Tentative deal reached in Saskatchewan cancer workers dispute

REGINA - A strike by workers at the Saskatchewan Cancer Agency has been averted with the signing of a tentative contract agreement with the provincial government....More

Teens who add part-time jobs to school more likely to start smoking: study

TORONTO - High-school students who take part-time jobs for pocket money may be more likely to start smoking than teens who don't join the after-school and weekend workforce, a study suggests....More

Nigeria finds polio cases linked to vaccine viruses; experts worried about fallout

Nigeria has found 69 cases of children paralyzed by polio not caused by wild polio viruses, but rather weakened viruses from polio vaccine that have circulated and regained their power to cause disease, a team of international scientists reported Thursday....More

Medical implant makers make deals with federal prosecutors

NEWARK, N.J. - Five makers of medical device implants have reached a US$310 million agreement to resolve concerns over doctor kickbacks, U.S. prosecutors said Thursday. The agreements were made by Biomet Orthopedics Inc., DePuy Orthopaedics Inc., Smith & Nephew Inc....More

Certain types of cancer mean higher divorce rates, experts say

BARCELONA, Spain - People who develop cervical or testicular cancer may face another harsh reality: they are more likely to get divorced, a new study says....More

Autopsy of pregnant woman felled by bird flu showed virus passed to fetus

Autopsies performed on a pregnant woman who died from H5N1 avian flu infection showed the virus passed to the fetus, Chinese researchers report in the journal The Lancet....More

All types of alcohol raise breast cancer risk in women, experts say

BARCELONA, Spain - All types of alcohol - wine, beer or liquor - add equally to the risk of developing breast cancer in women, American researchers said Thursday. "This is a hugely underestimated risk factor," said Dr....More

Alberta top destination for migrating health workers; B.C., Ontario next: report

OTTAWA - A new report says Alberta is the destination of choice for many health-care workers seeking greener employment pastures in the country....More

Mercury-based preservative in vaccines appears safe for children: CDC

TORONTO - The mercury-containing preservative once widely used in vaccines against such diseases as polio, chickenpox and measles does not appear harmful to children's learning abilities, speech or motor skills, a large U.S. study suggests....More

Know your breasts, but monthly self-exams not needed: Canadian Cancer Society

TORONTO - The Canadian Cancer Society is changing its message to women about monitoring themselves for breast cancer, and is no longer insisting on routine breast self-examination according to a once-a-month schedule....More

Health promotion minister wants Red Bull reps off school property in N.S.

HALIFAX - Nova Scotia's health minister issued a warning Wednesday to the marketers of the Red Bull energy drink: stop giving away the high-caffeine beverage to high school students....More

Health Canada approves first human trial for experimental cancer drug

EDMONTON - Health Canada has approved the first human trial of an experimental cancer drug called dichloroacetate, or DCA, in people with an advanced form of an aggressive brain cancer. The molecule has drawn international attention after the University of Alberta's Dr....More

Chinese-made children's jewelry and toys recalled because of lead content

TORONTO - More toys and children's necklaces made in China were recalled Wednesday, including five more items from the popular Thomas and Friends Wooden Railway product line, because they contain dangerous levels of lead. RC2 Corp....More

Canadian Cancer Society changes message about breast self-exams for women

TORONTO - The Canadian Cancer Society is changing its message to women about monitoring themselves for breast cancer. The organization is no longer insisting on routine breast self-examination according to a once-a-month schedule....More

'May contain' allergen statements on food labels under review: Health Canada

TORONTO - Consumers who study ingredient lists to avoid triggering an allergy or sensitivity may soon find food product labels easier to read....More

Certain types of cancer mean higher divorce rates, experts say

BARCELONA, Spain - People who develop cervical or testicular cancer may face another harsh reality: they are more likely to get divorced, a new study says....More

Canadian pediatricians recommend more vitamin D for pregnant, nursing women

TORONTO - A new statement by the Canadian Paediatric Society says Canadian mothers and babies aren't getting enough vitamin D....More

World Health Organization says cholera outbreak in Iraq is spreading

GENEVA - A cholera outbreak in Iraq is spreading, the World Health Organization said Tuesday, with new cases confirmed in Baghdad, Basra and for the first time three northern districts. The number of confirmed cases has now reached 2,116, WHO said....More

Quickly treating employee depression helps workers and company's bottom line

CHICAGO - Investing in depressed employees - quickly getting them treatment and even offering telephone psychotherapy - can cut absenteeism while improving workers' health, a study suggests....More

Quebec coroner says 'culture of prevention' needed to prevent C. difficile

ST-HYACINTHE, Que. - A Quebec coroner who investigated two outbreaks of C. difficile that led to the deaths of 16 people at a hospital near Montreal says more emphasis is needed on cleanliness and prevention....More

Personalized cancer treatment to be based on your genes, experts say

BARCELONA, Spain - The treatment that more cancer patients receive may one day depend on their genes. With an increasing number of biological clues available, doctors hope they will be able to customize more patients' treatments based on their genetic profiles....More

