United Arab Emirates, Dubai: Friday, December 16, 2016 - Abdullah bin Souqat, a member of the Board of Trustees of the Hamdan Medical Award, and the members of the Scientific Committee of the 9th Dubai International Conference for Medical Sciences (9DICMS), have honored 3 young researchers, who presented the best scientific posters in the Conference. 

 

This came during the closing session of the 9DICMS which was organized by Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Medical Sciences, on the topic of Gastroenterology, from 14 until December 16 at JW Marriott Marquis Hotel, Dubai, and presented 14 scientific lectures, 12 workshops, and 15 posters.

 

On the topic of Colon Disorders, the winning poster is “Analysis of the Pathways to Colorectal Carcinogenesis by Bisphenol A”, presented by Wael M Abdul Rahman, from Medical Laboratory Sciences department, University of Sharjah. 

 

On the topic of Liver disorders, the winning poster is “Evaluation of dried blood spot (DBS) as a method of sample collection for hepatitis C virus RNA quantification using molecular methods”, by Hafiz Ahmed, from medical Microbiology & immunology department, RAK Medical & Health sciences University. 

 

As for the topic of Pancreatic Diseases, the winning poster is “Expression of a Novel Endoplasmic Reticulum Protein in Pancreatic Islets” by Amal Hussein Al Haddad, Physiology department, United Arab Emirates University.

 

On this occasion, Abdullah bin Souqat said: Honoring young researchers affirms the award’s keenness on encouraging talented scientists and researchers, particularly the youths of them who are the foundation stone for a promising future in medical and health sectors.

 

For their parts, the winners have thanked H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, the UAE Minister of Finance, and the Patron of the award, on his continuous support for science and scientists, not only by honoring them, but also by supporting the all ways to improve their professional performance.

 

In a related context, and during the last day of the 9DICMS, a lecture entitled "Genetic Lessons from Colon Cancer", was presented by Professor Sanford Markowitz, from Case Western Reserve University, School of Medicine, USA, and the winner of Hamdan Award for Medical Research Excellence on the topic of Colon Disorders.

 

Professor Markowitz discussed his lab conducted studies to identify the role of aberrant DNA methylation as a genetic driver of colon and other gastrointestinal cancers; it also develops one of the first diagnostic tests for early colon cancer detection based on assays for aberrant DNA methylation. Also, it identified two key colon cancer tumor suppressor genes.

 

Also, a lecture entitled " Liver stem cells and hepatic organoids to study liver biology and disease” was presented by the winner of the Hamdan Award for Medical Research Excellence, on the topic of Liver Disorders, Dr. Meritxell Huch, from Wellcome Trust/Cancer Research UK Gurdon Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge – UK. 

 

Dr. Huch dealt with her novel liver stem cell culture system, applied on mouse liver stem cells. She and her colleagues succeeded in making the mouse cells expanding in vitro (for >1 year), into "liver organoids". The cultured cells differentiate into functional hepatocytes in vitro and upon transplantation in vivo.

 

Also, the 9DICMS included a lecture by Prof. Jean Francois Rey entitled “Clinical benefits of high definition colonoscopy with electronic chromoscopy on detection characterisation and endoscopic treatment of colonic polyps”. Prof. Rey is president-elect of the world endoscopy organization (WEO), and Practicing Physician, Institute Arnault Tzanck, France.

 

He spoke about the new technical developments which have been linked with electronic video-endoscopy equipment. The main goals of these technical features are to improve detection and characterization of digestive disease mucosal abnormalities. In addition, they lead to improvement in the quality of pictures and electronical magnification with visualization of more minute mucosal abnormality. This allows for better informed clinical decisions.

 

Prof. Ronan O’Connell, from University College Dublin, School of Medicine and Medical Sciences, Ireland, presented a lecture on Improving outcome for rectal cancer. The past 15 years have brought further technical advances in minimally invasive surgical techniques in the management of rectal cancer and an evolving interest in organ preserving surgery. 

 

Laparoscopic and robotic surgery have been shown to provide equivalent oncological outcomes to conventional surgery with short term benefits in terms of wound morbidity and hospital stay.  Additionally, Trans-anal minimally invasive surgery (TAMIS), Single Incision Laparoscopic Surgery (SILS), hybrid laparoscopic / endoscopic surgery is new technical options that may further enhance the quality of surgery and reduce peri operative morbidity.

 

Prof. Eamonn M Quigley, from the Center of digestive disorders at Houston Methodist Hospital, USA, presented a lecture entitled “The Microbiome Revolution – how can we Translate the Science into Clinical Practice?”.

 

Additionally, Dr. Dalia Belsha, from Leeds Teaching Hospital, UK, presented a lecture about the Coeliac Disease in Children, which is dependent upon serologic testing such that OGD is now not indicated in every symptomatic child with positive serology and HLA positivity.

 

According to the recent BSPGHAN and ESPGHAN guidelines, a diagnosis of coeliac disease can be made in symptomatic patients with tTG more than ten times the upper limit of normal without endoscopic assessment providing that genetic testing is positive.