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Controversies in Neurology (CONy)
Hilton Hotel, Athens, Greece, October 23-26, 2008 | |
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| Scientific Program |
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Thursday, October 23, 2008
| 17:00-19:00 |
PLENARY SESSION & OPENING CEREMONY
Chairpersons: A.D. Korczyn, Israel; D. Mitsikostas, Greece & D. Muresanu, Romania
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| 17:00-17:20 |
Greetings
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| 17:20-17:40 |
Innate knowledge: From the ancient Greeks to neuroscience
T. Fokas, Greece
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| 17:40-18:00 |
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| 18:00-18:20 |
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| 18:20-18:40 |
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| 18:40-19:00 |
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| 19:00 |
Welcome Reception |
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| 08:30-10:00 |
Session 1:
CLINICAL ASPECTS
Sponsored by an unrestricted grant from Merck Serono
Capsule: The definition and the treatment of MS are undergoing revision. New concepts and therapies are emerging
Chairpersons: A. Papadimitriou, Greece & Z. Stelmasiak, Poland
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| 08:30-09:15 |
P.K. Coyle, USA
New oral therapies may offer better treatment options for patients with MS
H.P. Hartung, Germany
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| 09:15-10:00 |
Debate: Devic’s Neuromyelitis optica (NMO) is a separate entity from MS and it should be treated by plasmapheresis
Pro: B. Weinshenker, USA
Con: A. Compston, UK
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| 10:00-10:30 |
Coffee Break
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| 10:30-12:00 |
Session 2:
ETIOLOGY OF MS: ENVIRONMENTAL vs. GENETIC FACTORS
Capsule: MS is the most disabling disease among the young, yet, its primary cause is unknown. Genetic and environmental factors may interact
Chairperons: N. Grigoriadis, Greece & A. Miller, Israel
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| 10:30-11:15 |
Debate: Has genetics advanced our understanding of MS?
Yes: A. Compston, UK
No: J. Chapman, Israel
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| 11:15-12:00 |
Debate: Can physical trauma precipitate MS?
Yes: V. Brinar, Croatia
No: A. Siva, Turkey
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| 12:00-13:30 |
Session 3:
MS THERAPY 1
Sponsored by an unrestricted grant from Teva Sanofi-Aventis
Capsule: Despite positive results from several randomized studies of interferons in relapsing remitting MS, the relative value of various disease-modifying drugs and their effects on long-term disability remain controversial
Chairpersons: V. Brinar, Croatia & K. Karageorgiou, Greece
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| 12:00-12:45 |
Debate: Direct comparative drug studies of MS are an important guide to medical practice
Pro: P.K. Coyle, USA
Con: D. Mitsikostas, Greece
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| 12:45-13:30 |
Debate: Is there a role for combination therapy in MS?
Yes: R. Milo, Israel
No: I. Milonas, Greece
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| 13:30-14:30 |
Lunch Break
Sponsored by Boehringer Ingelheim
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| 14:30-16:00 |
Satellite Symposium:
CHALLENGES IN PARKINSON'S DISEASE (PD) TREATMENT
Sponsored by Boehringer Ingelheim
Capsule: Modern therapy of PD has advanced significantly, but it still does not adequately control many of its manifestations
Chairpersons: S. Bostantjopoulou, Greece & A. Schapira, UK
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H. Reichmann, Germany
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K. Sethi, USA
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P. Barone, Italy
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A. Schapira, UK
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16:00-16:30
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Coffee Break
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| 16:30-18:00 |
Session 4:
MS THERAPY 2
Capsule: While therapy of relapsing-remitting MS has been established to reduce relapse rate, the approach to delay conversion to chronic disability is still debated, with new methods being required
Chairpersons: X. Montalban, Spain & A. Rombos, Greece
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| 16:30-17:15 |
Debate: Interferons have been shown to prevent long-term disability
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| 17:15-18:00 |
Debate: Several questions await answers before stem-cell therapy becomes a real option in MS
Yes: L. Kappos, Switzerland
No: D. Karussis, Israel |
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| 08:30-10:00 |
Session 5:
STROKE PREVENTION 1
Capsule: Stroke is one of the leading causes of disability and death among adults. While data on risk factors are abundant, conversion into therapeutic strategies is still largely not validated
Chairpersons: R. Rangel-Guerra, Mexico & Z. Trkanjec, Croatia
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| 08:30-09:15 |
Debate: The use of antidyslipidemic agents in the prevention of stroke
Capsule: Dyslipidemia is a known risk factor for stroke, and treatment with statins has been reported to prevent stroke recurrence and also to reduce stroke severity and enhance recovery
Lipids and stroke, the lower the better: P. Amarenco, France
Con: D. Spence, Canada
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| 09:15-10:00 |
Debate: Patent Foramen Ovale (PFO): To close or not to close?
