Dr. Andrej Kastlic, Professor

National Center for the Treatment of Drug Addiction, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia

Biography

Dr. Andrej Kastelic was head of the National Center for the Treatment of Drug Addiction at the University Psychiatric Clinic in Ljubljana (Slovenia, EU) since its establishment in January 1995 till May 2024 and is a teacher for addiction, psychiatry and mental health at University of Ljubljana and Maribor at several Faculties. He has been the President of Global Addiction Association and serves as Secretary General of the European Opiate Addiction Treatment Association (EUROPAD). He is a founding member of the World Federation for the Treatment of Opiate Dependence (WFO), president of the South Eastern European and Adriatic Society, president of the SEE Adriatic Addiction Treatment Network (SEEA net), founding member of International Society on Addiction Medicine (ISAM) and used to be Board Member of World Association on Dual Disorders (WADD). He has been a president of organizing committee of major international conferences like International Harm Reduction Conference, International Society of Addiction Medicine, European Opioid Addiction Association - EUROPAD, Global Addiction Conferences, Vanguard and more than 10 South European Addiction Network Conferences (has been president since the beginning in 2002), 15 Symposia and 12 National Conferences. He has received Dole – Nyswander Award in 2001 by American Association for Treatment of Opiate Dependence (AATOD) Gold Reflection Award in 2002, Slovene Ministry of Justice Award 2005 and EUROPAD “Chimera” Award in 2008.

Topic

Internationally Developing Opioid Addiction Treatment Programmes – Medication Assistant Treatment in the Communities and Custodial Settings

Abstract

As opioid use is still growing worldwide there are more and more countries expressing the need to develop good practice treatment, harm reduction and rehabilitation programs. Major international organizations including United Nations with UNAIDS, UNODC AND WHO, EU, Council of Europe, Global Found, OSCE, Open Society Foundation, are strongly supporting these efforts. In the most countries the primary goal is to reduce HIV and hepatitis infection not primary the reduction of people suffering. The author of this article has been for the last thirty years as a consultant or a trainer involved in developing AOT either in communities or custodial settings in about thirty-five countries. Two examples from 2024 in Africa (Egypt) and Asia (Bangladesh) will be presented from the first assessments, preparation of the Feasibility studies, negotiations with the policy makers and potential treatment staff, preparing and finalizing guidelines, trainings to the support to start the programs, additionally further trainings, giving online support, being involved in evaluations. As the country situations are very different concerning types of the opioid substances, way of using them, ethnographic and political differences programs should be adapted to the local needs, primary the needs of the people who use drugs and resources but to the needs of the communities, as well, specially the needs of the vulnerable populations like women, youngsters, people in prisons. User involvement in designing programs and organizing “consumers boards” and networking of different programs has been of extreme importance. Several practical examples and successful achievements will be presented.

Fuyong Jiao, Professor

Shaanxi Provincial People's Hospital, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China

Biography

Prof. Fuyong Jiao is currently a professor at Shaanxi Provincial People's Hospital, Xi'an Jiaotong University. He also serves as Academician of the European Academy of Natural Sciences, Honorary Academician of FAISALABAD Medical University Pakistan, Honorary Professor of the National Children's Medical Center of the Ministry of Health of Russia, and Honorary and Visiting Professor of Benha University in Egypt. Awarded the Special Government Allowance of the State Council in 1992, Chairman of the European Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine (Czech Republic), Director of the International Exchange Center of the Hospital Cooperation Alliance of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. He is the Founder of the National Clinical Drug Institution for Child Neurology/Kawasaki Disease Diagnosis and Treatment Center. Awarded two Second Prizes for Scientific and Technological Progress in Shaanxi Province, one international invention patent, one national invention patent, and three utility model patents. He has published 13 medical monographs and 200 papers in Chinese and English journals at home and abroad.

Topic

Research Progress on Gastrointestinal Symptoms and Sleep Problems in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders

Abstract

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that typically manifests in early childhood, characterized by social interaction and communication difficulties, etc. In recent years, the global incidence of ASD has been on the rise, leading to increased awareness and attention. Besides these core symptoms, children with ASD may also suffer from one or more comorbid conditions, such as gastrointestinal issues and sleep disorders. the causal relationship between them has not been fully established. but it is clear that core symptoms can lead to the development of comorbid conditions, which in turn exacerbate the core symptoms. The comorbid conditions also influence each other, placing a significant burden on the child and the family. This article reviews the clinical manifestations, underlying mechanisms, impacts on the child, controversies, and unresolved issues of comorbid gastrointestinal symptoms and sleep disorders in children with ASD, and proposes comprehensive management strategies and future research directions for managing ASD comorbidities.

Dr. Qingbin Zhao, Professor

Department of Geriatric Endocrinology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China

Biography

Dr. Qingbin Zhao serves as a professor in the Department of Geriatric Endocrinology at the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University. She studied clinical medicine at Xi'an Medical University in China and obtained a bachelor's degree in 1996. Subsequently, she studied in the research group of Professor Ma Aiqun at Xi'an Jiaotong University and obtained her master's degree in 2002 and her doctorate in 2008. From 2017 to 2018, she went to the University of Maryland in the United States and conducted a two-year postdoctoral research under the guidance of Professor Da-Wei Gong, engaging in the development of drugs for cardiovascular diseases. She has published 20 articles in SCI journals.

Topic

Progress of Clinical Research on Diabetic Cardiovascular Diseases in Northwest China

Abstract

Over the past 40 years, with the development of China's economy and changes in lifestyle, such as reduced physical activity, excessive energy intake, and the prevalence of overweight or obesity, the prevalence of diabetes in China has risen from 0.67% in 1980 to 12.4% in 2018. However, the rate of reaching the blood glucose target among Chinese diabetic patients is only 49.4% (HbA1c<7%), and the burden of diabetes is constantly increasing especially the threat of cardiovascular complications of diabetes. In addition, other risk factors that cause atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases are also prevalent in China, such as hypertension, dyslipidemia, obesity, etc. In 2019, the Chinese government listed the prevention and control of diabetes as part of the "Healthy China" special campaign. Metabolic diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia and obesity have driven the high incidence of metabolic cardiovascular diseases in China, and atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases have become the leading cause of death among Chinese adults. Facing these challenges, early prevention and control of related risk factors may be an effective means to reduce the burden of metabolic cardiovascular diseases in China. Therefore, in recent years, our research team has carried out a series of clinical studies on diabetic cardiovascular diseases in the northwest region of China. In this speech, I will discuss a series of related clinical studies I have conducted in recent years, including the influencing factors of the occurrence, progression and prognosis of diabetes mellitus complicated with coronary heart disease, diabetic kidney disease, diabetic foot ulcers, and diabetes complicated with lower extremity arterial occlusive disease. Identifying these risk factors will help formulate precise prevention and control strategies, which may potentially prevent the occurrence and development of diabetic cardiovascular diseases in this region.