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Conference report
The birth and re-birth of respiratory medicine—notes from the British Thoracic Society Winter Meeting 2006
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  1. J K Quint,
  2. R Baghai-Ravary
  1. Academic Unit of Respiratory Medicine, University College London, London, UK
  1. Correspondence to:
    Dr J K Quint
    Department of Academic Respiratory Medicine, Royal Free Hospital, Rowland Hill Street, London NW3 2QG, UK; j.quint{at}medsch.ucl.ac.uk

https://doi.org/10.1136/thx.2007.080325

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    The annual Winter British Thoracic Society (BTS) meeting in December 2006 provided us with yet another exciting forum for both scientists and clinicians to share advances in respiratory medicine. The meeting consisted of inspiring, novel and interesting work, presented by students and non-clinicians, as well as world renowned respiratory physicians. Professor Stephen Holgate, in his address as President of the BTS entitled “The birth and re-birth of respiratory medicine”, spoke of changes and shared his visions for the future. Dr Alex Richter and Dr Clare Sander deserve congratulations for their success in the Young Investigator Prizes. In this review we highlight some of the important spoken and abstract sessions from the meeting.

    COPD

    Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) was well represented at the meeting this year, with a stimulating symposium focusing on the science and impact of exacerbations. Spoken sessions on a novel in vivo model of human rhinovirus infection1 and application of real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction for the detection of bacteria2 opened platforms for improved understanding of the infectious mechanisms of exacerbations. There was evidence to suggest that prolonged exacerbation in smokers may be related to impaired neutrophil activation.3 Smoking cannabis was related to greater airflow obstruction than cigarettes,4 re-enforcing the need to address all smoking cessation.

    The consequences of depression in COPD, in particular the associations with mental and general fatigue,5 relation to reduced time spent outdoors, health-related quality of life6 and failure to complete pulmonary rehabilitation,7 were discussed in several sessions. Randomised controlled trials are needed to investigate reports of benefit from pulmonary rehabilitation initiated during admission for acute exacerbation8 and in maintenance of weekly supervised exercise sessions.9 An assessment of the national availability, need, cost-effectiveness and outcome of pulmonary rehabilitation10,11 may be facilitated by a …

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