victim of similar crime: ex-employer

TORONTO (CP) - A nurse facing criminal charges in Alberta after co-workers complained of having their food and drink drugged said she was a victim of a similar crime while working in Ontario, her former employer said Wednesday....More

House votes to remove food label warnings, bowing to pressure from companies

WASHINGTON (AP) - The House of Representatives voted Wednesday to strip many warnings from food labels, potentially affecting alerts about arsenic in bottled water, lead in candy and allergy-causing sulphites, among others....More

FDA panel says it supports MS drug Tysabri's return to U.S. market

WASHINGTON (AP) - A U.S. Food and Drug Administration panel said Wednesday the agency should allow the multiple-sclerosis drug Tysabri back on the market. The drug's manufacturers, Biogen Idec Inc. and Elan Corp....More

FDA official: Some patients will probably die if MS drug allowed on market

WASHINGTON (AP) - Dozens of multiple sclerosis patients asked federal health advisers Tuesday to let them decide whether to take Tysabri, a promising drug that was pulled from the market after it was linked to a rare, often-fatal brain infection....More

China reports 10th human bird flu fatality; girl, 9, dies in Zhejiang province

BEIJING (AP) - A nine-year-old girl has become China's 10th reported human fatality from the virulent H5N1 strain of bird flu, the government said Wednesday. The girl died Monday in the southeast coastal province of Zhejiang, the Health Ministry said....More

Combining certain foods can lower cholesterol for some as well as drug: study

TORONTO (CP) - Some foods like oat bran are known to lower bad cholesterol on their own - but eating a diet that combines several such edibles can magnify the effect dramatically, a Canadian study suggests....More

Report says more surgeries being done, yet wait times unchanged

OTTAWA (CP) - A new report says doctors have sharply increased the number of tests and surgeries performed in recent years, but increased demand means wait times remain about the same....More

Nintendo brain-training game a hit with older adults in Japan

TOKYO (AP) - Like many retirees, Isamu Shishido sometimes forgets names and even his own telephone number. But now the 67-year-old says he's found a product that could sharpen his thinking: a new brain-training game from Nintendo Co....More

FDA official: Some patients will likely die if MS drug allowed back on market

WASHINGTON (AP) - An unknown number of patients who take a promising multiple sclerosis drug will likely die of a rare brain infection if the medicine, Tysabri, is allowed back on the market following its withdrawal last year over safety concerns, a U.S....More

European court denies British woman's right to use frozen embryos

STRASBOURG, France (AP) - The European Court of Human Rights ruled Tuesday a British woman has no right to use frozen embryos to have a baby without permission from the man who provided the sperm....More

Dana Reeve, heroic widow of fallen Superman star, dies of cancer at 44

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. (AP) - Dana Reeve, who won worldwide admiration for her devotion to her "Superman" husband, Christopher Reeve, through his decade of near-total paralysis, has died of lung cancer at the age of 44....More

Coffee might spell heart trouble for slow caffeine metabolizers

CHICAGO (AP) - Here's a real caffeine jolt - heart attacks might be a risk for coffee drinkers with a common genetic trait that makes caffeine linger in their bodies, a study suggests....More

Billions for healthcare no prescription for reducing wait times, says report

OTTAWA (CP) - It's an expensive medical mystery: governments have poured billions in new money into the medical system since the 1990s, but there has been no shortening of wait times....More

Spring break drinking, debauchery endangers health of college women: survey

CHICAGO (AP) - The American Medical Association is warning girls not to go wild during spring break....More

Trio of probes into auction of B.C. government-held personal data

VICTORIA (CP) - At least three investigations are planned after sensitive personal data on thousands of British Columbians contained on dozens of backup computer tapes was sold at a government auction....More

Sears issues safety recall for Chicken Limbo game that's caused injuries

TORONTO (CP) - Sears Canada has issued a safety recall for the Chicken Limbo Electronic Party Game after reports that the product has caused at least 28 injuries in North America....More

Many children far behind on vaccination schedules, study finds

TORONTO (CP) - Many Canadian two-year-olds may be behind in their vaccination schedules, even though the tots are seen by their doctors on a regular basis, an Ontario study suggests....More

Healthy lifestyle lowers risk of dementia caused by white matter disease

TORONTO (CP) - Just when you might have thought there couldn't possibly be another chronic disease to worry about, doctors are raising alarm bells about a common affliction of the brain that can severely impair cognitive abilities later in life....More

Rare brain disease associated with promising MS drug remains an FDA concern

WASHINGTON (AP) - The risk of a rare brain disease and other infections remains the primary concern of U.S. regulators as they seek independent advice on whether to allow a promising multiple sclerosis drug back on the market, according to documents released Monday....More

2 or 3 cats in Austria test positive for deadly H5N1 strain of bird flu

VIENNA, Austria (AP) - Two or three cats have tested positive for the H5N1 strain of bird flu, Austrian state authorities said Monday. The cats, all of which were still alive, have tested positive for the disease, said Hans Seitinger, the top agriculture official in Styria state....More

Advair and 2nd GlaxoSmithKline asthma drug get stronger warning labels

WASHINGTON (AP) - The asthma medication Advair and a related drug will bear stronger warnings of an increased risk of death associated with one of their ingredients....More

'Natural' as a beauty buzzword: There's a science to the holistic approach

NEW YORK (AP) - Many of us make repeated vows to simplify our lives, and one place to start is with beauty routines....More

U.S. Wal-Marts reverse position, will stock emergency birth-control pill

(AP) - Officials of Wal-Mart Stores Inc. announced Friday the company will reverse its earlier policy and stock emergency contraception pills in all of its U.S....More

Developing countries poaching nurses from AIDS-ravaged Africa: Stephen Lewis

VANCOUVER (CP) - Developing countries are poaching nurses from AIDS-ravaged Africa where the caregivers also counsel women who face violence from a spouse who may have infected them, the UN's special envoy for HIV-AIDS in Africa Stephen Lewis told a convention of the B.C....More

