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

From dengue fever to diarrhea, exotic travel brings health risks

(AP) - Travelling to Africa or Southeast Asia? Malaria and dengue fever are the big worries. In the Caribbean and South America, it's infections from worms and other parasites. In south-central Asia, respiratory illness....More

Long-term safety of silicone breast implants still unclear: expert panel

TORONTO (CP) - Health Canada should set up and administer a registry of women with breast implants and seek more information about the long-term safety of the silicone-gel form of the devices, an expert scientific panel says in its long-awaited report....More

Europe intensifies response to bird flu threat; WHO urges Turks not to panic

ANKARA, Turkey (AP) - Turkey's fast-moving outbreak of bird flu prompted villagers across the border in Georgia to slaughter chickens, geese and ducks en masse Wednesday, while in neighbouring Greece, Georgia and Syria, authorities beefed up border inspections....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

Clinton Foundation negotiates cheaper AIDS drugs for developing countries

NEW YORK (AP) - Former U.S. president Bill Clinton announced Thursday that his foundation has negotiated agreements to lower the price of rapid HIV tests and anti-AIDS drugs in the developing world....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

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

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

Study bolsters evidence that you can't be fat and healthy at the same time

CHICAGO (AP) - Middle-age people who are overweight but have normal blood pressure and cholesterol levels are kidding themselves if they think their health is just fine....More

Quebec, Ontario researchers to do study on treating depression with Omega-3

MONTREAL (CP) - Researchers from Quebec and Ontario will study the effects of omega-3 fatty acids in treating depression. "Patients need new treatments for depression," said Dr....More

Laws don't protect public health, safety regarding nanotechnology: report

WASHINGTON (AP) - From toothpaste to trousers, dozens of everyday products contain materials made through the blossoming science of nanotechnology - but laws safeguarding the public's health and safety aren't developing nearly as quickly, according to a new report....More

French woman who got first partial face transplant now going out in public

PARIS (AP) - The woman who received a new nose, chin and mouth in a groundbreaking transplant operation in November has taken strolls in public without drawing stares, her surgeon said in an interview published Wednesday....More

Disgraced South Korean stem cell scientist blames fraud on junior researchers

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) - Disgraced scientist Hwang Woo-suk asked forgiveness Thursday from fellow South Koreans for his fraudulent publications on human stem cell research but blamed the scandal on junior researchers he said deceived him....More

Company plans private health care for Ont. this summer, across Canada by 2007

TORONTO (CP) - A private health-care company announced Wednesday that it plans to move into Ontario this summer and every major Canadian city by 2007, but Ontario's health minister threatened heavy fines if the company contravenes legislation....More

Bird flu virus could spread dispite measures being taken: officials

ANKARA, Turkey (AP) - International agencies warned against panic but cautioned Wednesday that Turkey's neighbours may be unable to keep out the bird flu that has infected at least 15 people across the country in the last week....More

Europe intensifies response to bird flu threat; WHO urges Turks not to panic

ANKARA, Turkey (AP) - Turkey's fast-moving outbreak of bird flu prompted villagers across the border in Georgia to slaughter chickens, geese and ducks en masse Wednesday, while in neighbouring Greece, Georgia and Syria, authorities beefed up border inspections....More

Chest doctors discourage use of over-the-counter cough syrup

CHICAGO (AP) - Despite the billions of dollars spent every year in North America on over-the-counter cough syrups, most such medicines do little if anything to relieve coughs, chest physicians say....More

Abbott's biggest deal since '01 cheered by Street; stock up four per cent

CHICAGO (AP) - Abbott Laboratories Inc.'s deal to buy part of Guidant Corp. for about $4 billion US was applauded Monday by investors and analysts, who said it would give the manufacturer of drugs and diagnostic tests new clout in medical devices....More

Doctors optimistic after 1st surgery for Iraqi infant; had restful evening

ATLANTA (AP) - The Iraqi infant known as Baby Noor rested comfortably and was smiling and cooing after the first of at least three operations needed to correct a severe birth defect, a doctor said Tuesday....More

