Die generasie-interval, van die Suid-Afrikaanse vleismerino

The average generation interval of 3,53 years in S.A. Mutton Merino stud flocks in l96ll62 is the result of an average ram-age of 3,57 year sa nd an ewe-agco f 3,49 year s .I n 1971/72 the averagc 'agoef rams and ewesw as 3,86 and 4.13 year sr espec t i vel yw i th an averageg enerat ion interval of ' 4,00 years"T he e>l tendingo f the generat ioni nterval is mainly a resul to f an mcreaseo f 0,64 yearsi n the average age of ewes. The niost important factors leading to thc iatter are a smallcr annual replacement of ewes and the first mating of young ewes at a later age. The generation interval of difierent strata of thc breeding structure could not show a clear relationship between generation interval end the relative imporlanr-e of the flock.Die gemiddelde generasie- intervavia n 3,53 Jaar van S.A. .V leismer inostoetkuddesin l96l /62 is die resul taatv an'n genuddelde ramouderdorn van 3,57 jaar en"n ooioud,;rdonr van -r,49 jaar. In l97 ll72 was die gemiddelde ouderdom van ramme en ooie 3,86 e'n 4,13 jaar onderskeidel ikm et 'n gemiddeldeg cnerasre- intervavla n 4.00 jaar . Dic ver lengingv an die generasie- intervaisl hoofsaakl ikd ie gevolg van 'n toename van 0,64 Jaar rn die gcnriddelde ouderd()m van ooie. Die belangrikste faktore wat hiertoe gelei het is'n kleiner jaarlikse ooiverplasing en die eerstc paring van jong i,roic op 'ir lrrter ouderdom. Diegenerasie-interval van verskillende strata in die teeltstruktuurkon nie 'n duidelike verband tusren senerasie-interval en relatiewe belansrikheid van die kudde aandui nie

IGR J19552+0044: A new asynchronous short period polar: "Filling the gap between intermediate and ordinary polars"

Based on XMM--Newton X-ray observations IGR J19552+0044 appears to be either a pre-polar or an asynchronous polar. We conducted follow-up optical observations to identify the sources and periods of variability precisely and to classify this X-ray source correctly. Extensive multicolor photometric and medium- to high-resolution spectroscopy observations were performed and period search codes were applied to sort out the complex variability of the object. We found firm evidence of discording spectroscopic (81.29+/-0.01m) and photometric (83.599+/-0.002m) periods that we ascribe to the white dwarf (WD)\ spin period and binary orbital period, respectively. This confirms that IGR J19552+0044 is an asynchronous polar. Wavelength-dependent variability and its continuously changing shape point at a cyclotron emission from a magnetic WD with a relatively low magnetic field below 20 MG. The difference between the WD spin period and the binary orbital period proves that IGR J19552+0044 is a polar with the largest known degree of asynchronism (0.97 or 3%).Comment: 9 pages, 10 figures, A&A accepte

Diagnóstico y tratamiento de la enfermedad inflamatoria intestinal: Primer Consenso Latinoamericano de la Pan American Crohn's and Colitis Organisation

La incidencia y la prevalencia de la enfermedad inflamatoria intestinal (EII) se han incrementado en los últimos a˜nos en varios países de Latinoamérica. Existe una necesidad de concientizar a gastroenterólogos y a la población en general para poder tener un diagnóstico y tratamiento oportunos en la colitis ulcerosa crónica idiopática (CUCI) y enfermedad de Crohn (EC). Es importante que todos los médicos tengan un criterio homogéneo acerca del diagnóstico y el tratamiento de la EII en América Latina. La Pan American Crohn’s and Colitis Organisation (PANCCO) es un organismo con el propósito de incluir a todos los países del continente americano pero se enfoca de manera específica a los países latinos. Este Consenso está dividido en 2 partes para su publicación: 1) diagnóstico y tratamiento, y 2) situaciones especiales. Este es el primer Consenso latinoamericano cuyo objetivo es promover una perspectiva adaptadaa nuestros países latinos para el diagnóstico, el tratamiento y la monitorización de pacientescon CUCI y EC.© 2016 Asociaci´on Mexicana de Gastroenterolog´ıa. Publicado por Masson Doyma M´exico S.A.Este es un art´ıculo Open Access bajo la licencia CC BY-NC-ND (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/). ABSTRACT The incidence and prevalence of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) has increased inrecent years in several Latin American countries. There is a need to raise awareness in gastro-enterologists and the population in general, so that early diagnosis and treatment of ulcerativecolitis (UC) and Crohn’s Disease (CD) can be carried out. It is important for all physicians tohave homogeneous criteria regarding the diagnosis and treatment of IBD in Latin America. ThePan American Crohn’s and Colitis Organisation (PANCCO) is an organization that aims to includeall the countries of the Americas, but it specifically concentrates on Latin America. The presentConsensus was divided into two parts for publication: 1) Diagnosis and treatment and 2) Specialsituations.This is the first Latin American Consensus whose purpose is to promote a perspective adaptedto our Latin American countries for the diagnosis, treatment, and monitoring of patients withUC and CD.© 2016 Asociaci´on Mexicana de Gastroenterolog´ıa. Published by Masson Doyma M´exico S.A. Thisis an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)

