Call for Abstracts CLICK HERE TO: Download Abstract Submission form Final Deadline extension for Abstract submission - 27th September: The organising committee would like to inform you that following the changes in Lebanon and requests by colleagues in the affected area for a further extension, the deadline for the submission of abstracts has been extended to the 27th of September. Many colleagues from all over the world have already submitted abstracts and those who have delayed their submission are invited to submit their abstracts urgently and not later than the 27th of September. Abstracts submitted after the 27th of September may not be included in the book of abstracts and may only be presented as posters. Method for the submission of abstracts: Please download the abstract form from the 16th ICOC website (www.icoc-isocam.org), complete the whole section and send it as an attachment by e mail to the organising committee (e mail: pri_gjk@cylink.com.cy). Deadline extension for Abstracts - 15th September: The organising committee would like to inform you that following the war in Lebanon and requests by many colleagues the deadline for the submission of abstracts has been extended. Many colleagues from all over the world have already submitted abstracts and those who have delayed their submission are invited to submit their abstracts urgently and not later than the 15th of September. Abstracts submitted after the 15th of September will not be accepted. Method for the submission of abstracts: Please download the abstract form from the 16th ICOC website (www.icoc-isocam.org), complete the whole section and send it as an attachment by e mail to the organising committee (e mail: pri_gjk@cylink.com.cy). Abstract Form CLICK HERE TO: Download Abstract Submission form Online abstract submission Submit abstract as an e-mail attachment. If this is not possible, please enclose a floppy diskette with your abstract (s). Papers for oral or poster presentations will be selected according to the contents of the submitted abstracts. The selection and placement decisions by the Organizing Committee regarding the presentations will be final. The Organizing Committee reserves the right to edit the abstract for clarity of English. How to Submit All abstracts are strongly encouraged to be submitted as an e-mail attachment or an electronic file on a 3.5" diskette in MS Word format with the enclosed ABSTRACT SUBMISSION FORM to pri_gjk@cylink.com.cy Tel: 00357 25734615; Fax: 00357 25395926 Format for writing the manuscript 1. Title The title of paper should be concise in bold and IN CAPITALS, size 12 and justified to the left. 2. Authors & Affiliation The name of presenting author must be underlined. Separate multiple authors with commas and place "and" before the last author. Do NOT include degrees or professional titles. Postal address of affiliations. Telephone / Fax / e mail 3. Text Use a structured layout ¡V Introduction (purpose of the study, objective), Methods and Patients. Results (and Discussion) and Conclusions (Summary). 4. Presentation Type Indicate your preference of the presentation type. The organizing committee reserves the right to rearrange your presentation into any appropriate type. 5. AV equipment for oral presentation If you have chosen oral presentation, please indicate the Audio & Video equipment needed for your presentation. Receipt of your abstract will be acknowledged and notification of acceptance will be forwarded by August 31, 2006 at the latest. The presenting author must register at the time of abstract submission. Moreover, abstracts will NOT be printed in the abstract book if the registration fee is not received by that date. Abstract Sample UNIVERSALLY EFFECTIVE IRON CHELATION THERAPY USING THE ICOC DEFERIPRONE / DEFEROXAMINE COMBINATION PROTOCOL. Kolnagou A, Eracleous E, Economides C and Kontoghiorghes GJ. Postgraduate Research Institute of Science, Technology, Environment and Medicine, Limassol, Cyprus.Tel: 0035725734615. Fax: 0035725395926. e mail:pri_gjk@cylink.com.cy Introduction: The main cause of death of thalassaemia patients is cardiomyopathy caused from excess iron deposition in the heart. MRI T2* and T2 are the only reliable, non-invasive methods for the assessment of the presence of excess iron in the heart and the efficacy of chelation therapy protocols. The efficacy of the International Committee on Chelation (ICOC) combination protocol using deferiprone (L1) (80-110 mg/kg/day) and deferoxamine (DF) (40-60 mg/kg/day, at least 3 days per week) has been studied in a group of patients. Methods: Eleven patients (7 males, 4 females) of variable serum ferritin levels (0.56 - 4.6 mg/l) and mostly with heavy cardiac iron levels as detected by MRI T2* (4.7 -24 ms) took part in the study. The selection criteria were the presence of excess iron in the heart and the liver as detected by MRI. The combination therapy protocol involved the administration of L1 during the day (75-100 mg/kg/day) and of DF (40-50 mg/kg at least 3 days / week) during the night using a pump or the whole 24 h using an infuser. The monitoring period of the combination therapy ranged from 6 to 39 months. Results: The ICOC dose protocol was well tolerated but 3 patients could only receive DF 2 instead of 3 days/week. There was a substantial reduction in serum ferritin in almost all the patients, especially those who had initial levels greater than 1mg/l (0.25- 3.9 mg/l). Similarly, there was a substantial increase in cardiac MRI T2* (15-40 ms) reaching normal levels in all but one (using DF 2 days / week), where it remained unchanged (light siderosis). In 2 patients excess cardiac iron was cleared within 6-8 months. Discussion and conclusion: The ICOC combination protocol of L1 and DF appears to be effective in the rapid clearance of excess iron from the heart as detected by MRI T2*. In 2 patients the clearance was observed within 6-8 months. This rate of iron removal is faster than that previously reported in patients using high doses of either L1 or DF. Liver iron levels were also reduced in all the patients but at a slower rate than cardiac iron. There were no toxic side effects during the study. Randomised clinical trials are needed to confirm the universal effectiveness of the ICOC protocol in patients that can tolerate it. 1] Kontoghiorghes GJ, Kolnagou A. Lancet 2003; 361:184.2] Peng CT et al Eur J Haematol 2003: 70: 392-7. 3] Kolnagou A et al Brit J Haematol, 2004; 127: 360-1.