News Release

AGA Institute presents cutting-edge research during DDW

Advances highlight progress being made in the treatment and research of GI disorders

Peer-Reviewed Publication

American Gastroenterological Association

Bethesda, MD (May 18, 2006) – Clinicians, researchers and scientists from around the world will gather for Digestive Disease Week® 2006 (DDW), the largest and most prestigious gastroenterology meeting, from May 20 – 25, 2006, in Los Angeles. DDW is the annual meeting of the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA), the largest and oldest GI society in the world. AGA researchers will be presenting exciting, cutting-edge data during the meeting that will help change the way physicians diagnose and treat GI disorders.

Please note that all data presented during DDW is embargoed until the beginning of the presentation or an official DDW press conference, whichever occurs first.

Plenary Session

During the AGA Presidential Plenary Session (Monday, May 22, 10:00 a.m. – 11:40 a.m. PT; West Hall B), the editors of the AGA's journals, Michael Camilleri, MD, and David Brenner, MD, review highlights of clinical and basic science GI research from the past year. Two concurrent Plenary Sessions feature noteworthy clinical and basic science research presented at DDW.

The Clinical Plenary session presentations (Monday, May 22, 8:00 a.m. to 9:45 a.m. PT; West Hall B) include:

  • Flexible sigmoidoscopy is associated with a reduced incidence of distal but not proximal colorectal cancer (CRC): A population-based cohort study. L. Rabeneck et al. (8:15 a.m.)
  • A one year, randomised, double-blind, placebo controlled trial of a lactobacillus or a bidifobacterium probiotic for maintenance of steroid-induced remission of ulcerative colitis. F. Shanahan et al. (8:30 a.m)
  • NSAIDs, Aspirin and Coxibs: Gastroenterology vs. Cardiology. L. Laine (8:45 a.m.)
  • Can aspirin be reintroduced with proton pump inhibitor infusion after endoscopic hemostasis? A double blinded randomized controlled trial. J. Sung et al. (9:10 a.m.)
  • The degree of COX-2 selectivity and risk of cardio and cerebrovascular events. N. Abraham et al. (9:25 a.m.)

The Basic Science Plenary session presentations (Monday, May 22, 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.; 501 A/B/C) include:

  • Notch 1 Acts at Multiple Stages of Endocrine Differentiation to Regulate Endocrine Cell Fate in the Pancreas. M. Giel-Moloney et al. (8:10 a.m.)
  • Acetylcholine Stimulation of The Nkcc1 Transporter Is Calcium-Dependent And Is Rapidly Desensitised By Endocytosis In Human Colonic Crypts: Major Implications for Intestinal Fluid Secretion. A. Reynolds et al. (8:25 a.m.)
  • Plenary Presentation: Inflammation and Cancer. G. Gores. (8:40 a.m.)
  • An essential role of Farnesoid X-Receptor in regulating intestinal fibrosis in murine model of chronic colitis. P. Vavassori et al. (9:05 a.m.)
  • Role of the mRNA Stability Factor HuR in Inflammatory Bowel Disease and Colon Carcinogenesis. K. Bemis-Standoli et al. (9:20 a.m.)

Basic Science Symposia

The AGA Institute is honored to be presenting a special session on "H. Pylori: A Major Advance in Medical History and a Story of Ongoing Discovery" (Monday, May 22, 2:15 p.m. – 3:15 p.m. PT; West Hall B), by Nobel Prize winner Barry Marshall, MD, National Health and Medical Research Council senior principal research fellow at the University of Western Australia, Perth.

Dr. Marshall is well known for performing self-experimentation as a medical resident in 1984 when he drank water riddled with bacteria -- later named H. pylori. While naysayers snubbed him, Dr. Marshall confirmed his theory that he would develop gastritis. Dr. Marshall and J. Robin Warren, MD, a pathologist at the Royal Perth Hospital, later showed that patients could be cured of their peptic ulcer disease only when the bacteria were eradicated from the stomach.

Additionally, a session on "Wnt Signaling in the Digestive Tract: From Development to Carcinogenesis" (Tuesday, May 23, 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. PT; West Hall B), will describe the pivotal role Wnt signaling plays in gut development and repair and characterize how Wnt contributes to the formation of tumors in the GI tract.

Late-Breaking Session

On Tuesday, May 23 from 2:15 p.m. - 3:45 p.m. (room 501 A/B/C), AGA will feature their late-breaking clinical abstracts, which include exciting data on

  • The prevention effect of post-ERCP pancreatitis with endoscopic pancreatic spontaneous dislodgment stent – a randomized controlled, multicenter study. A. Sofuni et al. (2:15 p.m.)
  • Interval Cancers After Colonoscopy--Procedural Failure or Aggressive Biology? W. D. Farrar (2:30 p.m.)
  • Effect of Teduglutide on Patients with Moderate-Severe Crohn's Disease after 8 Weeks of Therapy: A Prospective Double-Blind, Placebo Controlled Trial. A. L. Buchman et al. (2:45 p.m.)**
  • Adalimumab Induces and Maintains Clinical Response and Remission in Patients With Active Crohn's Disease: Results of the CHARM Trial. J. Colombel et al. (3:00 p.m.)**
  • A phase III double-blind placebo-controlled trial of every other day (QOD) dosing of methylnaltrexone (MNTX) for opioid-induced constipation (OIC) in advanced illness (AI). N. Slatkin et al. (3:15 p.m.)
  • 28 Days of the Hepatitis C Protease Inhibitor VX-950, in Combination with PEG-Interferon-Alfa-2a and Ribavirin, is Well-Tolerated and Demonstrates Robust Antiviral Effects. E. J. Lawitz (3:30 p.m.)°

** These studies are being highlighted during a DDW press conference on Monday, May 22 at 8:30 a.m. PT.
° This study is being highlighted during a DDW press conference on Sunday, May 21 at 10:30 a.m. PT. Press conferences will be held in room 507 of the Los Angeles Convention Center.

Other exciting data will be presented during DDW, including 34 clinical symposia, 16 translational symposia, nine research symposia and 7seven state-of-the-art lectures on a range of GI topics. Additionally, AGA will sponsor focused research roundtables and focused clinical updates – breakfast sessions designed to help participants choose the must-see basic science and clinical research abstracts presented during DDW – throughout the meeting.

###

The AGA is dedicated to the mission of advancing the science and practice of gastroenterology. Founded in 1897, the AGA is the oldest medical-specialty society in the United States. The AGA's more than 14,000 members include physicians and scientists who research, diagnose and treat disorders of the gastrointestinal tract and liver. For more information, visit www.gastro.org.

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 American Gastroenterological Association, the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy and the Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract, DDW takes place May 20-25, 2006 at the Los Angeles Convention Center. The meeting showcases approximately 5,000 abstracts and hundreds of lectures on the latest advances in GI research, medicine and technology. More information can be found at www.ddw.org.


Disclaimer: AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert system.