3rd National Conference of ISBMR
3rd National Conference of Indian Society For Bone And Mineral Research (ISBMR) & 1st Conference of South Asian Society For Bone And Mineral Research (SASBMR) 2007
Indian Society For Bone and Mineral Research (ISBMR) conducted its 3rd National Conference along with the 1st meeting of South Asian Society For Bone and Mineral Research (SASBMR) from 28th to 30th Sep 2007.
The SASBMR meeting was conducted in wonderfully situated and aesthetically constructed premises of United Service Institution of India, New Delhi from 28th Sep(AN) to 29 Sept (FN) and ISBMR conference was conducted at AIIMS, New Delhi from 29th (AN) to 30th Sept 2007.
This was the first time we had ventured into conducting the conference on our own as the earlier two conferences in 2005 and 2006 were held in the shadows of ESICON meetings.
We were very encouraged by the over whelming response we received from the audience which numbered more than 150 on both days and were grateful for the presence of luminaries in the field, such as Prof Ian Reid, Prof Rene Rizzoli, Daniel Thiebaud and D.S. Rao.
For the first time we had representatives from Pakistan , Syed Abbas Raza , Sri Lanka, Sarath Leekamwasam and Sisira Siribadana, Nepal, Dina Shrestha and Bhutan, Phub Dorji. Bangladesh was represented in absentia. All these representatives shared their regional experience with the learned audiences.
From India, we had our very own Manoj Chadha , Usha Sriram , AC Ammini, Veena Shatrughan , V Bhatia , Naibedya Chattopadhyay , CS Yajnic, S Bhadada, Madhulika Kabra, A Bhansali and of our secretary and joint secretary Nikhil Tandon and Rajesh Khadgawat, not however forgetting the president Ambrish Mithal. So we had the top scientific menu with the best heads delivering it to a very receptive audience who soaked the knowledge which was evident from the type and number of questions being thrown at the speaker and their response.
SASBMR Meet
The inaugural general meeting of the SASBMR was held in the auditorium of the United Service Institute in New Delhi on 28th and 29th of Sep 2007. Sixteen members from seven countries participated.
Dr Ambrish Mithal, the president of the ISBMR, welcomed all attendees and explained the need and the background of the new society. He mentioned that South Asian identity in the field of bone research is required as South Asians tend to have different pattern of metabolic bone diseases probably owing to the genetic background, food pattern and social habits that are different from other populations.
Dr Sarath Leekamwasam then explained the mission and vision of the new Society. Dr Rene Rizzoli explained the role of the IOF when dealing with other societies. He invited people to publish their work in the Archives of Osteoporosis.
The representatives from attending countries made presentations on country specific data on metabolic bone diseases.The meeting was adjourned for the day and member met again on 29th morning.
Dr Ambrish Mithal explained the templates of the White paper proposed by the IOF and Mrs. Margaret Walker, representatives of the IOF highlight the importance of the White paper.
After a brain storming session, members recognized following areas as priority areas while planning future activities of the society.
Research
- Relationship between fracture and BMD in a Nested Case Control study. There was a suggestion to incorporate hip geometry indices into this study
- Mortality following hip fracture.
- Study on awareness among public and medical profession.
Organizational/ Educational
- Regional training course similar to the Leon IOF Advance Course to be initiated in the region.
Selection of Office Bearers of the SASBMR
President: Dr Ambrish Mithal
Secretary: Prof Sarath Leekamwasam
Treasurer: Dr Sisira Siribadana
Committee members
India: Dr Nikhil Tandon
Pakistan: Dr Syed Abbas Raza
Nepal: Dr Dina Shrestha
Bhutan: Dr Phurb Dorji
Sri Lanka: Dr Lalith Wijayarathna {president of the Osteoporosis Sri Lanka}
New President of SASBMR, Dr Ambrish Mithal thanked all delegates and the meeting was adjourned at 11:00 AM on 29th Sep 2007.
ISBMR Conference
On the 29th (AN) the ISBMR Conference started with president welcoming all the participants. Naibedya started the academic session with a talk on discovery of calcium sensing receptor and discussed future implications of this discovery. This was followed by detailed discussion of role of calcium sensing receptor in pathogenesis of metabolic bone diseases by Ravinder Goswami.
Next session was on vitamin D and its role in bone health. Nikhil Tandon discussed about cutoff for definition of vitamin D deficiency and its applicability in Indian population. V Bhatia showed her data on prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in pregnant subjects. She also showed initial result of her study of vitamin D supplementation during pregnancy and its beneficial effect on birth events.
Himangi from CS Yajnic group then discussed about fetal origin of osteoporosis and other metabolic bone diseases. She also shared their data on vitamin D nutrition and bone health. Veena Shatrughan stressed upon improving calcium and vitamin D nutrition in women, specially from middle and low socio- economic status. After these two symposia, Rene Rizzoli delivered “MMS Ahuja Memorial Oration “on bone health and protein nutrition. All participants were then invited to join for dinner at Hotel Taj Palace, where some further discussions continued.
On the 30th, DS Rao started the session by giving insight into Bone Density – Quality vs Quantity and AC Ammini touched upon use of Bone Densitometry in management of osteoporosis.
Thereafter DS Rao again touched upon current concept of Bisphosphonates and Ian Reid on Zolendronic Acid in management of osteoporosis.
After a well deserved tea break Daniel Thiebaud discussed Role of Teriparatide and Ambrish Mithal on Recent advances in management of osteoporosis. There was then a panel discussion on this which carried on till lunch, Ambrish Mithal moderated the discussion with DS Rao, Ian Reid, and Daniel Thiebaud being panelist.
After a Sumptuous lunch a free paper session began with Ian Reid playing the Judge. Syed Abbas Raza for Pakistan then discussed about Male osteoporosis – Role of thyroid hormone and testosterone and Sarath Leekamwasam from Sri Lanka the Management of steroid induced osteoporosis.
After tea Break, the last symposium i.e. Uncommon Bone Diseases with S Bhadada discussing Paget’s Diseases and Madhulika Kabra, the Osteogenesis imperfacta. A Bhansali then talked of Fibrous Dysplasia and the Rajesh Khadgawat about Hypophosphatemic osteomalacia.
The meeting ended with a vote of thanks and the organizer were relieved to find that the conference had gone off nearly flawlessly with both academic and administrative part going off well.