Category: Uncategorized

For those who noted that the man-made drug Synthroid was in the number one spot on the graph, Statista reports that, “In 2022, prescription drug synthroid – used for the treatment of hypothyroidism – was the most dispensed drug in Canada, coming to a total of more than 20.5 million prescriptions.”

Upon further investigation, Synthroid is the brand name for levothyroxine. “Levothyroxine, also known as L-thyroxine, is a synthetic form of the thyroid hormone thyroxine (T₄).^[4][7] It is used to treat thyroid hormone deficiency (hypothyroidism), including a severe form known as myxedema coma.^[4] It may also be used to treat and prevent certain types of thyroid tumors.^[4] It is not indicated for weight loss.^[4]“

More on Levothyroxine/Liothyronine Combination Therapy and Quality of Life: Is It All about Weight Loss? via European Thyroid Journal.

More on Understanding unapproved use of the approved drugs “off label” via FDA.

Background: The increasing toxicity of opioids in the unregulated drug market has led to escalating numbers of overdoses in Canada and worldwide; takehome naloxone (THN) is an evidence-based intervention that distributes kits containing naloxone to people in the community who may witness an overdose. The purpose of this guidance is to provide policy recommendations for territorial, provincial and federal THN programs, using evidence from scientific and grey literature and community evidence that reflects 11 years of THN distribution in Canada.

Read more on the Guidance on take-home naloxone distribution and use by community overdose responders in Canada via CMAJ.

“A new study led by a McGill University scientist suggests opioid painkillers are not always beneficial — and sometimes harmful — as patients recover from minor surgery.

The research, published in The Lancet, examined the results of 47 randomized clinical trials in patients discharged after undergoing a minor or moderate procedure, ranging from molar extraction to foot surgery. 

Dr. Julio Fiore, an assistant professor at McGill who researches post-operative recovery, said his team found that prescribed opioids had no more of an impact on the pain experienced after minor surgery than over-the-counter painkillers. 

At the same time, the study found a significant increase in side effects, including nausea, vomiting and constipation.” 

Read more on “Are doctors still prescribing too many opioids?” via CBC News.

“In 2007 Purdue Pharma pleaded guilty to federal felony charges that the company misled regulators, doctors and patients about OxyContin’s risk of addiction and abuse. Sackler family members were not charged.” via the Guardian.

Read more on Canadians can now claim under $20 million OxyContin class actions settlement via OxyContin® and OxyNEO® Class Action Settlement. “To obtain compensation under the Settlement, you must first determine if you are eligible, then file a Claim Form and submit the required supporting evidence to the Claims Administrator on or before the Claims Deadline of February 27, 2024.”

If you are concerned about the air quality in your neighborhood, check the British Columbia Air Quality Health Index and Forecast via Government of Canada.

“In January 2023, the Elsevier journal Nurse Education in Practice ignited a firestorm when it recognized ChatGPT as a coauthor alongside Siobhan O’Connor [Figure].[1] The piece quickly sparked debate among publishers, editors, and researchers about whether a bot can qualify as an author.[2-4]

ChatGPT is an artificial intelligence (AI) language model developed by the company OpenAI. It uses pre-existing books, websites, and other sources to generate human-like text and can assist with things like writing code, composing essays, and answering questions.

Many writers like AI language models because they free up time to focus on higher-level skills like analysis and creativity rather than structure and grammar. Prominent author and Wharton professor Adam Grant has even stated that his classes are now AI mandatory because he does not want to read bad writing anymore.[5] But how should we recognize ChatGPT’s contributions?”

Read more on Can ChatGPT be your coauthor? via BCMJ.

Registration now open
Oct. 28 (Sat) | 7:45 a.m. – 4:15 p.m. | Virtual Conference
Audience: all health professionals, residents and medical students.
Overview: The climate crisis is at our doorstep. As health professionals, we can help build a healthy planetary future together. On Sat., Oct. 28, hear from experts in their fields who have initiated projects at a local level. Be inspired at this annual conference presented by the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment, with lots of opportunities for participants to engage with the speakers and with each other. Everyone is welcome to attend.
Up to 6.75 Mainpro+/MOC Section 1 credits
LEARN MORE & REGISTER

The University of British Columbia Okanagan has been placed under an evacuation order

In a notice posted to social media on Friday, the university said everyone must leave campus immediately.

