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$5-million gift aimed at stem-cell research *
A Toronto foundation giving the Robarts Research Institute a $5-million boost for stem-cell research wants the money to trigger more backing for London researchers.
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'Hamburger disease' treatment in the works *
Researchers are testing a new treatment that could save children from the ill effects of ingesting E. coli bacteria often found in undercooked burgers.
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* Good bacteria helps ease symptoms of ulcerative colitis *
According to Canadian research published in the American Journal of Gastroenterology July 2005, a severe inflammatory disease of the colon, ulcerative colitis often produces bloody diarrhea and is associated with an increased risk of colon cancer.
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*How to West Nile-proof your kids *
A point-form guide.
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. . .and a southern escape from isolation *
A Brazilian park, encircled by farmland, was more like a jail than a haven for the mighty jaguar. SHAWN BLORE details the innovative solution -- travel corridors to link it with other reserves
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13 West Nile cases suspected in Saskatchewan *
The number of probable human cases of West Nile virus in Saskatchewan rose to 13 Tuesday from nine Monday.
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44 Oil Spills Found in Southeast Louisiana *
More than 500 specialists are working to clean up 44 oil spills ranging from several hundred gallons to nearly 4 million gallons, the US Coast Guard said in an assessment that goes far beyond initial reports of just two significant spills.
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A $1,000 checkup *
With the public health-care system squeezed and patient rosters ballooning, private clinics are offering premium services for a fee, writes MARINA JIMENEZ. But is it worth shelling out cash to determine the elasticity of your eyeballs?
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A bone-marrow lottery win (Mackwood) *
Very few international donors gave to Canadians -- those deemed a perfect match. They are lottery odds and we inexplicably won.
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A difference between humans, apes *
Humans have lost the ability to make a certain sugar that our closest animal relatives produce, so when we consume it in milk and red meat, our immune system views it as an invader. ANNE McILROY reports.
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A disease to fight famine? *
Feeling hungry, but aren't tempted to eat? Want instead to start running and keep chugging as long as you can?
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A few scientists of note *
In science, respect is sometimes measured by how much other people talk about you. Well, maybe not talk, but "cite" -- as in include a reference to your work in a footnote.
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A guide to the facts of a deadly disease *
In Canada, 10,000 cows have been tested for BSE in the decade since the last case. All were cleared.
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A healthy read *
Health news has never been of more interest -- and it has never been more complex. Each day brings fresh studies and reports that seem to contradict each other at an ever-accelerating pace.
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A hip replacement from the horse's mouth *
Horse teeth, if you get close enough to have a good look, are brown. That's because the enamel that makes human teeth shiny and white is covered with a bone-like layer called cementum...
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A little poison may not be a dangerous thing *
A controversial theory called hormesis is picking up support in scientific circles. It holds that radiation, toxic chemicals or lack of food can be good for you in small doses or for short periods. ANNE McILROY reports.
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A northern passage to safety ... *
The death toll on a stretch of the Trans-Canada Highway was so alarming that Banff National Park built a series of overpasses and underpasses to allow animals to cross. MARK STEVENSON reports
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A puzzling new disorder strikes middle-aged men *
American scientists say they have discovered an enigmatic new neurodegenerative disease, one that primarily affects grandfathers of boys with the most common form of mental retardation.
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A U.S. epidemic *
The U.S. Center for Disease Control is reporting that as of Aug. 26, there are 1,355 reported human cases of West Nile Virus in the United States, with 19 deaths reported. Why are the media not warning Canadians about travel to the United States?
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A victory for South Africa's martyr-in-chief *
In the continental AIDS crisis, Africans have been shocked to find themselves fighting not just Western drug companies, but one another. STEPHANIE NOLEN, The Globe's new Africa bureau chief, recounts an AIDS drama with that rarest of things, a happy ending. But at great cost: Activist Zackie Achmat nearly lost his life. His old African National Congress comrade, President Thabo Mbeki, had to sacrifice his pride. Their standoff lasted nearly five years
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A West Nile primer *
Who is in danger of getting sick and how do you protect yourself? ANNE McILROY supplies some answers
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A year late, Ontario readies West Nile test *
A leading-edge West Nile test that Ontario is expected to have ready for this summer was actually slated to be completed more than a year ago.
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Aborted fetuses used in fertility treatment *
Fetal ovarian tissue could relieve shortage of human eggs, Israeli scientists maintain
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Access to care for HIV/AIDS African goal *
Those being treated only tiny proportion of continent's 30 million victims, UN says
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Activists sue U.S. over orcas' status *
Killer whales on Canada's endangered list but lack same protections south of border
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Actor tests HIV positive, porn filming suspended *
California's multibillion-dollar adult pornographic film industry ground to a virtual halt yesterday after a popular actor tested positive for the virus that causes AIDS.
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AIDS 'superinfections' on the rise *
Evidence is growing that "superinfection" with more than one strain of HIV may be more common than previously thought, which could complicate efforts to make a vaccine, experts said Monday at an international AIDS conference.
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AIDS doctor agrees to quit practice after sex allegations *
A well-known doctor in the gay community who helped found one of the first AIDS support organizations in Canada has avoided a disciplinary hearing by agreeing never to practise medicine again.
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AIDS rate among U.S. gays on rise, CDC reports *
The number of gay and bisexual men diagnosed with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, climbed for the third consecutive year in the United States in 2002, fuelling fears the disease might be poised for a major comeback in this vulnerable group.
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AIDS-surgeon case to be probed *
Quebec physicians body concerned about actions of those overseeing MD.
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Ain't no ocean deep enough *
Extinct volcanoes far below the sea are magnets for marine life, some of it new to science. But even at that depth, nothing is safe from fishing boats equipped with sophisticated tracking technology, ALANNA MITCHELL reports
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Air Supply Air Purifier *
Ideal for use in a closed environment (elevators, office cubicle, airplane travel).
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Alberta and BC ripe for West Nile virus *
Unseasonably warm, dry weather in Alberta and British Columbia has created the perfect conditions for a serious outbreak of West Nile virus, warned a Harvard Medical School expert yesterday.
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Alberta confirms first West Nile case *
Alberta has its first case of West Nile virus in a human, health officials confirmed Tuesday.
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Alberta magpie province's first West Nile case *
A magpie found near Camrose, southeast of Edmonton, has tested positive for the West Nile virus, becoming the province's first ever case, officials said yesterday.
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Alberta researchers reeling from grizzly bear slaughter *
The internationally famous research by two Canadian naturalists showing that grizzly bears in the snow-swept Russian wilderness can live peacefully with humans has ended in a brutal tragedy, The Globe and Mail reports.
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Alzheimer's maze starts to unwind *
Teenager Sharon Moalem suspected his grandfather's Alzheimer's was linked to a buildup of iron in his brain. Years later, he proved it.
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Angelina Jolie's conservation project approved *
Cambodia has approved a forest conservation project funded by Tomb Raider star Angelina Jolie.
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Antarctic 'ozone hole' reaches record size *
The ozone hole over the Antarctic this year has reached the record size of 28 million square kilometres set three years ago, the United Nations' weather organization said Wednesday.
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Antismoking groups blast McLellan *
Health Minister is undermining tobacco control, coalition complains
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Ape diet a cholesterol-buster, researcher says *
Study finds it as effective as popular drug
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Appetite-curbing hormone found to cut calorie intake 30 per cent *
Scientists have discovered a potential bonanza for the diet industry: a naturally occurring hormone that appears to dramatically reduce the urge to eat
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Approval of peanut-allergy drug could protect millions against allergic reactions *
Researchers are raving about a new drug, TNX-901, that could turn life-threatening allergic reactions to peanuts into a thing of the past.
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Aquatic pit bull threatens U.S. waterways *
Predatory snakehead native to Russia and China may alter ecological balance.
