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Sunday House Call, #503, September 21, 2014
Sunday House Call, #503, September 21, 2014 Topics today include: An interview with Allergist and Immunologist Dr Gordon Sussman on Chronic urticaria (hives) and new treatment options, your calls about hives and skin reactions, muscles cramps in the jaw and neck, and developing itch skin on the abdomen when running.
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Sunday House Call, #430, February 17, 2013: An interview with Dr. Ben Goldacre about his new book Bad Pharma
Sunday House Call, #430, February 17, 2013 When Dr. Ben Goldacre was last on Sunday House Call, we were discussing his international bestseller, Bad Science. His recent book released on February 5, Bad Pharma, exposes the multitude of problems inherent in the drug approval process, the manner in which clinical studies are conducted, how negative…
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The Counterfeit Drug Trade
Original broadcast date: August 9, 2009 The statistics are compelling and disturbing. An article written by Val Jones on the website Science Based Medicine notes the following: – Pfizer Global Security raids resulted in seizure of 11.1 million counterfeit tablets, capsules and vials in 42 countries in 2008. Pfizer seizure of counterfeit drugs in 2008…
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Cost vs. benefit: The approval of new anti-cancer therapies
Original broadcast date: July 19, 2009 In a recent issue of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, Drs. Tito Fojo of the National Cancer Institute’s medical oncology division and Christine Grady of the NIH’s bioethics department recommended that studies of cancer drugs that provide two months or less of extended survival should be undertaken…
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Overcoming persistent insomnia
A common concern for many of my patients at some point in their lives is the inability to sleep. Indeed, this is a common problem in our society with many remedies, medications and therapies portending to provide “the solution” to our sleep disorders. What does the evidence say regarding the best approach to help those…
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Bad Science
Original broadcast date: March 29, 2009 If there is one quote that epitomizes the plethora of ideas expressed in physician and Guardian columnist Dr. Ben Goldacre’s book bad science, it is this from paleontologist, evolutionary biologist, and historian of science, Steven Jay Gould: “ When people learn no tools of judgment and merely follow their…
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Report Card on Cancer in Canada 2008-2009
Original broadcast date: February 15, 2009 What is the state of cancer care in Canada? What are we doing right and what needs more attention? The Cancer Advocacy Coalition of Canada (CACC) released its annual Report Card on Cancer in Canada on Feb 10, 2009. It is authored by oncologists and cancer patients across the…
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Malaria prevention when traveling
Original broadcast date: January 25, 2009 So you are set to travel south for a winter escape vacation. Since many also book these vacations on a last minute basis, they tend to forget that there are some health issues that need to be considered. One such issue is malaria. Dr. Jay Keystone, MD, MSc (CTM),.…
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New blood thinner to prevent clots
One of the complications immediately after hip and knee surgery is an increased risk of blood clots called venous thrombosis. Indeed, many people have to take blood thinners by injection daily for about ten days after their surgery. A McMaster University researcher, after four extensive clinical studies, the latest published in the June 26 edition…