Commentary on “Digital gangrene in systemic sclerosis patients: not only due to the microvascular disease’’
(Source: Clinical Rheumatology)
Source: Clinical Rheumatology - March 26, 2024 Category: Rheumatology Source Type: research

Ketotifen directly modifies the fibrotic response of human skin fibroblasts
Sci Rep. 2024 Mar 25;14(1):7076. doi: 10.1038/s41598-024-57776-7.ABSTRACTFibrosis is a destructive, end-stage disease process. In the skin, it is associated with systemic sclerosis and scarring with considerable health burden. Ketotifen is a clinical antihistamine and mast cell stabilizer. Studies have demonstrated mast cell-dependent anti-fibrotic effects of ketotifen but direct effects on fibroblasts have not been determined. Human dermal fibroblasts were treated with pro-fibrotic transforming growth factor-β1 (TGFβ) followed by ketotifen or control treatments to determine direct effects on fibrotic fibroblasts. Ketoti...
Source: Cancer Control - March 26, 2024 Category: Cancer & Oncology Authors: Edwin Leong Haya Al-Bitar Jean S Marshall Michael Bezuhly Source Type: research

Detection of IgE-autoantibodies to nuclear antigens in patients with systemic sclerosis and analysis of their clinical relevance
CONCLUSIONS: IgE-autoantibodies against CENP-A/B and topo-I occur in SSc underlining the concept that SSc may be a T helper cell type 2 mediated disease. IgE-anti-CENP-A-antibodies correlated with disease activity, but this has to be confirmed in larger studies.PMID:38530662 | DOI:10.55563/clinexprheumatol/s3pvx0 (Source: Clinical and Experimental Rheumatology)
Source: Clinical and Experimental Rheumatology - March 26, 2024 Category: Rheumatology Authors: Kathrin Kramer Ann-Christin Pecher Joerg Henes Reinhild Klein Source Type: research

Pulmonary Manifestations of Connective Tissue Diseases
Semin Respir Crit Care Med. 2024 Mar 26. doi: 10.1055/s-0044-1782607. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTSystemic sclerosis is a multisystem connective tissue disease that is associated with substantial morbidity and mortality. Visceral organ involvement is common in patients with systemic sclerosis and occurs independently of skin manifestations. Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is an important and prevalent complication of systemic sclerosis. The clinical classification of PH cohorts conditions with similar pathophysiological mechanisms into one of five groups. While patients with systemic sclerosis can manifest with a spectrum of...
Source: Respiratory Care - March 26, 2024 Category: Respiratory Medicine Authors: Sarah Cullivan Eleanor Cronin Sean Gaine Source Type: research

TGF β1 Drives Integrin Dependent Pericyte Migration and Microvascular Destabilization In Fibrotic Disease
Interactions between endothelial cells (EC) and mural pericytes (PC) are critical to maintaining the stability and function of the microvascular wall. Abnormal interactions between these two cell types are a hallmark of progressive fibrotic diseases, such as systemic sclerosis (SSc, scleroderma). However, the role that PCs play in signaling microvascular dysfunction remains underexplored. It is hypothesized that integrin-matrix interactions contribute to PC migration from the vascular wall and conversion into interstitial myofibroblasts. (Source: American Journal of Pathology)
Source: American Journal of Pathology - March 26, 2024 Category: Pathology Authors: Amanda S. Pellowe, Michelle J. Wu, Tae-Yun Kang, Tracy D. Chung, Adrian Ledesma-Mendoza, Erica Herzog, Andre Levchenko, Ian Odell, John Varga, Anjelica L. Gonzalez Tags: Regular Article Source Type: research

Connective tissue disorders and the gut
Gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms are common in both inflammatory and non-inflammatory connective tissue disorders and can involve any part of the GI tract from mouth to anus. Dysphagia, gastro-oesophageal reflux, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain and changes in bowel habit are common symptoms and usually arise from GI dysmotility and altered visceral sensitivity. In scleroderma, sensorimotor dysfunction is pronounced and can result in complications such as Barrett's oesophagus, gastroparesis, small intestinal bacterial overgrowth, malabsorption and malnutrition, with an associated reduction in survival. (Source: Medicine)
Source: Medicine - March 26, 2024 Category: Internal Medicine Authors: Asma Fikree Tags: New advances Source Type: research

Pulmonary Manifestations of Connective Tissue Diseases
Semin Respir Crit Care Med DOI: 10.1055/s-0044-1782607Systemic sclerosis is a multisystem connective tissue disease that is associated with substantial morbidity and mortality. Visceral organ involvement is common in patients with systemic sclerosis and occurs independently of skin manifestations. Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is an important and prevalent complication of systemic sclerosis. The clinical classification of PH cohorts conditions with similar pathophysiological mechanisms into one of five groups. While patients with systemic sclerosis can manifest with a spectrum of pulmonary vascular disease, notable clinical ...
Source: Seminars in Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine - March 26, 2024 Category: Respiratory Medicine Authors: Cullivan, Sarah Cronin, Eleanor Gaine, Sean Tags: Review Article Source Type: research

