Potentially coercive self-citation by peer reviewers: a cross-sectional study.

Objective: Peer reviewers sometimes request that authors cite their work, either appropriately or via coercive self-citation to highlight the reviewers' work. The objective of this study was to determine in peer reviews submitted to one biomedical journal (1) the extent of peer reviewer self-citation; (2) the proportion of reviews recommending revision or acceptance versus rejection that included reviewer self-citations; and (3) the proportion of reviewer self-citations versus citations to others that included a rationale.

Methods: Peer reviews for manuscripts submitted in 2012 to the Journal of Psychosomatic Research were evaluated.

Prevalence and clinical correlates of pruritus in patients with systemic sclerosis: an updated analysis of 959 patients.

Objectives: One previous study has estimated the prevalence of pruritus in SSc, but that study had important limitations due to a relatively small sample size. The present study updates the analyses of the previous study using a substantially larger patient sample. The objectives were to (i) document the proportion of patients who experience pruritus on most days overall and by disease duration and (ii) identify clinical correlates of pruritus.

The Scleroderma Patient-centered Intervention Network (SPIN) Cohort: protocol for a cohort multiple randomised controlled trial (cmRCT) design to support trials of psychosocial and rehabilitation interventions in a rare disease context.

Introduction: Psychosocial and rehabilitation interventions are increasingly used to attenuate disability and improve health-related quality of life (HRQL) in chronic diseases, but are typically not available for patients with rare diseases. Conducting rigorous, adequately powered trials of these interventions for patients with rare diseases is difficult. The Scleroderma Patient-centered Intervention Network (SPIN) is an international collaboration of patient organisations, clinicians and researchers.

Prevalence of current, 12-month and lifetime major depressive disorder among patients with systemic sclerosis.

Objectives: Patients with SSc experience a range of problems affecting their quality of life, but only one small study has assessed the prevalence of major depressive disorder (MDD) in SSc. The objectives of this study were: (i) to assess the prevalence of current (30-day), 12-month and lifetime MDD in a large sample of Canadian SSc patients; and (ii) to investigate socio-demographic and disease factors associated with 12-month MDD.

Methods: SSc patients were recruited from seven Canadian Scleroderma Research Group Registry sites (April 2009 to May 2012).

Clinical correlates of sleep problems in systemic sclerosis: the prominent role of pain.

Objective: Problems with sleep are common in patients with SSc and impact daily function. Little research, however, has examined factors associated with sleep disruption in SSc. Therefore, the objective of this study was to investigate socio-demographic and medical factors associated with sleep disruption in SSc.

Association of pruritus with quality of life and disability in systemic sclerosis.

Objective: To our knowledge, no studies have investigated the association of pruritus, which is present in almost half of patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc; scleroderma), with quality of life (QOL) and disability. The objective of this study was to investigate the association of pruritus with QOL and disability in SSc.

Methods: We performed a cross-sectional, multicenter study of 578 SSc patients ≥1 year post-enrollment in the Canadian Scleroderma Research Group Registry.

Prevalence and clinical correlates of pruritus in patients with systemic sclerosis.

Objective: There are no studies of pruritus prevalence or clinical correlates in systemic sclerosis (SSc). The objectives of this study were to document the proportion of SSc patients with pruritus on most days, to determine when in the course of the disease pruritus is most prevalent, and to identify clinical correlates.

Methods: We performed a cross-sectional, multicenter study of 400 SSc patients from the Canadian Scleroderma Research Group Registry > or =1 year after Registry enrollment.