NIH Consensus Development Conference: Lactose Intolerance and Health; Notice, 2551-2552 [2010-672]
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Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 10 / Friday, January 15, 2010 / Notices
Extramural Activities, National Institute of
Mental Health, NIH, Neuroscience Center,
6001 Executive Blvd., Room 6142, MSC 9606,
Bethesda, MD 20892–9606, 301–443–1513,
bollerf@mail.nih.gov.
Name of Committee: National Institute of
Mental Health Special Emphasis Panel,
Review of NIMH Research Education
Applications.
Date: March 2, 2010.
Time: 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Agenda: To review and evaluate grant
applications.
Place: The Dupont Hotel, 1500 New
Hampshire Avenue NW., Washington, DC
20036.
Contact Person: Rebecca C. Steiner, PhD,
Scientific Review Officer, Division of
Extramural Activities, National Institute of
Mental Health, NIH, Neuroscience Center,
6001 Executive Blvd., Room 6149, MSC 9608,
Bethesda, MD 20892–9608, 301–443–4525,
steinerr@mail.nih.gov.
(Catalogue of Federal Domestic Assistance
Program Nos. 93.242, Mental Health Research
Grants; 93.281, Scientist Development
Award, Scientist Development Award for
Clinicians, and Research Scientist Award;
93.282, Mental Health National Research
Service Awards for Research Training,
National Institutes of Health, HHS)
Dated: January 11, 2010.
Jennifer Spaeth,
Director, Office of Federal Advisory
Committee Policy.
[FR Doc. 2010–677 Filed 1–14–10; 8:45 am]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND
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Health Resources and Services
Administration
jlentini on DSKJ8SOYB1PROD with NOTICES
National Vaccine Injury Compensation
Program: Revised Amount of the
Average Cost of a Health Insurance
Policy
The Health Resources and Services
Administration (HRSA) is publishing an
updated monetary amount of the
average cost of a health insurance policy
as it relates to the National Vaccine
Injury Compensation Program (VICP).
Section 100.2 of the VICP’s
implementing regulation (42 CFR Part
100) states that the revised amounts of
an average cost of a health insurance
policy, as determined by the Secretary,
are to be published periodically in a
notice in the Federal Register. This
figure is calculated using the most
recent Medical Expenditure Panel
Survey-Insurance Component (MEPS–
IC) data available as the baseline for the
average monthly cost of a health
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most recent annual Kaiser Family
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Foundation and Health Research and
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Employer Health Benefits survey or
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In 2009, MEPS–IC, available at https://
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annual 2008 average total single
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shall be increased or decreased by the
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this percentage increase, the calculated
average monthly cost of a health
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The Department will periodically
(generally on an annual basis)
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insurance policy by obtaining a new
figure from the latest MEPS–IC data and
updating this figure using the
percentage change(s) reported by the
most recent data from KFF/HRET or
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more accurate or appropriate in the
future. The updated calculation will be
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Register and filed with the Court.
Therefore, the Secretary announces
that the revised average cost of a health
insurance policy under the VICP is
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§ 100.2, the revised amount was
effective upon its delivery by the
Secretary to the United States Court of
Federal Claims. Such notice was
delivered to the Court on January 4,
2010.
Dated: January 11, 2010.
Mary K. Wakefield,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2010–675 Filed 1–14–10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4165–15–P
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND
HUMAN SERVICES
National Institutes of Health
NIH Consensus Development
Conference: Lactose Intolerance and
Health; Notice
Notice is hereby given by the National
Institutes of Health (NIH) of the ‘‘NIH
Consensus Development Conference:
Lactose Intolerance and Health’’ to be
held February 22–24, 2010, in the NIH
Natcher Conference Center, 45 Center
Drive, Bethesda, Maryland 20892. The
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2551
conference will begin at 8:30 a.m. on
February 22 and 23 and at 9 a.m. on
February 24, and it will be open to the
public.
Lactose intolerance is the inability to
digest significant amounts of lactose, a
sugar found in milk and other dairy
products. Lactose intolerance is caused
by a shortage of the enzyme lactase,
which is produced by expression of the
lactase-phlorizin hydrolase gene by the
cells that line the small intestine.
Lactase breaks milk sugar down into
two simpler forms of sugar called
glucose and galactose, which are then
absorbed into the bloodstream. Infants
of every racial and ethnic group
worldwide produce lactase and
successfully digest lactose provided by
human milk or by infant formulas.
