Patterns of distribution and protection status of the endemic mammals in South Africa

South Africa contains the majority of southern Africa's endemic mammals and hence is an important area for mammal conservation. Moreover, there is an increase in endemism, as determined by range maps, from the northern borders of the country towards the Western Cape Province. Within this area, the Cape fold mountains have a high number of endemics, particularly those which have very restricted ranges. These mountains are at the transition of the Karoo and fynbos biomes and may be a region of high species turnover. The numerous fynbos protected areas and mountain catchments, which incorporate over 30% of the Cape fold mountains, thus protect many of the endemic mammals of this area. The majority of these endemics are small mammals and many are listed in the Red Data Book, especially those restricted to the Nama-and Succulent Karoo. This is of concern, as both areas are inadequately protected by the existing protected areas. The coastal forests also contain many Red Data Book species, particularly Insectivora. These forests are, however, inadequately protected in the Port St Johns region. In this analysis data for the Insectívora were used to compare point and range data. The results indicate that patterns emerging from range maps provide a broad picture which can then be focused with the use of higher resolution data

Patterns of distribution and current protection status of the Carnivora, Chiroptera and Insectivora in South Africa

Geographic patterns of species richness and endemism in three mammalian orders (Chiroptera, Insectivora and Carnivora) were studied in relation to the biomes and existing protected areas of greater South Africa (including Lesotho and Swaziland). Locality data for 21500 specimens representing 124 species were analysed with a geographical information system. Species richness of Chiroptera is high in the savanna biome, particularly in the north-east of the country, owing to the marginal intrusion of 14 tropical species. Endemism in Chiroptera is low, however, with only two endemic species in the fynbos and Karoo biomes. The Carnivora display less biome specificity and endemism than the Chiroptera. Whereas the north-eastern savannas have the highest species richness, the transition between the Nama-Karoo and grassland biomes is an important southern African centre of endemism for the Carnivora, particularly the smaller species. In addition to being an important centre for species richness in the Carnivora and Chiroptera, the Kruger National Park is also particularly important for Red Dala Book species in both orders. The Insectivora display both high species richness and endemism. Species richness of the Insectivora is greatest in the mesic south-east of the country, whereas endemism is most pronounced in the forest and grassland biomes. Differences in biome specificity and endemism between these orders reflect not only phylogenetic divergence, but also variation in body size, vagility and life-history strategies. Most of South Africa's endemics are small mammals and many of them are listed in the Red Data Book. Distributions, life-history strategies and trends in man-induced habitat degradation were used to re-evaluale the protection status of the 124 species. We conclude that at least 11 endemic species are not adequately protected by existing publicly owned protected areas and consequently identify several areas which need to be added to the existing protected area system

Distribution and protection of endemic or threatened rodents, lagomorphs and macrosceledids in South Africa

Distribution patterns and protection status of endemic or threatened Lagomorpha, Macroscelidea, and Rodentia were analysed using museum point locality data and a geographic information system (GIS). The study area comprised the greater South Africa (including Lesotho and Swaziland). Species richness of the target species is highest in the south-western parts of the country, and hotspots of endemism coincide with those of species richness. However, Red Data Book species hotspots are confined to the north-eastern parts of the country. One species richness hotspol in the Succulent Karoo contains no existing reserves, whereas all Red Data Book species hotspots are protected. In general, all target species are well protected within existing reserves, but those found in the Succulent and Nama-Karoo, especially the Namaqua dune molerat (Bathyergus janetta), the riverine rabbit (Bunolagus monticularis), Brants whistling rat (Parotomys brantsii), and the pygmy rock mouse (Petromyscus collinus), are threatened by a paucity of reserves in these biomes. A heuristic reserve selection algorithm was used to identify a more representative reserve system for the protection of all target species. Ten representative reserves were identified, six of which already contain existing reserves. An analysis of biome specificity of all species revealed that Myomyscus verreauxii is endemic to the fynbos, Bathyergus janetta to the Succulent Karoo, Zelotomys woosnami to the arid savanna, and Steatomys parvus to the savanna woodlands. No species are endemic to the Nama-Karoo or grasslands, although several species do show strong preferences for these habitats. It is recommended that hotspots, representative reserves, and species that are currently not protected, be awarded more protection, and that existing reserves which coincide with hotspots and representative reserves be managed for their mammal fauna. It is also recommended that the Red Data Book status of tour species, and six subspecies, should be changed

The variant T allele of PvuII in ESR1 gene is a prognostic marker in early breast cancer survival

The PvuII (rs2234693) Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP) in the gene coding for the estrogen receptor-1 (ESR1), has been found associated with outcome in tamoxifen treated patients with early hormone-receptor positive breast cancer. However, it remains unclear whether this SNP is a predictive marker for tamoxifen efficacy or a prognostic marker for breast cancer outcome. The aim of this study was to examine the prognostic potential of this SNP in postmenopausal early breast cancer patients treated with adjuvant exemestane. Dutch postmenopausal patients randomised to 5 years of adjuvant exemestane of whom tissue was available (N=807) were selected from the Tamoxifen Exemestane Adjuvant Multinational (TEAM) trial database. The SNP rs2234693 in the ESR1 gene was genotyped on DNA from formalin-fixed paraffin embedded (FFPE) tumor tissue using Taqman assays and related to the primary endpoint disease-free survival (DFS) and secondary endpoint overall survival (OS). Survival analyses were performed using Cox regression analysis. In total 805 patients were included in the analyses (median follow up of 5.22 years) and genotypes were obtained in 97% of the samples. The variant T allele of PvuII in ESR1 (rs2234693) was associated with a better DFS (hazard ratio (HR) 0.689, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.480-0.989, P=0.044) in univariate analysis only, and a better OS in both univariate (HR 0.616, 95%, CI 0.411-0.923, P=0.019) and multivariate analyses (HR 0.571, 95% CI 0.380-0.856, P=0.007), consistent with a prognostic rather than a predictive drug response effect. Variation of PvuII in the ESR1 gene is related to OS in postmenopausal, early HR+breast cancer patients treated with exemestane in the TEAM study. Variation in the ESR1 gene may therefore be a prognostic marker of early breast cancer survival, and warrants further research.Surgical oncolog

Genetic variation in CYP19A1 and response to exemestane: Survival in early breast cancer in the Dutch TEAM trial

Surgical oncolog

Radiation-induced Sarcomas Occurring in Desmoid-type Fibromatosis Are Not Always Derived From the Primary Tumor

Experimentele farmacotherapi

Biodegradable polymeric microcapsules for selective ultrasound-triggered drug release

A series of hollow biodegradable polymeric microcapsules were prepared, of which their susceptibility to ultrasound was used for triggered release. High speed imaging of the ultrasound experiments showed a strong correlation between the acoustic pressure needed to activate these microcapsules and their shell thickness to diameter ratio. Based on this information a selective triggering of capsules with two different shell thickness to diameter ratios was successfully performed. The capsules were mixed in a single system and were activated independently from each other by a differentiation in acoustic pressure levels. This application is of great interest in the field of drug delivery, since this system allows for localized multiple drug releases in a selective fashio