Reducing unnecessary MRI and CT scans could cut wait times: study

TORONTO - Wait times for MRI and CT scans in Ontario - and probably elsewhere in Canada - could be reduced by cutting back on unnecessary scans ordered by doctors, a new study suggests....More

Ottawa votes to spend $100,000 to pick up dirty needles on city streets

OTTAWA - Ottawa's city council has voted to spend $100,000 to pick up discarded drug needles from streets and parks around the city. The program was recommended earlier this month by the acting medical officer of health....More

Demand for vitamin D tests soars as nutrient's potential benefits touted

TORONTO - With study after study touting the potential benefits of vitamin D, including the possibility it may stave off some cancers, requests for tests to check patients' blood levels have soared in the last year, leaving some medical labs scrambling to meet demand....More

U.S. government checking if tomatoes were true cause of salmonella outbreak

WASHINGTON - As salmonella cases continue to climb, the U.S. government is checking if tainted tomatoes really are to blame for the record outbreak - or if the problem is with another ingredient, or a warehouse that is contaminating newly harvested tomatoes....More

More than 59,000 register for settlement of Vioxx lawsuits in the U.S.

NEW ORLEANS - Lawyers say more than 59,000 people have registered for drugmaker Merck & Co.'s settlement of lawsuits claiming injury from the painkiller Vioxx. Administrators have enough records to review about 9,100 of those claims....More

Experts say special warm-ups could cut soccer injuries in half

OSLO, Norway - Injuries to soccer players can be cut nearly in half if an additional warm-up program developed by FIFA is strictly followed, experts told a world sports congress on Friday....More

Dutch marijuana coffee shops brace for smoking ban

AMSTERDAM, Netherlands - This city's famed marijuana bars have weathered many challenges over the years and are still smoking....More

Dermatologists warn of doctor shortage as skin cancer rates rise

MONTREAL - Canada is facing a looming shortage of dermatologists as skin cancer rates continue to rise, doctors warned Sunday. Dr....More

Record high caesarean rate raising concerns among Canada's obstetricians

TORONTO - The rate of caesarean births is at an all-time high in Canada, putting more women at risk for complications and increasing the strain on an already overburdened health-care system, says the Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists....More

Heat therapy patches recalled after reports of skin irritation, burns

TORONTO - The maker of a line of heat therapy patches is recalling the products because of reports of skin irritation and burns. And BD Canada says it is withdrawing the products permanently from the market....More

FDA: Drug maker Merck can't market Gardasil to women 27-45

NEWARK, N.J. - Drug maker Merck & Co. said Wednesday that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has rejected expanding the use of cervical cancer vaccine Gardasil to include women ages 27 to 45....More

Family weighs leaving P.E.I. over lack of family doctor in rural town

KILDARE CAPE, P.E.I. - Noralee Harper is thinking about moving from her home nestled in Prince Edward Island's picturesque countryside because she can't find a family doctor for her twin seven-year-old sons, who have had serious illnesses....More

U.S. health officials report 756 made ill from salmonella-tainted tomatoes

WASHINGTON - The official toll from salmonella-tainted tomatoes continues to rise. The U.S. government has now counted 756 confirmed illnesses....More

Reducing unnecessary MRI and CT scans could cut wait times: study

TORONTO - Wait times for MRI and CT scans in Ontario - and probably elsewhere in Canada - could be reduced by cutting back on unnecessary scans ordered by doctors, a new study suggests....More

Ottawa votes to spend $100,000 to pick up dirty needles on city streets

OTTAWA - Ottawa's city council has voted to spend $100,000 to pick up discarded drug needles from streets and parks around the city. The program was recommended earlier this month by the acting medical officer of health....More

Demand for vitamin D tests soars as nutrient's potential benefits touted

TORONTO - With study after study touting the potential benefits of vitamin D, including the possibility it may stave off some cancers, requests for tests to check patients' blood levels have soared in the last year, leaving some medical labs scrambling to meet demand....More

About eight per cent of Americans have diabetes: CDC

ATLANTA - The number of Americans with diabetes has grown to about 24 million people, or roughly eight per cent of the U.S. population, the government said Tuesday....More

Wait time initiative not shifting delays to non-priority surgeries: report

TORONTO - Fears that an effort to cut wait times for priority surgeries would lengthen delays for other types of operations may have been unfounded, a new report suggests....More

US panel endorses 2nd vaccine for kids' virus

ATLANTA - A federal advisory panel in the United States has endorsed a second vaccine to combat a common and potentially fatal virus that causes diarrhea and vomiting in children....More

Scientists identify possible Alzheimer's gene

NEW YORK - Scientists have identified a gene that may raise the risk of getting the most common kind of Alzheimer's disease by about 45 per cent in people who inherit a certain form of it....More

