Hollywood comic actor Denis Leary has stirred up quite a storm with his latest book, “Why We Suck: a Feel-Good Guide to Staying Fat, Loud, Lazy and Stupid.” The book has even raised the hackles of his Hollywood colleagues, for a passage in his new book where he says the reason autism is on the rise in the U.S. is because there are “inattentive mothers and competitive dads” out there and autism diagnoses "help explain away the deficiencies of (parents') junior morons."

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service has announced that it has recalled 2,758 pounds of ground beef from Vermont Livestock, Slaughter and Processing Co., LLC, a Ferrisburg, Vt., firm, because it may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7.

A British scientist has disclosed the secret to stay healthy and live longer.

Professor Gary Williamson, professor of 'functional foods' at Leeds University, has suggested that people should consume ‘lifespan essential’ foodstuffs on a regular basis to lead a long and healthy life.

Prof Gary has revealed 20 functional foods rich in naturally occurring chemicals, known as polyphenols, which have been associated to various health benefits, including protection against heart disease.

According to University of BC epidemiologist, there is enough evidence to support heroin assisted addictions clinic in Vancouver

A study was conducted by NAOMI ( North American Opiate Medication Initiative, for three years on 251 addicts in Vancouver and Montreal. Most of these addicts were chronic and did not respond to other treatments.

"These people are out in the alleys, injecting heroin of unknown quality and quantity," said Dr. Martin Schechter, the study's principal investigator. "They're committing crimes, they're involved in sex work to pay for that, and they're certainly, in that situation, not going to get better."

The number of E. coli cases in Ontario has increased to 159. According to a health official, the number includes both confirmed and suspected cases of the infection.

"The latest is that we have 159 cases as of this morning. Of those, 26 are lab confirmed," said Dr. Catherine Whiting, medical officer of health at North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit.

The number of confirmed and suspected cases of E. coli poisoning linked to the Harvey's restaurant on Algonquin Avenue in North Bay, about 300 kilometres north of Toronto.  The last Thursday the count was 93 but it plummeted to  131 the next day.

North Bay E Coli toll has risen to 131. According to health officials, 22 cases had been confirmed after lab tests whereas 22 other showed clear symptoms of the disease.

The outbreak is the result of contaminated food served at Harvey’s restaurant.

Dr Bill Clarke remarked that people severe gastro-enteritis had a 30 per cent increased risk of high blood pressure or kidney damage.