Yearly Archives: 2018

In February 2018, we started a series on how specific biologic medications work. Rituxan was the first medication presented. This was prompted by a patient asking me to express in writing what I verbally explain when someone is starting this … Continue reading →

People with psoriatic arthritis now have another effective biologic treatment.  We have identified more than one inflammatory chemical which is  involved in generating excess inflammation in the joints and skin of people with psoriatic arthritis.  One of these chemicals is called IL-17 … Continue reading →

The Ontario Nurses’ Association is proud to celebrate and acknowledge Nursing Week 2018. Nursing Week is a time to recognize the year-round dedication and achievements of Registered Nurses (RNs), Registered Practical Nurses (RPNs) and Nurse Practitioners (NPs), and to increase … Continue reading →

FibroScan,® also called transient elastography, measures the stiffness of your liver by emitting a small pulse of energy. The more damaged or stiff the liver, the more rapidly the energy waves will pass through it. FibroScan® calculates the speed of … Continue reading →

Foods/Beverages to TRY  Bananas, apple sauce, canned varieties of fruit   White bread, crackers made with white flour, plain cereals   White rice, refined pastas  Potatoes without the skin   Cheese (if you’re not lactose intolerant)  Smooth peanut butter  Bland soft foods Cooked vegetables   Broth Broiled or steamed fish (e.g.,herring, salmon, halibut, flounder, swordfish or pollack)  Canola and olive oils  Low-sugar sports drinks and Crystal Light® diluted with water  Food/Beverages to AVOID   Fresh fruit(unless blended or juiced)   Prunes, raisins or dried fruit   Uncooked vegetables and raw … Continue reading →

Many diseases and conditions can affect the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, which is part of the digestive system and includes the esophagus, stomach, small intestine and large intestine. These diseases and conditions include inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and irritable bowel syndrome … Continue reading →

Tofacitinib (Xeljanz) is a  medication which is approved by Health Canada for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.  It is taken as a tablet twice daily and has the same level of effectiveness as biologic therapies.  It works by entering cells that … Continue reading →

Naloxone can quickly restore normal breathing and save the life of a person who is overdosing on opioids. In 2015, over 33,000 people died from an overdose on opioid drugs, including prescription pain relievers, heroin, and fentanyl.  Naloxone is a … Continue reading →

Methotrexate can be used as a disease modifying agent for many conditions, from inflammatory arthritis to psoriasis to inflammatory bowel disease.  In our past blogs, we have written about many strategies for managing its adverse effects.  Injectable methotrexate is preferred over … Continue reading →

This is the second half of the blog we started last week on Fatty Liver Disease. To see Part One, click here. How is fatty liver treated? There isn’t a medication or surgery to treat fatty liver. Instead, your doctor … Continue reading →