Record high caesarean rate raising concerns among Canada's obstetricians

TORONTO - The rate of caesarean births is at an all-time high in Canada, putting more women at risk for complications and increasing the strain on an already overburdened health-care system, says the Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists....More

Heat therapy patches recalled after reports of skin irritation, burns

TORONTO - The maker of a line of heat therapy patches is recalling the products because of reports of skin irritation and burns. And BD Canada says it is withdrawing the products permanently from the market....More

FDA: Drug maker Merck can't market Gardasil to women 27-45

NEWARK, N.J. - Drug maker Merck & Co. said Wednesday that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has rejected expanding the use of cervical cancer vaccine Gardasil to include women ages 27 to 45....More

Family weighs leaving P.E.I. over lack of family doctor in rural town

KILDARE CAPE, P.E.I. - Noralee Harper is thinking about moving from her home nestled in Prince Edward Island's picturesque countryside because she can't find a family doctor for her twin seven-year-old sons, who have had serious illnesses....More

Saskatchewan nurses vote 78 per cent to accept contract offer

REGINA - Saskatchewan nurses have accepted a contract offer, with 78 per cent of those who voted approving of the deal. More than 7,200 nurses were eligible to cast ballots Monday on whether to accept the contract offer....More

PCs, NDP accuse Libs of covering up extent of C. difficile in Ont. hospitals

TORONTO - Premier Dalton McGuinty and the Liberal government are putting lives at risk by covering up the extent of the deadly C. difficile outbreak in Ontario hospitals, the province's opposition parties charged Tuesday....More

Quit-smoking drug Champix linked to adverse psychiatric effects: Health Canada

OTTAWA - Health Canada has issued another warning about adverse neuropsychiatric effects linked to Champix, a drug intended to help smokers butt out for good....More

Non-doctor accused in California of providing abortions, injuring many

CHULA VISTA, Calif. - The owner of a clinic has been charged with posing as a doctor to perform abortions, some of them unsuccessful or resulting in severe complications and hospitalization, prosecutors said Friday....More

Big twins tip scales at North Carolina hospital; together weigh 23 lbs

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - They aren't the heaviest newborn twins on record, but they certainly tip the scales. A hospital in North Carolina says Sean William Maynard and Abigail Rose Maynard weighed in at a combined 23 pounds and one ounce at birth this week....More

Alta set for major house cleaning of health administrators, says minister

CALGARY - Alberta is poised to get rid of some of its senior - and costly - health-care administrators with a major 'streamlining' of the system just weeks away, Health Minister Ron Liepert said Friday....More

Alta judge dismisses bulk of lawsuit against Watch Tower Society over girl’s death

CALGARY - Provisions of a wrongful death lawsuit filed by the grieving father of a Jehovah's Witness girl were largely dismissed by a judge Friday....More

Alberta names public health officers to replace those leaving after pay dispute

CALGARY - Alberta has appointed two new senior public health officials to try to cure the pain of losing three public health doctors over a salary dispute. Dr....More

Harvard researchers say they've found new clue to Alzheimer's disease

WASHINGTON - Researchers have uncovered a new clue to the cause of Alzheimer's disease. The brains of people with the memory-robbing form of dementia are cluttered with a plaque made up of beta-amyloid, a sticky protein....More

Bird flu vaccine strength could be under-or overestimated due to test variability

TORONTO - A study comparing the tests being used by vaccine manufacturers to gauge the effectiveness of their H5N1 avian flu vaccines shows there is a lot of variation in the sensitivity of the tests, the British scientist leading the effort says....More

Even best efforts can't prevent all heart attacks

NEW YORK - Tim Russert was a good patient, taking medications for his heart disease and exercising, his doctor said. He had no chest pains and he passed an exercise stress test weeks ago. Yet at 58, he suffered a heart attack and died. That's not uncommon, say cardiologists....More

Cancer risk reduced by 80 per cent after bariatric surgery, McGill study finds

TORONTO - Morbidly obese patients who had surgery to reduce their stomach size lowered their risk of developing cancer by about 80 per cent, a new study suggests....More

Canada joins California in cancer stem cell research, donates $100 million

TORONTO - The federal government is investing more than $100 million into cancer stem cell research in partnership with California, Health Minister Tony Clement said Wednesday....More

B.C. Ombudsman demands improvements to make drinking water safe

VICTORIA - British Columbia's ombudsman is calling on the provincial government and health authorities to take major steps to improve drinking water safety....More

Audiologists warn staffing shortages to affect audiology services in N.L.