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| 10:00-10:30 |
Coffee Break
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| 10:30-12:00 |
Session 6:
ACUTE ISCHEMIC STROKE
Capsule: Despite of recent progress, the management of acute ischemic stroke is still controversial
Chairpersons: D. Bartko, Slovakia & D. Russell, Norway
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| 10:30-11:15 |
Debate: Thrombolysis beyond 3 hours: IV vs. IA or clot retrieval approach
Capsule: While there is agreement on treatment with tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) within the 3-hour time window after acute ischemic stroke, subsequent alternative methods are suggested
IV thrombolysis: N. Wahlgren, Sweden
Endovascular approach: M. Mazighi, France
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| 11:15-12:00 |
Debate: Blood pressure in acute ischemic stroke
To reduce: J. Wojczal, Poland
To increase: N.M. Bornstein, Israel
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| 12:00-13:30 |
Session 7:
STROKE PREVENTION 2
Chairpersons: J. Toole, USA & J. Wojczal, Poland
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| 12:00-12:45 |
Debate: For stroke prevention, AT1 antagonists are the best choice for hypertensive patients
Pro: D. Russell, Norway
Con: L. Csiba, Hungary
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| 12:45-13:30 |
Debate: How should we treat asymptomatic carotid stenosis?
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| 13:30-14:30 |
Lunch Break
Sponsored by Boehringer Ingelheim
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| 14:30-16:00 |
Satellite Symposium:
CHALLENGES IN PD TREATMENT
Sponsored by Boehringer Ingelheim
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| 16:00-16:30 |
Coffee Break
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| 16:30-17:15 |
Session 8:
STROKE AND DEMENTIA PREVENTION
Capsule: Homocysteine is considered to have neurotoxic and vasculopathic effects, which may result in brain damage. However, there is still uncertainty concerning toxic levels and of the effect of reducing high levels and the optimal methods involved
Chairperson: A. Cinova, Czech Republic & E. Giacobini, Switzerland
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| 16:30-17:15 |
Debate: Can supplementation with folic acid and vitamins prevent stroke and dementia?
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Parkinson's Disease (PD) / Pain |
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| 08:30-10:00 |
Session 9:
TREATMENT OF PARKINSON'S DISEASE (PD) 1
Capsule: Although therapy of motor symptoms of PD is very successful, subsequent complications raise many issues regarding the optimal early therapy
Chairpersons: R. Horowski, Germany & U. Bonuccelli, Italy
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| 08:30-09:15 |
Debate: Should patients with PD already be treated in the premotor phase?Yes: E. Wolters, The Netherlands
No: K. Sethi, USA
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| 09:15-10:00 |
Debate: Deep brain stimulation (DBS) should be started before motor complications occur
Pro: M. Hariz, UK
Con: P. Limousin, UK
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| 10:00-10:30 |
Coffee Break
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| 10:30-12:00 |
Session 10:
TREATMENT OF PD 2
Capsule: Despite of a substantial number of studies, the value of anti-parkinsonian drugs is still vehemently debated
Chairpersons: E. Martignoni, Italy & Z. Pirtosek, Slovenia
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| 10:30-11:15 |
Debate: Are Rasagiline and Selegiline really different?
Yes: A. Schapira, UK
No: M. Horstink, The Netherlands
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| 11:15-12:00 |
Debate: Is the concept of continuous dopaminergic stimulation of relevance to PD?
Yes: A. Schapira, UK
No: H. Reichmann, Germany
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| 12:00-13:30 |
Session 11:
HEADACHE 1
Sponsored by MSD
Capsule: While migrainous headaches are common and disabling, their pathogenesis and nosology are still unclear
Chairperson: T. Ho, USA & E. Koutsouraki, Greece
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| 12:00-12:45 |
Debate: Is migrate a vascular or a neuronal disease?
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| 14:30-16:00 |
Satellite Symposium:
CHALLENGES IN PD TREATMENT
Sponsored by Boehringer Ingelheim
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| 16:00-16:30 |
Coffee Break
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| 16:30-18:00 |
Session 12:
HEADACHE 2
Chairpersons: M.D. Ferrari, The Netherlands & D. Mitsikostas, Greece
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| 16:30-17:15 |
Debate: Is migraine a disease or a syndrome?
