Curated News: Medical Meetings

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Released: 24-May-2016 4:05 PM EDT
Plenary 2 of ISPOR 21st Annual International Meeting Focuses on Impact of Behavioral Economic Models on Medical Decision Making
ISPOR—The Professional Society for Health Economics and Outcomes Research

The second ISPOR plenary session on Making Medical Decisions in an Irrational World was held this morning at the Society’s 21st Annual International Meeting in Washington, DC, USA.

Released: 24-May-2016 3:05 PM EDT
ISPOR Recognizes 2016 Awards Program Recipients at 21st Annual International Meeting
ISPOR—The Professional Society for Health Economics and Outcomes Research

ISPOR recognized its 2016 Awards Program recipients at the 21st Annual International Meeting in Washington, DC, USA. The ISPOR Awards Program is designed to foster and recognize excellence and outstanding technical achievement in health economics and outcomes research (HEOR).

Released: 23-May-2016 7:05 PM EDT
ISPOR 21st Annual International Meeting Workshop Explores Risk-Sharing Agreements
ISPOR—The Professional Society for Health Economics and Outcomes Research

ISPOR 21st Annual International Meeting Workshop 2—Risk-Sharing Agreements for Manufacturers and Commercial Payers in the United States: How Can Theory Help Practice? Design and Aligning Incentives Are Key—was held this afternoon in Washington, DC, USA.

Released: 23-May-2016 5:05 PM EDT
ISPOR 21st Annual International Meeting Issue Panel Considers the Use of Real-World Evidence in Health Care Decision Making
ISPOR—The Professional Society for Health Economics and Outcomes Research

ISPOR 21st Annual International Meeting Issue Panel 5—Use of Real-Word Evidence in Payer Decision Making: Fact or Fiction?—was held this morning in Washington, DC, USA.

Released: 23-May-2016 4:30 PM EDT
CHOP Researcher Inducted into Italian Academy of Sciences
Children's Hospital of Philadelphia

Douglas C. Wallace, Ph.D., director of the Center for Mitochondrial and Epigenomic Medicine at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, was inducted into the Italian Academy of Sciences during the Academy’s 234th annual meeting on May 5 in Rome. Past members of the Academy have included Einstein, Franklin, Pasteur, Volta, Fermi, and many other internationally renowned scientists.

Released: 23-May-2016 4:05 PM EDT
Dana-Farber Research Presented at 2016 ASCO Conference
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute

Select studies Dana-Farber Cancer Institute researchers are presenting at the meeting

Released: 23-May-2016 1:05 PM EDT
Plenary 1 of ISPOR 21st Annual International Meeting Focuses on Issues Surrounding Accelerated Drug Approvals
ISPOR—The Professional Society for Health Economics and Outcomes Research

ISPOR opened its 21st Annual International Meeting this morning with the first plenary session, Accelerating Cures: Addressing Unmet Patient Need or Putting Patients at Risk?, in Washington, DC, USA.

18-May-2016 12:05 PM EDT
Even Frail, Older Adults Could Benefit From Intensive Blood Pressure Reduction
University of Utah Health

Adults with hypertension who are age 75 years and older, including those who are frail and with poor overall health, could benefit from lowering their blood pressure below current medical guidelines. The multi-institutional investigation was published online in The Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) and presented at the American Geriatrics Society Annual Scientific Meeting on May 19. The findings could have broad health implications for older Americans, 75 percent of whom have high blood pressure.

Released: 19-May-2016 9:00 AM EDT
ASTRO Annual Meeting to Feature Cutting-Edge Cancer Research and Keynotes From Experts in Health Care and Safety
American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO)

Registration opens today for the American Society for Radiation Oncology’s (ASTRO) 58th Annual Meeting, which will feature a record number of abstracts on radiation oncology clinical trials and research and keynote addresses from former U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius, the current CEO of the Massachusetts General Physicians Organization and a top safety executive from Delta Air Lines.

