Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Jose A. Bauermeister, Ryan C. Tingler, Clara Dominguez, Eileen F. Dunne, Craig Hoesley, Ken Ho, Sherri Johnson, Jonathan Lucas, Nicole Macagna, Elizabeth Brown, Holly Gundacker, Melissa Peda, Cindy E. Jacobson, Lindsay Kramzer, Devika Singh, Charlene S. Dezzutti, Ratiya Pamela Kunjara Na Ayudhya, Mark A. Marzinke, Jeanna Piper, Brid Devlin, Jeremy Nuttall, Ian McGowan, Craig W. Hendrix, Ross D. Cranston
Summary: The study found that participants from the United States and Thailand showed high acceptability towards a rectal microbicide gel using dapivirine. Most participants reported that they liked the gel and some preferred it over condoms. Side effects were relatively minor across the products, with no significant issues in terms of acceptability.
Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Sai Archana Krovi, Leah M. Johnson, Ellen Luecke, Sharon L. Achilles, Ariane van der Straten
Summary: MPTs offer combined protection against HIV, STIs, and unintended pregnancy, with potential for simplified use and increased public health benefits. Significant progress has been made in the development of MPTs over the past decade, with the potential to grant sexual and reproductive health autonomy to women globally.
ADVANCED DRUG DELIVERY REVIEWS
(2021)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Araceli Martin-Illana, Raul Cazorla-Luna, Fernando Notario-Perez, Luis Miguel Bedoya, Juan Rubio, Aitana Tamayo, Roberto Ruiz-Caro, Maria Dolores Veiga
Summary: Vaginal microbicides are crucial for preventing HIV transmission among women, and these bilayer films show promise with their biocompatibility and controlled drug release properties, particularly in terms of adhesiveness and drug release.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICS
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Fernando Notario-Perez, Joana Galante, Araceli Martin-Illana, Raul Cazorla-Luna, Bruno Sarmento, Roberto Ruiz-Caro, Jose das Neves, Maria-Dolores Veiga
Summary: Interest is growing in smart vaginal microbicides as a strategy to protect women from sexual transmission of HIV. The study explores the development of vaginal films with pH-dependent drug release of the antiretroviral drug tenofovir, showing sustained drug release for several days after administration and rapid release upon ejaculation simulation. The films exhibited suitable mechanical properties for comfortable vaginal use and favorable drug permeability profiles in cell monolayers. Overall, the pH-dependent films containing tenofovir could be promising candidates for smart vaginal microbicides.
ACTA BIOMATERIALIA
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Duduzile F. Nsibande, Selamawit A. Woldesenbet, Adrian Puren, Peter Barron, Vincent Maduna, Carl Lombard, Mireille Cheyip, Mary Mogashoa, Yogan Pillay, Vuyolwethu Magasana, Trisha Ramraj, Tendesayi Kufa, Gurpreet Kindra, Ameena Goga, Witness Chirinda
Summary: Monitoring HIV prevalence using antenatal HIV sentinel surveillance is important for efficient epidemic tracking. This study assessed the quality of HIV rapid testing practices in antenatal care clinics in South Africa and found sub-optimal implementation. It recommends expanding support for Rapid Test Continuous Quality Improvement to all testing sites.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Melanie Plazy, Adama Diallo, Thabile Hlabisa, Nonhlanhla Okesola, Collins Iwuji, Kobus Herbst, Sylvie Boyer, France Lert, Nuala McGrath, Deenan Pillay, Francois Dabis, Joseph Larmarange, Joanna Orne-Gliemann
Summary: This study reports on the implementation and effectiveness of a linkage-to-care intervention in rural South Africa, which involved tracking HIV-positive individuals through phone calls and home visits. The results showed that this intervention was effective in improving the linkage-to-care rate among patients.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Eugenio Valdano, Justin T. Okano, Vittoria Colizza, Honore K. Mitonga, Sally Blower
Summary: The study shows that in Namibia, population mobility plays a significant role in the spread of HIV, with around 40% of the risk driven by mobility. Various constituencies import and export risk to different degrees, and some constituencies export high levels of risk while having below average prevalence rates. Large-scale networks of mobility-driven risk flows underlie generalized HIV epidemics in sub-Saharan Africa, highlighting the need for innovative control strategies focusing on disrupting risk flows to eliminate HIV.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Polymer Science
Sabdat Ozichu Ekama, Margaret O. Ilomuanya, Chukwuemeka Paul Azubuike, James Babatunde Ayorinde, Oliver Chukwujekwu Ezechi, Cecilia Ihuoma Igwilo, Babatunde Lawal Salako
Summary: This study formulated and evaluated bigel and thermosensitive gel as alternative options to conventional microbicide gels. The results demonstrated that these gels have the potential for triggered release by the acid phosphatase enzyme, and exhibit a progressive decline in HIV infectivity.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Haisheng Wu, Qiuyan Yu, Liping Ma, Lin Zhang, Yuliang Chen, Pi Guo, Peng Xu
Summary: This study evaluated the health economics of antiretroviral-based strategies for HIV-serodiscordant couples in China, finding that antiretroviral interventions were more likely to provide clinical benefits but were difficult to improve quality of life. The current strategy of early ART was found to be the most cost-effective option.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Michael S. Saag
Summary: Despite extensive knowledge about HIV, incident cases have only decreased slightly in recent years. Universal screening, prompt referral for assessment, and initiation of antiretroviral therapy are crucial for improving outcomes and reducing transmission rates.
