Researchers screening old drugs for new uses have found one that offers a previously untapped strategy for preventing the growth of harmful bacteria. Many antibiotics work by interfering with the bacterial ribosome, a kind of biochemical workshop where proteins and enzymes needed for the growth of the bacterium are produced. In this case, the team […]
Tag: public health
South Asians in Canada have higher risk of heart disease
Canadians of South Asian background are more at risk of heart disease and diabetes than white Canadians, a new review of literature reports. However, they are less likely to smoke and are less obese. More than one million Canadians whose ethnicity hails from India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal and Bangladesh live in Canada, comprising about […]
22 new strategies for improving child/maternal health in the developing world
Federally-funded Grand Challenges Canada announced seed funding Sept. 22 for 22 projects submitted by innovators worldwide and designed to improve child and maternal health in the developing world. Examples include: A snack produced from rice bran waste in the Philippines to combat child iron deficiency; A technique for safely storing vaccines at room temperature by […]
‘Stem cell factory’ could help treat blood disorders
Researchers have identified a molecule that causes the stem cells found in cord blood to multiply into more stem cells. Umbilical cord blood can be used to treat genetic and blood cell formation disorders, including leukemia, but the small number of blood stem cells in this kind of blood limits its widespread use. Researchers have […]
Got milk for your blood pressure?
Eating at least 2 portions of dairy products a day is linked to lower blood glucose and lower blood pressure according to a new study. Researchers asked a total of 254 healthy participants from the greater Quebec City metropolitan area to fill out a food frequency questionnaire and took blood samples from them. The study showed that […]
Better care coordination, fewer emergency visits
Patients with chronic conditions other than mental illness are less likely to be admitted to hospital if their care is co-ordinated, a metanalysis shows. This review of the literature also shows that among the elderly, such strategies decreased emergency department use by 31 per cent. Care coordination happens when physicians stop being the sole care provider, […]
Genomics: the power & the promise – Early bird registration
Genome Canada and The Canada Gairdner International Awards are hosting a conference and gala dinner event exploring the theme “Genomics: the Power & the Promise“. The conference will explore how genomics has affected our daily lives, as well as the impacts of environmental factors on human health. Held at the Ottawa Convention Centre between November 24 – 26, 2014, the […]
Cannabis impacts on teenagers
Daily users of cannabis before age 17 are over 60% less likely to complete high school or obtain a degree compared to those who have never used the drug, a new review of literature shows. The authors reviewed 290 reports on cannabis use in teenagers published since 2004. The authors conclude that adolescent cannabis use […]
Physicians in Canada 2013
How many doctors are currently practising in Canada and how much are they getting paid? How many of them received their medical training outside of Canada? Are more women entering the physician workforce? A new CIHI report, available upon request, tackles these questions. Original report published by the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI) on September 9, 2014.
22 ideas for improving health in the developing world
The Government of Canada, through Grand Challenges Canada, announces seed funding Sept. 8 for 22 projects submitted by innovators worldwide and designed to improve health in the developing world. Examples include: A device that converts sound into symbols for display on Google Glass, a tablet or laptop, captioning conversations in real-time for deaf people A […]
Dieting? Do whatever works for you
A new meta-analysis of dozens of “brand-name” diets finds that while most are better than no diet at all, there is not much difference between them. The study looked at 48 randomized trials containing a total of nearly 7300 overweight individuals. In terms of amount of weight lost, low-carbohydrate diets give a slight advantage at […]
Experimental drug reverses Ebola in monkeys
A new study reports that treatment with the experimental antibody “cocktail” known as ZMapp resulted in recovery in 100% of the 18 rhesus macaques treated with the drug, even when initiated up to five days after infection. This experimental therapy still requires safety testing in humans, but these results indicate that it could be a […]
Antidepressants during pregnancy may be linked to ADHD in kids
A new study finds that exposure to antidepressants in the womb may be linked to an increased risk of developing attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). However, the researchers caution that the risks of depressed mothers-to-be stopping their medication may be greater for the unborn child than the increased risk of developing ADHD associated with continuing […]
RNA research could lead to tailored prostate cancer treatment
New genetic research could help doctors predict which treatments will work best for a given prostate cancer patient. Researchers sequenced the RNA – molecules that tell them which genes are being expressed – from tumours in 25 prostate cancer patients. They then cross-referenced the RNA data detailed follow-up information, including reactions to different therapies. They […]
Marijuana legalization linked to lower overdose rates
U.S. states that implemented medical marijuana laws appear to have lower overdose death rates from prescription painkillers and drugs such as heroin, a new study shows. The authors examined ten states (Alaska, Colorado, Hawaii, Maine, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Rhode Island, and Vermont) which enacted medical cannabis laws between 1999 and 2010 and compared […]
Hearths hazardous to heart health
Black carbon pollutants from wood-burning stoves and vehicle emissions are associated with elevated blood pressure in Chinese women, a new study shows. Black carbon is an air pollutant that comes from incomplete combustion of fossil fuels or wood; while it’s only one component of airborne dust, this is the first study to single it out […]
