This educational activity will utilize a case-based approach to summarize our current understanding of RCC tumor biology and discuss the most recent data supporting treatment recommendations in the first-line setting based on patient characteristics, risk stratification, and management of adverse events commonly associated with targeted therapies. Additionally, second-line options based on previous treatment will be addressed.

This webcast will present data of most promising treatment options currently in development for colorectal and non-colorectal gastrointestinal cancers.

This case-based program will evaluate current and emerging methods to optimize CRC screening and the management of patients with metastatic disease. Additionally, the evolving role of targeted therapies and the use of biomarkers in the management of metastatic CRC will be discussed.

This activity provides clinicians with an overview of quality initiatives in cancer care in the US.

This case-based program will examine a number of important topics relevant to the contemporary management of advanced NSCLC. A major area of focus will be the role of histology and molecular markers in the clinical decision-making process. Individual patient factors that impact treatment decisions will also be addressed.

Health care providers involved in the management of patients with cancer are confronted with the challenges of staying abreast of emerging data on targeted therapies and applying evidenced-based approaches to improve patient outcomes. Addressing these challenges, this educational activity will discuss key concepts regarding the use of targeted therapies in patients with advanced RCC, CML, and in the management of bone metastasis and treatment-induced bone loss in patients with breast cancer.

This activity aims to educate retinal specialists and eye care professionals on the pathophysiology of retinal vein occlusion, and examine new clinical trial data in order to better assess the efficacy and safety of available and emerging therapies. An additional goal of this activity is to improve communication between physicians and their patients. Treatment decisions, management of side effects, and impact on quality of life are some of the areas where communication between the physician and the patient are critical. Research studies are ongoing in the area of retinal disease and a critical need exists to educate retinal specialists and other eye care professionals on this evolving topic in order to improve outcomes for patients with CRVO and BRVO.

The defining features of primary care - continuity, comprehensiveness and coordination - match the needs of chronically ill patients. With fewer specialists, new knowledge about the timeliness of diagnosis, and growing awareness of extra-articular manifestations, PCPs must take on the lion’s share of RA care. In fact, it is essential that you understand the barriers to positive results, best practices in RA management, and current guidelines.

This educational initiative will promote increased attention to the often unrecognized and undertreated issue of chronic pain, and provide training on assessment techniques and available treatment options. Approaches to monitoring and managing patients with regard to treatment response, adverse effects, potential for abuse, and optimizing outcomes will also be addressed. In addition, the importance of a multidisciplinary approach to treating chronic pain will be reviewed.

ConferenceDIRECT™ Multiple Sclerosis 2010 is a conference highlight e-Newsletter offering late-breaking research from posters, symposia, plenary sessions, and keynote addresses relevant to the diagnosis, management, and treatment of patients with MS from key conferences. Each ConferenceDIRECT e-Newsletter is presented in six (6) concise fifteen minute segments designed for just-in-time, 24/7 accessibility and convenience.

Lung cancer remains the number one cause of cancer death for both men and women in the United States and the most common cancer in the world today, accounting for 12.3% of all new diagnoses. NSCLC accounts for approximately 80% of lung cancers, the majority of which are in an advanced stage at diagnosis. More people die of lung cancer than of colon, breast, and prostate cancers combined. Practicing oncologists are faced with an overwhelming amount of new and complex data on many types of cancer including biological markers, diagnoses, and therapies. Furthermore, they must follow closely the dramatic advances being made in characterizing tumors according not only to the demographics of each patient but also to individual tumor histology and genomics. This educational activity will provide clinicians with information to translate the latest science into practical applications to improve patient outcomes.

This webcast-on-demand will assess important topics in VTE management, including methods to assess risk for deep-vein thrombosis (DVT), duration of VTE prophylaxis, and important issues relevant to the contemporary treatment of VTE.

Management of patients with congenital hemophilia A relies on the replacement of the specific coagulation factor to treat and prevent bleeding episodes. The development of inhibitors against factor VIII is a severe complication of replacement therapy. Inhibitors increase morbidity by decreasing response to standard therapy, making bleeding episodes more difficult to control. In patients with high-titer inhibitors, hemostasis is traditionally achieved by the administration of bypassing agents. The goal of immune tolerance induction is to eradicate the inhibitor so that patients can be treated again with factor replacement therapy. This educational activity will review risk factors for developing inhibitors, discuss treatment strategies for the management of acute bleeding episodes and the prevention of bleeding episodes, and summarize current approaches for immune tolerance induction.

