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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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Early evidence for lung cancer screening
Up to now lung cancer screening has not been effective. Repeated studies have shown that annual chest X-rays were not sensitive enough to pick up early-stage ling cancer. A study published in the October 26, 2006 edition of the NEJM reported that lung cancer can be detected at its very earliest stage in 85 percent…
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The facts of lice life
Say these five words to parents “Your child has head lice”. The reaction runs the gamut from revulsion to shock to a feeling of repudiation of their parenting skills and ability to keep a clean household; in short it is sometimes viewed as a badge of failure. Let’s get the facts about this parasite and…
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Winter, light therapy and effects on ADHD
We are aware of the effect the winter months and short daylight hours can have on our mood. For some it can bring about a seasonal depression. However, for people suffering from Attention Deficit Disorder the lack of sunlight can exacerbate their condition. A new study from the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH)…
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Annual Report on Hip and Knee Replacements in Canada
In a report entitled, The Canadian Joint Replacement Registry (CJRR) 2006 Annual Report on Hip and Knee Replacements in Canada released on October 25, 2006, the Canadian Institute for Health Information found that even after accounting for population changes and aging, there was an 87% increase in hip and knee replacements over a 10-year period…
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The short and long-term health outcomes of surgery
Although not foremost on a person’s mind after curative, restorative or cosmetic surgery, questions are being raised about the short and long-term health outcomes from the surgical procedure and anesthesia. At the 53rd Annual Meeting of the Japanese Society of Anesthesiologists in early June and as guest editor of the June 2006 issue of Anesthesiology…
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The state of emergency rooms in Ontario
Two weeks ago we talked to Dr. Ken Milne of the Canadian Association of Emergency Physicians (CAEP) about the difficulties faced by many Ontario emergency rooms with respect to staffing shortages, increased stress on the system, overcrowding and a lack of acute care beds. The Ontario Government announced this week a set of solutions to…
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Wait and see approach to treating children's ear infections
It can be one of the more frustrating and distressing experiences for parents; their child screaming in the night because of a painful infected middle ear infection or otitis media. In the past, children would immediately be prescribed an antibiotic to destroy the bacteria contributing to their pain and inflammation. However, a new study, published…
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