Thursday, July 31, 2008
Study compares suicides' brains to control group, finds some differences
TORONTO - Certain proteins in the brains of depressed people who committed suicide are "more highly expressed" than those in people who died suddenly from heart attacks and other causes, researchers said Wednesday....More
Pre-pregnancy diabetes tied to more birth defects, U.S. study suggests
ATLANTA - Diabetic women who get pregnant are three to four times more likely to have a child with birth defects than other women, according to new government research....More
N.S. Opposition leader calls for better services for autistic children
HALIFAX - Nova Scotia's Opposition leader is calling on the province to make autism treatment a priority after a Halifax doctor announced he's leaving Nova Scotia because his son isn't getting adequate care. Dr....More
N.L. gov't's inaction means 1,000 women must seek care elsewhere: doctor
ST. JOHN'S, N.L. - More than 1,000 women in Newfoundland and Labrador with cancer face the prospect this fall of seeking treatment elsewhere in Canada after three cancer specialists announced their intentions to quit....More
Missing DNA chunks tied to schizophrenia risk
NEW YORK - Two huge international studies show that people who lack certain chunks of DNA run a dramatically higher risk of getting schizophrenia, a finding that could help open new doors to understanding and diagnosing the disease....More
FDA orders safety-related change for anemia drug
WASHINGTON -The Food and Drug Administration on Wednesday ordered changes in the prescribing information for two widely used anemia drugs, saying the risks of the medications outweigh the benefits for certain cancer patients....More
FDA finds salmonella strain at second Mexican farm
WASHINGTON - The salmonella strain linked to a nationwide outbreak has been found in irrigation water and in a sample from a batch of serrano peppers at a Mexican farm, federal health officials said Wednesday. Dr....More
Dalhousie University expands nursing program with $3.4 in N.S. gov't money
HALIFAX - Dalhousie University in Halifax is expanding its nursing program by 30 seats this fall with financial help from the province. The government is providing an additional $3.4 million for university and community college nursing programs....More
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
New arthritis drug gets approval recommendation in the United States
WASHINGTON - A U.S. government advisory panel Tuesday recommended approval of the drug Actemra, promoted as a new type of treatment for rheumatoid arthritis, a painful and disabling swelling of the joints generally kept in check with medication. The Hoffmann-La Roche, Inc....More
Midwifery becoming 'quite mainstream' in Canada, proponents say
TORONTO - Immediately after delivering baby Benjamin, Melissa Boraski's midwife knew something was wrong. The newborn's colour was quite dusky, his breathing too shallow....More
Los Angeles city council votes to block new fast-food outlets from poor areas
LOS ANGELES - The Los Angeles City Council has approved a one-year moratorium on new fast-food restaurants in a low-income area of the city....More
Hutterite communities could help unravel mysteries of flu transmission
The patterns woven by influenza viruses as they wend their way through Hutterite communities in Western Canada could help unlock lingering mysteries about how the wily bugs spread, researchers embarking on a newly funded study believe. The research team, led by Dr....More
Experimental Alzheimer's drug shows early promise, but more testing needed
CHICAGO - For the first time, an experimental drug shows promise for halting the progression of Alzheimer's disease by taking a very new approach: breaking up the protein tangles that clog victims' brains....More
Canada needs organ-donation system before considering presumed consent: expert
TORONTO - Canada's organ donation system "desperately needs" a revamp to tackle the growing number of people dying on wait lists, an international expert said Tuesday....More
UN says AIDS epidemic has stabilized with fewer deaths and infections
LONDON - The United Nations says fewer people are dying of AIDS, more patients are on HIV medication and the global AIDS epidemic is stable after peaking in the late 1990s....More
Pre-pregnancy diabetes tied to more birth defects, U.S. study suggests
ATLANTA - Diabetic women who get pregnant are three to four times more likely to have a child with birth defects than other women, according to new government research....More
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
The verdict on energy foods throughout history from around the world
With bars and beverages that promise to enhance your athletic prowess taking up ever greater chunks of retail real estate, it would be easy to mistake energy foods as a modern phenomenon....More
Study shows exercise slows brain atrophy in patients with Alzheimer's
NEW YORK - Patients with early Alzheimer's disease who exercised regularly saw less deterioration in the areas of the brain which control memory, according to a study released Sunday at the 2008 International Conference on Alzheimer's Disease in Chicago....More
Report blames communications breakdown for isotope controversy
OTTAWA - Canada's nuclear medicine community was "teetering on the brink of disaster" during last year's controversial reactor shutdown, an expert medical panel has found....More
Rapid rise seen in fatal medication errors at home: U.S. data
CHICAGO - Deaths from medication mistakes at home, like actor Heath Ledger's accidental overdose, rose dramatically during the past two decades, an analysis of U.S. death certificates finds....More
New research finds 'pre-dementia' is rising, especially in men
CHICAGO - A milder type of mental decline that often precedes Alzheimer's disease is alarmingly more common than has been believed, and in men more than women, doctors reported Monday....More
Food poisonings prompt interest in irradiation, other technology to kill germs
WASHINGTON - Could food producers literally squeeze the salmonella out of a jalapeno? Or zap the E....More
Ambrilia says partner Merck & Co is suspending development of HIV drug
