Positive Results in Phase II Diffuse Scleroderma Study

Scleroderma Foundation eLetter

eLetter #426

Greetings!

Foundation Attends 2011 American College of Rheumatology Conference in Chicago

Photo credit | American College of Rheumatology, Nov. 5, 2011

Members of the Scleroderma Foundation's national office were in Chicago this week for the annual meeting of the American College of Rheumatology (ACR). More than 18,000 rheumatologists, clinical researchers and other professionals from around the world were at the meeting.

During the event, the Foundation launched the third edition of the "Scleroderma Spectrum," a clinical newsletter for medical professionals. The annual conference is a way for the Foundation to strengthen relationships with physicians, current and potential funding partners, patient/membership organizations and others.

Scleroderma Society of Canada
Hosts Largest Bilingual Conference

National Office staff also attended The Scleroderma Society of Canada's (SSC) annual conference in Quebec City, Oct. 28-29. The event was the largest bilingual conference about scleroderma ever held Canada.

A host of highly experienced multidisciplinary medical specialists, whose work contributes to improving the quality of life of people living with scleroderma, shared their knowledge about the latest advances in their respective fields. Researchers reported on the progress of their work to identify promising future research directions and opportunities for scleroderma.

Conference attendees were able to attend a variety of workshops and had the opportunity to interact directly with researchers. Tracey O. Sperry, Director of Development and Research, and Kerri Connolly, Director of Programs and Services, at the Scleroderma Foundation attended in support of our North American organizational counterparts and those living with scleroderma in Canada.

Positive Results from Phase II Study Aimspro Therapy in Diffuse Scleroderma

A recent study, conducted by Daval International Limited, evaluated the safety and tolerability of AIMSPRO, given as a monotherapy, in the treatment of 20 patients with diffuse scleroderma through a 26-week study. At the end of the study, AIMSPRO proved safe and well-tolerated by these especially sick patients at such a late-stage of the disease. There was no deterioration in hematological, biochemical, immunologic, cardiologic or in pulmonary parameters that were measured.

Download the full report now.

Study: Imatinib and Scleroderma Treatment

Treatment for systemic sclerosis-associated active interstitial lung disease with a relatively high dose of imatinib can be effective, but it carries many side effects, judging from findings of a 20-person study. Some of the common adverse effects study participants experienced were fatigue, edema of the face and/or lower extremities, nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, generalized rash, and new-onset proteinuria.

Read more about this study from Skin and Allergy News.

Tears May Shed Light on Other Diseases

Your optometrist may make you cry during your next appointment, but don't worry - it's for your own good.

Amy Herr, an assistant professor at the University of California at Berkeley Department of Bioengineering, and graduate student Kelly Karns, have developed a new method to diagnose Sjogren syndrome by analyzing tears. The method uses specially tagged antibodies and an electric current to separate a tear's proteins to discern whether the syndrome is present.

Read the full story from "The Daily Californian."

Keep Your Caregiver's Back Safe

"Today's Caregiver" provides 10 tips to keep your caregiver from hurting his or her back.

Assess your lifting limitations (do you have back or hip problems, etc.?)
Are there tools you can use (back support, sliding board, taking out armrest of wheelchair, walker or cane)?
Inform your loved one what you are about to do (lift, roll them over, transfer)
Ask your loved one if he or she can assist with the lifting
Be sure that the surface is not slippery (will you need to put shoes on your loved one?)

Read the full list now.