Recruitment Constraints in Singapore's Fluted Giant Clam (Tridacna squamosa) Populations - A Dispersal Model Approach

10.1371/journal.pone.0058819PLoS ONE83

The effects of golimumab treatment on systolic and diastolic left ventricular function in ankylosing spondylitis

SC Heslinga,1,2 TC Konings,3 IE van der Horst-Bruinsma,1,2 O Kamp,3 VP van Halm,3,4 HACM de Bruin-Bon,4 MJ Peters,5 MT Nurmohamed1,2 1Department of Rheumatology, Amsterdam Rheumatology and Immunology Center, Reade, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; 2Department of Rheumatology, Amsterdam Rheumatology and Immunology Center, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; 3Department of Cardiology, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; 4Department of Cardiology, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; 5Department of Internal Medicine, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands Background: Diastolic left ventricular (LV) dysfunction appears more prevalent in ankylosing spondylitis (AS). The effects of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) blocking therapy, a strong and effective anti-inflammatory drug, on diastolic LV function in AS are unknown. The objective of the study was to find the effects of 1-year treatment with golimumab 50 mg subcutaneously once per month on systolic and diastolic LV dysfunction in AS patients.Methods: Forty consecutive AS patients were treated with TNF-α blocking therapy for 1 year. Transthoracic echocardiography was performed in all patients at baseline and after 1 year of treatment.Results: Diastolic LV function improved after treatment in four out of six (67%) AS patients who completed follow-up (P=0.125), and did not develop or worsen in any of the other patients. Treatment with TNF-α blocking therapy had no effect on systolic LV function.Conclusion: These findings give support to the hypothesis that diastolic LV dysfunction improves during treatment with TNF-α blocking therapy. Keywords: ankylosing spondylitis, cardiovascular disease, anti-TN

Can artificial substrates enriched with crustose coralline algae enhance larval settlement and recruitment in the fluted giant clam (Tridacna squamosa)?

10.1007/s10750-008-9698-0Hydrobiologia625183-90HYDR