Weighing the Evidence of Efficacy of Oral PrEP for HIV Prevention in Women in Southern Africa

As oral tenofovir-based regimens for preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) are adopted as standard of care for HIV prevention, their utilization in clinical trials among women in southern Africa will require an accurate estimate of oral PrEP efficacy in this population. This information is critical for women in choosing this prevention strategy, and in public health policy making. Estimates of the efficacy of oral PrEP regimens containing tenofovir have varied widely across trials that enrolled women, with some studies reporting high efficacy and others reporting no efficacy. Although poor adherence is strongly associated with lack of efficacy, other factors, such as mode of transmission (sexual vs. parenteral), predominant HIV subtype (C vs. non-C), intensity of exposure, and percentage of stable serodiscordant couples, may also contribute to the variation in efficacy estimates. In this article, we evaluate the evidence for PrEP efficacy in women and propose potential explanations for the observed differences in efficacy among studies. Our review emphasizes the need to continue to refine estimates of efficacy and effectiveness of tenofovir-based oral PrEP so as to best develop the next generation of HIV prevention tools, and to inform public policies directed toward HIV prevention

New and Interesting Fungi. 1

This study introduces two new families, one new genus, 22 new species, 10 new combinations, four epitypes, and 16 interesting new host and / or geographical records. Cylindriaceae (based on Cylindrium elongatum) is introduced as new family, with three new combinations.Xyladictyochaetaceae (based on Xyladictyochaetalusitanica) is introduced to accommodate Xyladictyochaeta. Pseudoanungitea gen. nov. (based on P.syzygii)is described on stems of Vaccinium myrtillus(Germany). New species include: Exophiala eucalypticola on Eucalyptus obliqua leaf litter, Phyllosticta hakeicola on leaves of Hakea sp.,Setophaeosphaeriacitricola on leaves of Citrus australasica, and Sirastachyscyperacearum on leaves of Cyperaceae(Australia); Polyscytalum chilense on leaves of Eucalyptus urophylla (Chile); Pseudoanungitea vaccinii on Vaccinium myrtillus (Germany); Teichospora quercus on branch tissue of Quercus sp. (France); Fusiconidiumlycopodiellae on stems of Lycopodiella inundata,Monochaetiajunipericola on twig of Juniperus communis,Myrmecridiumsorbicola on branch tissues of Sorbus aucuparia, Parathyridariaphiladelphi on twigs of Philadelphus coronarius, and Wettsteininaphiladelphi on twigs of Philadelphus coronarius (Germany); Zygosporium pseudogibbum on leaves of Eucalyptus pellita (Malaysia); Pseudoanungiteavariabilis on dead wood (Spain); Alfaria acaciae on leaves of Acacia propinqua, Dictyochaeta mimusopis on leaves of Mimusops caffra,and Pseudocercosporabreonadiae on leaves of Breonadia microcephala (South Africa); Colletotrichumkniphofiae on leaves of Kniphofia uvaria,Subplenodomusiridicola on Iris sp., and Trochila viburnicola on twig cankers on Viburnum sp. (UK); Polyscytalum neofecundissimum on Quercus robur leaf litter, and Roussoellaeuonymi on fallen branches of Euonymus europaeus (Ukraine). New combinations include: Cylindrium algarvense on leaves of Eucalyptus sp. (Portugal), Cylindrium purgamentum on leaf litter (USA), Cylindrium syzygii on leaves of Syzygium sp. (Australia), Microdochium musae on leaves of Musa sp. (Malaysia), Polyscytalum eucalyptigenum on Eucalyptus grandis × pellita (Malaysia), P. eucalyptorum on leaves of Eucalyptus (Australia), P. grevilleae on leaves of Grevillea (Australia), P. nullicananum on leaves of Eucalyptus (Australia), Pseudoanungiteasyzygii on Syzygium cordatum leaf litter (South Africa), and Setophaeosphaeriasidae on leaves of Sida sp. (Brazil). New records include: Sphaerellopsis paraphysata on leaves of Phragmites sp., Vermiculariopsiella dichapetali on leaves of Melaleuca sp. and Eucalyptus regnans, and Xyladictyochaetalusitanica on leaf litter of Eucalyptus sp. (Australia); Camarosporidiella mackenziei on twigs of Caragana sp. (Finland); Cyclothyriella rubronotata on twigs of Ailanthus altissima, Rhinocladiella quercus on Sorbus aucuparia branches (Germany); Cytospora viticola on stems of Vitis vinifera (Hungary); Echinocatena arthrinioides on leaves of Acacia crassicarpa (Malaysia); Varicosporellopsis aquatilis from garden soil (Netherlands); Pestalotiopsis hollandica on needles of Cupressus sempervirens (Spain), Pseudocamarosporiumafricanum on twigs of Erica sp. (South Africa), Pseudocamarosporium brabeji on branch of Platanus sp. (Switzerland); Neocucurbitaria cava on leaves of Quercus ilex (UK); Chaetosphaeriamyriocarpaon decaying wood of Carpinus betulus,Haplograhium delicatum on decaying Carpinus betulus wood (Ukraine). Epitypes are designated for: Elsinoë mimosae on leaves of Mimosa diplotricha (Brazil), Neohendersonia kickxii on Fagus sylvatica twig bark (Italy), Caliciopsis maxima on fronds of Niphidium crassifolium (Brazil), Dictyochaeta septata on leaves of Eucalyptus grandis ×urophylla (Chile), and Microdochium musae on leaves of Musa sp. (Malaysia)

