To enhance the diagnosis and treatment of narcolepsy, promote exchanges and cooperation among medical units of provincial sleep coordination groups, and strengthen the construction of professional team of sleep disorders in sleep centers, HSN organized two special academic salons on narcolepsy in January 2024, covering more than 200 sleep experts from Shaanxi, Heilongjiang, Jilin and Liaoning provinces.
The meeting of the provincial sleep collaboration group for the three northeastern provinces was held on January 26 via Tencent Meeting, with over 70 participants. Yang Yi, Vice President (Deputy Secretary) of the First Bethune Hospital of Jilin University, delivered the opening speech, and Professor Wang Zan chaired the meeting and lectured on Identification and Treatment of Narcolepsy, emphasizing the need of the disease for long-term medication, the disease’s threat to life safety, learning ability, economic burden and employment. He also pointed out low public awareness rate, long diagnosis time, and differential diagnosis of combined diseases. Through research, he shared the relieving effect of Pitolisant on tetralogy, and looked forward to the launch of Pitolisant. Professor Zhu Yulan from the 2nd Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University explained the Interpretation of China’s Narcolepsy Guidelines 2022, emphasizing the first-tier recommendation status of Pitolisant. Professor Tang Mingyang from the First Bethune Hospital of Jilin University shared clinical use cases of Pitolisant. Other attending experts, including Professor Liu Yansong, Professor Wang Xinli, Professor Man Yuhong, Professor Kou Yuhong, Professor Lin Yongzhong, Professor Liu Xiaoyang, Professor Sun Qingqing, etc., all contributed insights into the diagnosis and treatment of narcolepsy. Professor Wang Zan summarized that the first meeting of 2024, specifically focusing on narcolepsy, was a conference of the Northeast-Inner Mongolia Sleep Disorder Diagnosis and Treatment Alliance. It provided a deeper understanding of the epidemiology, mechanisms, diagnosis and treatment of narcolepsy. This meeting marks a significant step forward in the direction of sleep disorders in the three northeastern provinces and Inner Mongolia in 2024.
The Shaanxi Narcolepsy Alliance Academic Salon was held on January 27 via Tencent Meeting, with over 140 participants. Professor Su Changjun from Tangdu Hospital of Air Force Medical University served as the chairman of the meeting. It was an honor to invite Professor Zhan Shuqin from Xuanwu Hospital Capital Medical University and Professor Zhou Junying from West China Hospital, Sichuan University as speakers. Professors Lin Hai from Xi’an Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Guo Hena from Shaanxi Provincial People’s Hospital hosted the meeting. Professors Wang Xiaoli and Lv Xiaojuan shared cases of hypersomnia, and conducted case discussions with guests including Professor Yang Rui, Professor Li Guibin and Professor Yu Qijin. The invited speakers at this meeting performed excellently in their choice of topics and relevance. Professor Zhan Shuqin’s explanation of narcolepsy, the mechanism of Pitolisant, and real case analysis, along with Professor Zhou Junying’s EDS consensus interpretation, highlighted the advantages and status of Pitolisant. Both experts explained CNS hypersomnia from the etiology, pathogenesis, clinical manifestations, auxiliary examination, diagnostic criteria, differential diagnosis and other aspects, especially focusing on recent advances in treatment. Professor Su Changjun, the chairman of the meeting, concluded that Pitolisant’s imminent arrival in Shaanxi Province will benefit more narcolepsy patients. This meeting provided the participants with valuable learning and communication opportunities, deepened their understanding of narcolepsy and its treatment through the speakers’ wonderful sharing and case discussion, and provided useful enlightenment for medical practice. He hopes to continue organizing similar academic salons in the future to promote academic exchange and cooperation.
Narcolepsy is a severe sleep disorder, mainly characterized by excessive daytime sleepiness, cataplexy attack, sleep paralysis, and nocturnal sleep disturbance. This disease not only affects the life quality of patients, but can also lead to accidents and career limitations. HSN, in collaboration with sleep collaboration groups of each province in China, is dedicated to the narcolepsy doctor education, and continually deepening the construction of sleep medicine sub-specialty.
