AMIC’s Newsletter, Montreal, Canada
AMIC’s Info-Flash
2340 Chemin Lucerne # 30
Ville Mont-Royal, Quebec
H3R 2J8, Canada
Tel: 514 739 8950
Web:
Email: amic@cooptel.qc.ca amic@amic.ca
October 2008

1. Article 1: A Postcard campaign from the New York Congress Organizing
Committee
2. Article 2: News from our member associations of Washington D.C. (AHAGW)
3. Article 3: The abstract of an article from Dr. Armen Gasparyan published
in the Journal of American Coll. Cardiology (2008, May 13; 51 (19): 1829-43.
4. Article 4: An appeal from Armenia
5. Article 5; What is AMIC?
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I- A Postcard campaign from the New York Congress Organizing Committee

The 10th Armenian Medical World Congress organizing committee has launched a
Postcard campaign last month. 10,000 postcards were printed and mailed all
over the world. 3,000 were mailed in the United States; in Canada, France,
England and Armenia, AMIC office and member medical associations have
received packages of the cards and mailing to the members is being
completed.

If you are receiving this Info-Flash and have not yet received your
postcard, that can only mean that your mailing address is not updated in our
database. Please send us by email your latest mailing address. That would
help us to send you the postcard and future mailings. Otherwise, follow
carefully from now on the announcements made in the coming Info-Flashes and
visit regularly the website of the Congress:

In a forthcoming special issue of Info-Flash the registration fee and the
hotel room rates will be given to our readers. When you receive that
information and if you already have the firm intention of attending the
congress, the Organizing Committee would like you to register and make your
room reservations very quickly. By January 2009, the hotel management and
the Organizing Committee should have a clear idea of the number of
attendees. So register early, as late registration will be more expensive.
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II- News from our member association of Washington D.C. (AHAGW)

Following a well established tradition, the Armenian American Health
Association of Greater Washington (AHAGW), held its annual health fair at St
Mary’s Church Hall on June 8, 2008. Different physicians made
presentations: Dr. Viken Poochikian discussed about diabetes, Dr. Hayk
Kaftarian spoke about general health, Dr. Ghevond Wartanian presented
osteoporosis, and Arpi Simonian, a specialist in nutrition, conveyed to the
audience the healthy eating and vitamins. Dr. Zareh Khachikian mentioned the
importance of the prenatal care. Dr. Grigor Khachikian, the president of the
association was the moderator of the Question and Answer session.
On June 21, a fund raising stamp show was organized: Dr. Khachikian
presented the history of the Armenian philately, with a few examples of his
stamp collection exhibited in the show.
In November, 2008, AHAGW will hold a second fund- raising with a classical
concert at Stratmore music hall. All those who will be in Washington in
November, should contact Dr. Khachikian for details, araxk1@yahoo.com

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II I- The abstract of an article from Dr. Armen Gasparyan published in the
Journal of American Coll. Cardiology (2008, May 13; 51(19): 1829-43.

"The role of aspirin in cardiovascular prevention: implications of aspirin
resistance"
Haemostasis Thrombosis and Vascular Biology Unit, University Department of
Medicine, City Hospital, Birmingham, United Kingdom.
Aspirin is well recognized as an effective antiplatelet drug for secondary
prevention in subjects at high risk of cardiovascular events. However, most
patients receiving long-term aspirin therapy still remain at substantial
risk of thrombotic events due to insufficient inhibition of platelets,
specifically via the thromboxane A2 pathway. Although the exact prevalence
is unknown, estimates suggest that between 5,5% and 60% of patients using
this drug may exhibit a degree of "aspirin resistance," depending upon the
definition used and parameters measured. To date, only a limited number of
clinical studies have convincingly investigated the importance of aspirin
resistance. Of these, few are of a sufficient scale, well designed, and
prospective, with aspirin used at standard doses. Also, most studies do not
sufficiently address the issue of noncompliance to aspirin as a frequent,
yet easily preventable cause of resistance to this antiplatelet drug. This
review article provides a comprehensive overview of aspirin resistance,
discussing its definition, prevalence, diagnosis, and therapeutic
approaches. Moreover, the clinical implications of aspirin resistance are
explored in various cardiovascular disease states, including diabetes
mellitus, hypertension, heart failure, and other similar disorders where
platelet reactivity is enhanced.

Dr. Armen Gasparyan is a young cardiologist living in Armenia. He passed
research fellowship in the UK (2007), internship in internal medicine in
Graz (Austria, 2002), and is member of editorial boards of several
international journals (J Cardiovascular Medicine, formerly Italian Heart
J., Archives of Medical Science, Archives of Iranian Medicine, the Journal
of Tehran University Heart Center), and of reviewers boards of Thrombosis
Research, Thrombosis and Haemostasis, Central European J Medicine, Medical
Science Monitor, J Human Hypertension, Southern Medical Journal. He recently
joined World Association of Medical Editors as a member. He would like to
establish contacts with Armenian colleagues-cardiologists, and to know more
about their interests, events and publications. His email address is
a.gasparyan@gmail.com
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IV- An appeal from Armenia

AMIC office received the following from Dr. Ara Locinyan, a surgeon in the
hospital complex of Vanadzor. The hospital lacks modern medical equipment.
There is no Laparoscope. "In the name of his patients", as Dr. Locinyan
says, he would like your support in receiving a Laparoscope with all its
accessories.
Dr. Ara Locinyan’s email address is: arakoc@mail.ru
Thank you in advance for your help.
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IV- What is AMIC?

The Armenian Medical International Committee was created 18 years ago. It is
an umbrella organization that unites and promotes Armenian medical
associations throughout the Diaspora, creating thus a large network through
which information and data are exchanged.
AMIC organizes Armenian Medical Congresses. So far nine have been held in
different cities of the Diaspora. In 2007, the "Second International Medical
Congress of Armenia" organized by Armenia, was held in Yerevan (June 28 to
June 30).
The 10th AMIC Medical World Congress will take place in New York, in 2009,
from July 1 to July 5.

Since 1998 AMIC has published an online newsletter which is sent free of
charge to all Armenian Health Care Professionals. If you are a health care
professional and are interested in receiving Info-Flash, please send us your
email address (aida@amic.ca). To all those who already receive the Info,
please do not forget to send us your new e-mail address when you change it.
For further information, visit our website:
As of 2005, AMIC in collaboration with Regimedia, publishes a scientific
journal, the `Armenian Medical Review’. The third issue was published in
July 2007. The 4th is under way. To subscribe please contact aida@amic.ca

Useful information to remember: You can send free of charge from wherever
you are located, medical equipment/medicine through the services of the
United Armenian Fund: Contact: U.A.F. President Mr. Harout Sassounian
(sassoun@pacbell.net)