MONTREAL - Ambrilia Biopharma Inc. said Monday that partner Merck & Co Inc. has decided to suspend development of the HIV drug MK-8122....More
1 in 5 women with pregnancy-related diabetes develop Type 2 within decade: study
TORONTO - Women with gestational diabetes have a one in five chance of developing Type 2 diabetes in the decade after giving birth, say researchers, who recommend regular, ongoing screening for the disease following pregnancy....More
Monday, July 28, 2008
Report urges Ottawa to gird for more health problems as climate changes
OTTAWA - A major report on climate change and health forecasts a higher risk of injuries, illnesses and stress-related disorders brought on by more frequent bouts of extreme weather....More
N.S. health minister says Avastin funding available in two weeks
HALIFAX - Nova Scotia's health minister confirms funding for the cancer drug Avastin will be available in the next two weeks....More
Hospital C. diff reporting will help Ont. better deal with disease: experts
TORONTO - Ontario is gearing up to roll out its new provincewide hospital program aimed at determining the rates of infection for Clostridium difficile, a so-called superbug that is posing a growing threat to patient safety across Canada....More
Fentanyl deaths in the United States topped 1,000 over 2 years
ATLANTA - More than 1,000 people died over two years from an illegal version of the painkiller fentanyl, the U.S. government reported Thursday in its first national tally of those deaths....More
U.S. tries to put together system to trace food items from field to fork
WASHINGTON - When there's an urgent need to trace fruits and vegetables in a crisis like the salmonella outbreak, a lot of the pieces for a rapid-response system already exist. But nobody has quite figured out how to put them together to operate seamlessly in the vast American marketplace....More
U.S. food agency says consumers should avoid jalapenos from Mexico only
WASHINGTON - Only jalapeno peppers grown in Mexico are implicated in the countrywide salmonella outbreak, the government announced Friday in clearing the U.S. crop....More
New chair of research for epilepsy appointed at Dalhousie University
HALIFAX - Dalhousie University in Halifax has established a new chair of research devoted to helping children with epilepsy. Dr. Michael Esser, a pediatric neurologist and pharmacologist, was appointed to the position Friday, the university said in a statement....More
Bush set to sign legislation to triple funds for fighting AIDS
WASHINGTON - President George W. Bush said Saturday he's eager to sign legislation that triples money to fight AIDS and other diseases around the world - an initiative that has won him praise from some of his harshest critics....More
Friday, July 25, 2008
Pitt's Cancer Institute warns of cellphone risks, suggests limiting use
PITTSBURGH - The head of a prominent cancer research institute issued an unprecedented warning to his faculty and staff Wednesday: Limit cellphone use because of the possible risk of cancer. The warning from Dr. Ronald B....More
Food prices escalating but experts advise caution in labelling trend a crisis
TORONTO - When Michael Detlefsen was on a business trip to China last month, he asked his young translator how often she ate at fast-food restaurants....More
ADHD increasingly common in older kids, CDC says
ATLANTA - More older children are being diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder while the rate is holding steady for children under 12, according to a U.S. government report released Wednesday....More
Search for HIV vaccine needs an overhaul, officials say
WASHINGTON - Scientists will have to take "enormous intellectual leaps" to develop an AIDS vaccine in the coming years, say researchers clearly frustrated by the failure of a once-promising shot....More
Report urges Ottawa to gird for more health problems as climate changes
OTTAWA - A major report on climate change and health forecasts a higher risk of injuries, illnesses and stress-related disorders brought on by more frequent bouts of extreme weather....More
N.S. health minister says Avastin funding available in two weeks
HALIFAX - Nova Scotia's health minister confirms funding for the cancer drug Avastin will be available in the next two weeks....More
Hospital C. diff reporting will help Ont. better deal with disease: experts
TORONTO - Ontario is gearing up to roll out its new provincewide hospital program aimed at determining the rates of infection for Clostridium difficile, a so-called superbug that is posing a growing threat to patient safety across Canada....More
Fentanyl deaths in the United States topped 1,000 over 2 years
ATLANTA - More than 1,000 people died over two years from an illegal version of the painkiller fentanyl, the U.S. government reported Thursday in its first national tally of those deaths....More
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Cancer patient questions N.S. government's reason for Avastin delay
HALIFAX - Nova Scotia's health minister says funding for the cancer drug Avastin will be in place within two weeks to a month....More
Survey to look at how many Canadians have potentially fatal food allergies
TORONTO - Researchers have launched a national survey to determine how many Canadians suffer from potentially fatal food allergies and how effective food labelling is in helping consumers avoid allergens that may be hazardous to their health....More
Statin study could lead to test for gene variant
Scientists may have found a way to test for and possibly avoid the most serious side-effect of cholesterol-lowering statin drugs, one of the top-selling medicines in the world. In rare cases, statins can cause muscle pain and weakness....More
Researchers hope new software will have dramatic effect in saving preemies
TORONTO - Researchers hope computer software to be tested at Toronto's Hospital for Sick Children will have a dramatic effect in saving the lives of premature babies and will take neonatal care to a completely new level....More
Quebec considering voluntary charter against anorexia, minister says
PARIS - Quebec is considering following France's example in the fight against anorexia, the provincial culture minister says....More
Pitt's Cancer Institute warns of cellphone risks, suggests limiting use
