Nalgene Water Bottles Pulled Off Shelves

Mountain Equipment pulls water bottles off shelves

Country's largest specialty outdoor-goods retailer cites concern over possible health risks

Mountain Equipment Co-op, the country's largest specialty outdoor-goods retailer, says it has pulled most food and beverage containers made of polycarbonate plastic from its shelves, citing concern over possible health risks.

The Vancouver-based firm been one of the largest sellers of such products as polycarbonate Nalgene water bottles, and probably has done more than any retailer to make the distinctive, brightly coloured containers an iconic product everywhere from backcountry campsites to urban offices and university campuses.

The retailer didn't issue a public announcement that it removed the containers, but made a decision to take action Monday and instructed staff to cart polycarbonate products out of stores Wednesday.

The plastic in question is made mostly from bisphenol A, which mimics estrogen and is derived from petrochemicals.

It has been linked in dozens of independent research studies to illnesses that could be caused by hormone disruption. However, manufacturers of bisphenol A say their research shows the material to be harmless.

Health Canada is conducting an assessment of bisphenol A and trying to sort out the conflicting evidence. It expects to issue preliminary results of its review next spring, and a final report on the safety of the chemical in 2009. The Ontario government is also looking at the chemical.

Mountain Equipment said it will keep polycarbonate products out of stores, pending results of the federal review.

“The products have been pulled from the shelves and we're no longer selling them,” said Tim Southam, a spokesman for the retailer, which has 11 stores, annual sales of about $222-million and requires customers to pay a membership fee.

“We've been following this issue quite closely and it's one we've seen an increasing concern [about] among some members,” Mr. Southam said of the health controversy.

A spokesman for Nalgene's manufacturer, Nalge Nunc International Corp. of Rochester, N.Y., said it believes Mountain Equipment is the first major retailer in North America to pull its polycarbonate bottles based on health worries.

“From our perspective, it's certainly unfortunate because we feel there is a body of evidence” supporting the safety of the product, Eric Hanson said. He added that the retailer's action won't affect all of its products because the company also markets containers that do not contain bisphenol A.

Mr. Southam said Mountain Equipment, which is a big marketer of camping gear and outdoor clothing, doesn't expect to take a financial hit from the action because it is selling alternative products, such as stainless-steel water bottles. He wasn't immediately able to give the sales value of the affected items.

Environmental Defence, a Toronto group that has been lobbying Health Canada to ban bisphenol A from food and beverage uses, praised the retailer and said other companies should follow its lead.

“The fact that a retailer of this size, dealing in this volume of polycarbonate products, would make this decision should be a real wake-up call to other retailers,” Richard Smith, executive director of the group, said.

Source: The Globe and Mail.com

Potential Psych Warning On Flu Drugs - FDA

FDA mulls psych warning for 2 flu drugs

U.S. Food and Drug Administration staff have recommended new warnings about psychiatric side effects seen in some patients taking Tamiflu and Relenza, according to documents released Friday.

An FDA advisory panel will review the recommendations for the anti-viral influenza drugs at a meeting next week.

It based its recommendations on a review of nearly 600 cases of neuropsychiatric events reported by patients on Tamiflu and 115 cases of such events by patients taking Relenza.

In the case of Tamiflu, "the number of cases continues to increase," FDA staff wrote, in one of several documents posted ahead of the meeting.

The panel meeting will be the third public meeting on the safety of Roche Holding AG's Tamiflu, originally prompted by reports two years ago of a dozen deaths of children in Japan who had been taking the drug.

Experts then found no evidence of a direct connection between the drug and the deaths, although the FDA did ultimately update Tamiflu's label to add a caution urging close monitoring of patients for abnormal behaviour such as delirium or self-injury.

In documents prepared for the meeting next week and posted on the FDA's Web site, agency staff recommended that Tamiflu's label be strengthened further to note: "In some cases, these behaviors resulted in serious injuries, including death, in adult and pediatric patients."

Consumer group Public Citizen chided the agency for failing to note the reported adverse events earlier on the label.

"What is the justification for not warning people for these adverse events that have clearly occurred?" said Dr. Sidney Wolfe, head of Public Citizen's health research arm.

"Japan has said, 'stop using the drug if these things occur.' In [the U.S.], we haven't even mentioned that deaths have occurred."

Hallucinations, delirum seen in Relenza patients

In March, Japan warned against prescribing Tamiflu to young people aged 10 to 19 as more than 100 individuals, mostly young, showed signs of abnormal behaviour after taking the drug.

Earlier this year, Japan broadened its probe of Tamiflu to look at amantadine and GlaxoSmithKline Plc's Relenza.

The FDA staff also reviewed Relenza, a drug in the same class as Tamiflu, recommending its label be changed to note "reports of hallucinations, delirium and abnormal behaviour" observed in some patients taking the drug.

The current Relenza label has no label warning related to psychiatric events.

The FDA staff said the evidence is "conflicting" as to whether the events are medication-related, a manifestation of disease or a combination of the two.

It will present the advice to the advisory panel of experts meeting on Tuesday. The agency typically takes the advice of these panels but is not bound by them.
Source: CBC.ca

Resist the Drag and Clear the Air

Source: Women's Health September 2007

Shower Savings

Source: Women's Health November 2007

High lead levels found in children's umbrella

Parents are being urged to return a children's umbrella because it contains lead in excess of allowable limits under the Canadian Hazardous Products Act.

The Yellow Duck Handle Kids Umbrella, which comes in two different looks, has the style No. 79WWM.

Health Canada and A.C.I. Accessory Concepts of Oakville, Ont., which issued the joint urgent recall on Monday, said no injuries or illness have been reported. Lead is toxic if ingested by young children and can cause adverse health effects.

Approximately 2,000 umbrellas were sold at Wal-Mart stores throughout Canada from January 2005 to Oct. 15, 2007.

The umbrellas can be returned for full refunds at point of purchase. No sales receipt is necessary. If umbrellas aren't returned, consumers are urged to carefully dispose of them so they cannot be reused.

For more information, consumers can call A.C.I. Accessory Concepts at (905) 829-1566 ext. 234.

Source: CBC.ca

Tread the Green Path with An Open Eye

Consumers Warned: Beware Of "Green" Product Claims

If businesses love one thing in their marketing it's riding a trend. And going green is definitely one of them. From hybrid vehicles to environmentally friendly aerosols, there's no shortage of items you can buy that promise you're getting a product you need while saving Mother Nature's hard-done-by hide.

But just when does that 'green' turn a shade of gray? According to a survey by Toronto-based environmental marketer TerraChoice, the answer may be a lot more often than you think. The organization sent researchers into six big box stores to look for every environmental claim made in the products sold there and wound up recording more than 1,000 of them in goods ranging from shampoo and air fresheners to mouthwashes and light bulbs. They found consumers aren't getting the straight goods from businesses that claim to be doing favours for the environment.

The vast majority of products marked as friendly to the planet contained labels that were either misleading or so vague it was hard to figure out what they were really saying. The organization refers to something it calls "greenwashing, a term defined as false environmental advertising designed to pull the synthetic wool over your eyes.

They claim advertisers know you want to help the environment and think nothing of making you believe you're doing just that. How bad did it get? Consider this: they say all but one of the 1,018 products surveyed "made claims that are either demonstrably false or that risk misleading intended audiences."

Among them: paper products that trumpeted they were 10 per cent recycled, leaving questions about where the other 90 per cent came from; items whose labels scream "all natural", without saying what that really means. The group points out poisons like arsenic and mercury all are natural, too.

Then there are the CFC-free designations, even though chlorofluorocarbons were banned three decades ago. "What that claim basically says is: 'We're obeying the law.' Well, whoop-de-do," observes TerraChoice's Scott Case sarcastically.

And there's also the issue of hypocrisy. The group cites a dishwashing detergent that came in a box made of 100 per cent recycled paper - but was wrapped in never-degrading plastic wrap.

"We began to anecdotally observe a dramatic increase not only in the number of green claims in the marketplace, but also in the general lack of trustworthiness and effectiveness of much of that green marketing," notes TerraChoice's Stewart McDougall. "(Marketers) risk misleading their intended audiences."

The watchdog points out "six sins" it says marketers use liberally throughout their claims, a pattern that occurs over and over. The list:

1. The Hidden Trade-Off: like "energy-efficient" electronics that contain hazardous materials or recycled paper that used inefficient energy to make it.

2. No Proof: Among them: shampoos claiming to be "certified organic," with no verifiable evidence of that claim.

3. Vagueness: These are goods that don't exactly spell out what they mean and only skirt around their supposed environmental value. An example? Anything that claims to be chemical free. Chemicals are in just about everything - including the make-up of humans and animals. Also watch for "non-toxic", "all-natural", "environmentally-friendly", and "earth-friendly" which can sound good but mean nothing.

4. Irrelevance: The CFC instance cited above is a classic example of saying what's not there and never should have been.

5. Fibbing: Products that boast the backing of internationally known environmental groups when in fact there's no relation to any of them and they didn't give an endorsement.

6. Lesser of Two Evils: A bit subjective, but it's like putting perfume on a skunk. It still stinks, but maybe just a little less. Organic cigarettes or a hybrid SUV fall into this category. Better not to use either, researchers say.

None of it surprises the men in green. "Marketers are ... desperately grabbing for any environmental claim they can slap on the label because they think it will help them sell more products," Case observes.