Hospital management didn't do enough to protect nurse, colleague testifies

WINDSOR, Ont. - Hospital management did not do enough to protect a nurse who was stabbed to death at work by her ex-boyfriend, a colleague testified Tuesday at a coroner's inquest into the woman's death....More

Dental group says Wrigley sugar-free gum has oral health benefits

CHICAGO - The largest dentist group in the United States now says gum can be good for you, as long as it's sugar-free....More

Alta. health group writes prescription to reduce emergency room overcrowding

CALGARY - An independent health board is recommending significant changes to help reduce chronic overcrowding in Calgary's emergency rooms. The Health Quality Council of Alberta put emergency room procedures and urgent care facilities under the microscope over the past year....More

No evidence magnets dull pain despite widespread use, researchers conclude

TORONTO - They're embedded in everything from mattresses to insoles for shoes to wrist bands - but there is no definitive scientific evidence that static magnets actually relieve chronic pain, researchers say....More

No bionic people yet, but war fuelling new advancements in prosthetics

FREDERICTON - As she grew up, Adele Fifield was keenly aware that her artificial leg was more than a few steps behind the bionic marvels portrayed in popular science fiction shows....More

N.S. Health Department says medical test delayed for 578 patients

HALIFAX - A software error that delayed the electronic delivery of medical test results could have affected 578 patients in Nova Scotia, but it was unclear Monday whether anyone was harmed by the problem....More

Montreal-area hospital blamed in coroner's report for C. difficile outbreak

MONTREAL - A Quebec coroner is blaming management at a Montreal-area hospital for two outbreaks of C. difficile linked to the deaths of 16 people....More

Men with deep voices have more kids than high-pitched counterparts: Tanzania study

TORONTO - Men, how low can you go? Your voice, that is. As you hear yourself answer the question aloud, does the response come out Pee Wee Herman-squeaky or Barry White baritone smooth? Studies suggest the pitch level of a man's voice could have an impact on his...More

Company reduces number of Simplicity cribs recalled in Canada

MONTREAL - A Canadian distributor is reducing the number of Graco and Simplicity cribs affected by a recall in Canada. Elfe Juvenile Products, a distributor for Simplicity Inc....More

Canadian study says horseback riding more dangerous than motorcycling, skiing

CALGARY - Hold your horses! A new Canadian study says horseback riding is more dangerous than motorcycling, skiing and football. The University of Calgary-Calgary Health Region study recommends that riders wear helmets and safety vests to avoid life-altering injuries....More

Canadian pediatricians recommend more vitamin D for pregnant, nursing women

TORONTO - A new statement by the Canadian Paediatric Society says Canadian mothers and babies aren't getting enough vitamin D....More

N.S. premier too preoccupied with anti-strike issue, Liberal leader says

ANTIGONISH, N.S. - The leader of Nova Scotia's opposition Liberal party says the provincial government's preoccupation with anti-strike legislation for health-care workers is misguided. Stephen McNeil, speaking today in Antigonish, N.S....More

Merck halts testing of AIDS vaccine after volunteers become infected with HIV

TRENTON, N.J. - A promising experimental vaccine to prevent the AIDS virus has failed in a crucial experiment, with volunteers becoming infected with HIV anyway, leading the drug developer to halt the study. Merck & Co....More

Mattel apologizes to China over worldwide recalls of Chinese-made toys

BEIJING - U.S.-based toy giant Mattel Inc. issued an extraordinary apology to China on Friday over the recall of Chinese-made toys, taking the blame for design flaws and saying it had recalled more lead-tainted toys than justified....More

Doctors to separate two-year-old twins from Costa Rica joined at chest

PALO ALTO, Calif. - Doctors at Lucile Packard Children's Hospital said they would attempt to separate two-year-old twin girls who are conjoined at the chest and abdomen....More

B.C. mobile clinic to prevent falls among seniors with help from health experts

VANCOUVER - A team of health experts is taking to the road in a clinic that aims to help seniors reduce their risk of falling and injuring themselves....More

Alberta doctors say bill would allow health ministers to interfere

EDMONTON - The Alberta Medical Association is warning doctors about proposed legislation that it says would allow the health minister to interfere with the College of Physicians and Surgeons. In a letter to the province's doctors Friday, association president Dr....More

Alberta doctors say bill could allow health minister to interfere

EDMONTON - The Alberta Medical Association is warning doctors about proposed legislation it says could allow the health minister to interfere with the College of Physicians and Surgeons. Medical association president Dr....More

Canadian study says horseback riding more dangerous than motorcycling, skiing

CALGARY - Hold your horses! A new Canadian study says horseback riding is more dangerous than motorcycling, skiing and football....More

NB Conservation Council launches health and pollution link watch

FREDERICTON - The Conservation Council of New Brunswick has launched a program it says is intended to focus public attention on the link between health and pollution....More

Lead-free assurances from Chinese don't stand up, US companies tell Congress

WASHINGTON (AP) - U.S. companies behind recent recalls of children's toys and jewelry have told Congress their Chinese suppliers assured them the products were virtually lead-free, though in one case a simple store-bought test revealed dangerous levels of the toxic metal....More