However, by the time many of the
world’s children reach the age of 3–4
years, expression of intestinal lactase
ceases. Most affected individuals,
referred to as lactase nonpersisters, in
the United States belong to minority
groups, especially Asians, African
Americans, Hispanics, Native
Americans, Alaskan Natives, and Pacific
Islanders.
Consumption of lactose-containing
products by lactase nonpersisters may
cause gas production, bloating,
abdominal pain, and diarrhea. These
symptoms of lactose intolerance are
caused by intestinal bacteria’s
fermentation of undigested lactose and
often cause individuals to avoid lactosecontaining products. Lactose intolerance
can be diagnosed by drinking one to two
large glasses of milk after fasting and
measuring breath hydrogen levels a few
hours later. Other diagnostic tools
include analyzing an intestinal biopsy
sample or determining the genetic
makeup of the chromosomal region
coding for lactase. However, many
individuals mistakenly ascribe
symptoms of a variety of intestinal
disorders to lactose intolerance without
undergoing testing. This becomes
intergenerational when self-diagnosed
lactose-intolerant parents place their
children on lactose-restricted diets in
the belief that the condition is
hereditary.
Healthcare providers are concerned
that many lactose-intolerant individuals
are avoiding dairy products, which
constitute a readily accessible source of
calcium and are fortified with vitamin D
and other nutrients. Therefore, these
individuals may not be meeting
recommended intakes of these essential
nutrients. Insufficient intakes of calcium
carry a risk of decreased bone mineral
density. This may have effects on bone
health and increase the risk of fracture
throughout the lifecycle, especially in
E:\FR\FM\15JAN1.SGM
15JAN1
jlentini on DSKJ8SOYB1PROD with NOTICES
2552
Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 10 / Friday, January 15, 2010 / Notices
postmenopausal women. Very low
intake of vitamin D can lead to the
development of rickets, especially in
those of African descent and other
highly pigmented individuals. Although
milk alternative products are typically
fortified with vitamin D and other
nutrients, they are often more expensive
and less widely available than
conventional products.
The public health burden from
deficiencies attributable to lactose
intolerance is difficult to quantify.
Additionally, it is challenging to
identify and manage lactase
nonpersisters. Questions remain as to
the amount, if any, of lactose that can
be tolerated by lactose nonpersisters and
how best to assist these individuals in
meeting recommended intakes. To
examine these important issues, the
Eunice Kennedy Shriver National
Institute of Child Health and Human
Development and the Office of Medical
Applications of Research of the National
Institutes of Health will convene a
Consensus Development Conference
from February 22 to 24, 2010, to assess
the available scientific evidence related
to the following questions:
• What is the prevalence of lactose
intolerance, and how does this
prevalence differ by race, ethnicity, and
age?
• What are the health outcomes of
dairy exclusion diets?
• What amount of daily lactose intake
is tolerable in subjects with diagnosed
lactose intolerance?
• What strategies are effective in
managing individuals with diagnosed
lactose intolerance?
• What are the future research needs
for understanding and managing lactose
intolerance?
An impartial, independent panel will
be charged with reviewing the available
published literature in advance of the
conference, including a systematic
literature review commissioned through
the Agency for Healthcare Research and
Quality. The first day and a half of the
conference will consist of presentations
by expert researchers and practitioners
and open public discussions. On
Wednesday, February 24, the panel will
present a statement of its collective
assessment of the evidence to answer
each of the questions above. The panel
will also hold a press telebriefing to
address questions from the media. The
draft statement will be published online
later that day, and the final version will
be released approximately six weeks
later. The primary sponsors of this
meeting are the NIH Eunice Kennedy
Shriver National Institute of Child
Health and Human Development and
VerDate Nov<24>2008
17:34 Jan 14, 2010
Jkt 220001
the NIH Office of Medical Applications
of Research.
Advance information about the
conference and conference registration
materials may be obtained from the NIH
Consensus Development Program
Information Center by calling 888–644–
2667 or by sending e-mail to
consensus@mail.nih.gov. The
Information Center’s mailing address is
P.O. Box 2577, Kensington, Maryland
20891. Registration information is also
available on the NIH Consensus
Development Program Web site at
https://consensus.nih.gov.
Please Note: The NIH has instituted
security measures to ensure the safety of NIH
employees, guests, and property. All visitors
must be prepared to show a photo ID upon
request. Visitors may be required to pass
through a metal detector and have bags,
backpacks, or purses inspected or x-rayed as
they enter NIH buildings. For more
information about the security measures at
NIH, please visit the Web site at https://
www.nih.gov/about/visitorsecurity.htm.
