National Jewish Health Conference highlights

Genetic Variant Raises Risk of Fatal Pulmonary Fibrosis

Max Seibold, PhD, will extend findings recently reported in The New England Journal of Medicine, which identified a common genetic variant associated with a 7 to 22 fold increased risk for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and familial interstitial pneumonia. The discovery not only identifies a major risk factor for pulmonary fibrosis, but also points scientists in an entirely new direction for research into the causes and potential treatments for this difficult and deadly disease.

Muc5b is the Predominant Mucin Expressed bythe Broncholar Epithelim Lining of the Honeycomb Cyst
Poster Discussion – Sunday, May 15, 2 – 4:30 pm, Korbell Ballroom, 4A-4B.

Promoter Variant of MUC5b Confirmed as an Idiopathic Interstitial Pneumonia (IIP) Risk Variant and is Associated with Upregulation of MUC5b Expression
Poster Discussion – Sun., May 15, 8:15-10:45 am, Room 503-504.

In November, the National Cancer Institute announced that low-dose CT screening of high-risk patients could reduce the lung-cancer death rate. This discovery has major public health implications. Although National Jewish Health and other institutions have begun offering offering lung-cancer screening, there are many questions that need to be answered before it can be rolled out on a wide scale. This symposium will provide an excellent airing of the issues, and some of the proposed answers.

What We Have Learned From the National Lung Screening Trial and What We Still Need to Know.
James Jett, MD, Professor of Medicine, National Jewish Health, co-chair Scientific Symposium - Sunday, May 15, 2 – 4:30 pm, Four Seasons Ballroom 1-2

Promising Anti-Viral

Dennis Voelker, PhD, and his colleagues at National Jewish Health have discovered a lipid in lung fluid that has potent antiviral properties. He has previously published findings about its effect on respiratory syncytial virus. (link) His colleagues will present two more reports on POPG's effectiveness against rhinovirus and influenza.

Pulmonary Surfactant Phosphatidylglycerol Inhibits Rhinovirus-Induced Inflammation And Viral Replication In Bronchial Epithelial Cells.
Thematic Poster – Sunday, May 16. Area G, Hall B.

Pulmonary Surfactant Phosphatidylglycerol Disrupts Influenza A Virus Infection by Blocking Cell Attachment.
Mini-Symposium - 10:00 am, Monday, May 16. Room 108-112.

This award is given to individuals for outstanding scientific contributions in basic or clinical research to the understanding, prevention and treatment of lung disease. Dr. Riches will deliver a presentation, "From Macrophage Phenotypes to Pulmonary Fibrosis: Closing the Circle"
Monday, May 16, 3 pm, Korbel Ballroom 2A-3A

COPDGene Results Start Flowing

COPDGene is a massive, $37 million project to collect and analyze CT scans, genes and clinical data on 10,000 patients, with a goal of divining subtypes that will be more amenable to personalized prevention, monitoring and treatment.

Two years into the project, led by National Jewish Health and Brigham and Women's Hospital, researchers have completed enrollment a year ahead of schecule. At ATS they will present a raft of findings, including:

Gastroesophageal Reflux Associated with Worse COPD
Thematic Poster. Monday, May 16, Area E. Hall B.

Statin Use Associated with Larger Airways and Fewer Exacerbations
Thematic Poster. Monday, May 16. Area E, Hall B

Menthol Cigarettes Harder to Quit
Thematic Poster. Tuesday, May 17, Area E. Hall B

Pulmonary Hypertension Associated with Severe COPD Exacerbation
Poster Discussion. 2 – 4:30 pm, Tuesday, May 17. Korbel Ballroom 4A-4B

Lung Disease Among Iraq and Afghanistan Vets

Military veterans are coming back from service in Iraq and Afghanistan with increased rates of respiratory disease, especially new-onset asthma and bronchiolitis obliterans, potentially debilitating diseases. Close to 70 percent of 15,000 vets surveyed reported respiratory illness, 17 percent requiring medical care while deployed, a doubling of pre-combat lung conditions. Suspected causes are environmental exposures to garbage burn pits, dust storms, industrial emissions and fires.

Leading experts on the topic will gather for a scientific symposium to present their latest findings, recommendations and research to reduce respiratory disease among vets. Cecile Rose, MD, National Jewish Health Professor of Medicine, co-chairs the session and presents on surveillance, diagnosis and prevention.

Occupational Lung Diseases in US Military Personnel Deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan
Scientific Symposium - Wednesday, May 18 8:15am – 10:45 am Wells Fargo Theater

Sarcoidosis, an inflammatory disease of unknown causes, has risen more than 50 percent in the past 20 years, especially among non-Hispanic black females. Jeffrey Swigris will report that patients with sarcoidosis have a higher risk of pulmonary embolisms. These findings could alter the way physicians manage patients with sarcoidosis.

Sarcoidosis is a Risk Factor for Pulmonary Embolism
Sarcoidosis Mortality in the US from 1988-2007
Poster Discussion – Wed. May 18, 8:15 – 10:45 am, Korbel Ballroom 4A-4B