Laws don't protect public health, safety regarding nanotechnology: report

WASHINGTON (AP) - From toothpaste to trousers, dozens of everyday products contain materials made through the blossoming science of nanotechnology - but laws safeguarding the public's health and safety aren't developing nearly as quickly, according to a new report....More

WHO tells Turks there is 'no reason to panic' over bird flu outbreak

ANKARA, Turkey (AP) - Turkey has no reason to panic over the bird flu outbreak, a World Health Organization official said Wednesday, urging Turks anew to avoid sick or dead poultry suspected in the rapid spread of the deadly H5N1 strain. "The worst situation is a panic situation....More

Covalon Technologies receives Health Canada's OK for catheter coating

MISSISSAUGA, Ont. (CP) - Covalon Technologies (TSXV:COV) says it has received Health Canada approval for its silver-ion coating on catheters, intended to inhibit infections in the body....More

Up to 77 Japanese may have been infected with mild form of bird flu

TOKYO (AP) - Up to 77 people in Japan - most of them chicken farm workers - may have been infected with a mild form of bird flu, health officials said Tuesday....More

Covalon Technologies receives Health Canada's OK for catheter coating

MISSISSAUGA, Ont. (CP) - Covalon Technologies (TSXV:COV) says it has received Health Canada approval for its silver-ion coating on catheters, intended to inhibit infections in the body....More

Automakers putting forward new safety features, such as radar systems

DETROIT (AP) - Every day across America, cars rear-end the vehicle in front. Drowsy drivers drift into the wrong lane. Motorists are tossed from an open window in a rollover. Most motorists are protected by safety belts, air bags, and brakes....More

2 more people in China have died of bird flu: WHO

BEIJING (AP) - Two more people sickened by bird flu in China have died, bringing the total number of humans killed by the disease in the country to five, the World Health Organization said Wednesday....More

Indonesian man dies of bird flu, local test results show - 12th in country

JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) - A 39-year old man died of bird flu in Indonesia, a senior Health Ministry official said Monday, citing local laboratory results....More

As Turkish authorities say bird flu case count hits 9, WHO team reaches Van

(CP) - The Turkish Ministry of Health reported Sunday that five more people in that country had tested positive for H5N1 avian flu, including three people in Ankara, far from the nexus of infections to date....More

Doctors test one week of radiation instead of six to fight breast cancer

WASHINGTON (AP) - Radiation may get a little easier for thousands of breast cancer patients: Doctors now can target cancer-killing beams just at the tumour site instead of the whole breast, cutting the usual six-week treatment down to five days. A major U.S....More

Native communities develop pilot programs to prevent fetal alcohol syndrome

TORONTO (CP) - Four Canadian aboriginal communities, working in partnership with university researchers, have each developed culturally sensitive intervention programs aimed at preventing alcohol-related birth defects in children....More

Cut poultry-human contact to contain bird flu threat, WHO official says

DOGUBAYAZIT, Turkey (CP) - As Turkey reported more suspected cases of bird flu among people, a World Health Organization official said Monday the likelihood of the H5N1 virus mutating into a more dangerous form increases with every new human infection....More

Drugstore chain Jean Coutu swings to Q2 profit of US$30.8M from year-ago loss

MONTREAL (CP) - The Jean Coutu Group Inc. (TSX:PJC.SV.A), with more than 2,000 drugstores in the United States and Canada, has swung to a second-quarter profit of $30.8 million US from a year-ago loss. Earnings for the quarter ended Nov....More

WHO confirms 4 human cases of bird flu in Turkey; first outside East Asia

(CP) - The World Health Organization formally confirmed four cases of H5N1 avian flu on Saturday in children living in eastern Turkey. Two of the children died earlier this week; two others, unrelated to the first cases, remain alive....More

Suspected bird flu cases in Turkey reaches 32; two confirmed dead from virus

DOGUBAYAZIT, Turkey (AP) - The number of suspected bird flu cases in humans reached at least 32 in Turkey Saturday, while the UN health agency confirmed at least two patients - a brother and sister who died - tested positive for bird flu....More

