Bitcoin Exempt from UAE Central Bank’s Ban on Virtual Currencies – Bitcoin Magazine

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Bitcoin Exempt from UAE Central Bank's Ban on Virtual Currencies
Bitcoin Magazine
On January 1, 2017, the Central Bank of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) published a new framework covering digital payments in the country. According to the new Regulatory Framework For Stored Values and Electronic Payment Systems, which is ...
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Bitcoin Exempt from UAE Central Bank's Ban on Virtual Currencies - Bitcoin Magazine

Qtum Mixing Bitcoin & Ethereum Launching ‘Proof-Of-Stake’ Smart Contracts Platform – Forbes

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Qtum Mixing Bitcoin & Ethereum Launching 'Proof-Of-Stake' Smart Contracts Platform
Forbes
Having previously announced plans to meld the Bitcoin protocol with Ethereum technology, they are now launching the first 'Proof-of-Stake' smart contracts platform. It is all part of what the developers behind the project hope can disrupt entire ...

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Chandler Guo to Open a New Bitcoin Unlimited Pool – CryptoCoinsNews

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Momentum for Bitcoin Unlimited continues to increase as a new pool is to enter the network. Chandler Guo, a well-known and liked bitcoiner in China, is to take his current hashrate of around 50P, or 1.5% of the network, out of BW.com and into a new Xpool which will mine with Bitcoin Unlimited.

Guo has further revealed a plan to raise 12 million ETC in an ICO to increase the pools hashrate to around 100 to 120 petahash, which would translate to around 3.5-4 percent of the network. In combination, this would send Bitcoin Unlimited to nearly 30%, a significant psychological threshold which may increase even further BUs momentum.

ETCs price jumped on the news, reaching new highs it has not seen since it was added to Poloniex during summer 2016. It would be its first ICO with 21 million XBTC tokens to be issued tomorrow. As dividend, some of the pools profits will go towards buying back and destroying the tokens, according to a google translation. An English page detailing the plan will soon be released, Guo told CCN.

ETCs Price Jumps as an ICO is to Launch for a Bitcoin Unlimited Pool image from poloniex

After a two-years debate on scalability, the decision has now come down to the hashrates with Bitcoin Unlimited apparently the only proposal standing as segwit has fully stalled.

The new grassroots client, created by ordinary bitcoiners for bitcoiners, has attracted a number of developers including Peter Tschipper, Andrea Suisani, Andrew Stone, Tom Harding, Dagur Johannsson, Amaury Schet, Tom Zander, Jerry Chan, ftrader as well as many others.

It continues the transaction capacity increase method bitcoin used for much of its existence. Without any centralized direction, miners increased the block limit from 250kb to 500kb in March 2013 to the apparent opposition of Peter Todd and Luke-Jr. That was followed by a smooth increase to 750kb and then finally to 1MB in line with demand. With Bitcoin Unlimited, miners can increase transaction capacity in roughly the same manner to 2MB or 4MB as demand requires as well as technology progresses.

It appeared during summer last year a maxblocksize increase was unlikely as miners were almost checkmated, with just one move to make. That move was made by Jiang Zhuoer, a former employee at China Mobile and founder of a new mining pool BTC.TOP. Responding to threats of an intentional chain split if maxblocksize is increased, he told CCN three days ago that $100 million has been set aside to ensure there is no chain split after the upgrade of transaction capacity.

That statement was considered a checkmate by some. Price jumped $30, Bitcoin Unlimited surpassed segwit in hashrate share, and now a new pool is to join.

Some are wondering whether bitcoin can really break free and increase its very limited transaction capacity, ending the backlogs that have led to a huge number of user complaints and increased frustration.

We do not yet know. What we do know is that supporters of bitcoin unlimited appear to be highly passionate about the new client. They believe they are standing by Nakamoto.

They have been censored, banned, DDoS-ed, smeared, doxed. Kicked out of public discussion spaces, mailing lists, IRC even had commits removed but as some were silenced or metaphorically exiled, new advocates for Nakamotos vision kept rising.

Nakamoto was told that bitcoin cannot scale a number of time and that we need bitbanks now known as a settlement layer. He rejected the proposition each time, insisting it can reach VISA levels.

The repetition of the bitbanks argument by Daniel Larimer shortly before Nakamoto left even led him to lose his cool in a rare instance of public emotional display. If you dont believe me or dont get it, I dont have time to try to convince you, sorry. Nakamoto finally concluded.

If Bitcoin Unlimited continues to increase in momentum and gains more than 50% of the hashrate, some may see it as conclusive proof that his assumption, which relies on the honesty of 51%, is sound and can indeed protect this $16 billion market without any centralized control.

Whether it can actually do so remains to be seen, but the mood in many corners is slowly shifting from dreading a continuation of censorship and tight control, to that of celebration as it appears the wall that keeps transactions limited may indeed come down.

Image from Shutterstock.

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Comets Blast Purple Panthers – thejournal-news.net

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The Litchfield Purple Panthers, coming around the final stretch of their 2016-2017 campaign, wrapped up their road games on Friday night in Greenville in a South Central Conference match up. This contest would quickly get out of hand as the Comets would walk away with a 71-31 South Central Conference victory.

The Comets, 5-2 in the South Central Conference, would jump out ahead of the Purple Panthers, 1-6 in the South Central Conference, early in this contest.

Greenville would get the scoring kicked off when Ryan Hutchinson connected on a three point field goal 17 seconds into the contest. Hutchinson's three pointer would start a scoring flurry for the Comets, as they would explode for 19 points in the first seven minutes of action in the first quarter.

On the other side of the court the Purple Panthers would come out nearly as cold as the temperature was outside the gym. Litchfield would not be able to put a point on the scoreboard until the last minute of the quarter.

The Comets defense would be a big factor in the offense struggles for the Purple Panthers. The Purple Panthers would only get six shots off the entire first quarter and would turn the ball over 10 times.

Cam Morris would connect on the first basket for the Purple Panthers with 53 seconds remaining in the quarter. Morris' basket would stop the scoreless streak for the Purple Panthers and the 19 point run by the Comets.

The Comets would get four more points in the the last 50 seconds and Sam Middleton would connect on the Purple Panthers' fourth point of the game as Greenville would be in full control of this contest with a 24-4 lead after the first quarter. The Comets' Hutchinson would have the hot hand in the quarter as he connected on three three-point field goals to give him nine first quarter points.

The second quarter would be almost a repeat of the first quarter as the Comets' offense and defense remained in full control of the contest. The Comets would connect on 20 more points in the second quarter giving them 44 at the half.

