AGA presents cutting-edge research during DDW®

AGA presents cutting-edge research during DDW®

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

San Diego, CA (May 18, 2012) — Clinicians, researchers and scientists from around the world will gather for Digestive Disease Week® (DDW) 2012, the largest and most prestigious gastroenterology meeting, from May 19-22, 2012, at the San Diego Convention Center, CA. DDW, the annual meeting of the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) Institute, is jointly sponsored by the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases, the AGA, the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy and the Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract.

AGA researchers will present exciting, cutting-edge data during the meeting that will help change the way physicians diagnose and treat gastrointestinal (GI) disorders. All data presented during DDW is embargoed until the beginning of the presentation or an official DDW press conference, whichever occurs first. A list of press conferences is available at www.ddw.org/press. All sessions will be held in the San Diego Convention Center unless otherwise noted.

AGA Late-Breaking Sessions Late-breaking abstract poster sessions will occur on May 21, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. PT, Halls C–G. In addition, on May 22, 8:30 a.m. PT, Room 20d, the AGA will feature its most impressive late-breaking abstracts, which include exciting data on:

• Oral Methylnaltrexone for the Treatment of Opioid-Induced Constipation in Patients With Noncancer Pain (8:30 a.m. PT, Abstract #943a) Richard L. Rauck et al.
• Vedolizumab Induction Therapy for Ulcerative Colitis: Results of Gemini I, a Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Double-Blind, Multicenter Phase 3 Trial (8:45 a.m. PT, Abstract #943b) Brian G. Feagan et al.
• Accelerated Step-Care Therapy With Early Azathioprine (AZA) vs. Conventional Step-Care Therapy in Crohn's Disease: A Randomized Study (9 a.m. PT, Abstract #943c) Jacques Cosnes et al.
• A Phase 2/3 Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Double-Blind Study to Evaluate the Safety and Efficacy of Subcutaneous Golimumab Induction Therapy in Patients With Moderately to Severely Active Ulcerative Colitis: Pursuit SC (9:15 a.m. PT, Abstract #943d) William J. Sandborn et al.
• Mudelta Treatment Improves Bowel Movement Frequency and Urgency Episodes in Patients With Diarrhea-Predominant Irritable Bowel Syndrome: Results of a Phase 2 Clinical Trial (9:30 a.m. PT, Abstract #943e) Paul S. Covington et al.
• Tmc435 in HCV Genotype 1 Patients Who Have Failed Previous Pegylated Interferon/Ribavirin Treatment: Final Svr24 Results of the Aspire Trial (9:45 a.m. PT, Abstract #943f ) Fred Poordad et al.

Plenary Sessions
During the Presidential Plenary Session, AGA Institute President, C. Richard Boland, MD, AGAF, will focus on the latest research and clinical advances in the field of gastroenterology. Two additional plenary sessions feature noteworthy clinical and basic science research presented at DDW.
The Presidential Plenary Session presentations (May 21, 10 a.m. PT, Room 20d) include:

• The Future of Clinical Practice in Gastroenterology. John I. Allen, Minnesota Gastroenterology PA; University of Minnesota School of Medicine
• Medicine in the United Kingdom - Contrasts and Lessons From the National Health Service. Jonathan M. Rhodes, University of Liverpool
• Curing Chronic Viral Hepatitis - the New World of Antiviral Therapy. Jacqueline G. O'Leary, Liver Consultants of Texas
• GI Motility, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, and Women. Lin Chang, UCLA Division of Digestive Diseases
• The Future of Personalized Medicine - Reality vs Illusion. Anil K. Rustgi, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine
• How Will We Prevent Colorectal Cancer in the Future? Dennis J. Ahnen, Denver VA Medical Center
• The Microbiome and Inflammation. Gary D. Wu, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine
• Obesity, Diet and the Microbiome. Lee M. Kaplan, Massachusetts General Hospital
• The Future of IBD Therapy. William J. Sandborn, University of California, San Diego

The Basic Science Plenary Session presentations (May 20, 2:15 p.m. PT, Room 6e) include:

• Heme Oxygenase-1 Maintains Intestinal Homeostasis Through Augmented Enteric Bacterial Clearance (2:20 p.m. PT, Abstract #514) Joseph C. Onyiah et al.
• Weight-Independent Changes in Gut Microbial Ecology Regulate Adiposity Following Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass Surgery in Mice (2:35 p.m. PT, Abstract #515) Alice P. Liou et al.
• The Gut Microbiota At the Interface Between Mucosal Immunity and Host Metabolism (2:50 p.m. PT, Abstract #Sp502) Martin J. Blaser
• DCLK1 Labels a Multipotent and Residual Neural Crest-Derived Stem Cell in the Gut Epithelium and Enteric Nervous System (3:10 p.m. PT, Abstract #515a) Michael Quante et al.
• Cell-Autonomous ADAM10 Signaling Is Essential for Maintenance of Long-Lived Multipotent Intestinal Stem Cells (3:25 p.m. PT, Abstract #517) Yu-Hwai Tsai et al.
• Patch Clamp Recordings Reveal Paracellular (Tight Junction) Ion Channels (3:40 p.m. PT, Abstract #518) Christopher R. Weber et al.

