Monday, January 31, 2011

The first international Sleep & Breathing Conference in Prague

From the 31st March to the 2nd April 2011 the European Respiratory Society and The ESRS (European Sleep and Research Society)  will be holding the first international Sleep & Breathing Conference in Prague.



These include:

·         Plenary sessions
Physiology
Pathophysilogy
Diagnostic and management approaches to sleep-disorderd breathing
Co-morbities in sleep apnoea
Hypersomnolence

·         Specialised symposia
Hot topics in sleep research
Hot topic on cutting research away from sleep apnoea
Sleep in chronic respiratory disorders
Management of non sleep apnoea patients
Neuropsychological consequences of sleep disordered breathing.

·         Parallel sessions

·         Hands-on training

Please see attached Advance Programme and go to site www.sleepandbreathing.org  for more information.
We are happy to invite all of you at the first international Sleep & Breathing Conference in Prague.


"In the last 20 years, Respiratory Sleep Medicine has evolved from hobby to hot spot of clinical practice and research. Targeting both leaders in the field of sleep medicine and those with educational needs, the conference will offer plenary sessions, reviews, practical workshops, free communication sessions and educational seminars."
Professor Johan Verbraecken


Saturday, January 22, 2011

Tuberculosis: a Global Perspective

On 20th September the press conference dedicated to the tuberculosis (TB) threats took place at the ERS Congress, Barcelona. The leading experts of respiratory medicine threw light upon epidemic challenge of TB infection.


Professor Davide Manissero, Professor Giovanni Battista Migliori and 
Professor Mario Raviglione

Professor Mario Raviglione spoke about TB control and WHO (World Health Organization) activity connected to tuberculosis, as namely under his guidance Stop TB Strategy of the WHO has been formulated. The question “How to establish international standards” was highly stressed by professor, because tuberculosis is preventable and curable, but the institution support, partnership between communities and health services varies from country to country. The lack of social justice and solidarity were represented as the society drawbacks which must be eliminated. Dr M. Raviglione mentioned the crucial role of vaccination as one of the most efficient preventive methods.


Professor Mario Raviglione

Professor Giovanni Battista Migliori, WHO Collaborating Centre for Control of TB and Lung Diseases presented a detailed overview of white plague in Europe and referred to the Top 19 countries with multidrug-resistant TB (MDR TB) cases according to WHO Stop TB Department (Azerbaijan, Republic of Moldova and Ukraine ranking the top three). Furthermore, the causes of MDR TB, such as inadequate regimes provided by health-care systems, inadequate supply or quality of drugs and inadequate drug intake were thoroughly explained and the patient’s mismanagement was emphasized as the ultimate consequence. Thereupon, Dr Migliori related facts about the independent clinical collaborative research in Europe TBNET that was founded in 2006 and is now present in 23 EU member states in order to promote clinically oriented research in the field of tuberculosis in Europe. In the long run Dr Migliori pointed out that “science is not enough” as human concern, awareness and care are undoubtedly indispensable.


Professor Giovanni Battista Migliori

The press conference went on due to the presentation of Professor Davide Manissero, Tuberculosis Programme Coordinator from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control who discussed the two main challenges: wider access to diagnosis and ensuring treatment outcome. Dr. Manissero summarized the plans of introducing new diagnostics and ensuring access to new opportunities and testing. Besides, the facts concerning low treatment success rate among MDR TB were emphasized and the list of new drugs for MDR TB was considered. 


Professor Davide Manissero

Finally, it was concluded that new diagnostics and new drugs need a solid base of knowledge of TB control basics, otherwise they will not be effective.
Corlateanu Liudmila*
member of International Francophone Press Union
1.       World Health Organization: Drug- and multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) http://www.who.int/tb/challenges/mdr/en/index.html (accessed October 9, 2010)
2.       Working Group on New TB Drugs: www.newtbdrugs.org (accessed October 9, 2010)
3.       Evidence Based Tuberculosis Diagnosis: http://tbevidence.org/tbdxpl.htm (accessed October 9, 2010)

Thursday, January 20, 2011

7th Annual International Asbestos Awareness Conference: Knowledge is Stronger than Asbestos!

We are happy to invite all of you at 7th Annual International Asbestos Awareness Conference “Asbestos: Impact on Public Health, Environment, and Economy” which will take place in April 1–3, 2011 in Atlanta, Georgia.
Conference is organized by official partner of Respiratory Decade - Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO), the largest U.S. organization serving as the voice of asbestos victims.