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Arsenic in King George III's hair contributed to bouts of madness *
A study revealing high concentrations of arsenic in a sample of King George III's hair is published in this week's issue of The Lancet. The authors believe the presence of arsenic in the King's hair contributed to his unusually severe and prolonged bouts of madness.
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Attitude to health care improving, survey says *
One year after the unveiling of Roy Romanow's landmark report on medicare, Canadians' gloom over the health system is beginning to lift as considerably fewer voters express anxiety about the future.
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B.C ordered to pay costs of sex change *
Province erred in failing to reimburse plaintiff for his operation, tribunal finds
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B.C. clinic defends fees for surgeries *
Controversy heats up over breach of rules as private centre says system must change
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B.C. doctors agree to forgo pay raise. . . for now *
B.C. doctors voted 89 per cent in favour of a three-year contract with the government that holds the line on wage increases for two years and guarantees patients there won't be any strikes or work disruptions.
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B.C. health-care workers walk out *
British Columbia's health-care system teetered near chaos after thousands of hospital workers walked off their jobs and onto picket lines yesterday, forcing the cancellation of thousands of procedures, from hip replacements and hernia operations to CT scans and ultrasounds.
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B.C. outbreak not SARS, UN health body confirms *
The has concluded that a respiratory disease that swept through a Vancouver-area nursing home this summer is not SARS.
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B.C. pledges $2.8-million to fight chronic diseases *
The B.C. government is giving doctors extra help in caring for patients with chronic diseases such as diabetes, congestive heart failure and asthma.
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B.C. SARS mystery remains *
A respiratory outbreak near Vancouver this summer was not caused by the SARs virus, follow-up testing has confirmed. But rather than being a source of relief, the findings are bringing to the fore serious questions about why Canada's premier laboratory raised the SARS alarm in the first place.
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Babies teach chemists the secret of soft skin *
It's vernix, a coating formed in the womb, and a synthetic version is on the way.
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Baby teeth prove rich stem-cell source *
The Tooth Fairy may have to leave a little more cash: US researchers have found that baby teeth are rich in stem cells and may provide an alternative source of raw material for promising but controversial research on cells taken from human embryos.
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Back to the garden: A travel feature by Doug Alexander *
The plant-filled Eden Project has become one of England's most popular attractions.
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Barb Tarbox, 42: Anti-smoking crusader dies *
Cancer victim Barb Tarbox spent her last months travelling across Canada to deliver a powerful anti-smoking message to thousands of teenagers.
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Battling new bugs *
Lydia Dotto (Outbreak: The Climate Connection -- Aug. 30) gave an excellent account of the effects of environmental, climatic and ecosystem change on the risks of infectious diseases.
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BC Association of Optometrists: Pregnant women blind to vision problems *
According to the B.C. Association of Optometrists, mothers-to-be are unaware of blurred vision from hormones, water retention...
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Bedbugs: coming soon to a single-family home near you *
This week, the University of Toronto released a research bulletin by urban entomologist Tim Myles confirming that local homeless shelters are infested with bedbugs ...
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Better reporting seen as reason for increase *
The rate of concussions among National Hockey League players has soared six-fold in the past 15 years, according to a new study. But the numbers may be due as much to increased awareness as to an actual increase in injury, the researchers caution.
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Big payoff in preventing diabetes, researchers say *
The 3.6 per cent of Saskatchewan residents who have Type 2 diabetes account for 15 per cent of all health-care spending in the province, according to new research that underscores the economic impact of the swelling obesity epidemic.
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Biovail drug campaign causes dilemma in U.S. *
Prescription payment for 'research' study
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Biovail says research and others say conflict *
Should doctors be paid to prescribe certain drugs? Most patients and specialists in medical ethics would probably argue they should not, because doing so might pose a conflict of interest, and cause them to prescribe drugs that might not be as effective. But what if the doctor in question is involved in a research trial? Shouldn't he or she be compensated for collecting data on the drug?
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Black henna ink unsafe, Health Canada warns *
The ingredient para-phenylenediamine, or PPD, in black henna temporary tattoo ink and paste is unsafe and shouldn't be used, Health Canada has warned.
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Blackout: People short of breath hard hit *
Seventy-six-year-old Jean Lund of Kitchener, Ont., coughed and wheezed in the sweltering heat Thursday evening in her small powerless apartment.
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Blood officials knew in '81 of hep-C test, memos show *
Senior officials at the Canadian Red Cross knew in 1981 that a test was available that could prevent transmission of some cases of hepatitis C through blood transfusions, according to newly obtained documents.
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Blood system still needs watchdog *
In the final report of the 1997 Commission of Inquiry on the Blood System In Canada, Justice Horace Krever described the systematic shortcomings and missed opportunities that led to the tragedy of transfusion-transmitted HIV in the early 1980s.
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Blood-testing device sidelined by SARS *
Patient trials of Star Trek-style analyzer on hold while hospitals deal with crisis
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Books on epidemics: Spread the word *
With the SARS fever sweeping the nation, The Globe's ANDREW NIKIFORUK takes a look at books that offer both horror and hope
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Boost home-care services, new health report urges *
The current approach to home care in Canada -- using it to get people out of hospital sooner after surgery rather than to provide long-term support for patients with chronic-health problems -- is "misguided" and inefficient, a new report says
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Brain-wasting disease confirmed in N.B. woman *
A New Brunswick woman died in hospital from Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, health officials in Moncton announced on Wednesday.
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Breast cancer up 24 per cent in latest HRT study *
The medical complications associated with hormone replacement therapy continue to mount -- and mount and mount.
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Breast-cancer risk may rise with use of antidepressants *
Taking antidepressant drugs could lead to a "modest" increase in the risk of developing breast cancer, a Canadian study suggests.
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BSE in ALTA: Meat is safe, experts say *
The risk is too tiny to worry about, researchers declare
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BSE tests on first herd prove negative *
At least 140 more animals will be slaughtered and examined for mad-cow disease in the coming days, health officials say, as the hunt for the cause of the disease enters a new phase.
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BSE: Huge costs and mistakes led to crisis of confidence *
Tough steps, including mass slaughter, are now having an effect in battling BSE
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BSE: Seek and ye shall find *
If Canada tests widely for BSE, another case will turn up. Can we convince consumers that this means the system works? asks doctor VIVIAN McALISTER
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Burning issues in Texas *
the end of summer passes, many Canadians are tempted not so much to seize the day as embrace the sun. While an understandable instinct, we also should appreciate the sun-borne ills a long winter protects us against
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Bye-bye bees *
While honey and honey products account for only a small fraction of the nation's agriculture, 140 billion commercially raised honeybees are responsible for pollinating about $20 billion worth of crops, according to U.S. Department of Agriculture statistics.
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Caesareans linked to stillbirth next time around *
A massive study in Britain has found that women who have had a Caesarean section run double the risk of a late-term stillbirth on their next pregnancy.
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Calgary Health Region fights legionella bacteria *
Specialized water treatment units are being installed at all Calgary-region hospitals after the discovery of the potentially deadly legionella bacteria at a second city health centre.
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Call of the city lures vets to pet practice *
Bulwark of disease control in livestock may be threatened as graduates shun rural areas
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Can Jack Sprat eat no fat? *
Britain launches a drive to slim down amid growing fears of 'obesity epidemic'
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Can the health system control its infections? *
Anyone wondering why Canada needs some national oversight for its health system need look no further than a new study on the woeful state of infection control in hospitals.
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Canada can carry much more *
Canadian firms stand ready to manufacture affordable AIDS drugs. The WTO has even relaxed its patent rules. So why won't the PM give the green light? demands lawyer RICHARD ELLIOTT
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Canada joins global pact against use of tobacco *
Amid cheers and clapping, representatives of more than 190 countries approved the world's first public health treaty yesterday in Geneva. It is aimed at controlling and diminishing tobacco use.
