The Institute is proud to sponsor or/and support timely conferences and symposia on subjects of wide (national, international) interest. Agendas and other particulars are provided below:
Sponsorship of the:
FIRST INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON
"EVOLUTIONARY LIFESTYLE AND HEALTH"
AGENDA
The overarching theme of the Conference is the relationship between our evolutionary lifestyle choices and their influence on the causality, prevention and palliation of diseases, particularly those afflicting the industrialized nations today. Major components of our lifestyle choices include some or all of the following: nutrition, physical activity, social arrangements, workplace, physical environment, sundry, use of alcohol and drugs, and other phenomena such as sleep patterns, spirituality and religion, and myth and ritual.
The Conference will begin with a brief review of the synthetic theory of evolution and its current controversies in order to provide a common reference point, and introduce the heart-brain system and its psychosomatic implications. It will continue with the concept of cardiac chaos and coherence to show how the variability of heart beats are associated with health problems due to stress and aging. After reviewing the new field of nutritional anthropology and its conclusions that most modern diseases are self-inflicted and we should adopt, at least in part, a lifestyle that is coherent with our anciently programmed minds and bodies, the Conference will systematically explore the connection between lifestyle factors and each modern disease.
PLENARY SESSION 1: SYNTHETIC THEORY OF HUMAN EVOLUTION
The synthetic theory of evolution (also called neo-darwinism or neo-darwinian synthesis) is the conceptual mechanism framework most widely used in the scientific study of evolutionary processes in biology. It is based on the integration of Mendel's heredity theory and populations' genetics to Darwin's theory. It is an extension of the original theory of Charles Darwin, which ignored the mechanisms of genetical heredity. The theory will be summarized and current controversies (adaptationism and neutralism; punctuated equilibria; neo-lamarckism or inheritance of traits acquired by parents - not a mutation; and complexity magnification in the course of evolution) will be reviewed.
Regular Sessions will include: The limbic brain; the cortical brain; the cortical brain's two hemispheres; the heart-brain system, emotional intelligence; and evolutionary psychology.
PLENARY SESSION 2: CARDIAC CHAOS AND COHERENCE
In the states of stress, anxiety, depression or anger, the variability of the cardiac rhythm between two heartbeats becomes irregular or chaotic. In the states of well-being, compassion, or gratitude, this variability becomes coherent and the alternating accelerations and decelerations of the cardiac rhythm are regular. The lowering of the variability of heartbeats is associated with a set of health problems due to stress and aging: hypertension, cardiac deficiency, diabetes complications, infarctus of the myocardium, cancer and even sudden death. When the variability has disappeared, when the heart does not respond to emotions, death approaches. It is the negative emotions, anger, anxiety, and sadness that are most responsible for a drop in cardiac variability. Conversely, positive emotions, joy, gratitude, and particularly love, favor coherence. The state of cardiac coherence also influences the other physiological rhythms, particularly the natural variability of arterial pressure and respiration. These sessions will review current technology for evidencing cardiac chaos and coherence and how lifestyle changes can lead to notable improvements. It is not only a slowing down of the aging process, but a real rejuvenation of the physiology.
Regular sessions will include: Current technologies; stress-related problems and their management.
PLENARY SESSION 3: LIFESTYLE FACTORS AND EMOTIONAL DISEASES
Whereas western medicine is unequaled for acute illnesses, it may not be exemplary when it comes to chronic illnesses such as depression, anxiety, maniaco-depressive problems, stress, etc. The traditional pillars of western medicine for treating such emotional diseases, namely psychoanalysis and drugs, are under increasing attack for their lack of efficiency and high cost. Yet, the emotional brain (Session 2) controls the psychological well-being and a large part of the body's physiology: respiration, cardiac rythm, functioning of the heart, arterial tension, hormonal secretions, digestive system, appetite, sleep, libido, and even the immune system. Emotional disorders are the consequence of dysfunctions in the emotional brain. Nonetheless, the emotional brain possesses natural mechanisms for self-healing. Other techniques, such as acupuncture, nutrition, affective communication, and methods of social integration have their sources in pluri-millenial medical traditions. Thus, the poor management of emotions is a principal cause of obesity in a society where stress is omni-present and nutrition is abundantly utilized as a response to it.
Regular sessions will include: Brief review of neuro-emotional therapeutic methods not utilizing psychoanalysis or/and drugs (EMDR: eye movement desensitization and reprocessing, tuning of the internal biological clock, sunrise simulation, and acupuncture); and lifestyle factors modification (particularly, nutrition with emphasis on the omega-Cretean diet, physical exercise, love and affection, non-violent communication, social involvement ).
