https://phys.org/ en-us Latest news from The Ottawa Hospital The first clinical trial to compare two commonly used drugs head-to-head for venous thrombosis treatment has found a clear winner: while both drugs work well to prevent recurrent blood clots, apixaban is safer than rivaroxaban, with fewer bleeding complications. The results are published in the New England Journal of Medicine. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-03-safer-blood-clot-treatment-apixaban.html Wed, 11 Mar 2026 17:00:03 EDT news692452801 A large clinical trial published in JAMA Surgery shows that prehabilitation (also called prehab) can reduce disability after surgery in older adults with frailty, provided they are able to fully take part in the prehab program. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-12-prehabilitation-recovery-surgery-barriers.html Surgery Wed, 03 Dec 2025 11:00:06 EST news683974081 A clinical trial led by researchers at The Ottawa Hospital and the University of Ottawa and published in the New England Journal of Medicine illustrates a powerful and efficient approach for comparing different standard treatments. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-06-intravenous-fluid-powerful-efficient-approach.html Medical research Thu, 12 Jun 2025 10:50:01 EDT news668939341 A new study published in The BMJ suggests that prehabilitation (also called prehab) may be able to reduce complications and length of hospitalization after surgery, while also improving quality of life and physical recovery. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-01-prehabilitation-health-complications-surgery.html Health Wed, 22 Jan 2025 18:30:01 EST news656759042 Researchers at The Ottawa Hospital and the University of Ottawa have discovered an 18-digit code that allows proteins to attach themselves to exosomes—tiny pinched-off pieces of cells that travel around the body and deliver biochemical signals. The discovery, published in Science Advances, has major implications for the burgeoning field of exosome therapy, which seeks to harness exosomes to deliver drugs for various diseases. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2024-12-code-proteins-hitch-body.html Biomedical technology Wed, 11 Dec 2024 14:00:01 EST news653143144 Blood is one of the oldest drugs in the world, but after many decades of research, it is still not always clear when a blood transfusion should be given. A large trial published in the New England Journal of Medicine is adding to the debate for patients who have had a kind of brain bleeding called aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH). https://medicalxpress.com/news/2024-12-blood-transfusions-brain-large-trial.html Medical research Tue, 10 Dec 2024 10:23:11 EST news653048579 Removing 10% of a patient's blood before major liver surgery and giving it back afterwards reduced transfusions by half, according to a large clinical trial published in The Lancet Gastroenterology & Hepatology. Known as hypovolemic phlebotomy, this practice could save one in every 11 patients having this surgery from needing a transfusion. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2024-12-blood-major-liver-surgery-transfusions.html Surgery Tue, 10 Dec 2024 08:54:04 EST news653043241 Finding and treating people with undiagnosed asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) improved their health and reduced their health care visits for respiratory symptoms in the year after diagnosis, according to a world-first clinical trial published in the New England Journal of Medicine. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2024-05-world-trial-benefits-undiagnosed-asthma.html Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes Sun, 19 May 2024 12:20:01 EDT news635156341 A world-first clinical trial published in JAMA could provide an easy way to save tens of thousands of units of blood every year in Canada and much more worldwide. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2023-10-big-blood-large-trial-lab.html Medical economics Thu, 12 Oct 2023 11:00:01 EDT news616320005 A study of 14 astronauts suggests that while space travel depletes red blood cells and bone, the body can eventually replenish them back on Earth with the help of fat stored in the bone marrow. The study, published in Nature Communications, has important implications for health in space and on Earth. https://phys.org/news/2023-08-space-depletes-red-blood-cells.html Space Exploration Mon, 21 Aug 2023 10:26:22 EDT news611832378 A study of more than 8 million adults in Ontario, Canada suggests that even a modest loss of kidney function is associated with increased health risks. The study, published in The BMJ, could lead to better approaches to prevent chronic kidney disease and related conditions, particularly in younger adults. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2023-06-modest-reduction-kidney-function-health.html Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes Fri, 23 Jun 2023 00:00:02 EDT news606671669 A large clinical trial of more than 8,700 patients published in the New England Journal of Medicine concluded that the sex of a donor has no effect on the survival of recipients of red blood cell transfusions. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2023-04-sex-blood-donor-effect-recipient.html Medical research Wed, 12 Apr 2023 17:00:04 EDT news600535552 A large observational study published in JAMA Internal Medicine suggests that most patients do not medically benefit from consultation with a medical specialist before their surgery. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2023-03-routine-preoperative-medical-dont-surgery.html Surgery Mon, 27 Mar 2023 11:00:04 EDT news599133601 Survivors of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) life support had a 24% higher rate of new mental health diagnoses after discharge compared to other ICU survivors, according to the first study of its kind, published in JAMA. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2022-10-extracorporeal-membrane-oxygenation-survivors-higher.html Psychology & Psychiatry Wed, 26 Oct 2022 09:36:15 EDT news585995772 Canada has seen a 6.3 fold increase in hospitalizations for unintentional cannabis poisoning among children under the age of 10 since the legalization of recreational cannabis, according to a research letter published in the New England Journal of Medicine. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2022-08-hospitalizations-unintentional-cannabis-poisonings-canadian.html Addiction Wed, 24 Aug 2022 17:23:50 EDT news580580622 A new study published in the journal Science reveals a unique form of cell communication that controls muscle repair. In damaged muscle, stem cells must work together with immune cells to complete the repair process, yet how these cells coordinate to ensure the efficient removal of dead tissue before making new muscle fibers has remained unknown. The scientists have now shown that a natural substance called hyaluronic acid, which is used in cosmetics and injections for osteoarthritis, is the key molecule that manages this fundamental interaction. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2022-08-hyaluranic-acid-naturally-compound-awakens.html Medical research Thu, 04 Aug 2022 14:00:04 EDT news578810267