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Canada ranked fourth in health spending *
Canada now has the fourth-highest level of health spending in the world, trailing only the United States, Germany and Switzerland, according to newly released data.
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Canada's child cancer shame *
About 1,300 children and teenagers are diagnosed with cancer in Canada each year -- the commonest cause of disease-related death in our children.
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Canada's drug policies 'parasitic,' U.S. says *
Interview with FDA head sparks debate on issue of reliance on American research
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Canada's global AIDS funding criticized *
Ottawa's contribution to the fight against global AIDS is pitifully small, international AIDS activists charged yesterday, as the G8 summit ended with no new announcement on Canadian funding.
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Canada's handling of BSE assessed *
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) said Monday it is bringing a team of international experts to Canada later this week to assess the agency's handling of the mad-cow investigation.
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Canada's national pest *
Beavers are industrious. Maybe too industrious. They are wreaking havoc throughout the country, cutting down trees and flooding land with their dams. MARTIN MITTELSTAEDT reports on the not-so-lovable rodent
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Canada's Oral Health Report Card *
The Canadian Dental Hygienists Association (CDHA) issued its official Gingivitis Call-to-Action during Listerine Gingivitis Week. Canadians ranked surprisingly poorly!
[More]
Canada's results mixed in health survey *
Survival from heart attacks poorest among five nations studied. No country's system proved superior.
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Canada, U.S. float air quality projects *
On the first smog-alert day of 2003 for southern Ontario, federal Environment Minister David Anderson announced several pilot projects aimed at improving air quality.
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Canada-U.S. gap in health grows *
Costs three times more south of border
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Canada: Get ready to defend affordable drugs *
As more Americans buy drugs on-line, our prices will be pressured to mirror theirs, say JILLIAN CLARE COHEN and ALAN CASSELS
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Canadian doctors suffering from burnout: study *
Almost half of Canadian doctors who responded to a questionnaire about their mental health are so exhausted, cynical and stressed that they suffer from "advanced stages of burnout," the Canadian Medical Association says.
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Canadian drugs not prescription for U.S. health ills *
Amid growing public anger over escalating prescription drug costs, why not simply allow Americans to freely shop in countries such as Canada, where prices are up to 80 per cent cheaper?
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Canadian Health Care: It helps to be rich *
Health and well-being require more than just doctors, hospitals and prescriptions, says ROY ROMANOW
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Canadian lung transplants double in a decade *
The number of lung transplants in Canada have doubled since the first patients underwent the then-risky surgery in the 1980s, and recipients are surviving longer afterwards, a new study shows.
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Canadian team maps chromosome *
Canadian researchers have completed a detailed map of Chromosome 7 -- the country's main contribution to the Human Genome Project -- discovering dozens of disease genes along the way, including those linked to autism.
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Canadians believe they are serving up the right recipe for a healthy diet, poll reveals *
According to a new poll, healthy meals and vitamins are more popular choices than the fast food take-out window.
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Cancer costing Canada billions *
The disease burdens individuals with expensive treatments and missed work, and hurts the economy.
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Caring for chronically ill can kill, new study says *
Everyone knows that caring for a chronically ill loved one is stressful, but new research shows that the unrelenting demands of caregiving can be so stressful that it damages the immune system and can also cause premature aging.
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Carotenoids linked to lower rate of prostate cancer *
The dietary carotenoid lycopene, which gives tomatoes and watermelon their red colour, has been associated with a lower risk of prostate cancer in western countries where the nutrient is often consumed in tomato sauce, pizza and ketchup.
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Cataracts not just an old-age problem: BC Optometrists *
Many parents are not aware that cataracts can occur in newborns
and children, warns the BC Association of Optometrists.
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CDC: West Nile doubles again in U.S. *
West Nile virus activity has again doubled, now affecting more than 1,400 people in the United States, federal officials said Wednesday.
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Celebrating the siesta: Most of us already know that a good nap is the best cure *
Don't be shy about nodding off. I'll understand; you're only making sure you're going to be as alert as possible for that pivotal, wind-up paragraph at the end
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Child , 2 seniors, die as flu bug spreads *
This year's flu, expected to be the worst in decades, is hitting children so hard that infectious-disease specialists are urging parents to consider having them vaccinated.
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Children can suffer hardened arteries, study says *
Researchers in Finland and the United States have shown for the first time that hardening of the arteries -- a classic sign of heart disease -- can begin in childhood.
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Children may outgrow peanut allergies: study *
Children with peanut allergies may outgrow their allergy over time, says a new study published in the July issue of the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology.
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Children's Aid closes suspected case of Munchausen's syndrome *
The Children's Aid Society of Ottawa has closed its case against a mother who had been suspected of having Munchausen's syndrome by proxy, an attention-seeking affliction marked by making well children sick, sometimes to death.
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Children's allergies overestimated, study finds *
Up to 30 per cent of parents believe their children have food allergies when in fact only between 4 and 8 per cent of children do, a report in the Canadian Medical Association Journal says.
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China lifts ban on animals linked to SARS *
The ban, which involved 54 types of wildlife, lasted for five months
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Chlorine fingered in surge of Paris asthma *
Chlorine used to disinfect indoor swimming pools could be one of the causes behind an astonishing surge in childhood asthma in developed countries in the past few decades, a new study indicates.
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Cholesterol drugs may do harm, doctors say *
Cholesterol-lowering drugs may do more harm than good, according to a group of drug specialists at the University of British Columbia.
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Chrétien Brothers link worlds of science and politics *
Michel Chrétien has been influential in shaping the PM's legacy of revitalizing university research
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Citizens asked to help control mosquitoes *
Officials want property owners to remove water to fight West Nile
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Cleaning instructions complex, hospital says *
Firm that built prostate-test device says human error, not its manual, to blame.
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Climate change could wipe out warm-water crabs *
Even a small change in climate could wipe out some species of warm-water crab, a scientist is warning. Ironically, their cold-water-loving peers may actually be more capable of weathering such a change.
[More]
Climate change may bring 'supercanes,' experts say *
Hurricanes are one of nature's most powerful and frightening storms, but some experts worry that they could become even more fearsome in the decades ahead because of global warming.
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CoEnzyme Q10 reduces oxidative damage to nerve cells *
CoEnzyme Q10 may have a potential benefit as a therapeutic intervention for neurodegenerative diseases.
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Cold, fungus killed fish, not pollution or disease *
Scientists have ruled out pollution and disease as the cause of the massive fish kill on the lower Saint John River last month.
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Collateral damage of a drug war *
When it comes to the "war on drugs," Canada's stance is not unlike its position on the war in Iraq: We're not the United States. Our government supports needle exchange, has recommended the legalization of marijuana, and is allowing the first trial use of prescription heroin in North America.
[More]
Committee favours prison needle exchange *
The Commons Health Committee has come out in favour of needle-exchange programs for drug users within federal prisons in an effort to curb high rates of HIV and hepatitis C infection among inmates.
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Committee wants more money for AIDS strategy *
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Companies pay for injuries at home *
Injuries that people suffer at home cost U.S. employers about $38-billion (U.S.) a year, a study by the Home Safety Council says.
[More]
Companies struggle to end growing threat of trans fats *
Voortman Cookies Ltd. may be one of the first companies to eliminate trans fats from its products, but others are also scrambling to tackle the issue, which one leading public-health expert has called the "biggest food-processing disaster in history."
[More]
Computer use, stress linked to RSI increase *
About 2.3 million Canadian adults suffer from repetitive-strain injuries, and almost one-third of them live in chronic pain, according to Statistics Canada.
[More]
Court overturns ruling on McClean Lake project *
The Federal Court of Appeal has overturned a ruling that cast into doubt the licence for waste management at the McClean Lake uranium mine and mill in northern Saskatchewan.