Disease: D. Mitsikostas, Greece
Syndrome: A. Siva, Turkey
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| 17:15-18:00 |
Debate: Botulinum neurotoxin for headache: The road continues
Pro: R. Agosti, Switzerland
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Saturday, October 25, 2008
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| 08:30-10:00 |
Session 13:
PROGRESSION OF EPILEPSY
Capsule: Usually epilepsy is a stable disease but the concept that “seizures beget seizures” still prevails. This leads to important conclusions regarding whether treatment with antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) should wait until seizures recur, and whether AEDs could protect the brain
Chairpersons: K. Rejdak, Poland & W. Theodore, USA
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| 08:30-09:15 |
Debate: Is Epilepsy a progressive disease?
Yes: W. Theodore, USA
No: E. Beghi, Italy |
| 09:15-10:00 |
Debate: Neuroprotection: Do AEDs protect the brain?
Yes: S.J. Czuczwar, Poland
No: G. Bauer, Austria
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| 10:00-10:30 |
Coffee Break
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| 10:30-12:00 |
Session 14:
EPILEPSY TREATMENTS 1
Capsule: While AEDs are efficacious in controlling seizures, the choices of which drug to use, and when to refer patients to neurosurgical intervention, are still open to questions
Chairpersons: A. Guekht, Russia & D. Schmidt, Germany
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| 10:30-11:00 |
Debate: Enzyme-inducing AEDs should not be used as first-line agents in the treatment of epilepsy
Yes: M.J. Brodie, UK
No: E. Ben Menachem, Sweden
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| 11:00-11:45 |
Update on teratogenicity of AEDs
Capsule: The issue of tertogenicity of AED's has been discussed endlessly, but finally new data has shed light on this topic. How will this affect daily practice?
E. Beghi, Italy
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Discussion: Faculty and audience
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| 12:00-13:30 |
Satellite Symposium:
BETAFERON®: 5 YEARS BENEFIT OF EARLY TREATMENT
Sponsored by Bayer Healthcare
Chairperson: D. Goodin, USA
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| 12:00-12:10 |
Early is better for MS treatment
D. Goodin, USA
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| 12:10-12:35 |
BENEFIT trail results
X. Montalban, Spain
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| 12:35-12:55 |
Betaferon®: Favorable benefit - risk profile
T. Kilpatrick, Australia
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| 12:55-13:15 |
BENEFIT: What does it mean for patient management?
M. Freedman, Canada
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| 13:15-13:25 |
Summary
D. Goodin, USA
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| 13:30-14:30 |
Lunch Break
Sponsored in part by Ana Aslan International Academy for Anti-Aging
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| 14:30-16:30 |
Session 15:
EPILEPSY TREATMENTS 2
Capsule: Although drugs are the main treatment module against seizures, they only provide partial symptomatic effects. Attempts to develop either methods continue
Chairpersons: M.J. Brodie, UK & M. Neufeld, Israel
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14:30-15:15 |
Debate: Epilepsy surgery should be performed in patients with structural lesions even if seizures are controlled by medication
Yes: P. Chauvel, France
No: M. Sperling, USA
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15:15-16:00 |
Debate: Deep brain stimulation has efficacy in treating seizures
Yes: P. Boon, Belgium
No: D. Schmidt, Germany
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Chairpersons: E. Ben Menachem, Sweden & P. Boon, Belgium
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| 16:00-16:30 |
S. Benbadis, USA
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| 16:30-17:00 |
Coffee Break
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| 17:00-19:00 |
Session 16:
ROUNDTABLE CASE DISCUSSION
Caspule: Guidelines for the treatment of seizures and epilepsy do not always provide a clear and unanimous answer. This session presents cases raising therapeutic issues. Debates between faculty and audiences will take place
Chairperson: M. Sperling, USA
Presenter: M. Sperling, USA
Discussants: Faculty and Audience |
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| 08:30-10:00 |
Session 17:
UPDATE ON NOVEL TREATMENTS IN MS
Capsule: The disappointment in the limited efficacy of existing MS treatment has led to an energetic search for new therapies with noval mechanisms of action
Chairpersons: G. Comi, Italy & M. Freedman, Canada
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| 08:30-08:45 |
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| 08:45-09:00 |
Daclizumab: X. Montalban, Spain |
| 09:00-09:15 |
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| 09:15-09:30 |
Alemtuzumab: A. Compston, UK |
| 09:30-09:45 |
Rituximab: H.P. Hartung, Germany |
| 09:45-10:00 |
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| 10:00-10:30 |
Coffee Break
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| 10:30-11:15 |
UPDATE ON NOVEL TREATMENTS IN MS continued
Chairpersons: M. Dalakas, Greece & D.S. Goodin, USA
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| 10:30-10:45 |
Fingolimod (FTY720): L. Kappos, Switzerland |
| 10:45-11:00 |
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| 11:00-11:15 |
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| 11:15-12:45 |
Session 18:
BIOMARKERS FOR MS
Capsule: The pathogenesis of MS is still unclear. Identifying biological markers could help
Chairpersons: J. Chapman, Israel & C.E. Karageorgiou, Greece
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11:15-11:30 |
Z. Szolnoki, Hungary
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| 11:30-11:45 |
Biomarkers as a useful tool in MS research: Which way to go?
