Vega One nutritional shakes may be contaminated

Vega One nutritional shakes in two flavours have been found to be contaminated with a prescription drug, Health Canada says.

Testing by Sequel Naturals of Port Coquitlam, B.C., showed the antibiotic chloramphenicol in its Vega One Vanilla Chai (437 g and 874 g formats) and Vega Sport Performance Chocolate products.

Health Canada says Sequel Naturals Ltd. is refusing the regulator's request to recall nutritional shakes that may be contaminated with a prescription drug. (CBC)

"Sequel Naturals Ltd. is refusing Health Canada's request to recall these products despite the potentially serious risks posed to health," the regulator said Friday.

"Health Canada is also requesting that wholesalers, distributors and retailers voluntarily hold on to any Vega One Vanilla Chai and Vega Sport Performance Chocolate currently in their possession."

In rare cases, chloramphenicol is associated with the risk of developing aplastic anemia. The condition is a serious blood disorder and it can be fatal.

Health Canada said it is impossible to predict who will develop aplastic anemia after taking the antibiotic. The risk doesn't seem to relate to the dose taken. 

Other side-effects that can be associated with chloramphenicol include allergic reactions in people who have sensitivity to the medication, and effects on the bone marrow leading to decreased blood cells. It should not be used by pregnant or lactating women.

Health Canada says it works with the health product industry to ensure hazardous products are pulled from the marketplace but recalls are initiated by importers and manufacturers themselves.

In response to an independent report into the recall of Alysena 28 birth control pills last month, Health Canada said it will explore expanded recall powers.

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Bike helmet mandate for all sought by pediatricians

Bicycle helmet use should be legislated for all ages in all provinces and territories, Canadian pediatricians say.

Evidence is strong that bicycle helmet legislation increases use of the safety gear and there's ample research that legislation reduces the risk of bicycle-related head injury, the Canadian Pediatric Society said Friday.

The group's position statement says only British Columbia and the Maritime provinces currently meet the recommendations on bicycle helmet legislation.

There is evidence that bicycle helmet legislation increases helmet use, the Canadian Pediatric Society says. (Adam Berry/Getty)

The society wants all provinces and territories to enact the legislation before the start of the 2014 bike season.

Bicycling-related injuries among Canadian children and youth account for about four per cent of all injuries in emergency departments, studies suggest.

"Everyone is at risk for head injury, regardless of age group," said Dr. Brent Hagel, a co-author of the statement and an epidemiologist in injury prevention at the University of Calgary. "Children see adults and often adopt similar behaviours, so if we can get helmets on adults then children and adolescents will be more likely to wear them too," he added in a release.

The society also recommended:

• Rolling out legislation using social marketing and education to raise awareness on the importance of wearing bicycle helmets.
• Implementing other strategies to prevent bicycle injuries, such as separating riders from vehicle traffic with bicycle lanes and adding paths for commuter and recreational cycling, at the same time.
• Adopting sales tax exemptions or rebates and federal tax credits to make buying bicycle helmets less expensive.

Currently, Saskatchewan, Quebec, Newfoundland and Labrador, and the territories have no legislation on bike helmets, the group said. In Alberta, Manitoba and Ontario, bike helmet legislation only applies to children and youth.

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'Gameboy back' more common in kids slouching over gadgets

Some children and teens are spending so much time hunched over their electronics that the poor posture is leading to back pain earlier in life, spinal experts warn.

Two orthopedic surgeons in the Netherlands coined the term "Gameboy back" to describe their patients, aged eight to 18, who are developing curved spines after sitting slumped over gadgets for long periods.

"For a young child up to 18 years old to have to see a spine surgeon is abnormal," said Mark Erwin, a professor of neurological and orthopedic surgery at the University of Toronto.

The spine forms a "C" shape when hunched over gadgets that can put an abnormal load on the discs that accumulates over time, a disc researcher says. (J. Pat Carter/Associated Press)

While Erwin hasn't seen such spinal changes directly, he said Canadian doctors are treating young patients earlier for serious back problems more commonly seen later in life.

"This is a real thing," said Erwin, who studies degenerative disc disease. "It seems to be so benign, kids playing video [games]. But it's not benign."