[More]
Creatine helps brain, researchers discover *
Dietary additive used by athletes to build muscle may aid memory
[More]
Cruise ship hit by virus skips Canada *
A cruise across the North Atlantic, which was supposed to include a stop in Canada, was cut short yesterday after more than 300 passengers and crew members became sick with a highly contagious stomach virus...
[More]
Customized cures *
New drugs could soon offer personalized treatment for cancer, reports PATRICIA YOUNG
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Cut cholesterol without leaving the kitchen *
A healthier diet can reduce cholesterol levels radically in a very short time, almost as effectively as a routinely prescribed drug, researchers in Toronto have demonstrated.
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Daily pill could boost heart health, doctors say *
The creation of a one-size-fits-all pill that combines six heart medications could reduce the number of heart attacks and strokes by more than 80 per cent if everyone over the age of 55 took it, a team of British doctors said yesterday.
[More]
Danger on the frontier *
Let's stop plans to run roads into some of Canada's last pristine watersheds, says environmental activist DAVID MacKINNON
[More]
Decoding of SARS virus reveals animal origins *
The prime viral suspect behind the worldwide SARS outbreak is a measly microbe of no more than 10 genes that began its life in an animal long ago, mutating millions of times before picking up the power to infect people...
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Depression commonly untreated: report *
Major depression is common in Canada but largely untreated, a new report from Statistics Canada suggests
[More]
Diabetic neuropathy brings silent threat of amputation *
1000 British Columbians suffer diabetes-related amputations each year; the British Columbia Association of Podiatrists is warning BC's 200,000 people living with diabetes that it's what they can't feel that can hurt them.
[More]
Did FDR suffer from Guillain-Barré syndrome? *
A new examination says there's a 75-per-cent chance FDR suffered from Guillain-Barré syndrome.
[More]
Did you hear the one about the frontal lobe? *
Here is one more reason to dread getting older. Canadian researchers have found that as we age, we have more trouble getting jokes.
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Diet comparable to statin drugs in lowering LDL cholesterol *
A new study published in the Feb 2005 American Journal of Clinical Nutrition has found that the regular intake of certain foods may lower cholesterol as effectively as statin drugs.
[More]
Dieting with dad *
Teenage boys have never been so overweight. Now, at a men-only weight-loss clinic, some are counting calories with help from their fathers, writes TRALEE PEARCE
[More]
Discovery could lead to BSE test, vaccine *
Canadian researchers have made a discovery that could lead to a diagnostic test or even a vaccine for mad-cow disease and other illnesses caused by tiny rogue proteins known as prions.
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Discovery could save threatened ocean life *
For the first time since scientific study of the world's oceans began, researchers have discovered a predictable series of gathering spots for key species of travelling sea life, a find that means scientists now understand how to save these species from extinction.
[More]
Discovery may ease risks of cancer treatment *
Canadian researchers are working on a breakthrough in what can be the most perilous period of a cancer patient's life -- the time after chemotherapy and radiation, when the immune system has been so weakened that it can no longer resist infection.
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DIY dentistry *
LAURA LIND enters a brave new world of preventive oral hygiene aimed at helping people say goodbye to their dentists forever. Now, if only her toothache would go away . . .
[More]
Doctor loses licence after promising cancer cure *
MD who charged $30,000 in advance can continue to practise pending appeal
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Doctors propose magic bullet for heart *
A single pill combining six heart medications could avert more than 80 per cent of heart attacks and strokes if heart patients and everyone over 55 took it, British scientists said Thursday.
[More]
Doctors recommend more tests for colon cancer *
Every man and woman over the age of 50, including those at low risk, should be screened for colorectal cancer, according to new guidelines published by the Canadian Association of Gastroenterology.
[More]
Doctors urge routine fat checks on children *
From the seemingly slim to the truly chubby, all children should have their body-mass index measures evaluated yearly as part of efforts to identify and prevent obesity, the American Academy of Pediatrics says.
[More]
Doctors Without Borders helps AIDS patients *
As South Africa prepares a plan to treat the epidemic, people are already being assisted with free drugs from the group.
[More]
Does West Nile imperil your children? Maybe not *
Despite our modern scientific knowledge, doctors are often operating in the dark
[More]
Doing battle with mad-cow disease *
Once again, a deadly disease has attracted unfavourable international attention to this country. The world will take note of our response to the latest challenge: a case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE, mad-cow disease) in Alberta. Canada must pass this critical inspection.
[More]
Don't blame the backpack *
The first study to examine schoolbags and back pain finds an unexpected cause for kids' complaints. ANDRE PICARD reports
[More]
Don't Bogart those police dollars *
Decriminalizing marijuana will free up resources to fight real crime, says crime analyst SAMUEL PORTEOUS
[More]
Drop in childhood cancer linked to folic-acid intake *
Adding folic acid to processed foods results in a 60-per-cent reduction in the incidence of neuroblastoma, a deadly childhood cancer, a Canadian study says.
[More]
Drug advertising bad for medicare, CMA says *
Allowing direct-to-consumer advertising of prescription drugs in Canada would be a bonanza for the media, generating an estimated $360-million a year in new ads.
[More]
Drug may harm liver, asthma patients warned *
The maker of the asthma drug Accolate is advising patients using it and their doctors to be on the lookout for signs of liver problems, after reports of adverse reactions.
[More]
Drug tests favour sponsor's product, study says *
Drug testing funded by the pharmaceutical industry is four times more likely to show results favouring the sponsor's product than publicly funded research, a new report has found.
[More]
Dutch make pot a prescription drug *
Pharmacies to sell medical marijuana to the chronically ill in 'historic step'
[More]
Dying children lack care, expert says *
Dying Canadian children aren't getting the care they need because of insufficient training and society's unwillingness to confront the issue of terminally ill children, a child-care expert said yesterday.
[More]
Dyslexia treatable, new program shows *
After three weeks, reading was improved, brain activity resembled usual patterns
[More]
Early tests point to West Nile in N.B. *
Preliminary tests on a man in his 60s indicate New Brunswick could have its first confirmed case of West Nile virus, the province's chief medical health officer said Monday.
[More]
Earthsave Canada presents Taste of Health 2007 *
The "Taste of Health 2007" is Vancouver's earth-friendly vegetarian food & lifestyle festival that takes place Saturday, September 29 and Sunday, September 30, 2007 in Vancouver, BC.
[More]
Ebola vaccine could stop outbreaks *
U.S. government researchers said yesterday they had developed a vaccine that protected monkeys against Ebola virus with a single dose, offering a new way to stop an outbreak of the deadly disease.
[More]
Ebola-like illness reported in Sudan *
Health authorities in southern Sudan have reported 15 cases, including four deaths, of a mystery illness similar to deadly Ebola hemorrhagic fever, the World Health Organization said Friday.
[More]
Eighty more people sue over N.S. steel mill *
Another 80 people are joining a lawsuit against Nova Scotia and a Crown corporation over alleged personal injuries and property damage resulting from Canada's worst toxic-waste site
[More]
Electronic health records offer big payoff *
Remarkably, the provinces and federal government have come together on a plan, under the leadership of an organization called Canada Health Infoway, to transform the health care system using information technology.
[More]
Environment: The killing fields *
This weekend, Canadians pull out the stops in pursuit of the perfect lawn. But does their secret weapon in the war on weeds know the difference between friend and foe? MARTIN MITTELSTAEDT on the case against 2,4-D
[More]
Epilepsy gene identified by Canadian-led team *
A gene responsible for a deadly form of epilepsy affecting teenagers has been identified by an international research team led by Canadians
[More]
EU commits $1-billion to battle against disease *
The international fight against the world's most vicious diseases received a major boost yesterday when the European Union and France both promised major new donations to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.
[More]
Exercise lowers risk of breast cancer: study *
Moderate exercise, such as brisk walking 30 minutes a day, can reduce a woman's risk of developing breast cancer by almost 20 per cent, according to new research
[More]
Experts demand rules on drugs for children *
Regulations used for adults do not apply...
