Mountain-climbing, writing -- oh, and medicine too: Dr Peter Steele''s had quite a life. Now he looks back from his armchair in Whitehorse and writes books.

Wondering about the wonder drug: NSAIDS cancel asprin's cardio-protective effect and may be linked to pancreatic cancer.

Preemies beware: Germs invade powdered baby formula factories.

Get thee to Homewood: Doctors abusing alcohol or drugs -- and who need and want help -- go to Homewood.

Surgery shopping: Many provinces now offer info on waiting times to patients as a ""customer service"" -- but are they discounting surgeon volume?

Let the sun shine in: Vitamin D supplements cut the risk of women developing MS by 40%.

Morbid obesity solutions: Gastric pacemakers come to Fat City.

Needle relief: Insulin inhalers offer an easier method to Type II diabetics.

Bad new for ambitious MDs: Medical class presidents die younger than their classmates.

It's not the race card: In prostate cancer, obesity -- not being black -- makes a difference.

Diabetes combo punch: Diet, exercise and XENical rally against Type II diabetes.

The trouble with ADHD: Hyperactive kids do better with calm friends and lots of sports.

Scandal and fidelity in a small-town: As a rural Ontario doctor gets embroiled in a misconduct and incompetence hearing, his friends and patients rally to his support.

Sexes war explained, sort of: Study suggests women prefer marriage to shacking up -- not so for men.

Death is no friend: A friend suicides. Those who remain pay the price. What helps?

Rethinking depression et al: Mood disorder drugs trigger genetic transformation.

I'm sick! No you're not! People can now test themselves for almost any disorder. Perhaps they shouldn't.

Ever wonder about those wacky drug names?: Zoloft, Xanax, Celexa ---- those ZXCs are no accident. Putting those virile consonants to work.

Shocking BP revelation: Arm position causes wild fluctuations in readings.

The heart-break of pierced ears: A hole in the lobe invites in armies of microbes.

Double jeopardy: Boy carries twin inside of him for seven years.

Anacronyms? Doctor slang may be GDTT (going down the toilet).

Bespoke pharmaceuticals: Fitting the right drug to the right patient.

Fear at the nursing home: This Quebec scandal has enough sleaze to launch a public enquiry.

Image worth a thousand words: New MRI technology is changing the way we see diagnostic imaging. But is Canada on the cusp?

SAD sacks: McGill helps out students with seasonal affective disorder by providing light therapy in the cafeteria. Keep those lights on.

AIDS and the numbers game: AIDS cases in Kenya seem to fall by 50% -- but it's just statistics.

Prune juice and backseat drivers: Living with elderly parents brings unexpected pain -- like family advice.

Ageing hippies pay the piper: Britain turns a blind eye to hep C; Canada's better, but most don't know they've got it.

Keep out of reach of staff: Bioethics isn''t for everyone -- a little knowledge can be a dangerous thing. Meet our new columnist, Dr Mark Bernstein.

Vive la anti resistance: Bacteria-fighting phages get a second look from western scientists.

I don't feel so good: Forget about the liquor store, let's go to the pharmacy. Teens' new high is Benylin.

Wake me in six months: Chronic fatigue sufferers fight for recognition, but are they diseased or duped?

Get all steamed up: Everyone knows to eat right, but how do you get patients to listen? WHAT TO TELL YOUR PATIENTS

Canada scores low on SARS report: Walker and Naylor reports dole out recommendations -- but have they got teeth? Also, new SARS Rx on the way.

Technicolour dreamcoat: Drug-coated stents could revolutionize treatment by cutting down on restenosis.

Editorial
Complacent with comparisons: Is Canada resting on its laurels because of international health ranking?

Alzheimer special section
More Q than A for AD: Link confirmed with hard arteries, but when's it vascular dementia?

Me from Earth, you from Prion: The wasting agent in mad cow disease isn't all bad -- it helps memory.

Brainiacs, dullards get the shaft: Those at high & low ends of the IQ scale risk misdiagnosis for dementia.

Mini gets it in the shins: For years MMSE was king; now upstart, STMS, gains ground.

Snoezing the day away: Suddenly multi-sensory stimulation rooms are everywhere; where's the evidence?

The Smoking section
Patch me up, Scottie: Schizophrenics always knew nicotine helped keep them sane; science backs them.

Polly wants an oxygen mask: Second hand smoke is just as bad for your furry friends.

Le smoking culture: The French just won't butt out, even when the law tells them to.

The odd but certain charms of Nicorettes

Deadlier than vodka: Russians smoking themselves to an early grave.

Busted -- breast cancer smoking link: But is it really because smokers are usually boozers too?

Practice Management
R-E-S-P-E-C-T: Find out what it means to your staff -- before they quit.

Addicted to work: Control freak? Workaholic? Let it go, doc -- your partners, and your spouse, will thank you.

Pursuits
Technology in your Palm: Choosing the right PDA isn''t a walk in the park -- here''s a little help before you lay down your cash.

Cut the cord: Imagine an office without wires. Imagine surfing the net without plugging in. The future is now.

Classics
Film:The 70s were Hollywood''s other Golden Age. Here we give Robert Altman''s classic McCabe and Mrs Miller a longing look.

Jazz: If you don''t know French music legend Serge Gainsbourg, his jazzy world beat record Percussions from 1964 is a great place to start. Bring your dancing shoes

Books: J P Donleavy''s romp The Ginger Man is the perfect escape for the mid-winter doldrums.