Researchers have found that marmosets could be used as an animal model to study the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus, also known as MERS-CoV. They observed that marmosets carry the same variant of a cell surface protein (DPP4) that MERS-CoV uses to invade human cells. This means that marmosets infected by MERS-CoV get as sick […]
Tag: public health
Taking extra precaution before recommending physical activity to children
New recommendations from the Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology state that physicians should promote physical activity to children, but not before checking whether the child has underlying medical conditions or is sedentary. Researchers maintain that children should exercise for at least 60 minutes, 3 times a week. The new guidelines advise checking for previous medical […]
The Trans-Pacific Partnership and Public Health
A group of doctors has published an editorial raising concerns about the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) – a trade agreement between Canada and eleven other Pacific Rim countries – and the effect it could have on the public health system. In particular the authors cite possible changes to intellectual property rules that could impact medications or […]
Hand sanitizers in classrooms do not reduce school absences in children
Alcohol-based hand sanitizer dispensers in classrooms do not lead to reductions in the rate of school absences in children, a new study shows. The researchers conducted a randomized trial on 68 city primary schools (2443 children aged between 5-11 years old) in New Zealand. They found that the rate of absence was similar in the […]
Quantifying breast cancer risk to due gene mutation
Researchers have accurately quantified the risk of breast cancer due to a mutation of a known gene linked to the disease. The study tracked 362 people from families known to carry mutation of a gene called PALB2 which has been linked to breast cancer. Researches found that among those younger than 40, the risk of breast […]
Clot-busting drugs could be used more widely
A new study suggests that while administering clot-busting drugs as quickly as possible to stroke victims is important, they can help even when administered late or in high-risk groups. The study, which followed 6,700 stroke patients, found that those who received treatment with clot-busting drugs such as alteplase within 3 hours of the onset of […]
Sleep apnea not linked to cancer
People suffering from sleep apnea are not more likely to develop cancer, a new study shows. Sleep apnea is a common disorder where breathing stops for short periods of time during sleep; about 5 per cent of Canadian adults over 45 experience it. Previous reports had hinted that the low blood oxygen levels brought on […]
Exercise for diabetes: intensity matters
The positive effect of exercise on diabetes is well established, but new research suggests that alternating between high-intensity and low-intensity exercise is required for best results. Researchers examined control of blood sugar levels in three groups; one that did not exercise, one that did continuous low-intensity exercise, and one that alternated between high and low […]
CPR guidelines could be improved
Three physicians argue for re-introducing the traditional ‘head-tilt-chin-lift’ technique to cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) for untrained bystanders in a new commentary article. The technique was eliminated as part of an effort to make CPR instructions easier to understand and thus more likely to be used. The authors say that completely removing mouth-to-mouth instructions is dangerous for patients […]
Take two parasites and call me in the morning
Two recent papers published by members of the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research (CIFAR) have questioned our traditional perception of intestinal parasites. The first, published July 14, 2014 in Trends in Parasitology is a systematic review of cases where humans have deliberately ingested parasites for research and suggests that certain parasites could have beneficial effects on conditions […]
Common blood thinner ineffective for pregnant women
A new study indicates that daily injections of a blood thinner does not effectively decrease the risk of pregnancy complications in women with a tendency to develop blood clots. A large-scale, randomized trial was never conducted and until now it’s effectiveness has been unknown. The new study followed 292 women over 12 years and […]
Bacteria present in semen linked to HIV transmission
A new study has found that the diversity and number of bacteria in semen are connected with the level of HIV virus and thus the risk of transmission. While bacteria are common in semen, the study found that HIV-infected men who have sex with men have lower bacterial diversity than uninfected controls. They also found […]
Community-based approach helps fight TB in Nunavut
A community-based approach to TB awareness and screening in Nunavut has resulted in an increase in detection and treatment. Nunavut is the only area of Canada where TB rates are increasing; in 2010 it was 60 times higher than the national rate. An awareness and door-to-door screening campaign called Taima TB – Taima is Inuktitut for […]
Lower risk of cerebral palsy among immigrant children
A new study shows that babies born in Ontario from immigrant mothers have a 23% lower risk of cerebral palsy (CP), a common motor disability that appears at age 4 and for which there is no cure. The study followed all single births in Ontario from 2002 to 2008. The rate of CP among non-immigrant […]
Cardiac rehabilitation is underused worldwide
Helping patients manage heart disease through diet and exercise is a proven and cost-effective strategy, yet its use worldwide is limited, a new review shows. Cardiac rehabilitation programs provide education, exercise and risk reduction and have been shown to reduce mortality by up to 25 per cent. Yet worldwide, only 39 per cent of countries […]
Ontario physicians more likely to register for organ donations than general public
A new study led on 15,000 physicians in Ontario shows that 43.3 percent of them registered for organ and tissue donation, an higher rate than the general population (23.9 percent). This is the first study to document rates of actual organ donor registration among physicians in Canada, and authors conclude that this finding should help […]