[More]
Experts meet for avian-flu talks *
Gathering in Rome aims to help nations affected by disease, prevent its spread.
[More]
Experts prescribe national health team *
A blue-ribbon panel studying the fallout from the SARS crisis will recommend that Ottawa spend hundreds of millions of dollars on public health, including a national disease centre that could quickly co-ordinate responses to health emergencies, sources have told The Globe and Mail.
[More]
Exxon oil spill still ravaging Alaska sound *
15 years after disaster, wildlife continues to be poisoned by subsurface residue.
[More]
Facts say bodychecks, not pucks, harming young hockey players *
Nearly two in three serious injuries suffered by young hockey players are the result of bodychecks -- far more than the combination of stick and puck injuries, data from Ontario hospital emergency rooms suggest.
[More]
Farm lifestyle linked to fewer allergies *
Growing up around farm animals may protect children from allergies and asthma, a Canadian study presented to the American Thoracic Society says.
[More]
Father looks to inquest for better 911 systems *
The father of a man who died after collapsing during a hockey game says a public inquest this week could help prevent future deaths by exposing possible weaknesses in New Brunswick's 911 response system.
[More]
Faulty gene for bowel disease found *
Canadian discovery, made public today, will help sufferers of painful Crohn's, researchers say.
[More]
FDA forces foods to reveal trans fat *
Trans fat hasn't got the attention its infamous cousin — saturated fat — earned through warnings and labels, but that is about to change. After 10 years of debate, the U.S. government is requiring food labels to reveal exact levels of the artery-clogging substance.
[More]
Fear factor: So just how big a risk is SARS? *
Severe acute respiratory syndrome is an international bug of mystery. By hitching a ride with travellers, it has caused thousands of cases around the world -- so many, in fact, that it has been dubbed the most significant outbreak ever spread through air travel.
[More]
Fear of new diseases runs high, poll finds *
Half of Canadians -- 49 per cent -- expect the country will face an increase in infectious diseases in the years to come, suggests a new opinion poll.
[More]
Feet place first in downhill performance, say BC podiatrists *
Foot imbalance, other conditions greatly affect snowboarders, skiers
[More]
Few fear spread of contagion *
Citizens confident public-health workers, governments will contain SARS, mad-cow
[More]
First whale harpooned in Icelandic hunt *
Icelandic whalers harpooned their first minke whale in 14 years yesterday, the marine scientist in charge of the controversial hunt said.
[More]
Flick mosquitoes away, researchers say *
Flicking away mosquitoes may be better than swatting the bloodsucking insects, which can risk infections if their body parts are smashed into human skin, researchers say.
[More]
Flu forces special measures *
Two hospitals in Southern Ontario are taking SARS-like precautions to cope with outbreaks of influenza, the latest sign of an unusually severe flu season striking nationwide.
[More]
Flu season strikes early in West *
Flu season has hit Canada early, clogging emergency rooms in Edmonton and prompting calls from health officials across the country for people to get immunized as soon as possible.
[More]
Flu strain striking young children *
The answer to your first question is six months...
[More]
Flu threat puts parents on alert *
One child dies in Peterborough from bug...
[More]
Fluid spills from controversial tests fuel concerns for Atlantic coast sea birds *
Hundreds of litres of kerosene and mineral oil have been spilled in waters off Nova Scotia during seismic tests, raising concerns that the controversial practice could harm sensitive marine life.
[More]
Folic acid crucial for mothers, research suggests *
Canadian researchers have made a startling discovery about the benefits of folic acid. The nutrient, which is added to foods to prevent neural-tube defects such as spina bifida, also appears to prevent one of the most common forms of childhood cancer.
[More]
Frito-Lay knocks chips off the trans-fatty block *
In a sign that the movement against trans-fatty acids is growing in both size and influence, snack-food giant Frito-Lay Canada Inc. will announce today that all of its products will be free of trans fats by this summer.
[More]
Fueling the Future: It's oil over now *
More than one wag has smartly suggested that the best solution to our energy mess lies in burning studies on the subject. Such tomes are, after all, as thick as logs and as cheap as paper.
[More]
G8 retreating from disease commitments, activists say *
Signs indicate leaders ready to back away from pledges to aid ill in poor countries
[More]
Garber Gastronomic: What's happening to our food? *
A report from the Institute of Food Technologists Annual Meeting and Food Expo, Las Vegas, July 2004.
[More]
Genetic damage linked to chemical found in chips *
A compound common in potato chips, French fries and many other foods can cause genetic damage in animal cells even in very low levels, a new study has found.
[More]
Genome decoding completed *
An international consortium of scientists announced Monday that it has completed the map of the human genetic code to an accuracy of 99.99 per cent and said the accomplishment opens a new era for biology and medicine.
[More]
Get health council going, worried Romanow urges *
A proposed national council on health care could fall by the wayside if it takes the provinces and Ottawa much longer to negotiate it, Roy Romanow said yesterday.
[More]
Get real: Nuclear is in your future *
A highly biased opinion from the chairman of the Canadian Nuclear Association
[More]
Getting to the issue of the heart *
An irregular heart beat is more common among men but much more hazardous when it occurs in women, according to the first major study to examine gender differences in the ailment.
[More]
Global AIDS epidemic still spreading, UN says *
The HIV/AIDS epidemic continues its devastating march across the globe, with more deaths and infections this year than ever before, according to a United Nations report released yesterday.
[More]
Global warming linked to high asthma rates *
Kids in U.S. inner cities hit hard by smog and increased pollen, study finds.
[More]
Go ahead — have some fries *
Pass the fries. Researchers say new findings about genetic mutations caused by a compound in French fries, potato chips and other foods are not worrisome enough to warn people off some of their favourite snacks.
[More]
Golf really is for the birds *
At the risk of irritating the environmental activists out there, here is some fascinating research coming to the annual meeting of the American Ornithologists' Union next month: It seems the game is good for birds.
[More]
Golfing for the planet *
For those who crave a way to slow global warming, but would like to enjoy themselves in the process, U.S. scientists have two words of advice: Play golf.
[More]
Grass is greener with global warming, study says *
The planet is growing greener because climate changes have made it easier for plants to get the water, sunlight and temperatures they need, according to a study released yesterday.
[More]
Groups against spraying to fight adult mosquitoes *
Spraying chemicals to kill adult mosquitoes could worsen the outbreak of West Nile virus this summer, a new national coalition of environmental and health groups said yesterday.
[More]
Happy Father's Day *
It may not qualify as rocket science, but new research out of the United States suggests that dads fare less well on Father's Day than moms on Mother's Day. Nonetheless, stoic fathers end up happier than mothers with what they do get.
[More]
Harmful industrial pollutants up by 20 per cent *
Despite major efforts by government and industry to control pollution, releases of dangerous chemicals into Canada's environment were 20 per cent higher in 2001 than in 1995, three major environmental groups say.
[More]
Healing Powers: All about Adam *
ALEXANDRA GILL meets a 16-year-old kid from BC who offers distant-healing treatments through his website -- and counts rocker Ronnie Hawkins among his patients.
[More]
Health Canada delays smallpox vaccinations *
Health Canada has postponed plans to vaccinate about 500 health-care workers against smallpox because of legal concerns involving compensation in case of adverse reactions, the CBC reported yesterday.
[More]
Health Canada dope stinks, patients say *
Cannabis emptor: Medical marijuana called disgusting, weak and ineffective
[More]
Health Canada launches West Nile phone line *
The toll-free line is 1-800-816-7292. Information on the virus can also be found on the Health Canada Web site at www.westnilevirus.gc.ca.
[More]
Health charter to get nod *
Dozens of leaders from Canada's business community are expected to endorse today a charter dealing with mental health and addiction.