The Purple Panthers would be able to triple their point production from the first quarter as they connected on 14 second quarter points. Seth McGill and Alex Bishop would collect six of the 14 points from behind the arc. Brady Simpson would lead all scorers in the first half with 12 points, seven in the first quarter and five in the second for Greenville. Sam Middleton would lead the Purple Panthers with six points as Litchfield trailed Greenville 44-18 at the half.

The Comets would cruise through the second half as they would outscore Litchfield 27-13 in the final two quarters of action. The young Purple Panthers, continuing with growing pains, would get some quality minutes from their non-starters in the final half. Keating Monroe would lead the Purple Panthers in the second half with four points and Billy Beckham would connect on two free throws.

The Comets would take this contest with a final score of 71-31. The loss would drop Litchfield to 5-20 overall and 1-6 in the South Central Conference. The young Purple Panthers will be more than happy to put this week away as they were outscored 145-79 in their two contests this week.

Next will be a new week for the Purple Panthers as they begin a four game home stand starting with county rival Lincolnwood on Tuesday and SCC opponent Carlinville on Friday.

February 3 at Greenville

Litchfield 4 14 10 3 - 31

Greenville 24 20 11 16 - 71

Litchfield (31) - Sam Middleton 7, Alex Bishop 5, Cam Morris 5, Keating Monroe 4, Seth McGill 3, Sam Painter 3, Dylan Hemann 2, Billy Beckham 2.

Greenville (71) - Brady Simpson 17, Ryan Hutchinson 12, Hunter Gray 8, Kaleb Ephron 6, Christian Moss 6, Lucas Carlson 6, Brandon Hamel 6, Brock Nelson 6, Chad Stearns 4.

Three-point field goals: Litchfield 3 (Bishop 1, Morris 1, McGill 1); Greenville 6 (Hutchinson 3, Nelson 2, Hamel 1).

Records: Litchfield (5-20, 1-6); Greenville (5-2).

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Gaunce assigned to Utica Comets – Utica Observer Dispatch

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Ben Birnell

A familiar name has been added to the Utica Comets roster.

On Monday, the parent Vancouver Canucks assigned Brendan Gaunce to the Comets, who play Tuesday at Toronto.

The move comes because a player -- likely Ben Hutton, who has missed time with an injury -- is ready to come off the injured reserve for the Canucks. Gaunce also did not need to be placed on waivers to be assigned to the American Hockey League, making the move easier.

The 22-year-old Gaunce has played much of the season with the National Hockey League team, appearing in 47 games. Gaunce, who has played mostly on the fourth line with the Canucks, has five assists this season.

Gaunce helps provide a boost for the Comets, who are among the lowest-scoring teams in the AHL with 2.50 goals per game.

Gaunce, who is in his third professional season, has played in 120 regular-season games with the Comets totaling 28 goals and 67 points. Last season, Gaunce had 38 points in 46 games with the Comets.

The move gives Utica 14 healthy forwards as Derek Hulak and Joseph LaBate have each recently missed time with injuries.

The Comets play four games over the next week, including a home-and-home series with North Division rival Toronto. The Comets also play Friday at Springfield before returning home Sunday to play Syracuse.

The Comets and Marlies, who play Friday in Utica, are separated by a point in the division. Toronto moved ahead of Utica with a win Sunday over Syracuse.

The third-place team (St. John's) and the seventh-place team (Binghamton) in the division are separated by seventh points. The top four teams in the division make the playoffs.

The Comets, who are 0-2-1-1 in the last four games, have a busy February on tap with 32 regular-season games remaining.

The Comets begin a stretch Tuesday that features 11 games in 19 days. The schedule includes three games against Toronto and one each against Albany and Rochester.

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Gaunce assigned to Utica Comets - Utica Observer Dispatch

GW extends win streak with victory over Comets – GoDanRiver.com

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George Washington extended its winning streak to seven games with a convincing 59-43 victory over Halifax County on Monday night.

The Eagles (15-3) unleashed an 11-1 run over the final four minutes to pull away from the Blue Comets, using an array of different defensive looks to overwhelm Halifax.

We talked about at the break how we needed to step up our defensive intensity, GW coach Ron Parson said. We threw two or three different looks at them on defense in the fourth quarter and it frustrated them.

GW held Halifax to just eight points in the fourth quarter.

The Eagles free-throw shooting was just as impressive, especially down the stretch. Senior Amardius Jones was 4 for 4 from the charity stripe in the final two minutes that allowed GW to extend its lead to double digits.

We definitely did a better job shooting from the line in the second half, Parson said. I had been talking with them about that all night, and they finally picked it up and found a way to score from the line.

GW senior Patrick Robinson scored 16 points to pace four players in double figures. Camryn Lewis scored 14, Jones added 13 and Caymen Wilson added 10 points.

Halifaxs James Smith scored nine of his game-high 18 points in the third quarter.

Smiths sizzling quarter allowed Halifax (13-6) to chip away at GWs 12-point lead early in the third quarter and trail by only two entering the final period.

However, GWs defense and timely free-throw shooting allowed the Eagles to coast to the victory.

We have a veteran group of guys so they really dont panic a lot, Parson said. When we get down and things go wrong weve got guys that have been through it. I was really proud of the way they kept their composure and held on.

Halifax jumped out to a six-point lead early in the first quarter, but GW was able to counter the Comets defensive pressure to finish the frame on an 8-1 run to take a 14-13 lead.

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Wins for Clarke Road, Alescon Comets – Trinidad & Tobago Express

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CLARKE Road United and Alescon Comets secured outright victories on the third and final day of the National Premier Division One opening round yesterday, joining Merry Boys in the early lead for the national cricket championship. Merry Boys had completed victory over PowerGen Penal Sports with a day to spare on Saturday. But while the three clubs celebrated early success, defending champions Queens Park Cricket Club had to settle for first-innings points in their drawn encounter with Jailal Enterprises Victoria Sports. Playing on their home turf at Wilson Road in Penal, Clarke Road were able to turn around their match against Central Sports, going on to win by 26 runs after having conceded a first-innings deficit of 32. Chasing 184 for victory, Central started the day well-placed on 41 for one but struggled against Clarke Roads spin attack, crashing to 157 all out. Kirwyn Sirju led the hosts, the leg-spinner claiming four wickets for 29 runs; he was ably supported by Yannick Ottley (2-19) and Akhile Mollon (2-41). Shazan Babwah played a solid hand of 69 for the visitors, but apart from Kamil Poorans 32, there was little else. At Pierre Road in Charlieville, the host Comets excelled with bat and ball to defeat Tableland by 139 runs. Resuming their second innings on 110 for four, they batted on before declaring on 225 for nine. Off-spinning all-rounder Bryan Charles led the way with 66 while there were good contributions from Kenroy Williams (39), Kirk Edwards (36) and Idrees Mohammed (35). Brian Pegues (4-44) was the best of the Tableland bowlers. The daunting victory target of 284 proved well beyond Tableland and despite Al Smalls courageous knock of 83, they were routed for 144. Leg-spinner Emile Rajah claimed outrageous figures of five for 12 from 5.3 overs while Kashtri Singh grabbed four for 15 from eight. Meanwhile, at Barrackpore West Secondary, Queens Parks bowlers met staunch resistance from the Victoria batsmen, led by former national player Sherwin Ganga, who scored 72. Resuming on 189 for four, the hosts battled their way to 312, 38 short of the Parkites first innings of 350 for eight declared. For QPCC, the wickets were evenly shared among Marlon Barclay (3-36), Kion Webster (3-71) and Yannic Cariah (3-74). With no chance of forcing an outright win, QPCC were 35 for one in their second innings when play was called. Premier Division 3-Day League scores:

At Wilson Road: Clarke Road Utd 127 and 215 VS Central Sports 159 and 157 (S. Babwah 69, K. Pooran 32; K. Sirju 4-29, Y. Ottley 2-19, A. Mollon 2-41). Clarke Road Utd won by 26 runs.

At Pierre Road: Alescon Comets 284 and 225/9 decl. (B. Charles 66, K. Williams 39, K. Edwards 36, I Mohammed 35; B. Pegues 4/44) VS Jenexcon Tableland 226 and 144 (Al Small 83; E. Rajah 5-12, K. Singh 4-15). Alescon Comets won by 139 runs.

At Barrackpore West: QPCC 350/8 decl. and 35/1 VS Jailal Enterprises Victoria Sports 312 (S. Ganga 72; M. Barclay 3-36, K. Webster 3-71, Y. Cariah 3-74). Match drawn.

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Wins for Clarke Road, Alescon Comets - Trinidad & Tobago Express

A comet tale – Sierra Vista Herald

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Surprising and beautiful, comets are a favorite of backyard astronomers. The rarity of bright comets makes them exciting sky events and their unpredictable nature adds immeasurably to their appeal. Some comets are more predictable than others. Periodic comets are objects in elliptical orbits around the sun that have a known orbital period. We can predict their return to our sky rather accurately. In addition to the names of their discovers, they carry numerical designations that indicate their order of discovery. Edmund Halley was the first to predict the return of an orbiting comet and the object named for him bears the designation 1P.

While periodic comets return on a regular schedule, their distance from Earth at closest approach varies greatly. We are about to experience the close approach of three comets in succession over the next 20 months, a very rare occurrence. The first of those close approaches comes this month when Comet 45P/Honda-Mrkos-Pajdu Sakova passes 7.4 million miles from Earth on Feb. 11. Well see this comet brighten considerably as it moves rapidly across our sky. In just two weeks it will go from a morning object in Aquila to an evening object in Coma Berenices. It will be a fine binocular object and has the potential to be visible to the naked eye at its brightest.

At the same time, your telescope can pick up Comet 41P/Tuttle-Giacobini-Kresak which will be brightening between the stars of Leo and Cancer. 41P will continue to brighten over the next few months and should reach sixth magnitude in April making it possible for a sharp-eyed observer in a dark sky to pick it out without optical aid. Observers should always be on the lookout though, because comets can brighten unexpectedly at any time. Astronomers are not quite sure how comets produce these unpredictable outbursts which can cause the comet to brighten by a magnitude or more.

The third comet, 46P Wirtanen, wont come onto the scene until October 2018, but it will be worth waiting for as it will quickly brighten to fourth magnitude, well within naked eye visibility.

The Tucson based Planetary Science Institute is spearheading an international campaign to study the comas of these three comets. Amateur astronomers are invited to participate in the observing campaign called the 4*P Coma Morphology Campaign. See http://www.psi.edu/41P45P46P for details. By collecting images from multiple sources, astronomers hope to learn about the shape and rotational characteristics of the comets nuclei as well as how the comas evolve and change over time. The coma is the envelope of gas and dust that surrounds the nucleus of a comet. Visual observers who want to contribute observations of these comets should look into the PACA Project.

Visitors to the Patterson Observatory on Jan. 5 were able to view comet 45P through the 20-inch telescope. At the March 2 public night, comet 41P may be just visible in the large scope. Astronomers from the Huachuca Astronomy Club are always available at public night and they can help you plan your own observations of these comets. Patterson is located on the campus of the University of Arizona Sierra Vista. Public nights are free and the doors open just after sunset.

The morning sky all this month is adorned by Mercury low in the southeast and Saturn in the south-southeast. The evening sky is home to Venus and Mars in the west. Jupiter is a target for the overnight and will drift from the southeast to the southwest over the month. Jupiter will be in retrograde motion. Mark its position against the bright star Spica to trace its westward motion week to week over the next few months. Retrograde motion of a planet is caused by the earth overtaking it in its orbit. The planet appears to move backward in our sky as Earth races ahead of it.

The dwarf planet Ceres will be well placed among the stars of Cetus for viewing this month. For much of the 19th century, Ceres enjoyed status as a full-fledged planet, and was eventually demoted in similar fashion to Pluto. The largest object in the asteroid belt, Ceres was considered an asteroid until it was again elevated to dwarf planet by the same IAU convention that changed Plutos designation. This is a good time to see it, although you will need a telescope and a good map to find it. You can download freeware planetarium programs like Stellarium, Carte du Ceil, or Sky Map to pinpoint exactly where to look to catch this tiny world.

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A comet tale - Sierra Vista Herald

Comets no longer undefeated, but win two of three at Kin 1 – Prince George Citizen

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In the weekend rubber match Sunday morning at Kin 1, the Northern Capitals and Greater Vancouver Comets were taking no prisoners. Late hacks at the goalie were being punished with cross-checks across the back and there were a few choice words uttered by both teams as the chippy play continued. It was just the kind of intensity you'd expect from last year's B.C. Female Midget Triple-A Hockey League playoff finalists renewing their rivalry in their final meeting of the regular season. The Comets had already felt the sting of losing their first game of the season Saturday night when the Capitals went home with a 3-1 victory. Their chance for perfection denied, the Comets took it out on the Capitals in Sunday's game, posting a convincing 6-1 win. "It felt really good handing an undefeated team their first loss of the season," said Capitals centre Cailey Mellott. "They're a good team, they play their systems well and they're fast, but we gave them a run for their money. This game was a lot more physical." The Comets were leading 1-0 Sunday on a goal from Camryn Gormley when Mya Taylor opened the second period with a backhand shot to beat Cougars' goalie Olivia Davis. Comets winger Naomi Choong made it a 3-0 game when she skated out of the corner and scored on a high wrister on a power play 8:32 into the second period. In the third period, an early goal from Rebecca Clarke put the game out of the Cougars' reach. Stefanie Wallace finished off a breakaway with a shot through the pads of Davis at 12:13 of the third and Nicole Kay came off the bench to relieve Davis. Cougars sniper Braxtyn Shawara, the pride of McBride, broke up Brooke Vial's shutout bid when she put a move on defenceman Nicole Wong at the Vancouver blueline and skated in alone to score on a low wrist shot. Clarke completed the scoring in the last minute. In Saturday's game, Mellott scored two goals, including an empty-netter, and Wynona Creyke scored the other for the Capitals. Darci Johal opened the scoring for the Comets in the first period. After knocking off a team that had reeled off 22 straight wins, the Capitals' celebrated in the dressing room like they'd won another title. "The intensity (Saturday) was unrivaled," said Capitals assistant coach Megan Price. "They played better than they've played all season, they were working together and that's what we try to teach them as coaches and it showed on the ice. It was an awesome game, there was so much energy." Vancouver won Friday by a 3-1 count. Choong, Johal and Jenn Gardiner were the Comet goal-scorers, after Camryn Scully notched the first goal of the game for the Capitals. Kay started and finished in goal for the first two games. "(Saturday's win) gave us the positivity that we can beat the top team in the league," said Kay. "Coming out strong and how we competed with them last year, to regain that confidence is good. "This game (Sunday) was intense. Both teams wanted the win and wanted to pull it off and take the two away from the weekend." While a perfect season was the Comets' goal, head coach Mark Taylor said it's not such a bad thing to have to swallow a regular-season loss. "It would have been nice to try to run the table but at the end of the day we just want to keep trying to improve as a group and if we're going to have a loss it's better to have it now than a month from now," said Taylor. "You can learn from little bit of adversity like that. "Prince George is a hard-working team and they played very well (Saturday) and limited our chances so they deserve a lot of credit for that win. It was good to see our girls bounce back. They tried to take control of the game and keep the pressure on all game." The Capitals (9-10-2) started Sunday's game three points behind the second-place Thompson-Okanagan Lakers. There's added incentive for the Capitals to finish second knowing the top two teams receive first-round playoff byes. They have nine games left and will play the Fraser Valley Rush in a three-game series this weekend in Langley. The Comets (23-1-0), who host the Kootenay Wild this weekend, have already wrapped up the regular season crown.

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Comets no longer undefeated, but win two of three at Kin 1 - Prince George Citizen

Comets pick up conference win | Waupaca County Post – Waupaca County News

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February 4, 2017

By Greg Seubert

Victoria Nowak and Emma Smidt were an effective one-two punch Feb. 3 for the Waupaca girls basketball team.

The senior and freshman combined to score 31 points in the Comets 46-36 North Eastern Conference win over Marinette.

Nowak led all scorers with 18 points, while Smidt hit three three-pointers in the first half and finished with 13 points.

Marinette scored 12 of the games first 15 points to take an early 12-3 lead, but Smidts second and third threes came during a 12-0 run that gave the Comets a 15-12 lead.

Waupaca eventually built a five-point lead late in the first half, but settled for a 22-20 lead at the break.

McKenzie Bebos back-to-back threes gave Marinette a 26-24 lead early in the second half, but Nowak tied the game with a pair of free throws and Mya Johannes three gave the Comets the lead for good at 29-26.

Waupaca then outscored the Marines 17-10 the rest of the way.

Bebo and Jordan Miller led Marinette with 13 and 10 points, respectively.

The Comets will host Fox Valley Lutheran at 7:15 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 7.

Waupaca Middle School eighth-grader Arthur Lisogor plays the trumpet Feb. 3 at Waupaca High School. Lisigor and other eighth-graders had the opportunity during a Waupaca girls' basketball game to perform with the Waupaca High School band. The students will team up again Tuesday, Feb. 14, for a Waupaca boys' basketball game. Greg Seubert Photo

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Comets extend winning streak against Empire – Duncan Banner

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The Velma-Alma came into the game with another winning streak and extended there current streak to four wins when they got the 35-24 victory on the road against the Empire Bulldogs.

Early in the first quarter, Empire and Velma-Alma traded baskets with the Bulldogs clinging on to a two-point lead at the end of one when Alex Vanderburg hit a three-point shot to take the small lead.

As Velma came out in the second quarter both teams only made one bucket from two-point land, but the difference maker was beyond the arc as the Comets scored two long range shots.

Brodie Williams, who had seven points on the game, sank the first once when Jake Brown started a string of four made shots with his shot from beyond the arc scoring 17 on the game.

With the game going on, the Comets got Empire into foul trouble and took advantage on the charity stripe as Velma-Alma went 10-for-19 in the game while the Bulldogs went 3-for-8 at the line.

During the second half both teams defense had big third quarters as the teams combined for three baskets on 14 shots with Velma getting their lead up from seven to 11 by a three bucket and a two pointer from Brown to build the lead.

In the final quarter, Velma-Alma went perfect from the field shooting 3-for-3 with Brown, Bryson Sherlin and Caleb Crowson grabbing baskets to seal the victory over Empire.

Bulldogs was led in scoring by Dakota Curtis who had seven points and Logan Martindale poured in four points to pace the starting five for Empire.

Empire and Velma-Alma both have two games left in the regular season before playoffs start with the Comets playing on Friday evening and Monday evening with both games being at home.

The Bulldogs play back-to-back in there final two games of the season with Empire traveling to Ryan on Monday evening and at home against Wilson on Tuesday evening before playoffs.

All of the four remaining games for the Comets and Bulldogs will tip-off at 8 p.m. and Empire begins their district playoffs in Cyril against Ringling on Friday evening, while the Comets host Union City on Saturday evening.

Results from Velma-Almas Friday evening game against Walters was not available as of press time.

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Comets extend winning streak against Empire - Duncan Banner

BOYS BB: Explosive Golden Eagles roll by Comets – Kokomo Tribune

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CONVERSE Two and a half minutes into Tuesday nights boys basketball game at Oak Hill, Eastern had the Class 2A No. 3-ranked Golden Eagles looking at a 5-0 deficit.

The Comets looked cool and composed, hitting their first two shot attempts on a Sam Querry 3-pointer from the wing and Draeden Graber driving runner in the lane.

And then, just like that, everything went the other way in a hurry.

Eastern (7-11) managed just one more shot attempt in the first quarter as Oak Hill (15-2) reeled off 10 straight points for a 15-5 lead at the first stop. The Comets trailed by double digits the rest of the way, falling 54-30.

We got out to a good start and were doing some good things, Eastern coach Mike Springer said. We had some mental lapses and next thing you know were down 10.

With just under 5:00 to play in the opening frame, the Eagles found the scoreboard on a Cal Mann deuce that opened the flood gates. That basket sparked what would be a 19-0 Oak Hill run stretching well into the second quarter. During that same span, the Comets went more than nine minutes without scoring before a Nolan Smalley basket with 4:01 to play in the half stopped the bleeding.

At that point, the scoreboard showed a 19-7 Oak Hill lead. The Eagles went on for a 29-12 lead at the half as Eastern ended up with just nine field goal attempts in the first half while turning the ball over nine times once Oak Hill flexed its defensive muscle with a trap that had the Comets reeling.

Their trap really caused lots of problems for us, Springer said. We didnt handle it very well. I felt like we handled some pressure over the weekend a lot better and were ready for this but we just didnt attack it very well. And give them a lot of credit. They were a lot more athletic and a lot taller in certain places and it was obviously hard for us to get the ball down the floor. I guess thats why theyre as good of a team as they are.

Nolan Smalley hit all three of his second-quarter shot attempts, scoring all seven of the Comets points in the period and providing a bright spot for Eastern. He finished with 11 points and eight rebounds.

Nolan had a good game, good effort out of him on the offensive end especially, Springer said. We really wanted to look to him inside and we did for the most part. That was part of our game plan but obviously we couldnt get it to him enough. Their pressure was just too strong.

Tyce Frank paced Oak Hill with 20 points.

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BOYS BB: Explosive Golden Eagles roll by Comets - Kokomo Tribune

Comets breeze to 57-19 Senior Night win over Patrick County HS … – YourGV.com

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Friday night's Senior Night game at Halifax County High School was just what the Comets boys basketball team needed and wanted.

Playing their third game of the week and having come off of a tough game in a road win over Dan River High School the night before, the Comets needed a win and needed to do it without having to expend a lot of extra energy.

They succeeded on both fronts.

The Comets took control of the game with eight unanswered points at the end of the first quarter to take a nine-point lead and breezed to a 57-19 win over the Cougars in Friday night's Piedmont District game at Halifax County High School.

"It was a really good game for us," remarked Comets Head Coach Sterling Williams after the win that improved his team's record to 13-5 on the season.

"I was wondering how they were going to come out after having played a tough game against Dan River last night (Thursday night). They came out ready to play. They were excited. It was their last Friday night home game, and they showed up and put it (the game) away in the first quarter."

James Smith Jr. led the Comets in scoring with 15 points, 13 of which came in the first half. Zion Bailey followed with 12 points, nine of which came in the first half. Ford Morrison chipped in eight points, half of them coming in the first half.

Smith and Bailey each had three 3-point baskets and accounted for six of the seven 3-point baskets the Comets had in the game.

Patrick County High School (8-11 overall) led early by as many as four points as Seth Scott kept the Cougars close with a trio of 3-point baskets in the first six and a half minutes of the game. The Comets stole the momentum with eight unanswered points in the last minute and a half of the quarter with Smith and Bailey hitting back-to-back 3-point baskets, and reserve Jamal Brandon hitting a layup off of a steal to propel the Comets to a 20-11 lead at the end of the first quarter.

Halifax County High School's pressure man-to-man defense kicked in hard after that. The Comets limited the Cougars to just two field goals and a total of eight points over the remaining three quarters and quickly pulled away.

The Comets' defense forced Patrick County High School into turning the ball over 15 times including 11 times over the last three quarters of the game.

"The guys really showed up tonight defensively," Williams pointed out.

"Holding a team to 19 points for the game is really showing up. That was saying we played everybody.

"We played good team defense," added Williams.

"Everybody was rotating well."

The Comets led 31-13 at halftime and outscored the Cougars 11-2 over the first four and a half minutes of the third quarter to stretch their advantage to 44-15. After Ford Morrison scored on a layup after a steal with 3:49 left in the third quarter to produce the 29-point lead, Williams took him and the remaining starters on the floor off of the court and played reserves the rest of the way.

Williams said he was pleased with the team's offensive effort, especially the patience that was shown.

"The guys really moved the ball around," noted Williams.

"We shared the ball well tonight, giving up the okay shots to get a really good shot, and it paid off for us."

Scott led Patrick County High School in scoring with nine points, all coming with his trio of 3-point shots in the first quarter. Matt Amos followed with five points.

The Comets face another tough three-game week next week with a Monday night road game against GW in Danville, a Tuesday night road game against Tunstall High School and a Thursday night home game against Martinsville High School that will be played at Halifax County Middle School.

"This win (over Patrick County High School) gets everybody feeling good about things going into Monday's game against GW," Williams said.

"We know it's going to be a hostile environment. We're going up there looking for a little payback."

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Comets breeze to 57-19 Senior Night win over Patrick County HS ... - YourGV.com

LeAnn Rimes: Psoriasis is ‘one of my biggest insecurities’ – Today.com

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LeAnn Rimes is a country music superstar who's been making hit records since she was only 13 years old. The powerhouse vocalist reflects on growing up in the spotlight and how she's been able to embrace her insecurities and own them with confidence!

One of my biggest insecurities is my skin. I've had psoriasis since I was 2 and was 80 percent covered by the time I was 6, so I was constantly in a state of covering up everything as a kid and feeling really uncomfortable.

RELATED: LeAnn Rimes shares adorable throwback photo from her first cassette tape

I didn't realize how much it had impacted my self-confidence and just really kind of feeling like a woman.

LeAnn Rimes isn't afraid to bare her skin after managing her psoriasis.

So there's been a ton of bikini photos of me in the past several years; it's because I would go naked if I could because I'm clear and it's all good!

I think music really was what gave me confidence.

RELATED: Ashley Graham: What I tell myself in the mirror to feel confident

I think I was very disconnected from my body so that was the one way I could really connect. So I think music has been a very, very healing thing for me.

"Music ... was a place for me to be able to escape in a way but also kind of come out of my shell."

I never thought I could get to the place where I could really be grateful for every single thing that's happened in my life ... but I am now and it feels really good.

RELATED: 'Forever Country' brings singers from past and present together for epic video

As I get older, I've learned how to accept the things that bother me about myself and really start to love those things. They're what make me, me.

My advice to others is to own it. Own who you are, because it feels really good when you do.

As told to TODAY's Jordan Muto.

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LeAnn Rimes: Psoriasis is 'one of my biggest insecurities' - Today.com

Maintain a healthy diet to restrict psoriasis – Bismarck Tribune

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Dear Doctor: I've had psoriasis for close to seven years, and lately it has been flaring up more often. Is there anything I can do with my diet to control this, or even prevent it from happening?

Dear Reader: That's a good question. Thanks to the growing body of research detailing the link between inflammation and chronic disease, there are some equally intriguing answers. To explore it further, let's start with what psoriasis is.

When you have psoriasis, your immune system has gone a bit haywire. It's sending faulty danger signals that cause skin cells to grow at 10 times their normal rate. That's much faster than your body can process and shed them, and the result is raised and itchy patches of red skin, often covered with silvery scales. Typically, these appear on the knees, elbows and scalp, but they may also be present on the palms of the hands, on the soles of the feet and along the torso.

Although there is a complex genetic component to psoriasis, environmental factors are also at play. Stress, infection, certain medications, smoking and alcohol use have all been shown to be potential triggers for flare-ups.

The results of that research make it increasingly clear that inflammation is a factor in many chronic and degenerative diseases, including heart disease, diabetes and many cancers. Since inflammation plays a significant role in psoriasis, a lot of attention is now being paid to your question of whether diet may affect the disease.

Because of the way psoriasis behaves, drawing conclusions can be difficult. Flare-ups are followed by periods of dormancy, which give way again to subsequent flare-ups. Since the nature of the disease is to fluctuate, connecting the dots between a specific dietary or behavioral change, and the absence or presence of flare-ups, is a challenge.

Still, scientists are beginning to find answers. In studies of psoriasis patients whose diets included fish oil supplements to add omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, a measurable number of participants reported fewer and less severe flare-ups. When they stopped following that diet, those benefits waned.

Gluten sensitivity may also play a role. In a study of individuals with antibodies to gliadin, one of the proteins that are present in wheat, following a gluten-free diet lessened psoriasis symptoms. When gluten was reintroduced to the diet, flare-ups became more frequent.

If you're interested in modifying your own diet, the National Psoriasis Foundation offers some guidelines. Foods to add to your diet include leafy green vegetables and colorful fruits such as spinach, kale, broccoli, squash and blueberries. Foods that are a natural source of omega-3 fatty oils are also on the list. They include cold-water fish, olive oil, walnuts and pumpkin seeds.

The foundation recommends that people with psoriasis avoid processed foods, refined sugar and fatty red meat. Research shows that maintaining a healthy weight is important as well.

The idea is that when you have an inflammatory disease, steering clear of foods with inflammatory effects can help. Whatever the outcome, the result is a more healthful diet.

Send your questions to askthedoctors@mednet.ucla.edu, or write: Ask the Doctors, c/o Media Relations, UCLA Health, 924 Westwood Blvd., Suite 350, Los Angeles, CA, 90095.

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Maintain a healthy diet to restrict psoriasis - Bismarck Tribune

My Life with Plaque Psoriasis and How I’m taking Control – Bloomer Advance (subscription)

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(BPT) - Whitney was only 19 years old, home from college freshman year, when her mother noticed spots on her arms and elbows. As any parent would be, Whitneys mother was concerned and suggested her daughter see a dermatologist. That visit revealed her diagnosis of moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis. Little did Whitney know, this would be a lifelong battle that would impact all aspects of her life.

Plaque psoriasis is a chronic autoimmune skin disease that speeds up the growth cycle of skin cells, causing patches of thick red skin and silvery scales affecting approximately 6 million Americans.1

When I was younger and my psoriasis was flaring, it was very embarrassing and shameful, Whitney said. People didnt understand that I was not contagious. I can remember being turned away by hair stylists who didnt want to cut my hair and being refused a pedicure. My friends and boyfriends didnt understand what was going on with me and I could feel them pulling away at times.

After talking with her doctor about her symptoms, she prescribed a biologic treatment called STELARA (ustekinumab).

I went through some very challenging times with my psoriasis symptoms. Starting treatment with STELARA helped me to take control of my disease and start to create new memories with my family and friends, said Whitney. With clearer skin, I was able to walk down the aisle in a strapless wedding dress, and it was amazing!

Eventually, Whitney would also be diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis, an inflammatory arthritis causing joint pain, stiffness and swelling that affects approximately 30 percent of people with psoriasis.2 STELARA (ustekinumab) also is approved to treat psoriatic arthritis and, over time, Whitneys joint pain and swelling have diminished significantly.

Visit http://www.STELARAINFO.com to learn more about STELARA

WHAT IS STELARA?

STELARA is a prescription medicine approved to treat adults 18 years and older with moderate or severe plaque psoriasis that involves large areas or many areas of their body, who may benefit from taking injections or pills (systemic therapy) or phototherapy (treatment using ultraviolet light alone or with pills).

STELARA is a prescription medicine approved to treat adults 18 years and older with active psoriatic arthritis, either alone or with methotrexate.

STELARA (ustekinumab) works by targeting an underlying cause of plaque psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis an overactive immune system. It blocks two proteins called IL-12 and IL-23 that may play a role in plaque psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

STELARA (ustekinumab) is a prescription medicine that affects your immune system. STELARA can increase your chance of having serious side effects including:

Serious Infections

STELARA may lower your ability to fight infections and may increase your risk of infections. While taking STELARA, some people have serious infections, which may require hospitalization, including tuberculosis (TB), and infections caused by bacteria, fungi, or viruses.

Your doctor should check you for TB before starting STELARA and watch you closely for signs and symptoms of TB during treatment with STELARA.

If your doctor feels that you are at risk for TB, you may be treated for TB before and during treatment with STELARA.

You should not start taking STELARA if you have any kind of infection unless your doctor says it is okay.

Before starting STELARA, tell your doctor if you:

think you have an infection or have symptoms of an infection such as:

After starting STELARA, call your doctor right away if you have any symptoms of an infection (see above).

STELARA can make you more likely to get infections or make an infection that you have worse. People who have a genetic problem where the body does not make any of the proteins interleukin 12 (IL-12) and interleukin 23 (IL-23) are at a higher risk for certain serious infections that can spread throughout the body and cause death. People who take STELARA may also be more likely to get these infections.

Cancers

STELARA may decrease the activity of your immune system and increase your risk for certain types of cancer. Tell your doctor if you have ever had any type of cancer. Some people who had risk factors for skin cancer developed certain types of skin cancers while receiving STELARA. Tell your doctor if you have any new skin growths.

Reversible posterior leukoencephalopathy syndrome (RPLS)

RPLS is a rare condition that affects the brain and can cause death. The cause of RPLS is not known. If RPLS is found early and treated, most people recover. Tell your doctor right away if you have any new or worsening medical problems including: headache, seizures, confusion, and vision problems.

Serious Allergic Reactions

Serious allergic reactions can occur. Stop using STELARA and get medical help right away if you have any symptoms such as: feeling faint, swelling of your face, eyelids, tongue, or throat, chest tightness, or skin rash.

Before receiving STELARA, tell your doctor if you:

have any of the conditions or symptoms listed above for serious infections, cancers, or RPLS.

ever had an allergic reaction to STELARA or any of its ingredients. Ask your doctor if you are not sure.

are allergic to latex. The needle cover on the prefilled syringe contains latex.

have recently received or are scheduled to receive an immunization (vaccine). People who take STELARA should not receive live vaccines. Tell your doctor if anyone in your house needs a vaccine. The viruses used in some types of vaccines can spread to people with a weakened immune system, and can cause serious problems. You should not receive the BCG vaccine during the one year before taking STELARA or one year after you stop taking STELARA.

have any new or changing lesions within psoriasis areas or on normal skin.

are receiving or have received allergy shots, especially for serious allergic reactions.

receive or have received phototherapy for your psoriasis.

have any other medical conditions.

are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if STELARA will harm your unborn baby. You and your doctor should decide if you will take STELARA.

are breast-feeding or plan to breast-feed. It is thought that STELARA passes into your breast milk. Talk to your doctor about the best way to feed your baby if you take STELARA.

Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Know the medicines you take. Keep a list of them to show your doctor and pharmacist when you get a new medicine.

When prescribed STELARA:

Use STELARA exactly as prescribed by your doctor.

If your doctor decides that you or a caregiver may give your injections of STELARA at home, you should receive training on the right way to prepare and inject STELARA. Do not try to inject STELARA yourself until you or your caregiver has been shown how to inject STELARA by your doctor or nurse.

Common side effects of STELARA include: upper respiratory infections, headache, and tiredness in psoriasis patients; joint pain and nausea in psoriatic arthritis patients; and upper respiratory infections, redness at the injection site, vaginal yeast infections, itching, urinary tract infections, and vomiting in Crohns disease patients. These are not all of the possible side effects with STELARA. Tell your doctor about any side effect that you experience. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Please read the full Prescribing Information and Medication Guide for STELARA and discuss any questions you have with your doctor.

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA.

Visit http://www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

061408-161010

References

1. About the National Psoriasis Foundation. (n.d.) https://www.psoriasis.org/about-us. Accessed July 24, 2016.

2. National Psoriasis Foundation. About Psoriatic Arthritis. https://www.psoriasis.org/psoriatic-arthritis. Accessed November 3, 2016.

(c) Janssen Biotech, Inc. 2016 11/16 057315-160728

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My Life with Plaque Psoriasis and How I'm taking Control - Bloomer Advance (subscription)

Local effects of adipose tissue in psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis – Dove Medical Press

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Back to Browse Journals Psoriasis: Targets and Therapy Volume 7

Ilja L Kruglikov,1 Uwe Wollina2

1Scientific Department, Wellcomet GmbH, Karlsruhe, 2Department of Dermatology and Allergology, Hospital Dresden-Friedrichstadt Academic Teaching Hospital of the Technical University of Dresden, Dresden, Germany

Abstract: The structure and physiological state of the local white adipose tissue (WAT) located underneath the lesional psoriatic skin and inside of the joints affected by psoriatic arthritis play an important role in the pathophysiology of these diseases. WAT pads associated with inflammatory sites in psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis are, correspondingly, dermal WAT and articular adipose tissue; these pads demonstrate inflammatory phenotypes in both diseases. Such local WAT inflammation could be the primary effect in the pathophysiology of psoriasis leading to the modification of the local expression of adipokines, a change in the structure of the basement membrane and the release of keratinocytes with consequent epidermal hyperproliferation during psoriasis. Similar articular adipose tissue inflammation can lead to the induction of structural modifications and synovial inflammation in the joints of patients with psoriatic arthritis.

Keywords: psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, pathophysiology, adipose tissue, dermal adipocytes, articular adipose tissue

This work is published and licensed by Dove Medical Press Limited. The full terms of this license are available at https://www.dovepress.com/terms.php and incorporate the Creative Commons Attribution - Non Commercial (unported, v3.0) License. By accessing the work you hereby accept the Terms. Non-commercial uses of the work are permitted without any further permission from Dove Medical Press Limited, provided the work is properly attributed. For permission for commercial use of this work, please see paragraphs 4.2 and 5 of our Terms.

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Local effects of adipose tissue in psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis - Dove Medical Press

Ask the Doctors: Psoriasis flare-up precautions – Elmira Star-Gazette

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Eve Glazier, M.D., and Elizabeth Ko, M.D. 9:56 a.m. ET Feb. 3, 2017

Elizabeth Ko, MD, left, and Eve Glazier, MD 161101(Photo: Reed Hutchinson, Credit Photo: Reed Hutchinson/UC)

Dear Doctor:

I've had psoriasis for close to seven years, and lately it has been flaring up more often. Is there anything I can do with my diet to control this, or even prevent it from happening?

Answer:That's a good question. Thanks to the growing body of research detailing the link between inflammation and chronic disease, there are some equally intriguing answers.

To explore it further, let's start with what psoriasis is. When you have psoriasis, your immune system has gone a bit haywire. It's sending faulty danger signals that cause skin cells to grow at 10 times their normal rate.

That's much faster than your body can process and shed them, and the result is raised and itchy patches of red skin, often covered with silvery scales.

Typically, these appear on the knees, elbows and scalp, but may also be present on the palms of the hands, soles of the feet and along the torso. Although there is a complex genetic component to psoriasis, environmental factors are also at play. Stress, infection, certain medications, smoking and alcohol use have all been shown to be potential triggers for flare-ups.

The results of that research we mentioned make it increasingly clear that inflammation is a factor in many chronic and degenerative diseases, including heart disease, diabetes and many cancers.

Since inflammation plays a significant role in psoriasis, a lot of attention is now being paid to your question of whether diet may affect the disease. Due to the way psoriasis behaves, drawing conclusions can be difficult.

Flare-ups are followed by periods of dormancy, which give way again to subsequent flare-ups. Since the nature of the disease is to fluctuate, connecting the dots between a specific dietary or behavioral change, and the absence or presence of flare-ups, is a challenge.

Still, scientists are beginning to find answers. In studies of psoriasis patients whose diets included fish oil supplements to add omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, a measurable number of participants reported fewer and less severe flare-ups.

When they stopped following the diet, the benefits also waned. Gluten sensitivity may also play a role. In a study of individuals with antibodies to gliadin, one of the proteins that are present in wheat, following a gluten-free diet lessened psoriasis symptoms.

When gluten was reintroduced to the diet, flare-ups became more frequent. If you're interested in modifying your own diet, the National Psoriasis Foundation offers some guidelines. Foods to add to your diet include leafy green vegetables and colorful fruits such as spinach, kale, broccoli, squash and blueberries. Foods that are a natural source of omega-3 fatty oils are also on the list.

They include cold-water fish, olive oil, walnuts and pumpkin seeds. The foundation recommends that people with psoriasis avoid processed foods, refined sugar and fatty red meat. Research shows that maintaining a healthy weight is important as well.

The idea is that when you have an inflammatory disease, steering clear of foods with inflammatory effects can help. Whatever the outcome, the result is a more healthful diet.

Eve Glazier, M.D., MBA, is an internist and assistant professor of medicine at UCLA Health. Elizabeth Ko, M.D., is an internist and primary care physician at UCLA Health. Send your questions to askthedoctors@mednet.ucla.edu,

Read or Share this story: http://stargaz.tt/2k9Hlmw

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Ask the Doctors: Psoriasis flare-up precautions - Elmira Star-Gazette

Psoriasis treatments insufficient for one in five patients, study finds – Yahoo News

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Treatments were found to be effective in one in five patients with moderate to severe psoriasis.

Psoriasis is an autoimmune disease that causes red, raised, scaly patches on the skin. It cannot be cured, but treatments exist to relieve the symptoms. However, according to a new study from researchers in Sweden, these treatments are only effective for 20% of psoriasis patients.

A wide range of treatments is currently available for relieving the symptoms of psoriasis. This chronic condition usually arises in patients with a genetic predisposition and tends to come and go in flare-up episodes. It leads to an accelerated renewal of the skin, causing lesions in the form of red patches with white scales which can be itchy. It can also be a cause of social isolation.

Current treatment options are tailored to the disease's severity and can take the form of pills taken orally, injections or infusions. However, research from Sweden's Umea University and the Swedish Institute for Health Economics has found that these are only effective for one in five patients suffering from moderate to severe psoriasis.

The study, published in The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, is based on PsoReg, the Swedish quality register for systemic treatment of psoriasis. Some 2,646 patients receiving treatment for at least three months were included in the study. The disease's level of severity was assessed by doctors and/or patients, evaluating the impact of the disease on their quality of life.

Over the last decade, the treatment options for psoriasis have advanced and new treatments have become available for moderate to severe forms of the disease, often relying on biologic agents. These can improve the overall look of skin and are generally better tolerated, with fewer side effects.

The researchers found that 18% of patients undergoing systemic treatment continued to experience extensive psoriasis lesions or suffered impairment of their skin-related quality of life. Most of these patients were younger. They were also more often suffering from psoriasis arthritis and were more often smokers.

This result is "concerning," according to the study's authors. They suggest that patients with moderate to severe psoriasis using conventional systemic treatments should consider biologics. Patients already receiving biologics should envisage new therapeutic strategies. The scientists also recommend supporting patients in improving certain lifestyle factors.

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Psoriasis treatments insufficient for one in five patients, study finds - Yahoo News

Arthritis with Psoriasis Suggests Higher Risk of Heart Problems – Live Trading News

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Arthritis with Psoriasis Suggests Higher Risk of Heart Problems

Arthritis that accompanies psoriasis may also come with a higher risk of heart problems, according to a new study.

Patients with psoriatic arthritis may have a 4X higher prevalence of plaque in their coronary arteries, which leads to a higher heart attack risk.

Clinicians need to identify patients with high cardiovascular (CVR) risk so they can provide lifestyle advice and preventive treatment to those individuals, said study author Lai-Shan Tam of the Chinese University of Hong Kong.

Psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis are related, but not everyone who has the red, scaly skin patches associated with psoriasis will develop the more severe psoriatic arthritis associated with joint swelling and pain.

According to the National Psoriasis Foundation, about 30% of those with psoriasis develop the inflammatory arthritis, which that can cause permanent damage to joints.

Compared to the general population, people with psoriatic arthritis had a 68% higher risk of heart attack and a 43% higher risk of death during previous studies, the authors of the new study point out in the Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases. Although the increased risk and association are known, studies cannot yet explain why.

Atherosclerosis, or hardening and narrowing of the arteries, is one risk factor that reliably predicts heart problems.

Recent studies of atherosclerosis in patients with psoriatic arthritis have been limited to ultrasound images of the carotid arteries in the neck, however, so Tam and colleagues decided to use CT scans to look at multiple arteries around the heart.

The research team evaluated 90 psoriatic arthritis patients and 205 patients who did not have this condition but who did have cardiovascular risk factors, such as chest pain.

The psoriatic arthritis patients, who didnt have a prior heart disease diagnosis, had significantly higher amounts of plaques of all kinds, including non-calcified and mixed plaques that are considered more likely to rupture and cause heart attacks.

Sixty percent of psoriatic arthritis patients had at least one coronary plaque, as compared with 35% of the other patients. In addition, the researchers found three-vessel disease in 13% of psoriatic arthritis patients, compared to 3% of controls, and they found that blood vessels had narrowed by more than 50 percent in 9% of patients with psoriatic arthritis, versus 3% of controls.

Men over 55 anni with longer histories of psoriatic arthritis were more likely to have the plaques most commonly associated with heart problems.

If doctors know to look for signs of heart disease sooner, they may be able to prescribe statins, anti-hypertension drugs and anti-inflammatory drugs before needing more aggressive treatment such as percutaneous coronary intervention or an angioplasty to improve blood flow to the heart, Dr. Tam said.

This could also be true for patients with other chronic inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, Dr. Tam and colleagues reported in another study. The researchers would also like to study atherosclerosis in patients with the milder psoriasis.

A large proportion of patients could be having silent coronary artery disease, Dr, Tam said.

The study focuses on one group of patients at the Prince of Wales Hospital in Hong Kong, and the results might not be applicable everywhere, said Lihi Eder of the University of Toronto, who was not involved with the study. The researchers also couldnt study the effect of medications or changes for individual patients.

The effect of psoriatic disease varies significantly over time, she said. But additional studies investigating atherosclerosis . . . could assist in understanding a link.

Eat healthy, Be healthy, Live lively

arteries, arthritis, CRRVF, disease, heart, patients, problems, psoriasis, research, risk

Paul A. Ebeling, polymath, excels in diverse fields of knowledge. Pattern Recognition Analyst in Equities, Commodities and Foreign Exchange and author of The Red Roadmasters Technical Report on the US Major Market Indices, a highly regarded, weekly financial market letter, he is also a philosopher, issuing insights on a wide range of subjects to a following of over 250,000 cohorts. An international audience of opinion makers, business leaders, and global organizations recognizes Ebeling as an expert.

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Arthritis with Psoriasis Suggests Higher Risk of Heart Problems - Live Trading News