News
4th SEEM Tirana attracts new work
Participants commend 4th SEEM for showcasing regional research
Young urologists present exciting work in Tirana
The EAU 4th South Eastern European Meeting (SEEM) held in Tirana, Albania, on 17 and 18 October 2008 attracted a higher number of participants who all commended the meeting’s achievement to highlight the latest and most original research being done in the region.
Outstanding abstract submissions from Athens, Belgrade and Istanbul also topped the best abstract selection with original work focusing on renal cell carcinoma, prostate cancer and renal transplantation. From the 185 abstracts submitted, a total of 150 were accepted and presented during the meeting chaired by Prof. Flamur Tartari.
“We are happy to provide a venue for young urologists to present their work and help stimulate research in the region. The posters and abstract presented were of high quality and we certainly are encouraged to see such enthusiastic participation,” Tartari said.
The topics covered in the two-day 4th SEEM include uro-oncology, reconstructive surgery, stones, female urology, andrology, paediatric urology and minimally invasive procedures, amongst others. Expert speakers and lectures came from major medical institutions located in Istanbul, Belgrade, Athens and Sarajevo, to name a few.
With plenary sessions taking up current urological issues in renal cell cancer, urolithiasis and prostate cancer and urethral trauma, participants were updated on current international trends in diagnosis, treatment approaches, problem cases, medical management and the latest translational research on diseases such as prostate cancer.
The selection for the best abstracts also yielded innovative work. Sponsors Karl Storz and Richard Wolf presented a total of six prices for the best abstracts. Bagging the first prize for the Karl Storz Award were Dr. I. Arvanitis, N. Ferakis and colleagues from the Korgialenio-Benakio Hellenic Red Cross Hospital in Athens, for their work titled “Caspase-8 and P-P38 expression in clear cell renal cell carcinoma.”
Receiving the same honour for the Richard Wolf Award were Dr. Marta Bizic and colleagues from the University of Belgrade’s School of Medicine for their study on reconstructive surgery titled “Urethral lengthening in female transsexuals by combined buccal mucosa graft and labia minora flap.”
Winning the second prize Karl Storz Award were Akin Soner Amasyali, H. Tigli and colleagues from Istanbul University’s Oncology Institute with their study titled “The role of PSA gene expression and CYP17, ER-alfa, insulin gene polymorphisms in prostate cancer.” Receiving the second prize Richard Wolf Award were Hajrudin Spahovic, M. Hiroš and colleagues from Sarajevo’s University Clinical Centre for their study on the “Effects of extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy on renal vasculature and renal resistive index (RI).”
Dr. Alexander Hinev, A.D. Klissarova and their colleagues from Varna and Pleven (Bulgaria) collected the third prize from Richard Wolf for their work on “Radioisotope detection of sentinel lymph nodes in clinically localised high-risk prostate cancer.”
The third prize Karl Storz award was collected by Bulent Yigit, T. Alp and colleagues from Istanbul’s Fatih Sultan Mehmet Research and Educational Hospital with their study titled “Relationship between alfa adducin gene polymorphism and hypertension in renal failure patients ending with renal transplantation.” The winners received cash prizes and will have the chance to display and present their posters and abstracts during the forthcoming 24th Annual EAU Congress in Stockholm, Sweden, from 17 to 18 March 2009.
EAU Secretary General Per-Anders Abrahamsson commended the quality work being done in the region by young urologists and said that the regional meetings are meant to exactly provide the incentive and support needed by young researchers.
Prof. Michael Marberger, chairman of the EAU Regional Office also noted the growing number of urologists attending the annual meeting and the crucial networking opportunities that the meeting provides to participants. The next SEEM meeting will be held in Belgrade, Serbia. 
Caption: The plenary session of the EAU 4th South Eastern European Meeting held in Tirana, Albania. From left to right, Dr. Alkiriadis Grigorakis, Prof. Mustafa Xhani, Dr. Sava Micic and Prof. Tarik Esen. Far right, EAU Sec. Gen. Prof. Per-Anders Abrahamsson addresses the conference participants.