Number of fat children will increase sharply by end of decade, study says

LONDON (AP) - The number of overweight children worldwide will increase significantly by the end of the decade, and scientists expect profound impacts on everything from public health care to economies, a study published Monday said....More

Manitoba government plans small tax cuts and new law on drug-addicted kids

WINNIPEG (CP) - Manitoba's NDP government begins a new legislature sitting Monday with a stay-the-course budget that will include small tax cuts....More

Here they come to save the day: The business of mice, mighty and otherwise

BAR HARBOR, Me. (AP) - When it comes to the price of mice, you pay extra for defects. A mouse with arthritis runs close to $200; two pairs of epileptic mice can cost 10 times that. You want three blind mice? That'll run you about $250....More

2 or 3 cats in Austria test positive for deadly H5N1 strain of bird flu

VIENNA, Austria (AP) - Two or three cats have tested positive for the H5N1 strain of bird flu, Austrian state authorities said Monday. The cats, all of which were still alive, have tested positive for the disease, said Hans Seitinger, the top agriculture official in Styria state....More

Experts set to work on logistics of trying to stop pandemic at source

(CP) - How do you devise a how-to guide for stopping a flu pandemic that will be flexible enough that it might have a shot at working in remote Indonesia as well as small-town Indiana - and everywhere in between? How many international experts do you send? How many local public...More

Many children far behind on vaccination schedules, study finds

TORONTO (CP) - Many Canadian two-year-olds may be behind in their vaccination schedules, even though the tots are seen by their doctors on a regular basis, an Ontario study suggests....More

Alberta lays out framework for Third Way health-care reforms

EDMONTON (CP) - Alberta has laid out a 10-point plan to reshape medicare, including a move to allow patients to pay cash for hip and knee replacements to get faster treatment....More

Deadly H5N1 strain of bird flu confirmed in cat in northern Germany

BERLIN (CP) - The deadly strain of H5N1 avian flu was confirmed Tuesday in a cat in northern Germany, the first time the virus has been identified in a mammal in the European Union - though not the first time cats have been shown to carry the virus....More

Roman Catholic Church in India teams up with Bollywood for film on AIDS

NEW DELHI (AP) - At first glance the movie seems like just another Bollywood film: It has the disco-beat songs, the hip-swivelling dance number and the hero and heroine cavorting in the rain in drenched revealing clothes....More

Study casts doubt on glycemic index as diet tool for controlling blood sugar

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) - Diets that distinguish between "good carbs" and "bad carbs," are not an effective way of controlling blood sugar levels, a new study suggests....More

Acting editor of medical journal resigns following firings of editor, deputy

TORONTO (CP) - The acting editor of the Canadian Medical Association Journal resigned Tuesday, barely a week after stepping into a post left vacant when the journal's editor and senior deputy editor were fired in what is believed to be a dispute over editorial independence....More

Alberta's health reform should respect Canada Health Act, says Harper

OTTAWA (CP) - The federal government will be examining Alberta's health-care reform plan over the next few days to see if it respects the Canada Health Act, says Prime Minister Stephen Harper....More

Germany finds bird-flu infected cat; experts question potential role in spread

(CP) - German scientists reported Tuesday that a cat in that country had been infected with H5N1 avian flu, a discovery experts said reinforces the need to find answers to questions about what role, if any, cats, dogs and other mammals may play in the spread of the worrisome virus....More

AEterna Zentaris swings to Q4 profit of US$936K from year-ago $2M loss

QUEBEC (CP) - Cancer drug developer AEterna Zentaris Inc. (TSX:AEZ) swung to a fourth quarter profit as a big jump in revenues helped reverse a loss last year. The Quebec-based company said Wednesday it earned US$936,000 or two cents a share for the three months ended Dec. 31....More

Alberta lays out framework for Third Way health-care reforms

EDMONTON (CP) - Alberta has laid out a 10-point plan to reshape medicare, including a move to allow patients to pay cash for hip and knee replacements to get faster treatment....More

Deadly H5N1 strain of bird flu confirmed in cat in northern Germany

BERLIN (CP) - The deadly strain of H5N1 avian flu was confirmed Tuesday in a cat in northern Germany, the first time the virus has been identified in a mammal in the European Union - though not the first time cats have been shown to carry the virus....More

Study casts doubt on glycemic index as diet tool for controlling blood sugar

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) - Diets that distinguish between "good carbs" and "bad carbs," are not an effective way of controlling blood sugar levels, a new study suggests....More

Roman Catholic Church in India teams up with Bollywood for film on AIDS

NEW DELHI (AP) - At first glance the movie seems like just another Bollywood film: It has the disco-beat songs, the hip-swivelling dance number and the hero and heroine cavorting in the rain in drenched revealing clothes....More

Acting editor of medical journal resigns following firings of editor, deputy

TORONTO (CP) - The acting editor of the Canadian Medical Association Journal resigned Tuesday, barely a week after stepping into a post left vacant when the journal's editor and senior deputy editor were fired in what is believed to be a dispute over editorial independence....More

Germany finds bird-flu infected cat; experts question potential role in spread

(CP) - German scientists reported Tuesday that a cat in that country had been infected with H5N1 avian flu, a discovery experts said reinforces the need to find answers to questions about what role, if any, cats, dogs and other mammals may play in the spread of the worrisome virus....More

Alberta's health reform should respect Canada Health Act, says Harper

OTTAWA (CP) - The federal government will be examining Alberta's health-care reform plan over the next few days to see if it respects the Canada Health Act, says Prime Minister Stephen Harper....More