This program will utilize a case-based approach to illustrate various scenarios of how immunosuppression may be used to minimize chronic allograft pathology and optimize recipient survival. Additionally, kidney transplant recipients' responses to survey questions will be highlighted in an effort to heighten clinicians' awareness of patients' concerns and knowledge regarding their care. The ultimate goal of this educational initiative is the clinical application of program content to provide individualized care to kidney transplant recipients.

International Congress for Lung Cancer, and Head & Neck Cancer is intended to provide comprehensive updates on biology, diagnosis, screening, and management of lung cancer. Paradigm shift in the treatment options of non-small-cell lung cancer and small-cell lung cancer will be discussed. These webcasts will present data of most promising emerging agents currently in development for the treatment of lung cancer. In-depth discussion of antiangiogenic agents, inhibitors of EGFR pathways and drugs that target multiple signaling pathways will also be given significant focus. Emerging data from ongoing clinical research will be presented.

This case-based activity will describe the pathologic mechanisms that underlie CKD-MBD. Evidence-based strategies to manage mineral and bone abnormalities in CKD will be reviewed in the context of current KDIGO recommendations. Importantly, the program will explore methods to manage CKD-MBD in the current health care environment and discuss reimbursement issues that might potentially impact care for these patients.

This 2-hour Webcast features case-based presentations and discussion by a multidisciplinary panel of key leaders in the diagnosis and treatment of MS. The program has been developed to provide a clinically relevant overview of current best practices and future opportunities for MS patient management. There is no fee for this educational activity.

A WebWindows^™ into Stroke Online CME/CE-Certified Activity with On-Demand Educational Slide Library

This 80-minute interactive webcast with synchronized slides combines didactic presentations with lively panel discussions stimulated by real-life patient scenarios. Dr. Guthrie presents a didactic discussion on the implications of unidentified and undertreated stroke and stroke risk. Then, the 3-member panel introduces a series of representative patient cases with each panelist discussing their discipline’s key methods of identifying, diagnosing, and managing stroke and TIA in at-risk patients.

This webcast-on-demand will assess important topics in VTE management, including methods to assess risk for deep-vein thrombosis (DVT), duration of VTE prophylaxis, and important issues relevant to the contemporary treatment of VTE.

Approximately 292,360 new cases of lung, and head & neck cancers which include oral cavity/pharynx and thyroid glands have been diagnosed in 2009 in the United States, with nearly 168,620 resultant deaths. More than 85% of the patients have non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) histology. Approximately 40% of the patients will have IIIB or IV NSCLC, which is associated with a dismal median survival time of 8-12 months. The past decade has seen a paradigm shift in the treatment options for lung and head & neck cancers. This was facilitated through the concerted effort of research activity conducted through academic cancer institutions, and participating of community oncologists in the clinical trials. Nuances in the understanding of molecular mechanisms of lung, head & neck cancers have already led to therapeutic improvements. The outcome for patients with all stages of lung cancer has improved with the addition of novel cytotoxic agents, molecularly targeted drugs, and improved supportive care measures. A number of newer agents and targets are now being studied and will hopefully lead to further improvements in therapy.

Each year, over 50,000 Americans learn that they have kidney cancer. Often a silent cancer, renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is the most common type of kidney cancer. Approximately 20% to 30% of patients present with metastatic RCC (mRCC), and 20% to 40% will develop mRCC after nephrectomy. Prognosis for patients with mRCC is poor, but expanding knowledge of the pathophysiology of the disease has contributed to the development of targeted therapies that have been shown to prolong survival, providing hope for many patients with RCC. With the plethora of new data on targeted therapies for RCC, clinicians are confronted with the challenge of applying emerging knowledge to clinical practice while adhering to treatment guidelines. Clinicians also face the challenges of managing treatment-related adverse events and determining if and when dose adjustments may be warranted. A review of clinical trial data, prognostic markers, common adverse events, treatment guidelines, and dosing strategies will be beneficial to clinicians who treat patients with RCC and ultimately improve patient care.

This learning activity will provide clinicians with the latest data concerning thalidomide, lenalidomide, and bortezomib, including how these novel agents can be employed in the management of comorbidities and treatment-related toxicities. Both current and emerging treatments for the management of MM will be explored. Additionally, this program provides evidence-based recommendations for the incorporation of novel agents and tailored therapy into frontline treatment regimens and salvage therapy.