Dated: January 7, 2010.
Raynard S. Kington,
Deputy Director, National Institutes of Health.
[FR Doc. 2010–672 Filed 1–14–10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4140–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND
HUMAN SERVICES
National Institutes of Health
NIH State-of-the-Science Conference:
Enhancing Use and Quality of
Colorectal Cancer Screening
Notice is hereby given by the National
Institutes of Health (NIH) of the ‘‘NIH
State-of-the-Science Conference:
Enhancing Use and Quality of
Colorectal Cancer Screening’’ to be held
February 2–4, 2010, in the NIH Natcher
Conference Center, 45 Center Drive,
Bethesda, Maryland 20892. The
conference will begin at 8:30 a.m. on
February 2 and 3, and at 9 a.m. on
February 4, and will be open to the
public.
Colorectal cancer is the secondleading cause of cancer-related deaths in
the United States. Approximately
50,000 people in the United States are
expected to die from colorectal cancer
in 2009. Colonic polyps, abnormal
growths of tissue on the inner lining of
the colon, are relatively common
findings in men and women 50 years
and older. Most of these growths are not
cancerous, but one type of polyp,
known as an adenoma, can develop into
colorectal cancer. Screening tests for
colorectal cancer generally either seek to
identify and remove adenomas or
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examine the stool for signs of early
cancer in people who have no
symptoms. A range of colorectal cancer
screening tests is available in the United
States. The U.S. Preventive Services
Task Force currently recommends that
average-risk adults aged 50 to 75 years
undergo screening for colorectal cancer
with annual fecal occult blood testing,
sigmoidoscopy (internal examination of
the lower part of the large intestine)
every 5 years, or colonoscopy (internal
examination of the entire large intestine)
every 10 years. Additional tests that
may be used for colorectal cancer
screening include computed
tomography (CT) colonography and
fecal DNA testing.
Although colorectal cancer is an
important cause of mortality in the
United States, screening for this disease
is currently underutilized among
eligible individuals. Despite evidence
supporting the value of screening, in
2005 only 50 percent of U.S. adults aged
50 and older had been screened
according to guidelines. Rates of
screening for colorectal cancer are
consistently lower than those for other
common cancers, particularly breast and
cervical cancer. Reasons for this
disparity are complex. Unlike most
other preventive services, in colorectal
cancer screening there are multiple test
options from which to choose, and
patients and providers may have
varying preferences for or access to the
tests. Successful completion of
colorectal cancer screening requires
effort on the part of the patient to obtain
stool samples for testing or to clean the
colon in preparation for endoscopic
examination. Test options may also
differ in cost and availability for a given
community. Patient, provider, and
healthcare system characteristics may
each play a unique role in influencing
the use and quality of colorectal cancer
screening.
Adding to the complexity of this
issue, colorectal cancer screening may
be overused or misused in certain
situations. Despite uncertainty regarding
the benefit of removing small polyps,
many people undergoing sigmoidoscopy
or colonoscopy have all identified
growths removed. This may put them at
increased risk for possible
complications from these procedures,
which can include rectal bleeding or
colonic perforation (a tear in the wall of
the intestine that can cause a serious
abdominal infection). In addition,
follow-up testing of individuals who
have previously had polyps removed
may occur more frequently than
available evidence supports, which
again may put people at risk for
complications and have both cost and
E:\FR\FM\15JAN1.SGM
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 10 (Friday, January 15, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2551-2552]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-672]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
National Institutes of Health
NIH Consensus Development Conference: Lactose Intolerance and
Health; Notice
Notice is hereby given by the National Institutes of Health (NIH)
of the ``NIH Consensus Development Conference: Lactose Intolerance and
Health'' to be held February 22-24, 2010, in the NIH Natcher Conference
Center, 45 Center Drive, Bethesda, Maryland 20892. The conference will
begin at 8:30 a.m. on February 22 and 23 and at 9 a.m. on February 24,
and it will be open to the public.
