OBJECTIVES Attempts to differentiate between the pathogenesis of the severe pulmonary manifestations observed in systemic sclerosis (SSc) and the mild form in primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS) were performed by studying cell populations recovered during bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL). METHODS AND RESULTS Two-colour flow cytometric analysis of BAL fluid lymphocytes showed a similar degree of phen...

BACKGROUND Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality among patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc). Early detection and prompt treatment of PAH associated with SSc (SSc-PAH) result in better prognosis. We conducted echocardiographic study to presume the prevalence of PAH in Korean adult SSc patients and to diagnose SSc-PAH in their early stages with right ...

BACKGROUND Rupture of the subscapularis (SSC) tendon, isolated or combined, is rare, and the treatment modalities are controversial. The purpose of this study was to evaluate, by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), the clinical outcomes and structural integrity of the SSC tendon after all-arthroscopic repair with single-row mattress suture for isolated or combined SSC tendon tears. METHODS This...

Implementation of new models of development cooperation have been on the increase lately. Coupled with this are calls for use of horizontal development cooperation mechanisms such as South-South Cooperation (SSC) as a way to enhance aid effectiveness in the health sector of developing countries. In this case series, we review recent experiences in the application of SSC initiatives to two publi...

AIM To investigate differences between the breast-seeking and crying behaviour of girls and boys in skin-to-skin contact (SSC) with their mother or their father after Caesarean section as well as the point-in-time for the first breastfeeding and to compare mothers' and fathers' interactive behaviour with their newborn girl or boy. METHODS Twenty girls and 17 boys were randomized to 25 min of ...

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a multisystem connective tissue disease of unknown etiology. Similar to other connective tissue diseases, SSc follows a chronic course, occurs more commonly in women, and is highly heterogeneous in its protean clinical manifestations. The hallmarks of SSc are autoimmunity and inflammation, functional and structural abnormalities in small blood vessels in multiple vas...

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is an autoimmune connective tissue disease characterized by small vessel vasculopathy, autoantibodies, and skin or visceral organ fibrosis (lung, oesophagus, kidney etc.) as a result of extracellular collagen deposition. The cancer risk is higher in many rheumatic diseases, including SSc. Various defined malignancies may develop in 3%-11% of patients with SSc. These sol...

Involvement of the superior semicircular canal (SSC) in benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) is rare. SSC BPPV is distinguished from the more common posterior semicircular canal (PSC) variant by the pattern of nystagmus triggered by the Dix-Hallpike position: down-beating torsional nystagmus in SSC BPPV versus up-beating torsional nystagmus in PSC BPPV. SSC BPPV may be readily treated at...

Background Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is characterised by vascular dysfunction and multi-organ fibrosis, with the heart commonly involved. Cardiovascular disease (CVD) in SSc may be direct or indirect, but often remains subclinical. SSc patients with apparent cardiovascular clinical features are at greater risk of deterioration and premature cardiovascular death, often from complications of myoca...

Purpose Children with systemic sclerosis (SSc) may develop severe alveolitis with progressive, potentially fatal interstitial fibrosis. There have been no controlled trials for treatment of juvenile SSc. Adult trials suggest benefit from cyclophosphamide (CY) therapy, though with significant risk for adverse events. As part of a larger study to develop objective clinical and radiological measur...