ST. JOHN'S, N.L. - Newfoundland and Labrador's Association of Allied Health Professionals is calling on government and the Eastern Health Authority to address what it calls a growing crisis in audiology. Audiologists at the Janeway Children's Hospital in St. John's, N.L....More

4 million Canadians without family doctor; most seek care at clinics, ERs

TORONTO - More than four million Canadians aged 12 or older are without a family doctor, either because they can't find one or have chosen not to look, Statistics Canada said in a report released Wednesday....More

Quebec court strikes down parts of federal anti-cloning law

MONTREAL - The Quebec Court of Appeal has ruled that Ottawa overstepped its authority when drawing up laws on assisted human reproduction....More

Hormone replacement use down sharply in Canadian women over 65

TORONTO - A new report shows hormone replacement therapy use by older Canadian women has dropped dramatically since a major study was published in 2002 linking HRT use to higher rates of heart attack and stroke....More

Health Canada warns diet supplement can lead to seizures, blood clots

TORONTO - Health Canada is warning consumers not to use bodybuilder dietary supplements called 6-OXO and 1-AD because they can trigger seizures and blood clots in the brain that can lead to lasting disability....More

FDA OKs breathing device tested on Christopher Reeve

CLEVELAND - The Food and Drug Administration on Wednesday approved a medical device tested about five years ago on actor Christopher Reeve to help him breathe without a ventilator....More

Even best efforts can't prevent all heart attacks

NEW YORK - Tim Russert was a good patient, taking medications for his heart disease and exercising, his doctor said. He had no chest pains and he passed an exercise stress test weeks ago. Yet at 58, he suffered a heart attack and died. That's not uncommon, say cardiologists....More

Cancer risk reduced by 80 per cent after bariatric surgery, McGill study finds

TORONTO - Morbidly obese patients who had surgery to reduce their stomach size lowered their risk of developing cancer by about 80 per cent, a new study suggests....More

Canada joins California in cancer stem cell research, donates $100 million

TORONTO - The federal government is investing more than $100 million into cancer stem cell research in partnership with California, Health Minister Tony Clement said Wednesday....More

B.C. Ombudsman demands improvements to make drinking water safe

VICTORIA - British Columbia's ombudsman is calling on the provincial government and health authorities to take major steps to improve drinking water safety....More

Audiologists warn staffing shortages to affect audiology services in N.L.

ST. JOHN'S, N.L. - Newfoundland and Labrador's Association of Allied Health Professionals is calling on government and the Eastern Health Authority to address what it calls a growing crisis in audiology. Audiologists at the Janeway Children's Hospital in St. John's, N.L....More

4 million Canadians without family doctor; most seek care at clinics, ERs

TORONTO - More than four million Canadians aged 12 or older are without a family doctor, either because they can't find one or have chosen not to look, Statistics Canada said in a report released Wednesday....More

Rotary International launches polio funding push with hints directed at the G8

The partners in the Global Polio Eradication Program marshalled their forces Tuesday for the launch of a major new fundraising initiative aimed at finally getting the 20-year project over the finish line....More

Report calls on Ont. to boost funding, increase care in nursing homes

TORONTO - Health Minister George Smitherman resisted calls Tuesday for regulations that would require Ontario nursing homes to provide a minimum standard of care to its elderly residents, despite a new report calling on staff to spend more time with patients....More

Manitoba commits to quick radiation therapy for cancer patients

WINNIPEG - The Manitoba government is moving to ensure that cancer patients wait no more than four weeks for radiation therapy. Health Minister Theresa Oswald says the government will pay for treatment outside the province if the deadline can't be met....More

Edmonton dentist tests positive for hepatitis B; 1,400 patients to be informed

EDMONTON - An Edmonton dentist hasn't been practising since February after he tested positive for hepatitis B. Health authorities are now contacting the patients of Dr. Byron Wong, who has practised in Alberta since 2001. Dr....More

Australia government approves locally made human bird flu vaccine

CANBERRA, Australia - Australia has approved a locally made bird flu vaccine for humans that researchers hope will provide some protection if the current virus mutates into a new form that triggers a pandemic, the government said Tuesday....More

AMA takes no action on tobacco bill challenge

CHICAGO - Is menthol a flavour that should be banned from cigarettes? That's a tricky question, according to the American Medical Association whose members on Tuesday found themselves opposing some government health heavyweights....More

Pfizer and Ranbaxy settle Lipitor patent dispute

NEW YORK - Pfizer Inc. and India's Ranbaxy Laboratories Ltd. said Wednesday they have settled their patent dispute over the blockbuster cholesterol drug Lipitor, delaying the release of generic versions in the United States until Nov. 30, 2011....More

More nurses graduating but still can't meet demand in Canada, report says

TORONTO - For the first time in 30 years, the number of nurses graduating in Canada has exceeded 9,000, but the total still falls short of the number needed to meet current and future demand, says a new report....More

