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Supermarkets are strong catalysts to stimulate the growth and development of suppliers of processed food and manufactured products in Southern Africa. This paper assesses the role of supermarkets and governments in developing supplier capabilities through supplier development programmes. In South Africa, a shift is evident in supplier development programmes by supermarkets away from mere compliance as part of black economic empowerment or social responsibility objectives, to more mutually beneficial, commercially oriented and long-term investments. There is still considerable scope to replicate, broaden and deepen these programmes, including extending them to the region. The paper draws lessons from the Namibian Retail Sector Charter as the first and only sector-wide intervention in the region that combines a voluntary code of conduct and supplier development commitments, with complementary support from the government. The paper also highlights interventions in South Africa and internationally on efforts to curb supermarket buyer power which negatively affects suppliers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The retail space has seen significant changes in post-apartheid business. Spurred by the end of apartheid urban laws, rising urbanisation and increased per capita income, large South African retailers, especially supermarkets, have increased their footprint, diversified their formats and started targeting low-income segments of the population. The large chains have made substantial investments in distribution and procurement systems and in retail space in shopping malls to realise economies of scale and scope. They have also grown in southern Africa, shaping markets across countries. This paper assesses the drivers of these changes and the extent to which substantial market power in retail lies with the main groups. It evaluates the ways in which market power has been exerted and the impact supermarket growth has had on the competitive landscape including on independent rivals. The implications on suppliers, as supermarkets are increasingly important routes to market for processed food and household consumable products, are evaluated, in addition to the impact of buyer power. The paper explores the implications for regulation, competition policy and industrial policy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The growth of supermarkets in southern Africa opens local and regional markets to suppliers through participation in supermarket supply chains. Supermarkets in the region provide an important route to market for processed foods and household consumable products. Through a regional value chain lens, this article provides an assessment of the implications of the growth of supermarkets for the participation of suppliers in Botswana, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe. The research finds that, while supermarkets provide important opportunities for suppliers, they also exert considerable buyer power that limits supplier development and upgrading. High private standards, onerous requirements and costly trading terms negatively affect supplier participation in value chains. Long-term investments are required to build the capabilities of suppliers to meet supermarket requirements in terms of quality, consistency, volume and cost-competitiveness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the past two decades, southern African countries have experienced rapid growth and spread of supermarket chains. This paper assesses the internationalisation of supermarkets and potential reasons for the uneven outcomes seen in different countries in the region. Several factors account for the spread, including rising urbanisation, increasing per capita income, greater economies of scale and scope, and more efficient procurement and distribution systems. However, the current literature does not adequately consider the importance of culture, proximity to suppliers and impact of policy objectives of national governments on the success of supermarkets in host countries, especially in developing countries. It also does not consider the nature of competitive rivalry between supermarkets and how this affects internationalisation. This paper highlights the importance of these factors in understanding the outcomes in selected southern African countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One hundred and fifty-one patients aged between 3 and 70 years with early stage unfavorable Hodgkin lymphoma were included. Patients received 4-6 cycles of ABVD (doxorubicin, bleomycin, vinblastine and dacarbazine) chemotherapy and involved field radiation therapy (IFRT). The most common histology was mixed cellularity (43%). The majority had stage IIAX disease. IFRT doses were 25.2 Gy/14 fractions and 34.2 Gy/19 fractions for adults with a complete response (CR) and partial response (PR), respectively, while the doses were 19.8 Gy/11 fractions and 30.6 Gy/17 fractions, respectively, for children. After 60 months (median), the 10-year progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were 88.4% and 93.2%, respectively. On univariate analysis, prognostic factors with significant impact on PFS were age ≥ 18 years, nodular lymphocyte-predominant Hodgkin lymphoma (NLPHL) histology, extranodal disease and response to treatment. Extranodal disease had a significant impact on OS. On multivariate analysis, NLPHL histology ( p = 0.001) and response at 3 months ( p = 0.000) had a significant impact on PFS. There were no in-field relapses in patients with bulky disease receiving RT doses > 25.2 Gy. Chemotherapy related acute pulmonary toxicity