| Scleroderma
in the Media: 2003 |
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| December 2003 |
| Protein
Modifications Affect Cell Migration In every stage of
development, cells are directed to make their way through
the body to contribute to the building of or take up residence
in new tissues and organs. The guidance of cell migration
is achieved by signals intrinsic to the cell or from its
surrounding environment. Science Daily 12/22/03. |
| Guidelines
Set Standard on Test to Diagnose Acid Reflux, Heartburn. Abnormalities
that cause diseases of the esophagus include achalasia, where
the nerves are damaged; esophageal spasms; non-cardiac chest
pain; a condition called scleroderma, or chronic autoimmune
disease of the connective tissue; and hiatal hernia. newswise.
Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. 12/05/03 (Also see: Reflux,
Heartburn and GERD) |
| Breast
Implants: Continue to Be Cautious. High-quality studies
have failed to link silicone implants to any autoimmune disease.
It can be hard, however, for even the largest studies to
detect small but real risks. And while these disorders may
be rare, they?re also serious, causing everything from fever
and fatigue to joint inflammation and hardening of the skin. MSNBC
News. Newsweek Dec. 8/03 issue. (Also see: Causes
of Scleroderma: Breast Implants) |
| September 2003 |
| Researchers
Test New Drug For Skin-Hardening Disease. An experimental
drug is now in clinical trials. It's actually more of the
very collagen patients are overreacting to mixed with orange
juice to mask the taste. "If you expose the patient
to small amounts of orally ingested proteins —in this case,
collagen —the body can learn to not be sensitive to that
and not react to that," Speira said. "It turns
down the immune system response to collagen, and hopefully
will thereby lead to less scarring in peripheral tissues." wnbc.com
- Dr. Max Gomez. 09/24/03. (Also see: Scleroderma
Clinical Trials) |
| July 2003 |
| The made-for-tv movie, "For
Hope", which is about scleroderma, will be aired in the
U.S. on July 20 at 5:15 AM PDT on the True Channel. You may
want to check your local listings and videotape it for your
personal use, since it is not possible to rent or purchase
videos of it. SD World Email List 7-14-03 |
| For
Hope Movie Review Allwatchers.com |
The movie "For
Hope" depicts a rapidly fatal case of systemic scleroderma,
and is loosely based on the story of Bob Saget's sister Gay,
who died in 1994 from scleroderma. The movie features a cameo
appearance of Sharon Monsky, who was founder of the Scleroderma
Research Foundation and who has since passed away of scleroderma,
also.
We do not have copies of this movie for sale or for distribution.
However, the movie is usually aired on TV at least once per
year in most major U.S. markets.
Today, there are better treatments for
many of the symptoms
of systemic scleroderma. There are many different types
of scleroderma. Some of them affect
only the skin and are not fatal. This movie portrays
a worst-case scenario to help draw attention to the plight
of those affected by scleroderma. You can read a wide variety
of interesting stories about scleroderma in our Voices
of Scleroderma book series and in the Personal
Stories section of this website.
We hope you join in the fight against scleroderma through
supporting all of your local, national,
and/or international scleroderma
organizations. It is by working together, throughout the
world, that we will surely find the cause and cure for scleroderma. Shelley
Ensz, International
Scleroderm Network 7-15-03 |
| "Operation
Phoney Philanthropy" Launched to Fight Charity Fraud Scam
artists, beware! A law enforcement and public education campaign
has been launched by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).
Thirty-four states, the Better Business Bureau's Wise Giving
Alliance, and GuideStar have all been enlisted in the effort
to stop fraudulent fund-raising and help donors avoid phony
charities. GuideStar 07/01/03 (Also see: Beware
Internet Health Fraud) |
| June 2003 |
| Special
Feature: Dangers of Oxygen and Flame |
| Oxygen is often
prescribed for people with scleroderma
lung involvement. This series will feature stories regarding
the importance of oxygen safety. |
| Portable
Oxygen: A User's Perspective. Oxygen Safety. So, I am
now more aware that the oxygen I cannot see has a presence,
not only in my nostrils but all around me. My clothing and
my hair contain more oxygen than that of a person not on
oxygen. Knowing this, I understand more fully the "five
foot rule" and stay at least this distance away from
sources of sparks and flames. Portable Oxygen. Peter M.
Wilson, Ph.D. 2001 |
| Avoiding
The Hazards Of Medical Gases. "My experience has
been that smoking around oxygen may cause fires," says
Duane Sylvia, a consumer safety officer in the Food and Drug
Administration's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. "Smoking
anywhere near oxygen, even in the same room, can be extremely
dangerous." . Do not leave the unit turned on
when not in use. A cannula (nose tubing) that is left in
contact with a synthetic comforter, for example, could spark
a fire. FDA Consumer magazine. July-Aug.2000 |
| Fires
caused by smoking while using oxygen. 111 cases summarized
and documented. Tobacco.org |
| May 2003 |
| Gene
fault linked to autoimmune disease risk. The gene, called
CTLA4, regulates the body's immune system and acts as a molecular
brake to prevent it from overreacting and attacking its own
cells. They believe it is one of several genetic variations
linked to an increased susceptibility to type one, or early
onset diabetes, Graves disease and autoimmune hypothyroidism,
which are disorders of the thyroid gland. Sci-Tech News.
ABC News Online. 05/01/03. (Also see: Thyroiditis & Graves
Disease) |
| April 2003 |
| Scleroderma,
A Rare Disease. "I like to say you have good days,
bad days, and perhaps worse days." That's how Harold
Abney describes Scleroderma - a disease he's lived with for
19 years. KLTV.com 03/27/03. |
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