Two more critical-care doctors resign from Winnipeg's Grace Hospital

WINNIPEG - Two more doctors at a Winnipeg hospital are refusing to work on a ward where an elderly man is being kept on life support....More

Sanofi to give 60 million doses of H5N1 vaccine to WHO pandemic stockpile

LYON, France - Vaccine giant Sanofi Pasteur is donating 60 million doses of H5N1 avian flu vaccine over the next three years to a World Health Organization pandemic stockpile, the company announced Monday....More

Osteoporosis study suggests bone density tests could be done less often

MONTREAL - Canadian researchers say public health authorities should alter guidelines governing how often patients are screened for osteoporosis, a bone disease that raises the risk of fractures, particularly in the elderly....More

Ontario passes ban on smoking in cars with kids under 16

TORONTO - Ontario became the latest Canadian province to ban smoking in a vehicle with a child present Monday after a government-backed private member's bill passed in the legislature with the support of all three parties....More

Ont. introduces bill to get more foreign-trained doctors working in province

TORONTO - Self-governing bodies like the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario will share in the responsibility of helping more foreign-trained doctors get work in the province, Health Minister George Smitherman said Monday in introducing new legislation that is slated to pass in the...More

Hear thunder? Get inside building or metal-topped car without delay: experts

Christina Wards could hear the thunder and knew a fast-moving storm was closing in, so she hustled her daughter Richelle and other teens practising baseball off the field towards their vehicles....More

FDA warns that older psych drugs have fatal risks in seniors

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Food and Drug Administration warned doctors Monday that prescribing a certain group of psychiatric drugs to seniors suffering from dementia can increase their risk of death....More

Coffee consumption not associated with higher death rate: study

TORONTO - Coffee drinkers often wonder if their daily cups of brew are helping them health-wise or hindering them, and now they can ponder a new study that adds to the stacks of medical literature on the subject....More

American Medical Association to consider endorsing undercover patients

CHICAGO - Lori Erickson-Trump has faked headaches and back pain. She's had physicals and MRIs she didn't need and she gets paid for it - all to evaluate the performance of doctors and their staffs....More

Alberta joins other provinces in approving HPV vaccine for teens, young women

EDMONTON - Alberta agreed Thursday to pay for the HPV vaccine for young girls to help prevent cervical cancers, the last province in Canada to do so....More

Paralyzed Alberta woman sues College of Chiropractors, province, for $500 million

EDMONTON - A woman who says she became paralyzed after having her upper spine manipulated is suing the Alberta College and Association of Chiropractors and the provincial government for half a billion dollars....More

Tomatoes are back on the menu at some Canadian fast-food chains

TORONTO - Tomatoes are back on the menu at various Canadian restaurants. Several fast-food chains and grocery stores in Canada and the U.S....More

Study suggests test used to spot pre-diabetes in kids misses 2 out of 3

TORONTO - Obese children at risk of developing Type 2 diabetes may not be getting the news soon enough to take preventive action because the test used to gauge their condition is not sensitive enough, a new study suggests....More

Most cancer doctors avoid saying it's the end; study shows that's wrong

CHICAGO - One look at Eileen Mulligan lying soberly on the exam table and Dr. John Marshall knew the time for the Big Talk had arrived. He began gently. The chemotherapy is not helping. The cancer is advanced. There are no good options left to try....More

Foundation works to ensure Nelson Mandela's name lives on

LEROME, South Africa - The woman with the microphone and brightly coloured knit tam is speaking in Nelson Mandela's name - it's emblazoned across her T-shirt - as she presses villagers in northwestern South Africa to be honest about AIDS....More

'Lifer' honoured for work educating prison inmates about HIV infection risks

TORONTO - An Ontario man serving a life sentence for killing a policeman is to be honoured for years of efforts to educate prison inmates about how to lower their risk of becoming infected with HIV....More

New colorectal cancer screening research trial approved in Saskatchewan

REGINA - Researchers in Saskatchewan are hoping to determine if a simple blood test can detect colorectal cancer risk. A new screening research trial supported by the Saskatchewan Health Department is scheduled to begin in the next two weeks....More

Hospitals score poorly on breast-feeding support, CDC says

ATLANTA - Most U.S. hospitals don't do very well when it comes to promoting breast-feeding, according to the first national report to look at the issue. The average hospital scored 63 out of 100, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported Thursday....More

Half of Canadians don't treat stroke as an emergency; 'time is brain,' experts say

TORONTO - A national poll suggests at least half of Canadians don't treat stroke as the medical emergency it really is....More

Guelph scientist testing technique to inoculate tomatoes against salmonella

TORONTO - Over the past few summers, widespread outbreaks of salmonella in tomatoes have been common, leaving consumers cautious about the salad staple once known as the "love apple....More

