FEBRUARY 15, 2004
VOLUME 1, NO. 3
 

Clinical
That zippy little Mg: Low magnesium is linked to higher risk of stroke. Supplements may not help.

Hep, hep hooray for Hepsin: The protein could help measure tumour aggressiveness in prostate cancer. Blood test on the drawing board.

CF on the screen: California Kaiser Institute used genetic screening on 56,000 to identify women at risk for having offspring with CF. Savings in pain and money.

Crazy to stay thin: Playing off healthy lungs and hearts against a sound mind. Too often the body is the loser.

Exercise for the old and sick: Nine studies conclusively show that exercise extends life even when you have serious heart problems and one foot in the grave.

Shooting up the good stuff: A single shot of injectable depot buprenorphine may ease addiction for up to six months. Trouble is you can't get it.

Itching to know why: Psoriasis patients could be at higher risk for developing lymphoma. But is the disease or the drugs used to treat it?

Even MI patients get the blues: A new trial shows that sertraline seems to help cardiac patients with a history of depression.

Did we forget to mention fat?: The Atkins' diet might not be all it's cracked up to be, especially when it comes to nutrition.

A breath of life for preemies: Inhaled nitric oxide can help save premature babies, reducing lung cancer and death by 25%.

Inflamed risk for your arteries: Patients with mild RA could be at greater risk for endothelial dysfunction, an early stage of atherosclerosis.

The bottom line: Proponents of screening for colorectal cancer now have the money men on their side.

Blocking AD's symptoms: A glutamate activity blocker called memantine has just been licensed in the US. It's the first drug to be approved for severe AD.

The thinning out of gymnasts: Female athletes are at risk of developing eating disorders, but given the cagey nature of sufferers, it's tough to tackle.

The emperor's new clothes? A new article says vasopressin could be better than epinephrine for treating cardiac arrest, but those on the front lines are sceptical.

Nutty about Nutlins: A newly discovered molecule called a Nutlin could be a tough new weapon in the fight against cancer. And it's from New Jersey. .

Women's Health Section
A little bundle of blues?: Should all new moms be screened for "baby blues" to determine who'll suffer from postpartum depression later?

Is it goodbye Ms Primary PAP?: The high false negative rate and the frequency of testing required sends researchers looking for a way to use HPV test results. One advantage: sexual partners share responsibility.

What did you ex-spec? Women dread the speculum, some say self tests for HPV could be a solution. Or then again, maybe not.

Serum for sorrow: Low serum concentration of a protein in the placenta may be a cause of repeat miscarriages. Could treatment be on the way?

The HRT truth is elusive: Ever since the famous 2002 WHI study there's been a war between the yes and no sides. WHAT TO TELL YOUR PATIENTS caught in the crossfire.

All this and gymnastics too� Our REPORTER AT LARGE gives us the scoop from Canada's largest conference on women's health.

Lumpectomy for the young: A large new cohort study shows there is not greater risk of death within 10 years for women under age 35 with breast cancer who have conservation therapy instead of RMs.

Features
Another kind of jigsaw puzzle: Dr James Nasmith shows his passion for DIY by taking a sledgehammer - to his own home.

Home oximetry nixed for kids: Portable monitors miss a third of those with sleep apnea. 40% of healthy children shown sick.

Every sperm is sacred: Sperm levels are dwindling in Europe and North America, and our old friend DDT is still to blame.

Med students opt for "easy": New graduates forsake general practice in droves. Low pay and long hours stampede them toward the imagined 9-to-5 joys of dermatology, ENT and surgery.

Colour me clever: A virtual medical illustration project at McGill is helping students learn faster and hone their skills.

The fat empire strikes back: WHO recommendations about sugar intake for kids sends the US junk food lobby into a tailspin.

Psych/FP mentoring off the group. Almost three years in, the Ontario program has generated some good "satisfaction" statistics. It's now moving into collaborations with other specialties.

When doctors won't become patients: Doctors get sick -- and stay sick. Some of your colleagues are reaching out a helping hand.

Government & Medicine
The Decter solution: The NHC chair has his own ideas about healthcare. Goodbye solo practice, hello Big Box medicine.

Negotiating more docs: NOW pressures the OMA to get tough with the province on rural doctor shortages. Municipalities join in.

Help is at hand: Doctor shortages in Ontario have a new old saviour -- foreign-trained doctors. Using human resources more effectively.

Practice Management
Loosen your grip and prosper: Isn't it time to stop control-freaking out? Your colleagues know the answer. Ten ways to promote a good atmosphere.

How I learned to stop worrying and love performance reviews: It's an essential in today's practice, so bite the bullet and start listening.

Pursuits
For the love of art: The doctor not only knows what he likes, he knows art. It takes more than that to make money. Rothko's up, Warhol's down, Cezanne's even.

Editorial
Doctor tell the nation what to eat

Classics
Pop: Here Come the Warm Jets - Brian Eno's 1974 ambient classic brought back to life.

Jazz: The Cole Porter Songbook - No one does it like Ella Fitzgerald, on this re-release of her two-album 1956 recording.

Film: The Party - Slapstick but not slapdash, Peter Sellers and Blake Edward's rollicking comedy get a re-look.

Book: Angle of Repose - Wallace Stegner's 1971 Pulitzer prize winner you really shouldn't leave on the top shelf.

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