Released: 19-May-2016 8:00 AM EDT
Doctors Changing Their Approach to Common Heart Attack Treatment
Michigan Medicine - University of Michigan

Doctors change practice trends as debate continues on optimal time to administer antiplatelet therapy.

9-May-2016 9:05 AM EDT
Heart Failure Patients with Predominant Central Sleep Apnea at Higher Risk for Serious Complications Than Those Who Also Have Obstructive Sleep Apnea
American Thoracic Society (ATS)

Chronic heart failure (CHF) patients with predominant central sleep apnea (CSA) are at higher risk for death and unplanned hospitalization than those who have both CSA and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), whether or not they receive adaptive servo-ventilation (ASV) therapy. These interim results from the ongoing FACE Multicentre National Cohort Study, a French prospective observational study, were presented at the ATS 2016 International Conference.

9-May-2016 9:05 AM EDT
New Easy-To-Use TB Test Achieves Accuracy Comparable to IGRAs in Phase III Trials
American Thoracic Society (ATS)

A new skin test for tuberculosis infection has proven safe, easy to administer and accurate in two Phase III clinical trials, according to research presented at the ATS 2016 International Conference.

9-May-2016 9:05 AM EDT
Monthly Resident Handoff of Patients May Increase Risk of Dying
American Thoracic Society (ATS)

Transitions in care that occur when medical residents leave a clinical rotation and turn their patients’ care over to another resident is associated with increased mortality, according to new research presented at the ATS 2016 International Conference.

9-May-2016 9:05 AM EDT
Inhaled Steroids May Increase Risk of Nontuberculous Mycobacteria Lung Disease
American Thoracic Society (ATS)

Patients with obstructive lung disease who take inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) may be at greater risk for nontuberculous mycobacteria pulmonary disease (NTM PD), according to new research presented at the ATS 2016 International Conference.

Released: 18-May-2016 2:05 PM EDT
Fighting Ebola with 21st Century Biotech
American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists (AAPS)

Currently, production of vaccines and diagnostic systems for infectious diseases have failed to provide a systematic vision that merges state-of-the-art technologies with industry to provide an effective commercial solution. Infectious and rapidly transmitted diseases, such as Ebola and influenza, should be a focus of interest for these prospects.

9-May-2016 9:05 AM EDT
Hydroxyurea Improves Lung Function in Children with Sickle Cell Disease
American Thoracic Society (ATS)

For the first time, researchers were able to demonstrate that children diagnosed with sickle cell disease showed improvement in lung function after treatment with hydroxyurea, a treatment that is underused despite its demonstrated benefits. The study was presented at the ATS 2016 International Conference.

9-May-2016 9:05 AM EDT
Early Introduction of Allergenic Foods Reduces Risk of Food Sensitization
American Thoracic Society (ATS)

Children who had a diet that included cow’s milk products, egg and peanut before age one were less likely to develop sensitization to the corresponding foods, according to new research presented at the ATS 2016 International Conference. Early introduction of eggs appeared to be especially beneficial, as it decreased the risk of sensitization to any of the three tested foods.

9-May-2016 9:05 AM EDT
Novel Gene Therapy Shows Potential for Lung Repair in Asthma
American Thoracic Society (ATS)

A new study has demonstrated a way to deliver a nanoparticle–based gene therapy, in order to repair lungs damaged by chronic allergic asthma and to reduce inflammation that causes asthma attacks. The potential therapy, tested in mice, may hold promise for asthma patients whose disease is not controlled by the most commonly used treatments. The study was presented at the ATS 2016 International Conference.

9-May-2016 9:05 AM EDT
Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Associated with Higher Mortality, More Severe Illness
American Thoracic Society (ATS)

Patients with Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) develop more severe critical illness and have higher mortality than patients with non-MERS severe acute respiratory infection (SARI), according to investigators involved with the largest study of critically ill patients with MERS. The study was presented at the ATS 2016 International Conference.

