Newborn screening relies on whole-genome sequencing to look for genetic, endrocine or metabolic disorders in babies. In a commentary article, the authors provides a list of questions about ethical, legal, and social issues raised by the future of newborn screening. They argue that the child interests should be taken into account when any changes in […]
Tag: medicine
How ‘drug holidays’ may improve cancer treatment
Studies on melanomas in mice have shown that tumors which developed resistance to the anti-cancer drug vemurafenib could regain sensitivity to the treatment after a ‘drug holiday’. A new study shows that melanoma human patients that have developed resistance can regain sensitivity to the drug after a drug holiday of seven days. This means that […]
Availability of sugar-sweetened beverages in schools increases odds of teenage obesity
Previous research has shown that students drink more sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) when they attend a school where they are available. A new study that surveyed 11,385 students from 174 secondary schools in British Columbia – 43% of which reported access to SSBs. The researchers found that students who attend schools where SSBs were available have […]
Nurses are effective at treating a common arm injury in young children
‘Pulled elbow’, or radial-head subluxation, is a common arm injury in children. It’s easy to diagnose and quick to fix but children usually wait hours in the emergency department. Researchers performed an open, cluster-randomized controlled trial of 268 cases to determine whether triage nurses in the emergency department could fix the condition, thereby freeing up […]
Immunization? There’s an app for that
A smartphone app called ImmunizeCA helps patients and their families keep track of which immunizations they have and haven’t received. The app has been developed through a collaboration between the Canadian Public Health Association (CPHA), Immunize Canada, and the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute (OHRI) with funding from the Public Health Agency of Canada.
Growing leukemia stem cells in the lab
Previous attempts to grow leukemia stem cells outside the body have fallen short, as the cells lose their cancer stem cell characteristics. Now, scientists have found a way to grow and maintain ‘healthy’ leukemia cancer stem cells outside of the body. This opens the way to screens for drugs that can block the cells’ ability […]
Bird flu and seasonal flu | Experts available
Experts available – Bird flu and seasonal flu – January 10, 2014 With Canada’s first – albeit isolated – case of H5N1 (bird flu) reported last week and ongoing concern about H1N1 influenza across the country, SMCC has gathered a short list of flu experts who are available to answer media questions. If you are […]
Cancer treatment costs on the rise
A new study of tens of thousands of Ontario cancer patients has shown that the average health care costs in the first year after diagnosis have risen by 50 per cent for lung and prostate cancers, doubled for breast and colorectal cancer and tripled for melanoma over the last ten years. Part of the explanation […]
Obesity, weight loss and New Year’s resolutions | Webinar recording
Obesity, weight loss and New Year’s Resolutions – December 4, 2012 As the holidays approach, many of us are running a gauntlet of high-calorie food, from family dinners with extra helpings to sweet-laden tables at company parties. Is it any wonder that weight loss is one of the most common New Year’s resolutions? Yet most […]
End-Of-Life Decision Making | Webinar recording
Royal Society of Canada Expert Panel Report: End-Of-Life Decision Making – November 14, 2011 Death is an inevitable consequence of life. Yet most Canadians have never discussed end of life directives and wishes with family members or caregivers. Assisted suicide and euthanasia are contentious issues, ones currently prohibited under the Criminal Code of Canada. Yet a […]
Detecting Awareness in Vegetative Patients | Webinar recording
Detecting Awareness in Vegetative Patients – November 9, 2011 What if there was an easy, bedside method to diagnose awareness in patients who appeared to be in a vegetative state? And what if new innovations could help those “locked in” patients communicate? On November 9, 2011 the SMCC teamed up with MaRS Discovery District to launch […]
Stem Cells at 50 | Webinar recording
Stem Cells at 50: The hope, the hype, and the reality – June 14, 2011 Fifty years ago, stem cells were discovered in Toronto by James Till and Ernest McCulloch. These cells have the unique property of being able to become any type of cell in the body – nerve, blood, skin, bone. Harnessing their […]
