Second Symposium of the Academia Raetica

“Medicine and the Environment” was the topic and focus of the second Symposium of the Academia Raetica which was held on Friday afternoon, November 2, 2007, in the Calvensaal in Chur, Switzerland.

Numerous representatives from the most important natural science research institutes and the different clinics of the Canton of Grisons and the surrounding regions attended the symposium chaired by the president of the Academia Raetica, Prof M. Furrer. Mostly young researchers were given the opportunity to present their projects and results in a way that not only professionals but also lay people had the chance to learn about top-class scientific research carried out in the region. Last but not least—as Regierungsrat Dr. Lardi mentioned in his welcoming speech—research has a significant economic and regional political meaning, and is the basis for substantial further development of the region.

The multifaceted program was put together by Prof J. Kesselring and was deliberately very diverse. The prelude was given by Dr Britta Allgöwer. She made a great impression by reporting on the natural occurrence and effects of forest fires, especially in the National Park where methodology of fighting such fires are currently being studied. Mr B. Zweifel from the Swiss Federal Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research in Davos spoke about prevention and rescue in avalanches, while Drs M. Liesch and Ch.Sommer from the Cantonal Hospital of Chur spoke about hypothermia and emergency care as well as about potentially fatal skiing accidents. They particularly spoke about the rescue and acute care of people injured by avalanches and high velocity injuries during winter sport activities.

A central theme of the lectures which followed was the ongoing ageing of human beings which presents considerable challenges to modern medicine. Mrs.S. Grad of the AO Research Institute spoke about future treatment options for arthrosis. It is a research goal to first harvest and then cultivate, ex vivo, human chondrocytes which can finally be implanted in the affected joint. While there is hope, it will however take several more years until this becomes a procedure which can be used on patients. Mr B. Gantenbein, also from Davos, dealt with test tube analysis of the causes of intervertebral disc degeneration. Prof. P. Matter reported on the demands, the importance and challenges of operative fracture care in the geriatric patient, which has as a goal to render the patient as mobile as possible and to avoid complications as well as long-term hospital care.

The third part of the symposium was dedicated to more specific problems facing medicine and the environment. Dr. M.Kuhn, a pneumologist from the Department of Medicine, Kantonsspital Chur, highlighted the dangers of passive smoking and bronchial asthma, particularly in view of the forthcoming referendum on banning smoking in public places in the Grisons. Dr. HJ. Mansfeld from the Hochgebirgsklinik Davos-Wolfgang spoke about the problems of bronchial asthma in children. Prof R. Crameri of the Swiss Institute of Allergy and Asthma research (SIAF) in Davos gave interesting insights into the socio-economic problems of allergies and how much these are underestimated.

Dr Ch. Säly from VIVT in Feldkirch(A) examined the role of cholesterol as a triggering factor for heart attacks. Dr R. Von Moos, a oncologist from Chur examined the role and influence of environmental factors on the incidence of cancer. Dr A. Mündlein from the Universität für Humanwissenschaften im Liechtenstein informed about latest research results of the role of genes and their relation in causing illness. Finally, Dr Lisa Holper and Prof J. Kesselring both from the Klinik für Neurologie am Rehabilitationszentrum in Valens (SG) respectively spoke about psychosocial consequences of multiple sclerosis and a very innovative way of examining brain activity during sleep with a special sleeping hood.

Every presentation led to intensive discussions, which can be attributed not just to the high level of interest of the topics but also to the excellent performance of the speakers.

Summing up president Furrer proudly stated that this symposium of the Academia Raetica once again proved to be a very informative event, in which young researchers of the region were able to highlight their work, which appears to be outstanding and very diversified and which must be made more known. As the meeting was quite well attended there is hope that the efforts and goals of the Academia Raetica have been met.