Expert faculty will review the latest clinical advances in the treatment of cancer, query participants on optimal treatment strategies, and discuss methods for integrating findings into clinical practice. Programs Include: Interactive slide presentations with downloadable slides.

Topics include:

• Hormonally Sensitive, Early-stage Breast Cancer: Current Considerations and New Directions
• Tubulin Inhibition in Breast Cancer: A therapeutic Target Critical to Improving Outcomes
• Current Practices & Emerging Therapeutics in the Management of Metastatic Prostate Cancer
• Advances in Treatment of Renal Cell Carcinoma – Evolving Role of mTOR Inhibitors
• Expert Perspective - Optimizing Endocrine Therapy for Early Breast Cancer
• Advances in Targeted Therapies for Breast Cancer: A Report from SABCS 2009

This interactive, case-based, online activity is designed to meet the educational needs of medical and surgical transplant physicians, nurses, pharmacists, coordinators, case managers, and social workers who manage patients with solid organ transplants.

A unique component of the program will allow you to gain a better understanding of patients’ and caregivers’ perspectives by comparing your responses to the same survey questions that were posed to a representative sample of transplant recipients and/or their caregivers. This innovative activity is designed to highlight areas of common understanding or opportunities for improved patient-provider communication.

In this program, we will discuss a number of issues that are important to primary care clinicians who manage patients at risk for, or who have recently become infected with HIV. The program will review epidemiologic and statistical prevalence data on HIV in the United States, the rationale for current efforts to expand screening, and methods to improve the primary care provider’s ability to diagnose this disease early in its course. We will also discuss the available types of HIV tests, some of the barriers to optimizing HIV testing, and strategies to overcome these barriers. In addition, we will review the latest evidence-based recommendations for managing HIV in treatment-naive patients. Finally, we will discuss how primary care providers can confidently integrate HIV management into their clinical practice.

The Print-to-Practice program is intended to focus on recently published, peer-reviewed literature, which will be summarized and critically evaluated by experts in the management of HIV infection. In particular, this program will focus on current guidelines concerning HIV testing and the important need for early diagnosis of this disease. Additionally, barriers to testing and treatment in the field, as well as evidence-based recommendations for HIV management will be assessed in the context of the, contemporary primary care practice. A discussion on what health care providers who manage HIV can reasonably accomplish during a typical office visit will also be included.

Medical professionals who assess, treat and/or counsel cancer patients need to be able to assess and discuss new clinical data and recommendations related to the use of bone-targeted therapies to treat and prevent bone metastasis and prevent bone loss related to cancer treatment, and integrate this information into their own practice.

This interactive, case-based, online activity is designed to meet the educational needs of hospitalists, orthopedic surgeons, hematologists, intensivists, internists, family physicians, nurses, and other health care professionals who treat patients with or at risk for venous thromboembolism (VTE). A unique component of the program will allow you to gain a better understanding of patients’ perspectives by comparing your responses to the same survey questions that were posed to a representative sample of patients who experienced a VTE or who are at risk to suffer a venous thromboembolic event. This innovative activity is designed to highlight areas of common understanding or opportunities for improved patient-provider communication.

This Continuing Medical Education Program makes it easy to learn how non-conventional MRI techniques provide evidence for remyelination and CNS regeneration in patients with Multiple Sclerosis.

Results of important recent clinical studies of first-line EGFR TKI therapies, antibodies combined with chemotherapy, consolidation and up-front supportive care are creating the potential to change the paradigm for what constitutes appropriate first-line care for non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. Medical professionals who work with lung cancer patients need to understand the results of these new studies, assess their implications for the management of NSCLC, and integrate this information into their practice of assessing, counseling and treating individual patients.

• Novel Agents in the Treatment of Lung Cancer: New Approaches to First-Line Therapy
• Lung Cancer: CASE STUDIES Assessing Novel Agents in First-Line Therapy

This educational activity will provide the clinician with a better understanding of the etiology and pathophysiology of the development of factor VIII inhibitors, the tools to accurately diagnose acquired hemophilia (AH), and the knowledge to apply treatment protocols to improve the outcome of patients with AH.

