The American Thoracic Society’s 13 assemblies have highlighted these abstracts as some of the most interesting to be presented at the 2012 International Conference in San Francisco. The abstracts submitted are reviewed and programmed by the ATS Assembly Program Committees. Each Assembly has chosen two abstracts to showcase as examples of the Assembly’s focus. Starting at the end of April, search online for full abstracts by name, title, author or session.
ASSEMBLY ON ALLERGY, IMMUNOLOGY AND INFLAMMATION
“Phenotype Determinants for Asthma Severity Clusters and Genetic Association for Cluster-Based Asthma Severity in Severe Asthma Research Program (SARP).” Authors: X. Li, W.C. Moore, H. Li, E.J. Ampleford, W.W. Busse, S.C. Erzurum, S.E. Wenzel, T.D. Howard, G.A. Hawkins, D.A. Meyers, E.R. Bleecker; Winston-Salem, NC, Madison, WI, Cleveland, OH, Pittsburgh, PA. Session: B21 “Genetics of Asthma.” (Poster Discussion Session: 8:15-10:45 a.m., Monday, May 21, Room 3014, West Building, Level 3, Moscone Center)
“Real-Time Microscopy of Alveolar Macrophages in the Mouse Lung.” Authors: K. Westphalen, M.N. Islam, G.A. Gusarova, J. Bhattacharya; New York, NY. Session: C92 “Control of Macrophage Polarization and Effector Functions.” (Mini Symposium: 2-4:30 p.m., Tuesday, May 22, Room 3005-3007, West Building, Level 3, Moscone Center)
ASSEMBLY ON BEHAVIORAL SCIENCE
“The Feasibility of Text Messaging to Measure Asthma Medication Use and Symptoms in Urban African-American Young Adults.” Authors: K.K. MacDonell, W.M. Gibson-Scipio, S. Naar-King; Detroit, MI. Session: A93 “Identifying Risk Factors and Potential Interventions for Asthma Adherence.” (Mini Symposium: 2-4:30 p.m., Sunday, May 20, Room 2001-2003, West Building, Level 2, Moscone Center)
“Lung Cancer Outcomes Among Patients With Depression.” Authors: D.R. Sullivan, J.P. Duckart, C.G. Slatore; Portland, OR. Session: A22 “Psychosocial Factors Associated With Respiratory Health Outcomes.” (Poster Discussion Session: 8:15-10:45 a.m., Sunday, May 20, Room 2014, West Building, Level 2, Moscone Center)
ASSEMBLY ON CLINICAL PROBLEMS
“Cognitive Function and Cerebral Functional Connectivity in COPD: A Resting State Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging Study.” Authors: J.W. Dodd, A.W. Chung, M.D. van den Broek, R.A. Charlton, T.R. Barrick, P.W. Jones; London, United Kingdom. Session: C23 “COPD Comorbidities: Expanding the Horizons.” (Poster Discussion Session: 8:15-10:45 a.m., Tuesday, May 22, Room 131, North Building, Lower Level, Moscone Center)
“Interleukin 8 (IL8) Expression in Nasal Epithelia Is Correlated With a Genetic Variant in the IL8 Promoter Associated With Cystic Fibrosis Lung Disease Severity.” Authors: D. Polineni, X. Guo, L.C. Jones, A.T. Dang, M. Boyle, J.F. Chmiel, P.R. Durie, M.L. Drumm, W.K. O’Neal, M.R. Knowles; Chapel Hill, NC, Baltimore, MD, Cleveland, OH, Toronto, Canada. Session: D16 “Cystic Fibrosis: Biomarkers, Outcome Measures, and Pathogenesis.” (Mini Symposium: 8:15-10:45 a.m., Wednesday, May 23, Room 3006-3008, West Building, Level 3, Moscone Center)
ASSEMBLY ON CRITICAL CARE