PITTSBURGH - The head of a prominent cancer research institute issued an unprecedented warning to his faculty and staff Wednesday: Limit cellphone use because of the possible risk of cancer. The warning from Dr. Ronald B....More
Food prices escalating but experts advise caution in labelling trend a crisis
TORONTO - When Michael Detlefsen was on a business trip to China last month, he asked his young translator how often she ate at fast-food restaurants....More
ADHD increasingly common in older kids, CDC says
ATLANTA - More older children are being diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder while the rate is holding steady for children under 12, according to a U.S. government report released Wednesday....More
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Viagra may help women with sexual dysfunction from antidepressants: study
CHICAGO - Viagra's effect in women has been disappointing, but a new small study finds those on antidepressants may benefit from taking the little blue pills. The research involving 98 premenopausal women found Viagra helped with orgasm....More
Ontario to invest $741 million in diabetes treatment and prevention
TORONTO - Ontario is spending $741 million over the next four years on the fight against diabetes in an effort to head off the growing spate of health problems related to the disease, Health Minister David Caplan said Tuesday....More
MethylGene stops enrolling new patients for trials of Hodgkin's lymphoma drug
MONTREAL - Cancer drug developer MethylGene Inc. (TSX:MYG) said Tuesday that it has temporarily halted the enrolment of new patients into clinical trials of its treatment for Hodgkin's lymphoma....More
Jin Bu Hua Anodyne tablets recalled after adverse reactions reported: Health Canada
OTTAWA - Health Canada is warning consumers not to use Jin Bu Huan Anodyne tablets after two reported adverse reactions in this country. The Canadian importer, Wing Quon Enterprises Ltd....More
Hospital in Burlington, Ont., confirms eighth case of scabies
TORONTO - A southwestern Ontario hospital where 62 people died during a recent outbreak of C. difficile confirmed Tuesday that a seventh staff member has contracted scabies, a non-life threatening but highly contagious skin rash....More
Foreign-born TB cases in U.S. need better control, study says
CHICAGO - Tuberculosis cases continue to fall in the United States, but some immigrants have disturbingly high rates of the disease, according to a study released Tuesday that called for more aggressive action....More
Cancer patient questions N.S. government's reason for Avastin delay
HALIFAX - Nova Scotia's health minister says funding for the cancer drug Avastin will be in place within two weeks to a month....More
Researchers hope new software will have dramatic effect in saving preemies
TORONTO - Researchers hope computer software to be tested at Toronto's Hospital for Sick Children will have a dramatic effect in saving the lives of premature babies and will take neonatal care to a completely new level....More
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Alzheimer's vaccine stopped plaque but not dementia, study finds
LONDON - Some doctors have long suspected that if the plaque that builds up in the brains of patients with Alzheimer's disease could be removed, they could be saved. But a new vaccine that did just that suggests the theory is wrong....More
WHO urges Asia to take action against drug-resistant tuberculosis
TOKYO - The World Health Organization urged Asian countries on Monday to take action against the growing threat of drug-resistant tuberculosis, warning that even more virulent forms of the disease could spread if they fail to do so....More
U.S. food inspectors find salmonella strain in jalapeno pepper at Texas plant
WASHINGTON - Government inspectors finally have a big clue in the country-wide salmonella outbreak: They found the same bacteria on a single Mexican-grown jalapeno pepper handled by a small Texas produce shipper. But Monday's discovery doesn't solve the mystery....More
Trans fats falling under voluntary guidelines but pastries remain a problem
OTTAWA - Fast-food chains are cutting trans fats under voluntary guidelines, but the federal government is threatening to force suppliers of fat-packed baked goods to find a healthier alternative....More
Ontario man, 73, first in Canada to receive remote cardiac monitoring device
NEWMARKET, Ont. - A 73-year-old cardiac patient from Midland, Ont., has been fitted with a new device that allows medical staff to monitor his condition remotely....More
More ultrasound clinics opening in Canada, but health authorities raise concerns
MONCTON, N.B. - As Paula and Martin Theriault stare wide-eyed at the flat-screen TV, a clearly detailed, full-motion image of their unborn daughter leaves them breathless....More
Isotechnika says Roche gives up global rights to voclosporin for organ transplants
EDMONTON - Canadian drug developer Isotechnika Inc. says Swiss drug giant Roche has given up its rights to license the Edmonton company's voclosporin drug for solid organ transplants....More
Doctors want to know how some damaged hearts rejuvenate with pump implant
WASHINGTON - When it comes to hearts, Taneal Wilson won the lottery. A small pump implanted to keep the 31-year-old alive long enough for a heart transplant somehow helped Wilson's ravaged heart completely recover instead....More
Monday, July 21, 2008
Mississippi remains the most obese state in the U.S., CDC reports
ATLANTA - Mississippi, Alabama and Tennessee lead the United States when it comes to obesity, a new government survey reported Thursday. More than 30 per cent of adults in each of the states tipped the scales enough to ensure the South remains the nation's fattest region....More
Government mulls changes after report on HIV-positive immigrants
VANCOUVER - Immigrants with HIV account for a large portion of new infections of the disease in Canada and they're slipping between the health-care cracks, warns a recent report....More
Tomato safety scare hurt consumers' confidence, but food safe
WASHINGTON - The tomato scare has been declared over, but it has taken a toll - it has cost the industry an estimated $100 million and left millions of people with a new wariness about the safety of everyday foods....More