This educational activity will review the pathophysiology and criteria for the diagnosis of gout. Current therapeutic options for treatment and prevention of acute attacks, and long-term management of hyperuricemia will be discussed.

This webcast will discuss recent changes in the epidemiology of IFIs and available methods for their identification in patients with AML. Current and emerging approaches to the treatment of IFIs will be explored. Additionally, the webcast will include a debate by program faculty on important issues associated with AML-related IFIs.

The ultimate goal of this educational program is the clinical application of program content to improve outcomes for patients being treated for AML.

The transplantation of solid organs is one of the most complex medical endeavors and a common lifesaving therapy for those with end-stage renal disease (ESRD), liver failure, heart disease, lung, and pancreatic failure. Among patients undergoing solid organ transplantation, CMV is the single most important pathogen that affects the outcome of the procedure as detected by plasma igG outcomes, prevention of CMV infection is a key component of solid organ transplant care.

Two strategies are used to prevent CMV infection: antiviral prophylaxis and preemptive treatment. Each of these strategies has inherent advantages and limitations and there is widespread controversy as to the best method for prevention of CMV in solid organ transplant patients. In addition, there are challenges associated with the diagnosis of CMV as well as the ideal prevention strategy and therapeutic agent.

Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer and the third leading cause of cancer mortality in the United States. Until recently, chemotherapy with FOLFOX or FOLFIRI was the mainstay of treatment. However, in the past years, the addition of new biologic agents targeting epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGR) in combination with various chemotherapy regimens has significantly improved progression-free survival and overall survival in patients with this disease. Welcome as these developments are, understanding the new regimens, evaluating ever-increasing clinical data, and incorporating new advances into existing therapeutic strategies, requires considerable time and effort on the part of clinicians if they are to be able to offer their patients the best therapy available.

The purpose of this activity is to provide education on the latest advances in the treatment of colorectal cancer.

This program will evaluate contemporary methods that integrate targeted therapies into the treatment of patients with CRC. The current application of molecular markers in the management of metastatic disease will also be demonstrated. The goal of this program is to present case examples that are applicable to providing individualized care for patients with CRC.

The purpose of this activity is to educate those who care for solid organ transplant patients on the evolving body of research and progress in the pathophysiology of CMV infection, the spectrum of disease that it may produce, and diagnostic and treatment strategies

The American Cancer Society estimates that there will be 271,530 cancer-related deaths among women during 2008. Of the various types of cancer, breast cancer is the second most fatal and accounts for 15% or 40,480 deaths among women and an additional 450 deaths among men. Further, it is estimated that nearly 155,000 women in the US are currently living with advanced breast cancer and this number is projected to increase to nearly 162,000 by the year 2011.

Recent advances and regimens in advanced breast cancer therapy are being actively investigated for their ability to improve patients' clinical outcomes. These include the development of novel targeted therapies and the use of combination regimens that incorporate novel cytotoxic or biologic agents. These advances are likely to be of particular interest to practicing oncologists in the management and treatment of patients with metastatic breast cancer and present important learning opportunities for these clinicians.

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The use of blood transfusions in medicine is so firmly entrenched that the procedure is considered routine in the hospital setting, with more than 14 million units of blood transfused in the United States annually. Although the likelihood of transmission of infectious agents has been drastically reduced over the years, the transfusion of red blood cells has been associated with immune modulation, transfusion-related acute lung injury (TRALI), as well as deleterious effects such as renal failure, red-cell storage effects, and hemolytic reactions. A recent international consensus conference committee on transfusion and outcomes concluded that there is little evidence to support a beneficial effect from the majority of current transfusions. The development of blood management protocols has evolved over the last two decades in an effort to apply an evidence-based approach to the management of this limited resource. Alternative methods to restore adequate tissue oxygenation in hospitalized patients have been developed in settings that include the emergency room and the operating room. This program will review clinical data that address the use of packed red cells in the acute care setting and alternative pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic strategies that may help avoid the use of blood transfusion. Information that will assist in the development of a blood management program to advance the quality of patient care will be provided.

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This CME program will be divided into 6 Modules:

• Module 1 will focus on the requirements for establishing a MRI quantification unit in an academic or private practice setting, for patients with MS.
• Module 2 will focus on the requirements for quantification of LV on T2-WI.
• Module 3 will focus on the requirements for quantification on T1-WI.
• Module 4 will focus on the requirements for quantification of whole brain atrophy.
• Module 5 will focus on the requirements for quantification on MTI.
• Module 6 will focus on the requirements for quantification on MRS.