Predominance of a 6 bp deletion in exon 2 of the LDL receptor gene in Africans with familial hypercholesterolaemia

The original publication is available at http://jmg.bmj.com/In South Africa, the high prevalence of familial hypercholesterolaemia (FH) among Afrikaners, Jews, and Indians as a result of founder genes is in striking contrast to its reported virtual absence in the black population in general. In this study, the molecular basis of primary hypercholesterolaemia was studied in 16 Africans diagnosed with FH. DNA analysis using three screening methods resulted in the identification of seven different mutations in the coding region of the low density lipoprotein (LDLR) gene in 10 of the patients analysed. These included a 6 bp deletion (GCGATG) accounting for 28% of defective alleles, and six point mutations (D151H, R232W, R385Q, E387K, P678L, and R793Q) detected in single families. The Sotho patient with missense mutation R232W was also heterozygous for a de novo splicing defect 313+1G→A. Several silent mutations/polymorphisms were detected in the LDLR and apolipoprotein B genes, including a base change (g→t) at nucleotide position −175 in the FP2 LDLR regulatory element. This promoter variant was detected at a significantly higher (p<0.05) frequency in FH patients compared to controls and occurred in cis with mutation E387K in one family. Analysis of four intragenicLDLR gene polymorphisms showed that the same chromosomal background was identified at this locus in the four FH patients with the 6 bp deletion. Detection of the 6 bp deletion in Xhosa, Pedi, and Tswana FH patients suggests that it is an ancient mutation predating tribal separation approximately 3000 years ago.Harry and Doris Crossley FoundationSouth African Medical Research CouncilUniversity of StellenboschBritish Heart Foundation (grant no PG/96013)Publisher's versio

Revival of the magnetar PSR J1622-4950: observations with MeerKAT, Parkes, XMM-Newton, Swift, Chandra, and NuSTAR

New radio (MeerKAT and Parkes) and X-ray (XMM-Newton, Swift, Chandra, and NuSTAR) observations of PSR J1622-4950 indicate that the magnetar, in a quiescent state since at least early 2015, reactivated between 2017 March 19 and April 5. The radio flux density, while variable, is approximately 100x larger than during its dormant state. The X-ray flux one month after reactivation was at least 800x larger than during quiescence, and has been decaying exponentially on a 111+/-19 day timescale. This high-flux state, together with a radio-derived rotational ephemeris, enabled for the first time the detection of X-ray pulsations for this magnetar. At 5%, the 0.3-6 keV pulsed fraction is comparable to the smallest observed for magnetars. The overall pulsar geometry inferred from polarized radio emission appears to be broadly consistent with that determined 6-8 years earlier. However, rotating vector model fits suggest that we are now seeing radio emission from a different location in the magnetosphere than previously. This indicates a novel way in which radio emission from magnetars can differ from that of ordinary pulsars. The torque on the neutron star is varying rapidly and unsteadily, as is common for magnetars following outburst, having changed by a factor of 7 within six months of reactivation.Comment: Published in ApJ (2018 April 5); 13 pages, 4 figure

Situaciones especiales en la enfermedad inflamatoria intestinal: primer consenso latinoamericano de la Pan American Crohn's and Colitis Organisation (PANCCO) (Segunda parte)

