International Society
of Inflammation and Allergy of the Nose.

   The 28th ISIAN was held at the Sheraton Philadelphia City Center Hotel in conjunction with the meeting of IRS, 2009 Spring meeting of the American Rhinologic Society, and the a Basic Course of the American Academy of Otolaryngic Allergy. Participants were more than 1100 from 56 countries. Topics discussed included the latest advances in surgery for sinusitis and tumor, allergy, sleep medicine and basic research. A faculty dinner was held on moored sailing ship, and allowed new friendships to be made and old friendships to be renewed. A banquet was held at the Constitutional center. The date at the meeting was fortuitous, because swine flu began to spread in the US just after the meeting.

 Ryo Takahashi, Emeritus Professor of the Jikei Univ. School of Medicine and founder of ISIAN, celebrated his 98th birthday on February 28th. He was born in 1911. He is in good health. However, he rarely goes out in public and has been resting peacefully at home.
 By the way, my birthday is also February 28th.

 Hiroshi Moriyama.