American Lung Association of California Awards $522,000 to Research
In an effort to help new researchers find cures for lung disease, the American Lung Association of California, Oakland, awarded $522,000 to California researchers for fiscal year 2000-2001.

The money will help 20 individuals sustain research projects, develop studies, and pursue careers in the field. Research Training Fellowship Awards, of up to $32,000, provide new researchers with the needed funds to launch their projects in order to secure additional funding. Those committed to investigative or academic research receive the Young Investigator Awards of up to $35,000 per year. The Pulmonary Nurse Fellowship Awards, of up to $6,000, provide master’s level nursing students with assistance to pursue careers in pulmonary care.

“These research grants get young investigators started on a career in lung disease research,” says Steve Dubinett, MD, chair of the American Lung Association of California’s Research Grant Committee. “Each individual study forms just one aspect of a larger picture, and each individual investigator can fill in a different piece, which helps us get closer to new treatments.” Dubinett himself received a grant from the association early in his career.

Jury Still Out on CT Scanning for Early Lung Cancer Detection
With an estimated 164,100 new cases diagnosed in 2000, lung cancer is the leading cause of death in the United States. Lung cancer mortalities, approximately 156,900 in 2000, will account for 28% of all cancer deaths. Three nonrandomized trials studying the effectiveness of computed tomography (CT) in detecting lung nodules early were reviewed in the November 30, 2000, issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.

The Early Lung Cancer Action Project has enrolled 1,000 high-risk smokers over age 60 to examine the use of chest radiography and low-dose CT, and two Japanese studies used chest radiography, low-dose CT, and a 3-day pooled sputum sample.

“The results from these trials confirmed that CT was more sensitive for detecting lung nodules than chest x-ray, and that some of these nodules were lung cancer. However, to date there does not appear to be a dramatic impact on survival in patients who participated in these trials,” says Gerald Bepler, MD, PhD, departments of medicine and cancer genetics at Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, NY, and one of the authors of the review. “Further studies are needed to analyze morbidity and mortality data as well as cost/benefit review.”

Corticosteroids Do Not Impact Long-Term Growth in Asthmatic Children, Study Finds
Two recent studies found that long-term use of inhaled corticosteroid (budesonide) offers significant benefits for childhood asthma control over other treatments and has few side effects, including no extended impact on growth. Growth side effects were limited to a small, temporary reduction in growth velocity, but prolonged use had no effect on final adult height. The Danish study, “Effect of long-term treatment with inhaled budesonide on adult height in children with asthma,” and an National Institutes of Health-sponsored trial, “Long-term effects of budesonide or nedocromil in children with asthma,” were published in the October 9, 2000, issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.

“Fears about an impact on growth have been an obstacle to widespread use of this very important and effective type of medication,” says Nancy Sander, president of Allergy and Asthma Network•Mothers of Asthmatics, Inc, Fairfax, Va. “The new studies should help allay these fears so that more people take advantage of the significant and even life-saving benefits of inhaled corticosteroids.”

FDA Warns Against Cold Medicine Agent
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) urged Americans to avoid common cold remedies and diet pills containing phenylpropanolamine (PPA), an ingredient that could be responsible for causing hemorrhagic strokes in women between the ages of 20 and 50. The FDA, reacting to a study conducted by the Yale University School of Medicine, is taking steps to ban the nonprescription nasal decongestant completely. The study appears in the November 6 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine. Pseudoephedrine is recommended as a substitute for PPA.

Respiratory Infections Linked to Psoriasis
The National Psoriasis Foundation reports that colds, strep throat, and tonsillitis may trigger psoriasis in approximately 20,000 children annually. Psoriasis is a noncontagious, immune-mediated disease that causes skin cells to mature in 3 to 4 days, rather than 28 days, building up the cells to form red, raised, scaly lesions. No cause has been determined, although the condition is generally hereditary. One in 40 people has psoriasis, with approximately 10% to 15% diagnosed before the age of 10. Normal treatments for children are mild, topical medications, including steroids.