The survey is eye-opening, but not always that helpful because those behind it have refused to release the names of the products they tested and found deficient. So what can you do if you can't tell green from greed? Case suggests looking for a label from a government agency called EcoLogo, a non-profit group that marks verified environmentally friendly items. For a list of the more than 7,000 North America-wide products they've approved and the reasons they passed, click here.

And remember that while many companies really do care about the environment, in the end the real green they're interested in is the stuff in your wallet.
Source: CityNews.ca

Benefits of Exercise Education Reaped in 65+

Retraining promotes physical fitness in seniors: study

Attribution retraining" may be the key to convincing seniors that advanced age is no excuse for
being physically unfit, according to American researchers.

Scientists at the University of California, Los Angeles used the technique, which changes a person's perceptions and patterns, to boost seniors' activity levels.

"We can teach older adults to get rid of those old beliefs that becoming sedentary is just a normal part of growing older," Dr. Catherine Sarkisian, assistant professor of geriatrics and the study's lead author, said in a release.

Four times a week, the study's 46 participants — all over the age of 65 — were taught in hour long sessions that activity can continue in old age.

The seniors then participated in exercise classes of the same duration and frequency. The classes focused on exercises that increased stamina, flexibility and strength.

During the seven-week study, the participants were fitted with electronic pedometers that counted how many steps they walked each week. They also filled out surveys that were meant to determine their views on aging and fitness.

Over the course of the pilot program, the people involved in the study increased the number of steps they took weekly from a mean of 24,749 to 30,707, an increase of 24 per cent.

The study was published online Thursday in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.

The study's participants also reported higher energy levels, less pain and an improvement in the quality of their sleep.

As for their views on exercise and aging, there was a 30 per cent increase in positive feelings towards aging and exercise, the researchers found.

Source:CBC.ca

Health Canada Foreign Product Usage Warning

Health Canada is advising consumers not to use 2 foreign health products due to concerns about possible side-effects:

Royal Medic No.1 Chinese Caterpillar Fungus is a proprietary Chinese medicine promoted as a general health tonic. Health Canada advises Canadians not to use this product due to microbial contamination.

Steripaste Medicated Paste Bandages may not be sterile therefore there is a possibility the bandage may cause a wound infection.

Source: HealthCanada

Weight Loss Drugs Reveal Minimal Effects - Study

No magic pills: Anti-obesity drugs provide only modest weight loss, study shows

Most severely overweight patients taking anti-obesity drugs will realize only modest weight loss, especially if they fail to augment the medications with regular exercise and a healthy diet, say Canadian researchers after reviewing numerous studies on the agents' effectiveness.

Despite being touted in the marketplace as miracle pills that can melt away pounds, doctors say that in reality the medications are no panacea to society's growing obesity epidemic and should only be taken by certain people.

"I think the most important thing that people need to understand is these are definitely not magic pills," said Dr. Raj Padwal, an assistant professor of internal medicine at the University of Alberta and principal author of the review.

Padwal and his colleagues looked at the results of 30 clinical trials of three drugs recommended for obese patients for long-term use - orlistat, sibutramine and rimonabant - and found that they helped people shed on average less than 11 pounds.

"We found that the amount of weight loss on average with these medications ranges between three and five kilograms," Padwal, who specializes in treating hypertension and obesity, said from Edmonton.

Orlistat (Xenical) reduced patients' weight by 6.4 pounds, sibutramine (Meridia) by about nine pounds and rimonabant (Acomplia) by just over 10 pounds in the studies, which each lasted at least a year. Participants had a mean weight of 220 pounds, with a body mass index (BMI) of 35. A BMI of 25 is considered normal.

In their analysis published in Friday's issue of the British Medical Journal, the researchers showed that those given one of the drugs were significantly more likely to achieve the minimum weight loss target of five to 10 per cent than those given a dummy pill.

But although the drugs overall can be beneficial in reducing risk factors for cardiovascular disease and diabetes, they have differing side-effects that in some cases can be detrimental, Padwal pointed out.

For some people, sibutramine can significantly boost blood pressure; rimonabant - which is commonly prescribed in the U.K. and some European countries but not approved in Canada or the United States - can elevate the risk of mood disorders such as depression.

In fact, a review of studies published Friday in The Lancet shows that obese patients taking rimonabant have a 40 per cent increased risk of developing severe depression and anxiety compared to those taking a placebo. Participants were up to three times more likely to stop taking the drug because of those mood disorders.

Padwal said getting patients to stick with any of the three weight-loss drugs long-term is a challenge.

"There's a large disconnect between what patients want in terms of weight loss and what practitioners desire," he said. "So patients will often want to lose . . . about 30 to 40 per cent of their initial weight. They want to get down to the weight they were in high school, two to three decades earlier."

"And they're disappointed when they're told that's going to be difficult to achieve."

Cost is also a major factor: orlistat and sibutramine (the only ones approved in Canada) will set back patients $80 to $130 per month, he said, noting that the drugs along with rimonabant represent more than $1 billion in worldwide sales for their makers each year.

Patients may also stop taking the drugs because of adverse effects such as gastrointestinal upset, anxiety or headaches.

But one of the biggest reasons, said Padwal, is the health-care system's failure to provide proper followup for Canadians battling obesity.

"We don't make it easy for individuals to see their practitioner if they want to have a visit regarding lifestyle changes or dietary counselling. And I think if people have to wait one to two hours to get in to see their doctor, it's unrealistic to think patients are going to come to us and wait that long for a medical assessment and counselling."

Dr. Jean-Pierre Despres, director of cardiology research at the Quebec Heart Institute, agrees that the system is far from ideal in helping overweight and obese Canadians trim excess fat and keep it off for good.

"In clinical practice we do a dismal job at this because we're not providing hospitals and physicians with adequate support with dietitians and exercise physiotherapists and kinesiologists," he said Thursday from Quebec City.

But Despres, who has studied the effects of rimonabant, said the medical community needs to redefine obesity. It should be based not on BMI but on waistline measurement and the proportion of abdominal fat - a much better indicator of weight-related risk for cardiovascular disease and diabetes, he said.

Furthermore, so-called weight-loss drugs should be used judiciously, he said, and only to cut a person's risk for heart attack and other conditions.

"There are some obese patients out there who are just fine, that are at very low risk of diabetes and heart disease, and they shouldn't take a weight-loss drug, period. It's not worth it," said Despres, who was not involved in Padwal's research group.

"It's like managing hypertension or high cholesterol. Why do you give a drug? You give a drug because you have no other option. If you don't, people are going to die, people are going to develop diabetes."

Padwal said the pills will assist in achieving the five to 10 per cent threshold. "Some people will have more weight loss . . . but that's very rare."

"So people have to understand the reason to prescribe these medications is to improve the obesity-related co-morbidities (illnesses) that they have. And if they stop the medication, they're going to see the weight back."

In an editorial accompanying the review, Dr. Gareth Williams, dean of medicine and dentistry at the University of Bristol, said he has reservations about the U.S. approval of a half-strength form of orlistat for over-the-counter purchase without a prescription.

"Even though orlistat seems to be innocuous, selling it over the counter could cause insidious collateral damage," writes Williams. "Globally, obesity is spiralling out of control and will only be reined in by public health campaigns that somehow persuade people to eat less and exercise more."

"Selling anti-obesity drugs over the counter will perpetuate the myth that obesity can be fixed simply by popping a pill and could further undermine the efforts to promote healthy living, which is the only long-term escape from obesity."

Source: CBC.ca

Blood Pressure Tweak Elevates Awareness

Source: Men's Health October 2007

Compliments Burgers Recall - Possible E. Coli

Compliments frozen beef burgers recalled over E. coli fears

Canada's food watchdog has issued a health hazard alert warning consumers that some packages of Compliments frozen beef burgers may be contaminated with the E. coli O157:H7 bacteria.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency on Tuesday said Mississauga-based Cardinal Meat Specialists Ltd. is recalling the following products:

• Compliments Super 8 Beef Burgers, 1.36 kilograms, UPC 55742 37055, best before date May 7, 2008.
• Compliments Beef Burgers with Omega 3, 1.13 kilograms, UPC 55742 35724, best before date May 7, 2008.
• Compliments Balance Lean Beef burgers, 907 grams, UPC 55742 36814, best before date May 7, 2008.

The products were distributed across the country. One associated illness has been reported.

The agency said food contaminated with E. coli may not look or smell spoiled. It warned that consumption of food contaminated with the bacteria may cause death or serious and potentially life-threatening illnesses, such as permanent kidney damage.

Symptoms include severe abdominal pain and bloody diarrhea. Some people may have seizures or strokes and some may need blood transfusions and kidney dialysis.

Consumers with questions can call the CFIA at 1-800-442-2342.

Source: CBC.ca

Ease Fibromyalgia with Holistic Exercise Approach

Exercise eases fibromyalgia pain

Regular walks and stretching exercises can help ease the chronic, depressing pain of fibromyalgia, a mysterious ailment with no obvious cure, researchers said on Monday.

Striking more than 3 per cent of U.S. women and 0.5 per cent of men, the illness' primary symptoms are debilitating pain throughout the body -- often with sensitivity and stiffness focused in the joints. Other symptoms include sleep problems, fatigue and depression.

No single test can diagnose fibromyalgia, and sometimes patients are treated with behavioural therapy.