Guelph scientist testing technique to inoculate tomatoes against salmonella

TORONTO - Over the past few summers, widespread outbreaks of salmonella in tomatoes have been common, leaving consumers cautious about the salad staple once known as the "love apple....More

FDA issues precautionary note on silver fillings

WASHINGTON - Silver dental fillings contain mercury, and the U.S. government for the first time is warning that they may pose a safety concern for pregnant women and young children....More

American Medical Association to consider endorsing undercover patients

CHICAGO - Lori Erickson-Trump has faked headaches and back pain. She's had physicals and MRIs she didn't need and she gets paid for it - all to evaluate the performance of doctors and their staffs....More

Alberta joins other provinces in approving HPV vaccine for teens, young women

EDMONTON - Alberta agreed Thursday to pay for the HPV vaccine for young girls to help prevent cervical cancers, the last province in Canada to do so....More

N.L. premier adviser's inability to recall frustrates judge at cancer inquiry

ST. JOHN'S, N.L. - The judge presiding over an inquiry into flawed breast cancer tests in Newfoundland expressed frustration Wednesday after the premier's top adviser said he couldn't remember how he learned of the errors....More

Four million people have tried diet drug Alli since launch, says drugmaker

NEW YORK - The only over-the-counter, federally approved weight loss pill in the U.S. isn't exactly flying off shelves, but it's not because Americans are getting any slimmer....More

Can compression socks for deep-vein thrombosis become the new pink ribbon?

NEW YORK - For students in the fashion program at Parsons The New School of Design, beauty is more than skin deep: They recently staged a full-on runway show, complete with celebrity models, to draw attention to deep-vein thrombosis....More

Bird flu vaccine grown in monkey cells, not eggs, shows promising results

TORONTO - An avian flu vaccine grown in kidney cells from African green monkeys instead of eggs triggered a good immune response at a relatively low dose, according to a new study that highlights the promise of so-called cell culture vaccine production....More

Any way you dice it, Canadian tomatoes safe, says marketing group

TORONTO - The Canadian Produce Marketing Association is trying to assure Canadians that tomatoes being sold in this country are safe, as businesses and consumers shy away from the summer staple because of the tainted tomato scare in the U.S....More

Alberta losing top public health docs just as West Nile virus season begins

EDMONTON - Alberta is losing three of its top public health doctors just as the West Nile virus season is starting, and these medical experts will be very hard to replace, say colleagues....More

Aging population, chronic illness straining health-care system: doctors survey

TORONTO - As Canada's population ages, more and more patients are suffering from a host of chronic diseases, but there are too few general practitioners and specialists across the country to provide timely and quality care, a survey of doctors concludes....More

New colorectal cancer screening research trial approved in Saskatchewan

REGINA - Researchers in Saskatchewan are hoping to determine if a simple blood test can detect colorectal cancer risk. A new screening research trial supported by the Saskatchewan Health Department is scheduled to begin in the next two weeks....More

Can exercise help prevent addiction to drugs or alcohol?

WASHINGTON - Sure, exercise is good for your waistline, your heart, your bones - but might it also help prevent addiction to drugs or alcohol? There are some tantalizing clues that physical activity might spur changes in the brain to do just that. Now the U.S....More

U.S. tainted tomato scare mixed blessing for Canadian growers, sellers

TORONTO - Canadian tomato growers and wholesalers aren't all cashing in on the salmonella scare that's squeezed selected varieties of American and Mexican tomatoes out of North American restaurants and stores....More

Travelling photo project lets Africa AIDS victims show their own story

LOS ANGELES - In one photograph, a group of boys in possession of a much-used soccer ball mug comically for the camera, arms and legs going every which way. Another shot, another charmer, depicts a child turning an exuberant handspring for a circle of young admirers....More

St. John's wort fails to help kids with ADHD, study finds

CHICAGO - Children and teens with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder fared no better on St. John's wort than they did on dummy pills in a U.S. government study, another blow for herbal supplements. St....More

Sandbox a great play environment but simple steps keep it safe for kids

TORONTO - What little kid can resist the appeal of a sandbox, where a shovel, a bucket and an imagination give rise to all manner of make-believe? The problem is, what looks like a perfect play environment for a young child looks like a toilet to some members of the animal...More

Police investigate doctors at Milan clinic for alleged needless surgeries

ROME - Police have arrested 13 doctors from a clinic in Milan who investigators suspect performed needless and sometimes fatal operations to make more money. Police said Tuesday the charges resulting from the investigation of Santa Rita Clinic ranged from fraud to homicide....More

