SCHEDULE OF PRESS BRIEFINGS Monday, April 26
8 a.m.--Breakfast with the Leadership
At this complimentary breakfast in the Press Briefing Room, Room 12, Mezzanine Level, San Diego Convention Center, the leaders of the American Lung Association (ALA) and the American Thoracic Society (ATS) will give their views on what they feel are some of the most important and newsworthy topics being addressed during the conference. Original presentations, plenary sessions, and policy issues will be highlighted. Press will have the opportunity to question the leaders on all aspects of the international conference.
Speakers:
Jeffrey Glassroth, M.D., Incoming ATS President
Sidney Braman, M.D., Chair, International Conference Program Committee
Ernest Franck, Incoming ALA President
11 a.m.--Original Scientific Presentations--Press Briefing One
Moderator: Norman H. Edelman, M.D. Dean, School of Medicine/SUNY Stony Brook
Please note: For U.S. media, a telephone conference call hookup to the two major briefings is available. If interested, please notify Lori Atkins (through April 20) at (212) 315-6442, Jim Augustine (703) 644-6824, or Bill Glitz (703) 532-3797. After April 25, please call the Press Room on (619) 525-6410. To schedule hookups to the briefings, call in advance.
* Risk Factors for Asthma and Atopic Disease in Six-Year-Old Children:
Exclusive Breast Feeding is Protective--Abstract No. 101476
Wendy Oddy, TVW Telethon Institute for Child Health, West Perth, Australia
After studying 2,834 Australian children from birth to 6 years of age, these researchers found the introduction of milk other than breast milk before 4 months of age posed a significant risk for asthma by age 6. They concluded that if exclusive breast feeding is continued for at least the first four months, the risk of asthma is substantially reduced. They called the results an "important finding" for the prevention of asthma in children.
* Body Mass Index and Asthma in Children Age 9 to 14--Abstract No. 149806
Carlos Camargo, Jr., M.D. Dr. PH, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
The relationship between obesity and the risk of developing asthma has not be fully established. In this study, Dr. Camargo and his associates found that body mass did impact on the risk of asthma in children 9 to 14, with relative risk of asthma being 2.3 times greater in boys at the highest body mass index, and 1.5 times greater among girls in the heaviest quintile.
* Snoring Is Associated with Increased Blood Pressure in Pre- Eclampsia--Abstract No. 103175
Colin E. Sullivan, M.D., Director, Center for Respiratory Failure and Sleep Disorders, Department of Medicine, University of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Pre-eclampsia is an abnormal condition occurring during the second half of pregnancy characterized by hypertension, fluid retention, and the presence of protein in the urine. It is a leading cause of maternal and fetal illness and mortality. These Australian investigators gave sleep tests and continuous beat-to-beat blood pressure recordings to 21 women with severe pre-eclampsia. They found their blood pressure increased steadily through the night. The gave six of the women nasal continuous positive airway pressure. This device markedly reduced blood pressure in all stages of sleep. They believe partial airway obstruction caused the problem.
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1:30 p.m.--Latest findings from the National Heart, Lung, Blood Institute ARDS Network Clinical Trials
Gordon Bernard, M.D., ARDS Network Coordinating Center, Vanderbilt University Medical School, Nashville, Tennessee
Tuesday, April 27
10 a.m.--Original Scientific Presentations--Press Briefing Two
Moderator: Alfred Munzer, M.D., Past President, American Lung Assoc., Washington Adventist Hospital, Takoma Park, Maryland
* Temporal Analysis of the Relationship of Smoking and Urges to Mood States in Men Versus Women: Clues to Targeted Interventions--Abstract No. 107995
Ralph J. Delfino, M.D., Ph.D., Dept. of Medicine, University of California, Irvine
Through a large number diary entries over 48 hours, these investigators determined the relationship of mood states to smoking urges and subsequent smoking, as well as the effect of smoking on subsequent mood states. The researchers found a positive association between smoking urge and anger in women and men; anxiety in women and men; alertness in women and men; sadness in men, but not women; and happiness in women, but not men. Increased anxiety was associated with subsequent smoking in men, but not women. Other results to be discussed.
* Lung Transplant Outcome Is Significantly Affected by Donor and Recipient Gender--Abstract No. 105688
Keith C. Meyer, M.D., Departments of Surgery and Medicine, University of Wisconsin, Madison
This team of investigators did a retrospective analysis of 98 consecutive primary lung transplants performed at their medical center. They found that as early as six months post-transplant there was a significant risk associated with transplanting lungs from male donors into female recipients, raising rejection problems which increased over time. This was in striking contrast to female recipients of female donors, which survived much better.
* Beta Agonist MDI Use and Risk of Myocardial Infarction--Abstract No. 110692
David H. Au, M.D., Harborview Medical Center, University of Washington, Seattle
These researchers sought to determine the relationship between the use of beta agonist inhalers for asthma treatment and heart attacks. They studied 1,444 persons who sustained their first heart attack between 1989 and 1994. They discovered those persons who had a history of cardiovascular disease and who filled a beta-agonist prescription were at increased risk of heart attack. The investigators believe new users of the inhalers are at highest risk. They concluded that clinicians should exercise caution when giving initial beta-agonist prescriptions to patients with cardiovascular disease.
We would be glad to schedule phone interviews with any of these investigators, or to tie journalists by phone into the briefings themselves. Just call us in advance: Lori Atkins (through April 20) at (212) 315-6442, Jim Augustine (703) 644-6824, or Bill Glitz (703) 532-3797. On April 25, we can be contacted in the Press Room at the San Diego Convention Center on (619) 525-6410.
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