Inquiry begins into flawed breast cancer tests in Newfoundland

ST. JOHN'S, N.L. - An inquiry into hundreds of flawed tests given to Newfoundland breast cancer patients will look at what went wrong while assessing current practices to restore public confidence in the system, the judge overseeing the inquiry said as hearings began Wednesday....More

Society, health system need to prepare for era of personal genomes: experts

TORONTO - Many scientists are predicting that affordable personal genomes will be reality in as little as five years, bringing with them the promise of health care tailor-made for individuals....More

Psst! Wanna buy a chocolate bar? "Black market" emerges as school trims menu

WINNIPEG - A "black market" for junk food appears to have developed at a Winnipeg school trying to cut back on sweet treats and soda....More

Occupation of Victoria B.C. mental health facility ends with agreement

VICTORIA - A promise of input in future programs and a 180 - day extension of current ones has helped end a week - long occupation of a mental health facility in Victoria....More

B.C. to join other provinces paying for vaccinating girls against HPV

VICTORIA - British Columbia will begin paying for girls to get vaccinated against a virus blamed for causing the majority of cervical cancer cases....More

Doctors to separate two-year-old twins from Costa Rica joined at chest

PALO ALTO, Calif. - Doctors at Lucile Packard Children's Hospital said they would attempt to separate two-year-old twin girls who are conjoined at the chest and abdomen....More

Tobacco kills over 1,700 in NS every year, costs economy millions; report

HALIFAX - A new report commissioned by the Canadian Cancer Society says smoking and exposure to second-hand smoke is killing more than 1,700 Nova Scotians every year. The study, done by GPI Atlantic, also estimates tobacco use in the province costs Nova Scotians $171....More

Texas Southern students forced out of dormitory by bat infestation

HOUSTON (AP) - Bats took over a university dormitory, forcing more than 200 students into hotels and worrying health officials, who now fear the students could have been exposed to rabies....More

Testing suggests no TB infections from Andrew Speaker flights: WHO

TORONTO - It appears no passengers who sat near Andrew Speaker while the American was travelling to or back from Europe last May contracted his multi-drug resistant strain of tuberculosis, international and Canadian officials say....More

Should be room for private health-care clinics within public system: Tory

TORONTO - Patients waiting for knee surgery should be able to undergo their operation at a private clinic as long as they pay with their health card, Progressive Conservative Leader John Tory said Wednesday, dismissing critics who say such a proposal will "decimate" public health care....More

Should be room for private health care clinics within public system: Tory

TORONTO - Patients waiting for knee surgery should be able to undergo their operation at a private clinic as long as they pay with their health card, Progressive Conservative Leader John Tory said Wednesday, dismissing critics who say such a proposal will "decimate" public health care....More

NB Conservation Council launches health and pollution link watch

FREDERICTON - The Conservation Council of New Brunswick has launched a program it says is intended to focus public attention on the link between health and pollution....More

Lead-free assurances from Chinese don't stand up, US companies tell Congress

WASHINGTON (AP) - U.S. companies behind recent recalls of children's toys and jewelry have told Congress their Chinese suppliers assured them the products were virtually lead-free, though in one case a simple store-bought test revealed dangerous levels of the toxic metal....More

Inquiry begins into flawed breast cancer tests in Newfoundland

ST. JOHN'S, N.L. - An inquiry into hundreds of flawed tests given to Newfoundland breast cancer patients will look at what went wrong while assessing current practices to restore public confidence in the system, the judge overseeing the inquiry said as hearings began Wednesday....More

Nutritionists, FDA say children can learn how to read food labels

(AP) - When 10-year-old Marie Grandguillotte goes grocery shopping with her mother, she reads the food labels. She looks for calories and ingredients and knows to avoid fat and cholesterol....More

Gates Foundation funnels nearly US$300 million to tuberculosis research

TORONTO (CP) - The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation is funnelling nearly US$300 million into research to produce new tools to fight tuberculosis, an old foe whose growing resistance to existing treatments has global public health authorities seriously concerned....More

Elderly Americans at high risk for suicide; few prevention programs target them

(AP) - Not long after 72-year-old Anne Beale Golsan had retired on disability from her job as a librarian, she put a stack of paid bills out for the mail, hung up a freshly pressed outfit and taped a note to the front of the house. "Don't come in by yourself....More

China boosts food quality standards, cracks down on unlicensed producers

BEIJING (AP) - China is stepping up enforcement against unlicensed food vendors and plans to upgrade quality standards on thousands of food and consumer products by year's end, officials said Tuesday....More

Bird flu vaccine protective at ultra-low dose; bodes well for pandemic preparation

TORONTO (CP) - Vaccine manufacturer sanofi pasteur has produced an ultra-low dose vaccine against H5N1 avian flu which appears to be protective in smaller amounts than any of its competitors to date, the company announced Tuesday....More

Australian mom sues doctor because she had twins after fertility treatment

CANBERRA, Australia (AP) - An Australian woman who gave birth to twins instead of a single baby after undergoing in-vitro fertilization has sued her doctor for the cost of bringing up the second child....More