PLENARY SESSION 4: NUTRITIONAL ANTHROPOLOGY
Nutritional anthropology is the overarching new field that links anthropology and nutrition. It explains what it means to be a human being in nutritional terms. It provides a precise specification for the human diet, developed by our human ancestors over millenia past, and postulates that our bodies are designed to work according to those instructions and no others. Modern-day humans have changed very little, genetically speaking, and we are still living in bodies that Nature designed to thrive in that far off time. Examining our ancestors' way of life provides powerful clues to how we should be living today. These remarkable insights show how, in many surprising and unsuspected ways, we can make critical, life-transforming adjustments. One of the most troubling aspects of our busy lives is the constant bombardment of conflicting messages directed at us by the health and food industries. Nutritional anthropology brings peace of mind and enables everyone to judge for oneself. It claims that it gets at the root causes of the "diseases of civilization": cancer, heart disease, stroke, diabetes, obesity, arthritis, osteoporosis, Alzheimer's disease, and many more. This session will review the basic aspects of this exciting new field.
Regular sessions will include: Population studies and biochemical clues; digestive system and dietary clues; cultural and psychological factors; nutritional models and personalized food pyramids; health diet; and raw foodism (or rawism).
PLENARY SESSION 5: LIFESTYLE FACTORS AND CANCER
Cancer is a diverse class of more than 100 different diseases which differ widely in their causes and biology and in which a group of cells display "uncontrolled growth" (division beyond the normal limits), "invasion" (intrusion on, and destruction of, adjacent tissues), and sometimes "metastasis" (spread to other locations in the body via lymph or blood). These three malignant properties of cancer differentiate them from benign tumors, which are self-limited, and do not invade or metastasize. Most cancers form a tumor but some, like leukemia, do not. Cancer may affect people of all ages, even fetuses, but the risk for most varieties increases with age. Cancer causes about 13% of all deaths. According to the American Cancer Society, 7.6 million people died from cancer in the world during 2007. Cancer can also affect animals. Nearly all cancers are caused by abnormalities in the genetic material of the transformed cells ( 15%), poor dietary habits (30%), smoking (30%), infectious agents (5%), workplace-related exposure (5%), obesity and lack of exercise (5%), alcohol (3%), UV-ray exposure (2%), pollution (2%), drugs (1%), and others (1%). Other cancer-promoting genetic abnormalities may be randomly acquired through error in DNA replication, or are inherited, and thus present in all cells from birth. The heritability of cancers is usually affected by complex interactions between carcinogens and the host's genome. New aspects of cancer pathogenesis such as DNA-methylation and micro-RNAs are increasingly recognized as important.
Regular sessions will review: the causes of cancer, its mechanisms, its prevention, and reducing its risk factors. It will also compare the effects of chemotherapy and metronomic therapy," and the use of neutraceuticals to combat cancer.
PLENARY SESSION 6: LIFESTYLE FACTORS AND HEART DISEASE
Cardiovascular diseases refer to the class of diseases that involve the heart or blood vessels (arteries and veins). While the term technically refers to any disease that affects the cardiovascular system, it is usually used to refer to atherosclerosis (arterial disease). The conditions have similar causes, mechanisms, and treatments. Most countries face high and increasing rates of cardiovascular disease. It is the number one cause of death and disability in the United States and most European countries (data available through 2005). A large histological study, the "Pathological Determinants of Atherosclerosis in Youth (PDAY)" study showed vascular injury accumulates from adolescence, making prevention efforts necessary from childhood. By the time that heart problems are detected, the underlying cause (atherosclerosis) is usually quite advanced, having progressed for decades. There is therefore increased emphasis on preventing atherosclerosis by reducing risk factors, such as lifestyle modification through stress reduction, healthy diet, exercise, and avoidance of smoking, which may prevent, eliminate or reduce nearly all forms of heart disease. Unlike many other chronic medical conditions, cardiovascular disease is treatable and reversible, even after a long history of disease. Treatment is primarily focused on diet and stress reduction.
Regular sessions will include: causes of cardiovascular disease, its mechanisms, and prevention particularly through lifestyle modification.