“Nighttime Intensivist Staffing and Mortality in Critically Ill Patients.” Authors: D.J. Wallace, D.C. Angus, A.E. Barnato, A.A. Kramer, J.M. Kahn; Pittsburgh, PA, Kansas City, KS. Session: C94 “From Bay to Breaking Intensive Care Unit Capacity: Staffing, Strains and Stemming the Tide.” (Mini Symposium: 2-4:15 p.m., Tuesday, May 22, Room 308-310, South Building, Esplanade Level, Moscone Center)
“SLEAP: A Multicenter Randomized Trial of Daily Awakening in Critically Ill Patients Being Managed With a Sedation Protocol.” Authors: S. Mehta, L. Burry, D.J. Cook, M. Steinberg, D. Fergusson, P. Hebert, M.S. Herridge, J. Granton, N.D. Ferguson, J.W. Devlin, M. Tanios, R. Fowler, P.M. Dodek, K.E.A. Burns, M. Jacka, K. Olafson, S. Reynolds, S. Keenan, Y. Skrobik, J. Kutsogiannis, K. Antoni, M. Meade; Toronto, Hamilton, Ottawa, Canada, Boston, MA, Long Beach, CA, Vancouver, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Surrey, Montreal, Canada; for the SLEAP Investigators and Canadian Critical Care Trials Group. Session: C14 “Clinical Trials in Critical Care.” (Mini Symposium: 8:15-10:30 a.m., Tuesday, May 22, Room 304-306, South Building, Esplanade Level, Moscone Center)
ASSEMBLY ON ENVIRONMENTAL AND OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH
“Exposure to Air Pollution During Pregnancy and Pulmonary Function Growth in the FACES LiTE Cohort.” Authors: A.M. Padula, O. Humblet, K. Mortimer, F. Lurmann, I. Tager; Berkeley, San Francisco, Sonoma, CA. Session: A49 “Air Pollution: Respiratory and Novel Health Effects Thematic.” (Poster Session: 8:15-4:30 p.m., Sunday, May 20, Area A, Hall D, North Building, Lower Level, Moscone Center)
“Vitamin D Deficiency and Decline in Lung Function in COPD Patients.” Authors: L.J.P. Persson, M. Aanerud, P.S. Hiemstra, J.A. Hardie, P. Bakke, T.M. Eagan Bergen, Norway, Leiden, Netherlands, Bergen Respiratory Research Group. Session: C15 “Predictors for COPD Progression and Outcomes.” (Mini Symposium: 8:15-10:45 a.m., Tuesday, May 22, Room 3020-3022, West Building, Level 3, Moscone Center)
ASSEMBLY ON MICROBIOLOGY, TUBERCULOSIS AND PULMONARY INFECTIONS
“Azithromycin Decreases Exacerbations in Non-Cystic Fibrosis Bronchiectasis.” Authors: C.A. Wong, L. Jayaram, N. Karalus, T. Eaton, C. Tong, H. Hockey, D. Milne, W. Ferguson, C. Tuffery, P. Sexton, L. Storey, T. Ashton; Auckland, New Zealand, Melbourne, Australia, Hamilton, New Zealand; EMBRACE Study Group. Session: B95 “Bench to Bedside Advances in Bronchiectasis.” (Mini Symposium: 2-4:30 p.m., Monday, May 21, Room 2009-2011, West Building, Level 2, Moscone Center)
“Novel Mycobacterium Tuberculosis Antigen-Specific T-Cells are Early Markers of Infection and Disease Progression.” Authors: D.P.S. Dosanjh, M. Bakir, K. Millington, A. Soysal, Y. Aslan, S. Efee, A. Lalvani, J.J. Deeks; London, United Kingdom, Istanbul, Turkey, Birmingham, United Kingdom. Session: D96 “What’s New in Tuberculosis Diagnostics.” (Mini Symposium: 2-4:30 p.m., Wednesday, May 23, Room 308-310, South Building, Esplanade Level, Moscone Center)
ASSEMBLY ON NURSING