Some New York City restaurants post calorie info, but others lag behind
NEW YORK - After months of resistance, several big fast food chains have finally begun obeying a first-of-its-kind New York City rule requiring some restaurants to post calorie counts right on the menu....More
Ottawa urges retailer to pull counterfeit toothbrushes from shelves
OTTAWA - Dollarama stores have pulled some toothbrushes from their shelves at Ottawa's behest after one case in which the bristles became dislodged and got stuck in someone's throat....More
Nasal form of bed-wetting drug may cause serious side-effects: Health
OTTAWA - Health Canada is warning consumers that the nasal form of the drug desmopressin should not be used to treat bed-wetting because of the risk of potentially fatal side-effects....More
Alzheimer's vaccine stopped plaque but not dementia, study finds
LONDON - Some doctors have long suspected that if the plaque that builds up in the brains of patients with Alzheimer's disease could be removed, they could be saved. But a new vaccine that did just that suggests the theory is wrong....More
WHO urges Asia to take action against drug-resistant tuberculosis
TOKYO - The World Health Organization urged Asian countries on Monday to take action against the growing threat of drug-resistant tuberculosis, warning that even more virulent forms of the disease could spread if they fail to do so....More
Friday, July 18, 2008
Canada among top countries worldwide for surviving certain cancers: study
TORONTO - Canada consistently ranks near the top in a worldwide estimate of five-year survival rates for cancer patients, according to an international study, which found huge variations from country to country and even within some nations' borders....More
Saskatchewan government announces review of needle exchange program
REGINA - Saskatchewan's health minister has announced a review of the province's needle exchange program. Don McMorris says they want to make sure that the program is meeting its objectives and says the review will be complete by December....More
Removing kidney through bellybutton less painful for living donor, doctors say
CLEVELAND - Brad Kaster donated a kidney to his father this week, and he barely has a scar to show for it....More
Protein test beats cholesterol test in predicting heart attack risk: study
TORONTO - Measuring the ratio of two forms of proteins in the blood is superior to cholesterol testing as a means of predicting heart attack risk and should become part of standard practice by doctors, researchers say....More
Plans for a large-scale AIDS vaccine trial in the U.S. have been dropped
WASHINGTON - Plans for a large-scale trial of a potential AIDS vaccine are being dropped in favour of a smaller, more focused study, says the National Institutes of Health....More
Mississippi remains the most obese state in the U.S., CDC reports
ATLANTA - Mississippi, Alabama and Tennessee lead the United States when it comes to obesity, a new government survey reported Thursday. More than 30 per cent of adults in each of the states tipped the scales enough to ensure the South remains the nation's fattest region....More
Government mulls changes after report on HIV-positive immigrants
VANCOUVER - Immigrants with HIV account for a large portion of new infections of the disease in Canada and they're slipping between the health-care cracks, warns a recent report....More
Alzheimer's vaccine stopped plaque but not dementia, study finds
LONDON - Some doctors have long suspected that if the plaque that builds up in the brains of patients with Alzheimer's disease could be removed, they could be saved. But a new vaccine that did just that suggests the theory is wrong....More
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Report suggests fewer teens in British Columbia are having sex
VANCOUVER - A survey of British Columbia teenagers may challenge the perception that teens are engaging in risky sexual behaviours at younger ages. The latest BC Adolescent Health Survey found the number of teens who say they've had sex dropped by a third between 1992 and 2003....More
Quebec move toward safe-injection sites could be awkward for Tories
MONTREAL - Health officials in Quebec are preparing to open a supervised-injection site in Montreal in the coming months and say it could become one of many in the province....More
Ontario's watchdog investigating province's monitoring of nursing homes
TORONTO - Ontario's watchdog will probe whether the governing Liberals are doing enough to protect the 75,000 elderly residents of the province's long-term care homes or instead confining facilities to a "straitjacket of piddly rules," ombudsman Andre Marin said Wednesday....More
New report says Canadians spending more out of pocket on health care
HALIFAX - Canadians are spending more out of their own pockets on health care than they were two decades ago, increasing the risk for financial ruin among low-income earners, a new report says....More
Menthol used to attract young smokers, researchers say
WASHINGTON - Tobacco companies deliberately changed the menthol levels in cigarettes depending upon whom they were marketing them to - lower levels for young smokers who preferred the milder brands and higher levels to "lock in lifelong adult smokers," researchers at the Harvard School of...More
Low-carb diet best for weight and cholesterol control, study shows
ATLANTA - The Atkins diet may have proved itself after all: A low-carb diet and a Mediterranean-style regimen helped people lose more weight than a traditional low-fat diet in one of the longest and largest studies to compare the duelling weight-loss techniques....More
Depressed women over 40 more likely to develop heart disease: study
OTTAWA - A new study suggests middle-aged women who suffer from depression are more likely to develop heart disease than non-depressed women. But the Statistics Canada study did not find the same potential link between heart disease and depression in men....More
Canada among top countries worldwide for surviving certain cancers: study
TORONTO - Canada consistently ranks near the top in a worldwide estimate of five-year survival rates for cancer patients, according to an international study, which found huge variations from country to country and even within some nations' borders....More
