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What makes a particular strain of the flu more aggressive than others?
What makes a particular strain of the flu more aggressive than others? Is there a disease model that can explain why the severity of flu seasons can vary? A study published in October 2006 in the online journal Biology Direct, researchers suggest that one possible avenue to explain these variations is an ongoing competition between…
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Five key wait-time initiative areas too restrictive: Poll
The College of Family Physicians has released its discussion paper on wait times in primary care. Of note, approximately five million Canadians (17%) report they do not have a family doctor as their first point of contact when they need to access medical care. Of these, approximately two million (38%) have tried to find a…
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Holiday health and eating habits
Although we look forward to Christmas time and the holidays, it seems our attention to our health wanders just a bit at that time. Does that two to four week indulgence have an impact on our health? Does it have a cumulative effect? Or are people responding by saying “just give me a break and…
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Tropical disease prevention prior to travel
A majority of Canadian boomers are expecting to travel in the coming years, and they are not traveling to just spend time on the beach. Choosing more exotic locales and travel experiences means that more preparation is needed to prevent illnesses caused by tropical diseases. What are the diseases that are tracked and for which…
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A conversation about Bipolar Disorder with Mike MacDonald
Bipolar disorder is an inheritable illness that leads to extreme mood swings. One study revealed a 13 percent risk of bipolar disorder among children of biological parents with the disorder. About one in 100 Canadians suffer from this condition over their lifetime. The World Health Organization identified it as the sixth leading causes disability-adjusted life…
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Genetics of inflammatory bowel disease
Last week I talked about how researchers had uncovered a new genetic mechanism that could explain why some people develop inflammatory bowel diseases like Ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s. The discovery by a six-member Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) Genetics Consortium of a genetic risk factor for IBD was reported in Science Express, the online publication of…
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Understanding COPD
November 15th was World COPD Day, a day to raise awareness of the fourth leading cause of death in Canada. COPD continues to be a misunderstood disease and patients need to know how they can take charge of this condition and know what to do if they suffer an attack or exacerbation of respiratory difficulties.…
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Health Partners International of Canada
When medical aid and services are sent into war zones or disaster areas, where do the supplies and personnel come from? How are aid packages and their contents organized and what infrastructure is needed to make it happen? Health Partners International of Canada brings much needed medicines, vaccines and other supplies to some of the…
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Is there evidence for the effectiveness of universal flu vaccine programs?
With the beginning of flu shot season there are questions being asked about the effectiveness of universal vaccination programs. Is there evidence to support the widespread use of the vaccine as part of public health policy? In the October 28, 2006 edition of the British Medical Journal, Dr. Tom Jefferson, co-ordinator of the Cochrane Vaccines…
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