The spine normally has an "S" shape. But sitting all day with a rounded "C" shape over days and weeks puts an aberrant load on muscles, ligaments and discs, he explained. Some muscles can become too weak, others too loose, and the problem can compound over time.

'I get a lot of lower back pain and in my shoulders and especially my neck. It causes me a lot of headaches.'- Mackenzie Wood, 16, of Guelph, Ont.

Researchers suspect that in people who are genetically susceptible, poor posture can tip them into developing serious problems such as herniated or "slipped" discs, Erwin said. In a herniated disc, the doughnut-shaped soft tissue cushioning the vertebra in the back ruptures and the gel inside leaks out.

Mackenzie Wood, 16, of Guelph, Ont., often feels the effects of sitting hunched over.

"I get a lot of lower back pain and in my shoulders and especially my neck. It causes me a lot of headaches," she said.

Wood is learning simple tips from her therapist to stop slouching, like sliding a rolled-up towel behind the back to re-learn how to hold herself.

"If you can catch them before it's too late, they can reverse it," Erwin said. "The big thing is to avoid it."

Children should be flexible and running around, he said. He recognizes it's often a challenge to get teens to work out, but he says getting out to play is "cheap insurance," for both back pain and Type 2 diabetes.

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Ontario contest to alter wheelchair logo finds no winner

The disability symbol — that familiar, white stick figure in a wheelchair set against a blue background — may be flawed, but it's here to stay for a while longer.

On Friday afternoon, Ontario Lieutenant-Governor David Onley, along with Sophie, the Countess of Wessex, showed off the two top designs from the Reimagining Accessibility competition, launched with hope of replacing the wheelchair symbol.

Onley called both new symbols "brilliant," but said they fell short of conveying the complex needs of people with disabilities.

This design, one of two honourable mentions in the Reimagining Accessibility contest, will be developed further, Onley said. (Office of Lieutenant Governor of Ontario)

What was asked of the designers, Onley admitted, was "far more complex than we thought."

Both of the honourable mentions selected have a future, Onley said. One of the winning designs featured a series of four symbols, each representing a different need. The other was a blue and white opening door, set inside a circle.

If the designers choose to keep working on the projects, they will be given assistance from the Ontario College of Art and Design (OCAD). 

While no winner was selected on Friday, change is not a far-fetched idea in this area. New York City recently updated its disability symbol — it's still a stick figure in a wheelchair, but the figure appears to be in motion rather than sitting still.

Other examples include local Toronto toy shop Mastermind, which has made its own playful signage for people in wheelchairs, and the Beijing Paralympics, which designed fresh symbols for the Games.

Designing a new symbol

CBC News tagged along with one group of design students as they embarked on the project.

"I think it's an incredibly difficult process," said Geordie Graham, an OCAD student.

Graham's OCAD group came up with this take on the wheelchair symbol. (Submitted)

"You're afraid as a designer — you don't want to leave people out … we want to make sure that we lend a voice for people beyond just those in a wheelchair."

Graham's group also wanted to humanize the figure in the logo and add a sense of movement. And they wanted to find a way to create signage that would let people with cognitive issues navigate the urban landscape.

But whatever they designed had to be simple enough that a work crew could paint it onto a parking spot with a stencil.

In just a month — a far shorter timeframe than most of the students are used to — they had a symbol. Or, more accurately a series of symbols: a new take on the wheelchair symbol, as well as symbols for cognitive impairment, visual impairment and even one to alert people that sign language is available.

Anne Jackson, an OCAD student and group member, says it's all about letting people with disabilities understand what's in store for them.

"If we can do that, even in just some small way with a few symbols, it would be a great thing to do," Jackson said.

"I look at all symbols to do with disabilities totally differently."

Onley calls for change

Onley believes the current symbol has flaws.

"I still only see an 'it'," said Onley, who uses a motorized scooter.

"People tend to forget that the original symbol didn't even have a head on it."

The current symbol does have one thing going for it, which is almost universal recognition. But in Onley's eyes that's not a good enough reason to keep it.

Onley was hoping the competition — which drew more than 100 entries from around the world — would produce a symbol that's inclusive and human.

Any future disability design hoping to replace the wheelchair symbol would have to be approved by the International Organization for Standardization. The original symbol has been around since 1968, when it was designed by Susanne Koefoed of Denmark. 

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Sugary drink tax may cut obesity rates in UK

Slapping a 20 per cent tax on soda pop in Britain could cut the number of obese adults by about 180,000, according to a new study.

Though the number works out to a modest drop of 1.3 per cent in obesity, scientists say that reduction would still be worthwhile in the U.K., which has a population of about 63 million and is the fattest country in Western Europe. About one in four Britons is obese.

A sugary drink tax would have the biggest impact on people under 30, British researchers say. (Spencer Platt/Getty)

Researchers at Oxford University and the University of Reading estimated a 20 per cent tax on soft drinks would reduce sales by 15 per cent and that people would buy beverages like orange juice, milk and diet drinks instead. They said the tax would have the biggest impact on people under 30, who drink more sugary drinks than anyone else.

No funding was provided by any advocacy or industry groups for the study, published online Thursday in the journal, BMJ.

"Every possible alternative that people would buy is going to be better than a sugary drink," said Mike Rayner of Oxford, one of the study authors. "[The tax] is not a panacea, but it's part of the solution."

Rayner acknowledged the government might shy away from introducing such a hefty tax at a time when the economy is still shaky. Last year, Britain's Conservative-led coalition had to backtrack on a sales tax it planned to levy on fat-laden meat pies after a public outcry.

Such soft drink taxes have been used or considered elsewhere, including France, Mexico, Norway and some U.S. states, but previous analyses of them have found mixed results on people's drinking habits.

In the past, the U.K. has relied on convincing businesses to make their products healthier as opposed to resorting to taxes; that strategy reduced salt levels in processed foods by 20 to 50 per cent.

Last week, Britain announced another government-led initiative, in which several major food companies promised to cut the amount of saturated fat in their products. Critics slammed the deal and said the U.K. shouldn't rely on voluntary measures to fight the country's growing waistlines.

"We are at the mercy of these [food and drink] companies," said Tam Fry, spokesman for the National Obesity Forum. Fry was not linked to the BMJ study and said the proposed 20 per cent tax would be a hard sell. Instead, Fry said the government should simply fine companies if they exceed a certain threshold for the amount of sugar allowable in food and drink.

"Companies should be coerced with fiscal measures rather than punishing the consumer with taxes," Fry said. "We are in such a predicament with obesity in this country that we have to put the pussy-footing measures to one side," he said. "It's time for the stick to come out."

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Clocks fall back this weekend to end daylight time

Most Canadians will be adjusting their clocks on Sunday for the switch from daylight saving time to local standard time, and they can take heart from the fact that it's generally easier on the body to fall back than spring forward an hour.

Clocks are pushed ahead one hour in spring to what's commonly called "daylight saving time," an idea first used in Germany during the First World War with the goal of saving energy. It aims to take advantage of daylight hours in the spring so that people don't sleep through the first few hours of sunshine.

When the daylight period gets shorter in the fall, the clocks are readjusted to the proper "local standard time." A quote often attributed to Winston Churchill, a man known for his oratorical prowess, says we pay back the loan of an extra yawn in spring with the "golden interest" of a lengthier snooze in the autumn.

The time changes are scheduled for 2 a.m. on Sundays to create the minimal amount of disruption to daily life.

Although the shift of just one hour seems fairly innocuous, the semi-annual clock change has been linked to some surprising effects on things such as health and traffic safety. Here are six interesting facts and figures about daylight time.

Daylight time and heart attacks

A Swedish study published in the New England Journal of Medicine in 2008 found a higher incidence of heart attacks — approximately a seven per cent increase — in the first three weekdays after the clocks spring forward, which researchers attributed to a lack of sleep.

They also noted a similar decrease when the clocks fall back. The information was based on Swedish records collected over a 20-year period.

"The most plausible explanation for our findings is the adverse effect of sleep deprivation on cardiovascular health," the researchers wrote.

Pedestrian safety

Another study, this time from two researchers at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh in 2007, found that daylight time has a significant impact on the number of pedestrians killed by vehicles in the immediate aftermath of the time switch in the fall.

People walking during rush hour in the first few weeks after the clocks fall back in the autumn were more than three times as likely to be fatally struck by cars than before the change. There was no significant difference at noon, but there was around 6 p.m.

The researchers, who looked at seven years of U.S. traffic statistics, also found there was a decrease in deaths when clocks spring forward.

It isn't the darkness per se that increases the number of deaths in the fall, the researchers suggested. Rather, it's that drivers and pedestrians have spent the previous months getting used to the light conditions, and don't immediately adjust their behaviour to account for less light during morning rush hour.

Canadian insurance company RSA has compiled a number of tips aimed at helping drivers reduce accidents after the clocks change:

• The change of waking time coupled with earlier nightfall throws off your internal clock – make sure you're alert at all times and never drive while overtired. The shift from drowsy to asleep can happen more quickly than people think, which is very dangerous.
• Ensure all interior lights are off in the car and that onboard navigation devices are dimmed so the bright lights don't distract you.
• Be aware of all drivers on the road – just because you're wide awake and focused doesn't mean that your fellow drivers are as well. Be aware of swaying between lanes and abrupt stops.

Daylight time and insomniacs

Although most people are able to adjust to the biologically earlier schedule after the clocks move ahead in spring, those who suffer from sleep disorders have a much harder time, according to Judith Davidson, an adjunct assistant professor at Queen's University in Kingston, Ont.

People suffering from insomnia often have a much harder time getting used to the time change. (iStock)

Much of the treatment of insomnia involves getting people onto a regular sleep schedule, and the time change can throw that off, she said.

"They always take a long time to fall asleep, but it's a bit accentuated by the spring time-change," said Davidson, who treats people for insomnia at the Kingston Family Health Centre.

That can mean several days or even a week of poor sleep for those suffering from insomnia.

Many places don't use it

Daylight time isn't used everywhere in the world. Saskatchewan and some parts of B.C. don't use it, for example, nor do Arizona and Hawaii in the U.S.

It is unnecessary at or near the equator, because the length of each day remains the same or varies by just a small amount.

The vast majority of countries in Africa and Asia don't use daylight saving time.

Fall back and time paradoxes?

Apart from messing with sleep cycles, daylight saving can create some downright unusual situations. In 2012, an Ohio man was arrested for drinking and driving twice at the same time on the same day by the exact same police officer.

While it recalls Groundhog Day, the comedy film starring Bill Murray about a man who keeps reliving the same day, it's actually a case of simple math.

The Ohio man was arrested at 1:08 a.m. on Nov. 4, 2012, taken to the police station and released a short time later. However, at 2 a.m. that morning, the clocks were set back to 1 a.m.

The man was arrested exactly one hour after his initial booking by the same officer, again for drinking and driving.

The time was 1:08 a.m.

His blood-alcohol level, however, was slightly lower.

The cost of an hour?

There have been a number of attempts to estimate the cost of daylight saving time, factoring in everything from sleep deprivation and related health bills, through to the time lost to the simple act of resetting all the clocks in millions of households twice a year. One such effort, the Chmura Economics & Analytics study entitled Estimating the Economic Loss of Daylight Saving Time for U.S. Metropolitan Statistical Areas, suggests daylight time costs the United States about $434 million per year, based on 2010 population figures.

Planning ahead

If you want to mark your calendar now so that you don't get caught off-guard by the next time change, here's the schedule through 2019:

• 2014: Spring forward Sunday, March 9 at 2 a.m. Fall back Sunday, Nov. 2 at 2 a.m.
• 2015: Spring forward Sunday, March 8 at 2 a.m. Fall back Sunday, Nov. 1 at 2 a.m.
• 2016: Spring forward Sunday, March 13 at 2 a.m. Fall back Sunday, Nov. 6 at 2 a.m.
• 2017: Spring forward Sunday, March 12 at 2 a.m. Fall back Sunday, Nov. 5 at 2 a.m.
• 2018: Spring forward Sunday, March 11 at 2 a.m. Fall back Sunday, Nov. 4 at 2 a.m.
• 2019: Spring forward Sunday, March 10 at 2 a.m. Fall back Sunday, Nov. 3 at 2 a.m.

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Cancer-stricken boy's mom appeals for internet at Janeway

A mother whose son is going through an intense round of chemotherapy is speaking out about a lack of internet access at the Janeway children's hospital in St. John's.

Debbie Clark, whose family lives in Happy Valley-Goose Bay, said there isn't enough access for people in the hospital who are forced to be more isolated due to their conditions.

Her son Nicolas, 12, has been at the Janeway since earlier this year when he was diagnosed with a relapse of leukemia.

She said due to the nature of his illness, he can't utilize the computers in the hospital's playroom because he needs to avoid germs.

"Life is hard. It's kind of secluded and he's done some pretty intense treatment this time around, and he's been doing that since the end of June so he's pretty confined to what he can do and where he can go," Clark said.

Nicolas Clark, 12, reading a book in his hospital bed at the Janeway Hospital in St. John's (Courtesy Debbie Clark)

"We can't go to the movies, we can't go to the Geo Centre, and even when his counts are good he's so nauseous and stuff that he just doesn't have the strength or the energy to go anywhere."

Without internet access in his hospital room, there are no Skype chats with family and friends back home or research for school work.

Clark said having access in his room would make a big difference for his livelihood.

"It would be huge. He can still be a part of his life, he can sit and do homework with his siblings, he could watch them get ready for hockey, he could take part in school discussions," she said.

"He'd still be part of the community."

Since talking with CBC on the St. John's Morning Show on Thursday, Clark said there has been an outpouring of support.

Someone dropped off a 3G Apple iPad for her son, and the Janeway Foundation said it will be hooking up a modem for his room.

"It's really good that he can do that stuff, but it's almost [like] you're guilt ridden because the kids next door don't have it and there's no reason not to," Clark said.

In a statement on Thursday, Eastern Health said the Janeway Foundation has agreed to find the money to provide wireless access, which it said will cost $300,000 to install throughout the hospital.

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Bike helmet mandate for all sought by pediatricians

Bicycle helmet use should be legislated for all ages in all provinces and territories, Canadian pediatricians say.

Evidence is strong that bicycle helmet legislation increases use of the safety gear and there's ample research that legislation reduces the risk of bicycle-related head injury, the Canadian Pediatric Society said Friday.

The group's position statement says only British Columbia and the Maritime provinces currently meet the recommendations on bicycle helmet legislation.

There is evidence that bicycle helmet legislation increases helmet use, the Canadian Pediatric Society says. (Adam Berry/Getty)

The society wants all provinces and territories to enact the legislation before the start of the 2014 bike season.

Bicycling-related injuries among Canadian children and youth account for about four per cent of all injuries in emergency departments, studies suggest.

"Everyone is at risk for head injury, regardless of age group," said Dr. Brent Hagel, a co-author of the statement and an epidemiologist in injury prevention at the University of Calgary. "Children see adults and often adopt similar behaviours, so if we can get helmets on adults then children and adolescents will be more likely to wear them too," he added in a release.

The society also recommended:

• Rolling out legislation using social marketing and education to raise awareness on the importance of wearing bicycle helmets.
• Implementing other strategies to prevent bicycle injuries, such as separating riders from vehicle traffic with bicycle lanes and adding paths for commuter and recreational cycling, at the same time.
• Adopting sales tax exemptions or rebates and federal tax credits to make buying bicycle helmets less expensive.

Currently, Saskatchewan, Quebec, Newfoundland and Labrador, and the territories have no legislation on bike helmets, the group said. In Alberta, Manitoba and Ontario, bike helmet legislation only applies to children and youth.

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Concussions in young athletes need 'to be taken seriously'

Youth athletes, parents, coaches and trainers need to change the culture around reporting concussions, a U.S. panel of experts says.

The U.S. Institute of Medicine reviewed evidence on concussions in athletes aged five to 21 and released its findings on Wednesday in Washington.

Helmets protect against skull fractures but there isn't solid evidence for concussions, experts say. (Greg Lindstrom/Concorn Monitor/Associated Press)

The committee chairman, Dr. Robert Graham, urged parents, schools, athletic departments, and the public to treat concussions seriously so young athletes don't hide their symptoms.

"Concussion is an injury that needs to be taken seriously. If an athlete has a torn ACL [ligament] on the field, you don't expect him to tape it up and play," said Graham, who directs the Aligning Forces for Quality national program office at George Washington University.