Rheumatic diseases in migrant patients resident in Tuscany: epidemiological data analysis and single-center experience
CONCLUSIONS: This study provides a picture of the rheumatic diseases affecting foreign patients residing in Tuscany that are in agreement with the epidemiological data previously provided.PMID:38523585 | DOI:10.4081/reumatismo.2024.1547 (Source: Reumatismo)
Source: Reumatismo - March 25, 2024 Category: Rheumatology Authors: L Cometi P Francesconi B Bellini L Turco F Voller F Nacci S Bellando-Randone M Matucci-Cerinic S Guiducci Source Type: research

Skin and lung fibrosis induced by bleomycin in mice: a systematic review
CONCLUSIONS: In animal studies, it is important to simultaneously evaluate lung tissues in addition to skin fibrosis induced in mice by subcutaneous BLM application, following the 3R (replacement, reduction, and refinement) principle to avoid cruelty to animals.PMID:38523580 | DOI:10.4081/reumatismo.2024.1642 (Source: Reumatismo)
Source: Reumatismo - March 25, 2024 Category: Rheumatology Authors: S G ülle A Çelik M Birlik O Y ılmaz Source Type: research

Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor-Associated Systemic Sclerosis in the Treatment of a Small Cell Lung Cancer Patient with Durvalumab: A Case Report
Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol. 2024 Mar 18;17:663-669. doi: 10.2147/CCID.S451386. eCollection 2024.ABSTRACTAs one of the key cancer treatment measures, immune-checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have revolutionized the treatment landscape of various cancers, including malignancies previously thought to be untreatable. Immune checkpoint inhibitors work by targeting the dysfunctional immune system, to enhance cancer-cell killing by CD8-positive T cells. Despite the beneficial effects of ICIs, these treatments are also linked to a novel class of side effects, termed immune-related adverse events (irAEs). Immune-related adverse event...
Source: Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology - March 25, 2024 Category: Dermatology Authors: De-Hu Li Xian-Zhi Xiong Source Type: research

Giant cell arteritis in patients with systemic sclerosis: a case series
CONCLUSIONS: Herein we present the largest single-institution series of patients with a history of GCA and SSc, an uncommon combination. Glucocorticoid treatment for GCA did not precipitate SRC, even in those with prior history of SRC. Further investigation regarding the benefit of tocilizumab in patients with SSc and GCA is required.PMID:38526007 | DOI:10.55563/clinexprheumatol/pn1o3u (Source: Clinical and Experimental Rheumatology)
Source: Clinical and Experimental Rheumatology - March 25, 2024 Category: Rheumatology Authors: Max Guarda Alexandria Roy Michelle Burke Kenneth J Warrington Matthew J Koster Source Type: research

The functional disabilities of the dominant and opposite hands in patients with systemic sclerosis
CONCLUSIONS: The dominant hand exhibited significantly more skin sclerosis and mean flexion deterioration, a lower Kapandji score, and a tendency toward reduced mean extension, compared with the other hand. No vascular pathology was noted in either hand. Larger studies are needed to confirm these results and to draw therapeutic conclusions.PMID:38526006 | DOI:10.55563/clinexprheumatol/db7upl (Source: Clinical and Experimental Rheumatology)
Source: Clinical and Experimental Rheumatology - March 25, 2024 Category: Rheumatology Authors: Salom é Fourmond Simon Parreau St éphanie Dumonteil Charlotte Verdie-Kessler Kim-Heang Ly Philippe Lacroix Anne-Laure Fauchais Philippe Bernard Sylvain Palat Source Type: research

Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor-Associated Systemic Sclerosis in the Treatment of a Small Cell Lung Cancer Patient with Durvalumab: A Case Report
Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol. 2024 Mar 18;17:663-669. doi: 10.2147/CCID.S451386. eCollection 2024.ABSTRACTAs one of the key cancer treatment measures, immune-checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have revolutionized the treatment landscape of various cancers, including malignancies previously thought to be untreatable. Immune checkpoint inhibitors work by targeting the dysfunctional immune system, to enhance cancer-cell killing by CD8-positive T cells. Despite the beneficial effects of ICIs, these treatments are also linked to a novel class of side effects, termed immune-related adverse events (irAEs). Immune-related adverse event...
Source: Clinical Lung Cancer - March 25, 2024 Category: Cancer & Oncology Authors: De-Hu Li Xian-Zhi Xiong Source Type: research

Rheumatic diseases in migrant patients resident in Tuscany: epidemiological data analysis and single-center experience
CONCLUSIONS: This study provides a picture of the rheumatic diseases affecting foreign patients residing in Tuscany that are in agreement with the epidemiological data previously provided.PMID:38523585 | DOI:10.4081/reumatismo.2024.1547 (Source: Reumatismo)
Source: Reumatismo - March 25, 2024 Category: Rheumatology Authors: L Cometi P Francesconi B Bellini L Turco F Voller F Nacci S Bellando-Randone M Matucci-Cerinic S Guiducci Source Type: research

Skin and lung fibrosis induced by bleomycin in mice: a systematic review
CONCLUSIONS: In animal studies, it is important to simultaneously evaluate lung tissues in addition to skin fibrosis induced in mice by subcutaneous BLM application, following the 3R (replacement, reduction, and refinement) principle to avoid cruelty to animals.PMID:38523580 | DOI:10.4081/reumatismo.2024.1642 (Source: Reumatismo)
Source: Reumatismo - March 25, 2024 Category: Rheumatology Authors: S G ülle A Çelik M Birlik O Y ılmaz Source Type: research