AEterna Zentaris swings to Q4 profit of US$936K from year-ago $2M loss

QUEBEC (CP) - Cancer drug developer AEterna Zentaris Inc. (TSX:AEZ) swung to a fourth quarter profit as a big jump in revenues helped reverse a loss last year. The Quebec-based company said Wednesday it earned US$936,000 or two cents a share for the three months ended Dec. 31....More

Fetal alcohol syndrome costs Canada hundreds of millions of dollars a year: study

TORONTO (CP) - Fetal alcohol syndrome costs Canada hundreds of millions of dollars each year - and a good chunk of that money comes from the pockets of families whose children have the disorder, a study has found....More

Dutch researchers find reason to eat chocolate: lower blood pressure

CHICAGO (AP) - Leave it to the Dutch to help demonstrate the health benefits of chocolate. A study of older men in the Netherlands, known for its luscious chocolate, indicated those who ate the equivalent of one-third of a chocolate bar every day had lower blood pressure and a...More

Deadly H5N1 strain of bird flu confirmed in cat in northern Germany

BERLIN (CP) - The deadly strain of H5N1 avian flu was confirmed Tuesday in a cat in northern Germany, the first time the virus has been identified in a mammal in the European Union - though not the first time cats have been shown to carry the virus....More

Drug developer QLT to appeal injunction against Eligard sales in U.S.

VANCOUVER (CP) - Drug developer QLT Inc. (TSX:QLT) plans to appeal a U.S. court decision that has placed an injunction on production and sales of its Eligard treatment for prostate cancer....More

Drug addiction workers Canada's unsung heroes, says multimillionaire Kaiser

VICTORIA (CP) - A multimillionaire businessman is launching a national awards program to recognize the efforts of the thousands of nameless people and organizations who help people beat drug addiction....More

Alberta lays out framework for Third Way health-care reforms

EDMONTON (CP) - Alberta has laid out a 10-point plan to reshape medicare, including a move to allow patients to pay cash for hip and knee replacements to get faster treatment....More

Acting editor of medical journal resigns following firings of editor, deputy

TORONTO (CP) - The acting editor of the Canadian Medical Association Journal resigned Tuesday, barely a week after stepping into a post left vacant when the journal's editor and senior deputy editor were fired in what is believed to be a dispute over editorial independence....More

AEterna Zentaris swings to Q4 profit of US$936K from year-ago $2M loss

QUEBEC (CP) - Cancer drug developer AEterna Zentaris Inc. (TSX:AEZ) swung to a fourth quarter profit as a big jump in revenues helped reverse a loss last year. The Quebec-based company said Wednesday it earned US$936,000 or two cents a share for the three months ended Dec. 31....More

Brain changes that lead to poor focus in golden years begin in mid-life:study

TORONTO (CP) - Researchers have identified changes in brain function that begin to creep in during middle age - and may explain why many older people have difficulty concentrating and are easily distracted....More

Online pharmacists hope to make fresh start with new Tory government

WINNIPEG (CP) - After spending more than a year in fear of a Liberal crackdown on their industry, online pharmacists are welcoming the incoming federal Conservative government as a chance to make a fresh start....More

Canadian company helping to get 200 bikes to African aid workers to fight HIV

TORONTO (CP) - A Canadian bicycle company is helping to get 200 bikes to African aid workers in a bid to prevent the spread of HIV and AIDS....More

Health Canada going after medical pot users for almost $170,000 in bad debts

OTTAWA (CP) - Like any dope dealer, Health Canada has its share of marijuana customers who just don't pay their bills. But unlike street pushers, the department avoids tire irons and switchblades to recover its bad debts in favour of stern letters and collection agencies....More

New PM's health raises questions about how much Canadians need to know

OTTAWA (CP) - Canadians traditionally treat the health of its leaders as a private matter, but Stephen Harper's enigmatic late-night visit to a hospital has some wondering if the public interest should now override confidentiality. Americans know that George W. Bush weighed 191....More

First partial face transplant patient: 'I now have a face like everyone else'

AMIENS, France (AP) - The woman who received the world's first partial face transplant appeared for the first time Monday before the media in northern France, saying: "I now have a face like everyone else....More

A rose by any other name smells as sweet - especially when sitting up: study

TORONTO (CP) - A surprising discovery about how humans perceive odours has researchers putting a new twist on an old adage: if you're going to stop and smell the roses, don't do it lying down....More

Killer likely to get released sooner from jail than mental institution: lawyer

TORONTO (CP) - The unusual predicament of Trinh Quach, who is facing a life sentence for murder rather than the mental-health treatment his lawyer says he needs, has cast a spotlight on the plight of the mentally ill in Canada's criminal justice system....More

Medical pot advocates angry over arrest of AIDS patient

OTTAWA (CP) - Medical marijuana advocates are angry over the treatment of a Regina AIDS patient who was arrested after his pot licence expired....More

Chicago patients told they may have gotten tissue snatched from NY cadavers

CHICAGO (AP) - At least five Chicago-area hospitals are advising dozens of people who received tissue transplants to undergo precautionary testing after learning some of the tissue may have been fraudulently obtained from cadavers in New York....More

Hong Kong tests 3 for avian flu, closes aviaries after deaths of 2 birds

HONG KONG (AP) - Three people in Hong Kong who came into contact with a avian-flu infected chicken smuggled in from mainland China tested negative for the virus but remained isolated at a hospital Thursday....More

Combining antipsychotic drugs has no benefit for severe schizophrenia: study

TORONTO (CP) - Prescribing more than one antipsychotic drug in an effort to help hard-to-treat schizophrenia appears to have no benefit and should be dropped from psychiatric practice, a Canadian-led international study concludes....More

Tobacco firm Rothmans Inc.'s Q3 profit dips to $23.3M from $25.4M

TORONTO (CP) - Tobacco company Rothmans Inc. (TSX:ROC) says its third-quarter profit dipped to $23.3 million from a year-earlier $25.4 million on lower sales of higher-priced cigarettes. Earnings for the quarter ended Dec....More

