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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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