N.S. government, Red Cross expanding bed loan program across province

HALIFAX - The Nova Scotia government and the Canadian Red Cross are expanding a program that allows people to borrow hospital-type beds for temporary use in their homes....More

Communications director can't recall telling N.L. premier about test errors

ST. JOHN'S, N.L. - The communications director for Newfoundland's premier told a public inquiry Tuesday that she can't remember whether she told Danny Williams about problems with hundreds of breast cancer tests when she became aware of them three years ago....More

Violence against women, spread of HIV escalating in the Congo: Stephen Lewis

TORONTO - It could be a strategy of war from among the most reviled of invading armies throughout human history: "If you want to destroy a nation, you do so by destroying its women....More

Seeds, nuts, chips, berries and fruit mix heart-healthy snack for the active

For spring and summer hiking, biking and outdoor activities, this heart-healthy walnut trail mix is just the ticket. With the goodness of omega-3s and other nutrients it is an optimal high-energy snack for people on the go....More

One-third of deaths from bypass surgery likely preventable, study finds

TORONTO - Less than two per cent of patients who undergo cardiac bypass die in hospital after their surgery, but an Ontario study suggests about one-third of these fatalities could have been prevented....More

New HIV infections outpace drug treatment, UN says

UNITED NATIONS - Despite a stepped-up global battle against AIDS, the numbers of people newly infected with HIV are far and away outpacing the numbers beginning antiretroviral drug treatments, UN officials said Monday....More

More Canadian restaurants pull tomatoes off menu after U.S. salmonella outbreak

TORONTO - More Canadian fast-food restaurants have pulled tomatoes from their menus over concerns about a salmonella poisoning outbreak in the United States. A spokeswoman for Yum! Brands, Inc....More

More Canadian fast-food outlets pull tomatoes off menu over U.S. salmonella

TORONTO - More Canadian fast-food restaurants are pulling sliced tomatoes from their menu items over concerns about a salmonella poisoning outbreak in the United States. A media relations spokeswoman for Yum! Brands, Inc....More

McDonald's in U.S. joins McDonald's Canada in pulling most tomatoes off menu

TORONTO - McDonald's in the U.S. is following the lead of its Canadian counterpart in pulling sliced tomatoes from its menu items over concerns about salmonella poisoning. A spokeswoman for the U.S....More

Can exercise help prevent addiction to drugs or alcohol?

WASHINGTON - Sure, exercise is good for your waistline, your heart, your bones - but might it also help prevent addiction to drugs or alcohol? There are some tantalizing clues that physical activity might spur changes in the brain to do just that. Now the U.S....More

Blackflies bad in eastern Canada, Experts warn campers, cottagers

TORONTO - With more seasonal temperatures expected to arrive this weekend, campers, cottagers and anyone else heading into the wilderness in Canada's eastern half are being warned about a proliferation of a common summer menace: blackflies....More

Smitherman promises bill to help more foreign-trained doctors work in Ontario

TORONTO - Health Minister George Smitherman says the province will soon introduce legislation to help more foreign-trained doctors practice in Ontario....More

Ombudsman must oversee hospitals in wake of C. difficile death: NDP

TORONTO - The NDP are renewing their calls for Ontario's ombudsman to oversee the province's hospitals following the death of a politician's elderly relative who contracted C. difficile....More

New study confirms intense diabetes therapy doesn't prevent heart problems

NEW YORK - Aggressively treating diabetes doesn't prevent heart problems and deaths any better than standard treatment for lowering blood sugar, Australian researchers reported Friday....More

Asthma-allergy study will track 5,000 Canadians from before birth until age 5

HAMILTON - A major study on asthma and allergies is being launched to follow 5,000 Canadian children from their mother's pregnancy until the age of five....More

Portugal seeks a place for itself among world's scientific elite

LISBON, Portugal - When Zachary Mainen told colleagues he was quitting his job as associate professor at a top U.S. research institute to pursue his career in western Europe's poorest country, they were puzzled....More

Neurologist writes movie about stem cell research that presents both sides

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Dr. Shelley Chawla is tired of watching his patients suffer. And Chawla, a neurologist in Topeka, fervently believes that some of the suffering he sees while treating chronically ill patients could be eased by embryonic stem cell research, which has been...More

American Indian energy bar wins national appeal

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. - It's a 70-calorie energy bar made of two unusual ingredients and branded with a funny-sounding name....More

More money, faster treatment required to battle breast cancer: CMA

WINNIPEG - Governments must direct more money to reduce wait times for cancer treatment, says the head of the Canadian Medical Association. "I think it's completely unacceptable that people are waiting for cancer diagnosis and treatment in a country like Canada," Dr....More