Avian flu now endemic in Hong Kong, according to health secretary

HONG KONG (AP) - Bird flu has become endemic in Hong Kong after its recent discovery in both local wild birds and chicken, the territory's health secretary said Friday....More

Conventional tests miss heart disease in millions of women, researchers say

WASHINGTON (AP) - Conventional tests won't uncover heart disease in as many as three million U.S. women - because instead of the usual bulky clogs in main arteries, these women have a hard-to-spot buildup in smaller blood vessels, researchers said Tuesday....More

Polio transmission halted in Egypt and Niger, only 4 endemic nations remain

TORONTO (CP) - The marathon effort to eradicate polio from the face of the globe chalked up a significant victory Wednesday with the announcement that transmission of the virus has been halted in Niger and Egypt....More

Lorus shares up 18% on Virulizin trial results; firm scouting research partner

TORONTO (CP) - Lorus Therapeutics Inc. (TSX:LOR) is in talks with many potential partners that could help fund more clinical trials of its Virulizin treatment for pancreatic cancer, its chief executive said Wednesday....More

Spotty access to new cancer drugs violates principles of medicare: report

TORONTO (CP) - A group that advocates for better cancer care in Canada says spotty access across the country to new, expensive cancer drugs violates the founding principles of the Canada Health Act....More

Haemacure says it's working on deficiencies noted in FDA warning letter

MONTREAL (CP) - Haemacure Corp. (TSX:HAE) says it's working to correct "document deficiencies" for two medical devices that prompted a warning letter from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration....More

B.C. top province with best health-care system, Manitoba ranks last: study

VANCOUVER (CP) - British Columbia has come out on top in an assessment of provincial health-care systems by the Conference Board of Canada that placed Manitoba in last place. The report by the Ottawa-based non-profit think tank was released Wednesday, the same day B.C....More

Hong Kong tests 3 for avian flu, closes aviaries after deaths of 2 birds

HONG KONG (AP) - Three people in Hong Kong who came into contact with a avian-flu infected chicken smuggled in from mainland China tested negative for the virus but remained isolated at a hospital Thursday....More

FDA approves drug to treat patients with chronic constipation

WASHINGTON (AP) - A drug to treat adult chronic constipation with no known cause won federal approval in the United States on Tuesday....More

Merck fourth-quarter earnings rise two per cent; Wyeth swings to a profit

NEW YORK (AP) - Merck & Co. said Tuesday its profit edged up two per cent in the fourth quarter as drug sales levelled off and it set aside an additional $295 million US for legal defence costs related to its withdrawn painkiller Vioxx....More

Alberta cabinet votes on health reforms that may violate Canada Health Act

EDMONTON (CP) - Alberta appears to be heading for a showdown over health care with Stephen Harper's new government as the province prepares to allow queue jumping by patients willing to pay cash for treatments....More

Don't overlook vitamin D for bone health

TORONTO (MRI) - Your best efforts to bone up on calcium may not be enough to prevent osteoporosis if you aren't getting enough vitamin D, new research shows....More

Merck's Genpharm to distribute Rockwell Medical dialysis products in Canada

TORONTO (CP) - Genpharm Inc., a unit of German-based Merck KGaA, has signed an agreement to distribute dialysis products made by Rockwell Medical Technologies Inc. (Nasdaq: RMTI) of Wixom, Mich....More

Medisys buys imaging clinics in St. Catharines, Montreal; total revenue $3.2M

MONTREAL (CP) - Medisys Health Group Income Fund (TSX: MHG.UN) said Tuesday it is purchasing medical imaging clinics in St. Catharines, Ont., and Montreal....More

Ginseng may prevent colds, ease symptoms

TORONTO (MRI) - Here's some news that's nothing to sneeze at: A team of Edmonton researchers have found that taking ginseng supplements can reduce your risk of contracting the common cold and reduce the severity and length of a cold if you do get one....More

Calgary football death report urges student athletes to be sure helmets fit

CALGARY (CP) - A fatality inquiry that followed a deadly head-to-dead collision in football practice has recommended high school athletes be aware of the risks of playing with an ill-fitting helmet....More

B.C. scientist's invention to boost world's supply of blood-clotting cells

VANCOUVER (CP) - A Vancouver scientist has invented a device to boost the world's supply of blood platelets, the life-saving cells that control bleeding....More

Don't overlook vitamin D for bone health

TORONTO (MRI) - Your best efforts to bone up on calcium may not be enough to prevent osteoporosis if you aren't getting enough vitamin D, new research shows....More

Ottawa should revise system that allows U.S. drug ads to air in Canada: report

TORONTO (CP) - The federal government should review policies that allow U.S. drug advertisements to air on Canadian TV screens and appear in North American issues of magazines sold in this country, a new report states....More

Study suggests existence of fat taste bud

TORONTO (MRI) - Can't resist fried foods and other fatty treats? Could be a matter of the fat got your tongue....More

Officials report that Iraqi girl who died in Kurdistan had bird flu

SULAIMANIYAH, Iraq (CP) - A 15-year-old Iraqi girl who died earlier this month is now believed to be that country's - and the Middle East's - first case of H5N1 avian flu, Iraqi and World Health Organization authorities confirmed Monday....More

8 million children worldwide born with birth defects each year: report

TORONTO (CP) - Each year, about eight million children around the world are born with a serious birth defect and more than three million die before age five due to the genetic-or disease-related abnormality, says a report by the March of Dimes....More

European Union approves Guidant Corp.'s new drug-coated stent

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - European regulators on Monday approved Guidant Corp.'s new drug-coated stent, clearing the way for the product to be marketed in the 25 countries of the European Union....More

Labopharm once-daily painkiller to receive U.S. review; Euro partner signed

LAVAL, Que. (CP) - Labopharm Inc. (TSX:DDS) said Monday its new drug application for a once-daily formulation of the painkiller tramadol has been accepted for review and filed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration....More