Almost half of Canadians back human-animal embryo research, given benefits: poll

TORONTO (CP) - Almost half of Canadians would support Canada allowing scientists to create human-animal embryos for medical research, knowing that it might lead to cures for some of humanity's most devastating diseases, a poll released Tuesday suggests....More

Lead-free assurances from Chinese don't stand up, US companies tell Congress

WASHINGTON (AP) - U.S. companies behind recent recalls of children's toys and jewelry have told Congress their Chinese suppliers assured them the products were virtually lead-free, though in one case a simple store-bought test revealed dangerous levels of the toxic metal....More

Combined exercise helps diabetics control sugar levels, says study

CALGARY (CP) - A new study suggests that people with Type 2 diabetes are able to stabilize their blood sugar levels significantly by combining aerobic exercise with weight training....More

Clinton announces sweeping health-care plan that covers all Americans

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) - Democratic presidential hopeful Hillary Rodham Clinton on Monday offered a sweeping health-care reform plan to ensure coverage for all Americans with federal assistance to help defray the cost....More

British hospitals ban long sleeves and neckties to fight infection

LONDON (AP) - British hospitals are banning neckties, long sleeves and jewelry in an effort to stop the spread of deadly hospital-born infections, according to new rules published Monday....More

Britain's hospitals to ban long sleeves and neckties in effort to fight infection

LONDON (AP) - British hospitals are banning neckties, long sleeves and jewelry worn by staff in an effort to stop the spread of deadly hospital-borne infections, according to new rules published Monday....More

Britain's hospitals to ban long sleeves and neckties in effort to fight infection

LONDON (AP) - British hospitals are banning neckties, long sleeves and jewelry in an effort to stop the spread of deadly hospital-born infections, according to new rules published Monday....More

Alberta researchers test recordable MP3 players as stethoscope replacement

(CP) - The stethoscope has long been one of the most familiar trappings of doctors and nurses. But in future, medical professionals may more commonly be seen sporting an MP3 player as they do rounds. Yes, that's right, an MP3 player. And no, it won't be for bopping to tunes....More

Agency warns Dole Hearts Delight lettuce salad may contain E. coli bacteria

OTTAWA (CP) - The Canadian Food Inspection Agency is warning the public not to eat Dole brand Hearts Delight lettuce salad. The agency says the ready-to-eat blend of romaine, green leaf and butter lettuce hearts may be contaminated with a strain of E. coli bacteria....More

China boosts food quality standards, cracks down on unlicensed producers

BEIJING (AP) - China is stepping up enforcement against unlicensed food vendors and plans to upgrade quality standards on thousands of food and consumer products by year's end, officials said Tuesday....More

Quebec to get rid of junk food in schools starting in January 2008

MONTREAL (CP) - Premier Jean Charest has announced that Quebec schools will eliminate soft drinks and fatty foods starting next January. Charest told a news conference in Montreal today it won't cost more to offer better food at a reasonable price....More

TAB Quickfacts: Autism strategies set out by Ontario political parties

(CP) - A look at autism strategies for the three major parties: New Democrat Party: The New Democrats would provide publicly funded IBI services in classrooms for all children with autism, and clear the waiting list for autism services within three years....More

NDP vows funding for all children with autism; Liberals say more therapists needed

TORONTO (CP) - The thorny issue of public funding for treatment of children with autism leapt into the Ontario election campaign Saturday, as the New Democrats announced a proposal to provide blanket therapy for all children who need it right in their classrooms - a strategy the Liberals say...More

Thousands of Canadian teens and parents deciding whether to accept HPV vaccine

TORONTO (CP) - Kristin Peterson has no qualms about getting her 13-year-old daughter vaccinated against human papillomavirus, or HPV....More

Team of Winnipeg scientists, portable lab heading to Congo to battle Ebola

(CP) - Scientists from Canada's National Microbiology Laboratory in Winnipeg will depart for the Democratic Republic of Congo on Monday, joining an international effort to contain an outbreak of the deadly Ebola virus in the province of Kasai Occidental....More

Lye attack victim clings to life, while a community roots for her

THETFORD, Vt. (AP) - This year, Carmen Tarleton wasn't there to help her two daughters go shopping for school clothes. She didn't get to see them off for their first day of school at Thetford Academy....More

Death of Illinois woman raises questions about gene therapy research

TAYLORVILLE, Ill. (AP) - A few hours before she died this summer at the age of 36, Jolee Mohr lay in a Chicago hospital so swollen by internal bleeding and her failing kidneys that her husband decided against bringing their five-year-old daughter to say goodbye....More

Alberta researchers test recordable MP3 players as stethoscope replacement

(CP) - The stethoscope has long been one of the most familiar trappings of doctors and nurses. But in future, medical professionals may more commonly be seen sporting an MP3 player as they do rounds. Yes, that's right, an MP3 player. And no, it won't be for bopping to tunes....More

Life expectancy of Americans climbs to 78 years, longest in U.S. history

ATLANTA (AP) - The life expectancy for Americans is nearly 78 years, the longest in U.S. history, according to new government figures from 2005 released Wednesday....More

