Pharmacist and Pharmacy Staff Experiences with Non-prescription (NP) Sale of Syringes and Attitudes Toward Providing HIV Prevention Services for Injection Drug Users (IDUs) in Providence, RI

Increased access to sterile syringes among injection drug users (IDUs) has been correlated with reduced syringe sharing. Many states, including Rhode Island, have legalized non-prescription (NP) sale of syringes in pharmacies. Previous studies have suggested that training pharmacists to provide HIV-related services to IDUs may be an important opportunity to engage IDUs and provide them with such services. However, it is not clear to what extent pharmacy staff are willing to expand their roles in providing services to IDUs who come in to purchase syringes. We recruited pharmacists and pharmacy staff from the 48 pharmacies indicating NP sale of syringes in the greater Providence, RI area, to participate in an online survey consisting of demographic information; views about the current syringe laws in Rhode Island; willingness to provide HIV-related services, including referral for HIV testing, substance use treatment, and medical and social services, to IDUs; and past experiences with IDU customers. One hundred and forty-six individuals completed the online survey (32 pharmacies, 114 pharmacy staff). Most participants were employed by chain pharmacies (92%). Most participants thought that pharmacies are important resources for IDU customers (77%) and that they would be willing to provide health and prevention information/referrals to IDU customers who purchase NP syringes (59%). With respect to willingness to offer HIV prevention-related services, access to confidential space and concern about personal safety had the strongest associations with willingness to provide HIV prevention services (OR, 4.3 and 0.1, respectively). As the nature of the retail pharmacy shifts, researchers, pharmacy executives, and health care officials can build upon the willingness of pharmacists and pharmacy staff in order to address the health needs of injection drug users and other underserved populations

Biology of mycorrhizal associations of epacrids (Ericaceae)

Epacrids, a group of southern hemisphere plants formerly considered members of the separate family Epacridaceae, are in fact most closely allied to the Vaccinioid tribe (Ericaceae). Epacrids and other extant ericoid mycorrhiza-forming plants appear to have a monophyletic origin. In common with many Ericaceae they form ericoid mycorrhizas. ITS sequence data indicate that the fungi forming ericoid mycorrhizas with epacrids and other extant Ericaceae are broadly similar, belonging to a poorly defined group of ascomycetes with phylogenetic affinities to Helotiales. The basic development and structure of ericoid mycorrhizal infections in epacrids is similar to other Ericaceae. However, data are limited on the structure and physiology of both hair roots and ericoid mycorrhizas for all Ericaceae. Relatively little is known about the functional significance of ericoid mycorrhizas in epacrids in southern hemisphere habitats that are often poor in organic matter accumulation. However the abilities of fungal endophytes of epacrids to utilize organic N and P substrates equal those of endophytes from northern hemisphere heathland plant hosts. Investigations using ¹⁵N/¹³C-labelled organic N substrates suggest that mycorrhizal endophytes are important, at least, to the N nutrition of their epacrid hosts in some habitats