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MRI techniques developed over the last two decades differ in their utility to predict clinical status in multiple sclerosis (MS). Gd-enhancing T1 and T2 lesions have limited value due to poor sensitivity and specificity for underlying pathophysiologic process. The use of high-field imaging protocols may increase sensitivity in detecting lesions and help identify pathology invisible on 1.5 T protocols. The pathology visualized with these new protocols is an important goal of MRI research. It is important for physicians and healthcare professionals who treat MS patients to be aware of new MRI protocols and research and the relevance to MS patient care.

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The introduction of targeted therapy over the past decade has transformed the outlook for patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML). Imatinib as front-line therapy in patients with chronic phase CML has shown excellent results at 7 years in the IRIS trial. However, patients need to be closely monitored for molecular and cytogenetic responses at specific time points. Assessment of response milestones is important for identifying patients who fit the criteria for suboptimal response or failure to imatinib. For these patients, dose optimization or switching to a newer tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) should be considered. Patients who are intolerant to imatinib despite adequate management of adverse events may also benefit from the newer TKIs. This educational activity will utilize a case-based approach to address scenarios that are commonly encountered by clinicians who treat patients with CML, from initiating treatment, to monitoring response, to switching therapy when necessary.

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This educational program will provide an understanding of the underlying compensatory mechanisms involved in CKD –associated hyperphosphatemia in conjunction with learning more about how and when to safely and effectively control phosphorus levels. Additionally, this activity will highlight disparities in perception between the patient and the health care team regarding medication and chronic kidney disease that present as areas of opportunity for ongoing communication and education.

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This interactive, case-based, online activity will review the pathophysiology of anemia in CKD. Current treatment guidelines and interventional techniques to correct anemia will be discussed. In addition, a unique component of the program will allow you to gain a better understanding of patients’ perspectives by comparing your responses to the same survey questions that were posed to a representative sample of patients. This innovative activity is designed to highlight areas of common understanding or opportunities for improved patient-provider communication.

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Current guidelines from the National Asthma Education and Prevention Program (NAEPP) acknowledge allergy and IgE-mediated processes as major contributors to persistent asthma. These guidelines—the Expert Panel Report 3 (EPR-3)—outline specific recommendations for evaluating the potential role of allergy and IgE in patients with asthma. Nevertheless, many office-based pulmonologists underestimate the clinical relevance of these processes to asthma and do not routinely test or screen their asthma patients for allergies. This educational activity is designed to increase awareness among pulmonologists and their ancillary healthcare staff of the role of IgE-driven processes in asthma and instruct on ways to integrate pertinent EPR-3 guidelines into clinical practice, including implementing allergy testing and allergen avoidance measures for all patients with persistent asthma.

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Non-small cell lung cancer has long been treated with first-line platinum-based chemotherapy for 4 to 6 cycles followed by a break, then second-line treatment upon progression. This CME activity presents new data and discussion of 3 case studies addressing two new approaches that challenge the current paradigm: (1) early second-line chemotherapy and (2) adding targeted antibodies to the chemotherapy followed by a maintenance antibody phase of treatment. Physicians need to be aware of these data and their implications for practice change, and be able to assess the use of early second-line treatment or combination plus maintenance therapy for individual patients.

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This interactive, case-based, online activity is designed to meet the educational needs of infectious disease specialists, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, and physicians and other health care professionals who manage patients with HIV.

A unique component of the program will allow you to gain a better understanding of patients’ and caregivers’ perspectives by comparing your responses to the same survey questions that were posed to a representative sample of HIV patients and caregivers of HIV patients. This innovative activity is designed to highlight areas of common understanding or opportunities for improved patient-provider communication.

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Accurate staging information is essential for optimal patient management and the delivery of quality cancer care. This activity presents the key elements of stage determination and reporting for colorectal cancer, based on updated 2009 guidelines, and discusses the key prognostic features of pathological assessment of a colorectal resection specimen.

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This case-based webcast will describe current concepts of pathologic mechanisms known to underlie MBD in CKD. Strategies and novel approaches to manage MBD in the setting of nonhemodialysis CKD will be reviewed. Importantly, strategies that are keys to accurate documentation and coding by nephrologists when managing early stages of CKD will be described.

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