Sharon's struggle shows contrast between Jewish traditions, medical advances

JERUSALEM (AP) - Like nearly everything in Israel, Ariel Sharon's condition touches both the hard-edged logic of the secular world and the many vagaries of faith....More

Stroke experts say Sharon will be taken out of coma in gradual procedure

JERUSALEM (AP) - Doctors will try to wake Prime Minister Ariel Sharon from a coma by gradually reducing the sedatives they are giving him in a process that will take hours, but stroke experts said Sunday the Israeli leader likely will have irreversible brain damage....More

Preliminary tests show 2 children, 1 adult in Ankara with deadly strain

DOGUBAYAZIT, Turkey (AP) - Preliminary tests showed two young brothers and an adult in Ankara have a deadly strain of bird flu, the first suspected cases confirmed outside the eastern city of Van, officials said Sunday, triggering fears the virus is spreading in Turkey....More

As Turkish authorities say bird flu case count hits 9, WHO team reaches Van

(CP) - The Turkish Ministry of Health reported Sunday that five more people in that country had tested positive for H5N1 avian flu, including three people in Ankara, far from the nexus of infections to date....More

Low vitamin D during pregnancy can leave child with weak bones, study finds

TORONTO (CP) - Children whose mothers are deficient in vitamin D during pregnancy may grow up with lower-than-normal bone mass, putting them at risk of osteoporosis-related fractures later in life, a study suggests....More

Indonesian man dies of bird flu, local test results show - 12th in country

JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) - A 39-year old man died of bird flu in Indonesia, a senior Health Ministry official said Monday, citing local laboratory results....More

Breast cancer risk not affected by antidepressant, study finds

TORONTO (MRI) - A class of drugs used by millions to treat depression does not appear to increase the odds of developing breast cancer as previously reported, according to a new study....More

CDC report: Down syndrome more common than once thought

ATLANTA (AP) - Down syndrome in the United States is more common than previously thought, at one case for every 733 live births, according to a new government report containing what are regarded as the most reliable estimates yet on the prevalence of 18 types of birth defects....More

Boston Scientific expects imminent Guidant agreement; CEO to stay

BOSTON (AP) - Boston Scientific Corp. said Thursday it hopes to reach a definitive agreement with Guidant Corp. by the end of next week to buy the rival medical device maker, whose shareholders are due to vote Jan. 31 on a competing but smaller offer from Johnson & Johnson....More

Booze acts as a potential blood thinner, research suggests

TORONTO (MRI) - A drink a day may have the same effect as a "blood thinner," which can be good for preventing heart attacks but bad when it comes to preventing bleeding strokes....More

Turkish teens who died of bird flu reportedly played with dead chicken

VAN, Turkey (CP) - Twelve people were hospitalized for suspected bird flu in the eastern Turkish city of Van, where 15-year-old Fatma Kocyigit died Thursday - four days after the death of her brother. She was buried beside Mehmet Ali Kocyigit, her 14-year-old sibling....More

Experts scurry to see if Turkish cases mean bird flu virus adapting to humans

(CP) - The worrying emergence of a potentially large cluster of avian influenza cases on Europe's doorstep has flu experts scrambling to try to determine if the H5N1 virus is mutating in ways that would allow it to infect people more easily....More

Indonesia plans avian flu surveillance posts at villages across the country

JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) - Indonesia plans to spend close to $950 million US to fight avian flu over the next two years, and some of the money will go toward establishing surveillance stations at villages across the country, the welfare minister said Friday....More

A third child from same family dies of deadly avian flu strain in Turkey

DOGUBAYAZIT, Turkey (AP) - An 11-year-old girl died Friday of suspected avian flu in eastern Turkey - days after her brother and sister succumbed to the disease. Their doctor said they probably contracted the illness by playing with dead chickens....More

Forum harnesses power of the Internet for global disease surveillance

TORONTO (CP) - In a global village, where a cough in China's Guangdong province can become a SARS epidemic in Toronto, knowing what ailments are afflicting your neighbour's neighbours is a critical component of public health....More