D. Leppert, Switzerland
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| 12:00-13:30 |
Satellite Symposium:
BETAFERON®: 5 YEARS BENEFIT OF EARLY TREATMENT
Sponsored by Bayer Healthcare
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| 13:30-14:30 |
Lunch Break
Sponsored in part by Ana Aslan International Academy of Anti-Aging
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| 14:30-16:30 |
Satellite Symposium:
NEUROPROTECTION AND NEUROPLASTICITY
Sponsored by the Society for the Study of Neuroprotection and Neuroplasicity
Capsule: One of the important issues in neurology is the protection of neurons. Several studies have failed to identify helpful treatments. Why and how can these difficulties be overcome?
Chairpersons: N.M. Bornstein, Israel & D. Muresanu, Romania
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| 14:30-14:50 |
D. Muresanu, Romania
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| 14:50-15:10 |
Neuroprotection in cerebral hemorrhagic stroke: Is it possible?
O. Bajenaru, Romania
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| 15:10-15:30 |
A. Guekht, Russia
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| 15:30-15:50 |
P. Konig, Austria
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| 15:50-16:10 |
B.O. Popescu, Romania
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| 16:10-16:30 |
Neuroprotection and neurorecovery in stroke
N.M. Bornstein, Israel
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| 16:30-17:00 |
Coffee Break
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| 17:00-19:00 |
Session 19:
DEMENTIA
Capsule: Dementia is the most common neurological syndrome in late life. Treatment of Alzheimer's disease is however still not very effective and opinions are divied as to its appropriateness
Chairperson: H. Fillit, USA & V. Kostic, Serbia
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| 17:00-17:45 |
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| 17:45-18:30 |
Debate: Treatment with cholinesterase inhibitors (ChEIs) is useful and cost-effective
Yes: P. Feldschreiber, UK
No: R. Bullock, UK
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FREE COMMUNICATIONS: DEMENTIA
Chairpersons: P. Giannakopoulos, Switzerland & R. Milo, Israel
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| 18:30-18:45 |
F. Peng, Taiwan
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| 18:45-19:00 |
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| 08:30-10:00 |
Session 20:
AMYOTROPHIC LATERAL SCLEROSIS (ALS) / OXIDATIVE STRESS
Capsule: Considerable efforts have been devoted to the development of drugs for ALS using animal models, yet to date the results are disappointing
Chairperson: I. Mavroudis, Greece; J.C. Youn, Korea
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| 08:30-09:15 |
Debate: ALS: Are preclinical animal studies predictive and necessary for drug development?
Capsule: Animal models are the basis for the developments of new drugs for the treatment of ALS but its validity has been contested
Yes: A. Ludolph, Germany
No: V. Meininger, France
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| 09:15-10:00 |
Debate: Importance of oxidative stress in neurodegeneration
Yes: R. Castellani, USA
No. D. Muresanu, Romania
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| 10:00-10:30 |
Coffee Break
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| 10:30-12:00 |
Satellite Symposium:
HEALTHY BRAIN AGING
Sponsored by Ana Aslan International Academy of Anti-Aging
Capsule: Is dementia really a disease or is it a simple manifestation of brain aging? How can dementia be diagnosed early and how can it be prevented?
Chairpersons: P. Sakka, Greece & M. Tsolaki, Greece
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| 10:30-11:15 |
Mild Cognitive Impairment in the elderly - diagnosis and risk of conversion
S. Papageorgiou, Greece
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| 11:15-12:00 |
L. Spiru, Romania
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| 12:00-12:45 |
E. von Strauss, Sweden
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| 12:45-13:30 |
Open discussion
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| 13:30-14:30 |
Lunch Break
Sponsored in part by Ana Aslan International Academy of Anti-Aging
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| 17:00-19:00 |
Session 22:
REHABILITATION
Sponsored in part by an unrestricted grant from Eisai Europe Ltd. and Solstice Neurosciences
Capsule: Increased attention needs to be directed towards rehabilitation of people with chronic neurological disabilities
Chairpersons: S.J. Baloyannis, Greece & J. Bednarik, Czech Republic
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| 17:00-17:30 |
L. Battistin, Italy
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| 17:00-17:45 |
Debate: Sialorhea can and should be treated with botulinum toxin
Pro: D. Truong, USA
Con: K. Wolfarth, Germany
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| 17:45-18:30 |
Debate: Are people with chronic disabilities prone to premature aging processes?