Montreal man seeking ethnic bone marrow donors finds a match

MONTREAL - A Montreal leukemia patient who launched an international appeal for ethnic bone marrow donors has found a match. But Emru Townsend says even though he was successful there is still a desperate need for potential bone marrow donors from diverse ethnic groups....More

Many Canadian women waiting too long for breast cancer treatment:report

WINNIPEG - Many Canadian women are waiting too long for breast cancer diagnoses and treatment, and wait times vary wildly between provinces, according to a new report card from The Canadian Breast Cancer Network....More

Indonesia says it will no longer formally announce bird flu deaths

JAKARTA, Indonesia - A 15-year-old girl died of bird flu last month, becoming Indonesia's 109th victim, but the government decided to keep the news quiet. It is part of a new policy aimed at improving the image of the country hardest hit by the disease....More

How do we know our caffeine limit?

NEW YORK - Men may be able to handle alcohol better than women, but that doesn't necessarily hold true for caffeine, researchers say....More

Company voluntarily recalls medical gloves after report of insects found

CALGARY - A Calgary company is recalling medical examination gloves sold in Canada following a report that a customer noticed insects embedded in the product....More

Canadian trainer to the stars says getting fit is not all about the gym

TORONTO - As temperatures climb and bathing suit season beckons, many men and women may be inclined to tone up before doffing shirts and baring midriffs this summer....More

Blackflies bad in eastern Canada, Experts warn campers, cottagers

TORONTO - With more seasonal temperatures expected to arrive this weekend, campers, cottagers and anyone else heading into the wilderness in Canada's eastern half are being warned about a proliferation of a common summer menace: blackflies....More

A nation of zombies? Sleep deprivation is taking a toll on health

As a young mother in her twenties, Tracy Nasca, now 54, was a "total zombie." She lived in a twilight state of fatigue, exhausted and confused. She had no short-term memory, forgetting everything from evening plans to entire phone conversations....More

Ondine gets Health Canada licence for multi-purpose photodisinfection laser

VANCOUVER - Ondine Biopharma Corp. (TSX:OBP) has received a Health Canada licence for a new multi-purpose laser system for use against bacteria in hospitals and other high-volume institutions....More

McGuinty scolds Catholic school board for refusing to allow HPV vaccine

TORONTO - Trustees at the Halton Catholic District School Board came under fire from Premier Dalton McGuinty and the Liberal government Wednesday for refusing to allow an HPV vaccine program for Grade 8 girls in their schools....More

Cost a barrier for people with disabilities needing special devices: StatsCan

TORONTO - Despite being born with hearing loss, discovered when she was three years old, Gael Hannan would live another 17 years without the use of technology to assist her....More

Cooling kids with severe brain injuries may not be best treatment,

TORONTO - The practice of cooling children with severe head injuries to prevent potentially fatal brain swelling should be undertaken with caution, say researchers, who found the treatment fails to alter the neurological outcome of patients and may actually increase their risk of death....More

5th anniversary of health-care accord shows glass "half-full" on goals

TORONTO - Five years into a pledge to renew health-care delivery, a report on the progress made suggests there is much unfinished business....More

Many Canadian women waiting too long for breast cancer treatment:report

WINNIPEG - Many Canadian women are waiting too long for breast cancer diagnoses and treatment, and wait times vary wildly between provinces, according to a new report card from The Canadian Breast Cancer Network....More

Indonesia says it will no longer formally announce bird flu deaths

JAKARTA, Indonesia - A 15-year-old girl died of bird flu last month, becoming Indonesia's 109th victim, but the government decided to keep the news quiet. It is part of a new policy aimed at improving the image of the country hardest hit by the disease....More

Kids just wanna have fun, says prof in face of declining sports participation

OTTAWA - Fewer kids - especially boys - are signing up for organized sports these days, a new study suggests....More

Group petitions FDA to ban some food colourings amid hyperactivity concerns

WASHINGTON - A consumer advocacy group called on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Tuesday to ban the use of eight artificial colourings in food because they have been linked to hyperactivity and behaviour problems in children....More

Cost of assisted devices accounts for 56 per cent of unmet needs: StatsCan

TORONTO - Despite being born with hearing loss, discovered when she was three years old, Gael Hannan would live another 17 years without the use of technology to assist her....More

Cantaloupes possibly contaminated with salmonella recalled in Ont.