PLENARY SESSION 7: LIFESTYLE FACTORS AND DIABETES
Diabetes is a syndrome of disordered metabolism usually due to a combination of hereditary and environmental causes resulting in abnormally high blood sugar levels (hyperglycemia). Blood glucose levels are controlled by a complex interaction of multiple chemicals and hormones in the body, including the hormone insulin made in the beta cells of the pancreas. Diabetes mellitus refers to the group of diseases that lead to high blood glucose levels due to defects in either insulin secretion or insulin action in the body. Diabetes develops due to a diminished production of insulin (in type 1) or resistance to its effect (in type 2 and gestational). Both lead to hyperglycemia, which largely causes the acute signs of diabetes: excessive urine production, resulting compensatory thirst and increased fluid intake, blurred vision, unexplained weight loss, lethargy, and changes in energy metabolism. Diabetes and its treatments can cause many complications. Acute complications including hypoglycemia, ketoacidosis, or non-ketonic hyperosmolar coma may occur if the disease is not adequately controlled. Serious long-term complications include cardiovascular disease, chronic renal failure, retinal damage, which can lead to blindness, several types of nerve damage, and microvascular damage, which may cause erectile dysfunction and poor wound healing. Poor healing of wounds, particularly of the feet, can lead to gangrene, and possibly to amputation. Adequate treatment of diabetes, as well as increased emphasis on blood pressure control and lifestyle factors such as not smoking and maintaining a healthy body weight, may improve the risk profile of most of the chronic complications. In the developed world, diabetes is the most significant cause of adult blindness in the non-elderly and the leading cause of non-traumatic amputation in adults, and diabetic nephropathy is the main illness requiring renal dialysis. Among the body's systems affected by diabetes are the nervous, digestive, circulatory, endocrine and urinary systems.
Regular sessions will include: diabetes classification, causes, mechanisms, and prevention particularly through lifestyle modification.
REGULAR SESSION 8: LIFESTYLE FACTORS AND OSTEOPOROSIS
Osteoporosis is a bone disease that leads to an increased risk of fracture. In osteoporosis, the bone mineral density (BMD) is reduced, bone microarchitecture is disrupted, and the amount and variety of non-collagenous proteins in bone is altered. The disease is most common in women after menopause, but may also develop in men. Given the risk of fragility structure, osteoporosis may significantly affect life expectancy and quality of life. Osteoporosis can be prevented with lifestyle changes and sometimes medication. Lifestyle changes include preventing falls (including exercise to tone ambulatory muscles, proprioception-improvement exercises, and equilibrium therapies) and exercise (with its anabolic effect); medication includes calcium, vitamin D, biphosphonates and several others.
Regular sessions will include: causes of osteoporosis, its mechanisms, risk factors, and prevention through lifestyle modification.
PLENARY SESSION 9: LIFESTYLE FACTORS AND SENILE DEMENTIA
Alzheimer's disease (AD), or senile dementia of the Alzheimer's type (SDAT), the most common form of dementia, is a degenerative and terminal disease. Although generally diagnosed in people over 65 years of age, the less prevalent early onset AD can occur much earlier. An estimated 26.65 million people worldwide had AD in 2006 and this number may quadruple by year 2050. AD is one of the most economically costly diseases to society. Although each sufferer experiences AD in a unique way, there are many common symptoms (early memory loss, followed by confusion, inability and aggression, mood swings, language breakdown, long term memory loss, general withdrawal and decline, loss of bodily functions, and ultimately death).
The earliest symptoms are often mistakenly thought to be age-related concerns or manifestations of stress. The cause and progression of AD are not well understood. Research indicates that the disease is associated with plaques and tangles in the brain. Many measures have been suggested for the prevention of AD, but their value is unproven in slowing the course and reducing the severity of the disease. Mental stimulation, exercise, and a balanced diet are often recommended as both a possible prevention and a sensible way of managing the disease.
Regular sessions will include: characteristics of dementia (pre-, early, moderate, and advanced dementia), causes, mechanisms, risk factors, and prevention through lifestyle modification.
PLENARY SESSION 10: LIFESTYLE FACTORS AND ARTHRITIS
There are over 100 different forms of arthritis. The most common form, "osteoarthritis" (degenerate joint disease) is a result of trauma to the joint, infection of the joint, or age. Other arthritis forms are "rheumatoid arthritis", "psoriatic arthritis", and "autoimmune diseases" in which the body attacks itself. "Septic arthritis" is caused by joint infection. "Gouty arthritis" is caused by deposition of uric acid crystals in the joint causing inflammation. Other forms include "juvenile idiopathic arthritis", "Still's disease", and "ankylosing spondylitis".
Treatment options vary depending on the type of arthritis and include physical therapy, lifestyle changes (including exercise and weight control), orthopedic bracing, medications, and dietary supplements (symptomatic or targeted at the disease process causing the arthritis). Arthroplasty (joint replacement surgery) may be required in eroding forms of arthritis.