Ginseng may prevent colds, ease symptoms

TORONTO (MRI) - Here's some news that's nothing to sneeze at: A team of Edmonton researchers have found that taking ginseng supplements can reduce your risk of contracting the common cold and reduce the severity and length of a cold if you do get one....More

Drug maker Patheon's stock up sharply on 5-year Merck supply deal

TORONTO (CP) - Canadian drug maker Patheon Inc. (TSX:PTI) saw its shares climb almost 22 per cent Friday, after announcing a five-year deal with global drug giant Merck & Co. Inc. Patheon stock rose $1.34 to close at $7.46 on the Toronto Stock Exchange....More

Alberta health-care reforms must obey medicare rules, says Harper spokesman

OTTAWA (CP) - Alberta can go ahead with all the health reforms it likes - so long as it stays within the rules of the Canada Health Act, says a spokesman for the incoming Conservative government....More

Bill Gates pledges $900 million US for global fight against tuberculosis

DAVOS, Switzerland (CP) - Bill Gates said Friday his charitable foundation will boost its funding for tuberculosis eradication from its current level of $300 million to $900 million US during the next decade....More

Officials report that Iraqi girl who died in Kurdistan had bird flu

CAIRO, Egypt (AP) - A United Nations official and the health minister in Iraqi Kurdistan on Monday said a 15-year-old girl who died earlier this month in northern Iraq was a victim of the deadly H5N1 strain of bird flu, the first known case of the disease in the country....More

Botswana adopts radical approach in testing for HIV - tests at all routine medical exams

GABORONE, Botswana (AP) - When Botswana first offered free AIDS treatment, health authorities in one of the world's most infected countries braced for a rush of patients. It didn't happen....More

Guidant's Q4 profit drops 25 per cent on fallout from device recalls

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - Guidant Corp., the medical device company that recently agreed to be acquired by Boston Scientific Corp., reported Friday that its fourth-quarter profit fell 25 per cent as a result of highly publicized product recalls that began over the summer....More

Drug approved in U.S. to combat both stomach and kidney cancer

WASHINGTON (AP) - A new drug that combats both a rare stomach cancer and advanced kidney cancer won speedy federal approval in the United States on Thursday. Sunitinib, to be marketed by Pfizer Inc. as Sutent, is the first cancer drug to simultaneously win U.S....More

Canadian online pharmacy offers Tamiflu without prescriptions

VANCOUVER (CP) - A Canadian online pharmacy is offering the influenza flu fighter Tamiflu without a prescription. Health Canada says it has sent a letter to Canada Drug Delivery which can be found online at www.drugdelivery.ca....More

Bill Gates to triple funding for tuberculosis eradication to $900 million US

DAVOS, Switzerland (AP) - Microsoft Corp. chairman and co-founder Bill Gates said Friday that his charitable foundation will triple its funding for tuberculosis eradication from $300 million to $900 million US by 2015....More

Cardinal Health Inc. second-quarter profits rise 42 per cent

DUBLIN, Ohio (AP) - Drug and medical services company Cardinal Health Inc. said Thursday that second-quarter profits rose 42 per cent, partly reflecting restructuring charges the company recorded a year ago....More

Bono announces partnership deal to fight HIV and AIDS in Africa

DAVOS, Switzerland (AP) - Bono unveiled a new push to fight HIV and AIDS in Africa, announcing a partnership with several companies to sell products under a brand called Red, with proceeds going toward anti-AIDS programs....More

Canadian doctor who sold fake Botox gets nearly 2 years in Florida

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) - A Canadian doctor based in Arizona was sentenced to nearly two years in prison Thursday for selling a dangerous bootleg form of Botox to hundreds of physicians. Dr....More

Analysis of vast array of avian flu viruses provides hint to H5N1's virulence

TORONTO (CP) - U.S. researchers have identified a feature of one of the internal genes of avian influenza viruses that may help explain the remarkable virulence of the H5N1 virus as well as the one that triggered the 1918 Spanish flu....More

Amgen Inc. earnings rise 20 per cent while Eli Lilly and Co. swings to profit

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - Amgen Inc., the world's largest biotechnology company by sales, said Thursday its fourth-quarter earnings rose 20 per cent, driven by sales of its rheumatoid arthritis and anemia drugs. Meanwhile, the Indianapolis drugmaker Eli Lilly and Co....More

Alta. government moving ahead with legislation for more private health care

EDMONTON (CP) - The Alberta government is moving ahead with its long-stated intention to allow more private-health care, saying it will most likely bring in legislation as early as this spring....More

Number of Canadian children with asthma jumps fourfold over the past 20 years

TORONTO (CP) - Asthma in Canadian children has jumped fourfold over the past 20 years, to a level where more than one in 10 kids have been diagnosed with the respiratory ailment, says a report by a North American environmental agency. In Canada, this means 2....More

Drugmaker Eli Lilly swings to fourth-quarter profit of US$700.6 million

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - Drugmaker Eli Lilly & Co. reported Thursday a fourth-quarter profit, compared with a year-ago loss that reflected restructuring charges and tax expense from repatriated overseas earnings. Quarterly earnings totalled $700....More

Review of studies says fish oil doesn't seem to reduce cancer risk

CHICAGO (AP) - Fish oil, seen as beneficial for reducing heart disease risks, probably doesn't help prevent cancer, according to a review of studies involving more than 700,000 patients....More

Carbon monoxide poisoning can cause deadly heart problems, study says

CHICAGO (AP) - Carbon monoxide poisoning frequently causes symptomless heart damage that appears to shorten patients' lives even if they make it out of the hospital OK, a study found. All 230 patients studied had poisoning similar to that suffered by the sole survivor of the Jan....More

