BACKGROUND Scleroderma is a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by progressive connective tissue sclerosis and microcirculatory changes. Localized scleroderma is considered a limited disease. However, in some cases atrophic and deforming lesions may be observed that hinder the normal development. Literature reports indicate phototherapy as a therapeutic modality with favorable response in ...

Localized scleroderma involves primarily skin but also muscle, bone and synovium. Further associations and transitional forms have been reported. We report here two cases showing associations between localized scleroderma and vasculitis, mononeuritis multiplex, juvenile chronic arthritis and hemiatrophy. In particular our cases both possess antibodies to double-stranded DNA, a finding not previ...

Extracutaneous calcifications are rare in scleroderma and related conditions. We describe a female patient with linear scleroderma en coup de sabre and a longstanding clinical history of tonic and clonic convulsions. Radiographic study showed extensive cerebral calcifications in the right occipital hemisphere, homolateral to the involved side of her face. This report further suggests a relation...

Scleroderma is an autoimmune disease influenced by interplay among genetic and environmental factors, of which one is stress. Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is frequently used to treat stress and those diseases in which stress has been implicated. Results are presented from a survey of patients with scleroderma. Respondents were a convenient sample of those attending a national co...

25 We describe an 18-year-old male with primary atrophic profound linear scleroderma. It was not preceded by an inflammatory reaction or sclerosis, but it involved the subcutaneous and deeper tissues of the fingers. It did not involve the dermis, or show either discoloration or changes in texture. Involvement of deeper tissue and the progression of the disease suggest atypical primary atrophic ...

We analyze typical models which intend to describe (parts of) the dynamics of H-Bonds in DNA. We show that these models generically allow for nonlinear localized excitatons (NLEs) (discrete breathers). We especially study the scattering of phonons by NLEs and observe strong reflection of phonons by the NLE. We relate our results to the problem of functioning of a complex biomolecule, e.g. the DNA.

INTRODUCTION Localized scleroderma is an inflammatory disease in its first stages and a fibrotic process in later stages, principally mediated by the transforming growth factor β. To date, there is no standard treatment. The objective of this study was to determine the effectiveness and safety of 8% pirfenidone gel in patients with localized scleroderma. METHODS This was an open phase II clin...

We report a four-year-old girl presented with progressive linear scleroderma affecting the right leg. Biopsy specimen disclosed typical histopathological findings of localized scleroderma. Right leg magnetic resonance image (MRI) showed high signal areas on T2 weighted images on the subcutaneous fatty tissue, muscles, and bone marrow, suggesting that skin inflammation extended to the bone marro...