“Long-Term Outcomes of a Nurse-Led Community-Based COPD Exacerbation Management Program.” Authors: A. Hutchinson, C. Brand, M. Thompson, G. Anderson, L. Irving; Parkville, Prahran, Australia. Session: A96 “Transitions in Health Care Setting, Disease Management, and Disease State.” (Mini Symposium: 2-4:30 p.m., Sunday, May 20, Room 132-133, North Building, Lower Level, Moscone Center)
“Sleep in Family Caregivers of Adult ICU Survivors from ICU Admission to 2 Months Post-ICU Discharge: A Pilot Analysis.” Authors: J. Choi, L.A. Hoffman, M.P. Donahoe, D. Ren, P.R. Sherwood; Pittsburgh, PA. Session: A96 “Transitions in Health Care Setting, Disease Management, and Disease State.” (Mini Symposium: 2-4:30 p.m., Sunday, May 20, Room 132-133, North Building, Lower Level, Moscone Center)
ASSEMBLY ON PEDIATRICS
“Macrophage-Mediated, Lentiviral Gene Therapy of Hereditary Pulmonary Alveolar Proteinosis (hPAP): Preclinical Efficacy and Safety Studies.” Authors: T. Suzuki, P. Malik, T. Sallese, J.C.M. van der Loo, D. Black, B. Carey, C. Chalk, R.E. Wood, B.C. Trapnell; Cincinnati, OH. Session: C16 “Best of Pediatrics.” (Mini Symposium” 8:15-10:45 a.m., Tuesday, May 22, Room 2006-2008, West Building, Level 2, Moscone Center)
“Sox17 Is Required for Normal Pulmonary Vascular Development.” Authors: A. Lange, H.M. Haitchi, T. LeCras, J.A. Whitsett; Cincinnati, OH, Southampton, United Kingdom. Session: C16 “Best of Pediatrics.” (Mini Symposium: 8:15-10:45 a.m., Tuesday, May 22Room 2006-2008, West Building, Level 2, Moscone Center)
ASSEMBLY ON PULMONARY CIRCULATION
“Heparanase Is a Mediator of Acute Lung Injury and Mortality in Murine Sepsis and as Active in Human Disease.” Authors: E.P. Schmidt, Y. Yang, W.J. Janssen, A. Gandjeva, L. Barthel, M.J. Perez, J. Bowman, Z. Yunt, D.E. Koyanagi, K.H. Overdier, K.R. Thompson, I.S. Douglas, D.B. Pearse, R.M. Tuder; Aurora, Denver, CO, Baltimore, MD. Session: B96 “Mechanisms and Markers of Pulmonary Endothelial Barrier Disruption and Repair.” (Mini Symposium: 2-4:30 p.m., Monday, May 21, Room 3016-3018, West Building, Level 3, Moscone Center)
“Somatic Deletion of SMAD9 in Congenital Heart Disease-Associated Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension Leads to Altered MicroRNA Processing and Cell Hyperproliferation.” Authors: M.A. Aldred, C. Federici, S.A.A. Comhair, S.C. Erzurum, K.M. Drake; Cleveland, OH. Session: D97 “Pulmonary Hypertension: New Insights into Causes and Treatments?” (Mini Symposium: 2-4:30 p.m., Wednesday, May 23, Room 3006-3008, West Building, Level 3, Moscone Center)
ASSEMBLY ON PULMONARY REHABILITATION
“Magnitude of Improvement in Exercise Tolerance Following Pulmonary Rehabilitation Predicts Survival: A Long-Term Observational Study.” Authors: J.E.A. Williams, R.H. Green, S.J. Singh; Leicester, United Kingdom. Session: B97 “Pulmonary Rehabilitation: The Best of the Best.” (Mini Symposium: 2-4:30 p.m., Monday, May 21, Room 3020-3022, West Building, Level 3, Moscone Center)
