Latest Conference Articles

Using a variety of cognitive strategies may help dampen food cravings and boost inhibitory control in individuals with obesity, according to a small neuroimaging study that draws methods from addiction research.

An intragastric dual-balloon device was well tolerated and proved effective for patients with moderate levels of obesity, owing in part to its ability to conform to stomach anatomy, according to Jaime Ponce, MD, Medical Director for the Bariatric Surgery program at Hamilton Medical Center, in Dalton, Georgia.

While the dangers of smoking are well known to most people there still remains a segment of the population who continues to smoke despite efforts to encourage them to quit.

There are many factors that go into a successful lung transplant operation. One key factor after surgery is routine radiological checks of a patient's progress.

The survival rate for lung transplant may be lower than other organs but many patients see dramatic changes in their quality of life following the complicated procedure.

Looking at patients with asthma it can be easy to group them all together for treatment options. Recent studies have shown that that may not be the best way to approach helping people dealing with both obesity and asthma.

Patients who need a lung transplant at any age face a wide range of complications and potential issues. For the youngest of patients that can particularly scary and overwhelming if not handled properly.

Obesity is becoming a growing problem in the country as is asthma in many of those patients. Doctors are now looking at ways to treat both to help the overall health of the people they see.

Lung cancer screenings have been proven beneficial for many patients and the American College of Chest Physicians has been working to make the screenings available to more people who need them. The topic was discussed at the organization's recent national meeting.

Researchers assessed the effect of seizure status and severity, medication use, mental health indicators, parental support, and other factors on self-reported quality of life in children with epilepsy.

The American Academy of Family Physicians is launching a 3-year public relations and lobbying campaign to "tackle issues ranging from payment reform to workforce development," the organization announced. Discussing the plan at his inaugural address to the AAFM Assembly Oct. 22, Robert Wergin, MD, the group's new president, said the slogan for the effort will be "Health Is Primary."

The new Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis medications that were recently approved will help with treatment for patients but are not a cure for the condition.

Hypersomnia may not receive the amount of attention as other sleep disorders like sleep apnea, but it affects up to 5% of the population and left untreated can significantly diminish a patient's quality of life.

The area of sleep study is only around 30 years old but there are still new advancements that can help improve the daily life of a patient.

As part of the annual meeting of the American College of Chest Physicians new information was rolled out on the "Live Well" Campaign aimed at helping patients with COPD.

Results from a phase 2 trial, published recently in The New England Journal of Medicine, suggest that treatment with 150 mg of nintedanib slowed lung-function decline and decreased acute exacerbations in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

Family practice has a reputation for being a low-tech, hands-on specialty. But speaking in a keynote address at the American Academy of Family Physicians Assembly Oct. 26 , Eric Topol, MD told his audience they would do well to use more technologically sophisticated devices.

Research and real-world experience has shown interventions such as constraint therapy, botulinum toxin therapy, and interactive computer play to be effective in children and adolescents with cerebral palsy.

"All kinds of obesity cause asthma," declared Akshay Sood, MBBS, FCCP during his presentation at CHEST 2014. In the scope of synergistic epidemics, the question of what kind of obesity causes asthma is a rather relevant one.

Telemedicine comes with a bevy of regulatory hurdles, but research presented at the 43rd Annual Child Neurology Society Meeting suggests the concept has the potential to create clinical efficiencies without sacrificing care.

In a presentation delivered at CHEST 2014, Edward Kerwin, MD, discussed the safety and efficacy of the twice-daily COPD treatment SUN-101, a glycopyrrolate inhalation solution delivered via nebulizer.

Stephen Rennard, MD, and his team focused their study on the assessment of long-term efficacy and safety of aclidinium bromide 400µg BID, an approved treatment option for patients afflicted with moderate to severe COPD.

For many people smoking may be a leading cause of being diagnosed with COPD. That may not always be the case which can require additional testing and treatment.

While the survival rate for lung transplantation may be low compared with other transplant surgeries, advances in technology have helped increase the success rate.

Research presented at the 43rd Annual Child Neurology Society Meeting suggests neurological differences associated with autism spectrum disorders may be identifiable by as early as 6-9 months of age.

With Facebook, Twitter, and other social media platforms growing in popularity, physicians are facing more pressure from patients to incorporate these tools into practice. This can be a difficult decision; however, for some the benefits will greatly outweigh the risks.

Data show a significant increase in the prevalence of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in the US over the last 15 years. More work is needed to identify the genetic and environmental factors associated with increased ASD risk.

With the approval of two new drugs for the treatment of IPF, patients who otherwise would have only had lung transplantation as a treatment option now have a new way to improve their quality of life.

Research has shown that comorbid epilepsy and autism spectrum disorder is fairly common, with several factors appearing to influence risk.

Richard ZuWallack, MD, a specialist in pulmonary rehabilitation from St. Francis Hospital and Medical Center in Hartford, CT, presented results from 2 studies highlighting lung function improvement in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).