New labelling
Labels for cholesterol lowering drugs are getting a new look in Canada.
Health Canada is making the change to advise users of the potential risk of developing Type 2 diabetes. Most at risk are those with pre-existing risk factors such as high levels of glucose or triglycerides, obesity or high blood pressure.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration made a similar change 11 months ago.
Health Canada says the drug’s benefits outweigh its risks and advises doctors to closely monitor patients using the drug.
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Stock dogs show off herding skills at Ag in Motion
Stock dogs draw a crowd at Ag in Motion. Border collies and other herding breeds are well known for the work they do on the farm.
Meet B.C.’s Outstanding Young Farmers
A fifth generation farmer and his wife were named British Columbia’s Outstanding Young Farmers for 2013.
Troy and Sara Harked of Cawston received the award in Abbotsford Jan. 23.
The Harkers operate a 30-acre organic vegetable farm with Troy’s parents and sister. The farm employs 48 full-time and seasonal workers in a fruit winery, on-farm retail store, restaurant and wholesale distribution service under the names Harker Organics, Rustic Roots Winery, Farm to Fork Delivery and Harvest Moon Growers.
The orchard is converting to high-density plantings and has two acres of Honeycrisp apple trees.
The wholesale packing business has also expanded and distributes organic fruit and vegetables from 25 organic growers with a total of 550 acres of production.
The Harkers will represent B.C. at the national OYF competition in Saskatchewan in November.
Medical imaging and smartphones
New technology for video endoscopy capsules developed at the University of Saskatchewan will provide more consistent diagnoses of gastrointestinal diseases.
Khan Wahid, associate professor of electrical and computer engineering, led the research that promises to provide a clearer picture of illnesses such as Crohn’s disease and cancer.
Tiny endoscopy capsules, which are swallowed by patients and include a video camera and computer chip, often leave doctors without a continuous picture of tissues.
Wahid’s team developed a way to better capture and process images to provide them more frequently and extend battery life during the capsule’s eight to 10 hour journey through a patient’s body.
The patent-pending technology includes a SIM-sized card and mobile device application that transmits information to the patient’s smartphone.
