Clinical
Hep cats travel in packs: Hep B is hep C's silent partner in crime, but once the liver damage is done it conveniently leaves its more culpable cousin to take the rap.

Oh my achin' B cell: Rituximab cuts down significantly on RA pain — but that's not all it suppresses. Weakened immune systems go down for the count.

Gather ye rosebuds: Study finds that the number of eggs a woman has dictates ovary size and when she'll hit menopause. Some women can hit snooze when the biological clock goes off, but others should seize the day.

Keep your head in the clouds: ... and your feet on dry land. Study confirms that high altitude and low humidity are a winning combination for asthmatics. Not so for eczema sufferers.

Beta-agonizing news: These drugs may breed tolerance in asthma patients, but the truce is off when heart trouble is involved.

No piece of mind: Lancet study claims best-selling Alzheimer drug is no better than placebo. Time to thank cholinesterase inhibitors for the memories and move on?

New kind of brain drain: Breast cancer patients may indeed be losing brain power — but is it the cancer or the chemo? Study confirms it could be either.

You with the SARS in your eyes: Some researchers say that analysing tears could help with early SARS diagnosis. Others can't quite believe their eyes.

Government and Medicine
Prairie saga: Saskatchewan's health minister takes Fyke commission recommendations to heart and marks his place in Valhalla.

Quarantine Angel: Canada's Quarantine Act hasn't changed much since Sir John A MacDonald was Prime Minister until now, that is.

Health of Nations: Are the many healthcare commissions of recent years doing more than just condemning trees to death, or will the new government stand up and take notice? Read our digested version.

Medicare basket case: U of T project unravels the mysterious decision-making process of Ontario's medicare coverage — and hopes to offer a way out of the labyrinth.

Features
I am Ironwoman: This Cape Breton psych unwinds by putting her body to the ultimate test -- competing in triathlons.

Kiss off for mono?: Epstein-Barr virus will soon get its comeuppance 'cause there's a new vaccine coming to town.

Eastern promise: The outsourcing rage has spread to clinical trials, with many of them being done in India for the benefit of the West. Researchers are left holding the ethical bag.

Money can buy me health: Scrimping on prescription drugs costs patients more in the end. Health suffocates as the belts get tightened.

Lukewarm menace: New studies add grist to the baby formula risk mill. Is E sakazakii lurking in baby's bottle?

In Fitness and in Health
NRM's special athletics section pays homage to the Athens Olympics

Neither fit nor fat: Once thought to be a female thing more and more male athletes are developing a troubled (but well hidden) relationship with food.

Juicing up in the gym: Taking a leaf out of Ben Johnson's book, amateur athletes are jacking up their performance with illegal performance enhancers.

You gotta run run run: WHAT TO TELL YOUR PATIENTS offers training tips for those burgeoning triathletes looking to beat their personal best.

Track meat: Popular creatine supplements are legal for athletes looking to beef up their protein levels. But are they safe or any better than good old fashioned steak and eggs?

Departments
Editorial: Soul-searching Tories, corpulent doctors, and more.

Editorial: Do as I say and as I do

Letters: Bring out the firing squad

Across Canada: News highlights from coast to coast to coast.

News in Brief: Bite-size treats from the international world of medicine

Classics: A film, CD and book that deserve a second look.

Practice Management
For what it's worth: Thinking of taking stock and shipping out? Find out how much hard cash you can get for your hard-up practice.

Pursuits
Patients' log: Your patients are WWW-ing their way to the latest health news. Get to know the competition, and maybe make some extra coin.