Mapping the consequences of an unanticipated drug supply change of uncertain origins: Response to the commentaries

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Mapping the emergence of heart disease in a black, urban population in Africa: The Heart of Soweto Study

Background: There is increasing evidence that many populations in the developing world are in epidemiologic transition with the subsequent emergence of more affluent disease states. The Heart of Soweto Study will systematically investigate the emergence of heart disease (HD) in a large urban population in South Africa. Methods: Part of the conurbation of Johannesburg, South Africa, Soweto is a predominantly Black African community of I million individuals. During an initial two year period, all individuals presenting to the local Baragwanath Hospital (3500 beds) with any form of HD will be studied. Demographic and diagnostic coding data in those with pre-established HD will form an abbreviated clinical registry of > 12,000 prevalent cases. Similarly, socio-demographic, clinical and diagnostic data (e.g. echocardiography and ECG) in newly diagnosed patients will form a more detailed clinical registry of > 5000 incident cases. Sub-studies of the relationship between HIV status and H D and the optimal management of chronic heart failure will also be performed. Results: These data will provide a unique insight into the causes and consequences of a broad spectrum of HD-related conditions in a developing world community in epidemiologic transition. Initially documented Population rates, in addition to detailed examinations of the underlying risk factors and causes of HD-related morbidity/mortality will provide an important platform for future stages of the study: a community-based, population screening program and culturally specific primary and secondary programs of care. Conclusion: There is an urgent need to systematically track the emergence of HD in the developing world. Initially involving more than 15,000 individuals, the unique Heart of Soweto Study has the potential to provide a wealth of information in this regard. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Mapping the I-3 gene for resistance to Fusarium wilt in tomato: application of an I-3 marker in tomato improvement and progress towards the cloning of I-3

Fusarium wilt of tomato, caused by the fungal pathogen, Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici (Fol), is an economically damaging disease that results in huge losses in Australia and other countries worldwide. The I-3 gene, which confers resistance to Fol race 3, has been described in wild tomato, Lycopersicon pennellii, accessions LA716 and PI414773. We are pursuing the isolation of I-3 from LA716 by map-based cloning. We have constructed a high-resolution map of the I-3 region and have identified markers closely flanking I-3 as well as markers co-segregating with I-3. In addition, construction of a physical map based on these markers has been initiated. This review describes the context of our research and our progress towards isolating the I-3 gene. It also describes some important practical outcomes of our work, including the development and use of a PCR-based marker for marker-assisted selection for I-3, and the finding that the I-3 gene from LA716 is different to that from PI1414773, which we have now designated I-7. Tomato varieties combining I-3 and I-7 have been developed and are currently being introduced into commercial production to further safeguard tomato crops against Fusarium wilt.

Mapping the notion of "terrorism" in Serbian and Croation newspapers

The September 11 terrorist attacks in the United States have reconfigured the global public debates as of how to defend a "civilized" world from the "Islamic terrorism." The U.S.-led war on terror against extremist groups also produced and triggered a particular discourse in the former Yugoslav countries. The main aim of this article is to present an example of a study that explores how media appropriate dominant global antiterrorism discourse and apply it to a local context to legitimize and justify specific ideologies and discourse. As our critical discourse analysis shows, Serbian and Croatian newspapers apply the global discourse of terrorism to their local context to excuse their nationalisms and the past military actions against the Muslims in former Yugoslav wars, and with that, they assert their belonging to an antiterrorism global discursive community. © 2006 Sage Publications.