Publications by authors named "A Herrick"

Calcinosis cutis affects 20-40% of patients with systemic sclerosis. This study tests the hypothesis that calcium-chelating polycarboxylic acids can induce calcium dissolution without skin toxicity or irritancy. We compared citric acid (CA) and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) to sodium thiosulfate (STS) for their ability to chelate calcium in vitro using a pharmaceutical dissolution model of calcinosis (hydroxyapatite (HAp) tablet), prior to evaluation of toxicity and irritancy in 2D in vitro skin models.

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Objective: The Very Early Diagnosis of Systemic Sclerosis (VEDOSS) EUSTAR study showed that, despite not showing any clinical sign of disease, patients with Raynaud's and antinuclear antibodies and/or capillaroscopy abnormalities often progress to systemic sclerosis (SSc) within 5 years. We aimed to determine whether VEDOSS biosamples show biological SSc activity pre-clinically.

Methods: Skin biopsies were histologically analysed.

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Objective: Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is disabling. However, the different factors contributing to this disability and how these change over time have been little studied. Our aim was to examine the trajectories over time of the six visual analogue scales (VAS) of the scleroderma HAQ (SHAQ), associations of disease-related factors with these trajectories, and relationships with overall functional ability.

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Objective: Assessment of gastrointestinal and autonomic symptoms in patients with systemic sclerosis, and possible associations with gastric emptying rate.

Methods: Participant and patient disease-related characteristics were collected. Gastrointestinal and autonomic symptoms were assessed by the UCLA-SCTC GIT 2.

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Objectives: The aim of this study was to validate the Patient self-Assessment of Skin Thickness in Upper Limb questionnaire (PASTUL) in systemic sclerosis (SSc) and assess impact of skin involvement on health-related quality of life (HRQoL).

Methods: Participants were included in four UK centres. PASTUL specifies a grading of skin at 8 sites corresponding to the modified Rodnan Skin Score (mRSS).

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