Pregablin, a drug that calms nerve cells, gained U.S. regulatory approval in June to treat the pain from fibromyalgia. It is sold as Lyrica by Pfizer Inc.

In a study of 207 women aged 18 to 75 diagnosed with fibromyalgia, researchers assigned one group to a twice-weekly aerobic and stretching program for 16 weeks. Another group added mild strength training, a third group attended a two-hour education course every two weeks, and a fourth combined all the approaches. The 135 women who completed the courses were reevaluated six months later.

"An appropriately structured exercise program that involves progressive walking and flexibility movements with or without strength training improves physical, emotional and social function," concluded study author Daniel Rooks of Brigham & Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston.

Assessing their own well-being, the participants scored better in such categories as pain reduction, physical functioning and vitality after completing the courses. Those who both exercised and took the education course improved the most.

"The beneficial effect on physical function of exercise alone and in combination with education persisted at six months," Dr. Rooks said in the report published in the Archives of Internal Medicine.

Such findings should encourage people with aches and pains to exercise more, as they tend to be "even less active than the relatively sedentary general public," the report said.

Source: TheGlobeandMail.com

Toothpaste Cleans More than Teeth

Source: WIRED Oct 2007

Bike Incentives in Ontario - Tax Free

Bikes And Helmets PST-Free As Of December 1st

t may not be as free wheeling as you'd like, but it's a start - the provincial government is giving cyclists a gift that may just allow them to afford a better bike. Beginning December 1st, the provincial sales tax is being removed from all bicycles, bike helmets and bike related safety equipment sold in Ontario, in an effort to encourage people to get more active.

The tax axe falls on two wheelers that sell for under $1,000. It won't come as any surprise that those who pedal the conveyances for a living are welcoming the idea. Most believe it will be good for business, and even though the cold has terminated the riding season for some, the levy severing comes just in time for Christmas.

The McGuinty government explains the move as being a proactive idea to get more people out of their cars and onto their bikes, potentially taking a large number of cars off the road. That might work better in the summer than in the coming months - Ontario's winter climate isn't exactly conducive to a long bike ride into work in the snow, slush, ice, wind and rain.

Source: CityNews.ca

Alcohol Linked to Cancer - Harmful to Women's Health

Booze linked to cancer

Even moderation harmful

There's yet another reason to stay away from booze.

Drinking alcohol can now be definitively added to the list of factors that contribute to cancer.

It's long been known that alcohol is a carcinogenic, but new research confirms that even moderate drinking poses a cancer risk. New research shows one drink of alcohol a day increases a woman's risk of developing breast cancer by 7 to 10%.

In light of this disturbing trend, the Toronto Cancer Prevention Coalition and Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) will be holding a seminar today at the St. Lawrence Hall with cancer experts on alcohol, cancer and public policy to address research and emerging prevention opportunities.

"We will give biological reasons on how alcohol is acting to influence all these cancers and look into the number of people who are actually being killed by alcohol via cancer," said Dr. Jurgen Rehm, section head of public health and regulatory policy at CAMH.

According to the World Health Organization International Agency for Research on Cancer, almost 460,000 cancer deaths worldwide in 2002 were caused by alcohol.

In Canada, alcohol is killing more than 1,800 people a year and leading the number of deaths caused by alcohol is esophageal cancer in men at 400 deaths a year and breast cancer in women at 300 deaths.

For more information, log onto camh.net

Source: Sun Media

Energy Drink Potentially Boosts Negative Heart Effects

That energy drink's jolt

The increasingly popular high-caffeine beverages called energy drinks may do more than give people a jolt of energy – they may also boost heart rates and blood pressure levels, researchers said on Tuesday.

The results of a small study prompted the researchers to advise people who have high blood pressure or heart disease to avoid energy drinks because they could elevate their blood pressure or change the effectiveness of their medications.

The drinks generally have high levels of caffeine and taurine, an amino acid found in protein-rich foods such as meat and fish that can affect heart function and blood pressure, the researchers said.

"We saw increases in both blood pressure and heart rate in healthy volunteers who were just sitting in a chair watching movies. They weren't exercising. They were in a resting state," James Kalus of Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, who led the study, said in an interview.

The increases did not rise to dangerous levels in the group of 15 healthy volunteers, whose average age was 26, the researchers said.

The increases potentially could be significant, however, in people with cardiovascular disease or those taking drugs to lower heart rate or blood pressure, they told a meeting of the American Heart Association in Orlando, Florida.

"While the amount of caffeine in energy drinks or coffee may cause a slight and temporary increase in blood pressure, it would have no greater effect than walking up a flight of steps," the American Beverage Association industry trade group said in a statement responding to the findings.

"So singling out energy drinks in a unique manner, particularly when compared to a more commonly consumed caffeinated beverage like coffee, does not provide a full and proper context for consumers."

Boosting energy

The products have names like Coca-Cola's Full Throttle, Pepsico's Amp and Monarch's Rush. Red Bull, made by Austrian company Red Bull GmbH, is a market leader. Beverage companies market various energy drinks as soft drinks that can boost a person's energy.

Mr. Kalus declined to say which brand of energy drink was used in the study. He said the drinks generally contain similar ingredients, adding, "By giving the brand, it would dilute the message that all of these drinks need to be looked at."

The study participants were asked not to consume other forms of caffeine for two days before starting the study and then throughout a study in which they consumed two cans of energy drinks daily over seven days. Each can contained 80 milligrams of caffeine and 1,000 milligrams of taurine.

The volunteers' heart rates rose about 8 per cent on the first day and 11 per cent on the seventh day.

Maximum systolic blood pressure – the top number in blood pressure readings that represents pressure while the heart contracts – rose by 8 per cent on the first day and 10 per cent on the seventh day, the study showed.

Diastolic blood pressure – the bottom number that gives the pressure when the heart relaxes between beats – rose 7 per cent on the first day and 8 per cent on the seventh day.

The study did not identify ingredients responsible for the changes, but Mr. Kalus said it probably was caffeine and taurine.

Mr. Kalus said the study did not address possible health effects from the way some people consume these drinks, such as mixing them with alcohol.

Source:TheGlobeandMail.com

Choking Hazard - Fisher Price Children's Toy Recall

155,000 Fisher-Price kitchen toys recalled for choking hazard

Fisher-Price has announced a global recall of about 155,000 Laugh & Learn Learning Kitchen toys because they pose a choking danger to young children.

The recall issued Tuesday affects 12,500 English editions and 2,400 French versions of the toy sold in Canada. The toy was manufactured in Mexico.

The company warns its kitchen sets' faucets and clock hands contain small pieces that may come loose and present a choking hazard.

There has been one incident of pieces detaching from the clock hand along with two reports of parts releasing from the faucet in Canada.

The toys have been sold in stores across the country since May 2007 for about $70. Parents should remove the affected toys from their children's play area and contact the company for a repair kit.
Source: CBC.ca

Natural Protection against ills of Radiation - Study

Antioxidants in grains, legumes offer radiation protection: study

Two powerful antioxidants that occur naturally in legumes and bran may protect against cellular damage caused by radiation, new research suggests.

Inositol, found in rice, wheat, rye and soybean seeds and IP6, found in wheat bran, whole grains and legumes, offered protection against the sun's ultraviolet B radiation in tests on mice that had been genetically engineered to be predisposed to skin cancer.

The findings were presented Monday at the American Association for Cancer Research Centennial Conference on Translational Cancer Medicine in Singapore.

Researchers at the Maryland School of Medicine exposed mice to UVB radiation three times a week. In mice that drank water laced with a two per cent solution of IP6, 23 per cent developed tumours. But in the group that was irradiated but not given any antioxidants, the incidence of tumours was 54 per cent.

In studies in which IP6 and inositol were mixed with a skin cream and applied externally to the mice before they were exposed to radiation, the antioxidants also offered some protection. In the mice that were given the skin cream, 62 per cent developed tumours at 31 weeks while 76 per cent of the untreated mice developed tumours.

The researchers believe that the antioxidants repaired damaged DNA in the irradiated cells.

IP6 certainly has some interactivity with DNA, but how exactly it works to repair DNA is still something of a mystery," said Abulkalam Shamsuddin, professor of pathology at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, in a release.

People are exposed to UVB radiation through sunlight and when receiving medical treatment, such as radiation therapy for cancer. As well, pilots and airline staff are routinely exposed to radiation when flying aircraft. "Radiation, particularly ionizing radiation, has cytotoxic effects on cells and tissues," reads the report.

The researchers say that chronic exposure to UVB radiation can lead to cell death and increase a person's risk of developing cancer. But they believe that inositol and IP6 can be protective in these circumstances.

"It is possible that people regularly exposed to ionizing radiation, such as airline pilots, frequent fliers or people who handle radioactive materials, might take IP6 prophylactically to prevent possible long-term effects of exposure," Shamsuddin said.

He believes that in the future IP6 or inositol could even be used to protect people against nuclear accidents or a "dirty bomb" in which huge amounts of radiation could be released into the surrounding environment.

Source: CBC.ca

Bayer Suspends Trayslol at Health Canada's Request

At the request of Health Canada, the manufacturer Bayer Inc. has temporarily suspended marketing of the drug Trasylol (aprotinin), an anti-bleeding drug, pending a review of preliminary results from a clinical trial (the BART study) that suggested an increased risk of death.