Erratum
In the August/September issue, the information in the chart accompanying the article entitled “Predicting Arterial Blood-Gas Results”(p 62) was incorrect. The corrected chart appears below.

To Predict Respiratory pH:
If the Paco2 > 40 mm Hg:
pH = 7.40 – {[(measured Pco2 – 40)/100]/ 2}
If Paco2 < 40 mm Hg:
pH = [(40-measured Paco2)/100] + 7.40

To Predict Hco3 Changes:
To predict Hco3 from Paco2 change:
Hco3 decreases by 2 mmol/L for every 10 mm Hg increase in Paco2
Hco3 increases 1 mmol/L for every 10 mm Hg decrease in Paco2

Table 4. Predicting respiratory pH and Hco3 changes.

d02a.jpg (10644 bytes)New FOCUS Conference Mixes Respiratory Care Education with Fun
On April 5-7, 2001, FOCUS Publications Inc, of Rhinebeck, NY, will balance top-notch lecturers with top-notch entertainment at the first international FOCUS on Respiratory Care Conference being held at the Cleveland Convention Center. More than 4,000 RTs, nurses, and physicians are expected to attend.

Education
The educational program features more than 50 lectures highlighting areas such as adult and pediatric respiratory care, management, and education. Topics include mechanical ventilation, adult respiratory distress syndrome, auto-PEEP, pulmonary hypertension, liquid ventilation, obstructive sleep apnea, and more.

There will also be 10 lectures on holistic medicine, an area that conference chairman Robert Miglino, RRT, MPS, says is often not addressed at many conferences.

For those who have difficulty juggling the show floor and the education schedule, each of the 50 sessions will be presented twice during the conference. Speakers include John Marini, MD; George Burton, MD; Neil McIntyre, MD; Robert Kacmerek, RRT, PhD; Paul Mathews, RRT, PhD; James Stoller, MD; and 44 others. Ten continuing education units are available for both RTs and nurses.

Keynote speaker Patch Adams, MD, personifies FOCUS’s approach to the conference. His story reached the big screen last year with the film “Patch Adams,” starring Robin Williams. Adams, founder of the Gesundheit! Institute, has spoken around the world about the importance of fun and service in health care. His talk “Medicine for Fun, Not Funds” will “fascinate and delight all who hear it,” Miglino says.

Entertainment
The conference will begin with a 4-hour kickoff party in the exhibit hall, followed by a private concert with Don McLean, writer of the rock classic “American Pie.” Comedians, jugglers, caricature artists, stilt walkers, and sports celebrities will walk the exhibition floor during the reception, and there will be many surprises and door prizes.

The following two nights, attendees may attend a private reception at Cleveland’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Those who miss the first night at the Hall of Fame Will play “Who Wants To Be a Respiratory Care Thousandaire” for cash prizes, then attend a second reception at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame the next night.

During the day, attendees will enjoy buffet lunches on the exhibition floor, and baseball players Ron Guidry, Brooks Robinson, and Pete Rose will sign autographs.

“It’s going to bring people out,” Miglino says. “The exceptional lineup of speakers speaking in five different subject areas combined with excellent entertainment all for $195 will provide an excellent value.”

Extras
The conference program includes an optional 4-hour workshop with Patch Adams and his associate Susan Parenti, MD, entitled “Living a Life of Joy.” The workshop is available to the first 250 who purchase tickets. Tickets are $100 apiece.

John Weissleder, RRT, MPS, Dennis Glover, RRT, and George Scott, RRT, will display their combined collections of antique respiratory equipment. The exhibit will be on display for the duration of the show.

Conference Agenda
The Focus on Respiratory Care Conference will take place on April 5-7, 2001. The following is a tentative schedule of events for the 3-day conference:

Thursday, April 5

8:00 am-8:00 pm: Registration booths open for both preregistered attendees and those registering on-site.
5:30 pm: Exhibit hall opens.
5:30 pm-9:30 pm: Attendees receive a free buffet dinner served from 30 different stations in the hall. Entertainment includes door prizes, caricature artists, jugglers, stilt walkers, and live music. Former Yankee pitcher Ron Guidry will also appear to sign autographs.
9:30 pm: Exhibit hall closes.
10:00 pm: Attendees will enjoy a private 2-hour concert featuring Don McLean. Comedian Mike Veneman will open the event in the Cleveland Public Hall.