Scientists are using website to track money and predict diseases

LOS ANGELES (AP) - By following the money, scientists are hoping they might better predict how diseases like a flu pandemic could spread. Using the popular Where's George? website that tracks U.S....More

Health-care worker resistance fuels debate about making flu shots mandatory

TORONTO (CP) - Flu vaccination rates among health-care workers continue to lag well below optimal levels, a new study reports....More

Ex-popcorn factory worker settles over disease from butter-flavouring fumes

JOPLIN, Mo. (AP) - A former popcorn factory worker has settled a lawsuit blaming his lung disease on fumes from a butter flavouring used in a microwave variety. Terms of the out-of-court settlement with Eric and Cassandra Peoples were not released....More

Hearing aid anchored in skull providing good vibrations

TORONTO (CP) - Most people with hearing aids want them tiny and unobtrusive, tucked inside the ear where they can't be seen. But when conventional aids failed to give John Pepperell the level of sound sense he wanted, he decided to use his head - literally - and think outside the box....More

China reports 70,000 new HIV infections in 2005

BEIJING (AP) - Some 70,000 people in China were infected with HIV last year, bringing the country's total to 650,000 and showing the country's AIDS epidemic is still dire, international health organizations said Wednesday....More

FDA to consider over-the-counter sales of fat-blocking diet pill

WASHINGTON (AP) - A pharmaceutical company that seeks U.S. federal approval for over-the-counter sales of a prescription diet pill that blocks the absorption of fat faces questions on the pill's potential for creating vitamin deficiencies and encouraging abuse....More

Doctors should ask men about erectile dysfunction, can predict heart disease

TORONTO (CP) - It's a subject many guys are loathe to discuss, but questions about erectile dysfunction should be part of annual checkups by family doctors - and not just to ensure a man is sexually healthy, a Canadian study suggests....More

Bristol-Myers Squibb sets aside US$185M for Vanlev lawsuit settlement

NEW YORK (AP) - Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. said Monday it has put aside $185 million US to settle a class-action lawsuit alleging the company's stock was artificially inflated by false and misleading claims the drugmaker made as it touted the prospects of an experimental heart drug....More

U.S. officials give beef industry a refresher on Japanese meat concerns

WASHINGTON (AP) - U.S. Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns summoned meat industry representatives to a three-hour meeting Tuesday to help reassure Japan there will be no further shipments of prohibited cuts of beef. Japan halted U.S....More

New York City body part scandal expected to spawn lots of lawsuits

NEW YORK (AP) - Patricia Battisti thought her back surgery in early 2005 was routine. A letter from her hospital nearly a year later made it clear she was wrong....More

Childhood heart repairs may not last a lifetime

WASHINGTON (AP) - One of medicine's greatest triumphs is hitting a snag: Up to one million people born with once-lethal heart defects now have grown up, a pioneering generation largely unaware that heart repairs can wear out as they approach middle age....More

British Columbia trainer puts Hugh Jackman through workouts for X-Men role

(CP) - After whipping Hollywood hunk Hugh Jackman into even better shape for his X-Men 3 role as Wolverine, trainer Steve Ramsbottom fine-tuned his workout regime for other people who want to add muscle mass while keeping the body lean and agile....More

China reports 70,000 new HIV infections in 2005

BEIJING (AP) - Some 70,000 people in China were infected with HIV last year, bringing the country's total to 650,000 and showing the country's AIDS epidemic is still dire, international health organizations said Wednesday....More

Medical device maker Guidant Corp. expands pacemaker recall, adds byline

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - Medical device maker Guidant Corp. on Monday expanded its pacemaker recall, saying seals in some models failed at a higher rate than originally reported and that thousands of other devices could have the same problem....More

Magnetic system holds promise for monitoring transplant rejection

WASHINGTON (AP) - Magnetic tracking of immune cells could one day offer a better way to monitor organ transplants for rejection, researchers report....More

Icon of American white bread to offer whole wheat

(AP) - But will kids still be able to wad it up into sticky, glutinous balls and throw it across the cafeteria? Wonder Bread, that icon of squishy, oh-so-American white bread, turns a nutritional corner Monday with the launch of two whole wheat versions intended to look, taste...More

FDA to consider over-the-counter sales of fat-blocking diet pill

WASHINGTON (AP) - A pharmaceutical company that seeks U.S. federal approval for over-the-counter sales of a prescription diet pill that blocks the absorption of fat faces questions on the pill's potential for creating vitamin deficiencies and encouraging abuse....More

Guidant Corp. raises anticipated failure rates of pacemaker seal

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - Guidant Corp., the medical-device maker being fought over by Johnson & Johnson and Boston Scientific Corp., said Monday a seal on certain older pacemakers might be slightly more susceptible to failure than it had earlier estimated....More

Bristol-Myers Squibb sets aside US$185M for Vanlev lawsuit settlement

NEW YORK (AP) - Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. said Monday it has put aside $185 million US to settle a class-action lawsuit alleging the company's stock was artificially inflated by false and misleading claims the drugmaker made as it touted the prospects of an experimental heart drug....More

Doctors should ask men about erectile dysfunction, can predict heart disease

TORONTO (CP) - It's a subject many guys are loathe to discuss, but questions about erectile dysfunction should be part of annual checkups by family doctors - and not just to ensure a man is sexually healthy, a Canadian study suggests....More

Childhood heart repairs may not last a lifetime

WASHINGTON (AP) - One of medicine's greatest triumphs is hitting a snag: Up to one million people born with once-lethal heart defects now have grown up, a pioneering generation largely unaware that heart repairs can wear out as they approach middle age....More

Harper gov't would whittle away abortion rights, Morgentaler warns

TORONTO (CP) - Fearing that a Stephen Harper-led government will turn back the clock on women's rights, pre-eminent abortion rights activist Dr. Henry Morgentaler made a blunt appeal to Canadians on Friday: Don't vote Conservative....More

