Gender differences in early systemic sclerosis patients: a report from the EULAR scleroderma trials and research group (EUSTAR) database.

Objectives: To describe differences in clinical presentation between men and women in a large group of patients with early (<3 years' duration) systemic sclerosis (SSc) according to disease subsets.

Methods: A cross-sectional analysis of the prospective EULAR Scleroderma Trial and Research database (EUSTAR) was performed. Patients fulfilling preliminary ACR 1980 classification criteria for SSc, with less than 3 years from the first non-Raynaud's symptom at first entry, were selected.

Mapping and predicting mortality from systemic sclerosis.

Objectives: To determine the causes of death and risk factors in systemic sclerosis (SSc).

Methods: Between 2000 and 2011, we examined the death certificates of all French patients with SSc to determine causes of death. Then we examined causes of death and developed a score associated with all-cause mortality from the international European Scleroderma Trials and Research (EUSTAR) database.

Pseudoexfoliation syndrome and asymptomatic myocardial dysfunction.

Background: The purpose of this study was to investigate the frequency of asymptomatic left ventricular dysfunction in patients with pseudoexfoliation syndrome.

Methods: Two-dimensional and pulsed Doppler echocardiography of transmitral flow was performed on 27 patients with pseudoexfoliation syndrome, aged 66.9+/-5.

Hypersensitivity to pollen allergens on the Adriatic coast.

This paper describes a study of air concentrations of pollens and a calendar of pollination around the town of Split on the Croatian Adriatic in 1994. High pollen concentrations of Parietaria officinalis dominated during the year (up to 20% from April to June) followed by the pollens of Pistacia lentiscus, Olea europaea, Pinus halepensis, Juniperus oxycedrus, Acacia baileyana, Artemisia vulgaris, Ambrosia elatior and Cistus monspeliensis. In 1994-95, skin prick tests using commercially available standard inhalation allergens and specially prepared pollen allergens were performed on 3,500 patients with allergic respiratory symptoms.

Current state-of-the-art of concomitant chemoradiation in cervical carcinomas.

Despite screening programs, cervical carcinoma remains a major health problem throughout the world. Until recently pelvic radiation has been the standard therapy for advanced disease with overall five-year survival rates of 50%. Recently, five randomized trials demonstrated a significant survival advantage for the concomitant administration of radiotherapy and cisplatin-based chemotherapy.