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
McGuinty agrees parents should limit children's cellphone usage
TORONTO - Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty is advising parents to limit their children's use of cellphones. Toronto Public Health has issued an advisory telling parents to take precautions to minimize their children's exposure to radio frequency waves from cellphones....More
Kidney stones may become more common with climate change: study
TORONTO - Some say passing a kidney stone is the closest men will ever come to experiencing the pain of childbirth, and a study released Monday suggests the excruciating experience may become more common with climate change....More
Doctors hopeful easier blood thinners are nearing
WASHINGTON - A trio of experimental drugs has doctors hopeful that for the first time in decades, millions of people at risk of lethal blood clots may soon get easier treatment....More
When a child becomes a teen, sluggishness sets in, study shows
CHICAGO - One of the largest studies of its kind shows just how sluggish American children become once they hit the teen years: While 90 per cent of nine-year-olds get a couple of hours of exercise most days, fewer than three per cent of 15-year-olds do....More
Ont. ombudsman expected to announce whether he'll conduct nursing home probe
TORONTO - Ontario's government watchdog is expected to announce Wednesday if he'll investigate whether the Liberals are doing enough to ensure the safety and dignity of elderly residents in the province's nursing homes....More
New 'Made in Canada' food labelling rules to kick in next year
CORNWALL, Ont. - The Conservative government has fleshed out food labelling guidelines unveiled earlier this year by Prime Minister Stephen Harper. Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz announced in Cornwall, Ont., that the new rules come into effect on Jan....More
E. coli outbreak has been linked to beef now reported in five U.S. states
ATLANTA - An E. coli outbreak traced to recalled beef in Michigan and Ohio has spawned cases in three other states. U.S. health officials say New York, Kentucky and Indiana each have one lab-confirmed case of a bacterial infection that matches the 41 previously reported cases....More
Cultural factors can dictate how patients experience depression: study
TORONTO - Being aware of cultural differences should help doctors better diagnose depression in Chinese and other East Asian patients, who tend to emphasize physical complaints and minimize psychological symptoms, researchers suggest....More
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Uneven enforcement of ban on drug ads creates double standard: medical journal
TORONTO - Health Canada's uneven enforcement of its ban on direct-to-consumer drug advertising may strengthen the hand of media companies fighting in court to have it overturned, the Canadian Medical Association Journal said Monday in an editorial. Signed by editor-in-chief Dr....More
Uneven enforcement of ban on drug ads creates double standard: medical journal
TORONTO - Health Canada's uneven enforcement of its ban on direct-to-consumer drug advertising may strengthen the hand of media companies fighting in court to have it overturned, the Canadian Medical Association Journal said Monday in an editorial. Signed by editor-in-chief Dr....More
Stepping on venomous caterpillars a fatal mistake for young Canadian traveller
TORONTO - It was a freak encounter with tragic consequences. A Canadian woman who had travelled to South America last year died 10 days after stepping, barefoot, on venomous caterpillars, a team of Edmonton doctors reported Monday in the Canadian Medical Association Journal....More
Physical fitness may slow Alzheimer brain atrophy: study
NEW YORK - Getting a lot of exercise may help slow brain shrinkage in people with early Alzheimer's disease, a preliminary study suggests. Analysis found that participants who were more physically fit had less brain shrinkage than less-fit participants....More
Old rule that kids shouldn't swim for an hour after eating a myth: experts
TORONTO - If you are of a certain vintage - you watched "Three's Company" and "All in the Family," you cheered (or jeered) when the Toronto Maple Leafs last won the Stanley Cup - you will recall a special torture parents put their children through in summer....More
McGuinty agrees parents should limit children's cellphone usage
TORONTO - Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty is advising parents to limit their children's use of cellphones. Toronto Public Health has issued an advisory telling parents to take precautions to minimize their children's exposure to radio frequency waves from cellphones....More
Kidney stones may become more common with climate change: study
TORONTO - Some say passing a kidney stone is the closest men will ever come to experiencing the pain of childbirth, and a study released Monday suggests the excruciating experience may become more common with climate change....More
Doctors hopeful easier blood thinners are nearing
WASHINGTON - A trio of experimental drugs has doctors hopeful that for the first time in decades, millions of people at risk of lethal blood clots may soon get easier treatment....More
Monday, July 14, 2008
Health Canada says problems with some medical auto injectors pose potential risks
OTTAWA - Health Canada says problems with two types of medical auto-injectors that are used in treating allergic reactions may pose serious health risks to users. They're the Twinjet 0.3 milligram unit and the Twinjet 0.15 milligram units....More
Dutch woman dies of Ebola-like fever likely caught from bats in Ugandan cave
AMSTERDAM, Netherlands - A Dutch woman has died from Marburg fever, a rare Ebola-like virus she is thought to have caught from bats while touring caves in Uganda, hospital officials said Friday....More
Chocolate bar, fruit pies recalled over concerns of unreported milk, egg proteins
OTTAWA - The Canadian Food Inspection Agency is warning the public not to consume some products that contain milk or egg proteins not declared on their labels. The Coboss brand No Sugar Added Dark Chocolate 40-gram bar may contain milk which is not declared on the label....More