International drug regulators looking into antibiotic linked to U.S. death

WASHINGTON (CP) - Researchers reported Friday three cases of severe liver problems, including one death, in patients at a North Carolina hospital after they began taking a novel antibiotic. Federal regulators said they were reviewing an unknown number of U.S....More

FDA to require cancer warnings on labels of two eczema drugs

WASHINGTON (CP) - The labels on two prescription creams to treat eczema will have to bear "black box" warnings in the U.S. of possible cancer risks....More

African herbal products M2 Formula, Energy 2000 pose heath risks: advisory

OTTAWA (CP) - Consumers should not use the Nigerian herbal products M2 Formula and Energy 2000 capsules because they may contain toxic herbal ingredients that pose serious health risks - including heart problems, kidney failure and even cancer, Health Canada warned Thursday....More

Health officials warn patrons of Vancouver restaurant to get hepatitis shot

VANCOUVER (CP) - There has been another hepatitis scare in Vancouver, this time at a restaurant after a food handler was found to be infected. Health officials are warning that some patrons may have been exposed to the hepatitis A virus at the Foundation Eatery Lounge....More

American Heart Association says soy has no significant effect on cholesterol

DALLAS (AP) - Veggie burgers and tofu might not be so great at warding off heart disease after all....More

No snow? No problem - walkers stay fit using ski poles during workouts

STONE MOUNTAIN, Ga (AP) - Markku Mustonen typically gets the same response when he walks with ski poles up the grassy hills leading to the top of Stone Mountain: "Hey, buddy, looking for snow?" But to the Finnish native, it's not about the snow, especially in a place that had...More

British Columbia trainer puts Hugh Jackman through workouts for X-Men role

(CP) - After whipping Hollywood hunk Hugh Jackman into even better shape for his X-Men 3 role as Wolverine, trainer Steve Ramsbottom fine-tuned his workout regime for other people who want to add muscle mass while keeping the body lean and agile....More

Health Canada whistleblower denied leave to appeal 2002 suspension

OTTAWA (CP) - The Supreme Court of Canada has refused to hear an appeal by whistleblower Margaret Haydon for her five-day suspension from Health Canada in 2002....More

Hong Kong reports dead robin tests positive for deadly bird flu strain

HONG KONG (AP) - Hong Kong reported Thursday that officials have found a dead oriental magpie robin that tested positive for the deadly H5N1 virus. Dr....More

Drugmaker Pfizer's Q4 profit slips 3% to US$2.73B as revenue falls

NEW YORK (AP) - Pfizer Inc., the world's biggest drugmaker, said Thursday that fourth-quarter profit fell about three per cent as sales retreated from year-ago levels, but the company beat Wall Street estimates after excluding one-time charges. Net income declined to $2....More

Drug firm Novartis's fourth-quarter profits virtually flat on one-time charges

BASEL, Switzerland (AP) - Swiss drug giant Novartis AG reported a fourth-quarter profit Thursday that was virtually flat due to one-time charges. The maker of hypertension drug Diovan and epilepsy treatment Trileptal earned $1.352 billion US (1....More

FDA unveils new prescription drug labels that doctors and patients should understand

WASHINGTON (AP) - Package inserts that accompany every prescription drug are getting a major makeover that will provide doctors and patients with the clear and concise information they need while cutting down on the small-print warnings that only lawyers seem to understand....More

'Very rare' hep B relapses reported in patients on certain arthritis drugs

TORONTO (CP) - Patients taking a certain drug therapy used for rheumatoid arthritis and several other conditions are being asked to watch for relapses of hepatitis B infection, and to contact their doctor immediately if they experience symptoms....More

Turkish minister accuses neighbouring countries of hiding bird flu outbreaks

ANKARA, Turkey (AP) - Turkey's agriculture minister accused several neighbouring countries Friday of concealing bird flu outbreaks and hampering an effort to prevent the spread of the disease....More

Antibiotic resistant microbes abound in soil, may hold clues for drug design

TORONTO (CP) - Antibiotic resistant microbes abound in soil, and studying how the bugs develop resistance to a broad range of antibiotics could provide scientists with a road map to predict how resistance to new antimicrobials will occur in humans, scientists from McMaster University...More

China reports its 6th human death from bird flu on country's mainland

BEIJING (AP) - A 35-year-old woman in southwestern China has become the country's sixth human fatality from the deadly H5N1 strain of bird flu, the government announced Wednesday. The woman, identified only by the surname Wei, died Jan. 11, the Health Ministry said....More

Breast cancer risk rises with heavy placenta, study finds

TORONTO (MRI) - Women who have heavy placentas during consecutive pregnancies face an increased risk of breast cancer, researchers have found....More

Turkish bird flu patient shows signs of improvement; another boy discharged

ANKARA, Turkey (AP) - A 4-year-old boy - one of 21 people infected with the deadly H5N1 strain of bird flu - has recovered and was discharged from hospital while another boy listed as critical was showing improvement, doctors and officials said Thursday....More

Local test shows Indonesian boy died of suspected bird flu: health officials

JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) - A three-year-old Indonesian boy whose sister died from bird flu last week also succumbed to the disease, as the country grappled with a steady climb in cases, authorities said Thursday. Local laboratory tests showed the boy contracted the virus, said Dr....More

American cyclist Armstrong: No magic potion for beating cancer

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa (AP) - Lance Armstrong says there's no secret potion for beating cancer....More

Drug firm Novartis's fourth-quarter profits virtually flat on one-time charges

BASEL, Switzerland (AP) - Swiss drug giant Novartis AG reported a fourth-quarter profit Thursday that was virtually flat due to one-time charges. The maker of hypertension drug Diovan and epilepsy treatment Trileptal earned $1.352 billion US (1....More

Hong Kong reports dead robin tests positive for deadly bird flu strain

HONG KONG (AP) - Hong Kong reported Thursday that officials have found a dead oriental magpie robin that tested positive for the deadly H5N1 virus. Dr....More

