BMJ Masterclass for Physicians: Cardiology
Date: Monday 9 February 2009	Location: BMA House, London
Monday 9 February 2009 - BMA House, London CPD 6 HOURS/RCP This one day masterclass will advance your knowledge in three of the most rapidly changing and challenging areas of clinical practice, and provide you with practical information from expert speakers. Topics covered include: • Diagnosis and management of acute coronary symptoms: STEMI and non-STEMI • Management of patients with cardiac arrhythmias • Valvular heart disease: when are percutaneous techniques appropriate? This masterclass is suitable for: Consultants, specialist registrars, associate specialists and staff grades in: • Cardiology • Respiratory medicine • General medicine • Geriatric medicine • Accident and emergency medicine • Intensive care units and critical care This masterclass will also be of interest to general practitioners and nurses with a special interest in cardiology. Register by Monday 1 December to take advantage of our early bird rates. A special two day rate is available for delegates who are also interested in attending the Respiratory Medicine masterclass, running back to back with this programme. To view the full programme and list of speakers or to register, please visit: http://masterclasses.bmj.com/physicians/cardiology/2009
email: events{at}bmjgroup.com	Tel: +44 (0)20 7383 6241

BMJ Masterclass for Physicians: Respiratory Medicine
Date: Tuesday 10 February 2009	Location: BMA House, London
Tuesday 10 February 2009 - BMA House, London CPD 6 HOURS/RCP This masterclass will deliver essential updates on the lastest evidence based medicine and best practice for clinicians in respiratory medicine. Chaired by Professor Wisia Wedzicha, Editor in Chief, Thorax, and Professor of Respiratory Medicine, University College London, London. Topics covered include: • Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD): non-pharmacological management • Asthma – an update on exacerbations • Occupational lung disease • Pulmonary complications of systemic disease • Tuberculosis: the difficulties in diagnosis • Lung cancer. This masterclass is suitable for: Consultants, specialist registrars, associate specialists and staff grades in: • Respiratory medicine • Cardiology • General medicine • Geriatric medicine • Accident and emergency medicine • Intensive care units and critical care This masterclass will also be of interest to general practitioners with a special interest, nurses with a special interest, and physiotherapists. Register by Monday 1 December to take advantage of our early bird rates. A special two day rate is available for delegates who are also interested in attending the Cardiology masterclass, running back to back with this programme. To view the full programme and list of speakers or to register, please visit: http://masterclasses.bmj.com/physicians/respiratory-medicine/2009
email: events{at}bmjgroup.com	Tel: +44 (0)20 7383 6241

European Alpha-1-Antitrypsin Laurell’s Training Award (eALTA)
Date: Apply by 15th of March
Every year during the ERS, the European ALTA fellowships are awarded by Talecris Biotherapeutics. The award supports the clinical and basic research projects of two young scientists in the field of Alpha-1-Antitrypsin Deficiency with 65,000 US-Dollars each. Alpha-1-Antitrypsin Deficiency is a hereditary disorder that can clinically result in the premature development of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and pulmonary emphysema in adults or liver disease in children. The research conducted through the eALTA program provides hope of improved diagnosis and therapy options for affected persons and their families worldwide. Details of the application process and deadlines can be found on www.alta-award.com.
email: info@alta-award.com	Tel: +49 (0) 69 - 660 593 301

The UK Interstitial Lung Diseases Panel
The pulmonary interstitial diseases comprise over a hundred entities. Histopathologists encounter considerable difficulty with respect to the accurate classification of interstitial diseases of the lung which has implications for the appropriate treatment and accurate prognostication of these diseases. In view of these problems a panel of histopathologists with special expertise in this subject has been set up -the UK Interstitial Lung Diseases Panel- in order to facilitate better " diagnosis of these diseases. The membership of the panel is as follows: Professor B. Corrin (Chairman) Dr AR Gibbs (Secretary) Dr N Ibrahim (Treasurer) Dr B Addis Dr H Bharucha Dr C Clelland Dr P Hasleton Dr K Kerr Dr A Nicholson Dr S Stewart The panel will be pleased to receive cases and provide opinions on open and thoracoscopic lung biopsies from "interstitial lung problems". Cases should be submitted to the Secretary - Dr A R Gibbs, Department of Histopathology, Llandough Hospital, Cardiff and Vale NHS Trust, Penlan Road, Penarth, CF64 2XX. Relevant clinical details should be provided on the downloadable form below (available as a pdf file). The material should consist of a paraffin wax block or 10 stained/unstained sections so that each member of the panel can be circulated at the same time. The panel will not accept small endoscopic biopsies because these are usually inadequate for assessing these diseases, nor will the panel accept post mortem cases except in exceptional circumstances. DOWNLOAD FORM HERE: PDF format or Word document If you do not have Adobe Acrobat, please download it for free.