63 research outputs found
Intravaginal and Menstrual Practices among Women Working in Food and Recreational Facilities in Mwanza, Tanzania: Implications for Microbicide Trials
Intravaginal and menstrual practices may potentially influence results of trials of microbicides for HIV prevention through effects on the vaginal environment and on adherence to microbicide and placebo products. As part of the feasibility study for the Microbicides Development Programme Phase 3 trial of a vaginal microbicide in Mwanza, a variety of quantitative and qualitative methods were used to describe these practices, associations with behaviour and underlying social norms among women working in food and recreational facilities. Intravaginal cleansing by inserting fingers and either water alone or soap and water was thought necessary to remove āuchafuā (dirt), referring to vaginal secretions, including menstrual blood and post-coital discharge. Vaginal cleansing was carried out within 2Ā hours after 45% of sex acts. Sexual enhancement practices were less common. Intravaginal and menstrual practices and associated behaviours and demographic factors should be measured and monitored throughout microbicide trials to enable analyses of their impacts on microbicide effectiveness
Cholesterol Corrects Altered Conformation of MHC-II Protein in Leishmania donovani Infected Macrophages: Implication in Therapy
Previously we reported that Kala-azar patients show progressive decrease in serum cholesterol as a function of splenic parasite burden. Splenic macrophages (MĪ¦) of Leishmania donovani (LD) infected mice show decrease in membrane cholesterol, while LD infected macrophages (I-MĪ¦) show defective T cell stimulating ability that could be corrected by liposomal delivery of cholesterol. T helper cells recognize peptide antigen in the context of
class II MHC molecule. It is known that the conformation of a large number of membrane proteins is dependent on membrane cholesterol. In this investigation we tried to understand the influence of decreased membrane cholesterol in I-MĪ¦ on the conformation of MHC-II protein and peptide-MHC-II stability, and its bearing on the antigen specific T-cell activatio
Vaginal Practices and Associations with Barrier Methods and Gel Use Among Sub-Saharan African Women Enrolled in an HIV Prevention Trial
Preferences and Practices Related to Vaginal Lubrication: Implications for Microbicide Acceptability and Clinical Testing
Psychopathology and Individual Differences in Latent Inhibition: Schizophrenia and Schizotypality
A study on HIV, Syphilis, and Hepatitis B and C virus infections among female sex workers in the Republic of Congo
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