En los pacientes con enfermedad inflamatoria intestinal (EII) la fertilidad generalmente no se ve afectada (Nivel de evidencia: 3. Nivel de acuerdo: 100%) excepto en los pacientes con enfermedad de Crohn (EC) activa, mujeres con un historial de cirugía pélvica (Nivel de evidencia: 1. Nivel de acuerdo: 100%) u hombres que reciben tratamiento con sulfasalazina (Nivel de evidencia: 3. Nivel de acuerdo: 100%)

A Research Agenda for Helminth Diseases of Humans: Diagnostics for Control and Elimination Programmes

Diagnostic tools appropriate for undertaking interventions to control helminth infections are key to their success. Many diagnostic tests for helminth infection have unsatisfactory performance characteristics and are not well suited for use in the parasite control programmes that are being increasingly implemented. Although the application of modern laboratory research techniques to improve diagnostics for helminth infection has resulted in some technical advances, uptake has not been uniform. Frequently, pilot or proof of concept studies of promising diagnostic technologies have not been followed by much needed product development, and in many settings diagnosis continues to rely on insensitive and unsatisfactory parasitological or serodiagnostic techniques. In contrast, PCR-based xenomonitoring of arthropod vectors, and use of parasite recombinant proteins as reagents for serodiagnostic tests, have resulted in critical advances in the control of specific helminth parasites. The Disease Reference Group on Helminths Infections (DRG4), established in 2009 by the Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases (TDR) was given the mandate to review helminthiases research and identify research priorities and gaps. In this review, the diagnostic technologies relevant to control of helminth infections, either available or in development, are reviewed. Critical gaps are identified and opportunities to improve needed technologies are discussed

Anastrozole versus tamoxifen for the prevention of locoregional and contralateral breast cancer in postmenopausal women with locally excised ductal carcinoma in situ (IBIS-II DCIS): a double-blind, randomised controlled trial

Background Third-generation aromatase inhibitors are more effective than tamoxifen for preventing recurrence in postmenopausal women with hormone-receptor-positive invasive breast cancer. However, it is not known whether anastrozole is more effective than tamoxifen for women with hormone-receptor-positive ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS). Here, we compare the efficacy of anastrozole with that of tamoxifen in postmenopausal women with hormone-receptor-positive DCIS. Methods In a double-blind, multicentre, randomised placebo-controlled trial, we recruited women who had been diagnosed with locally excised, hormone-receptor-positive DCIS. Eligible women were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio by central computer allocation to receive 1 mg oral anastrozole or 20 mg oral tamoxifen every day for 5 years. Randomisation was stratified by major centre or hub and was done in blocks (six, eight, or ten). All trial personnel, participants, and clinicians were masked to treatment allocation and only the trial statistician had access to treatment allocation. The primary endpoint was all recurrence, including recurrent DCIS and new contralateral tumours. All analyses were done on a modified intention-to-treat basis (in all women who were randomised and did not revoke consent for their data to be included) and proportional hazard models were used to compute hazard ratios and corresponding confidence intervals. This trial is registered at the ISRCTN registry, number ISRCTN37546358. Results Between March 3, 2003, and Feb 8, 2012, we enrolled 2980 postmenopausal women from 236 centres in 14 countries and randomly assigned them to receive anastrozole (1449 analysed) or tamoxifen (1489 analysed). Median follow-up was 7·2 years (IQR 5·6–8·9), and 144 breast cancer recurrences were recorded. We noted no statistically significant difference in overall recurrence (67 recurrences for anastrozole vs 77 for tamoxifen; HR 0·89 [95% CI 0·64–1·23]). The non-inferiority of anastrozole was established (upper 95% CI <1·25), but its superiority to tamoxifen was not (p=0·49). A total of 69 deaths were recorded (33 for anastrozole vs 36 for tamoxifen; HR 0·93 [95% CI 0·58–1·50], p=0·78), and no specific cause was more common in one group than the other. The number of women reporting any adverse event was similar between anastrozole (1323 women, 91%) and tamoxifen (1379 women, 93%); the side-effect profiles of the two drugs differed, with more fractures, musculoskeletal events, hypercholesterolaemia, and strokes with anastrozole and more muscle spasm, gynaecological cancers and symptoms, vasomotor symptoms, and deep vein thromboses with tamoxifen. Conclusions No clear efficacy differences were seen between the two treatments. Anastrozole offers another treatment option for postmenopausal women with hormone-receptor-positive DCIS, which may be be more appropriate for some women with contraindications for tamoxifen. Longer follow-up will be necessary to fully evaluate treatment differences