Counseling and Managing Patients at Increased Risk: This activity is designed to help gynecologists and other primary care providers better understand how to counsel and manage women who are increased risk of breast cancer. The panel of nationally recognized experts in the field of breast cancer prevention will review the risks and benefits of breast cancer chemoprevention agents and the identification and counseling of appropriate patients for which their use may be considered. See Program

Identifying Patients at Increased Risk: This activity is designed to help gynecologists and other primary care providers better understand how to assess the risk of breast cancer in their patients. The panel of nationally recognized experts in the field of breast cancer prevention will review the qualitative and quantitative factors determining increased, including gene abnormalities. See Program

Novel agents and new treatment strategies have driven significant changes in the management of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) over the past 20 years. These agents—including some recently approved, and others emerging from clinical trials—provide therapeutic options after a patient fails standardized therapy. The result has been a dramatic shift in the treatment paradigm for patients with RA. Treatment goals now include the prevention of structural damage and functional decline, and remission rather than mere symptom control. In the absence of recently updated guidelines, improving care for patients with RA can be challenging. These educational activities have been designed to help clinicians integrate the most current RA therapies into clinical practice, optimize treatment, and reevaluate regimens when the disease progresses.

Symptomatic treatment for menopausal women balances findings from clinical trials, guidelines, practice recommendations, and patient beliefs. Together physicians will evaluate data and recommend treatment that addresses patient concerns and their needs for symptom management.

The Journal Club provides highlights of key findings from leading scientific publications, clinical trials, and medical meetings that impact the clinical management of patients with cancer. Through expert discussion and analysis of current clinical issues, this program will assist participants with an evidence-based approach for the integration of emerging treatment advances into the clinical management of patients with cancer.

Prior to the availability of clotting factor concentrates, most people with severe hemophilia developed crippling musculoskeletal deformities caused by recurrent bleeding episodes. Significant advances have been made in the management of hemophilic hemarthrosis, aided by an improved understanding of its pathogenic mechanisms, early identification of patients at risk, and imaging techniques to evaluate joint damage. Treatment strategies have focused on the use of replacement therapy with clotting factors, both on demand at the time of a bleeding episode, and in the primary prophylactic setting. The use of clotting factors prior to the development of arthropathy has shown efficacy in preventing bleeding and joint damage.

Clinicians involved in the care and treatment of patients with hemophilia will benefit from an improved understanding of the pathogenesis of hemophilic arthropathy and a review of the evolving management strategies. This activity uses an interactive case-based format that incorporates debate and discussion, evaluates current challenges in the prevention and management of hemophilic arthropathy, as well as recent advances in treatment. Early diagnosis, orthopedic interventions for articular complications, and on-demand versus prophylactic therapy with clotting factors are also assessed.

This CME newsletter has been developed for physicians and other health care professionals who are interested in the treatment of patients with bleeding and clotting disorders. No prerequisites are required to participate in this activity.

This course reviews the underlying mechanisms of Alzheimer's disease, emphasizing the degenerative nature of the disease, and the rationale for cholinesterase inhibition.

As concepts surrounding MS continue to evolve, there is a need for those who treat patients with MS to remain current on new findings.

After viewing this CME program, physicians and other healthcare providers will appreciate current concepts in the pathology of MS. Understanding these new concepts may help physicians be more proactive in their approach to MS therapy.

This Continuing Medical Education program describes a methodology for assessing comparable risks and benefits in the treatment of Relapsing Forms of Multiple Sclerosis. All medical interventions carry risks that are evaluated against clinical benefits. According to the FDA, all approved drugs pose some level of risk. Like many diseases, the ongoing evaluation and treatment options for relapsing forms of Multiple Sclerosis are not clear-cut. The progression of MS can't be predicted in any one individual. As a result, clinicians must balance available therapeutic data against a patient's current condition, when they determine the risk and benefit of specific MS therapeutics.

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This activity will increase awareness of new understandings regarding the mechanism of action of opioids and opioid-induced side effects, the impact of opioid-related side effects on quality of life and the importance of appropriate management, and novel agents under development that can help address opioid-induced side effects. Evidence-based strategies to appropriately manage pain and related side effects will also be discussed and explored.

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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.

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Linda T. Vahdat, MD provides a comprehensive update on recent advances and emerging data in the treatment of metastatic breast cancer with focus on novel anti-microtubule agents and new strategies for overcoming resistance. Program Includes: Interactive slide presentations and downloadable PowerPoint slides.

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Each educational activity features expert faculty who will review recent clinical advances in the treatment of cancer, discuss key abstracts and provide treatment recommendations and strategies for the integration of findings into clinical practice. Programs include: interactive slide presentations, downloadable slides, and selected abstracts. Clinical reviews include: gastrointestinal cancers, breast cancer treatment, and oral chemotherapy.

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Chronic constipation (CC), a gastrointestinal (GI) disorder that negatively affects quality of life and is associated with varying definitions and high rates of over-the-counter self-medication, often overlaps with other GI disorder symptoms. This activity will enable physicians to improve the recognition, diagnosis, and management of CC, and understand the role of newer agents approved for the disorder.

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Global travel is commonplace, as people of all ages travel more often and to more varied locations. Often, today's travel destinations and popular local activities can put visitors at risk of infectious diseases, including VPH. Although many infections with HAV and/or HBV result from travel, people often depart to endemic areas without recommended immunizations. Safe and effective vaccines are widely available for immunization against hepatitis A and B, the most common vaccine-preventable diseases in travelers, including a combination vaccine to prevent both HAV and HBV. It is important that infectious disease specialists, gastroenterologists, travel medicine specialists, and other physicians who manage patients who travel stay apprised of up-to-date trends and recommendations regarding prevention of VPH in travelers. In particular, clinicians need to be cognizant of VPH prevention in special traveler populations such as the elderly, pregnant women, immunocompromised persons, and last-minute travelers. This educational monograph provides an overview of recent trends in the epidemiology and risks of VPH, current recommendations for immunization, conventional and accelerated schedules, and VPH prophylaxis in special populations.

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Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency (AATD) is one of the most common serious genetic disorders worldwide. 80,000-100,000 Americans may have AATD making AATD the most prevalent, potentially fatal genetic disorder of adult Caucasians in the United States. 25 million individuals carry deficient genes, but only 3,000 to 4,000 (≈4%) have been diagnosed.

AATD is frequently under recognized or left undiagnosed. The average patient with AATD has symptoms for 7.2 years before diagnosis is made and 44% of patients see at least 3 doctors before a diagnosis is made. Testing for AATD can make all the difference. It is only one simple test, once in a lifetime.

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Each program will use a case-study format to review recent advances in the treatment of cancer as presented at ASCO 2007 and provide treatment recommendations and strategies for the integration of findings into clinical practice.

These activities include interactive case-based presentations and downloadable powerpoint slides.

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This activity includes interactive case-based presentations, downloadable powerpoint slides, a CE post-test, and evaluation form.

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This activity includes four Interactive Case-based Presentations, downloadable powerpoint slides, a CE post-test, and evaluation form.

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