Yes: A. Ohry, Israel
No: X. Michail, Greece |
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| 08:30-10:30 |
Session 23:
PATHOGENESIS AND THERAPY OF DEMENTIA
Capsule: Although the pathologic hallmarks of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and Parkinson’s disease (PD) have become better defined, the role of individual components of these hallmarks is still vehemently debated
Chairpersons: V. Senanarong, Thailand & L. Traykov, Bulgaria
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| 08:30-09:00 |
R. Kawashima, Japan
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| 09:00-09:45 |
Debate: Tau or Abeta immunotherapy in AD?
Capsule: Immunotherapy is a developing option in the treatment of AD, but there is still no consensus of the optimal target
Tau: E. Giacobini, Switzerland
Abeta: P. Giannakopoulos, Switzerland
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| 09:45-10:30 |
Debate: The dementia of PD
Capsule: The assumption that the dementia of PD is a single entity related to cholinergic lesions has lately been challenged
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| 10:30-11:00 |
Coffee Break
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11:00-12:00 |
Session 24:
BIOMARKERS OF ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE (AD)
Capsule: As effective therapies for slowing AD develop, discovery of biomarkers in the preclinical phase are a focus of interest and early diagnosis of neurodegenerative diseases will beocme more important
Chairpersons: E. Kapaki, Greece & R. Ravid, The Netherlands
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11:00-11:15 |
R. Ravid, The Netherlands
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11:15-11:30 |
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11:30-11:45 |
M. Memo, Italy
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11:45-12:00 |
M.M. Mielke, USA
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| 12:00-13:30 |
Session 25:
THERAPY
Capsule: While treatment with ChEIs is considered mildly efficacious by some, there is an regarding the duration of treatment should be continued in the face of cognitive deterioration. New drugs are urgently required for Alzheimer's disease
Chairperson: L. Battistin, Italy & L. Spiru, Romania
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| 12:00-12:15 |
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| 12:15-12:35 |
Innovative approaches to AD: Developing the next generation of treatment: J. Bell, USA
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| 12:30-13:15 |
Debate: ChEIs should be discontinued in severe AD dementia
Yes: M. Tsolaki, Greece
No: L. Frolich, Germany |
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| 08:30-10:00 |
Session 26:
PAIN AND FATIGUE
Capsule: Pain and fatigue are the most common neurological symptoms, and both may be due to either organic or mental causes. Therapy with cannabinoids is arguably helpful in reducing spasticity and pain, while chronic fatigue syndrome is still a dubious clinical entity
Chairpersons: K. Kollarova, Czech Republic & D. Truong, USA
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| 08:30-09:15 |
Debate: The use of THC for neurologic treatment: Cannabinoids are useful analgestics
Pro: E. Russo, USA
Con: B. Kraft, Austria
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| 09:15-10:00 |
Debate: Chronic fatigue syndrome is an organic disease and should be treated by neurologists
Pro: M.J. Zwarts, The Netherlands
Con: I. Steiner, Israel
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| 10:00-10:30 |
Coffee Break
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| 10:30-11:30 |
Session 27:
FREE COMMUNICATIONS: PAIN
Chairpersons: P. Barone, Italy; C. Muhr, Sweden
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| 10:30-10:45 |
K. Bechter, Germany
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| 10:45-11:00 |
J. Andrikopoulos, USA
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| 11:00-11:15 |
F. Behin, USA
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| 11:15-11:30 |
S.A. Siadati, Iran
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Session 28:
PD: NEW PLAYERS ON THE BLOCK
Capsule: There are so many anti-parkinsonian drugs in the market, yet attempts continue towards developing newer and better agents
Chairperson: K. Bayulkem, Turkey & V. Costa, Greece
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11:30-11:50 |
Safinamide: A. Schapira, UK |
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11:50-12:10 |
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12:10-12:30 |
Duodenal levodopa infusion (Duodopa): A. Antonini, Italy |
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12:30-13:20 |
FREE COMMUNICATIONS: VARIOUS TOPICS
Presentation of Best Abstract Award |
| Chairpersons: |
S.J. Baloyannis, Greece, R. Ravid, The Netherlands & Z. Stelmasiak, Poland
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| 12:30-12:40 |
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| 12:40-12:50 |
Z.C. Xiao, China
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| 12:50-13:00 |
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| 13:00-13:10 |
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| 13:10-13:20 |
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