AGA presents cutting-edge research during DDW

Clinicians, researchers and scientists from around the world will gather for Digestive Disease Week® 2010 (DDW), the largest and most prestigious gastroenterology meeting, from May 1 to May 5, 2010, at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, New Orleans, LA. DDW is the annual meeting of the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) Institute, the largest and oldest GI society in the world. AGA researchers will present exciting, cutting-edge data during the meeting that will help change the way physicians diagnose and treat GI disorders.

All data presented during DDW is embargoed until the beginning of the presentation or an official DDW press conference, whichever occurs first. Go to www.ddw.org for a list of press conferences.

On Tuesday, May 4 from 2:15 to 3:45 p.m. CT, Ballroom C, the AGA will feature its late-breaking clinical abstracts, which include exciting data on:

• A Randomized Placebo-controlled Trial of MDX-1100, an Anti-IP-10 Antibody, for Moderately-to-Severely Active Ulcerative Colitis. L. Mayer et al. (2:15 p.m.)
• Phase 2 Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study of Nitazoxanide plus Peginterferon and Ribavirin in Naïve Patients with Chronic Hepatitis C Genotype 1 Infection: Final Report. B. Bacon et al. (2:30 p.m.)
• Randomized Clinical Trial in Clostridium difficile Infection Confirms Superiority of Fidaxomicin over Vancomycin. S. Johnson et al. (2:45 p.m.)
• Prospective Clinical Validation of an Assay for Methylated SEPT9 DNA in Human Plasma as a Colorectal Cancer Screening Tool in Average Risk Men and Women 50 Years and Older. T. Church et al. (3:00 p.m.)
• A Prospective, Multicentre Study to Evaluate a Novel Non-Endoscopic Screening Device for Barrett's Esophagus in the Community Setting. S. Kadri et al. (3:15 p.m.)
• Multi-Modality Endoscopic Therapy for Complete Eradication of Barrett's Esophagus. N. Gupta et al. (3:30 p.m.)

Plenary Sessions

During the Presidential Plenary Session, AGA Institute President, Gail A. Hecht, MD, MS, AGAF, will focus on critical questions for gastroenterology. Two concurrent plenary sessions feature noteworthy clinical and basic science research presented at DDW.

The Presidential Plenary session presentations (Monday, May 3, 10 a.m. to noon CT, Auditorium AB) include:

• Celiac Disease Therapy and Novel Approaches. C. Kelly (10:09 a.m.)
• Evaluating IBD: Outcomes and Complications. M. Abreu (10:19 a.m.)
• Major Advances in IBS. L. Chang (10:29 a.m.)
• Eosinophilic Esophagitis: Challenges and Horizons. G. Furuta (10:39 a.m.)
• Gastric Disease in the 21st Century: A Tale of Three Stomachs. T. Wang (10:49 a.m.)
• Microbiota in Digestive Health — Promise, Prospects and Pragmatism. F. Shanahan (10:59 a.m.)
• Obesity and Bariatrics for the Endoscopist: New Techniques. C. Thompson (11:09 a.m.)
• Medical Management of NAFLD. A. Diehl (11:19 a.m.)
• Era of Health-care Reform: What Is the Impact on GI? J. Inadomi (11:29 a.m.)

The Clinical Plenary session presentations (Monday, May 3, 8 to 10 a.m. CT, Auditorium AB) include:

• UK Flexible Sigmoidoscopy Screening Trial: Colorectal Cancer Incidence and Mortality Rates at 11 Years After a Single Screening Examination. W. Atkin et al. (8:05 a.m.)
• Laparoscopic Antireflux Surgery vs Long-Term Esomeprazole Treatment for Chronic GERD. Final Results After 5 Yrs of Follow up in the Lotus Study. J.P. Galmiche et al. (8:20 a.m.)
• The European Achalasia Trial: A Randomized Multi-Centre Trial Comparing Endoscopic Pneumodilation and Laparoscopic Myotomy As Primary Treatment of Idiopathic Achalasia. G. Boeckxstaens et al. (8:35 a.m.)
• Efficacy and Safety of Once Daily Linaclotide Administered Orally for 12-Weeks in Patients With Chronic Constipation: Results From 2 Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Phase 3 Trials. A. Lembo et al. (8:50 a.m.)

