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LATEST ADVANCES ON OSTEOARTHRITIS TO BE PRESENTED AT WORLD CONGRESS IN CHICAGO
Promoting Clinical and Basic Research in Osteoarthritis
NJ, USA – The OsteoArthritis Research Society International (OARSI) presents the Ninth World Congress on Osteoarthritis, December 2-5, 2004 at the Hyatt Regency Chicago in Chicago , Illinois USA.
This is the world's premiere meeting for basic scientists, clinical investigators, clinicians, radiologists, orthopedists, rheumatologists, industry scientists, policy makers and others interested in osteoarthritis research and treatment.
There are a variety of research and educational objectives:
• Imaging
• Standards
• Epidemiology
• Genetics
• Cell and Matrix Biology
• Biomechanics and Aging
Highlights include presentations on cutting edge techniques on visualizing and quantifying the key tissue involved in OA, pain and disability and the important studies on the role of obesity (an epidemic in the U.S. and a risk factor for OA).
The meeting begins Thursday afternoon December 2, with the first session “From Gross Anatomy to the Constituents of Cartilage: Advancements in the Application of MRI in Osteoarthritis” followed by the keynote addresses by Charles J. Menkes and Michel Lequesne. OARSI then presents the Special Recognition Award to Gordon and Carole Segal, co-founders of Crate and Barrel, for their significant contributions to OA.
Friday highlights include exciting new breakfast workshops focusing on OA initiatives and the use of gene arrays. New clinical information and methodologies in which new disease modifying medicines can be evaluated more quickly will also be presented.
Saturday program highlights include two new breakfast workshops focusing on gene expression and hand OA. New information on how we can exploit the local environment of the joint to develop novel strategies to modify disease course and prevent progression, and complement medical treatment will also be presented.
With the tremendous attendance at last year's Congress in Berlin , OARSI has recognized the need to increase the opportunities for oral presentations. This year for the first time, OARSI offers concurrent oral presentation sessions. In an effort to meet the interests of attendees, more clinical topics that appeal to the clinicians in the field of osteoarthritis have also been added. The concurrent breakfast workshops allow attendees to meet "experts" in a specific area of osteoarthritis science. These sessions allow for more one-on-one contact with speakers and fellow attendees.
Joint diseases account for the majority of all chronic conditions in individuals 65 years and older. Osteoarthritis represents the single most prevalent age-related disease and with the increasing numbers of the elderly in both developed and developing countries, it is expected to have a profound impact on the health care and quality of life for senior citizens.
The OsteoArthritis Research Society International (OARSI) promotes and encourages fundamental and applied research, and disseminates the results in order to permit better knowledge of osteoarthritis and its treatment.
Members of the press should visit www.oarsi.org to register (free) or for more details. Media interviews are welcome and can be arranged.
October, 2004