Scleroderma Media Coverage: June 2007

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June 2007

The fight against scleroderma continues. Carroll Vapsva and Shirley Haslam suffer from scleroderma, and founded a Mississauga support group for people living with scleroderma. June is recognized as Scleroderma Awareness Month here in Canada. The support group held a gala dinner earlier this year and were able to raise in excess of $30,000 for research and to raise awareness about the disease. Mississauga News. 06/17/07. (Also See: Emotional Adjustment )

Bosentan (Tracleer) Receives European (EU) Approval for Reduction of Number of New Digital Ulcerations in Systemic Sclerosis Patients. Digital ulcers are an important and painful complication of systemic sclerosis with approximately 50 percent of people with systemic sclerosis developing digital ulcers during their lifetime.PrimeNewswire. Actelion Ltd. 06/11/07. (Also see: Digital Ulcers and Bosentan )

Two kinds of arthritis most prevalent. The word arthritis is a broad term used to refer to more than 100 conditions that can cause joint pain. Rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis are the most well known. Pocono Record. 06/07/07. (Also see: Rheumatoid Arthritis and Arthritis )

The Changing Science of Pain. As the number of patients has grown, though, so has medicine's understanding of what pain is. Now there's a growing awareness that pain is a disease of its own. MSNbc.com. 06/04/07. (Also see: Emotional Adjustment )

There's no cure, but scleroderma can be managed. We don't know what causes scleroderma. Researchers suspect that there is a genetic link. The theory is that while a specific genetic trait predisposes the individual, scleroderma will only occur after exposure to some environmental agent, such as a particular virus. Post-Bulletin. Mayo Clinic. 06/04/07. (Also see: Causes of Scleroderma: Genetics, and Infections, also What is Scleroderma? )

Comorbidities common in bipolar disorder, may have genetic link. Medical comorbidities common in people with bipolar, including heart disease, cancer, endocrine disorders and autoimmune disorders, lead to complications, overall poor health and a decreased life expectancy. Researchers observed an increased prevalence of bipolar disorder among twins and parents and children with autoimmune thyroiditis. These findings indicate a genetic risk factor for the disease. EurekAlert! 06/08/07. (Also see: Thyroid Disease )

Emmy Nominated Actress Kellie Martin Stars in New Autoimmunity PSA Campaign. The multi-media PSA campaign consists of 30-second radio and television spots, as well as a video interview with Martin. It is designed to educate Americans about the existence of the close genetic relationship and common pathway of disease among autoimmune diseases, which helps explain the clustering of these diseases in individuals and throughout families. PR Newswire. 05/22/07.

Canadian Health Authority Approves THELIN (Sitaxsentan Sodium) for Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension. "THELIN has demonstrated a unique benefit for individuals who have developed PAH as a result of a connective tissue disease, such as scleroderma," said Janet Pope, M.D., Professor of Rheumatology, University of Western Ontario and Director, Division of Rheumatology, St. Joseph's Health Centre, London, Ontario. PrimeNewswire. Encysive Pharmaceuticals Inc. 05/30/07. (Also see: Pulmonary Hypertension and ISN: Dr. Janet Pope )

First U.S. Morphea Registry and DNA Repository for both Adults and Children Established. Dermatologists at University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center are establishing a DNA repository aimed at people with morphea. They will collect information about other health conditions present, collect information about family history, and collect blood and skin samples to further define the genes associated with morphea and the genetic faces of morphea. Southwestern Medical Center. 05/31/07. (Also see: Morphea )