Work being done up at SFU may help fight E. coli and related bacteria, which like many disease-causing forms of bacteria are becoming increasingly resistant to conventional antibiotics.
E. coli bacteria are found naturally in human intestines, but a deadly version is found in spoiled or rotten food and can attack the digestive system.
But SFU researcher Mark Paetzel, an associate professor of molecular biology, and his graduate students Kelly Kim and Suraaj Aulakh say they may have found the bacteria's "Achilles heel."
The trio have discovered how two proteins that form the bacteria's outer membrane bind together to help keep it alive. By digging deeper into this process, they're hoping they may be able to find a way to target the system to fight it.
That may lead to treatments for another bacteria that have a similar outer membrane, such as meningitis or gonorrhea. For more, see www.sfu.ca.
SURGERY TOOL LAUNCHED
Technology is helping to improve health care in the Fraser Health region.
The region recently revealed its Soonest Surgery Tool, an online feature that allows patients and doctors to easily find the names of surgeons in the region who may be able to perform a procedure sooner than others.
By choosing a surgical procedure from a dropdown list, the website will give a list of five surgeons who are predicted to be able to perform the surgery sooner.
The tool, at www. fraserhealth.ca/surgery, uses data that Fraser Health provides daily for the Ministry of Health's surgical patient registry.
The tool creates a list of five possible surgeons who may be able to perform a procedure sooner by using calculations based on the number of procedures that surgeon has performed in the last four months and the number of patients on their wait list.
The website also provides information for patients and their families on how to prepare for surgery, and checklists on post-surgery care.
Fraser Health is the first health authority in North America to develop and provide information on surgical wait lists in this kind of format.
"Long surgical wait times are a challenge across the country. While a knee replacement or hernia repair might not be urgent, for the individuals waiting, it can be an unpleasant experience," said Dr.
Nigel Murray, chief executive officer with Fraser Health, in a press release.
"The Soonest Surgery Tool is one way we can inform patients of surgical wait times so that they are able to make informed decisions about their surgery."
HELPING OUT IN HEALTH CARE
Interested in volunteering in the health field?
Like to help others? This may be the opportunity for you.
The Fraser Health Crisis Line is recruiting volunteers to provide help to people in the region who are experiencing emotional distress. Training and support are provided to volunteers, and no experience is required.
Anyone interested in finding out more can go to www.options.bc.ca and click on the link for Crisis Line. Next training session begins Jan. 14.
'HEALTH' PRODUCTS PULLED AT STORES
Products were pulled from two Burnaby stores recently by Health Canada.
The products - named Yanshiwang, Jin Kong Fu and Chong Cao She Bian Zhuang Yang Dan - were removed from sale at the Male and Female Harmony stores in Richmond and Burnaby, and from the Happy Paradise Adult store in Burnaby.
Health Canada's testing of the products found the presence of unidentified prescription medication.
Health Canada maintains a list of unauthorized health products on its website at www.hc-sc.gc. ca.
Have an item for The Medical File? Send it to reporter Christina Myers at [email protected].
