Effectiveness of an HIV Prevention Program for Women Visiting Their Incarcerated Partners: The HOME Project

Having an incarcerated partner presents a unique HIV risk for women, particularly low-income women of color. We developed a population-specific risk reduction intervention for women visiting men in prison that was peer educator-based and included individual and community-level intervention components. Women who were assessed prior to the intervention period had a positive association between the number of unprotected penetrative intercourse (UPI) episodes prior to their partners’ incarceration and the number of UPI episodes following partners’ release from prison. However, this association was negated among women assessed during the intervention. Intervention participants also were more likely to be tested for HIV, to have partners who got tested, and to talk with their partners about significantly more HIV-related topics. Conducting intervention and evaluation activities with women visiting incarcerated men is feasible and is a useful model for reaching more at-risk women

Characterization of the seed virome of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L)

Abstract Background Seed transmission of plant viruses can be important due to the role it plays in their dissemination to new areas and subsequent epidemics. Seed transmission largely depends on the ability of a virus to replicate in reproductive tissues and survive during the seed maturation process. It occurs through the infected embryo or mechanically through the contaminated seed coat. Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) is an important legume forage crop worldwide, and except for a few individual seedborne viruses infecting the crop, its seed virome is poorly known. The goal of this research was to perform initial seed screenings on alfalfa germplasm accessions maintained by the USDA ARS National Plant Germplasm System in order to identify pathogenic viruses and understand their potential for dissemination. Methods For the detection of viruses, we used high throughput sequencing combined with bioinformatic tools and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reactions. Results Our results suggest that, in addition to common viruses, alfalfa seeds are infected by other potentially pathogenic viral species that could be vertically transmitted to offspring. Conclusions To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study of the alfalfa seed virome carried out by HTS technology. This initial screening of alfalfa germplasm accessions maintained by the NPGS showed that the crop’s mature seeds contain a broad range of viruses, some of which were not previously considered to be seed-transmitted. The information gathered will be used to update germplasm distribution policies and to make decisions on the safety of distributing germplasm based on viral presence

Investments in the Future of Behavioral Science: The University of California, San Francisco, Visiting Professors Program

A need exists for the promotion of diversity in the scientific workforce to better address health disparities. In response to this need, funding agencies and institutions have developed programs to encourage ethnic-minority and early-career scientists to pursue research careers

An Ecosystem-Based Intervention to Reduce HIV Transmission Risk and Increase Medication Adherence Among Inmates Being Released to the Community

HIV+ prisoners reentering their communities are at increased risk for poor health outcomes and to transmit HIV. We report on a randomized trial comparing an ecosystem-based intervention and an individually-focused intervention for reducing HIV transmission risk and improving medication adherence. Reincarceration was considered as a secondary variable. Both groups decreased sexual risk behavior over the 12-month follow-up period. Unexpectedly, the ecosystem intervention group was less likely to be taking medication or to be adherent and more likely to have been reincarcerated. Failure to demonstrate a significant advantage of the ecosystem intervention may have resulted from the difficulty of engaging family and other ecosystem members in the intervention. Implications for developing and applying interventions for this population are discussed

Health Status, Sexual and Drug Risk, and Psychosocial Factors Relevant to Postrelease Planning for HIV+ Prisoners

The prevalence of HIV infection among male prison inmates is significantly higher than the United States population. Adequate planning to ensure continued medication adherence and continuity of care after release is important for this population. This study describes the pre-release characteristics of 162 incarcerated HIV-positive men (40 from jails and 122 from prisons). The results include a demographic description of the sample and their sexual risk behaviors, substance use, health status and HIV medication adherence, health care utilization, mental health, and family and social support. The results highlight a potentially high level of need for services and low levels of support and social connectedness. Post-release planning should include support for improving HIV medication adherence as well as reducing both sexual and IDU-related transmission risk for these individuals