[More]
Health council finally coming, PM says *
Prime Minister Jean Chrétien says his government will soon announce the establishment of a much-awaited health council designed to keep a watch on the performance of the system.
[More]
Health council must weigh benefit and harm of medicine *
Some provincial governments have resorted to remarkable political posturing rather than sign on to the national health council recommended in the Romanow report. Fortunately, it now appears that Ottawa will forge ahead with or without support from B.C., Alberta and Ontario.
[More]
Health funding top education *
University costs push private outlays up as more students seek degrees, diplomas.
[More]
Health of B.C. firefighters a growing concern *
The Kelowna fire is no longer advancing into this Okanagan city, but it's still burning out of control and taking its toll on the health of firefighters.
[More]
Health officials baffled as West Nile cases cluster in Saskatchewan *
By any known method of predicting West Nile virus infections, Saskatchewan should not be the epicentre of the disease this year, health officials say.
[More]
Health problems hit children of Russia *
Falling standards make care in Soviet era seem like good old days, MARK MacKINNON finds
[More]
Health-card probe leads to potential fraud cases *
A probe into a health-card scam in Quebec found enough "troubling" evidence to pursue the investigation into numerous potential fraud cases, according to a preliminary report.
[More]
Healthy fare or field trips? *
Fast-food contracts bring extra revenue, but student health remains a concern for Canada's cash-strapped schools.
[More]
Healthy to the core *
Trying to navigate your way through the trend-obsessed fitness world? This season, writes LEAH McLAREN, many trainers are returning to the basics, but with a new buzzword: core training
[More]
Heart disease to strike teens, conference hears *
Today's children face a future of heart disease, potentially as early as their late teen years, if parents and policymakers don't urgently address the exploding problem of childhood obesity, a U.S. cardiovascular expert warned yesterday.
[More]
Help for psychopaths? *
Having successfully trained healthy volunteers and paralyzed patients to control their brain waves, Dr. Niels Birbaumer began wondering if he might be able to help psychopaths.
It is not an obvious next step, until you consider that people who learn how to control their brain waves are actually directing an increased flow of blood to specific areas of the brain. That's what Dr. Birbaumer found when he used neuroimaging equipment to take pictures of the brains of his patients at work.
[More]
High anxiety *
Nervousness, panic and shyness are now part of the most-diagnosed group of mental illnesses -- and drug companies just happen to have an array of products to treat them. Is marketing the tail wagging this dog? ANNE McILROY investigates how anxiety became the new depression.
[More]
Hospital germs kill thousands, research finds *
Inadequate infection-control measures result in 8,000 to 12,000 deaths each year
[More]
Hospitals slow to embrace office technology *
New software can cut surgical waiting list
[More]
How thin is too thin? *
Lara Flynn Boyle's rake-thin frame alarms even the most die-hard fashion fan, but don't doubt for an instant that thin isn't in, DEBORAH FULSANG says
[More]
HRT nearly doubles heart attack risk in first year *
Women who take hormone replacement pills after menopause nearly double their risk of heart attacks during the first year of treatment, a landmark study concludes.
[More]
Huge debt burdening graduates of medical schools *
When Benjamin Hoyt married a fellow medical resident last month, the joyous event was tempered ever so slightly by stark financial reality. "Between the two of us, we have $212,000 in debt," Dr. Hoyt said
[More]
Human impact delaying ice age, study finds *
Earth's current climate may last for at least another 15,000 years, barring any effects from human intervention, according to a new study of Antarctic ice published in the latest issue of the journal Nature.
[More]
Humans produce ozone, researchers find *
Created by immune-system antibodies, the gas may cause respiratory problems
[More]
Hundreds mark 10-year anniversary of Clayoquot Sound protest *
Hundreds of people who were arrested at a massive logging protest on Vancouver Island in 1993 returned to the area for a reunion of sorts on Saturday.
[More]
Ibuprofen, ASA lauded in cancer study *
Regular use of many over-the-counter painkillers every day can dramatically reduce the risk of breast cancer in post-menopausal women, a new study indicates.
[More]
If you smoke and drink, beta-carotene may give you cancer *
Smoking and drinking alcohol may reverse the anti-cancer effect of beta-carotene, according to a new study published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.
[More]
Illnesses associated with pesticide exposure at schools increased significantly in children from 1998 to 2002 *
The rate of new illnesses associated with pesticide exposure at schools increased significantly in children from 1998 to 2002, according to an article in the July 27 issue of JAMA: The Journal of the American Medical Association.
[More]
IMI sticks with redesigned test *
Launches tape-based skin cholesterol exam
[More]
In favour of kissin' cousins *
One of the great mysteries of biology is the one that Charles Darwin supposedly resolved: the origin of species. Darwin argued that useful traits would arise through mutation and then be selected in a natural setting. The end result would be a new species.
[More]
Infectious diseases are a call to action *
Over the past five years, successive waves of infectious diseases have shocked the nation with their unexpectedness and broad impact, and the decreasing intervals between the outbreaks make these events even more concerning.
[More]
Inspectors await more results of mad-cow testing *
As the search for the origins of an Alberta cow diagnosed with mad-cow disease widens, officials from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency said Thursday that test results expected back today could be delayed.
[More]
Insulation may be doing more than you think *
When you talk about insulation you tend to think about it keeping the cold out and the heat in. Do you ever think that it may be contaminating the indoor air quality of your home?
[More]
Invaders at the gate *
From snakehead fish in Maryland to zebra mussels in the Great Lakes, invasions by foreign species are a growing problem.
[More]
Invasion of the Great Lakes *
This week, a Commons committee warned of an ecological 'meltdown' because so many non-native species are converging on the mighty habitat. MARK STEVENSON travels the waterway to examine the damage they have caused
[More]
Investigators narrow mad-cow search *
Alberta's baffling case of mad-cow disease may never be solved, officials said yesterday as they tried to pinpoint the cow's DNA profile to determine whether the infection spread.
[More]
Is it true that high-dose Vitamin E could increase all-cause mortality? *
After reviewing a draft of the full paper, which will be published in January 2005, we believe the research is flawed, and we see little or no evidence to support the authors' conclusions.
[More]
Is that neglected office plant hazardous to your health? *
Now that smoking and strong colognes have been banned from a number of Canadian workplaces, attention has turned to the ubiquitous office plant.
[More]
Isolation period extended in BC *
New Westminster hospital closes a floor, puts suspected cases off-limits for 12 days
[More]
It'll grow back *
Scientists are studying newts, starfish and even some mice, all of which can regenerate lost or damaged body parts, reports ANNE McILROY. The question is, can they teach humans a genetic trick or two?
[More]
It's a snail parasite vs the West Nile mosquito *
With the peak season for the West Nile virus upon us, many people reach for a fly swatter to kill those pesky mosquitoes, but Manfred Rau, a McGill University parasitologist, reaches for a snail instead.
[More]
Italy confirms 108th case of mad cow *
The Health Ministry confirmed Italy's 108th case of mad cow disease Thursday, saying a four-year-old cow from a breeding farm in Pordenone had tested positive
[More]
Japan's beef with Canada *
We brushed off their fears and insulted them. Not great tactics, says political scientist WENRAN JIANG
[More]
Joanne Rowlings and PMS hormone instincts are right: It turns out sinful dark chocolate is healthy *
If you justify gobbling chocolate by saying it's good for your health, new research shows you should choose dark rather than milk chocolate. And don't drink a glass of milk with it.
[More]
Keep an eye on your fries *
That medium-sized serving may pack more -- or fewer -- calories than fast-food chains claim, STEPHEN STRAUSS discovers
[More]
Key owl biologist quits B.C. rescue program *
Birds are doomed because politicians put logging first, expert tells government.
[More]
Kimberly-Clark to introduce Huggies Convertibles *
Kimberly-Clark Corp. is expanding its Huggies diapers line with new Huggies Convertibles diaper-pants, a product that can be put on like pants or used like a traditional diaper.