The ADAO conference is one of the best educational and awareness opportunities for physicians, public health representatives, caregivers and other advocates.

http://www.asbestosdiseaseawareness.org/adao-conference/





Conference Schedule
Friday, April 1
Private Gathering for Family, Patients, & Caregivers Only
5:00 – 6:00 p.m. 
Friday, April 1
Meet and Greet with Jordan Zevon
7:00 – 9:00 p.m. 
Saturday, April 2
Conference
8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. 
Sunday, April 3
Unity and Remembrance Brunch
9:30 – 11:30 a.m. 

Presentation by our friend Linda Reinstein co-founder of ADAO.




Knowledge is Stronger than Asbestos!

On behalf of Respiratory Decade International team
Alexandru Corlateanu

Wednesday, January 5, 2011

Year of the Lung at European Respiratory Society Congress, Barcelona 2010

    Declared the Year of the Lung, 2010 reached its zenith at the ERS Congress that took place in Barcelona, September 18-22. The incredible attendance of 22 000 people made this Congress the largest event that united worldwide specialists in respiratory medicine.
During the opening ceremony ERS President Prof. N. Siafakas mentioned that Year of the Lung (YOTL) is a daring initiative which stresses the importance of public awareness and health system. He pointed out that the combat of lung diseases needs cohesion of different forces, namely those of public, media, governments, research funders.
Sunday, 19th September the major scientific advances in the field of respiratory medicine were discussed at the ERS press conference. Prof. N. Berend, President of the Forum of International Respiratory Societies (FIRS) for 2011 referred to the concept Year of the lung that was developed by FIRS because of growing global burden of lung disease, insufficient preventive strategies, inadequate clinical care and low research funding. Furthermore, he reminded that there are 4 respiratory diseases (Lower respiratory tract infections; Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; Tuberculosis; Trachea, bronchus, lung cancers) among the leading causes of death worldwide (WHO global burden of disease report, 2004). Cigarette smoking, occupational dusts, fumes and gases, air pollution and biomass fuel smoke were discussed as the main COPD risk factors. Subsequently, the attention was drawn to the YOTL website which contains useful information, educational materials, materials for media, advocacy, public relations, and participating organizations.

      

      President of FIRS 2011 Prof. N. Berend and President of ERS 2010 N. Siafakas

The special session on YOTL went on Monday September 20. Symposium called “2010 Year of the Lung: heading towards personal health” aimed at presenting 3 key areas for future developments of respiratory medicine in the next decade (disease network; medicine systems; integrated care and personalized health). Basic scientists, clinical researchers and practicing professionals followed a short historical summary of the evolution of the Society during the last 20 years presented by Prof. Nikos Siafakas.
The session included 3 speeches:
         1.     L. M. Fabbri (Modena, Italy)
         Disease network: towards a better understanding of comorbidities in chronic respiratory  disease
         2.     A. Agusti (Barcelona, Spain)
         From systems biology to systems medicine
         3.     R. Giampieretti (Brussels, Belgium)
         Integrated care and personalised health


President of ERS 2010 N. Siafakas and 
ERS National Delegate for Republic of Moldova A. Corlateanu

Another mention of YOTL took place during President’s Dinner in the National Museum of Catalonia Art where Prof. N. Siafakas awarded to ERS National Delegate for Republic of Moldova A. Corlateanu a Special Certificate for contribution to the success of the Year of the Lung. A. Corlateanu promoted awareness of lung diseases in internet, and the facebook page of YOTL created by him counts more than 3,000 members (both patients and doctors). 
   

President of ERS 2010 N. Siafakas with L. Corlateanu and A. Corlateanu 
(Year of the Lung FB Team) in the time of President’s Tour of World Village

 In the long run, all the events and initiatives organized throughout the Year of the Lung are related to the creation of a social movement whose goal is to raise awareness about respiratory diseases.

*Corlateanu Liudmila,
member of International Francophone Press Union



1.     WHO:The global burden of disease:2004. http://www.who.int/healthinfo/global_burden_disease/2004_report_update/en/index.html (accessed Oct 4, 2010)
2.     The year of the lung. http://www.yearofthelung.org/ (accessed Oct. 3, 2010)