Fecal bacteria found on University of Washington computer keyboards
SEATTLE - The University of Washington says its computer keyboards will now be cleaned weekly after a student research project found high levels of fecal coliform bacteria on some of them....More
Experts warn residents to expect more smog warnings in New England
BOSTON - New England residents can expect more smog warnings this summer, but experts say that's not because the air is getting dirtier....More
Dr. Michael DeBakey, who pioneered bypass surgery, dead at 99
HOUSTON - Dr. Michael DeBakey, the world-famous cardiovascular surgeon who pioneered such now-common procedures as bypass surgery and invented a host of devices to help heart patients, has died. He was 99....More
Winnipeg researchers examining whether flax can prevent heart disease
WINNIPEG - The lowly flax plant may not have the cachet of wheat and other crops, but researchers are trying to find out whether it could serve as a new weapon against heart disease....More
Oregon woman has a 64-kilogram cancerous tumour removed from abdomen
REDMOND, Ore. - Linda Rittenbach tried all the diets and workouts, but nothing would help her lose weight. Doctors even suggested weight-loss surgery....More
Friday, July 11, 2008
Saskatchewan partners with company on remote health monitoring
REGINA - Patients with chronic conditions can now get a long-distance diagnosis, and all they need is a cellphone. LifeStat is a new way to analyze blood data or blood pressure and share it with doctors without having to get an appointment....More
Increasingly popular paddlefish caviar raises health concerns, officials say
SMITHLAND, Ky. - The buzz of an outboard motor sends pelicans skyward as Charlie Hopkins' skiff glides along the Ohio River to paddlefish nets placed beneath the murky surface....More
Health Canada warns against use of 'social tonics' which contain drugs
TORONTO - Health Canada is urging consumers not to use products sold as "social tonics" by the company Purepillz, saying they contain unauthorized drugs....More
Health Canada asking makers of some antibiotics to put tendon warning on label
TORONTO - Health Canada announced Thursday that it will ask makers of a class of antibiotics to include a prominent warning on the label that the drugs can lead to tendon ruptures. The announcement follows on the heels of a similar policy decision from the U.S....More
Genes from Middle East families yield autism clues, Harvard researchers report
WASHINGTON - Harvard researchers have discovered half a dozen new genes involved in autism that suggest the disorder strikes in a brain that can't properly form new connections....More
Fewer non-smokers breathe cigarette fumes in the U.S., CDC says
ATLANTA - Nearly half of non-smoking Americans are still breathing in cigarette fumes, but the percentage has declined dramatically since the early 1990s, according to a government study released Thursday....More
FDA panel sees suicide risks with epilepsy drugs; analyzed 200 studies
WASHINGTON - Drugs used by millions of Americans to treat epileptic seizures can cause increased risks of suicide, a government panel said Thursday. Advisers to the U.S....More
'Alarming' number of young adults aren't protected from sun: Cancer Society
TORONTO - A cross-country snapshot by the Canadian Cancer Society finds that on a typical summer day about 28 per cent of adults spend at least two hours in the sun....More
Thursday, July 10, 2008
Akela Pharma repeating Fentanyl inhalant safety study at FDA request
MONTREAL - Akela Pharma Inc. (TSX:AKL) has started over again with safety studies on its Tamifun platform for inhaled drugs, as required by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Akela said Tuesday it remains on track to make regulatory submissions in 2010....More
Salmonella toll tops 1,000 in the U.S. and peppers are now suspected
WASHINGTON - More than 1,000 people now are confirmed ill from salmonella initially linked to raw tomatoes, a grim milestone Wednesday that makes this the worst foodborne outbreak in at least a decade. Adding to the confusion, the U.S....More
Researchers in Europe find obese men have lower quality sperm
BARCELONA, Spain - Researchers in Scotland have found yet another reason for men to avoid becoming overweight. Besides the usual bogeymen such as heart disease, high blood pressure and the like, add lower quality sperm....More
Japanese car company serves as inspiration for new Quebec health minister
MONTREAL - As Quebec's health system creaks under the weight of an aging population and a lack of resources, those under pressure to come up with solutions have turned to Japanese car manufacturer Toyota for inspiration....More
Health Canada warns a morphine med may contain excess drug, shouldn't be used
TORONTO - Health Canada is warning against the use of some dosages of the prescription drug ratio-Morphine SR, saying the pills may contain more morphine than the label indicates. The department warns that people who use the pills could be at risk of an accidental overdose....More
Group calls for zero tolerance of doctor bullies who badger nurses
CHICAGO - Bullying doctors can make nurses afraid to question their performance, resulting in medical errors, according to a hospital group that announced new requirements for cracking down on intimidating behaviour....More
Boston Scientific loses bid for new patent trial in drug-treated stent case
DALLAS - A U.S. federal judge rejected a request by Boston Scientific Corp. for a new trial in a patent-infringement case that ended with a US$501-million judgment against the medical-device maker. Boston Scientific said it planned to appeal the ruling Wednesday by U.S....More
'Alarming' number of young adults aren't protected from sun: Cancer Society
TORONTO - A cross-country snapshot by the Canadian Cancer Society finds that on a typical summer day about 28 per cent of adults spend at least two hours in the sun....More
Wednesday, July 09, 2008
Cholesterol drugs recommended for some 8-year-olds to prevent heart disease
CHICAGO - For the first time, an influential doctors group is recommending that some children as young as 8 be given cholesterol-fighting drugs to ward off future heart problems....More
U.S. drug safety officials warn certain antibiotics may cause tendon injuries
