University of Ottawa
🇨🇦Canada
- Country
- 🇨🇦Canada
- Ownership
- Private
- Established
- 1848-01-01
- Employees
- 5K
- Market Cap
- -
- Website
- http://www.uottawa.ca
Heavy Cannabis Use Linked to Triple Mortality Risk and Rising Psychosis Cases, Studies Find
• People diagnosed with cannabis use disorder (CUD) face nearly triple the risk of death over five years compared to the general population, with a tenfold increase in suicide risk, according to a large Canadian study.
• Since Canada's 2018 cannabis legalization, cases of psychosis and schizophrenia linked to CUD have significantly increased, with young adults aged 19-24 most vulnerable to these effects.
• Medical marijuana users show equal or higher addiction rates than recreational users, with researchers finding no evidence that medical cannabis carries reduced addiction risk.
ER Visits for Psychedelics Linked to Higher Mortality and Schizophrenia Risk, Studies Find
• Emergency room patients treated for psychedelic use face a 2.6-fold higher risk of death within five years compared to the general population, with particularly elevated risks for suicide, cancer, and overdose.
• Individuals requiring emergency care after hallucinogen use demonstrate a 21-fold increased risk of developing schizophrenia compared to the general population, even after controlling for pre-existing conditions.
• Annual rates of emergency room visits involving hallucinogens increased by 86% between 2014 and 2021, highlighting growing concerns as recreational psychedelic use continues to rise.
Prehabilitation Before Surgery Significantly Reduces Complications and Hospital Stays, Study Shows
A comprehensive evidence review of 186 clinical trials reveals that pre-surgery preparation through diet and exercise can reduce surgical complications by up to 50%. The study, published in The BMJ, demonstrates that patients who engage in "prehabilitation" experience shorter hospital stays and better recovery outcomes.
Novartis' Intrathecal Zolgensma Shows Positive Phase III Results for SMA Type 2
• Novartis' intrathecal onasemnogene abeparvovec (OAV101 IT) met its primary endpoint in the Phase III STEER study for SMA Type 2.
• The STEER trial demonstrated a statistically significant increase in motor function, as measured by HFMSE scores, in treatment-naïve patients.
• OAV101 IT showed a favorable safety profile, with adverse events similar to the control arm, potentially expanding treatment options for SMA.
• Novartis plans to submit the data to regulatory agencies in 2025, seeking approval to broaden the availability of this one-time gene therapy.
Pfizer's Braftovi Combo Shows Survival Benefit in BRAF-Mutated Metastatic Colorectal Cancer
• Pfizer's Braftovi, combined with cetuximab and mFOLFOX6, significantly improved progression-free survival in metastatic colorectal cancer patients with BRAF V600E mutation.
• The BREAKWATER trial demonstrated a clinically meaningful improvement in overall survival with the Braftovi regimen compared to chemotherapy.
• The FDA granted accelerated approval to the Braftovi combination in December 2024, marking it as a first-line targeted therapy option.
• Pfizer plans to share the BREAKWATER data with regulatory authorities to support full approval and broader use of the Braftovi combination.
FDA Halts PepGen's DMD Trial, Sanofi's MS Drug Tolebrutinib Gains Breakthrough Status, and Sevasemten Shows Promise in Becker Muscular Dystrophy
• The FDA has placed a clinical hold on PepGen's Phase 2 CONNECT2-EDO51 trial for PGN-EDO51 in Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) due to regulatory questions.
• Sanofi's tolebrutinib, a BTK inhibitor, received breakthrough therapy designation from the FDA for non-relapsing secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (nrSPMS).
• Edgewise Therapeutics' sevasemten met its primary endpoint in a Phase 2 trial for Becker muscular dystrophy, showing a significant decrease in creatine kinase.
Hypovolemic Phlebotomy Reduces Transfusion Needs in Liver Surgery
• A clinical trial demonstrates that removing approximately 10% of a patient's blood before liver surgery significantly reduces the need for blood transfusions during the procedure.
• Hypovolemic phlebotomy lowers blood pressure in the liver, decreasing blood loss and the risk of requiring a transfusion, potentially benefiting one in eleven patients.
• The study, involving 446 participants, found that only 8% of patients undergoing blood draw required transfusion, compared to 16% in the control group.
• This safe, inexpensive technique, costing only around $20 in materials, could save healthcare systems money compared to the $350 cost of a blood transfusion in Canada.
Ketamine Shows Promise in Treating PTSD and OCD, Meta-Analysis Suggests
• A recent meta-analysis supports the potential use of ketamine in treating post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).
• The study found that ketamine consistently demonstrated a significant reduction in symptom severity in PTSD and OCD patients.