Imperial Tobacco to test market smokeless product banned in Europe

EDMONTON (CP) - Imperial Tobacco Canada announced Wednesday it will test market a new type of smokeless tobacco in Canada called snus - and while the company is touting it as a safer alternative to cigarettes, it's been banned as a health risk in most of Europe....More

Eating less meat could slow climate change, experts say

LONDON (AP) - Eating less meat could help slow global warming by reducing the number of livestock and thereby decreasing the amount of methane flatulence from the animals, scientists said Thursday....More

Congo health minister calls for more aid to help deal with Ebola outbreak

KINSHASA, Congo (CP) - Congo's health minister called for more help Wednesday in combatting an outbreak of the Ebola virus, which has killed at least five people in the first major outbreak in 12 years. A team of experts from the U.S....More

Aging baby boomers not a major burden to health-care costs: report

OTTAWA (CP) - Canada's aging population will have little impact on the cost of maintaining a viable national public health-care system over the next 40 years, says a new report....More

Ranbaxy to appeal Canadian court protection of Pfizer Lipitor patent

TORONTO (CP) - Ranbaxy Laboratories of India said Thursday it will appeal a Canadian court decision holding back Ranbaxy from launching a generic competitor to Pfizer Inc.'s Lipitor cholesterol drug....More

Fewer seniors taking potentially harmful drugs, but more vigilance needed: report

TORONTO - Fewer Canadian seniors overall are taking potentially harmful drugs, but certain medications considered dicey for older people are still being prescribed - and the use of some has even risen, says a report released Thursday....More

Canadian-led study aims to answer thorny prostate cancer question

TORONTO (CP) - Canadian researchers are launching a large, multi-year international study to try to find a way to help the hundreds of thousands of men diagnosed with prostate cancer every year decide whether to opt for potentially life-altering treatments or choose a watch-and-wait approach....More

Suspected case of foot-and-mouth disease found in Britain, government says

LONDON (AP) - Authorities confirmed a new foot-and-mouth outbreak on the outskirts of London on Wednesday, just days after the government lifted livestock restrictions following the appearance of the devastating disease last month....More

Life expectancy of Americans climbs to 78 years, longest in U.S. history

ATLANTA (AP) - The life expectancy for Americans is nearly 78 years, the longest in U.S. history, according to new government figures from 2005 released Wednesday....More

Imperial Tobacco to test market smokeless product banned in Europe

EDMONTON (CP) - Imperial Tobacco Canada announced Wednesday it will test market a new type of smokeless tobacco in Canada called snus - and while the company is touting it as a safer alternative to cigarettes, it's been banned as a health risk in most of Europe....More

Eating less meat could slow climate change, experts say

LONDON (AP) - Eating less meat could help slow global warming by reducing the number of livestock and thereby decreasing the amount of methane flatulence from the animals, scientists said Thursday....More

Congo health minister calls for more aid to help deal with Ebola outbreak

KINSHASA, Congo (CP) - Congo's health minister called for more help Wednesday in combatting an outbreak of the Ebola virus, which has killed at least five people in the first major outbreak in 12 years. A team of experts from the U.S....More

Aging baby boomers not a major burden to health-care costs: report

OTTAWA (CP) - Canada's aging population will have little impact on the cost of maintaining a viable national public health-care system over the next 40 years, says a new report....More

Ranbaxy to appeal Canadian court protection of Pfizer Lipitor patent

TORONTO (CP) - Ranbaxy Laboratories of India said Thursday it will appeal a Canadian court decision holding back Ranbaxy from launching a generic competitor to Pfizer Inc.'s Lipitor cholesterol drug....More

Canadian-led study aims to answer thorny prostate cancer question

TORONTO (CP) - Canadian researchers are launching a large, multi-year international study to try to find a way to help the hundreds of thousands of men diagnosed with prostate cancer every year decide whether to opt for potentially life-altering treatments or choose a watch-and-wait approach....More

Bad year for drownings in Atlantic Canada highlights need for water safety

(CP) - Emmanuel Aquino's childhood belief that human beings, like turtles, are born with an instinctive ability to swim almost brought an abrupt end to his life....More

Antidepressant good as antipsychotic for dementia, fewer side-effects: study

TORONTO (CP) - An antidepressant appears to work as well as the most commonly prescribed antipsychotic medication in treating agitation and aggressive behaviour in people with Alzheimer's - but without the severe side-effects, a Canadian study suggests....More

U.S. data shows near-tripling of reported deaths, drug reactions in 7 years

CHICAGO (AP) - Reports of dangerous side effects and deaths from widely used medicines almost tripled between 1998 and 2005, an analysis of U.S. drug data found....More

Too few men 45-plus getting checked for prostate cancer, advocacy group says

TORONTO (CP) - Canadian men and their doctors are not making the grade when it comes to testing for prostate cancer, the most commonly diagnosed malignancy in males, says a report card by the Prostate Cancer Research Foundation of Canada released Tuesday....More

Though approved by FDA, microchip implants linked to cancer in animals

(AP) - When the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved implanting microchips in humans, the manufacturer said it would save lives, letting doctors scan the tiny transponders to access patients' medical records almost instantly....More

