A small number of patients infected by HIV spontaneously control viral replication without antiretroviral therapy and do not develop the disease. The ability of these rare patients, known as “HIV controllers”, to suppress HIV replication appears to be down to a highly effective immune response. Scientists from the Institut Pasteur and Inserm observed that CD4+ T immune cells in these … Read More
Crisis over syphilis treatment as Canada running out of drug used to treat potentially deadly infection
With syphilis spreading in Canada at rates unseen in decades, doctors are struggling to cope with a shortage of the main drug used to treat the potentially deadly infection. The Public Health Agency of Canada took the rare step recently of posting guidelines on how to ration Bicillin, and what alternative medications might be appropriate in some cases. It’s the … Read More
Grown-ups need vaccines too
By Dr. Brian Goldman Debates and discussions around booster vaccinations usually focus on infants or children. But grown-ups should be rolling up their sleeves,too. Unfortunately, far too few adults are getting booster shots. There are several reasons why not. Adult immunization hasn’t been on the radar screen. When we talk only about vaccines in kids, we may be sending the message that … Read More
Combined HIV and Hepatitis C Virus Vaccination is a Possibility
A combined vaccination against hepatitis C virus (HCV) and HIV moved a step closer, with the results of a study* presented at The International Liver Congress™ 2016 in Barcelona, Spain today. An estimated 2.3 million people globally are co-infected with HIV and HCV. HCV is the leading cause of non-AIDS deaths in co-infected individuals. The research showed that the ‘prime … Read More
Advancing health research through Canadas fastest supercomputer – Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry – University of Alberta
A partnership between the Li Ka Shing Institute of Virology (LKSIOV) and the Southern Ontario Smart Computing Innovation Platform (SOSCIP) is bringing about a new wave of medical research at the University of Alberta. The partnership, announced April 5, gives LKSIOV researchers access to Canada’s fastest supercomputer. “Our institute has invested in the application of ‘supercomputational’ science to medical science … Read More
Hopkins begins nation’s first HIV-positive organ transplants
WASHINGTON – Surgeons in Baltimore for the first time have transplanted organs between an HIV-positive donor and HIV-positive recipients. It’s a long-awaited new option for patients with the AIDS virus whose kidneys or livers also are failing. Johns Hopkins University announced Wednesday that both recipients are recovering well after one received a kidney and the other a liver from a … Read More
FDA Proposes Ban on Most Powdered Medical Gloves
Today, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced a proposal to ban most powdered gloves in the United States. While use of these gloves is decreasing, they pose an unreasonable and substantial risk of illness or injury to healthcare providers, patients and other individuals who are exposed to them, which cannot be corrected through new or updated labeling. The proposed … Read More
‘Substantial proportion’ of U.S. measles cases linked to anti-vaxxers, study suggests’
A recently published study in the Journal of the American Medical Association says “the phenomenon of vaccine refusal” increases the risk for measles among individuals who are not or refuse to get vaccinated, and among those who are already fully vaccinated. Measles, a disease that was considered eliminated 16 years ago in the U.S., has made a comeback in which … Read More
Significant increase in flu-related deaths and hospitalizations across Alberta | Globalnews.ca
The south region has now reported its first flu-related death. In Calgary, Alberta Health Services says: Ten individuals have died after having lab-confirmed influenza at the time of death; None of the fatal cases had been immunized; Eight were between 18 and 64 years old; Two were over age 65; Two of the 10 fatal cases had A H3N2; seven … Read More
2015 Year in Review
2015 has been a year where we have been fortunate enough to be able to help a number of families recover their home from trauma or loss of a loved one. We really take pride in our work and will often go above and beyond to make sure that our clients and families are well taken care of. Every job … Read More