Patient Experience of Systemic Sclerosis-Related Calcinosis: An International Study Informing Clinical Trials, Practice, and the Development of the Mawdsley Calcinosis Questionnaire.

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) -related calcinosis can be a debilitating, constantly painful, poorly understood vascular complication of calcium hydroxyapatite deposition in soft tissue structures that affects approximately 40% of both limited and diffuse cutaneous SSc subtypes. This publication describes the iterative and multitiered international qualitative investigations that yielded remarkable insights into natural history, daily experience, and complications of SSc-calcinosis providing pivotal information for health management. Patient-driven question development and field testing, according to Food and Drug Administration guidance, propelled the development of a patient-reported outcome measure for SSc-calcinosis, the Mawdsley Calcinosis Questionnaire.

Calcinosis in scleroderma.

Purpose Of Review: To provide an update on the available literature regarding the epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis, and treatment of calcinosis cutis in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc).

Recent Findings: We identified observational studies that describe the frequency of calcinosis in SSc and associated clinical features; molecular studies exploring potential pathogenic mechanisms; and case reports and case series describing new diagnostic approaches and treatments.

Summary: Calcinosis cutis is the deposition of insoluble calcium in the skin and subcutaneous tissues.

Advantages of a new miniature hearing aid for mild to moderate hearing loss.

Objectives/hypothesis: To evaluate the performance of a new, miniature, behind-the-ear hearing aid designed for individuals with mild to moderate high-frequency hearing loss who need an aid but are reluctant to try one. The aid is essentially invisible, leaves the ear canal open, and can be fit in less than 30 minutes without an ear impression. The cost is less than $500.