WASHINGTON - Drug safety officials Tuesday imposed the government's most urgent safety warning on Cipro and similar antibiotics, citing evidence that they may lead to tendon ruptures, a serious injury that can leave patients incapacitated and needing extensive surgery....More
Swedish study shows seniors more likely to be having, enjoying sex than in 1970
TORONTO - It seems, to borrow a phrase from Borat, that more contemporary seniors are making "sexy time" than did their counterparts who hit the big 7-0 three decades earlier....More
House cleaning sweeps away Alberta's highest paid public health executives
CALGARY - Eight of Alberta's highest paid public health executives have been let go in a housecleaning by the province's new health superboard and more job cuts are expected in the coming months....More
Fringe autism treatment could get federal study in the United States
CHICAGO - Pressured by desperate parents, government researchers are pushing to test an unproven treatment on autistic children, a move some scientists see as an unethical experiment in voodoo medicine....More
Elderly may fare worse on prostate cancer drugs, study shows
CHICAGO - A prostate cancer study that could change how doctors treat some patients found that widely used hormone-blocking drugs did not improve survival chances for older men whose disease hadn't spread....More
BC Criminal Justice names special prosecutor for bureaucrat investigation
VICTORIA - A special prosecutor has been appointed to look into allegations of misconduct involving a former senior official with the B.C. Ministry of Health who handled hundreds of millions of dollars in health contracts....More
Akela Pharma repeating Fentanyl inhalant safety study at FDA request
MONTREAL - Akela Pharma Inc. (TSX:AKL) has started over again with safety studies on its Tamifun platform for inhaled drugs, as required by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Akela said Tuesday it remains on track to make regulatory submissions in 2010....More
Tuesday, July 08, 2008
Family, mental-health issues overtake work issues for federal workers: survey
OTTAWA - Job-related stresses in federal workplaces are in decline, a new report suggests, raising doubts about the so-called "toxic" work environment in the public sector....More
When baby's smiling, reward centres in mom's brain are activated, MRI shows
TORONTO - Parents might say a baby lights up their life, but a new study shows that an image of a smiling baby also "lights up" the reward centres of the mother's brain....More
Sourdough bread may enhance health more than whole wheat, says scientist
The type of toasted bread we eat for breakfast can affect how the body responds to lunch, a researcher at the University of Guelph has discovered. Prof....More
Number of Canadian cases linked to U.S. salmonella outbreak rises to four
TORONTO - Four Canadians, including two Alberta men who travelled to Texas on business, have tested positive for the strain of salmonella responsible for a large food poisoning outbreak in the United States....More
Knee replacement offers less pain and more mobility, but not a quick fix
Susan Turner knew her full knee replacement was a success when she hopped on her bike and started pedalling down a Calgary street, feeling like she had a brand new lease on life....More
Health Canada warns against use of 13 foreign health supplements
TORONTO - Health Canada is warning Canadians not to use 13 foreign-made health supplements, saying they contain an undisclosed prescription drug. The products are sold as treatments for erectile dysfunction or for sexual enhancement....More
Cholesterol drugs recommended for some 8-year-olds to prevent heart disease
CHICAGO - For the first time, an influential doctors group is recommending that some children as young as 8 be given cholesterol-fighting drugs to ward off future heart problems....More
Akela Pharma repeating Fentanyl inhalant safety study at FDA request
MONTREAL - Akela Pharma Inc. (TSX:AKL) has started over again with safety studies on its Tamifun platform for inhaled drugs, as required by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Akela said Tuesday it remains on track to make regulatory submissions in 2010....More
Monday, July 07, 2008
Man loses appeal to have govt pay for transplant overseas that was denied at home
TORONTO - An Ontario man has lost another appeal to have the government pay for a life-saving liver transplant in England that doctors refused to perform at home....More
Abnormalities in the brain chemical serotonin linked to sudden infant death
WASHINGTON - Scientists have new evidence that the brain chemical best known for regulating mood also plays a role in the mystifying killer of seemingly healthy babies - sudden infant death syndrome....More
Food and Drug Administration reports more cases of salmonella illnesses
WASHINGTON - The U.S. government has increased the number of people reported being sickened in a record salmonella outbreak in which tomatoes are the leading suspect. Investigators are testing other types of fresh produce....More
New Jersey says it is studying new way to promote stem cell research
TRENTON, N.J. - New Jersey's bid to make itself a leader in stem cell research was stymied last year when voters rejected borrowing $450 million to fund research. However, a leading advocate has a new plan - encouraging private investors to bankroll stem cell research loans....More
Family, mental-health issues overtake work issues for federal workers: survey
OTTAWA - Job-related stresses in federal workplaces are in decline, a new report suggests, raising doubts about the so-called "toxic" work environment in the public sector....More
When baby's smiling, reward centres in mom's brain are activated, MRI shows
TORONTO - Parents might say a baby lights up their life, but a new study shows that an image of a smiling baby also "lights up" the reward centres of the mother's brain....More
Friday, July 04, 2008
Ontario to spend $50M to cover costs of expensive cancer drugs
TORONTO - After months of lobbying by cancer patients who went into debt and fundraised so they could spend tens of thousands of dollars on an approved drug that could potentially save their lives, Health Minister David Caplan announced Wednesday that Ontario will now start paying for...More