New study look at benefits, side effects of diabetes drug Actos

CHICAGO (AP) - The widely used diabetes pill Actos appears to lower a patient's chances of death, heart attack or stroke, unlike its beleaguered chief rival Avandia, a new analysis shows....More

ImClone and Bristol-Myers Squibb claim positive results for Erbitux in lung cancer

NEW YORK (AP) - ImClone Systems Inc. and Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. claimed Tuesday that the drug Erbitux improved the survival rate of patients with the most common type of lung cancer in a late-stage study. ImClone shares jumped 18 per cent....More

First randomized trial finds breastfeeding doesn't lower asthma, allergy risk

TORONTO (CP) - The first ever randomized trial to look at the much debated question of whether breastfeeding protects an infant from developing asthma and allergies found that children who were breastfed as babies were not at a lower risk of developing these conditions....More

Enrol kids in swimming lessons this winter; Canadian Red Cross offers safety tips

The Canadian Red Cross has some simple tips for a safer time on and in the water. These include: - Continuous and close adult supervision of children and weak swimmers around pools and beaches, and in the case of infants and toddlers, around bathtubs....More

Disney announces plan to independently tests toys featuring its characters

BURBANK, Calif. (AP) - The Walt Disney Company plans to independently conduct safety tests on toys featuring its characters, company officials said Monday....More

Despite evidence colorectal cancer screening saves lives, few Canadians tested

TORONTO (CP) - A new study reveals that despite the fact that early detection of colorectal cancer has been shown to save lives, few Canadians are being screened for the disease. Scientists from the Ottawa Health Research Institute found that only 17....More

Congo confirms Ebola outbreak; more than 100 have died since late August

KINSHASA, Congo (AP) - Congolese officials say lab results have confirmed a deadly illness outbreak in southeastern Congo as Ebola fever. Health Minister Makwenge Kaput said Monday the U.S....More

Colorectal cancer screening under-used prevention tool in Canada: study

TORONTO (CP) - Despite the fact that screening seemingly healthy people for colorectal cancer has been proven to save lives, the important public health tool is under-used in Canada, a new study suggests....More

Children's right to life should trump parents' rights, B.C. lawyer tells court

VANCOUVER (CP) - The rights of children in need of potentially life-saving medical treatment should trump any rights of their parents, a lawyer argued Monday in a case involving blood transfusions given to four surviving sextuplets....More

Bad year for drownings in Atlantic Canada highlights need for water safety

(CP) - Emmanuel Aquino's childhood belief that human beings, like turtles, are born with an instinctive ability to swim almost brought an abrupt end to his life....More

Antidepressant good as antipsychotic for dementia, fewer side-effects: study

TORONTO (CP) - An antidepressant appears to work as well as the most commonly prescribed antipsychotic medication in treating agitation and aggressive behaviour in people with Alzheimer's - but without the severe side-effects, a Canadian study suggests....More

Ontario's political leaders swimming with toxic chemicals, tests show

TORONTO (CP) - Anyone who thought Ontario's political leaders were full of it now has incontrovertible proof....More

International group of doctors decries role of medical workers at Guantanamo

LONDON (AP) - The U.S. medical establishment has turned a blind eye to the abuse of detainees at the Guantanamo Bay prison camp, doctors from around the world said in a letter published Friday in a prestigious British medical journal. Health care workers in the U.S....More

Dutchman offers 'cure' for obsessive-compulsive disorder of nail biting

VENLO, Netherlands (AP) - Do you find your fingers drifting into your mouth when you're nervous, anxious or just bored? Are your nails chewed to splinters or your cuticles gnawed to bleeding pulp? Nail biting is more than a bad habit....More

One obese Winnipegger completes run across Prairies for diabetes research

WINNIPEG (CP) - Cole Choken used to be able to polish off four pizzas and a box of chicken in one evening. But after shedding 100 pounds and training for months, the 21-year-old completed a marathon across the prairies Saturday, raising money for diabetes research....More

Symptomless carriers of C. diff may pose infection risk to other patients

TORONTO (CP) - People who have C. difficile spores in their gastrointestinal tracts but who aren't sick may be serving as a source of infection for others in hospitals and long-term care facilities battling outbreaks of the difficult-to-contain diarrhea, a new study suggests. U....More

Missouri program helps foster children aging out of the system

ST. LOUIS (AP) - Annica Trotter knows firsthand the challenges foster children face as they become adults: She was already living on her own at age 18, three years after turning herself over to the state, entering the foster care system as a pregnant 15-year-old....More

Asia's fishermen at risk for unwanted catch: HIV

BALI, Indonesia (AP) - In appearance, they couldn't be more different. Ririn, with her warm brown skin and plump face, simply glows. Young and sweet, just two months after giving birth to a baby girl....More

Antidepressant good as antipsychotic for dementia, fewer side-effects: study

TORONTO (CP) - An antidepressant appears to work as well as the most commonly prescribed antipsychotic medication in treating agitation and aggressive behaviour in people with Alzheimer's - but without the severe side-effects, a Canadian study suggests....More