“Objectified Co-Morbidities in Patients With COPD: The CIROCO Study.” Authors: L. Vanfleteren, M.A. Spruit, F. Franssen, M. Groenen, E.F.M. Wouters; Horn, Maastricht, Netherlands. Session: B97 “Pulmonary Rehabilitation: The Best of the Best.” (Mini Symposium: 2-4:30 p.m., Monday, May 21, Room 3020-3022, West Building, Level 3, Moscone Center)
ASSEMBLY ON RESPIRATORY CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
“Exhaled Breath: Novel Non-Invasive Detection of Biological Molecular Targets of Lung Cancer.” Authors: W. Le, H. Wakelee, M. Ghani, D. Upadhyay; Stanford, CA. Session: B28 “Emerging Biomarkers of Complex Lung Diseases.” (Poster Discussion Session: 8:15-10:45 a.m., Monday, May 21, Room 3009, West Building, Level 3, Moscone Center)
“Induction of Pulmonary Fibrosis in Horses Experimentally Infected With the Gammaherpesvirus EHV-5.” Authors: K. Williams, E. Robinson, R. Maes, A. Lim, S. Bolin; East Lansing, MI. Session: D71 “Animal Models of Lung Fibrosis: Bleo And Beyond Thematic.” (Poster Session: 8:15 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Wednesday, May 23, Area E, Hall D, North Building, Lower Level, Moscone Center)
ASSEMBLY ON RESPIRATORYSTRUCTURE AND FUNCTION
“In-Vivo Lung Micromechanics in Humans.” Authors: J.C. Woods, A.J. Hajari, D.A. Yablonskiy, A.L. Sukstanskii, J.D. Quirk, M.S. Conradi; St Louis, MO. Session: A66 “Modeling, Mechanics and Gas Exchange.” (Thematic Poster Session: 8:15 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Sunday, May 20, Area B, Hall D, North Building, Lower Level, Moscone Center)
“Metabolomic Analysis Distinguishes Long-Lived Tolerant Rat Strain That Resists Acute Lung Injury.” Authors: K. Crader, J.D. Repine, J. Klawitter, A. Fernandez-Bustamante, C.J. Beehler, U. Christians, J.E. Repine; Aurora, CO, Lincoln, NE. Session: A67 “Acute Lung Injury and Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome: Biological Mechanisms.” (Thematic Poster Session: 8:15 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Sunday, May 20, Area K, Hall D, North Building, Lower Level, Moscone Center)
ASSEMBLY ON SLEEP AND RESPIRATORY NEUROBIOLOGY
“Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Cancer Mortality: Results from the Wisconsin Sleep Cohort Study.” Authors: F.J. Nieto, P.E. Peppard, T. Young, L. Finn, M. Hla, R. Farre; Madison, WI, Barcelona, Spain; Wisconsin Sleep Cohort Study. Session: A18 “Obstructive Sleep Apnea: Interventions and New Associations.” (Mini Symposium: 8:15-10:45 a.m., Sunday, May 20, Room 3001-3003, West Building, Level 3, Moscone Center)
“Severity of Sleep Disordered Breathing Is an Independent Predictor of Glycemic Health: The European Sleep Cohort (ESADA) Study.” Authors: B.D. Kent, L. Grote, M. Bonsignore, T. Saaresranta, J. Verbraecken, P.A. Levy, P. Sliwinski, R. Tkacova, J.A. Kvamme, J. Hedner, W.T. McNicholas; Dublin, Ireland, Gothenburg, Sweden, Palermo, Italy, Preitila, Finland, Antwerp, Belgium, Grenoble, France, Warsaw, Poland, Kosice, Slovakia, Forde, Norway; on behalf of the European Sleep Cohort (ESADA) Study Group. Session: D18 “Sleep-Disordered Breathing and Metabolic Function: How Unsweet It Is.” (Mini Symposium: 8:15-10:45 a.m., Wednesday, May 23, Room 3020-3022, West Building, Level 3, Moscone Center)