The Basic Science Plenary session presentations (Monday, May 3, 8 to 10 a.m. CT, Room 393-396) include:

• Altered Gut Microbiota in Toll-Like Receptor-5 (TLR5) Deficient Mice Results in Metabolic Syndrome. M. Vijay-Kumar et al. (8:05 a.m.)
• Leptin Resistance in Vagal Afferent Neurons Leads to Decreased Cholecystokinin Signaling in Diet-Induced Obese Rats. G. de Lartigue et al. (8:22 a.m.)
• Regulation of Food Intake in Diet-Induced Obesity. L. Kaplan (8:39 a.m.)
• Characterization of Slowly Cycling Telomerase-Expressing Intestinal Stem Cells. C. Richmond et al. (9:04 a.m.)
• The Crohn's Disease Protective SNP Rs11209026 Allele "a" Mediates Alternative Splicing in Human IL23R Transcription. R. Yu et al. (9:21 a.m.)

Other exciting data will be presented during DDW, including 36 clinical symposia, 11 translational symposia, 14 research symposia and eight state-of-the-art lectures on a range of GI topics. Additionally, the AGA Institute will sponsor eight curbside consultant sessions. Eight focused research roundtables and 14 focused clinical updates — breakfast sessions designed to help participants choose the must-see basic science and clinical research abstracts presented during DDW — will occur throughout the meeting.

DDW marks the launch of the AGA Digestive Health Outcomes Registry™, a revolutionary national outcomes-driven registry. It allows gastroenterologists to monitor and improve patient care, while also generating data to compare the efficacy of treatments and potentially increase reimbursement. The AGA Registry launches with an initial focus on IBD and colorectal cancer prevention.

On Wednesday, May 5, from 8:30 to 10 a.m., the physicians who created the registry will lead a session in rooms 280-282 to cover topics, including what is a data registry and why participate, limits and potential pitfalls of a data registry, registry reports, and how registries can impact public health of underrepresented populations.

Erwin G. Zoetendal, MD, assistant professor in the agrotechnology and food sciences laboratory of microbiology at Wageningen University, the Netherlands, will shed light on the mysteries of gut microbiota as the invited lecturer during Tuesday's third annual Rome Foundation-AGA Institute Lectureship (10:30 to 11:30 a.m. CT, Room 391/392). His talk, "Understanding Gut Microbiota: A New Era in Gastroenterology," will provide an overview of gastrointestinal tract microbiota diversity by discussing culture-independent approaches to study microbiota diversity in relation to health and disease — including functional gastrointestinal disorders — as well as culture-independent approaches to study microbiota genetic potential and activity.

Douglas Drossman, MD, AGAF, Rome Foundation president, said the Rome Foundation and the AGA Institute are honored to have Dr. Zoetendal present this year's lecture. "There are huge numbers of bacteria living in harmony within every human organism. And this is the guy who understands best how different types affect the gut inside and out. He is a translational scientist who will help our members better understand when to use probiotics and when not to."

About the AGA Institute

The American Gastroenterological Association is the trusted voice of the GI community. Founded in 1897, the AGA has grown to include 17,000 members from around the globe who are involved in all aspects of the science, practice and advancement of gastroenterology. The AGA Institute administers the practice, research and educational programs of the organization. www.gastro.org.

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DDW is the largest international gathering of physicians, researchers and academics in the fields of gastroenterology, hepatology, endoscopy and gastrointestinal surgery. Jointly sponsored by the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases, the AGA Institute, the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy and the Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract, DDW takes place May 1-5, 2010, at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center. The meeting showcases approximately 5,000 abstracts and hundreds of lectures on the latest advances in GI research, medicine and technology. For more information, visit www.ddw.org.

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