Released: 18-May-2016 11:05 AM EDT
Investigating Brain Transport of Antibody-Based Therapeutics
American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists (AAPS)

Researchers from the University of Wisconsin investigate drug delivery to the brain.

9-May-2016 9:05 AM EDT
For ICU Patients, Nighttime Extubations Associated With Higher Mortality
American Thoracic Society (ATS)

Adult patients who were admitted to U.S. intensive care units had higher mortality if they were extubated overnight. The results reported at the ATS 2016 International Conference may discourage hospital administrators from expanding the practice of overnight extubations in ICUs, which the lead author noted are rapidly being transformed to provide continuity of care.

13-May-2016 11:05 AM EDT
First Clinical Use of Bioabsorbable Vascular Grafts in Children Shows Promise
American Association for Thoracic Surgery (AATS)

Bioabsorbable heart valves or blood vessels are designed to harness the body’s innate healing process, enabling the natural restoration of complex body parts as the synthetic graft is absorbed. At the 96th AATS Annual Meeting, surgeons from the Bakoulev Center for Cardiovascular Surgery, Moscow report the results of implantation of bioabsorbable vascular grafts placed into five children born with serious cardiovascular anomalies. According to the investigators, this is the first-ever clinical trial of a bioabsorbable cardiovascular device.

9-May-2016 9:05 AM EDT
Asthma Overdiagnosed in Canadian Adults
American Thoracic Society (ATS)

Asthma is overdiagnosed in an estimated 30 percent of Canadian adult , according to a study presented at the ATS 2016 International Conference.

9-May-2016 9:05 AM EDT
Simple, Rapid TB Diagnosis Feasible in Low-Resource, High-Burden Settings
American Thoracic Society (ATS)

A streamlined approach to tuberculosis (TB) diagnosis requiring a single sputum sample and providing rapid, accurate results to patients proved feasible in rural Uganda, according to research presented at the ATS 2016 International Conference.

13-May-2016 10:05 AM EDT
Critical Shortage of Cardiothoracic Surgeons Anticipated by 2035
American Association for Thoracic Surgery (AATS)

Looking ahead to 2035, a growing disparity is projected between the number of cardiothoracic surgeons needed and the number available. In a presentation at the 96th AATS Annual Meeting, researchers cite such trends as fewer trainees in surgery residency programs, more exam failures, and fewer American Board of Thoracic Surgery certifications at a time when an aging population will require more cardiothoracic surgical services. They estimate that cardiothoracic surgeons would have to increase their caseload by 121% to meet demand, something that is not feasible.

13-May-2016 10:05 AM EDT
VA Hospitals Favor Mitral Valve Repair vs. Replacement
American Association for Thoracic Surgery (AATS)

Little is known about mitral valve (MV) surgical outcomes within the largest US federal health system – the Veterans Administration (VA) Health System. At the 96th AATS Annual Meeting, data presented from 40 VA cardiac surgery centers reveal that although MV repair rates increased from 48% in 2001 to 63% in 2013, a wide variability exists in repair rates among medical centers. This is especially important because MV repair mortality rates were significantly lower in patients with primary degenerative disease.

13-May-2016 10:05 AM EDT
External Stenting Can Relieve Chronic Airway Obstruction in Children
American Association for Thoracic Surgery (AATS)

A team of surgeons in Japan has developed a technique to relieve airway obstruction in children. The technique, known as external stenting (ES), expands and stabilizes the airway by suspending its wall to a rigid prosthesis placed around the bronchus or trachea. ES avoids the problem of granulation formation resulting from endolumenal corrective approaches, such as endoscopic stent placement. In a presentation at the 96th AATS Annual Meeting, the researchers describe the ES technique in detail as well as report on indications, complications, and long-term outcomes.

