Contaminated carts, sweaty eggs, bacterial citrus – these aren’t concerns most shoppers have when blazing down supermarket aisles, eagerly checking items off their lists. But according to food safety certification expert Peter DeLucia (who was recently featured on the Dr. Oz show), we need to be much more proactive when it comes to protecting ourselves from grocery store grime. To better inform consumers, the New York World created an interactive map of the city, where users can search specific stores in their neighbourhood to check for violations. The results are eye-opening. Torontonians are urged to check their favourite market on.. READ MORE »
March 6, 2014
Social media presence is an integral part of business marketing, an essential platform from which to draw the attention of and establish relationships with consumers. Brands are built online and reputations can also be destroyed based on social media chatter. Organizations big and small are aggressively pursuing strategies that will make them more visible and accessible online. But what about Big Pharma? Surprisingly, a recent report from the IMS Institute for Healthcare Informatics reveals that out of the 50 largest drugmakers in the world, only half engage with social media. And yet, more and more patients are turning to online.. READ MORE »
March 4, 2014
From Big Pharma to biotech, research scientists to practicing clinicians – the industry is intently focused on developing more highly effective drug delivery systems. In recent years, clinical research has revealed innovative solutions in the form of nanodiamonds, microneedles, gold particles, silk and protein clusters; all of which represent a step forward with regard to precision and patient safety. It’s all about effectively targeted techniques that offer professionals better ways to administer medicines, track their effectiveness, and minimize unwanted side-effects. And now scientists have discovered what may prove to be the most significant advance yet – electronically controlled drugs that.. READ MORE »
February 27, 2014
In recent years, there’s been quite a bit of buzz around Big Pharma’s expansion into BRIC countries – Brazil, Russia, India and China. For industry superstars, emerging markets have proven fertile ground for clinical research, manufacturing, drug discovery, and numerous other outsourced operations. But as activity begins to slow in the BRIC, Pharma is already looking elsewhere for new profit and growth potential. According to the Wall Street Journal, there are several major developments slated to unveil next year in the Middle East. Amongst other treatable conditions, diabetes is of growing concern throughout the region – and has prompted companies.. READ MORE »
February 25, 2014
Have you ever enrolled in a class, attended the first lecture and then realized it was nothing like you thought it would be? Perhaps the material was not what you had in mind, the projected assignments seemed out of line with what you’d read in the course description – or maybe you just had a change of heart. No big deal. You just drop the course and sign up for another. But what if you’re already part way through your certification or diploma program and you discover you’ve chosen unwisely? You’ve already invested too much to turn back – switching.. READ MORE »
February 20, 2014
We often think of acetaminophen as a fairly innocuous pain medicine, great for headaches, hangovers and sore joints. However, the FDA recently recommended we re-consider just how much of it we’re ingesting. The agency is instructing health care professionals to discontinue prescribing and dispensing prescription combination drug products that contain more than 325 milligrams (mg) of acetaminophen per tablet, capsule or other dosage unit. When taken in combination with other drugs, patients often fail to keep track of acetaminophen – and while there is no evidence to suggest taking more does your body good, clinical research reveals that taking too much.. READ MORE »
February 18, 2014
Every year, millions of Canadians and Americans look to internet pharmacies for discounts on their prescription. When prescriptions are not covered by health care, or local costs become prohibitive, many patients have no choice but to seek out alternatives. Unfortunately, many of those presumably legitimate online options turn out to be anything but – and patients end up endangering their lives with subpar products, or in some cases illegal substances. In North America, the most commonly counterfeited drugs are those intended for the treatment of cancer and depression; therapies that undergo years of pharmaceutical quality assurance in order to garner.. READ MORE »
February 13, 2014
To legalize, or not to legalize? When it comes to cannabis, it’s a question that has generated quite a buzz throughout North America over the last several years. Adding fuel to the fire is the recent legalization of marijuana south of the border where pot shops are now open for business across Colorado and Washington states. In Canada, the proven therapeutic benefits of marijuana, well documented by clinical research, have put pressure on law makers to regulate its sale, making the substance more widely available to prescription holders. And this month, the government has complied, developing new legislation that licenses.. READ MORE »
February 11, 2014
When we think about precious gems and beautiful fabrics, complex medical procedures are most likely the last thing that comes to mind. For researchers at the universities of Melbourne, Sydney and Tufts however, silk and diamonds have proven invaluable in a new drug delivery system. Nanodiamonds have been around for years, helping bring cancer-fighting therapies directly to tumours without hurting the surrounding tissues. They form clusters that bind to the injected drug, releasing it slowly, and keeping harmful side effects to a minimum. By targeting tumours more efficiently, nanodiamonds have helped reduce patient suffering. And now, researchers have discovered how.. READ MORE »
February 6, 2014
A recent assessment of Canada’s food safety procedures may prompt consumers to think twice about what’s for dinner. The audit, completed in 2012 but released only last month, evaluated the systems that process meat products being prepared for export to the United States. Inspectors with the U.S. Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) visited two red-meat slaughterhouses, four meat-processing plants, an egg processing plant, five government offices including Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) headquarters, and two private laboratories between Oct. 22 and Nov. 9, 2012. In the end, FSIS deemed the facilities “adequate,” the lowest possible rating it could issue.. READ MORE »
February 4, 2014
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