Drug does not reduce digital ulcers in patients with systemic sclerosis
Investigators evaluated the efficacy of the drug macitentan in reducing the number of new digital ulcers in patients with systemic sclerosis. Systemic sclerosis is a chronic multisystem autoimmune disease and multiorgan disease affecting the connective tissue of the skin and several internal organs. Digital ulcers occur in 35 percent to 68 percent of patients with systemic sclerosis and are associated with pain, disfigurement, poor quality of life, and disability. (Source: ScienceDaily Headlines)
Source: ScienceDaily Headlines - May 10, 2016 Category: Science Source Type: news
Macitentan falls short to stop digital ulcers in systemic sclerosis
Macitentan failed to reduce digital ulcers in systemic sclerosis patients in a pair of randomized trials including approximately 500 adults. The findings were published online May 10 in JAMA.
Digital ulcers occur in 35%-68% of systemic sclerosis patients, and endothelin-1 (ET-1) has demonstrated... (Source: Skin and Allergy News)
Source: Skin and Allergy News - May 10, 2016 Category: Dermatology Source Type: news
Pulmonary hypertension impacts walking ability in SSc patients
The results of a meta-analysis show the adverse impact pulmonary hypertension has on the walking stamina of patients with systemic sclerosis. (Source: MedWire News)
Source: MedWire News - May 6, 2016 Category: Consumer Health News Tags: Pulmonary hypertension Source Type: news
Systemic Sclerosis Responds to Actemra in Early Trial (CME/CE)
(MedPage Today) -- Phase III study in the works (Source: MedPage Today Meeting Coverage)
Source: MedPage Today Meeting Coverage - April 28, 2016 Category: Journals (General) Source Type: news
Anti-fibrotic peptide shows early promise against interstitial lung disease
The M10 peptide reduces collagen production and reverses fibrotic damage due to systemic sclerosis (SSc)-related interstitial lung disease (ILD), preclinical findings suggests. ILD is one of the deadliest complications of SSc, a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by vasculopathy, autoimmunity, and excessive collagen production and deposition. Lung fibrosis carries a high risk of morbidity/mortality in SSc patients. (Source: ScienceDaily Headlines)
Source: ScienceDaily Headlines - April 13, 2016 Category: Science Source Type: news
Anti-fibrotic peptide shows early promise against interstitial lung disease
(Medical University of South Carolina) Investigators at the Medical University of South Carolina report preclinical findings showing that the M10 peptide reduces collagen production and reverses fibrotic damage due to systemic sclerosis (SSc)-related interstitial lung disease (ILD) in the April 2016 issue of Translational Research. ILD is one of the deadliest complications of SSc, a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by vasculopathy, autoimmunity, and excessive collagen production and deposition. Lung fibrosis carries a high risk of morbidity/mortality in SSc patients. (Source: EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health)
Source: EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health - April 13, 2016 Category: Global & Universal Source Type: news
Corbus receives approval for open-label extension of Resunab Phase 2 trial
Corbus Pharmaceuticals has received approval from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for initiating a 12-month open-label extension study of the in-progress Phase 2 clinical trial of Resunab to treat diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis (scler… (Source: Drug Development Technology)
Source: Drug Development Technology - April 12, 2016 Category: Pharmaceuticals Source Type: news
More complete genetic map of scleroderma disease makes more effective medications possible
Scleroderma is an autoimmune disease that affects one out of every 10,000 people in Europe and North America, mostly middle-aged women, and causes death in a high percentage of cases. Scientists have now carried out the largest study to date of the disease with a sample of more than 5000 affected patients. (Source: ScienceDaily Headlines)
Source: ScienceDaily Headlines - April 8, 2016 Category: Science Source Type: news
I Am My Mother's Chimera. Chances Are, So Are You.
For years the concept of a "genetic chimera" -- an individual with two genetically distinct cells lines in his/her body -- has sparked the imagination of writers: from Stephen King to Michael Crichton, from CSI to The Office. The idea that an individual could harbor his/her own twin is creepy and intriguing at the same time. Recent advances in DNA sequencing technology have allowed us to probe much deeper into a person's genome, to the point that today scientists believe that chimerism could be far more common than what we originally thought. Chances are, you could be your own twin. But how surprised would you be if I to...
Source: Science - The Huffington Post - March 18, 2016 Category: Science Source Type: news
I Am My Mother's Chimera. Chances Are, So Are You.
For years the concept of a "genetic chimera" -- an individual with two genetically distinct cells lines in his/her body -- has sparked the imagination of writers: from Stephen King to Michael Crichton, from CSI to The Office. The idea that an individual could harbor his/her own twin is creepy and intriguing at the same time.
Recent advances in DNA sequencing technology have allowed us to probe much deeper into a person's genome, to the point that today scientists believe that chimerism could be far more common than what we originally thought. Chances are, you could be your own twin. But how surprised would you be if I to...
Source: Science - The Huffington Post - March 18, 2016 Category: Science Source Type: news
Muscle Weakness Predicts Disability in Scleroderma (CME/CE)
(MedPage Today) -- But muscle involvement not tied to higher mortality in this study (Source: MedPage Today Primary Care)
Source: MedPage Today Primary Care - March 1, 2016 Category: Primary Care Source Type: news
Understanding Scleroderma’s ‘Social Network’ May Lead to New Treatments
With funding from the Falk Foundation, Mike Whitfield’s lab is mapping which genes interact with each other in the debilitating disease scleroderma. Their discoveries reveal new avenues for treatment. (Source: News at Dartmouth Medical School)
Source: News at Dartmouth Medical School - February 29, 2016 Category: Hospital Management Authors: Jennifer Durgin Tags: News Features genetics immunology Michael Whitfield Q&A Scleroderma Source Type: news
Typical Therapies Not Tough Enough to Curb Digital UlcersTypical Therapies Not Tough Enough to Curb Digital Ulcers
Physicians should use more aggressive therapy for patients with systemic sclerosis who are at high risk for digital ulcers, according to researchers who identified a predictor for this complication. Medscape Medical News (Source: Medscape Dermatology Headlines)
Source: Medscape Dermatology Headlines - February 23, 2016 Category: Dermatology Tags: Rheumatology News Source Type: news
At Least It's Not Cancer -- A Prejudice That Harms Patients
As a young bride barley off her honeymoon, I was diagnosed with a rare illness and told I would be lucky to see the age of thirty. My disease quickly robbed me of essential functions I never realized were a true privilege. Eating; biting into a delicious, juicy cheeseburger, abruptly become impossible. Now I had a tube. Breathing; simply walking and talking to an acquaintance became unfeasible. Now I had a tank. My months suddenly consisted of 16-plus doctor appointments and a bombardment of constant procedures -- just to stay alive. Chemotherapy wracked my fragile body every month in an attempt to destroy my malfunctionin...
Source: Healthy Living - The Huffington Post - February 22, 2016 Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news
Anti-RNA Polymerase Antibodies Heighten Cancer RiskAnti-RNA Polymerase Antibodies Heighten Cancer Risk
Synchronous cancers are more common in patients with systemic sclerosis who have anti-RNA antibodies, so EUSTAR investigators recommend screening these patients. Medscape Medical News (Source: Medscape Pathology Headlines)
Source: Medscape Pathology Headlines - February 22, 2016 Category: Pathology Tags: Rheumatology News Source Type: news