Bayer Inc. will work with Health Canada so that the drug can be made available to certain patients in cases where the doctor believes the potential benefit clearly outweighs the risk.
Source: Health Canada

Possible E. Coli Tainted Beef Warning

Food Inspection Agency Warns Against Tainted Beef With Possible E. Coli Connection

Canadian health and food safety inspectors are erring on the side of caution, choosing to warn the public about a possible connection between contaminated meat from an Alberta-based faciliy and a fatal E. coli outbreak, despite the fact that an investigation has yet to confirm a link.

"These cases had the same unique genetic pattern associated with it," Canadian Food Inspection Agency recall specialist Garfield Balsom said in reference to products from Rancher's Beef Ltd. of Balzac, Alta. "The linkage we had made with Rancher's was not associated with the illnesses, or any source of the illnesses that occured this summer," he said. "There was nothing common that could link us back to a particular source for that outbreak."

A total of 46 cases of E. coli illness scattered across the country were reported between July and September.

The CFIA has released the following expanded list of 17 locations and dates where potentially contaminated beef products, products that are likely no longer available for sale, but could still be in consumers' freezers. There have been no reported illnesses associated with consumption of these products.

Alberta

Blackman's Butcher Shop, Grand Prairie: chuck-eye roll, chuck-eye steak "Pure Beef Patties" (9 lb. box, frozen), "Seasoned Lean" beef patties (9 lb. box, frozen), lean ground beef sold Aug. 3-24 inclusive

Saskatchewan

B & D Meats, Weyburn: lean ground beef and hamburger beef patties, sold July 24-31 inclusive

Jankes Meat, Weyburn: rib-eye steak and seasoned burgers (5 lb. cases), sold July 24-29 and Aug. 20-26 inclusive.

Boryski's Butcher Block, Saskatoon: rib-eye and striploin steaks, sold July 30-Aug. 4 inclusive.

Manitoba

Food Fare, Winnipeg: boneless chuck blade roast and steak, boneless cross-rib roast and steak and ground beef, sold July 23-Aug. 18 inclusive.

Frostland Meats (trading as Dutch Market Meat), Winnipeg: regular ground beef and rib-eye steaks, sold Aug. 9-12 inclusive.

Harry's Foods, Winnipeg: bulk pack boneless blade steak, boneless chuck blade roast and steak, boneless cross-rib roast and steak, regular, lean and extra-lean ground beef, and fresh stewing beef, sold July 23-Aug. 17 inclusive.

Ontario

Consumer Frosted Foods, Kenora: chuck roast, lip-on rib-eye steak and roast, and stewing beef, sold July 30-Aug. 10 inclusive

Renco Foods, Thunder Bay: blade steak, boneless blade roast, cross-rib steak and roast, regular, medium and lean ground beef, and lip-on rib-eye steak, sold July 27-Aug. 14 inclusive.

Country Good Meats, Thunder Bay: blade steak, boneless blade roast, extra lean and lean ground beef, pot roast, rib-eye roast and steak and stewing beef, sold July 27-Aug. 14 inclusive.

Cottom Cold Storage Meats, Windsor: ground beef and steak, sold June 27 -July 3 inclusive.

Dunrobin Village Meat, Dunrobin: lean and regular ground beef and sirloin steak, sold June 26-July 7 inclusive

Grey County Meats, Maxwell: top sirloin steak, sold June 26-Aug. 4 inclusive.

Moncion Grocers, Petawawa Market, Petawawa: lean, medium and regular ground beef, top sirloin steak and roast, sold June 26-July 7 inclusive.

Northern Meat Packers Ltd., Trout Creek: hamburger (ground beef) and top sirloin steak, sold June 26-30 inclusive

P.S. Shop at Home, Toronto: sirloin steak, sold June 29-July 29 inclusive.

Toronto Wholesale Meats, Toronto: "arrosto" (Italian roast), steak and stewing beef, sold June 26-30 inclusive.

Source: CityNews.ca

Nationwide M and M Shrimp Recall

Drug Scare Prompts M and M Meat Shops To Recall Shrimp Products

Shrimp products sold in M and M Meat Shops across Canada are being recalled because of possible drug contamination.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency and the Port Dover, Ont.-based company said breaded shrimp and coconut shrimp products in 400-gram packages may be contain nitrofurans, drugs banned for use in Canada in food-producing animals.

So far, there are no reports of anyone becoming ill from consuming the seafood products.
Source: CityNews.ca

Avoid Going Up In Smoke with These Tips

What You Don't Know About Smoke Alarms Can Kill You

It's not often you shell out money for something you don't ever want to use. But smoke detectors are a different animal than most products. Many of us will change the battery in our alarms this weekend, as you we proceed with the annual clock changing ritual. But is the device designed to warn you about a fire in your home working properly? And do you need a new one?

Some people aren't aware that changing the battery may not be enough. Smoke detectors don't last forever - most have about a 10-year lifespan. And the law in Ontario says there has to a working model on every floor of your house, or you could face a big fine. But that's still a lot better than facing a big fire.

"You normally see a rise in fires during the winter months so it's the perfect opportunity to change your battery," explained Marla Friebe, Toronto Fire Services.

One of the reasons smoke alarms don't work is because people disconnect them themselves when they're cooking. But instead of turning it off altogether Friebe suggested pushing the "hush" button that sits on the front of the casing.

"It will silence the alarm for just a few minutes, reset itself and then it's primed for working again when you need it most," she said.

And another thing that can seriously hinder the device from functioning properly is dust. So after you've set your clocks back this weekend, you might want to take a minute to clean out your smoke alarm by popping open the lid and vacuuming the inside with the wand of your vacuum.

A little effort and maintenance will go a long way and could potentially save your life. And another thing to keep in mind is that smoke alarms don't detect deadly and odourless carbon monoxide. You need a separate alarm for that.

Statistics show that 14 people lost their lives in house fires in Toronto last year alone.

Fire/Smoke Alarm Tips (information courtesy of Toronto Fire):

• Install smoke alarms on the ceiling of every level of your home and near sleeping areas
• Test your smoke alarms regularly by pressing the test button
• Change the batteries in your alarms at least once a year
• Create a family fire escape plan and practise it
• Prevent dust from clogging your smoke alarms by gently vacuuming them with a soft brush every six months. Never vacuum electrically connected alarms unless you shut off the power. Test each unit when finished.

Choosing A Fire/Smoke Alarm (information courtesy of the Ontario Fire Marshal's Office):

There are two types of fire/smoke alarms: ionization or photoelectric type alarms

What's the difference?

Ionization:
This type of alarm uses a small amount of radioactive material to ionize air in the sensing chamber. As a result, the air chamber becomes conductive permitting current to flow between two charged electrodes. When smoke particles enter the chamber, the conductivity of the chamber air decreases. When this reduction in conductivity is reduced to a predetermined level, the alarm is set off. Most smoke alarms in use are of this type.

Photoelectric:
A photoelectric type smoke alarm consists of a light emitting diode and a light sensitive sensor in the sensing chamber. The presence of suspended smoke particles in the chamber scatters the light beam. This scattered light is detected and sets off the alarm.

Which type of alarm is more effective?

There is no simple answer to this question. The two types operate on different principles and therefore may respond differently to various conditions. Some advantages to each type are set out below:

Ionization

• Fastest type to respond to flaming fires Lowest cost and most commonly sold
• Some models have a hush or temporary silence feature that allows silencing without removing the battery
• Some models are available with a long life battery

Photoelectric

• Fastest type to respond to slow smoldering fires and white or gray smoke
• Less prone to nuisance alarms from cooking

Many newer models now come with a temporary silencing device that turns them off if you're cooking, preventing the detectors from responding to smoke from a not-so-distant fire.

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What is carbon monoxide?

Carbon monoxide is a gas that you can't see, smell or taste. It's produced by gas or oil furnaces, space and water heaters, clothes dryers, ovens, wood stoves and other household appliances that run on fossil fuels - such as wood, gas, oil or coal.

Why is carbon monoxide so deadly?

When you inhale carbon monoxide, it can cause brain damage, suffocation or death. Because you cannot see, smell or taste this deadly gas, poisoning can happen to anyone, any time, anywhere. Everyone is at risk but pregnant women, young children, senior citizens and people with heart and lung problems are at greater risk. If your home is well sealed or not well ventilated, the levels of carbon monoxide in the air may easily rise to deadly levels.

Warning signs

Carbon monoxide poisoning and the flu seem a lot alike at first. Early warning signs of low-level poisoning include tiredness, headaches, dizziness, nausea or vomiting and shortness of breath. Your skin may also turn pink or red in response to rising blood pressure. If you experience any of these symptoms, you may be suffering from carbon monoxide poisoning and should call 9-1-1 as well as talk to your doctor.

Protect yourself

Install at least one carbon monoxide detector on every level of your home, especially outside sleeping areas. There are several types of detectors, including battery-operated and plug-in models. Install the carbon monoxide detector according to the manufacturer's instructions.

Have a qualified service technician inspect and clean your fuel-burning appliances, furnace, vent pipe and chimney flues once a year. Bird nests, twigs and old mortar in chimneys can block proper ventilation and lead to build-up of carbon monoxide gas in the home.

Maintenance

Test your carbon monoxide detector regularly to make sure it is operating properly. The owner's manual should tell you how to test your alarm. Remember to check the manual for information on when to buy a new carbon monoxide detector.

What should you do if the detector alarm sounds?

