Genetics and the immune system - Dr David Martino

It is clear that changing environmental factors have had a dramatic impact on the developing immune system, and are implicated in the rise of many immune mediated diseases such as allergy and asthma. Both genetic and non-genetic heritable factors are encoded within our DNA in the form of sequence variation and epigenetic modifications. Understanding these patterns of variation and their functional consequences for immune development will lead to a better understanding of conditions like allergies and asthma in which both genes and environments play a role. In this plenary David Martino discussed genetic and epigenetic mechanisms of allergy and asthma.

Watch this presentation here. (starts at 31 mins)
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The Role of the Environment - Professor Jeroen Douwes

There has been a global epidemic of asthma during the past half-century. More recently, the prevalence has levelled off or declined in many Western countries, whereas the prevalence in less affluent nations is still increasing. The reasons for this and the different geographical patterns of asthma prevalence remain unclear, but given the speed at which some of these changes have occurred strongly suggest a significant role for environmental factors. Although allergy and asthma are closely related, allergen exposure and allergy alone cannot explain current time trends and geographical patterns of asthma. Also, large prospective studies have shown that interventions to reduce indoor allergens (predominantly house dust allergen) have not been successful. As a result the focus has shifted from allergen exposure to non-allergenic exposures that modify the risk of allergies and asthma. This talk provided an overview of new and emerging risk and protective factors which have greater explanatory power and hold considerable promise in terms of future effective interventions.


Watch the presentation here. (starts at 1.00 hour)
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Child Asthma Guidelines - Professor Innes Asher

Child and adolescent asthma guidelines for New Zealand have been prepared for consultation. This session will give a summary of the guidelines.

Watch the presentation here. (starts at 1.40mins)
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Vitamin D: Does it help our children - Associate Professor Cameron Grant

The objectives of this presentation are to enable you to: 1. Recognise that vitamin D deficiency during pregnancy and infancy is a global problem and understand why vitamin D status is poorer in New Zealand than in many other developed countries. 2. Demonstrate the potential for vitamin D status to be a determinant of respiratory health in early childhood. 3. Conclude that vitamin D supplementation has the potential to improve child respiratory health in New Zealand.

Watch the presentation here. (starts at 29.30)
See the presentation slides here.
See the presentation visualisations here and here.

Who's in charge? Teens, Asthma and Medication Adherence - Dr Terry Fleming

As young people develop from childhood to adulthood, their priorities, risk assessment and decision making processes typically change and develop. These have important implications for disease management. This session will focus on what brain science and clinical expertise can offer towards enhanced medication compliance and positive outcomes for teens with asthma.

View the presentation here. (starts at 1.50)
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Rongoā Māori healers in primary health - Dr Glenis Mark

Dr Glenis Mark (Ngapuhi, Tainui, Kai Tahu) spoke about research on the views of rongoā Māori healers and patients on whether rongoā Māori healing and mainstream health treatment can collaborate. Discussion on the similarities and differences between both forms of treatment is provided as well as a summary of how this analysis could be relevant to respiratory treatment.

View the presentation here. (starts at 31.15)
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We can work it out - Susan Reid

Engaging patients and whānau involves a number of aspects. This session is intended to be very practical. It will confirm your current practice and introduce new ideas that you can use next week. The session will focus on managing the complexities of patient and whānau consultations through agenda setting, listening to understand and asking good questions.

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Supporting whānau to support their teenager living with chronic illness - Sharon Pihema

We’re back again in 2016 sharing our whanau journey with you as we support our daughter Tomairangi who lives with brittle asthma and bronchiectasis. This time we take a look at the ‘other’ side of chronic illness – the emotional and mental wellbeing of our daughter and our whanau. 2016 has been another challenging year, more so than any other year. Join us on another up-close and confronting presentation as we share some of the struggles we have had to work through this year – from refusing to take medications, denial, running away, police involvement,CYFs notifications, thoughts of self-harm, loneliness, sadness, frustration and changing hospital culture – we’ll show you the things that can happen when it all falls to pieces. (This workshop was not recorded on video.)

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Breathing dysfunction/Breathing pattern disorders - Tania Clifton-Smith

There is great public and increasing professional interest in non-drug treatments for asthma, and respiratory disorders. The evidence base for the effectiveness of breathing training is improving with patient-reported outcomes such as symptoms, quality of life and psychological impact; and reduction in the use of rescue bronchodilator medication making a significant difference. Physiotherapists have worked with breathing dysfunction since the early 1950’s assisting clients with breathing pattern education as well as advice in how to manage symptoms such as coughing,shortness of breath, wheezing and excess mucus. Many people attend our clinics and are referred for help with their breathing dysfunction, education and management. This session introduces you to the key factors when identifying a breathing pattern disorder and a few simple techniques/tools to initiate awareness for the client. (This was a workshop which was not recorded on video.)

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Living with food allergies - Kimberley & Mikayla Madden-Snoad

During this workshop you will hear from Kimberley and Mikayla Madden-Snoad. Kimberley Madden-Snoad is a (volunteer) Regional Coordinator for Allergy New Zealand. She has run this support network, for families in Auckland East and South who have children with food allergies, for the last 12 years. Mikayla Madden-Snoad is in year 10 at Pakuranga College. She is allergic to milk, eggs, kiwifruit and some tree nuts. Two years ago she was diagnosed with coeliac disease further restricting her diet. (This was a workshop which was not recorded on video.)

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Understanding Skin Prick Tests - Dr Jan Sinclair

The workshop will review allergy testing considering factors including when, where, why, how and who. After an introduction there will be an opportunity for small group “hands on” experience with skin testing, followed by further discussion about how to unravel the results, detailing the complexities of interpretation of allergy tests. (This was a workshop which was not recorded on video.)

View the presentation slides here and here.