Concussions are brain injuries from rattling of the brain inside the skull. Most young athletes recover from a concussion within two weeks of the injury, but in 10 per cent to 20 per cent of cases, concussion symptoms persist, the review showed.

Athletes who return to play before their brain has fully healed may place themselves at increased risk for prolonged recovery or more serious consequences if they sustain a second brain injury.

Concussions in children watch list

• Listlessness, easy to tire.
• Irritability, crankiness.
• A change in eating or sleeping patterns.
• A lack of interest in favourite toys.
• A loss of balance or unsteady walking.

Graham said youth themselves can help change the culture by making decisions about the style of play, type of sport, how they protect themselves and encouraging teammates to look out for each other.

But the report's authors found a gap in information about concussion rates in younger players before high school, and recommended a national system to better track sports-related concussions.

The panel's suggestions for parents included:

• Learn the warnings signs of concussion and pay attention if a child is acting differently.
• Encourage a child to tell you if you have symptoms after getting hit in game and emphasize the need to sit out and get checked by a qualified health professional who understands concussion.
• Check that coaches and leagues have a return to play protocol and follow it.

The panel found little evidence that current helmet designs and face masks prevent concussions, even though some equipment makers make such claims. They stressed helmets are important for doing their job of preventing skull fractures and face injuries but there isn't yet data to evaluate how they might protect against rotational impacts that contribute to concussions.

Concussion rates appear higher for youths with a history of prior concussions and among female athletes, although its unclear whether girls may be more likely to report the injury than boys. 

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7.3 million teens give birth in developing world

An unnamed teenager holds her son in Bangkok in March. Every day, 20,000 girls below age 18 give birth in developing countries, the United Nations Population Fund says. (Chaiwat Subprasom/Reuters)

Teen pregnancies in the developing world are declining, but more than 7 million girls under the age of 18 are still giving birth each year, according to a United Nations report released Wednesday.

The U.N. Population Fund expressed particular alarm about the dangers facing girls 14 or younger, who account for 2 million of the 7.3 million births to women under 18 in developing countries. This group faces the gravest long-term social and health consequences from giving birth as teens.

"A girl who is pregnant at 14 is a girl whose rights have been violated and whose future is derailed," the fund's executive director, Dr. Babatunde Osotimehin, said in London.

The report looked at births to women under 18 worldwide, the underlying causes of teen pregnancy, and possible solutions to the problem, which the U.N. said is part of a vicious cycle of rights violations.

"The reality is that adolescent pregnancy is most often not the result of a deliberate choice, but rather the absence of choices, and of circumstances beyond a girl's control," Osotimehin wrote in the report. "It is a consequence of little or no access to school, employment, quality information and health care."

The report said that high rates of adolescent pregnancies correspond with other social problems: "Early pregnancies reflect powerlessness, poverty and pressures — from partners, peers, families and communities. And in too many instances, they are the result of sexual violence or coercion."

The issue is most evident in the developing world — with 95 per cent of births to women under 18 occurring there. Ten per cent of women ages 20-24 in the Middle East reported at least one birth before age 18, while 22 per cent did in South Asia and 28 per cent did in Western and Central Africa, the report says.

Every day, 20,000 girls below age 18 give birth in developing countries. Nine in 10 of these births occur within a marriage or a union — highlighting the scourge of child marriage.

Osotimehin noted a positive World Health Organization report saying that some countries have seen a rapid decline over the past decade in the percentage of women reporting birth before age 15 — a trend attributed largely to a decrease in early and arranged marriages. But its overall tone set out the case for urgent action.

"The birth or pregnancy in one adolescent is unacceptable. One," Osotimehin told reporters in London. "Whether it's going up or down is not the issue — 7.3 million is huge."

The U.N. report was careful to note that some girls under 18 want to become pregnant. It stressed the benefits of waiting — such as better health, educational and future income opportunities — and called for a new approach to curbing teen pregnancies that minimizes the emphasis placed on girls' behaviour as an underlying cause.

"Childhood must never be derailed by motherhood," it said, calling for greater efforts to end child marriage and more action on gender equality.

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