You and all members of your household should leave your home immediately. From outside the home, call 911. Don't go back inside until the problem has been found and corrected. The Fire Services will inspect your home to find the source of the carbon monoxide.

Outside

Carbon monoxide isn't really a problem in the open air. But you should never run your car in the garage with the door closed. The results are always deadly.

Information courtesy Toronto Public Health

Source: CityNews.ca

Drug for Neurodegenerative Disease potentially Harmful

Drug tested on neurodegenerative diseases could be harmful: scientists

Minocycline, an antibiotic being tested as a possible treatment for a variety of neurodegenerative diseases, may actually cause harm, a group of U.S. scientists has warned.

The scientists reported that in a clinical trial of patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, those who received the drug minocycline declined more rapidly than those who received a placebo.

Their report, published Thursday in the journal Lancet Neurology, comes just a week after the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada announced it was funding a multi-centre Phase 3 trial to look at whether the inexpensive and off-patent minocycline can slow the progression of MS when treatment is started in the earliest stages of the disease.

One of the lead researchers in the MS study, Dr. Wee Yong of the University of Calgary, admitted the U.S. findings gave him pause when he heard them presented in April at a meeting of the American Academy of Neurology.

But Yong said he thinks the trial should proceed. "We will of course be cautious," Yong said in an interview. "We are always cautious in a clinical trial. But we don't really want to kill anything too early because of what is observed in another context which may not have any bearing to the current condition that we're trying to treat."

"I should point out that we are dealing with different diseases altogether. The pathology or the reason for ALS is very much different from the pathophysiology of MS."

The U.S. researchers were studying minocycline as a possible therapy for ALS, a progressive and eventually fatal degeneration of motor neurons that destroys the brain's ability to instruct the body to move.

The study was led out of Columbia University Medical Center in New York, but involved investigators from medical institutions across the United States.

Early tests positive

Testing in mice genetically engineered to suffer from ALS showed the drug was beneficial. Likewise, early testing in humans — the small Phase 1 and 2 trials designed to establish safety and look for early signs of effectiveness — were sufficiently positive to allow the researchers to proceed to a larger and more expensive Phase 3 trial.

But there, to their surprise, they discovered that people taking the drug declined and died more rapidly than people who received a placebo.

"We were shocked. We were just absolutely stunned when we saw these results," one of the lead investigators, Dr. Robert Miller, said from San Francisco, where he is director of the Forbes Norris ALS Research Center at California Pacific Medical Center Research Institute.

"That was our first thought. But our second thought was that we need to get these results out because we need to avoid this happening to other people with other diseases."

Miller and his co-authors acknowledge in their article that their animal model might have been faulty, or they might have been using too high a dose of the drug.

But they also cautioned researchers who are studying minocycline as a potential therapy for conditions such as Parkinson's and Huntington's diseases, stroke and MS to take note of their results.

"The justification for these trials should be reassessed in light of our findings: Minocycline might have a detrimental effect on patients with neurological diseases other than ALS," they wrote.

Yong and his colleagues have also conducted animal studies and Phase 1 and 2 clinical trials in humans and have seen nothing that suggests minocycline would be harmful in MS patients.

Source: CBC.ca

Halloween Teeth and Toy Soldier Recall Due to High Lead Levels

Toy soldiers, Halloween teeth recalled over lead-poisoning fears

From toy soldiers to monster teeth, tens of thousands of Chinese-made toys were swept from North American store shelves Wednesday because they contain high levels of lead.

In the largest such recall, major toy retailer Toys "R" Us pulled about 16,000 Chinese-made Elite Operations toys from its U.S. stores because their surface paint contains excessive levels of lead.

A Health Canada spokeswoman said only 52 of the military-style toys had been sold in Canada, and were also being recalled.

Meanwhile, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission warned consumers early on Wednesday - Halloween Day - that $2 packages of "Ugly Teeth" sold by the tens of thousands since last year contain excessive amounts of lead.

The joke teeth, identified by product numbers 394207 and 390630, were imported from China by Amscan Canada of Dorval, Que. Health Canada said 571 of the items had been sold across the country at a variety of retail outlets.

An Amscan spokesman said the company was in the process of contacting retailers to ask that they be removed from shelves.

Wednesday's Toys "R" Us recall in Canada included three Elite Operations toy sets: the Command Patrol Center (Sku 661317), the Barracuda Helicopter with two figures (Sku 661287) and the Combatant Squad three-pack of 20-centimetre (8-inch) figures (Sku 577286 ).

Joey Rathwell, a Health Canada spokeswoman, said the excessive lead levels had been found in paint used on the toys' logos. She said the products were new stock and most were unsold and had been removed from shelves.

Rathwell noted that the "Ugly Teeth" were particularly dangerous because "they are meant to go in the mouth." Simply handling the product "would not cause major lead poisoning."

Lead is toxic if ingested by young children and can cause neurological damage.

Under Canada's Hazardous Products Act, lead content in paints applied to toys must not exceed 600 milligrams per kilogram.

There were no immediate reports of injuries or illness in connection with either recall.

This is the second recall of lead-tainted children's products for Toys "R" Us this month. Earlier in the month, the company recalled Totally Me! Funky Room Decor Sets, also due to high lead levels in surface paints.

Source: CBC.ca

Homesense Children Furniture Recall - High Lead Levels

Children's furniture recalled for unsafe lead levels

About 1,200 children's furniture sets sold through HomeSense are being recalled in Canada for unsafe lead levels, Health Canada said Monday.

The recall applies to the following products:

• Blooming Garden storage step stool, Vendor Style #MJ510BG.
• Blooming Garden table, Vendor Style #MJ275BG.
• Blooming Garden chair, Vendor Style #MJ250BG.
• A Pirate's Life step stool, Vendor Style #CC510PR.
• A Pirate's Life toy box, Vendor Style #CC950PR.
• A Pirate's Life two-step Stool, Vendor Style #CC500PR.
• A Pirate's Life bookend, Vendor Style #CC300PR.
• A Pirate's Life shelf with pegs, Vendor Style #CC350PR.
• A Pirate's Life table with storage, Vendor Style #CC275PR.
• A Pirate's Life chairs, Vendor Style #CC275PR.
• A Pirate's Life coatrack, Vendor Style #CC435PR.
• Princess in Training step stool, Vendor Style #AL500PT.
• Princess in Training table, Vendor Style #AL275PT.
• Princess in Training chair, Vendor Style #AL275PT.

High amounts of lead can harm the nervous system, kidneys and other major organs. Anemia, a decline in red blood cells, can occur, as well as damage to the nervous system that may impair mental function. Lead poisoning can also cause seizures or death.

The furniture sets, which were manufactured in China, were sold from August 2007 through October 2007.

Health Canada said testing on only one of the furniture lines showed excessive lead, but the New Jersey-based manufacturer, LC Creations, and HomeSense opted to pull all three lines as a precaution.

Consumers should take the toys away from children and return the products for a full refund.
Source: CBC.ca

Generic Drugs Overpriced?

Canadians could be paying less for generic drugs: Competition Bureau

Canada's Competition Bureau says the benefits of strong competition in the generic drug sector are not finding their way to consumers in the form of lower prices.

A study by the independent agency found that generic drug manufacturers offer rebates or other payments to pharmacies to compete for space on their shelves in most provinces.

The bureau found that these rebates average about 40 per cent of the price the pharmacy is invoiced for generic drugs.

But bureau commissioner Sheridan Scott says that in most provinces, pharmacies have limited incentives to pass on these cost savings to public and private drug plans or to consumers.

Scott says generic drugs help control prescription medication costs and provide competition for brand-name products when patent protection ends.

Yet several studies have shown that the prices of prescription generic drugs are higher in Canada than in many other countries.

In 2005, 43 per cent of all drugs dispensed through retail pharmacies in Canada were generics; total generic drug spending in 2006 was $3.2 billion.

Source: CBC.ca

Toxic Fingertips

Why Your Nail Polish May Not Be As Safe As You Think

They're in your home and on your face, your skin and your hands. But should you be putting them on your body? New concerns have been raised about the chemical compounds used in nail polish.

Getting your nails done is like a ritual for women. Although the main thing they worry about during a salon visit is infection, the bigger risk are toxic chemicals. In fact, there are about 10,000 different chemicals involved in nail care and about nine per cent of them have never been safety tested.

"Some of the toxic chemicals we're talking about are things like toluene, which accounts for 70 per cent of some nail polish brands," said Rick Smith from Environmental Defence.

Other chemicals are phthalates, which can disrupt hormones, and formalin, which can cause cancer in high doses. Some companies like OPI are starting to phase those chemicals out.

But manicure junkies don't seem to want to part with their polish or their fake nails.

"I've been a nail-biter for 20 years so I just have to ignore the chemicals right now," said one nail salon customer.

If you're concerned about what you're putting on your nails, there are water-based nail polishes available which are chemical-free.

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Here's a look at what's in some of the more common items that may be in your bathroom, especially nail polish, and the possible side-effects:

Acetone - may cause central nervous system depression

Ethyl methacrylate - linked to eye, skin and respiratory tract irritation

Benzene - has been associated with an increased risk for developing AML leukemia.

Formalin (since removed by many international brands) - may cause asthma-like respiratory problems and cancer in high or prolonged doses

Toluene (since removed by many international brands) - a solvent with the potential to cause dizziness, headaches and liver and kidney damage

Dibutyl phthalate (since removed by many international brands) - linked to eye and upper respiratory system irritation and may be toxic to the reproductive system

Methylene chloride - breathing in large amounts can cause feelings of unsteadiness, dizziness, nausea. Skin contact with methylene chloride causes burning and redness.