9-May-2016 9:05 AM EDT
In Large Study, Sleep Apnea Associated With Heart Attack, Stroke, and Other Serious Outcomes After Coronary Revascularization
American Thoracic Society (ATS)

In an ongoing prospective study involving 1,311 patients from five nations, researchers found that untreated obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) was associated with increased risk of a Major Adverse Cardiac and Cerebrovascular Event (MACCE) -- cardiovascular death, non-fatal myocardial infarction (heart attack), non-fatal stroke, and unplanned revascularization such as heart bypass surgery and angioplasty. The new research, from the Sleep and Stent Study, was presented at the ATS 2016 International Conference.

9-May-2016 9:05 AM EDT
Being Fit May Slow Lung Function Decline as We Age
American Thoracic Society (ATS)

Being fit may reduce the decline in lung function that occurs as we grow older, according to research presented at the ATS 2016 International Conference.

9-May-2016 9:05 AM EDT
Meetings with Palliative Care Do Not Improve Anxiety and Depression Symptoms in Family Caregivers of Chronic Critically Ill Patients
American Thoracic Society (ATS)

Additional support by palliative care specialists failed to improve anxiety and depression symptoms in caregivers of patients with chronic critical illness, according to new research presented at the ATS 2016 International Conference. Patients also saw little benefit as the additional support did not lead to reduced time on a breathing machine or in the hospital.

9-May-2016 9:05 AM EDT
As Sleep Apnea Severity Increases So Do the Learning Challenges in Kids
American Thoracic Society (ATS)

Sleep assessments in young children showed that, in the context of habitual snoring and enlarged tonsils and adenoids, moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea increased the likelihood and magnitude of cognitive deficits. These deficits include, but are not limited to, problems with attention, memory and language. The research results were presented at the ATS 2016 International Conference.

9-May-2016 9:05 AM EDT
Exacerbations in COPD Patients Hasten Lung Function Loss
American Thoracic Society (ATS)

In patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), exacerbations accelerated lung function loss, according to a new study presented at the ATS 2016 International Conference. The effect was particularly prominent in those with mild disease.

9-May-2016 9:05 AM EDT
Untreated Sleep Apnea May Be Related to Melanoma Aggressiveness
American Thoracic Society (ATS)

Untreated severe obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is associated with increased aggressiveness of malignant cutaneous melanoma, according to the first multicenter prospective study on the relationship between sleep-disordered breathing (apnea or hypopnea) and cancer. The new study, which involved researchers from 24 teaching hospitals that are part of the Spanish Sleep and Breathing Network, was presented at the ATS 2016 International Conference.

12-May-2016 10:05 PM EDT
New Implantable VAD for Severe Heart Failure in Kids Shows Encouraging Results in Sheep
American Association for Thoracic Surgery (AATS)

For children with severe heart failure, the only available means of life support are ventricular assist devices (VADs) placed outside the body. These devices are associated with significant risks and the need for hospital management. In conjunction with the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, investigators have now developed a miniaturized implantable VAD for small children (the Infant Jarvik 2015). The results of testing the device in live sheep are presented at the 96th AATS Annual Meeting.

12-May-2016 10:05 PM EDT
MSK Surgeons Present Strategies for Increasing Survival in Soft Tissue Sarcoma Patients with Lung Metastases Undergoing Resection
American Association for Thoracic Surgery (AATS)

Up to 50% of patients with soft tissue sarcoma (STS) develop lung metastases. Effective systemic therapies for metastatic STS are currently limited; when possible, surgical removal of the lung metastases (known as pulmonary metastasectomy, PM) is the preferred treatment. However, guidelines for the performance of PM for STS do not exist and decisions to operate are often made on an individual basis. In a presentation at the 96th AATS Annual Meeting, researchers from Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center share the results of their experience with more than 500 patients with pulmonary metastases from STS and describe prognostic factors associated with improved survival.

