Toronto’s Canadian National Exhibition (CNE) is known for its wacky “franken-foods” – enthusiasts come from far and wide to enjoy the latest deep-fried and fast food creations. But last year, things went too far when more than 200 fairgoers were sickened by contaminated cronut burgers. It was revealed that the distributors of the much-anticipated treat failed to follow basic food safety training protocols, which resulted in the growth of staphylococcus aureus, a well-known food borne offender. Toronto Public Health said the cause of the contamination was likely poor refrigeration. The burger was later voluntarily pulled off the menu of all.. READ MORE »
August 19, 2014
It’s quite widely accepted that an aspirin a day can keep heart attack and stroke at bay. But how does it work? Aspirin interferes with your blood’s clotting action. When you bleed, your blood’s clotting cells, called platelets, build up at the site of your wound. The platelets help form a plug that seals the opening in your blood vessel to stop bleeding. But when clotting happens where it shouldn’t – like in the vessels that supply your heart with blood – an artery could get blocked, which would result in a heart attack. A daily aspirin can help keep.. READ MORE »
August 12, 2014
It’s old news that a balanced diet – one that includes fruits and vegetables – is the key to sustaining good health. But how much is enough? Balanced for one person might mean a forkful of broccoli and a handful of grapes. For others, the pursuit of healthy eating means juicing an entire kale, three apples and a whole head of spinach – and downing it all before breakfast. But new clinical research from China and the United States has revealed then when it comes to optimizing our intake of those powerful micronutrients, five is the magic number. Tests confirm.. READ MORE »
August 5, 2014
Many people don’t realize that through cross-contamination, even vegetarians can contract food poisoning from animal-carried pathogens – as was the case with Listeria-tainted Sweet 2 Eat products.
July 29, 2014
Novartis will collaborate with Google to offer patients the new Smart Lens, an ocular device that uses miniature electronics to help the eye focus better, and can also measure the body’s glucose levels by analyzing tears.
July 22, 2014
Wearable health-tracking technology is changing the way trial researchers collect and analyze big data, transforming test subjects into active research collaborators and widening the scope of clinical research.
July 15, 2014
Last year, Japanese whistleblowers exposed the falsification of trial data for Diovan – Novartis’ blockbuster blood pressure drug. Ultimately, the ensuing investigation led to the arrest of one man, Nobuo Shirahashi, who was accused of manipulating the Diovan data and skewing the clinical research published by two Japanese universities. Last month, Shirahashi was detained for questioning and then recently re-arrested only days ago as more evidence emerged to link him to the falsified test results. Now, it seems both Novartis and its ex-employee with face criminal charges for misleading consumers about the range of Diovan’s therapeutic powers. Exaggerated Claims Novartis’.. READ MORE »
July 8, 2014
It seems that alternative applications for diabetes drugs are popping up all over the place. We recently discussed clinical research out of Belgium that revealed the unexpected anti-aging properties of metformin – the world’s most used diabetes medication. It actually toughens up cells so they stay stronger and live longer, keeping the signs of aging at bay. And now, at a recent meeting of the Endocrine Society in Chicago, researcher Dr. F. Xavier Pi-Sunyer announced that a different type 2 diabetes treatment called Liraglutide not only promotes weight loss, but also reverses the course of pre-diabetes. Competitive Results The study.. READ MORE »
July 1, 2014
Thousands of patients in Canada and the US die from prescription painkillers every year. More people die from opioid overdoses than they do from heroin and cocaine use combined. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, enough prescription painkillers were prescribed in 2010 to medicate every American adult around-the-clock for one month. Health care professionals acknowledge that the problem of painkiller-related deaths has reached epidemic proportions – and a McGill University research team wants to know why. They’ve compiled an unprecedented review of clinical research in order to understand what’s driving this destructive trend. Media misrepresentation Mainstream media.. READ MORE »
June 24, 2014
Quality control professionals are at the forefront of safer drug development, using cutting-edge technology and rigorous protocols to reinforce GMP in pharmaceutical products. From HPLC testing and Validation, to Quality Auditing, certified team members work together to ensure the efficacy of new treatments, and the protection of patient health.
June 17, 2014