Drugmaker Pfizer's Q4 profit slips 3% to US$2.73B as revenue falls

NEW YORK (AP) - Pfizer Inc., the world's biggest drugmaker, said Thursday that fourth-quarter profit fell about three per cent as sales retreated from year-ago levels, but the company beat Wall Street estimates after excluding one-time charges. Net income declined to $2....More

Biovail wins approval for Wellbutrin XL to treat depression in Canada

TORONTO (CP) - Biovail Corp. (TSX:BVF) has won Canadian approval for the use of once-daily tablets of Wellbutrin XL to treat major depression in adults....More

Potential to block MS progression found

TORONTO (MRI) - A protein found to contribute to an MS-like disease in animals may be the gateway to treatments to prevent the disease's progression in humans, researchers say....More

Mammograms and treatments both putting a dent in breast cancer deaths

TORONTO (MRI) - Screening mammograms and advances in treatments have strongly contributed to the sharp decline in breast cancer deaths in recent years, researchers have found....More

Pledges at bird flu conference headed to exceed $1.9 billion US: official

BEIJING (AP) - The UN and the World Bank told international donors Wednesday they must prepare for a potential flu pandemic that could kill millions worldwide and result in economic costs far greater than the $1.5 billion US now needed....More

Heavier women struggle with natural birth after previous C-section

TORONTO (MRI) - Being overweight can pose significant challenges to women who have delivered by C-section and then attempt natural labour, according to new research....More

Exercise strengthens fight against osteoporosis

TORONTO (MRI) - If you want to keep your bones healthy and cut the chances of developing osteoporosis, then get moving, researchers advise....More

Iraq investigating if 15-year-old girl in northeast died from bird flu

BAGHDAD (AP) - Iraqi doctors are investigating if a 15-year-old girl who recently died from a lung infection was infected with bird flu, a Health Ministry official said Wednesday....More

Breast cancer risk rises with heavy placenta, study finds

TORONTO (MRI) - Women who have heavy placentas during consecutive pregnancies face an increased risk of breast cancer, researchers have found....More

Morgentaler doesn't trust Harper pledge to leave abortion issue alone

MONTREAL (CP) - Dr. Henry Morgentaler is warning voters not to trust Stephen Harper when it comes to abortion rights....More

Lengthy plastic surgery procedures not a risk to health, study says

TORONTO Patients who spend a protracted period under general anesthetic for facial plastic surgery aren't at increased risk of death or injury, a new scientific paper suggests. Lead author Dr....More

At least $1 billion will be pledged for bird flu preparedness: World Bank

BEIJING (AP) - Countries around the world are expected to pledge at least $1 billion to help their poorer counterparts tackle bird flu and prepare for a potential pandemic in humans, a World Bank official said Monday....More

CryoCath stock rises on positive news at heart fibrillation conference

MONTREAL (CP) - Stock in CryoCath Technologies Inc. (TSX:CYT) rose Monday as the company reported positive results from trials on its treatment for irregular heart beats. Shares in the Montreal company gained 44 cents, over eight per cent, to trade at $5....More

Turkish boy battling bird flu critical, prime minister urges calm

ANKARA, Turkey (AP) - A 5-year-old boy battling the deadly H5N1 bird flu strain in Turkey was reported in critical condition Tuesday, and the prime minister urged calm as officials worked to contain the outbreak....More

Study suggests skyrocketing number of Canadians are extremely obese

TORONTO (CP) - A new study looking at the prevalence of obesity in Canada has found that the number of people at the highest end of the obesity scale has skyrocketed over the past several decades....More

Swiss drug maker Roche agrees to donate another two million course of Tamiflu

BEIJING (AP) - Swiss drug maker Roche Holding AG is donating enough Tamiflu for another two million people to the World Health Organization, a WHO official said Tuesday....More

International donors' conference on bird flu opens in Beijing

BEIJING (AP) - Disease experts urged rich countries at a donors conference Tuesday to come up with the $1.5 billion US that the World Bank says is needed to tackle bird flu and prepare for a potential pandemic in humans....More

Smoking fires up diabetes risk

TORONTO (MRI) - Smoking can nearly triple your risk of developing type 2 diabetes, a study of more than 900 American adults has found....More

WHO heartened by lack of new bird flu cases, but cautions outbreak not over

(CP) - World Health Organization officials were heartened Friday that the increase in human cases of H5N1 avian influenza in Turkey appeared to have levelled off. But the head of the WHO mission to that country cautioned it's too soon to declare the crisis has passed....More

Human study confirms low-calorie diet keeps the heart looking young

ST. LOUIS (AP) - A very low calorie diet can help the heart age more slowly, according to researchers who released what they call the first-ever human study on the subject....More

Job stress equals heart stress

TORONTO (MRI) - Job stress can start taking a toll on men's heart health even by the time they reach their early 30s, new research shows....More

An early warning for repetitive strain injuries?

TORONTO (MRI) - Feeling tired and sluggish on the job isn't just a sign you're getting sick or you aren't happy at work. New research shows it could also signal the onset of a repetitive strain injury such as carpal tunnel syndrome....More

Norwegian cancer researcher admits fabricating data published in the Lancet

STOCKHOLM, Sweden (AP) - A Norwegian cancer researcher has admitted fabricating data published in a renowned international medical journal, officials in Norway said Saturday....More

At least $1 billion will be pledged for bird flu preparedness: World Bank

BEIJING (AP) - Countries around the world are expected to pledge at least $1 billion to help their poorer counterparts tackle bird flu and prepare for a potential pandemic in humans, a World Bank official said Monday....More

Patient admitted to Jerusalem hospital being tested for possible avian flu

JERUSALEM (AP) - A patient admitted to a Jerusalem hospital with flu symptoms on Monday is being tested for possible avian flu, a hospital official said....More