12-May-2016 10:05 PM EDT
Risk Factors Identified for Readmission to Hospital Following Esophagectomy
American Association for Thoracic Surgery (AATS)

Researchers at Mayo Clinic (Rochester, MN) have identified risk factors for unplanned readmissions following esophageal resection. The results of their new study provide complete follow-up data for all patients undergoing esophagectomy at a high volume center over a one-year period in order to identify risk factors associated with unplanned readmissions. Karen J. Dickinson, MD, presents the results of this research at the 96th AATS Annual Meeting on behalf of the Thoracic Surgery Research Team at Mayo Clinic.

9-May-2016 9:05 AM EDT
ICUs Strained by Increased Volume and a Near Doubling of Opioid-Related Deaths
American Thoracic Society (ATS)

National trends in opioid related overdoses are being felt across every part of the medical system, including the country’s intensive care units. ICU admissions related to opioid overdoses are steadily increasing, and opioid overdose-related ICU deaths have nearly doubled since 2009. New research from Boston’s Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, University of Chicago, and Vizient, Inc., presented at the ATS 2016 International Conference shows the strain America’s opioid crisis is putting on ICUs and the critical care teams who care for these patients and calls attention to efforts needed to meet the demands of this expanding population.

9-May-2016 9:05 AM EDT
Metals Released by Burning Fuel Oil May Damage Children’s Developing Lungs
American Thoracic Society (ATS)

A new study investigating the health impact of the chemical components of air pollution is reporting that two metals, nickel and vanadium (Ni and V), may be damaging to the developing lungs of children. The results were presented at the ATS 2016 International Conference.

12-May-2016 9:05 PM EDT
Implantation of Rapid Deployment Aortic Valve Found to Be Durable, Safe, and Effective
American Association for Thoracic Surgery (AATS)

The TRANSFORM trial was designed to evaluate the safety and performance of an investigational rapid deployment aortic valve replacement (RDAVR) system for patients with severe aortic stenosis. Presented at the 96th AATS Annual Meeting, investigators showed that more than 96% of TRANSFORM patients had survived after one year and only 0.2% required reoperation. Cardiac function improved in 73%. Compared to conventional treatment, this procedure required significantly less cross-clamp and cardiopulmonary bypass times, even when smaller incisions were used.

12-May-2016 9:05 PM EDT
Stage IIIA Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Survival Rates Improved When Care Includes Four Specific Quality Measures
American Association for Thoracic Surgery (AATS)

Analysis of data from the National Cancer Data Base (NCDB) demonstrates that the survival rates of patients with Stage IIIA NSCLC who underwent surgery increased more than three-fold for those who received four quality measures as part of their care. The study, presented by Pamela Samson MD, MPHS, of Washington University in St. Louis at the 96th AATS Annual Meeting, also shows a wide variability in compliance with quality measures, with only 12.8% of almost 8,000 eligible patients having received all four interventions. The study highlights the importance of implementing these recommended steps into actual practice.

13-May-2016 9:05 AM EDT
Long-Acting Cardioplegia Solution Results in Better Outcomes for Pediatric Heart Surgery Patients
American Association for Thoracic Surgery (AATS)

During heart surgery, it is sometimes necessary to temporarily stop cardiac activity, a process known as cardioplegia. Specific myocardial protection techniques are necessary for pediatric use. At the 96th AATS Annual Meeting, cardiac surgeons present the results of a prospective, randomized trial of pediatric heart surgery patients that shows that the del Nido cardioplegia solution, a new, long-acting agent, offers significant advantages over conventional cardioplegia, including reduced cardiopulmonary bypass and aortic cross-clamp times and faster onset of action.

12-May-2016 7:30 AM EDT
Older Patients with Atrial Fibrillation at Greater Risk for Post-Op Tricuspid Regurgitation After Mitral Valve Repair
American Association for Thoracic Surgery (AATS)

Tricuspid regurgitation (TR) occurs when the heart’s tricuspid valve leaks, allowing blood to flow back from the right ventricle to the right atrium. TR can be secondary to disorders of left-sided heart valves (mitral or aortic). At the 96th AATS Annual Meeting, investigators present the results of a long-term study of patients who underwent mitral valve (MV) repair. They found that although newly developed TR after MV repair was rare, the risk could increase in older patients with atrial fibrillation and impaired heart function.