• Ketamine also showed promise in treating alcohol use disorders, reducing the urge to drink and increasing abstinence rates.
• Further research is needed to establish the long-term efficacy and safety of ketamine for these psychiatric disorders.
Mixed Results for Adjuvant Therapies in Solid Tumors: Key Takeaways From ESMO 2024
• The ENGOT-en11/GOG-3053/KEYNOTE-B21 trial showed adjuvant pembrolizumab plus chemotherapy did not improve disease-free survival in all high-risk endometrial cancer patients, but significantly improved outcomes in dMMR subgroup.
• Updated IMbrave050 analysis revealed that the initial recurrence-free survival benefit of adjuvant atezolizumab plus bevacizumab in high-risk hepatocellular carcinoma was not sustained over extended follow-up.
• The CCTG BR.31 trial indicated adjuvant durvalumab did not significantly improve disease-free survival in early-stage NSCLC, regardless of PD-L1 expression levels.
Aerobic Exercise During Chemotherapy May Improve Cognitive Function in Breast Cancer Patients
• Women undergoing chemotherapy for breast cancer reported improved cognitive function when participating in an aerobic exercise program, according to the ACTIVATE trial.
• The study found that patients who started aerobic exercise alongside chemotherapy experienced better self-reported mental abilities compared to those receiving standard care alone.
• Objective neuropsychological testing showed similar cognitive performance between the exercise and standard care groups, but exercise still improved quality of life.
• Researchers suggest integrating exercise assessment and referral into routine cancer care to support both physical and mental health during and after treatment.
Germany Grapples with Integrating Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy Amid Regulatory Hurdles and Training Gaps
• Germany faces challenges in integrating psychedelic-assisted therapy (PAT) due to strict regulations and limited access to psychedelic substances.
• Economic burdens of PTSD and depression in Germany highlight the urgent need for more effective interventions like PAT, potentially reducing healthcare costs.
• The European Medicines Agency (EMA) is evaluating psychedelics, prompting Germany to prepare for innovative treatments through structured frameworks.
• A proposed German training model, BuNT, aims to certify PAT practitioners, addressing the current mismatch between trained therapists and patient demand.
Aerobic Exercise Alleviates Chemotherapy-Induced Cognitive Impairment in Breast Cancer Patients
• A recent clinical trial in Canada reveals that aerobic exercise can mitigate cognitive impairment, often called 'brain fog,' experienced by breast cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy.
• The study demonstrated that breast cancer patients participating in regular aerobic exercise during chemotherapy reported improved mental clarity and enhanced overall quality of life.
• Researchers advocate for the integration of exercise assessment and tailored programs into routine cancer care to support both the physical and mental well-being of women during and after treatment.
• Collaboration across academic, healthcare, fitness, and community sectors is crucial to develop accessible exercise programs designed for women with breast cancer.
Edaravone Shows Promise in Targeting Glioblastoma Stem Cells
• A recent study indicates that edaravone, an existing ALS drug, can be repurposed to target brain tumor stem cells (BTSCs) in glioblastoma.
• Edaravone inhibits the self-renewal and proliferation of BTSCs, which are responsible for tumor growth and resistance to current therapies.
• Combining edaravone with ionizing radiation enhances the effectiveness of radiation, leading to delayed tumor growth and extended survival in animal models.
• Researchers are optimizing edaravone dosage to facilitate clinical trials, potentially offering a new therapeutic option for glioblastoma patients.
Clinical Trial Reporting Rates on the Rise Globally, but Gaps Persist
• Reporting rates for clinical trials are improving in the EU and the US, driven by stricter regulations and increased awareness.
• Compliance varies significantly between countries, with Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, and France lagging in reporting results, especially for publicly funded trials.
• Initiatives like the EU Trials Tracker and advocacy efforts are increasing transparency, but challenges remain in ensuring complete and accurate reporting.
• Experts emphasize the ethical duty of scientists and funders to publish all trial information, regardless of outcome, for the benefit of patients and advancement of medical knowledge.
CHEST 2024: Major Breakthroughs in COPD Treatment and Pulmonary Embolism Management Unveiled
• The CHEST 2024 annual meeting gathered 6,000-8,000 pulmonology experts, highlighting significant advances in Pulmonary Embolism Response Teams (PERT) and personalized treatment approaches.
• Groundbreaking developments in COPD treatment were presented, moving beyond traditional inhaler therapies to include biologics and precision medicine based on patient phenotypes and genotypes.
• The conference addressed critical issues in pulmonary care, including sleep medicine advancements, racial disparities in treatment outcomes, and the importance of tailored patient care across various respiratory conditions.
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