The Clinical Science Plenary Session presentations (May 21, 8 a.m. PT, Room 20d) include:

• Effect of Flexible Sigmoidoscopy Screening on Incidence and Mortality From Colorectal Cancer in the PLCO Screening Trial (8:05 a.m. PT, Abstract #588) Robert E. Schoen et al.
• Modulation of the Brain-Gut Axis After 4-Week Intervention With a Probiotic Fermented Dairy Product (8:27 a.m. PT, Abstract #589) Kirsten Tillisch et al.
• Screening and Surveillance in Barrett's Esophagus: Does It Make Sense? (8:49 a.m. PT, Abstract #Sp554) David A. Katzka
• One-Year Effectiveness and Costs of Six Alternative H. pylori Test/Treat and Retest/Retreat Strategies Using Triple, Concomitant or Sequential Drug Regimens in Seven Latin American Sites (SWOG Trial S0701) (9:11 a.m. PT, Abstract #590) Javier Torres et al.
• Obese Pediatric Patients Have Increased Cardiovascular Disease Risk Comparable to Pediatric Patients With Familial Dyslipidemia (9:33 a.m. PT, Abstract #591) Angela Shannon et al.

Other exciting data will be presented during DDW, including 41 clinical symposia, 12 translational symposia, 11 research symposia, seven state-of-the-art lectures, six distinguished abstract plenary sessions, and other committee-sponsored and special sessions on a range of GI topics. Additionally, the AGA Institute will sponsor four curbside consultant sessions. A total of 11 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 — will occur throughout the meeting.

AGA Academy of Educators Plenary Session
We are excited to announce that this year, the AGA will offer a committee-sponsored symposium, AGA Academy of Educators: Teaching and Promoting Scholarship in Education (May 22, 8:30 a.m., Hilton San Diego Bayfront - Indigo E). Discussion topics will include developing successful strategies for teaching, opportunities for scholarship and academic advancement in GI and liver medical education, and successes in and barriers to advancement in medical education. Roundtable discussions including expert teachers and other board members of the academy will follow.
AGA Practitioner Picks AGA Practitioner Picks allow attendees to build their DDW schedule around the most clinically relevant sessions. These picks help community-based gastroenterologists choose the programming that will be the most helpful in day-to-day practice:

• Everything You Need to Know about IBS Treatment (May 19, 2:15 p.m. PT, Room 24abc)
• Clinical Chronic Pancreatitis (May 19, 2:15 p.m. PT, Room 4)
• Pathogenesis and Diagnosis of Eosinophilic Esophagitis (May 20, 8:30 a.m. PT, Room 30ab)
• Epidemiology and Management of Eosinophilic Esophagitis (May 20, 2:15 p.m. PT, Room 30cde)
• Sessile Serrated Polyps - What to Do? (May 20, 2:15 p.m. PT, Room 8)
• Clinical Science Plenary (May 21, 8 a.m. PT, Room 20d)
• 2012 Presidential Plenary (May 21, 10 a.m. PT, Room 20d)
• Advances in the Management of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (May 22, 10:30 a.m., Room 20a)
• Prebiotics and Probiotics (May 22, 10:30 a.m., Room 3)
• Managing the Complications of IBD Therapies (May 22, 2:15 p.m. PT, Room 2)
• Pancreatic Malignancy (May 22, 2:15 p.m. PT, Room 26ab)

AGA Institute-Rome Foundation Lectureship
During the sixth annual AGA Institute-Rome Foundation Lectureship (May 20, 10:30 a.m. PT, Room 9), experts will provide a comprehensive overview of Intestinal Permeability in Gastroenterology and its Relevance to Functional GI Disorders and discuss the following topics:

• Regulation of Intestinal Permeability in Health and Disease
• Esophageal Permeability: Does It Explain the Symptoms of NERD?
• Intestinal Permeability: Does It Explain the Symptoms of Functional GI Disorders?

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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About DDW
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 Institute, the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy and the Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract, DDW takes place May 19-22���, 2012, at the San Diego Convention Center, CA. 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.
Follow us on Twitter @DDWMeeting; hashtag #DDW12. Like DDW on Facebook: www.facebook.com/DDWMeeting.