More black women have tough-to-treat breast tumours, hurting survival odds

(AP) - A new study gives a possible explanation for why breast cancer is more deadly in black women: they are more likely to have tumours that do not respond to the hormone-based treatments that help many others with the disease....More

Manitoba health officials investigate possible third West Nile virus related death

WINNIPEG (CP) - Health officials are looking into whether the death of Manitoba man in his 60s is linked to a West Nile infection. A statement from the chief medical officer of health says an investigation is underway to determine if the virus played a role in man's death....More

Indonesian man dies of bird flu, raising global death toll to 200

JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) - An Indonesian man died of bird flu after slaughtering an infected chicken, a local health official said Thursday, lifting the number of people killed by the virus worldwide to 200....More

Health Canada warns of high lead levels in some cellphone charms, zipper pulls

TORONTO (CP) - Health Canada is warning that some cellphone charms and zipper pulls from China contain high levels of lead and should be kept out of the reach of young children....More

Girls' suicide rate rises in U.S.; overall youth rate is down, health agency says

ATLANTA (AP) - The suicide rate among preteen and teenage girls in the United States rose to its highest level in 15 years, and hanging surpassed guns as the preferred method, federal health officials reported Thursday....More

B.C. government offers drug and alcohol treatment program for young adults

VANCOUVER (CP) - Young people in B.C.dealing with drug and alcohol addictions will soon be able to get long-term residential care to try to beat their habits....More

Analyst: business, demographic trends favour generic drug makers

WASHINGTON (AP) - Profits for generic drug makers should scale new heights in coming years although the threat of an innovation drought and increased competition loom, a top industry analyst predicted Thursday....More

PepsiCo to offer low-calorie Gatorade and vitamin-enhanced caffeinated water

PURCHASE, N.Y. (AP) - PepsiCo Inc., the second-biggest soft drink company, is adding a low-calorie version of Gatorade and a bottled water with caffeine and vitamins to its lineup of non-carbonated drinks....More

New Brunswick government launches campaign to promote wellness

FREDERICTON (CP) - The New Brunswick government has launched a two-year marketing campaign to encourage New Brunswickers to live a healthier lifestyle. The province has the most physically inactive population in Canada, and some of the most obese children in the country....More

Global warming could mean more heart problems, doctors warn

VIENNA, Austria (AP) - Global warming may be melting glaciers and forcing polar bears onto land, but doctors warn it could also affect your heart. "If it really is a few degrees warmer in the next 50 years, we could definitely have more cardiovascular disease," said Dr....More

Exercise boosts self esteem of breast cancer patients having chemo: study

TORONTO (CP) - Women with early-stage breast cancer who did weight-training exercises regularly while undergoing chemotherapy were more likely to complete their treatments on time, a new study has found....More

Election rhetoric rises as Sask. Party unveils plan for more doctors, nurses

SASKATOON (CP) - The pre-election rhetoric ramped up Wednesday as the Saskatchewan Party rolled out a $275-million health platform aimed at addressing what it calls the crisis situation that has developed under the NDP government....More

Chinese ambassador to Canada says importers share blame for unsafe products

HALIFAX (CP) - Every country experiences quality problems with its products and importers share some of the responsibility for the recent recalls of Chinese-made toys found to contain excessive levels of lead paint, says China's ambassador to Canada....More

Britain permits research that would use animal eggs to create human stem cells

LONDON (AP) - British authorities decided Wednesday to permit research that uses animal eggs to create human stem cells - studies experts say are critical to unlocking treatments for Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and other diseases....More

Ailing man inhaled fumes from microwave popcorn, U.S. medical officials say

(AP) - Microwave popcorn fans worried about the potential for lung disease from butter flavouring fumes should know this: The sole reported case of the disease in a non-factory worker involves a man who popped the corn every day and inhaled from the bag....More

More black women have tough-to-treat breast tumours, hurting survival odds

(AP) - A new study gives a possible explanation for why breast cancer is more deadly in black women: they are more likely to have tumours that do not respond to the hormone-based treatments that help many others with the disease....More

British school kids don't want healthy food plan backed by Naked Chef Oliver

LONDON (AP) - Please sir, we don't want any more! Naked Chef Jamie Oliver's push for healthier foods to replace greasy french fries, chicken nuggets and turkey twizzlers on British school menus is in a twist. Apparently, the students aren't anxious to try it....More

U.S. study shows caffeine content in sodas varies widely, labels needed

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) - Looking for a quick pick-me-up to get through a long afternoon? Forget that cola. A fizzy citrus drink could provide even more of a boost. A new study shows that citrus-flavored sodas often have a higher caffeine content than the most popular colas....More

Study shows risks from drug-coated stents in some heart attack patients

VIENNA, Austria (AP) - Even some heart attack patients would be better off if their doctors avoided using drug-coated stents to open their clogged arteries, an international study found, raising new concerns about the devices....More

New research shows obese toddlers at risk for iron deficiency

CHICAGO (AP) - Pudgy toddlers have an alarmingly high rate of iron deficiency, and Hispanic youngsters are more affected than other groups, a new study finds. The study is the first to discover a link between obesity and low iron levels in preschoolers....More