Source: CityNews.ca

Health Canada Issues Foreign Product Warnings

Health Canada is warning consumers not to take Xie Gan Wan, Red Yeast Rice, Red Yeast Rice Policosonal Complex and Cholestrix because they could pose serious side effects.

Health Canada issues two foreign product alerts

The federal agency on Thursday issued two health alerts for the products that are not authorized for sale in Canada.

Xie Gan Wan, a Chinese medicine, may contain a naturally occurring toxin that could cause cancer and kidney failure, Health Canada warned.

The Red Yeast Rice products, marketed for treatment of high cholesterol, contain Lovastatin, a prescription medication that should only be taken under the supervision of a health-care professional. Possible side effects include liver, kidney, and muscle problems. People with kidney or liver disease, the elderly and pregnant women are particularly at risk, Health Canada said.

No adverse reactions for these products have been reported in Canada. Consumers should check products for an eight-digit number assigned by Health Canada. For more information, contact Health Canada's public enquiries
Source: Health Canada and CBC.ca

The Great Pumpkin Benefits

Pumpkin Seeds: A Calming Influence?

There couldn't be a more appropriate time for this study. Research from the Whitby Mental Health Centre shows a common commodity associated with Halloween may be just the thing to ease your fears if the most frightening time of year leaves you feeling a little nervous. They're a form of pumpkin seeds and who would have believed it - tests show they can help ease your stress.

Angeli Chitale often feels nervous, but finds taking the seeds eases her anxiety. "It makes you feel calmer," she points out. How can that be? It turns out pumpkin seeds contain a substance called tryptophan, the same ingredient found in turkey that makes you so sleepy after your Thanksgiving dinner. It produces serotonin in your brain, which helps elevate your mood.

The group in the study that took pure pumpkin seed flour with the oil removed experienced 16 per cent less anxiety. "They didn't feel the panic that they felt before," confirms Dr. Craig Hudson, a psychiatrist with the Whitby Mental Health Centre. "They still felt anxious but they were able to control their anxiety."

And Angeli finds bedtime a lot easier, too. "In the evening time I felt that I slept better and I've had insomnia forever."

The results excite Dr. Hudson because there's no real medication involved. "We describe this now as a functional food. It has the look and feel of a food yet has the function of a drug."

But there is one caveat in this that can sow the seeds of surprise. It only works on pumpkin seeds with the oil squeezed out. That allows the tryptophan to be absorbed into your brain.
Source: CityNews.ca

Cerebral Optimism Inherent - Study Indicates

Humans hard-wired for optimism, study finds

Humans are hard-wired for optimism and think good things will happen to them in the future despite no evidence to support such expectations, according to a study by U.S. and British researchers.

People expect to live longer and be healthier than average, underestimate their likelihood of getting a divorce and overestimate their prospects of career success, psychologists and neurologists from New York University and University College in London wrote in the latest issue of the periodical Nature.

The optimism is wired into the brain, they wrote, which recalls past events in an effort to imagine the future. Certain portions of the brain — the amygdala and the rostral anterior cingulate cortex — showed increased activity in test subjects who had been asked to imagine future events.

The researchers used magnetic resonance imaging to monitor subjects while they thought of future possible events, such as winning an award or the end of a relationship.

"When participants imagined positive future events relative to negative ones, enhanced activation was detected in the rostral anterior cingulate and amygdala, which are the same brain areas that seem to malfunction in depression," said lead author Tali Sharot, now a post-doctoral fellow at University College London.

More optimistic participants showed greater activity in the rostral anterior cingulate region when imagining future positive events, Sharot said.

The researchers found test subjects usually expected positive events to happen sooner than negative events, and generally imagined them with greater vividness.

"Our behavioural results suggest that while the past is constrained, the future is open to interpretation, allowing people to distance themselves from possible negative events and move closer toward positive ones," NYU professor Elizabeth Phelps said in a release.

"Understanding optimism is critical as optimism has been related to physical and mental health. On the other hand, a pessimistic view is correlated with severity of depression symptoms."

Source: CBC.ca

Sleep Deprivation Detrimental to Reason

Lack of sleep hinders coping skills, logical reasoning: study

Scientists have confirmed what every newborn-cradling, sleep-deprived parent knows: that lack of sleep is connected to an inability to cope with normal emotional challenges.

They also theorize that sleep deprivation is linked to psychiatric ailments such as anxiety, depression and bipolar disorder.

Scientists at the University of California at Berkeley and Harvard Medical School have found that the amygdala, the region of the brain that alerts the body to protect itself in times of danger, goes into overdrive on no sleep. This in turn shuts down the prefrontal cortex, which commands logical reasoning, and thus prevents the release of chemicals needed to calm down the fight-or-flight reflex.

The findings are published Oct. 22 in the journal Current Biology.

"It's almost as though, without sleep, the brain had reverted back to more primitive patterns of activity, in that it was unable to put emotional experiences into context and produce controlled, appropriate responses," said Matthew Walker, director of UC Berkeley's Sleep and Neuroimaging Laboratory and senior author of the study, in a release.

The researchers studied 26 healthy participants aged 18 to 30, splitting them into two groups with equal numbers of males and females.

The sleep-deprived group stayed awake during Day 1, Night 1 and Day 2, while the sleep-control group stayed awake both days and slept normally during the night.

The participants' brains were scanned with magnetic resonance imaging while they were exposed to images that ranged from neutral to very negative. The brain responses of the participants were measured.

Researchers found that the amygdala became hyperactive in response to negative visual stimuli such as mutilated bodies, children with tumors and other gory images in study participants who stayed awake for 35 hours straight.

Brain scans of those who got a full night's sleep in their own beds showed normal activity in the amygdala.

"The emotional centres of the brain were over 60 per cent more reactive under conditions of sleep deprivation than in subjects who had obtained a normal night of sleep," Walker said.

The researchers feel that the findings point to a connection between sleep disruption and mood disorders, including bipolar disorder.
Source: CBC.ca

Loss of Hearing LInked to Anit-impotence Drugs

Anti-impotence drugs linked to hearing loss

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved labelling changes for three kinds of erectile dysfunction drugs to display more prominently the potential risk of sudden hearing loss.

The FDA on Thursday asked manufacturers of Viagra, Cialis and Levitra to revise product labelling after a very small number of patients taking the drugs reported sudden hearing loss, sometimes accompanied by ringing in the ears and dizziness.

It's not clear if the drugs actually trigger hearing loss, but the agency decided to act after counting 29 reports of hearing problems since 1996 among users.

Dr. Robert Boucher, an agency ear, nose and throat specialist, said in reviewing the reports he noticed that the hearing loss occurred within hours to two days of taking one of the drugs.

"We don't know enough to say that it's ironclad caused by the drugs, but we see enough to say we can't ignore it either," he said.

The reports involved hearing loss in one ear, which in a third of cases was temporary.

The FDA has urged patients who experience any hearing problems, loss or ringing in the ears to promptly call their doctors and stop taking the impotence drugs.

Because some level of hearing loss is usually associated with the aging process, patients taking these drugs (phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors) may not think to talk to their doctor about it, said Dr. Janet Woodcock, the FDA's chief medical officer.

Source: CBC.ca

HIV drug approved in Canada - First in 10 years

New drug approved in Canada to treat HIV, first in 10 years

Health Canada has approved the first drug in the first new class of HIV medications to be brought to market in Canada in a decade.

Celsentri - the brand name for the drug maraviroc - is the first of a class of drugs called CCR5 antagonists to gain regulatory approval.

The drug, made by Pfizer Canada Inc., blocks entry of HIV into the immune system's T cells, reducing the level of the virus in the body. It is approved for use only in people who have already been on other HIV medications; it is not licensed for people who are just starting anti-retroviral drug therapy.

Dr. Philip Berger, an HIV-AIDs specialist, said having a new class of AIDS drugs will help people who have developed resistance to existing therapies. Those are often longtime HIV-AIDS survivors who were started on a single or dual drug regime before the current triple-drug therapy was developed.

"It is definitely an advance for people who have used up all of their current options," said Berger, who practises at St. Michael's Hospital in Toronto. He noted that other new classes of HIV drugs are also in the pipeline.

"For those that began on AZT mono-therapy, for example, 20 years ago or were on dual therapy, which turned out to be ineffective, for that group these new classes of drugs are critical," he said.

Source: CBC.ca

Bulking up Seniors

Seniors looking to get more bang for their exercise buck may benefit from popping an over-the-counter nutritional supplement every day, according to new research.

Exercise has already been proven to combat the loss of muscle mass. But adding two supplements commonly found in health-food stores, creatine monohydrate and conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), can boost the effects of exercise, according to research published today in the peer-reviewed online journal of the Public Library of Science, PLoS One.

Creatine, a compound produced by the body and naturally occurring in meat that helps supply energy to muscles, and CLA, a naturally occurring fatty acid, appeared to help study participants build muscle while shedding fat, says Mark Tarnopolsky, the lead researcher and a professor of medicine and pediatrics at McMaster University.

The supplements appear to work only in combination with exercise, and most of the benefit comes from activity. "No one has a weight-loss miracle cure - if they did, they'd be a billionaire," Dr. Tarnopolsky said. "If you're sitting on your keister, the creatine does nothing for you and the CLA probably does nothing for you."