[More]
Kremlin's decree sows seed of discontent *
Scientists fear rare plant species won't survive move to new location
[More]
Landmark study proves Oral-B® Power Toothbrush technology superior *
Rotation Oscillation Toothbrushes Proven More Effective Than "Sonic"
Technology
[More]
Latest death at B.C. facility adds to puzzle around virus *
Medical experts say symptoms of illness not severe enough to be defined as SARS
[More]
Laughter: the best medicine? *
Members of the world's 1,500 laughing clubs believe we can guffaw our way to good health, reports STEPHEN STRAUSS. Skeptics say the joke may be on them...
[More]
Lead, cadmium in food, environmental group says *
The typical Canadian diet has been criticized for being too rich in calories, but a report warns of another weighty food problem to worry about: elevated amounts of two heavy metals.
[More]
Legionnaires bacteria found in Calgary hospital *
Potentially deadly bacteria that cause Legionnaires' disease were found in a hospital patient who was suffering from pneumonia, a health official said yesterday.
[More]
Legionnaires' outbreak shuts McCain factory *
A McCain Foods Ltd. French fries plant in France halted production yesterday after Legionnaires' disease was discovered in its cooling system, amid an outbreak that has killed 10 people.
[More]
Lepers and lovers in a dangerous time *
This is a story about an uncommon love flowering in an unlikely place, in a time of sanctions and war.
[More]
Leprosy blight persists despite low-cost cures *
The scourge of humanity for millenniums, leprosy is now an almost entirely curable disease.
[More]
Let natives handle Luna, international groups say *
Organizations in 10 countries are asking federal Fisheries Minister Geoff Regan to abandon the plan to capture Luna the orca.
[More]
Life without spring's dalliances *
A neighbour of mine passed by the other day as I was shovelling the smog away from our front walk. We live not very far from Queen's Park and the clouds of toxic fumes that are produced by the army of leaf-blowers and gas-powered lawn mowers, and the idling tour buses by which our provincial government advertises its environmental and energy policies to anyone reckless enough to be out-of-doors during a smog alert, tend to settle in pretty heavily during the summer months. Fortunately, when the air gets really thick -- as it did the other day -- I can shove the condensed poison that falls from the sky into a dozen or so plastic garbage bags and ship everything off to Michigan. You'd think that several million years of evolution might have produced a more sophisticated waste-disposal program, but this is Toronto. We're a patient bunch. (Go Leafs, go.) Things take time.
[More]
Long-term vitamin E use slows cataract development *
The April 2005 issue of the journal Archives of Opthalmology reports that long- term use of vitamin E supplements and an increased intake of the B vitamins thiamin and riboflavin are associated with a reduction in the progression of cataracts.
[More]
Look who's driving the green agenda *
Auto workers are not generally thought of as being in the vanguard of environmental protection. So it's a surprise that the Canadian Auto Workers union (CAW) is proposing one of Canada's most promising revolutions in environmental policy in years.
[More]
Low vitamin B12 levels increase birth defect risk *
A recent study published in the July issue of the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology investigated B vitamins and homocysteine as risk factors for children born with spina bifida...
[More]
Mad cow hunt moves south *
Investigators revealed Wednesday the search for the birth farm of the original mad cow has now expanded into the United States.
[More]
Mad cow vaccine in works *
A neurologist at the University of Toronto says a vaccine for mad cow disease could be a year away.
[More]
Mad-cow fears spread to Saskatchewan *
The search for the origin of the Alberta cow that became Canada's first case of mad cow disease in a decade spread to neighbouring Saskatchewan on Wednesday.
[More]
Mad-cow hits Alberta *
A case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy, better known as BSE or mad-cow disease, has been found in Alberta, federal Agriculture Minister Lyle Vanclief said Tuesday.
[More]
Mad-cow panic more harmful than disease itself *
We've seen this movie before. And we should assume that the rerun will be ugly indeed, both for Canadian agriculture and the broader economy. When human health is at issue, however tiny the risk, cooler heads do not prevail.
[More]
Mad-cow quarantine grows *
northern Alberta cow infected with mad cow disease was stumbling and unable to stand before it was shipped off for slaughter, says the farmer who owned the animal.
[More]
Major strides made on West Nile vaccine *
A vaccine developed from a strain of the West Nile virus has shown promising signs that it could eventually be used to protect humans from the deadly disease.
[More]
Man admits he started massive wildfire *
After accidentally starting a massive wildfire with a cigarette, Mike Barre says he rushed from door to door, frantically trying to help with the start of an evacuation that eventually forced thousands from their homes.
[More]
Man recovering from flesh-eating disease *
The condition of a man who survived a bout with flesh-eating disease was upgraded from stable to good on Thursday.
[More]
Margaret Wente: Buy Canadian, eat a steak *
Every year, from February to April, Wayne Goodfellow practically lives in the barns. That's calving season, and he has to check the barns every two hours around the clock. "Once we had eight or nine calves in a 12-hour shift," he told me. He claims he functions well without sleep.
[More]
Mbeki's new tune *
South Africans had cause to celebrate this past weekend, after the government finally reversed its much-maligned policy against giving drug treatments to AIDS patients.
[More]
McLellan backs disease-centre plan *
Ottawa, provinces expected to spend $1-billion a year to secure public health
[More]
MDs will dispense marijuana *
Federal plan will see doctors distributing discount cannabis from their offices
[More]
Mea culpa: We marketers helped make your kids fat *
Marketing techniques could aid the battle against obesity, say professors KARL MOORE and LAURETTE DUBÉ
[More]
Medicine delayed is medicine denied *
Amid the debate on health-care reform, U.S. influence on Canadian pharmacare policy, and Common Drug Review, there has been a roaring silence around what should be at the absolute heart of the matter: patients who need prescription medication to maintain their basic quality of life?
[More]
Mercury exposure linked to high rate of hospitalization for cerebral palsy *
Males in Sarnia, Thunder Bay, Cornwall face five times more risk, researcher says.
[More]
Michigan furious over Canadian company's chemical spill *
A Canadian chemical company faced angry residents and officials in Macomb County, Mich., as many demanded to know why they weren't told sooner of toxic chemical spills that contaminated a river and water supply.
[More]
Milk can help girls lose weight, study says *
Weight-conscious adolescent girls have a better chance of losing their flabby midriffs if they ditch soft drinks in favour of milk, a preliminary U.S. study presented at an obesity conference suggests.
[More]
Minister defends ER staff over patient's 'room' *
Admitting the incident was "very troubling," provincial Health Minister Colin Hansen nonetheless defended emergency staff at Royal Jubilee Hospital in Victoria for placing a 60-year-old woman patient in a storage room.
[More]
Miracle birth signals male moms? *
It may be every woman's fantasy, and a nightmare for the typical man: creating a male mom.
[More]
More West Nile cases detected *
Signs the West Nile virus is on the rise in Canada were evident in several provinces on Friday.
[More]
Mother sues MDs after HIV passed to newborn *
An Ontario woman is suing her doctors because they did not offer to test her for the AIDS virus during her pregnancy and she passed it on to her newborn child. The case is the first of its kind in North America and will have a trial date set this summer.
[More]
Move to decriminalize pot draws criticism *
Saying that "most Canadians" believe that marijuana laws are outdated, the government on Tuesday unveiled legislation that will reduce penalties for possessing small amounts of the drug. Below certain quantities, possession will no longer be treated as a criminal offence.
[More]
Multivitamin Use Before Pregnancy Reduces Risk of Pre-term Births *
A study published in the November 2004 issue of the American Journal of Epidemiology found that the use of multivitamin supplements by women prior to becoming pregnant was associated with fewer pre-term deliveries.
[More]
My right to eat myself silly: a fresh feast of folly *
"There are practically no cases of radioactive watermelons this year."
