Correspondence to General William Robertson Boggs, 1880s: January 1880 - April 9, 1889

Boggs Family Papers, Box 1, Folder 4 Correspondence to General William Robertson Boggs, 1880s: January 1880 - April 9, 1889https://digitalcommons.wofford.edu/littlejohnboggs/1003/thumbnail.jp

Spring 1984 Conference Issue

Research Update (page 3) Low Management Kentucky Bluegrass Cultivar Trials (5) Nitrogen Leaching Losses from N Fertilizer Applied to Turf (8) Fifty-third Annual Turf Conference and Eighth Industrial Show (10) Liquid Versus Dry Nitrogren Fertilizer Applications on Kentucky Bluegrass (13) Growth Retardant, Embark (16) Fungicides: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly (18

Comparison of test performance of two commonly used multiplex assays to measure micronutrient and inflammatory markers in serum:results from a survey among pregnant women in South Africa

The combined sandwich-ELISA (s-ELISA; VitMin Lab, Germany) and the Quansys Q-Plex™ Human Micronutrient Array (7-Plex) are multiplex serum assays that are used to assess population micronutrient status in low-income countries. We aimed to compare the agreement of five analytes, α-1-acid glycoprotein (AGP), C-reactive protein (CRP), ferritin, retinol-binding protein 4 (RBP4) and soluble transferrin receptor (sTfR) as measured by the 7-Plex and the s-ELISA. Serum samples were collected between March 2016 and December 2017. Pregnant women (n 249) were recruited at primary healthcare clinics in Johannesburg, and serum samples were collected between March 2016 and December 2017. Agreement between continuous measurements was assessed by Bland–Altman plots and concordance measures. Agreement in classifications of deficiency or inflammation was assessed by Cohen’s kappa. Strong correlations (r > 0·80) were observed between the 7-Plex and s-ELISA for CRP and ferritin. Except for CRP, the 7-Plex assay gave consistently higher measurements than the s-ELISA. With the exception of CRP (Lin’s ρ = 0·92), there was poor agreement between the two assays, with Lin’s ρ < 0·90. Discrepancies of test results difference between methods increased as the serum concentrations rose. Cohen’s kappa for all the five analytes was < 0·81 and ranged from slight agreement (vitamin A deficiency) to substantial (inflammation and Fe deficiency) agreement. The 7-Plex 1.0 is a research and or surveillance tool with potential for use in low-resource laboratories but cannot be used interchangeably with the s-ELISA. Further optimising and validation is required to establish its interchangeability with other validated methods

The role of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids in the treatment of cancer cachexia and tumour growth in patients with malignant diseases : a review

Please refer to abstract in articl

The role of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids in the treatment of cancer Cachexia and tumour growth in patients with malignant diseases: A review

Recent studies show that ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) have the capacity to modulate cancer outcomes. The body responds to cancer in the same way that it responds to inflammation and wound healing. Nutrients with anti-inflammatory effects could therefore be expected to play a role in cancer treatment. This review focuses on the role of ω-3 PUFAs in tumourigenesis and cancer cachexia. Studies indicate that eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) supplementation may promote arrest of tumour growth and reduce cell proliferation. Patients need to consume at least 2 g of EPA per day for it to have a therapeutic effect. Positive outcomes related to cachexia include diminished weight loss, increased appetite, improved quality of life and prolonged survival, although there is controversy regarding these clinical outcomes. The effects of ω-3 PUFAs on tumourigenesis and cachexia are viewed in the context of altered lipid and protein metabolism. This altered metabolism usually experienced by cancer patients results in increased formation of proinflammatory eicosanoids and cytokines. Cytokines play an indirect role by stimulating the production of arachidonic acid-derived eicosanoids, which support inflammation, cell proliferation and angiogenesis, and inhibit apoptosis. It can be concluded that ω-3 PUFA supplementation offers a means of augmenting cancer therapy, inhibiting tumourigenesis and possibly contributing to cachexia alleviation. Opsomming Onlangse studies toon dat ω-3-poli-onversadigde vetsure (POVSe) oor die vermoë beskik om kankeruitkomste te moduleer. Die liggaam reageer op kanker op dieselfde wyse as wat dit op inflammasie en wondgenesing reageer. Daar kan dus verwag word dat voedingstowwe met ‘n anti-inflammatoriese uitwerking ‘n rol in die behandeling van kanker kan speel. In hierdie oorsig word daar op die rol van ω-3-POVSe in tumorigenese en kankerkageksie gefokus. Studies dui daarop dat eikosapentanoënsuur- (EPS-)aanvulling tumorgroei moontlik kan stuit en selproliferasie verlaag. Pasiënte moet minstens 2 g EPS per dag inneem om ‘n terapeutiese uitwerking te verseker. Positiewe uitkomste verbonde aan kageksie sluit minder gewigsverlies, beter eetlus, beter lewensgehalte en langer oorlewing in, hoewel daar ‘n geskil bestaan oor hierdie kliniese uitkomste. Die uitwerking van ω-3-POVSe op tumorigenese en kageksie word in die konteks van gewysigde lipied- en proteïenmetabolisme beskou. Die metabolisme wat dikwels in kankerpasiënte voorkom, lei tot ‘n verhoogde vorming van pro-inflammatoriese eikosanoïede en sitokiene. Sitokiene speel ook ‘n indirekte rol deur die produksie van aragidoonsuur-afkomstige eikosanoïede te stimuleer. Laasgenoemde ondersteun inflammasie, selproliferasie en angiogenese, en inhibeer apoptose. Die gevolgtrekking kan gemaak word dat ω-3-POVS-aanvulling ‘n manier is om kankerterapie uit te brei, tumorigenese te inhibeer en moontlik tot die verligting van kageksie by te dra