NEW ENGLAND JOURNAL OF MEDICINE
(2021)
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Jessica L. Prodger, Alison G. Abraham, Aaron A. R. Tobian, Daniel E. Park, Maliha Aziz, Kelsey Roach, Ronald H. Gray, Lane Buchanan, Godfrey Kigozi, Ronald M. Galiwango, Joseph Ssekasanvu, James Nnamutete, Joseph Kagaayi, Rupert Kaul, Cindy M. Liu
Summary: The foreskin is a site for heterosexual acquisition of HIV-1 among uncircumcised men, with specific anaerobic bacterial species playing a role in increasing HIV susceptibility. This suggests that the penile microbiome could be targeted for prevention strategies against HIV acquisition.
Article
Immunology
Ruihua Kang, Jianjun Li, Huanhuan Chen, Zhenzhu Tang, Stephen W. Pan, Liuhong Luo, Qiuying Zhu, Guanghua Lan, Shujia Liang, Huaxiang Lu, Jinhui Zhu, Yi Feng, Lingjie Liao, Hui Xing, Yiming Shao, Yuhua Ruan, Zhiyong Shen
Summary: The study results support the feasibility of treating all HIV patients for future reductions in HIV transmission at the population level in real-world settings, especially with a significant reduction in HIV transmission among individuals treated for an extended period with low viral loads. Comprehensive intervention prevention programs are urgently needed to address this issue.
Article
Education & Educational Research
Jose A. Bauermeister, Ryan C. Tingler, Sherri Johnson, Nicole Macagna, Jonathan Lucas, Clara Dominguez-Islas, Daniel Szydlo, Julie Ngo, Cindy F. Jacobson, Lindsay Kramzer, Devika Singh, Charlene S. Dezzutti, Ratiya Pamela Kunjara Na Ayudhya, Jeanna Piper, Brid Devlin, Craig W. Hendrix, Ken Ho
Summary: The study found high acceptability of the 0.05% dapivirine rectal microbicide gel among men who have sex with men, but also identified areas for improvement. The results underscore the need for developing multiple delivery methods in the future, and emphasize the importance of providing choices to men who have sex with men in how biomedical HIV prevention strategies are delivered.
AIDS EDUCATION AND PREVENTION
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Goodluck Willey Lyatuu, Roseline Urrio, Helga Naburi, Peter Lyaruu, Brenda Simba, Hellen Siril, Emmanuel Philipo, Lameck Machumi, Ayoub Kibao, Deborah Kajoka, Mukome Nyamhagatta, David Sando, Gunnel Biberfeld, Nicola Orsini, Charles Kilewo, Anna Mia Ekstrom
Summary: This study evaluated vertical HIV transmission and its determinants among women on lifelong ART in Tanzania. The results showed that provision of lifelong ART reduced the risk of vertical transmission to less than 2%, but improvements are needed in timely HIV diagnosis, ART uptake, and follow-up for prevention of transmission.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Bryan Andrew Kutner, Rebecca Giguere, Cody Lentz, Clare Kajura-Manyindo, Curtis Dolezal, Samkelisiwe Butheliezi, Miriam Gwande, Susan Nampiira, Thakasile Ndlovu, Priscilla Mvinjelwa, Wezi Mwenda, Ivan C. Balan
Summary: Discrepancies between self-reported and actual adherence to biomedical HIV interventions are common and can compromise trial integrity. Monitoring adherence biomarkers can stimulate candid conversations about HIV prevention, but counselors need to navigate emotional barriers and respond skillfully to questions about accuracy when discussing drug levels with participants. Biomarker feedback offers a valuable objective measure of adherence and protection, encouraging disclosure of actual adherence and movement toward HIV prevention in future trials and clinical settings.