Study suggests systemic sclerosis is an independent risk factor for atherosclerosis

Age and hypertension contribute to coronary calcification -- similar to general population

2011-05-11

(Press-News.org) A new study by researchers in Hong Kong suggests that systemic sclerosis is an independent determinant for moderate to severe coronary calcification or atherosclerosis. Conventional cardiovascular risk factors such as age and hypertension predispose patients with systemic sclerosis to plaque build-up in the heart arteries similar to the general population. Details of this study are now available in Arthritis & Rheumatism, a journal published by Wiley-Blackwell on behalf of the American College of Rheumatology (ACR).

Systemic sclerosis, also known as scleroderma, is a connective tissue disease which is characterized by sclerodermatous (hardening of tissue due to increased collagen deposits) skin changes, Raynaud's phenomenon, and internal organ fibrosis. The ACR estimates that systemic sclerosis affects 49,000 Americans and a prior U.S. study approximated the prevalence to be 25 per 100,000 individuals. While medical evidence suggests that coronary artery disease (CAD) is increasing in patients with systemic sclerosis, the prevalence of coronary calcification (a measure of coronary artery atherosclerosis) and its risk factors remain unknown.

In the current study a research team, led by Dr. Mo Yin Mok of the Queen Mary Hospital and the University of Hong Kong, recruited 53 patients with systemic sclerosis (50 female, 3 male) and 106 healthy controls to examine coronary artery calcium scores (CACS) and cardiovascular risk factors. Disease activity score, antiphospholipid antibodies, C-reactive protein, and erythrocyte sedimentation rate were also measured for scleroderma patients.

Researchers found that 57% of patients with systemic sclerosis had moderate to severe coronary calcification (CACS greater than 101) compared to only 29% of controls. Scleroderma patients also had significantly lower LDL-cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, and diastolic blood pressure compared to healthy controls. In addition, compared to the control group, roughly one-third of patients had a low body mass index (BMI) and would be considered underweight according to recommended BMI cutoffs for Asian populations.

Regression analysis also showed that systemic sclerosis was an independent risk factor for coronary artery calcification (odds ratio of 10.89), and disease duration was associated with more severe atherosclerosis. The results of this study concur with previous reports of increased atherosclerosis as determined by angiography in patients with systemic sclerosis. "Our findings show that systemic sclerosis patients have an 11-fold increased risk for developing moderate to severe coronary calcification after adjustment for normal cardiovascular risk factors," concluded Dr. Mok. "CAD is a major global health concern, and further studies should explore modifiable disease-specific risk factors in scleroderma patients that could inhibit coronary calcification in this population."

### This study is published in Arthritis & Rheumatism. Media wishing to receive a PDF of the articles may contact healthnews@wiley.com.

Full citation: "Systemic Sclerosis is an Independent Risk Factor of Increased Coronary Artery Calcium Deposition." Mo Yin Mok, Chak Sing Lau, Sonny Sau Hin Chiu, Annette Wai Kwan Tso, Yi Lo, Lawrence Siu Chun Law, Ka Fung Mak, Woon Sing Wong, Peh Lan Khong, Karen Siu Ling Lam. Arthritis & Rheumatism; Published Online: April 28, 2011 (DOI: 10.1002/art.30283). http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/art.30283/abstract.

About the Journal Arthritis & Rheumatism is an official journal of the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) and the Association of Rheumatology Health Professionals (ARHP), a division of the College, and covers all aspects of inflammatory disease. The American College of Rheumatology (www.rheumatology.org) is the professional organization who share a dedication to healing, preventing disability, and curing the more than 100 types of arthritis and related disabling and sometimes fatal disorders of the joints, muscles, and bones. Members include practicing physicians, research scientists, nurses, physical and occupational therapists, psychologists, and social workers. For details, please visit http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/ 10.1002/(ISSN)1529-0131.

About Wiley-Blackwell Wiley-Blackwell is the international scientific, technical, medical, and scholarly publishing business of John Wiley & Sons, with strengths in every major academic and professional field and partnerships with many of the world's leading societies. Wiley-Blackwell publishes nearly 1,500 peer-reviewed journals and 1,500+ new books annually in print and online, as well as databases, major reference works and laboratory protocols. For more information, please visit www.wileyblackwell.com or our new online platform, Wiley Online Library (wileyonlinelibrary.com), one of the world's most extensive multidisciplinary collections of online resources, covering life, health, social and physical sciences, and humanities.

ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:

Razing Seattle's viaduct doesn't guarantee nightmare commutes, model says

2011-05-11

Debate about how to replace Seattle's deteriorating waterfront highway has centered on uncertainties in the project's price tag. Drilling a deep-bore tunnel and building an underground highway is estimated to cost around $4 billion, but some worry the final price could be higher, as it was for Boston's infamous Big Dig. University of Washington statisticians have, for the first time, explored a different subject of uncertainty, namely surrounding how much commuters might benefit from the project. They found that relying on surface streets would likely have less impact ...