Thirty-nine people aged 65 or older took part in the trial, in which all performed regular resistance training over the course of six months. All showed improvements in function and strength, but those who took the supplements instead of a placebo showed a greater improvement in muscle mass and fat loss.

Those who took the supplements in the study on average gained 2.1 kilograms of muscle mass and lost 1.9 kilograms of body fat. Those who took a placebo gained 0.9 kilograms of muscle mass and lost only 400 grams of body fat.

While he studied only the senior demographic, Dr. Tarnopolsky says he can see baby boomers extrapolating from the study's results.

"For the overweight, middle-aged person or the older adult who is starting to exercise ... at least in the short term this combination does appear to get people to where they want to go a little bit faster."

Previous studies had shown creatine worked to increase muscle mass, but had no effect on fat. Data on CLA were mixed for humans; animal studies had shown the supplement's ability to decrease fat.

Creatine has also received somewhat of a bad rap: Though legal, it's been linked with steroid use and other illegal doping in the world of sport.

But athletes take the compound at much higher doses, and even at those doses Dr. Tarnopolsky questions whether they would be performance-enhancing.

To maximize safety, Dr. Tarnopolsky consulted hundreds of studies on creatine as well as on CLA to determine the lowest possible dose. He administered five grams of creatine and six grams of CLA daily.

Without supplements, adults normally get between one and 1.5 grams a day of creatine from food.

In some Nordic countries, he says, a diet high in cold-water fish results in intakes of close to five grams a day.

The only side effects at the dosages he administered are gastrointestinal upset in 5 per cent of people.

But he warns that some nutritional supplements contain 20-gram doses. "All bets are off if you put someone on 20 g," he says.

Hamilton resident Chris Dunn, 71, who took supplements in the study, has no doubt the combination worked for him. He noticed a marked increase in strength during his weight-training sessions. "It was amazing; quite noticeable," he says.

Elizabeth and Michael, who asked that their last names not be used, described themselves as anti-vitamin and say they were skeptical of the supplements. Already active at 75 and 77 respectively - the married couple regularly ski and hike Ontario's Bruce Trail - they volunteered for the study primarily for the supervised exercise program.

Both say they feel they benefited. "Health doesn't come in a bottle," Elizabeth says. "But I feel pretty good."

Michael, a former family doctor, says he wants to read the results of the study before deciding whether they might add a supplement to their breakfast routine.

Dr. Tarnopolsky suspects further research may show that the effects drop off after six months, in which case the supplements may only be of benefit in the early stages of a new exercise program. But that's a good thing, he says.

"If people see changes happening, they're more likely to stay with the program," he says. "Any way we can improve compliance and get people to stick with exercise, we're going to see the effects. Folks even in their 90s can improve."

Source: The Globe and Mail.com

Health Canada pulls Prexige off Market due to Liver Problems

Health Canada is advising consumers that it has stopped the sale of the anti-inflammatory drug Prexige (lumiracoxib) in Canada and will cancel the drug's market authorization due to the potential for serious liver-related adverse events.

Type 2 Diabetes 2 Step Mediation

Pump iron and jog to manage Type 2 diabetes

Adeceptively simple exercise routine could significantly improve the health of people suffering from diabetes, a Canadian study suggests.

The key to its success is using two types of exercise, rather than just one.

The study found that diabetics who combined endurance exercises (such as brisk walking or jogging) with strength training (like weightlifting) saw their blood-sugar levels improve at twice the rate of those who only did one form of exercise.

People with Type 2 diabetes, the most common form of the disease, either don't produce enough insulin or their bodies cannot use it effectively, a condition known as insulin resistance. Insulin is a hormone that plays a major role in moving glucose (sugar) from the bloodstream into the body's tissues, where it is needed for energy. As a result of insulin resistance, glucose levels build up in the bloodstream which, in turn, can lead to heart disease, blindness and kidney damage.

Doctors have long known that regular workouts help to control blood-sugar levels. But there was very little research on what exercises work best to manage the disease, which afflicts two million Canadians.

The new Canadian study, by researchers at the University of Calgary and the University of Ottawa, suggests that a combo approach appears to offer clear benefits.

Ron Sigal, who led the study, speculated that endurance (also known as aerobic) exercises combined with strength (resistance) training worked on muscles in different but complementary ways that led to an overall improvement in blood-sugar levels.

"It makes insulin work better and makes the muscle use more glucose," said Dr. Sigal of the University of Calgary.

Although the approach sounds easy, he cautioned diabetics who are in poor shape not to jump into a new exercise routine without first talking to their own doctors.

Source: The Globe and Mail.com

Live Longer with Less Food

Eating fewer calories could mean living longer: study

Eating fewer calories might protect the body from the effects of aging, U.S. researchers have found in studies on rats.

Their findings are published in the Sept. 21 issue of the journal Cell.

Researchers from Harvard Medical School, Cornell Medical School and the National Institutes of Health have discovered two genes that determine the lifespan of cells. When cells are exposed to certain types of stress, such as a reduction in calories, the genes go into overdrive, and fend off diseases associated with aging, such as cancer, diabetes and dementia.

The newly found genes, SIRT3 and SIRT4, do this by keeping the "heart" of the cell, its mitochondria, alive when it would typically wane and die.

When cells undergo a restriction in calories, they send signals through the membranes and activate a gene called NAMPT. When that gene's levels increase, a small molecule called NAD begins to collect in the mitochondria, in turn stimulating the mitochondrial enzymes created by SIRT3 and SIRT4.

The end result are mitochondria that grow stronger and increase their energy output, decreasing cells' aging processes.

Mitochondria are the guardians of cell survival," said David Sinclair, associate professor of pathology at Harvard Medical School and senior author of the paper. "If we can keep boosting levels of NAD in the mitochondria, which in turn stimulates buckets more of SIRT3 and SIRT4, then for a period of time the cell really needs nothing else."

Researchers conducted tests on rats in which one group was fed a sucrose diet and the other group fasted for 48 hours. In the rats that had fasted, NAD levels increased in their livers, they found.

The scientists believe that SIRT3 and SIRT4 may now be potential drug targets for diseases associated with aging. "We hope that these insights into the importance of mitochondrial NAD will facilitate a new understanding of and the development of novel approaches to treating diseases such as cancer and neurodegeneration," reads the report.

Source: CBC.ca

Quarter Pounder of Green House Emissions

Save the planet, 1 less burger at a time: study

Cutting meat consumption could significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions, a study published Wednesday maintained, as it urged meat eaters to cut back and the agriculture industry to change its ways. burgher.

The study, published in the prominent U.K. journal The Lancet, said one-fifth of total worldwide greenhouse gas emissions are caused by agricultural production.

About 80 per cent of emissions come from the production of meat, including through the transport of livestock and feed, mostly from methane emitted by animal's flatulence.

The study by Tony McMichael of the Australian National University in Canberra and John Powles of Britain's University of Cambridge said that, realistically, global consumption of red meat could be reduced by 10 per cent.

The global average meat consumption stands at 100 grams per person a day, but varies widely between countries. Citizens of developed countries consume about 200 grams per person a day, while those in poorer countries eat around 20 grams.

Those in developed countries should progressively decrease their daily intake to 90 grams by 2050, the researchers said.

"If people are already thinking about the need to ration air travel maybe they need to think also about rationing their meat consumption," said Powles.

Powles said those in the agricultural industry also need to commit to lowering emissions.

"Clearly there's going to need to be incentive structures put in place for them to adopt methods of production that minimize the release of greenhouse gases," said Powles.

But some farmers, such as Eric Butters, bristled at the suggestion, saying his industry is being unfairly targeted.

"It's not too many cattle that's hurting the environment, it's too many people," said the cattle farmer from southern Alberta. "And if we controlled our population growth and parked our SUVs, it'd be far more environmentally beneficial."

The report's authors said they hope leaders in developed countries will take their recommendations seriously.

Source: CBC.ca

High Lead in Kid's Phone Accessories

Health Canada warns of high lead levels in some cellphone charms, zipper pulls

Health Canada is warning that some cellphone charms and zipper pulls from China contain high levels of lead and should be kept out of the reach of young children.

The department says children could be exposed to lead if they chew, suck on or accidentally swallow the zipper pulls or cellphone charms. It is estimated that more than 83,000 of the zipper pulls and nearly 54,000 of the cellphone charms were sold at Dollarama stores in Canada between July 2006 and August 2007.

Lead is highly toxic to humans, especially young children, and exposure can lead to brain damage.

Health Canada says there haven't been any Canadian cases of lead poisoning linked to these items, which are being voluntarily recalled by Dollarama.

Sample pictures of the charms and zipper pulls are posted in the warnings and recalls section of Health Canada's website.

Health Canada says if the items are used for their intended purpose they pose no health risk, but they shouldn't be in the possession of young children.

The zipper pulls are approximately 65 millimetres long and seven mm wide. They are silver with letters that are painted in various colours. Some feature the names and symbols of astrological signs, while others bear words like "diva," "friend" or "cute."

Testing conducted by Health Canada found that total lead content of the zipper pulls was over 90 per cent.

The cellphone charm, which is about 15 mm in diameter, is silver and in the shape of a purse with a handle. A yellow painted flower is painted on the purse. The charms are sold attached to a bright pink card bearing the "Diva" label.

Health Canada testing found the lead content of the cellphone charm was 94 per cent.

Source: CBC.ca

On the Net:

www.hc-sc.gc.ca.

Food Additives Adverserly Impact Hyperactivity

Food additives found to fuel hyperactivity

Drink with preservative, artificial colouring had 'significantly adverse' effect, study says

Ordinary food colouring and a common preservative found in everything from fruit drinks to jam have been conclusively linked to hyperactivity in children for the first time, according to British researchers.

Their findings, published today in The Lancet medical journal, could have profound implications for the regulation of additives and the diets of children who exhibit frenetic behaviour, researchers said.

Within hours of announcing the results of the study, the Guardian newspaper reported that the British government had taken the significant step of recommending that parents avoid giving products containing multiple additives to children who show signs of hyperactivity.

The study involved 153 preschool children and 144 aged 8 or 9 who were given ordinary fruit juice or one of two drinks identical in look and taste that contained varying levels of artificial food colouring and a set amount of the common preservative sodium benzoate.

One batch with the additives contained the average daily intake of food colouring for both age groups. The other had elevated levels equivalent to two 56-gram bags of sweets for the three-year-olds and four bags for the older children.

None of the children had extreme hyperactivity or attention-deficit disorders, and they did not consume other foods containing sodium benzoate during the six-week study.

Investigators reported that the drink containing benzoate spiked with the higher level of food colouring had a "significantly adverse" effect on the three-year-olds, while both mixes increased hyperactivity in the eight- and nine-year-olds.

Across the board, the children who consumed the elevated mix moved about 10 per cent closer to an internationally accepted definition of hyperactivity.

"We now have clear evidence that mixtures of certain food colours and benzoate preservative can adversely influence the behaviour of children," said researcher Jim Stevenson, a professor of psychology at the University of Southampton.

Citing previous research that suggested that some children with behavioural disorders could benefit from removing certain food preservatives and colours from their diet, Dr. Stevenson said simply removing the additives from food would not prevent hyperactivity in children. "We know that many other influences are at work, but this at least is one a child can avoid," he said.

Links between diet and hyperactivity have been vigorously debated for more than three decades, with researchers on both sides dismissing the others' findings as inconclusive.

Experts on hyperactivity and food additives attribute the failure to arrive at any firm conclusions in part to the difficulty of isolating for study the numerous additives and preservatives commonly found in food.

Fluctuations in hyperactive behaviour among children under the microscope have also muddied past research.

So the news yesterday that researchers claimed to lay to rest any doubt that food additives contribute to hyperactivity was greeted with skepticism by the International Food Additives Council, an Atlanta-based trade association.

"It's been my impression that, when it comes to anecdotal studies, there are people who tend to think food additives have something to do with hyperactivity. But when you put these studies into more carefully controlled situations, they don't pan out," said Andrew Ebert, a consultant for the trade association, who noted that he could not comment directly on the study because he had not seen it. Dr. Ebert said the organization would review the findings in the coming days.

The theory that hyperactive children could benefit from a diet devoid of artificial colours and flavours was pioneered in the 1970s by Ben Feingold. His Feingold Cookbook for Hyperactive Children, published in 1979, proposed eliminating such things as soft drinks, cake and luncheon meat from the diets of youngsters.

While much of Dr. Feingold's work remains controversial, pediatricians who specialize in treating overactive children say it is generally accepted that some foods worsen hyperactivity in some children. They note, however, that no evidence suggests certain foods cause hyperactivity, and that behavioural reactions to food are often subtle.

Bill Mahoney, associate professor of pediatrics at McMaster University, said after reviewing the British study yesterday that its findings reinforced those notions. "This isn't taking very placid children and turning them into kids who are running all over the place," Dr. Mahoney said. "The effects, in general, are very small."

Philip Shaw, a clinical fellow at the National Institute of Mental Health in Bethesda, Md., said the study was probably the most comprehensive of its kind, but questioned whether it would have the sort of far-reaching implications that its researchers imagined.

*****

Sodium benzoate

What is sodium benzoate?

E211, also known as sodium benzoate, is a derivative of benzoic acid. It is added in large amounts to carbonated drinks to prevent bacterial growth.

What other health concerns are related to sodium benzoate?

Health Canada found 20 per cent of soft drinks and other beverages it analyzed in a spot check last year included benzene, a known carcinogen. Where are additives like sodium benzoate and food colouring found?

Sodium benzoate is widely used in carbonated beverages, and artificial food colouring is used in candies, ice creams, drinks and many other kinds of snacks.

What happens if children eat them occasionally anyway?

The study showed that some children appear to be more susceptible to hyperactivity than others. Kids with behavioural problems may benefit from eliminating these additives from their diets, while others are able to handle occasional exposure.

Source: The Globe and Mail and the Guardian

Salmonella Salami

Mastro brand salami recalled for salmonella danger

Canada's food watchdog is warning consumers not eat Mastro brand Casalingo salami because it may be contaminated with salmonella bacteria.

The product was sold in variable weight packages with the lot code 3317A191 in Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia and B.C., the Canadian Food Inspection Agency said in an advisory issued Thursday.

No associated illnesses have been reported.

Consumption of food contaminated with salmonella may cause serious and even deadly infections in children, the elderly and people with weakened immune systems. In healthy adults, salmonella bacteria can cause high fevers, severe headaches, vomiting, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea.

Toronto-based manufacturer Santa Maria Foods ULC is voluntarily recalling the product from the marketplace.

For more information, consumers may call the CFIA at 1-800-442-2342/TTY 1-800-465-7735.

Source: CBC.ca

Acne Cleared by Cutting Diary - Link

Crave clear skin? Cutting dairy may help some acne patients, says naturopath

Acne has long been the scourge of millions of North American adolescents who dream of a pimple-free life.

But could the path to a clear complexion really begin with scarfing sardines? In their new book "The Clear Skin Diet" (Cumberland House), Toronto-trained naturopathic doctor Alan Logan and holistic dermatologist Valori Treloar try to help acne sufferers understand the condition, its correlation to eating habits, as well as answers to what could be triggering their breakouts.

Logan says the omega-3 fatty acids found in sardines, salmon, anchovies and seafood have important anti-inflammatory activities and can be protective against acne.

When it comes to possible triggers, however, two large population studies out of Harvard show clear association with milk consumption and the promotion of acne, and other forms of dairy, including cheese, sherbet and ice cream, he said.

"It's perhaps the case that not every acne sufferer is having their acne provoked by dairy, but it appears that many are, so in that case, there are guidelines in the book about how to go about ensuring adequate calcium intake," said Logan, a graduate of the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine and faculty member at Harvard's School of Continuing Medical Education.

Fortified beverages like soy milk, tofu, nuts and green, leafy vegetables are good alternative sources of calcium, Logan said.

Whether individuals are picking up lunch on their breaks or brown-bagging it, Logan said they should be sure their meal is comprised of whole grains or whole wheat and a good-quality lean protein like skinless poultry.

Having something colourful in their meal like berries or cherries is a bonus, he added. Those foods won't spike blood sugar and contain lots of fibre, which helps regulate blood sugar levels, and contain important antioxidants critical to acne patients.

"We now know acne sufferers are under increased oxidative stress," Logan said. "Some of the research indicates that the lower the blood levels of antioxidants in acne patients, the more severe their acne is, so they, of all people, may actually need to really go out of their way to make sure they're getting in enough antioxidants."

Processed foods and those high in sugar that spike insulin levels may also be acne promoters, Logan said.

"In essence, the dietary triggers are not too dissimilar from what we've been warned against before when it comes to gaining weight or Type 2 diabetes or even cardiovascular disease," he said. "These types of foods that are devoid of fibre and nutrients may be implicated as well."

While there's no association linking coffee and teas to acne, buying a latte at your local coffeehouse is another story, he added.

"You're now taking in lots of milk if you go the dairy route, or if you're putting in a significant amount of milk into your coffee. That might be the problem," he said. "But the coffee beverage or the tea and certainly green tea would not be."

Despite the book title, Logan said diet is not everything when it comes to acne. Stress has been shown to promote acne, and acne rates have increased significantly among adult women, he said.

"This may be attributed to diet, but it could also be attributed to stress because stress promotes the sebum which ultimately blocks up the pores, and in women in particular they're very prone to this," he said.

Exercise, relaxation techniques and keeping stress in check are important features of a clear-skin lifestyle, he said.

Some dermatologists say while they don't have a set list of items patients shouldn't eat, they do advise them to steer clear of foods they find lead to breakouts.

"There may be a correlation between hormones in cow's milk and acne, but I don't usually tell people to avoid milk when they have acne," said Dr. Eric Goldstein of Toronto.

"However, if they notice certain foods - Coke, fried foods, cow's milk - if they notice that type of thing flares them up, obviously I tell them to avoid it. But I don't have pre-set dietary restrictions or dietary counselling for acne patients."

"In general, your skin reflects your inner health, and your inner health is dependent on what you put into your body, so good nutrition will help to improve your skin," said Toronto-based Dr. Lisa Kellett.

"With that being said, as long as you are eating fruits and vegetables and things like that, one certain food group - if you eliminate it - will not cure your acne."

"Conversely, if you have the odd chocolate bar, that is not the cause of your acne. However, if the only thing you eat are chocolate bars, your skin will likely reflect your inner nutrition and therefore your skin won't look right."

Source: CBC. ca