More family doctors would equal fewer ER visits for chronic diseases: Report
TORONTO - A new report suggests more than 118,000 emergency room visits could be avoided each year if more Ontarians with chronic diseases had a family doctor....More
Filipina with upside-down clubbed feet takes first steps after surgery
NEW YORK - A Filipino teenager who came to New York so doctors could perform surgery to untwist her severely clubbed feet took her first unaided steps Wednesday in pink-and-white sneakers - the first shoes she's ever worn. "I'm very happy," Jingle Luis said with a smile....More
FDA panel urges more stringent safety standards for diabetes drugs
WASHINGTON - Diabetes drugs would be subject to more stringent safety standards that could cost manufacturers millions, under recommendations made Wednesday by a U.S. government panel....More
Southern Ontario woman gets Newfoundland accent after stroke, researchers say
TORONTO - A southern Ontario woman who suffered a serious stroke two years ago is also experiencing a rare medical mystery, one that researchers say causes her to sound like a Newfoundlander....More
Ombudsman preparing to investigate conditions in Ontario's nursing homes
TORONTO - The "horror stories" about shocking conditions in the province's nursing homes has prompted Ontario's watchdog to prepare for an investigation into whether the governing Liberals are doing enough to ensure the safety and dignity of elderly residents, The Canadian Press has learned....More
Newly developed resource guide offers support to parents of trans youth
TORONTO - To the outside world, Jamie was male. On the inside, it was a different story. "To be honest, I thought everyone felt like I did," Jamie recalled....More
Canada finds first case linked to U.S. salmonella outbreak in returning traveller
TORONTO - A Canadian who had recently travelled to the United States has tested positive for Salmonella Saintpaul, the strain of bacteria behind a massive food poisoning outbreak in the U.S., the Public Health Agency of Canada said Thursday....More
Thursday, July 03, 2008
Salmonella probe adds foods served with tomatoes
WASHINGTON - Adding to tomato confusion, the U.S. government is about to start testing numerous other types of fresh produce in the hunt for the source of a record salmonella outbreak - even as it insists tomatoes remain the leading suspect....More
Watermelon yields Viagra-like effects, scientists say
LUBBOCK, Texas - A slice of cool, fresh watermelon is a juicy way to top off a Fourth of July cookout and one that researchers say has effects similar to Viagra - but don't necessarily expect it to keep the fireworks all night long....More
Ontario to spend $50M to cover costs of expensive cancer drugs
TORONTO - After months of lobbying by cancer patients who went into debt and fundraised so they could spend tens of thousands of dollars on an approved drug that could potentially save their lives, Health Minister David Caplan announced Wednesday that Ontario will now start paying for...More
More family doctors would equal fewer ER visits for chronic diseases: Report
TORONTO - A new report suggests more than 118,000 emergency room visits could be avoided each year if more Ontarians with chronic diseases had a family doctor....More
Filipina with upside-down clubbed feet takes first steps after surgery
NEW YORK - A Filipino teenager who came to New York so doctors could perform surgery to untwist her severely clubbed feet took her first unaided steps Wednesday in pink-and-white sneakers - the first shoes she's ever worn. "I'm very happy," Jingle Luis said with a smile....More
FDA panel urges more stringent safety standards for diabetes drugs
WASHINGTON - Diabetes drugs would be subject to more stringent safety standards that could cost manufacturers millions, under recommendations made Wednesday by a U.S. government panel....More
Tuesday, July 01, 2008
Teva receives FDA approval for generic anti-psychotic drug Risperdal
NEW YORK - Johnson & Johnson's blockbuster anti-psychotic drug Risperdal will face generic competition, as Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. on Monday became the first company to receive approval for a generic version. Israel-based Teva received U.S....More
State has counted a total of 21 tomato-related salmonella cases
BOSTON - Public health officials say the number of salmonella cases in Massachusetts has risen to 21 after four more cases were identified during a nationwide outbreak. They're associated with certain types of raw tomatoes....More
Negotiators for 13,000 Alta. auxiliary nurses reach tentative agreement
EDMONTON - The bargaining committees representing 13,000 auxiliary Alberta nurses and their employers have reached a tentative agreement....More
Cooling spray alleviates needle pain in kids, sucrose helps some newborns
TORONTO - Parents who cringe at the thought of their child suffering because of an injection, blood test or tube being inserted can take heart as research, including two new Canadian studies released Monday, sheds more light on how to alleviate the pain....More
Beekeepers help recover 12 million bees after truck overturns in New Brunswick
ST. LEONARD, N.B. - Beekeepers have begun recovering 12 million honey bees from a truck that overturned Monday on the Trans-Canada Highway in northwest New Brunswick....More
B.C. court clears path for cancer survivors to sue over hormone replacement
VANCOUVER - An international maker of a hormone replacement drug has lost its bid to block a B.C. lawsuit, clearing the way for a possible class-action suit on behalf of breast cancer survivors. Hundreds of B.C....More
3-D mammograms and cameras may one day improve breast exam clarity
WASHINGTON - Remember peeking through a View-Master? Scientists are using the same concept behind the classic kids' toy to try to see mammograms in 3-D....More
Study finds long benefit in illegal mushroom drug
NEW YORK - In 2002, at a Johns Hopkins University laboratory, a business consultant named Dede Osborn took a psychedelic drug as part of a research project. She felt as if she was taking off. She saw colours. Then it felt like her heart was ripping open....More
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