In general, studies have shown that physical exercise of the joint affected can have noticeable improvement in terms of long-term pain relief. Furthermore, exercise of the arthritic joint is encouraged to maintain the health of the particular joint and the overall body of the person.
Regular sessions will focus on lifestyle changes (exercise including physical exercise of the joint, weight control) and their benefit in selected forms of arthritis.
PLENARY SESSION 11: LIFESTYLE FACTORS AND DEGENERATIVE DISEASES
A degenerative disease is a disease in which the function or structure of the affected tissues or organs will progressively deteriorate over time, whether due to normal bodily wear or lifestyle choices such as exercise or eating habits. Some examples of degenerative diseases include: amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) such as, for example, Lou Gehrig's disease; Alzheimer's disease; Parkinson's disease; multiple system atrophy; Niemann Pick disease; atherosclerosis; progressive supranuclear palsy; cancer; Tay-Sachs disease; diabetes; heart disease; keratoconus; inflammatory bowel disease (IBD); prostatitis; osteoarthritis; osteoporosis; rheumatoid arthritis; Huntington's disease.
Regular sessions will focus on some of the degenerative diseases not covered in other sessions and will describe the benefits of lifestyle changes.
PLENARY SESSION 12: LIFESTYLE FACTORS AND HIV/AIDS
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome (or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome) (AIDS) is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). This condition progressively reduces the effectiveness of the immune system and leaves individuals susceptible to opportunistic infections and tumors.
HIV is transmitted through direct contact of a mucous membrane or the blood stream with a bodily fluid containing HIV, such as blood, semen, vaginal fluid, preseminal fluid, and breast milk. It is possible to find HIV in the saliva, tears and urine of infected individuals, but there are no recorded cases of infection by these secretions, and the risk of infection is negligible.
The three main transmission routes are sexual contact, exposure to infected body fluids or tissues (including blood transfusion, contaminated hypodermic needles), and from mother to fetus or child during pregnancy, perinatal period, childbirth, breastfeeding or other exposure to one of the above bodily fluids.
Although treatment for AIDS and HIV can slow the course of the disease, there is currently no vaccine or cure. Antiretroviral treatment reduces both the mortality and the morbidity of HIV infection, but these drugs are expensive and routine access to antiretroviral medication is not available in all countries. Due to the difficulty in treating HIV infection, preventing infection is a key aim in controlling the AIDS pandemic, with health organizations promoting safe sex and needle-exchange programmes in attempts to slow the spread of the virus. Failing that, if and where available, treatment consists in the administration of an antiretroviral directly after a highly significant exposure. called post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP).
Regular sessions will concentrate on lifestyle changes based on infection avoidance approaches.
Support of the:
THIRD INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM OF THE
ASSOCIATION OF OBSTETRICIANS AND GYNECOLOGISTS OF QUEBEC (AOGQ)
and
FIFTH INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE OF SURGERY OF THE
NEW EUROPEAN SURGERY ACADEMY (NESA)
Palma de Majorque, Spain, 13-15 September 2012
http://www.uspnesadays.com/fr/index.html
The meeting is jointly organized by the Association of Obstetricians and Gynecologists of Quebec (AOGQ), Dr. Robert Sabbah, MD, President and Director of the International Institute of Medicine and Science, Inc. and the New European Surgical Academy (NESA), Dr. Michael Stark, MD, President.
The Innovation Days USP NESA 2012 will be held 13-15 September 2012 in collaboration with the Society of Laparoscopic Surgeons (SLS) , the International Academy of Medicine and Laser Surgery (IAMLS) and AOGQ. The AOGQ Day will be held 14 September 2012.
The theme of the Symposium and Conference will be "Innovations in Surgery and Telesurgery" with aim to allow surgeons, gynecologists and urologists to update their skills in novel surgical modalities so as to apply them in their daily practice.
The International Scientific Board includes representatives from Austria, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, China, Denmark, Dubai, France, Germany, Greece, Israel, Italy, Japan, Romania, Spain, Sweden, Turkey, and the U.S.A.
The program will include the following sessions:
KEYNOTE LECTURES:
"When will videoendoscopy replace almost all the open surgeries?"