[More]
Mystery B.C. virus claims another victim *
A mysterious respiratory ailment in Surrey, B.C., that has raised fears the world may be seeing a new SARS outbreak appears to have claimed another life.
[More]
Mystery illness hits more troops *
Two more soldiers overseas have come down with serious pneumonia, bringing the unexplained cases to 17, the U.S. Army said Monday.
[More]
N.Z. man may have human form of mad-cow *
New Zealand health officials said yesterday they were investigating if a farm worker had an aggressive type of brain-wasting illness caused by eating beef infected with bovine spongiform encephalopathy, also known as mad-cow disease.
[More]
National health council eagerly sought, poll finds *
The federal government should ignore the concerns of some provinces and create a national health council right away, according to a strong majority of Canadians in a recent poll.
[More]
New cancer gene discovered *
An international team of researchers, including several from British Columbia, has discovered a new gene for breast and ovarian cancer they believe may be a missing link between hereditary and sporadic forms of breast cancer.
[More]
New hope from an unknown vitamin *
Preliminary research links a substance called PQQ with enhanced fertility, reports ANNE McILROY
[More]
New look at hep C deal urged *
Martin unclear whether his government will reopen 1998 compensation package.
[More]
New oil helps lower cholesterol, study says *
A new blend of cooking oil developed by Canadian researchers could turn French fries into diet food. But you may not be able to get it in Canada.
[More]
New research could end whale hunt *
Industry wiped out many more mammals than was previously believed, study shows
[More]
New technique lets MRI scanner see individual cells *
Canadian researchers have found a way to use ordinary hospital MRI scanners to see individual white blood cells, a discovery that could lead to the earlier diagnosis of diseases such as cancer and multiple sclerosis.
[More]
Next PM must implement health report, Doer says *
Manitoba's Premier says the next prime minister of Canada has to put every part of the Romanow report on health care into effect.
[More]
Nice try, Dr. Suzuki, but we're addicted to energy *
God bless David Suzuki. Canada's cuddliest environmental crusader, a man who has combined science and media savvy to achieve saintly status among greenies everywhere, is back with more instructions on how to fix the planet.
[More]
Nivea looks to ward off premature aging with new body night cream *
This spring, Nivea intends to extend the nightly skin care regimen to the entire body with the launch of Nivea Body Renewal Night Cream.
[More]
No blood recall, officials say *
Alberta donations will stay in system despite high level of West Nile cases.
[More]
Noise Pollution: Why a songbird decided to change its tune *
Scientists have wondered for years whether the noise from cars, trucks, planes and other machinery is harmful, especially to wildlife
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Not all instruments sterilized, MD says *
Medicine's highest level of disinfection primarily used for surgical devices.
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Not providing marijuana endangers the sick: lawyer *
The federal government is endangering the lives of seriously ill Canadians by forcing them into the black market to obtain marijuana for medicinal use, Ontario's highest court was told yesterday.
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Nothing to fear but fear itself *
A vote to permit stem-cell research is a vote to alleviate suffering, says former MP REGINALD STACKHOUSE
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Nutrition lessons from The Simpsons? *
Research suggests that kids who imitate Bart -- and avoid eating like Homer -- are developing healthy lifestyle habits, STEPHEN STRAUSS reports.
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Obesity implicated in gum, tooth disease *
Everybody knows that excess weight is bad for your heart, but new research shows that packing on those extra pounds can rob you of your smile and give you stinky breath too.
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Obesity rates double, Canadian figures show *
The prevalence of obesity among Canadian women has doubled over the last 15 years, new data show. For men it has more than doubled.
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Omega-3s without the risk *
I have spent my career promoting the health benefits of good food choices to my patients and readers. I have spent years encouraging people to be informed about fats. Most people now know (or should know!) that our bodies need fat and that there are good fats and bad fats.
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Once strip-mined, twice shy *
Cancun showed that the Third World doesn't buy all the West's promises. Now one Argentine city wonders if a Canada-U.S. mining firm's plans may turn out to be the pits . . .
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Ontario assails West Nile scientist *
The Ontario government tried yesterday to discredit the scientist who had been working on a West Nile virus test more than a year ago as it announced that the same test will now be ready for this mosquito season.
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Ontario mum on beef hazard alert *
Few details released about shutdown, recall at Aylmer, ON, slaughterhouse
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Ontario prepares West Nile battle plan *
In a bid to fight the expected return of the mosquito-borne West Nile virus, the Ontario government will require municipalities to prepare plans to spread larvicide on suspected breeding sites in populated areas, Premier Ernie Eves announced yesterday.
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Ontario reports first West Nile case this year *
Canada has its first probable case of West Nile virus of the 2003 season, Ontario officials announced Thursday.
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Opinion: What are you smoking, Canada? *
The issue of decriminalizing marijuana is first and foremost about safeguarding kids and Canada should be attentive to the threat that marijuana poses to youth.
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Orca successfully reunited with kin *
Scientists confirm orphaned killer whale accepted by its aunts and grandmother
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Organ transplant abroad: one person's ordeal *
Controversial bid to avoid long queue in Canada results in complications...
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Ottawa failing to report inactive TB, auditor says *
The federal government does not tell public health officials about refugee claimants with inactive tuberculosis, whose infection could be activated and contracted by others, Auditor-General Sheila Fraser reported yesterday.
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Ottawa fears revolt on embryo legislation *
Senior government officials are growing increasingly fearful of a back-bench uprising that threatens to scuttle a long-awaited bill regulating the controversial use of human embryos for medical research
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Ottawa man tests positive for West Nile virus *
An Ottawa man has tested positive for West Nile virus, health officials said yesterday, the second confirmed case in Canada this summer. An investigation is under way to determine where the patient, an elderly man being treated in hospital, was infected.
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Ottawa plans disease centre *
SARS spurred need for central agency to lead in emergencies, McLellan says
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Ottawa set to sell its medical marijuana *
The federal government is going to share its stash of marijuana, selling the drug to hundreds of critically ill Canadians at bargain prices.
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Ottawa should proceed with council: Romanow *
The federal government should move unilaterally on creating a national health council if it can't get provincial consensus, Roy Romanow says.
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Our beef is with bureaucrats *
For years, our food industry regulators relaxed amid lax monitoring and the mantra that mad-cow couldn't happen here, says author ANDREW NIKIFORUK
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Out of the blue, a gift of life *
Sheryl Wymenga looks perfectly sane and healthy, for a woman who has just flown halfway across the continent to give away a chunk of her innards to somebody she met on the Internet.
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Over-detection a pitfall of yearly prostate tests *
Study focuses on incidence of cancer
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Overbrushing harmful, study confirms *
Scrubbing can damage teeth and gums
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Overhead, so what? Medicare needs competition *
Last Thursday, the New England Journal of Medicine published an article stating that administrative costs of health care in the United States are higher than those in Canada: $1,059 (U.S.) in the United States versus $307 (U.S.) in Canada.
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Owl groups place hopes on Ottawa *
B.C. environmentalists to test new law designed to save endangered species
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Pack bug repellent, camp parents asked *
Officials say West Nile risk to children extremely low, but revise some programs.
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Patient in Toronto may have West Nile *
Public-health officials are investigating at least one suspected case of West Nile virus in a patient at North York General hospital, The Globe and Mail has learned.
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Patients seek relief on price of medical pot *
Last September, Russell Barth sent a friend out with $300 to buy him a bag of marijuana that he hoped would help alleviate the pain he suffers from fibromyalgia.
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Peanut-allergy vaccine offers sufferers hope *
A vaccine that seems to help tone down the body's overreaction to peanuts may offer the first real hope of protecting children with peanut allergies, U.S. researchers say.
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Penicillin may prevent strokes *
A Canadian study links antibiotic use to radically lower rates of heart disease
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Philippines restricts foreign kidney trade *
New law ensures outsiders do not outbid citizens for desperately needed organs
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