Professor: Pain of ostracism can be deep, long-lasting

2011-05-11

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Ostracism or exclusion may not leave external scars, but it can cause pain that often is deeper and lasts longer than a physical injury, according to a Purdue University expert. "Being excluded or ostracized is an invisible form of bullying that doesn't leave bruises, and therefore we often underestimate its impact," said Kipling D. Williams, a professor of psychological sciences. "Being excluded by high school friends, office colleagues, or even spouses or family members can be excruciating. And because ostracism is experienced in three stages, ...

Beneficial bacteria help repair intestinal injury by inducing reactive oxygen species

2011-05-11

The gut may need bacteria to provide a little bit of oxidative stress to stay healthy, new research suggests. Probiotic bacteria promote healing of the intestinal lining in mice by inducing the production of reactive oxygen species, researchers at Emory University School of Medicine have shown. The results, published online this week in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences Early Edition, demonstrate a mechanism by which bacterial cultures in foods such as yogurt and kimchi have beneficial effects on intestinal health. The insights gained could also guide ...

Frank A Trueblood Opens 'The World's Most Powerful Money Making System' Online

2011-05-11

'The World's Most Powerful Money Making System' was first created in 1995 offline by Frank A Trueblood in the form of cassette tapes. The system proved to be very successful for the many businesses that used it. Following this massive success, Mr Trueblood established an online version of the system so that many ordenary people like you and me could easily make huge sums of money every month for ourselves. Frank Trueblood is a marketing genius who is very good at understanding systems and formulas. Using his skill with these formulas he devised a method of turning just ...

Does Cupid play politics? That 'something special' might be your mate's political ideology

2011-05-11

Though "variety is the spice of life" and "opposites attract," most people marry only those whose political views align with their own, according to new research from Rice University and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Political scientists found that political attitudes were among the strongest shared traits and even stronger than qualities like personality or looks. In an article published in the April issue of the Journal of Politics, researchers examined physical and behavioral traits of more than 5,000 married couples in the United States. They found spouses in ...

Red mate, blue mate: Study says married couples select on basis of politics

2011-05-11

Presidential nominees carefully pick their running mates so that their ticket is in solid agreement on the issues. But what about the average married couple? A new study of U.S. spouses shows they partake in very little political vetting, but tend to walk in political lockstep throughout their relationship, anyway. In an article to be published in the Journal of Politics, researchers examined physical and behavioral traits in thousands of spouse pairs in the United States. They found that political attitudes were among the strongest shared traits – stronger, even, than ...

Smallest turtle in the land becomes more scarce

2011-05-11

The Wildlife Conservation Society's Bronx Zoo veterinarians, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, and the Massachusetts Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program have joined forces to answer a perplexing wildlife question: Why are bog turtles getting sick? The dilemma shines a light on North America's smallest turtle; an adult bog turtle reaches only 4.5 inches in length and as many ounces. Wildlife managers working in a few known bog turtle habitats in the Northeast have reported higher than average mortality rates ...

The Wooten Company at 75: Remembering the Inception of Carter-Finley Stadium - Engineering Firm Played a Significant Role in the Design of NCSU's Beloved Facility

2011-05-11

As The Wooten Company continues to celebrate its 75th anniversary as one of the most reputable engineering, planning and architectural firms in North Carolina, the organization reflects on one of its most successful and well-known projects over the years - Carter-Finley Stadium. The stadium, which has served as the home of the North Carolina State University Wolfpack football team for the past 45 years, was as much an engineering feat in the 1960s as it is a true Raleigh landmark today. In February 1962, John Caldwell, then Chancellor of NC State College of Agriculture ...

Research maps out trade-offs between deer and timber

2011-05-11

EAST LANSING, Mich. – Since the 1950s, sustainability in northern hardwood forests was achieved by chopping down trees in small clumps to naturally make room for new ones to spring up. Early experiments with single-tree and group selection logging found that desirable species like sugar maples did a great job of regenerating in the sunny, rain-drenched harvest gaps – theoretically eliminating the need to replant. But something has changed. In a sweeping study of a huge swath of Michigan's Upper Peninsula, Michigan State University researchers document that in many ...

HBO Cinemax Airs New Hot Show Femmes Fatales Friday May 13

2011-05-11

HBO begins airing its new hot show FEMMES FATALES, the new 13-part series Friday May 13, 2011. The series is co-created and executive produced by Mark A. Altman (Castle) and Steve Kriozere (NCIS). This sizzling show features the hottest Femme Fatales in plots around murder mystery, hidden secrets and of course femmes fatales hosted by Tanit Phoenix (Lost Boys: The Thirst). Eyes are on Robin Sydney who had two separate but equally memorable roles as a Femme Fatale in THE LOST AND MASTERS OF HORROR 'RIGHT TO DIE' now stars in the FEMMES FATALES episode 'THE CLINIC' on July ...

Study suggests systemic sclerosis is an independent risk factor for atherosclerosis

ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:

LAST 30 PRESS RELEASES: