Temporal and spatial predictions of effect of alternative fishing policies for the Gran Canaria marine ecosystem.

In this paper we consider what may happen to the marine ecosystem of Gran Canaria Island within the 2030 horizon, if fishing strategies different from those currently in place were implemented and we evaluate the effect of, for example, reduction of recreational-artisanal fishing, limitation of catches (e.g. total allowable catches, TAC), or spatial distribution of fishing sectors. From all scenarios tested, only those that significantly reduce the high effort of the recreational fishing would allow the recovery of the most exploited stocks in the marine ecosystem in the short and medium-term. Moreover, the best management strategy, in contribution to abundance, was obtained with a scenario that has a spatial partition of exploitation rights between artisanal and recreational fishermen and includes no-fishing zones (NTZ). This work is a first attempt to use spatial and temporal models to assess the effectiveness of alternative fishery policies in the Canary Islands.

Tratamiento con rituximab para las miopatías necrosantes autoinmunes asociadas al anti-SRP: caso clínico y revisión de la evidencia / Rituximab therapy in necrotizing autoimmune myopathy associated with anti-SRP antibody: A clinical case review

Las miopatías necrosantes autoinmunes (NAM) son unas entidades raras y emergentes de las miopatías inflamatorias idiopáticas (MII). Su presencia se ha asociado a conectivopatías, infecciones virales, neoplasias, anticuerpos frente a la partícula de reconocimiento de la señal (anti-SRP) y a anticuerpos frente a la proteína 3-hidroxi-3-metilglutaril-coenzima A reductasa (HMG-CR) (asociada al empleo o no de estatinas). Las NAM asociadas al anti-SRP presentan unas características clínicas y anatomopatológicas que las diferencian del resto de las MII, resultando en un peor pronóstico. Hasta el momento han sido muy pocos los casos publicados tratados con rituximab y con diferente respuesta clínica. Presentamos el caso de una mujer de 30 años con NAM asociada al anti-SRP refractaria a tratamiento convencional inmunosupresor y que ha sido controlada a largo plazo con la combinación de rituximab, metotrexato y corticoides

Necrotizing autoimmune myopathy (NAM) is a rare and emerging entity of idiopathic inflammatory myopathy (IIM). They have been associated with connective tissue disorders, viral infections, malignancy, anti-signal recognition particle (SRP) and anti-3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase protein (with or without the use of statins). Anti-SRP associated NAM has different clinical and histological characteristics that differentiate them from other IIM, resulting in a poor prognosis. Very few cases treated with rituximab have been published, with varying clinical response. Here we describe a case of anti-SRP associated NAM refractory to conventional immunosuppressants and its successful long-term management with the combination of rituximab, corticosteroids and methotrexate

Rituximab therapy in necrotizing autoimmune myopathy associated with anti-SRP antibody: A clinical case review. / Tratamiento con rituximab para las miopatías necrosantes autoinmunes asociadas al anti-SRP: caso clínico y revisión de la evidencia.

Necrotizing autoimmune myopathy (NAM) is a rare and emerging entity of idiopathic inflammatory myopathy (IIM). They have been associated with connective tissue disorders, viral infections, malignancy, anti-signal recognition particle (SRP) and anti-3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase protein (with or without the use of statins). Anti-SRP associated NAM has different clinical and histological characteristics that differentiate them from other IIM, resulting in a poor prognosis. Very few cases treated with rituximab have been published, with varying clinical response. Here we describe a case of anti-SRP associated NAM refractory to conventional immunosuppressants and its successful long-term management with the combination of rituximab, corticosteroids and methotrexate.

Vascular calcification and 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels in non-dialysis patients with chronic kidney disease stages 4 and 5.

BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death among chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients. Vascular calcification is highly prevalent in this population and is an independent predictor of cardiovascular mortality. Vascular calcification in uraemic patients is known to be an active and regulated process subject to the action of many promoting and inhibitory factors. The role of vitamin D in this process remains controversial. We evaluated the relationship between serum levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) and vascular calcification evaluated by plain X-ray images, in predialysis patients with CKD stages 4 and 5. METHODS: We performed a cross-sectional study with 210 CKD patients stages 4 and 5 managed at our predialysis unit. Patients were 63.5 ± 13 years of age, 60.5% males, 64.8% diabetics and 47.1% with a history of CVD. Plain X-ray images of pelvis, hands and lateral lumbar spine from all subjects were studied for calculation of semiquantitative vascular calcification scores as described by Adragao and Kauppila. RESULTS: We found a high prevalence of vascular calcification in our population. Adragao scores revealed only 47 patients (22.4%) without vascular calcification and 120 (57.1%) with scores higher than 3. Kauppila scores revealed only 29 patients (13.8%) without aortic calcifications and 114 patients (54.3%) with scores higher than 7. Higher vascular calcification scores were related to older age, diabetes, history of CVD and lower levels of 25(OH)D. Only 18.5% of patients had adequate levels of 25(OH)D (> 30 ng/mL), 53.7% of them had insufficient levels (15-30 ng/mL) and 27.8% had deficient levels (< 15 ng/mL). Multivariate analysis showed that age, diabetes and CVD were directly associated and 25(OH)D levels were inversely associated with vascular calcifications. CONCLUSIONS: Our results show an independent and negative association between serum levels of 25(OH)D and vascular calcification. Further and larger prospective studies are needed to clarify the possible role of vitamin D deficiency in the development of vascular calcification in CKD patients.