September

Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) is a highly sensitive serum biomarker that has changed the management of prostate cancer over the past 20 years by allowing clinicians to detect prostate cancer earlier. However, PSA testing is not perfect, as indicated by the US Preventive Services Task Force’s recent recommendation against using it for routine prostate cancer screening. This recommendation highlights possible limitations of PSA testing and the need for better biomarkers to facilitate diagnosis, prognosis, and stratification of treatment. 

Cryptococcus gattii is a fungal pathogen first documented on Vancouver Island in 1999.[1] The microorganism is found in soil and trees, and can infect humans through spore inhalation.[1] Though  C. gattii is more prevalent globally in subtropical and tropical regions, Vancouver Island has one of the highest infection rates worldwide.[1] As a result, cryptococcal disease was made a provincially reportable disease in British Columbia in 2003.

The groin is defined as the area where the upper thigh and lower abdomen meet. In examining this area, it’s important to know the local anatomy and the referral patterns of pain from distant structures. One way of thinking about the causes of pain in the groin is to consider the soft tissue structures that lie above and below the inguinal ligament, and to be aware of the differences that may arise between the sexes.

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An innovative initiative funded by the joint BCMA/Ministry of Health Shared Care Committee is improving access to psy­chiatric care for patients with mood disorders. The Rapid Access to Psy­chiatry initiative has accelerated the wait time for psychiatric consultation and care from 5 to 6 months[1] from GP referral to within 4 to 6 weeks.

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