Mattel recalls several hundred thousand Chinese-made toys because of lead paint

NEW YORK (AP) - The Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with Mattel Inc., announced late Tuesday that it is recalling about 700,000 Chinese-made toys that have excessive amounts of lead paint....More

Lung specialist reports possible case of illness from home-microwaved popcorn

(AP) - Consumers, not just factory workers, may be in danger from fumes from buttery flavouring in microwave popcorn, according to a warning letter to federal regulators from a doctor at a leading lung research hospital....More

Biovail receives Canadian approval for once-daily painkiller Ralivia

TORONTO (CP) - Biovail Corp. (TSX:BVF) has received Canadian approval of Ralivia, its once-daily extended-release formulation of painkiller tramadol....More

B.C. government moves to stem obesity in school children

VANCOUVER (CP) - With one in four B.C. school-age children overweight or obese, the provincial government has launched a shape-up plan it says is the most aggressive in Canada. The B.C....More

Heart abnormalities affect athletes more, create higher risk for heart attack

VIENNA, Austria (AP) - Cardiac problems like an abnormal heartbeat are exacerbated by rigorous exercise in a way that can be fatal in athletes, and regular testing for the problem could save lives, doctors at a heart conference said Sunday....More

Children in care with fetal alcohol syndrome need government help: report

WINNIPEG (CP) - More and more children are being born with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder and governments must increase support for the ones who are ending up in foster care, says a new report obtained by The Canadian Press....More

Workshops on hope help cancer patients remain resilient, find strength

TORONTO (CP) - For Victoria Campbell, hope is a "beacon in the darkness" in her long, intense battle with cancer that began five years ago. The elementary school teacher was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2002, then colon cancer in 2005 - which metastasized to her liver....More

Women may need different heart treatments than men, doctors say

VIENNA, Austria (AP) - Women with heart problems may need to be treated differently than men, doctors said Monday....More

More talk therapy needed for bipolar patients, experts say

NEW YORK (AP) - Psychological therapy can greatly boost the effectiveness of drugs in treating bipolar disorder, but these specialized talk therapies aren't as widely available as they should be, experts say....More

First individual genome published online; shows humans less alike than thought

TORONTO (CP) - For the first time, scientists have sequenced the genome of a single individual - a step they call a huge leap forward in the quest for personalized medicine based on each of our genetic codes....More

British school kids don't want healthy food plan backed by Naked Chef Oliver

LONDON (AP) - Please sir, we don't want any more! Naked Chef Jamie Oliver's push for healthier foods to replace greasy french fries, chicken nuggets and turkey twizzlers on British school menus is in a twist. Apparently, the students aren't anxious to try it....More

New research shows obese toddlers at risk for iron deficiency

CHICAGO (AP) - Pudgy toddlers have an alarmingly high rate of iron deficiency, and Hispanic youngsters are more affected than other groups, a new study finds. The study is the first to discover a link between obesity and low iron levels in preschoolers....More

Health Canada recalls kids' pencils made in China due to high lead levels in coating

OTTAWA (CP) - Health Canada has announced the recall of Favor Set children's pencils because the coating contains high amounts of lead. Amscan Canada is voluntarily recalling 140,000 units of all 16 models of the pencils, which were made in China....More

FDA licenses new vaccine against smallpox; can be produced quickly if needed

WASHINGTON (AP) - The approval of a new vaccine against smallpox was announced Saturday by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, which says the shots could be made quickly if the virtually extinct virus reappears....More

Birth of Calgary quads in Montana makes Americans question Canada's health system

GREAT FALLS, Mont. (CP) - The birth of identical quadruplet girls in Montana last month has ignited debate south of the border with editorial writers and bloggers attacking the Canadian health-care system....More

Back to school: research suggests getting enough sleep is key to learning

TORONTO (CP) - As children try to get back into the groove at school, one thing is almost certain: sleep patterns will be a bit wonky as they adjust from late nights and leisurely mornings to earlier bedtimes and rise-and-shine wake-up calls....More

Transport Canada issues recall for three types of child car seats

OTTAWA (CP) - Three brands of car seats are the subject of a Transport Canada recall. The government agency says Cosco, Eddie Bauer and Safety 1st car seats have a strap that can loosen which could lead to a child being injured if there's a car accident....More

New designs, selective use, reducing risk of drug-coated stents: Swedish study

VIENNA, Austria (AP) - Drug-coated heart stents may not be as dangerous as previously thought, according to research presented Sunday at a meeting of cardiologists. "This is good news for patients," said Dr....More

Heart abnormalities affect athletes more, create higher risk for heart attack

VIENNA, Austria (AP) - Cardiac problems like an abnormal heartbeat are exacerbated by rigorous exercise in a way that can be fatal in athletes, and regular testing for the problem could save lives, doctors at a heart conference said Sunday....More

Children in care with fetal alcohol syndrome need government help: report

WINNIPEG (CP) - More and more children are being born with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder and governments must increase support for the ones who are ending up in foster care, says a new report obtained by The Canadian Press....More