The annual appointment with Cyclamen Day, organized by the Italian Group for the Fight against Scleroderma (GILS) in more than one hundred Italian squares, returns from Friday 28th to Sunday 30th September.

The symbol of the day is cyclamen, the flower representing the Association, which will be offered to the public and thanks to the funds thus obtained will support scientific research into scleroderma (or systemic sclerosis).

“Since 2008, we have been able to invest over 1,500,000 euros in scientific projects and this year the aim of fundraising is to help finance two other research projects. These are two very important projects: the first, a free theme on the disease, is 30,000 euros and is reserved for a young researcher under 40 years of age, the second, from 20,000 euros, will involve at least three centers of reference to encourage sharing and networking that is the basis of key projects such as Scleroderma Unit and ScleroNet,” explained Carla Garbagnati Crosti, president of GILS.

 

Humanitas participates in “Open Hospitals” with free visits

Cyclamen Day also includes the “Open Hospitals” project: the member Centers throughout the country will offer free check-ups.

Humanitas is also participating in the initiative by offering free capillaroscopies on Friday 28 September from 9 to 12. Citizens who have had episodes in which their fingers have become white and cold or purple and blue will have a specialist consultation with Professor Carlo Selmi, Head of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology at Humanitas and professor at the University of Milan, and Dr. Maria De Santis, rheumatologist at Humanitas.

“A characteristic sign of scleroderma is the Raynaud phenomenon, which manifests itself with a typical paleness of the fingers of the hands, sometimes even of the feet, due to the decrease in blood flow to the fingers, usually followed by a bluish and then reddish color and is generally accompanied by a decrease in skin temperature, pain and altered sensitivity,” explains Professor Selmi.

 

To participate you must register at the following link:

Cyclamen Day

To take the exam, you must not have had a manicure in the previous 30 days.

Acceptance may be made half an hour prior to the time of the appointment at the counters of outpatient departments A, at Building 2.

 

Systemic sclerosis, a rare disease

“Systemic sclerosis is a rheumatic disease affecting connective tissue, involving the vascular system, the skin (scleroderma means hard skin) and internal organs. It particularly affects women, especially those between 40 and 50 years of age, and it is an immune-mediated disease and therefore implies an inflammatory activation of the immune system. It is a rare disease, the genesis of which is multifactorial, even if its onset is generally associated with the production of specific autoantibodies (i.e. antibodies that are directed towards the body itself).

Scleroderma needs to be diagnosed early in order to prepare for early treatment, as it is a disabling disease with a risk of mortality. This is why it is important to raise public awareness of early diagnosis and to raise funds for research, just like Cyclamen Day.

Humanitas also participates in the ScleroNet project coordinated by GILS, together with other centers in Lombardy. It is a network between highly specialized hospitals and universities for this disease, with the aim of creating a synergy that can improve the quality of life of patients, thanks to shared institutional paths,” concluded the specialist.

 

For further information about the project, please consult www.sclerodermia.net or call 800.080.266.