Canadian, Aussie researchers isolate stem cells from adult breast tissue

TORONTO (CP) - Canadian and Australian researchers have isolated stem cells from the breast tissue of mice that can regenerate an entire milk-producing mammary gland - the first time such cells have been purified from an adult tissue other than blood or bone marrow....More

Second Turkish teenager dies of avian flu; other cases reported in region

ANKARA, Turkey (AP) - A Turkish teenager whose brother died of avian flu also succumbed to the disease Thursday, making them the first people outside Asia to die from the worrisome H5N1 strain of the virus, World Health Organization officials said....More

Obesity associated with risk of heart surgery complication

TORONTO (MRI) - Being obese can raise your risk of developing a dangerous heartbeat irregularity following cardiac surgery, a new study has found....More

Analysis: Statins have no effect on cancer risk

CHICAGO (AP) - Contrary to some researchers' hopes, cholesterol-lowering statin drugs do nothing to fight cancer, an analysis found....More

Booze acts as a potential blood thinner, research suggests

TORONTO (MRI) - A drink a day may have the same effect as a "blood thinner," which can be good for preventing heart attacks but bad when it comes to preventing bleeding strokes....More

Japanese lab may have successfully induced mad cow infection for experiment

TOKYO (AP) - Japanese scientists say they may have successfully infected cattle with mad cow disease as part of an experiment aimed at an early detection for the fatal bovine illness, a laboratory official said Thursday....More

Breast cancer risk not affected by antidepressant, study finds

TORONTO (MRI) - A class of drugs used by millions to treat depression does not appear to increase the odds of developing breast cancer as previously reported, according to a new study....More

Study shows children no safer in SUVs than cars

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. (AP) - Children are no safer riding in sport utility vehicles than in passenger cars, largely because the doubled risk of rollovers in SUVs cancels out the safety advantages of their greater size and weight, according to a study....More

Art therapy can reduce pain, anxiety, fatigue in cancer patients: study

TORONTO (CP) - Sketching with charcoal, painting with watercolours or fashioning a craft under the gentle tutelage of a trained art therapist can significantly reduce cancer patients' perceptions of pain and anxiety, a study has found....More

Rhode Island legalizes medical marijuana; House overrides governor veto

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) - Rhode Island became the 11th state Tuesday to legalize medical marijuana and the first since the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in June patients who use the drug can still be prosecuted under federal law....More

Reheating leftovers? Make sure plastic containers are microwave-safe

TORONTO (CP) - Mary Anne McNally has been using a microwave for about a dozen years, mostly for reheating food, but she's picky about the kind of containers she'll put in the oven. Plastic containers, unless they're deemed microwave-safe, are a definite no-no....More

Study finds cheerleading-related injuries on the rise

CHICAGO (AP) - Cheerleaders catapult in the air, climb human pyramids and catch their tumbling teammates as they fall to the ground. They also make lots of emergency room visits....More

3-D brain scans help doctors tackle tough aneurysm

WASHINGTON (AP) - Jets of blood beat against the cigar-shaped aneurysm pressing on Ursula Spear's brain stem. The bulging artery was inoperable, one set of doctors pronounced - and likely to eventually burst and kill her. Then Dr....More

MedMira granted patent in Europe for hepatitis C diagnostic system

HALIFAX (CP) - Medical diagnostic test maker MedMira Inc. said Tuesday it has been granted a patent for a key component of its rapid hepatitis C test as it plans to launch the product and a combination rapid test for the disease and HIV....More

Liberals to announce new "patient charter" guaranteeing timely care

OTTAWA (CP) - Prime Minister Paul Martin will announce a so-called "patient charter" guaranteeing health care within time limits, even if it requires moving patients from their home area, sources have told The Canadian Press....More

Plastic surgery offers hope to mutilation victims in northern Uganda

KITGUM, Uganda (AP) - Sabina Abwo is a victim of one of the most horrifying tactics of Uganda's northern war: her lips and ears were sliced off. Abwo said she believed she then would be killed by rebels, who abducted her when she ventured from a refugee camp to fetch firewood....More