If anyone is on campus and needs access to transportation, they are asked to make their way to H lot.

Everyone is asked to leave immediately and in a calm manner.

There are a number of other addresses nearby also under evacuation order. Those can be checked on the map.

Read more on UBCO under evacuation order due to aggressive fire behaviour via Global News.

• A state of emergency has been declared in Kelowna after wildfires forced evacuations for residents in the Clifton area north of the downtown early Friday morning.
• The City of West Kelowna and the Westbank First Nation have declared a local state of emergency, with thousands of properties under evacuation orders or alerts.
• There is “structural loss” in West Kelowna, officials say.
• Highway 1 closed overnight in both directions between Hope and Lytton due to wildfire activity Thursday.
• Dozens of other properties around the B.C. Interior have been ordered evacuated, including the Lytton First Nation and an area north of Ulkatcho First Nation
• Officials warn the coming days could be “the most challenging of the summer,” as a volatile cold front sweeps through southern B.C. with high winds and dry lightning.
• New evacuation orders and wildfires are expected throughout Thursday night and into Friday morning. Learn more about how to find the full list of wildfires, highway closures and evacuation orders and alerts.

Thousands of people have been forced from their homes in B.C.’s Okanagan, with evacuation orders issued after a wildfire jumped Lake Okanagan, sparking spot wildfires in Kelowna.

Early Friday morning, evacuation orders were issued for residents of the Clifton Road North and McKinley area of Kelowna, which is north of the downtown, due to the McDougall Creek wildfire.

A state of emergency has been declared by the City of Kelowna, which has a population of almost 150,000.

Read more via CBC.

“Hundreds of wildfires burning in Canada’s Northwest Territories have prompted emergency declarations and the evacuation of the capital city of Yellowknife by road and air.

About 20,000 residents in Yellowknife are being urged to get out of the way of fast-moving flames as more than 230 fires char the territory and smoke creeps south, impacting air quality in the US. Yellowknife accounts for about half of the total population of the remote territory, which sits north of Alberta and east of Yukon.

‘We’re all tired of the word unprecedented, yet there is no other way to describe this situation in the Northwest Territories,’ Premier Caroline Cochrane said in a statement Wednesday night.

‘Residents living along the Ingraham Trail, in Dettah, Kam Lake, Grace Lake and Engle Business District are currently at highest risk and should evacuate as soon as possible. Other residents have until noon on Friday, August 18, 2023 to evacuate,’ Northwest Territories officials said in a news release Wednesday.

The community of N’dilo is also under an evacuation order, officials said in the release. Those unable to leave by vehicle can register for an air evacuation, officials said.

‘If you are able to evacuate by road, obey all warning signs, emergency management officials, traffic control devices and posted speed limits,’ Cochrane added. ‘Do not make any rash decisions that can put other people in danger.'”

Read more here via CNN.
Also see NWT wildfire updates via Environment and Climate Change.

Abstract: This study evaluates the perceptions of preparedness and willingness to work during disasters and public health emergencies among 213 healthcare workers at hospitals in the southern region of Saudi Arabia by using a quantitative survey (Fight or Flight). The results showed that participants’ willingness to work unconditionally during disasters and emergencies varied based on the type of condition: natural disasters (61.97%), seasonal influenza pandemic (52.58%), smallpox pandemic (47.89%), SARS/COVID-19 pandemic (43.56%), special flu pandemic (36.15%), mass shooting (37.56%), chemical incident and bombing threats (31.92%), biological events (28.17%), Ebola outbreaks (27.7%), and nuclear incident (24.88%). A lack of confidence and the absence of safety assurance for healthcare workers and their family members were the most important reasons cited. The co-variation between age and education versus risk and danger by Spearman’s rho confirmed a small negative correlation between education and danger at a 95% level of significance, meaning that educated healthcare workers have less fear to work under dangerous events. Although the causes of unsuccessful management of disasters and emergencies may vary, individuals’ characteristics, such as lack of confidence and emotional distractions because of uncertainty about the safety issues, may also play a significant role. Besides educational initiatives, other measures, which guarantee the safety of healthcare providers and their family members, should be established and implemented.

Learn more here on Emergency Healthcare Providers’ Perceptions of Preparedness and Willingness to Work during Disasters and Public Health Emergencies via Healthcare.