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Genes and microRNAs that are a part of cancer-promoting signaling pathways are also overly active in systemic sclerosis (SSc) patients, possibly predisposing them to malignancies, a study reports. The study, “Gene Profiling in Patients with Systemic Sclerosis Reveals the Presence of Oncogenic Gene Signatures,” was published in the journal…

Approximately 85 percent of Canadians with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) and systemic sclerosis (SSc) now have access to Actelion’s therapy Uptravi (selexipag) through the country’s publicly funded prescription system. This action follows the conclusion of negotiations about the drug’s price by the pan-Canadian Pharmaceutical Alliance (pCPA) —…

High-intensity exercise of the arms, or arm cranking, may improve blood circulation in scleroderma patients by increasing the dilation of blood vessels (vasodilation) and the amount of oxygen consumed in the muscles, according to researchers. Cycling, an exercise for the legs, also increases muscles’ oxygen consumption, but was not…

Treatment with Opsumit (macitentan) and Esbriet (pirfenidone) provided stable improvements in a scleroderma patient with interstitial pneumonia and borderline pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), according to a Japanese case report. The study, “Systemic scleroderma-related interstitial pneumonia associated with borderline pulmonary arterial hypertension,” was published…

Blood serum levels of the protein CD163 may be a potential biomarker to identify patients with systemic sclerosis, according to new research from France. The study, “Soluble CD163 as a Potential Biomarker in Systemic Sclerosis,” was published in the journal Disease Markers. Systemic sclerosis…

As President Trump signed the recently passed Right to Try legislation into law in a White House ceremony, Jordan McLinn of Indianapolis tried twice to embrace him. The third time, 9-year-old Jordan finally got the hug he wanted — as well as a kiss on the forehead. The video of…

High levels of a blood protein called CC16 predict a higher likelihood of lung disease worsening in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc), according to researchers. Their study, “High Baseline Serum Clara Cell 16 kDa Predicts Subsequent Lung Disease…

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) represents a major cause of mortality in patients with scleroderma, or systemic sclerosis, accounting for 52% of all deaths — mainly within the first few years after PAH diagnosis, according to recent findings. The fact that PAH is a leading cause of death in scleroderma…

Finding treatments and potential cures for rare diseases is crucial, but so is the quality of patients’ lives — a rather nebulous term that means different things to different people. “Recently, there’s been much more of a focus on Quality of Life (QoL) issues, real-world evidence and patient-reported outcomes,” said…

The presence of B-cells — a type of white blood cell — in the skin of scleroderma patients may predict a more aggressive disease and worsening of skin fibrosis, a study shows. The study, “Characterization of inflammatory cell infiltrate of scleroderma skin: B cells and skin score…