OTTAWA - The Canadian Food Inspection Agency is warning the public not to consume some KingFisher brand cantaloupes because they may be contaminated with salmonella....More

Boys' sports participation declining faster than girls', study finds

OTTAWA - A new study says a smaller percentage of Canadian children participated regularly in organized sports activities in 2005 than in 1992, and the decline was larger for boys....More

Antibacterial wipes can spread, more than clean, germs in hospitals: study

TORONTO - Antibacterial wipes used in hospitals may not be having the intended effect, a new study from Wales suggests. The work, done by researchers from Cardiff University's School of Pharmacy, shows that the wipes do not kill high numbers of Staphylococcus aureus bacteria....More

A nation of zombies? Sleep deprivation is taking a toll on health

As a young mother in her twenties, Tracy Nasca, now 54, was a "total zombie." She lived in a twilight state of fatigue, exhausted and confused. She had no short-term memory, forgetting everything from evening plans to entire phone conversations....More

5th anniversary of health-care accord shows glass "half-full" on goals

TORONTO - Five years into a pledge to renew health-care delivery, a report on the progress made suggests there is much unfinished business....More

Sheela Basrur, the cool voice of reason during 2003 SARS crisis, dead at 51

TORONTO - Dr. Sheela Basrur, a public health figure whose skilful leadership and communications expertise helped guide Canada through Toronto's SARS crisis in 2003, died Monday after a 17-month battle with a rare form of cancer....More

Senator Edward Kennedy's brain surgery is risky, doctors say

CHICAGO - Bravery in the face of cancer? Senator Edward M. Kennedy has given it new meaning. Few things require as much courage as being wide awake and aware, lying perfectly still for hours, while surgeons methodically slice out bits of your brain....More

SARS doctor Sheela Basrur dies after battle with rare cancer

TORONTO - Dr. Sheela Basrur, whose calm demeanour in the face of a terrifying crisis made her a trusted public figure during the deadly SARS outbreak in Toronto five years ago, has died after battling a rare form of cancer, a family spokesperson said Monday....More

N.L. health board official confronted with damning memo at cancer inquiry

ST. JOHN'S, N.L. - The woman tasked with public relations for Newfoundland's largest health board told an inquiry Monday she attacked the credibility of those, including a patient, who spoke out about breast-cancer testing errors because she was stressed out from intense media coverage....More

Former Toronto top doctor remembered for calm demeanour during SARS

Some of what was said Monday about Dr. Sheela Basrur, who died at the age of 51 of a rare form of cancer: "Dr. Basrur was a guiding light for public health in Ontario....More

Earlier diagnosis giving Alzheimer's a new voice; they want a say in treatment

WASHINGTON - Don Hayen has a handy way of deflecting the instant pity that comes when he reveals his Alzheimer's disease: "But I haven't lost my keys all day," he quickly jokes....More

Children's cancer rates are highest in the Northeast, says U.S. study

CHICAGO - Surprising research suggests that childhood cancer is most common in the Northeast, results that even caught experts off-guard. But some specialists say it could just reflect differences in reporting....More

Cantaloupes possibly contaminated with salmonella recalled in Ont.

OTTAWA - The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is warning the public not to consume some KingFisher brand cantaloupes because they may be contaminated with salmonella....More

Erbitux slightly boosts survival in lung cancer study

CHICAGO - Adding the cancer drug Erbitux to standard chemotherapy helped advanced lung cancer patients live just a month longer than chemo alone, a study found....More

Bone-building drug Zometa fights breast cancer spread, doctors say

CHICAGO - A drug to prevent bone loss during breast cancer treatment also substantially cut the risk that the cancer would return, results that left doctors excited about a possible new way to fight the disease....More

Vegan 'chicken' on menu as KFC Canada attempts to end protests

TORONTO - Following a five-year roasting by animal-rights activists, KFC Canada is promising improved welfare for the chickens it buys for its fast-food outlets in exchange for an end to a boycott campaign that will continue in the U.S. and elsewhere....More

Study shows hybrids of bird flu and human flu viruses fit well, could occur

TORONTO - An experiment mating H5N1 avian flu viruses and a strain of human flu in a laboratory produced a surprising number of hybrid viruses that were biologically fit, a new study reveals....More

Ontario pharmacists could become latest in Canada to prescribe drugs

TORONTO - Ontario patients could soon get drug prescriptions from their local pharmacist as the governing Liberals look to join other provinces and expand the prescribing powers of pharmacists, nurses and other non-physicians....More

Good Samaritans at Sask. accident scene told to get blood test

LUMSDEN, Sask. - Police are trying to track down several Good Samaritans who helped bleeding victims at the scene of a Saskatchewan car crash because they may have been exposed to a blood-borne disease....More

Advocates guess at potential ripples from B.C. safe-injection site ruling

VANCOUVER - More supervised-injection sites, prescription heroin. Advocates for drug addicts are dreaming of the possibilities that could flow from a recent B.C....More

Children's cancer rates are highest in the Northeast, says U.S. study

CHICAGO - Surprising research suggests that childhood cancer is most common in the Northeast, results that even caught experts off-guard. But some specialists say it could just reflect differences in reporting....More