Desenvolvimento de cultivares e espécies de pereira enxertados em plântulas de Taiwan Nashi-C na fase de formação de mudas Development of cultivars and species of pear grafted on Taiwan Nashi-C rootstock

Pesquisou-se, no Instituto Agronômico (IAC), em julho-dezembro de 1993, o desenvolvimento inicial da pereira 'Okussankichi' (Pyrus serotina Rehder), enxertada em plântulas de Taiwan Nashi-C (P. calleryana Decne.) nos diâmetros de 4, 6, 8, 10 e 12 mm. Pesquisou-se, ainda, o comportamento de outras oito pereiras em enxertia interespecífica em plântulas de doze meses. Pôde-se observar, por meio da enxertia por garfagem do tipo inglês simples, o adequado comportamento das mudas na fase de junção dos tecidos cambiais, sem que nenhum sintoma de incompatibilidade inicial fosse detectado. As espécies e cultivares estudados apresentaram cerca de 95% de pegamento dos enxertos, comprovado pelas brotações vigorosas emitidas após 45 dias da enxertia. Os porta-enxertos com diâmetros de 10 e 12 mm proporcionaram os maiores índices de crescimento vegetativo: transcorridos quatro meses, os enxertos de 'Okussankichi' já apresentavam excelente padrão de desenvolvimento; com mais de 100 cm de altura, diâmetro próximo a 9 mm e mais de 30 folhas, as mudas estavam aptas a ser plantadas no campo. Nos porta-enxertos com diâmetros de 4 e 6 mm, ocorreu baixo desenvolvimento das mudas, bem inferior ao padrão mínimo desejável. O desenvolvimento dessas pereiras, em campo, está sob contínua investigação; em três anos de cultivo, não se verificaram sinais de incompatibilidade de enxertia.<br>The stock-scion compatibility of nine pear cultivars and species grafted on seedlings stocks of Taiwan Nashi-C (Pyrus calleryana Decne.) and the 'Okussankichi' (P. serotina Rehder) behavior of five stem diameters were evaluated at the Instituto Agronômico (IAC), State of São Paulo, Brazil. The pear cultivars and species did not vary in compatibility on Taiwan Nashi-C rootstock by visual observation, showing an excellent grade of graft union, with mean survival of about 95%. The roostocks with 10 and 12 mm of stem diameters presented significantly a higher scion vegetative growth index. Four months after grafting, it was observed the following average values: height above of 100 cm, scion diameter of about 9 mm and more than 30 leaves. The roostocks with 4 and 6 mm presented a smaller development index of pear trees, below of a minimum standard desirable index. Continued growth and productivity of these pear trees are under investigation

O pessegueiro no sistema de pomar compacto: VI. Frutificação efetiva e raleio químico em seleções IAC The peach meadow orchard system: VI. Fruit set and chemical thinning in IAC subtropical selections

Verificou-se o potencial de frutificação e o efeito da pulverização de uréia a 12%, no raleio de frutos, em cinco pessegueiros e duas nectarineiras, cultivados em pomar compacto, na Estação Experimental de Monte Alegre do Sul (22&deg;41'S. e 46&deg;43'W.), do Instituto Agronômico de Campinas (IAC). Dos cultivares e seleções pesquisados, 'Talismã', IAC 6782-83, IAC N 2680-91, 'Aurora-2' e IAC 282-24 apresentaram as maiores taxas de frutificação natural, a saber: 60,9; 54,2; 44,6; 41,4 e 40,0% respectivamente. A uréia a 12%, pulverizada na plena floração, mostrou-se efetiva no raleio dos frutos, reduzindo as frutificações para a faixa de 12-17%, considerada adequada para pessegueiros e nectarineiras sob altas densidades de plantio. O número médio de pêssegos e nectarinas remanescentes por ramo foi, respectivamente, de 1,1; 1,6; 1,8; 1,9; 2,0; 2,6 e 3,2 para IAC 280-28; IAC 6782-83; 'Aurora-2'; IAC 282-24; IAC N 1880-76; IAC N 2680-91 e Talismã'. A produtividade não foi prejudicada pela ação raleadora da uréia a 12%. As plantas em que permaneceram até dois frutos em média, por ramo, apresentaram produtos de melhor padrão.<br>This paper reports the fruit set potential and effects of 12% urea on fruit drop in peach and nectarine selections in meadow orchard (5,000 plants per hectare). The experimental plot was located at the Estação Experimental of Monte Alegre do Sul (22&deg;41'S. and 46&deg;43'W.) of the Instituto Agronômico (IAC), State of São Paulo, Brazil, which has a record of 40 hours per year with temperature bellow 7&deg;C. The best fruit set was obtained by Talismã', IAC 6782-83, IAC N 2680-91, 'Aurora-2' and IAC 282-24, showing 60.9, 54.2, 44.6, 41.4 and 40.0% respectively. The urea 12%, sprayed at full bloom stage, significantly decreased fruit set to 12-17%. The average fruit number remaining per branch was, respectively: 1.1, 1.6, 1.8, 1.9, 2.0, 2.6 and 3.2 for IAC 280-28, IAC 6782-83, 'Aurora-2', IAC 282-24, IAC N 1880-76, IAC N 2680-91 and 'Talismã'. The selections which held up to two fruits per branch showed better products