Lactose intolerance is the inability to digest significant amounts
of lactose, a sugar found in milk and other dairy products. Lactose
intolerance is caused by a shortage of the enzyme lactase, which is
produced by expression of the lactase-phlorizin hydrolase gene by the
cells that line the small intestine. Lactase breaks milk sugar down
into two simpler forms of sugar called glucose and galactose, which are
then absorbed into the bloodstream. Infants of every racial and ethnic
group worldwide produce lactase and successfully digest lactose
provided by human milk or by infant formulas. However, by the time many
of the world's children reach the age of 3-4 years, expression of
intestinal lactase ceases. Most affected individuals, referred to as
lactase nonpersisters, in the United States belong to minority groups,
especially Asians, African Americans, Hispanics, Native Americans,
Alaskan Natives, and Pacific Islanders.
Consumption of lactose-containing products by lactase nonpersisters
may cause gas production, bloating, abdominal pain, and diarrhea. These
symptoms of lactose intolerance are caused by intestinal bacteria's
fermentation of undigested lactose and often cause individuals to avoid
lactose-containing products. Lactose intolerance can be diagnosed by
drinking one to two large glasses of milk after fasting and measuring
breath hydrogen levels a few hours later. Other diagnostic tools
include analyzing an intestinal biopsy sample or determining the
genetic makeup of the chromosomal region coding for lactase. However,
many individuals mistakenly ascribe symptoms of a variety of intestinal
disorders to lactose intolerance without undergoing testing. This
becomes intergenerational when self-diagnosed lactose-intolerant
parents place their children on lactose-restricted diets in the belief
that the condition is hereditary.
Healthcare providers are concerned that many lactose-intolerant
individuals are avoiding dairy products, which constitute a readily
accessible source of calcium and are fortified with vitamin D and other
nutrients. Therefore, these individuals may not be meeting recommended
intakes of these essential nutrients. Insufficient intakes of calcium
carry a risk of decreased bone mineral density. This may have effects
on bone health and increase the risk of fracture throughout the
lifecycle, especially in
[[Page 2552]]
postmenopausal women. Very low intake of vitamin D can lead to the
development of rickets, especially in those of African descent and
other highly pigmented individuals. Although milk alternative products
are typically fortified with vitamin D and other nutrients, they are
often more expensive and less widely available than conventional
products.
The public health burden from deficiencies attributable to lactose
intolerance is difficult to quantify. Additionally, it is challenging
to identify and manage lactase nonpersisters. Questions remain as to
the amount, if any, of lactose that can be tolerated by lactose
nonpersisters and how best to assist these individuals in meeting
recommended intakes. To examine these important issues, the Eunice
Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human
Development and the Office of Medical Applications of Research of the
National Institutes of Health will convene a Consensus Development
Conference from February 22 to 24, 2010, to assess the available
scientific evidence related to the following questions:
What is the prevalence of lactose intolerance, and how
does this prevalence differ by race, ethnicity, and age?
What are the health outcomes of dairy exclusion diets?
What amount of daily lactose intake is tolerable in
subjects with diagnosed lactose intolerance?
What strategies are effective in managing individuals with
diagnosed lactose intolerance?
What are the future research needs for understanding and
managing lactose intolerance?
An impartial, independent panel will be charged with reviewing the
available published literature in advance of the conference, including
a systematic literature review commissioned through the Agency for
Healthcare Research and Quality. The first day and a half of the
conference will consist of presentations by expert researchers and
practitioners and open public discussions. On Wednesday, February 24,
the panel will present a statement of its collective assessment of the
evidence to answer each of the questions above. The panel will also
hold a press telebriefing to address questions from the media. The
draft statement will be published online later that day, and the final
version will be released approximately six weeks later. The primary
sponsors of this meeting are the NIH Eunice Kennedy Shriver National
Institute of Child Health and Human Development and the NIH Office of
Medical Applications of Research.
Advance information about the conference and conference
registration materials may be obtained from the NIH Consensus
Development Program Information Center by calling 888-644-2667 or by
sending e-mail to consensus@mail.nih.gov. The Information Center's
mailing address is P.O. Box 2577, Kensington, Maryland 20891.
Registration information is also available on the NIH Consensus
Development Program Web site at https://consensus.nih.gov.
Please Note: The NIH has instituted security measures to ensure
the safety of NIH employees, guests, and property. All visitors must
be prepared to show a photo ID upon request. Visitors may be
required to pass through a metal detector and have bags, backpacks,
or purses inspected or x-rayed as they enter NIH buildings. For more
information about the security measures at NIH, please visit the Web
site at https://www.nih.gov/about/visitorsecurity.htm.
Dated: January 7, 2010.
Raynard S. Kington,
Deputy Director, National Institutes of Health.
[FR Doc. 2010-672 Filed 1-14-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4140-01-P