The Requirement for ATP Hydrolysis by Saccharomyces cerevisiae Rad51 Is Bypassed by Mating-Type Heterozygosity or RAD54 in High Copy

Rad51 can promote extensive strand exchange in vitro in the absence of ATP hydrolysis, and the Rad51-K191R mutant protein, which can bind but poorly hydrolyze ATP, also promotes strand exchange. A haploid strain expressing the rad51-K191R allele showed an equivalent sensitivity at low doses of ionizing radiation to rad51-K191A or rad51 null mutants and was defective in spontaneous and double-strand break-induced mitotic recombination. However, the rad51-K191R/rad51-K191R diploid sporulated and the haploid spores showed high viability, indicating no apparent defect in meiotic recombination. The DNA repair defect caused by the rad51-K191R allele was suppressed in diploids and by mating-type heterozygosity in haploids. RAD54 expressed from a high-copy-number plasmid also suppressed the γ-ray sensitivity of rad51-K191R haploids. The suppression by mating-type heterozygosity of the DNA repair defect conferred by the rad51-K191R allele could occur by elevated expression of factors that act to stabilize, or promote catalysis, by the partially functional Rad51-K191R protein

The relationship between stunting and overweight among children from South Africa : secondary analysis of the National Food Consumption Survey – Fortification Baseline I

CITATION: Symington, E. A., Gericke, G. J., Nel, J. H. & Labadarios, D. 2016. The relationship between stunting and overweight among children from South Africa: secondary analysis of the National Food Consumption Survey – Fortification Baseline I. South African Medical Journal, 106(1):65-69, doi:10.7196/SAMJ.2016.v106i1.9839.The original publication is available at http://www.samj.org.zaENGLISH SUMMARY : Background: Globally, in children the prevalence of overweight and obesity is increasing, and this is associated with an increased risk of non­communicable diseases in adulthood. There is a need to examine the growing trends of overweight and obesity in children and their consequences in low­ and middle­income countries. Objectives: To describe the prevalence of, and determine the relationship between, stunting and overweight among children in two provinces of South Africa. Methods: Secondary data analysis was conducted on anthropometric measurements of 36 ­ 119­month­old children from Gauteng and Mpumalanga provinces (N=519) participating in the South African National Food Consumption Survey – Fortification Baseline I (2005). The International Obesity Task Force (IOTF) body mass index (BMI) reference percentiles were used to determine overweight and obesity. The World Health Organization standards were used to derive z­scores. Results: The prevalence of overweight was 12.0% (IOTF BMI ≥25 kg/m2), including 3.7% obesity (IOTF BMI ≥30 kg/m2). The predominantly urban Gauteng Province had a significantly higher prevalence of overweight children (14.1%) compared with Mpumalanga (6.3%) (p=0.0277). The prevalence of stunting was 17.0% (16.5% Gauteng, 18.2% Mpumalanga; p>0.05). There was a significant correlation (r=−0.32) between BMI and height­for­age z­scores (p<0.0001). In the obese group, 68.4% were stunted, while in the normal and underweight group only 13.6% were stunted. Conclusions: Stunted children were more likely to be obese. Further research is necessary for clarity on the physiological mechanisms of this relationship. In the interim, prevention of stunting requires priority.http://www.samj.org.za/index.php/samj/article/view/9839Publisher's versio

Nutrition during pregnancy and early development (NuPED) in urban South Africa: a study protocol for a prospective cohort

Abstract Background Adequate nutrition during pregnancy is important to ensure optimal birth outcomes, maternal health and offspring development. However, little is known about the dietary intake and nutritional status of pregnant women residing in urban South Africa. Therefore, the Nutrition during Pregnancy and Early Development (NuPED) cohort study was initiated to assess early nutrition-related exposures predictive of early childhood development in urban South Africa. Methods The aims of this prospective cohort study are: 1) to assess dietary intake and nutritional status of urban pregnant women in Johannesburg, South Africa, and 2) to determine associations with birth outcomes, measures of maternal health, as well as measures of offspring health and development. Pregnant women (< 18 weeks’ gestation) (n = 250) are being recruited from primary healthcare clinics in Johannesburg and are followed-up at a provincial hospital. Participants’ dietary intake and nutrient status (focus on micronutrients and fatty acids) are assessed at < 18, 22 and 36 weeks’ gestation. Additional assessments during pregnancy include anthropometric and blood pressure measurements, obstetric ultrasound screens, and assessments of food security, maternal fatigue, prenatal depression, allergy, immune function, morbidity and gestational diabetes. At birth, maternal and neonatal health is assessed and an umbilical cord blood sample collected. Maternal and offspring health is followed-up at 6 weeks, as well as at 6, ≈7.5 and 12 months after birth. Follow-up assessments of mothers include anthropometric measures, diet history, nutrient status, blood pressure, breast milk composition, and measures of postnatal depression and fatigue. Follow-up assessments of the offspring include feeding practices, nutrient status, measures of growth, psychomotor, socio-emotional and immune development, morbidity, allergy, as well as analysis of the gut microbiome and the epigenome. Discussion Ensuring adequate nutrition during pregnancy is one of the key actions endorsed by the South African Government to promote optimal early childhood development in an effort to eradicate poverty. The results from this study may serve as a basis for the development of context-specific nutritional interventions which can improve birth outcomes and long-term quality of life of the mother and her offspring