was documented in 21.4% and 4.8% of patients after six and four cycles of ABVD chemotherapy ( p = 0.041). Four cycles of ABVD and reduced dose IFRT resulted in optimal outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We evaluated the diagnostic utility of flow cytometry immunophenotyping in bone marrow aspirates and peripheral blood, in the assessment of mature B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (MBNHL). We analyzed 356 cases of MBNHL received for immunophenotyping over a 4 year period. All cases were reviewed, correlated with biopsy specimen (lymph node and splenectomy). Discrepant cases were re-evaluated. Common subtypes included chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) (243 cases, 68.5%), follicular lymphoma (30 cases, 8.5%), mantle cell lymphoma (20 cases, 5.5%), splenic marginal zone lymphoma (18 cases, 5%), hairy cell leukemia (18 cases, 5%). CD5+/CD23+ had a high positive predictive value (PPV) for diagnosing CLL whereas CD5+/CD23- had a high negative predictive value (NPV) for diagnosing mantle-cell lymphoma (MCL). Limited panel of 9 antibodies mainly CD19, CD5, CD23, CD10, FMC7, kappa, lambda, CD3 and CD20 help diagnose more than 92% of cases of MBNHL. Minimal diagnostic panels become important in countries with limited resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This single institutional study evaluated the prognostic factors and treatment outcome of 113 Indian patients with primary nasopharyngeal non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. At presentation, 28% had stage I and 62% had stage II disease. Treatment comprised of a combination of chemotherapy (CTh) and radiotherapy (RT) in the majority of the patients (76%). After a median follow-up of 56 months, the 5-year disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) for the whole group were 55.8% and 57.9%, respectively. Multivariate analysis showed that; age > 30 years [hazard ratio (HR) = 6.59, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 2.59 – 16.7, P < 0.0001], WHO performance score &nvge; 2 (HR = 2.34, 95% CI = 1.01 – 5.46, P = 0.050), T-cell lymphomas (HR = 2.81, 95% CI = 1.14 – 6.96, P < 0.001) and the presence of B symptoms (HR = 3.65, 95% CI = 1.77 – 7.53, P = 0.025), had a negative influence on survival. Patients treated with a combination of CTh and RT had a significantly better outcome than those treated with CTh alone (OS: 69%vs. 31%, P < 0.00001). HR for death in the CTh alone group was 3.73 (95% CI = 1.95 – 7.13). The CR (P = 0.01), DFS (P = 0.01) and OS (P = 0.03) rates were significantly better for patients receiving a RT dose of &nvge;4500 cGy. HR in the subgroup that received a RT dose of <4500 cGy was 2.51 (95% CI = 1.04 – 6.06). These results suggest that combined modality treatment, comprising of CTh and RT (with an RT dose of &nvge;4500 cGy), results in satisfactory outcome in patients with this rare neoplasm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Primary orbital and primary breast lymphomas comprise very small subgroups of extranodal lymphomas. Clinical presentation at both these sites together is extremely rare. We describe a case of bilateral orbital and bilateral breast mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphomas with bilateral pre-auricular lymph nodal metastasis. The case history, staging and management for this unusual entity are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies the response rate, response duration, survival and toxicity in 10 patients with myelodysplastic syndrome treated with all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) and low dose cytosine arabinoside (LD Ara-C). Effect of the combination of ATRA and LD Ara-C on transfusion requirement; Remission rate; Mortality; Toxicity of ATRA.

Arsenic trioxide, believed to be a carcinogen and a teratogen, has found its niche in the treatment of acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL). APL is a disease affecting young patients. Post-treatment fertility and outcome of pregnancy are always a concern in a disease with high cure rates. We report a case series of six patients who were treated successfully for APL with arsenic trioxide and who parented at least one healthy offspring after completing their treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Primary female reproductive system lymphomas are distinctly uncommon. We report two cases with primary ovarian non Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) having unilateral involvement in one case while the other had bilateral ovarian involvement. Both cases initially presented with ovarian enlargement. The median size of the tumour was 5.8 × 5 cm². Histologically, by using the WHO classification, one lesion was classified as diffuse small B cell phenotype of intermediate grade and the other as diffuse high grade, B cell phenotype. On the basis of staging studies and clinical follow up, we conclude that both of the neoplasms in the report arose in the ovary. Both of the patients are disease free at 24 months and 6 months of follow up respectively, following excision and chemotherapy. We conclude that that the complete remission and failure free survival of patients with ovarian NHL treated with appropriate treatment appear to be similar to that of patients with extranodal NHL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Examines the avascular necrosis of the femoral head in patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia. Use of all-transretinoic acid, cytarabine and dexamethasone in treating the disease; Factors influencing the development of bone avascular necrosis; Evidence of subchondral fracture and sclerosis of the femoral head.