"Natural orifice surgery: State of the Art"
"The future of telesurgery"
INTERDISCIPLINARY SESSIONS I:
"National experience with focused ultrasound"
"Novelties in endoscopy"
"Modern anesthesiology in modern surgery"
" The results of the first three years of the introduction of the safety checklist"
LASER SESSION:
"Scientific research and clinical practice"
"Pain control with LLL therapy"
"Phenothiazines molecular modifications at interaction with laser beams"
"The use of laser in gynecology - reconsideration"
INTERDISCIPLINARY SESSION II:
"Surgical surprises during operative laparoscopy"
"Ten-step vaginal hysterectomy: Standardizing the vaginal approach"
"Comparison of endoscopy to a novel telesurgical system with haptic sensation"
MEDICAL EDUCATION:
"The International Medical School"
"Novel concepts in the medical curriculum"
"E-learning and telelearning"
ANTIBIOTICS AND CHEMOTHERAPY IN SURGERY:
"Antibiotics and caesarean section - A paradigm shift"
"Modern trends in chemotherapy in breast cancer"
"The WHO's Safe Surgery Saves Lives Project for ensuring timing and dosage of antibiotics"
ETHICS AND SURGERY:
"A bioethical reflection on new surgical perspectives and progress in surgical methods in
respect with human and ethical dimensions"
"Ethical aspects of surgery from a Reverend's point of view"
"How ethical issues changed the surgical practice"
PROPHYLACTIC SALPINGECTOMY: Panel discussion
SERIAL MONITORING OF CHROMOSOMIC MALFORMATIONS: Panel discussion
NOVELTIES IN VPH VACCINATIONS AND NEW DIRECTIONS IN QUEBEC: Panel discussion
TELESURGERY:
"A novel telesurgical concept and system with haptic sensation"
"First clinical studies"
"Telesurgery in the United States 2000-2010"
"Telesurgery and urology"
"Telesurgery in Italy"
NOVELTIES IN ENDOSCOPY:
"How laparotomy became history"
"Video-assisted laparoscopic treatment of endometriosis of bowel, bladder, ureter, liver,
lung and diaphragm"
"How endoscopy replaced open surgery in Turkey"
"The international prospect of the usage of endoscopy"
"Endoscopical treatment of endometriosis"
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES AND THEIR UTILITY IN GYNECOLOGY: Panel discussion
ROBOTICS IN GYNECO-ONCOLOGY: Panel discussion
INFERTILITY I:
"Ageing ovaries DHEA"
"Fertiloscope - State of the art"
"Fertility preservation"
"Egg banking"
"Effect of estradiol level after HCG administration on IVF success rate"
"An update in myomectomy for infertile patients: Robotic, laparoscopic or abdominal?
NOVELTIES IN SURGICAL HYSTEROSCOPY: Panel discussion
FETAL THERAPY: INTRA- AND EXTRA-UTERINE SURGERY: Panel discussion
HANDLING OF GEMELLAR PREGNANCIES: Panel discussion
INFERTILITY II:
"IVF in developing countries"
"Vitrification"
"FMR1 gene and predictive value in ART"
"Cross-border fertility treatments"
"Embryo selection"
"In vitro oocyte maturation"
MODERN TREATMENT OF ENDOMETRIOSIS: MEDICAL TREATMENT VERSUS SURGERY: Panel discussion
CAESAREAN SECTION IN THE 21st CENTURY:
"The optimal evidence-based caesarean section"
"Leave the perironeum open and prevent adhesions"
"Caesarean section in Northern Europe"
"Caesarean section in West Africa"
"Caesaean section in the course of history"
INNOVATIONS IN OBSTETRICS AND GYNECOLOGY I:
"Distribution of substance P and vasoactive intestinal peptide in pseudocapsules in uterine fibroids"
"Gynecological endoscopy - Quo Vadis?
"Feasibility of vaginal myomectomy: the culdotomic approach"
"How could we provide least ovarian damage and most ovarian reserve in endometrioma excision?
PREVENTIVE MEDICINE:
"Safe surgery saves lives"
"Implementation of safe surgery in a large surgical center"
"Nutrition and health"
INNOVATIONS IN OBSTETRICS AND GYNECOLOGY II:
"The uterine fibroid story to rewrite in the light of new scientific evidences"
"Video-assisted laparoscopic hysterectomy for severe endometriosis and large myoma"
"Placenta accreta and its total management"
"Management of uterine rupture during pregnancy"
NATURAL ORIFICE SURGERY:
"The transoral thyroidectomy - From theory to practice"
"Ductoscopy in the diagnosis of breast cancer - State of the art"
"The future of abdominal surgery"
"The use of the pouch of Douglas for assessment of infertility"
"The potential of the pouch of Douglas as a port for intra-abdominal surgery"