Released: 16-May-2016 7:05 AM EDT
ISPOR International Meeting to Focus on Health Care Value, Affordability, and Patient Centeredness
ISPOR—The Professional Society for Health Economics and Outcomes Research

ISPOR announced confirmation of key scientific sessions for its 21st Annual International Meeting starting next week, May 21-25, 2016 in Washington, DC, USA. The meeting will feature three, timely Plenary Sessions centered on the theme, “Value, Affordability, and Patient Centeredness: Can We Have It All?”.

9-May-2016 9:05 AM EDT
Home-Based Pulmonary Rehabilitation as Effective as Hospital-Based
American Thoracic Society (ATS)

Home-based pulmonary rehabilitation may be equally effective in improving fitness and quality of life as a traditional center-based program for COPD patients, according to new research presented at the ATS 2016 International Conference.

9-May-2016 9:05 AM EDT
New Way to Predict COPD Progression; New Treatment May Be on the Horizon
American Thoracic Society (ATS)

New research has found that a process initiated in white blood cells known as neutrophils may lead to worse outcomes for some patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The discovery may help identify patients at higher risk for COPD progression, who might also show little benefit from standard treatments. The study was presented at the ATS 2016 International Conference.

9-May-2016 9:15 AM EDT
The ATA and Sunovion Pharmaceuticals Inc. Release Landmark Survey of Pulmonologists’ Attitudes and Practices with Inhalation Devices for COPD at the ATS 2016 International Conference
American Thoracic Society (ATS)

The American Thoracic Society and Sunovion Pharmaceuticals Inc. (Sunovion) today announced the results of a survey of pulmonologists and pulmonology fellows to determine physicians’ knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) management, with particular attention to the use of hand-held small volume nebulizers. A small volume nebulizer is a device powered by air that aerosolizes medications for delivery to patients.

9-May-2016 9:05 AM EDT
Risk of Mortality Linked to Interstitial Lung Abnormalities
American Thoracic Society (ATS)

New research uncovering a link between Interstitial Lung Abnormalities (ILA) and an increased risk of in-hospital mortality was shared at the ATS 2016 International Conference.

9-May-2016 9:05 AM EDT
Very Poorly Controlled Asthma Highly Prevalent in TENOR II Cohort After More Than a Decade
American Thoracic Society (ATS)

Nearly half (48%) of patients with severe or difficult-to-treat asthma in The Epidemiology and Natural History of Asthma: Outcomes and Treatment Regimens follow-up study (TENOR II) still had very poorly controlled (VPC) symptoms after more than a decade of treatment, according to a new study presented at the ATS 2016 International Conference. The risk of persistent VPC asthma was associated with specific demographic and clinical factors.

9-May-2016 9:05 AM EDT
Motivational Interviewing May Reduce COPD Readmissions:
American Thoracic Society (ATS)

Motivational interviewing, a goal-oriented, client-centered counseling style for eliciting behavior change used in health coaching, is a feasible intervention that may reduce short-term readmissions for COPD patients. The study, which was presented at the ATS 2016 International Conference, is the first available randomized study to demonstrate the feasibility and effectiveness of the intervention.

13-May-2016 1:05 PM EDT
Penn Study Reveals Effectiveness of Text Message-Based Remote Monitoring for Postpartum Hypertension
Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania

Text messaging could hold the key to identifying postpartum women at-risk for developing potentially life-threatening complications resulting from preeclampsia, according to a new study from researchers at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. The results are presented on Monday, May 16 at the American College of Obstetrics & Gynecology’s (ACOG) Annual Clinical and Scientific Meeting in Washington, DC (poster #30-O).



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