Friday, April 6

8:15 am-9:15 am: Leah Curtin, RN, ScD, delivers one of two keynote addresses.
9:30 am: Exhibit hall opens.
9:30 am-10:30 am: Attendees choose from 10 concurrent lectures on topics including management, education, adult clinical respiratory care, pediatric/neonatal respiratory care, and holistic medicine.
10:30 am-10:45 am: Break.
10:45 am-11:45 am: Lectures delivered at 9:30 am are repeated.
11:30 am-1:30 pm: Free buffet lunch in the exhibit hall. Baseball Hall of Famer Brooks Robinson will sign autographs.
1:30 pm-2:30 pm: Attendees choose from 10 more lectures again covering topics in management, education, adult clinical respiratory care, pediatric/neonatal respiratory care, and holistic medicine.
1:30 pm-5:30 pm: Patch Adams, MD, and his associate Susan Parenti, MD, will offer an optional workshop to the first 250 registrants. The fee is $100 per person.
2:30 pm -2:45 pm: Break.
2:45 pm-3:45 pm: The lectures delivered at 1:30 pm are repeated.
4:00 pm-5:00 pm: Attendees choose from five lectures focusing on topics
such as management, education, adult clinical respiratory care, pediatric/neonatal respiratory care, and holistic medicine.
4:00 pm: Exhibit hall closes.
8:00 pm-12:00 am: Attendees take their pick of attending either a private reception at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame or a game of “Who Wants To Be a Respiratory Care Thousandaire” for cash prizes.

Saturday, April 7

8:00 am: Exhibit hall opens.
8:00 am-9:00 am: Attendees receive complimentary morning coffee and Danish in the exhibit hall.
9:00 am: Patch Adams, MD, delivers the second keynote speech of the conference entitled “Medicine for Fun, Not Funds.”
10:15 am-11:15 am: Attendees choose from 10 concurrent lectures on topics including management, education, adult clinical respiratory care, pediatric/neonatal respiratory care, and holistic medicine.
11:15 am-11:30 am: Break.
11:30 am-12:30 pm: The lectures delivered at 10:15 am are repeated.
11:30 am-1:30 pm: Free buffet lunch in the exhibit hall. Former Cincinnati Reds star Pete Rose will sign autographs.
1:30 pm-2:30 pm: Attendees choose from 10 different lectures on topics including management, education, adult clinical respiratory care, pediatric/neonatal respiratory care, and holistic medicine.
2:30 pm-2:45 pm: Break.
2:45 pm-3:45 pm: The lectures delivered at 1:30 pm are repeated.
4:00 pm: Exhibit hall closes.
4:00 pm-5:00 pm: The lectures delivered on April 6 at 4 pm are repeated.
5:00 pm: The conference is adjourned.

New Kid on the Block
The FOCUS on Respiratory Care Conference is the first internationally marketed respiratory care conference sponsored by an entity other than the American Association for Respiratory Care (AARC). Robert Miglino, an RRT himself, believes that RTs will benefit from attending both shows.

“I feel RCPs can benefit by attending both conferences,” Miglino says, “the definitive conference of our profession put on by the AARC, and now, the new conference being produced by us.”

As an incentive to attendees, the FOCUS team arranged for discounted hotel rates, airfares, and meals. “The driving force of our show is affordability,” Miglino says. “We’ve been working for two solid years to come up with an affordable package in an affordable city.”

For $195, attendees can access the exhibition hall and educational sessions as well as two nights of entertainment and three catered meals. A $10 donation out of every RT’s registration is also being given back to his or her state society. There is also a $20-discount for RT students.

For more information about the FOCUS on Respiratory Care Conference, call (800) 661-5690, or visit www.foocus.com.