Recreational runners aiming for marathon in 2006 should exercise caution: experts

TORONTO (CP) - Audacious would-be athletes who plan to add "complete a marathon" to their list of new year's resolutions should exercise caution and common sense, say running experts....More

Guidant shareholder vote set for Jan. 31 on J&J-Guidant merger

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - Guidant Corp. shareholders will vote Jan. 31, four days later than originally planned, on a $21.5 billion US offer by Johnson & Johnson to buy the troubled medical device maker....More

HealthSouth Corp. claims Scrushy seeks to 'pillage' rehab company

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) - HealthSouth Corp. accused ousted CEO Richard Scrushy of trying to "pillage" the company of more than $100 million US in court papers filed Wednesday and said he isn't due anything for his firing....More

Hospital overdoses contribute to bleeding problems in heart attack patients

CHICAGO (AP) - Heart attack patients are often given overdoses of powerful blood-thinning drugs in the emergency room, increasing their risk of serious bleeding, a study found. Of the 30,136 heart attack patients studied who were treated last year at 387 U.S....More

FDA approves thalidomide-like drug for rare bone marrow disorders

WASHINGTON (CP) - A drug similar to one that causes birth defects has won FDA approval to treat anemia in people who suffer from certain kinds of rare bone-marrow disorders known as myelodysplastic syndromes, or MDS. The U.S....More

China says it will soon be able to mass produce human bird flu vaccine

BEIJING (AP) - China is ready and able to mass produce a vaccine - currently undergoing human trials - to protect people from catching the H5N1 flu virus from birds, Xinhua news agency reported....More

China reports new human fatality from bird flu; no immediate confirmation by UN

BEIJING (AP) - China on Thursday reported its seventh human case of bird flu in a 41-year-old woman who died Dec. 21....More

Plastic surgery offers hope to mutilation victims in northern Uganda

KITGUM, Uganda (AP) - Sabina Abwo is a victim of one of the most horrifying tactics of Uganda's northern war: her lips and ears were sliced off. Abwo said she believed she then would be killed by rebels, who abducted her when she ventured from a refugee camp to fetch firewood....More

Recreational runners aiming for marathon in 2006 should exercise caution: experts

TORONTO (CP) - Audacious would-be athletes who plan to add "complete a marathon" to their list of new year's resolutions should exercise caution and common sense, say running experts....More

HealthSouth Corp. claims Scrushy seeks to 'pillage' rehab company

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) - HealthSouth Corp. accused ousted CEO Richard Scrushy of trying to "pillage" the company of more than $100 million US in court papers filed Wednesday and said he isn't due anything for his firing....More

Guidant shareholder vote set for Jan. 31 on J&J-Guidant merger

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - Guidant Corp. shareholders will vote Jan. 31, four days later than originally planned, on a $21.5 billion US offer by Johnson & Johnson to buy the troubled medical device maker....More

Hospital overdoses contribute to bleeding problems in heart attack patients

CHICAGO (AP) - Heart attack patients are often given overdoses of powerful blood-thinning drugs in the emergency room, increasing their risk of serious bleeding, a study found. Of the 30,136 heart attack patients studied who were treated last year at 387 U.S....More

FDA approves thalidomide-like drug for rare bone marrow disorders

WASHINGTON (CP) - A drug similar to one that causes birth defects has won FDA approval to treat anemia in people who suffer from certain kinds of rare bone-marrow disorders known as myelodysplastic syndromes, or MDS. The U.S....More

China says it will soon be able to mass produce human bird flu vaccine

BEIJING (AP) - China is ready and able to mass produce a vaccine - currently undergoing human trials - to protect people from catching the H5N1 flu virus from birds, Xinhua news agency reported....More

China reports new human fatality from bird flu; no immediate confirmation by UN

BEIJING (AP) - China on Thursday reported its seventh human case of bird flu in a 41-year-old woman who died Dec. 21....More