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Kutner BA, Giguere R, Lentz C, Kajura-Manyindo C, Dolezal C, Butheliezi S, Gwande M, Nampiira S, Ndlovu T, Mvinjelwa P, Mwenda W, Balán IC. Sharing Objective Measures of Adherence to a Vaginal Microbicide Promotes Candor About Actual Use and Bolsters Motivation to Prevent HIV. AIDS Behav 2021; 25:721-731. [PMID: 32920652 PMCID: PMC7887002 DOI: 10.1007/s10461-020-03026-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Discrepancies between self-reported and actual adherence to biomedical HIV interventions is common and in clinical trials can compromise the integrity of findings. One solution is to monitor adherence biomarkers, but it is not well understood how to navigate biomarker feedback with participants. We surveyed 42 counselors and interviewed a subset of 22 to characterize their perspectives about communicating with participants about residual drug levels, an objective marker of adherence, within MTN-025/HOPE, a Phase 3b clinical trial of a vaginal ring to prevent HIV. When biomarkers indicated low drug levels that mismatched high adherence by self-report, counselors encountered barriers to acceptance and comprehension among participants. However, discrepancies between low self-report and higher drug levels generally stimulated candor. Women recollected times they had not used the product and disclosed problems that counselors thought might otherwise have remained forgotten or concealed. Navigating conversations toward HIV prevention was easier at mid-range drug levels and when women indicated motivation to prevent HIV. Ratings of residual drug level offered a somewhat objective measure of adherence and protection that counselors perceived as meaningful to participants and as a valuable catalyst for broaching conversation about HIV prevention. However, communication about drug levels required that counselors navigate emotional barriers, respond skillfully to questions about accuracy, and pivot conversations non-judgmentally away from numerical results and toward the priority of HIV prevention. Findings suggest a role for biomarker feedback in future clinical trials as well as other clinical contexts where biomarkers may be monitored, to motivate disclosure of actual adherence and movement toward HIV prevention.Clinical Trial Number NCT02858037.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bryan Andrew Kutner
- HIV Center for Clinical and Behavioral Studies at New York State Psychiatric Institute and Columbia University, 1051 Riverside Drive, Unit 15, New York, NY, 10032, USA
| | - Rebecca Giguere
- HIV Center for Clinical and Behavioral Studies at New York State Psychiatric Institute and Columbia University, 1051 Riverside Drive, Unit 15, New York, NY, 10032, USA
| | - Cody Lentz
- HIV Center for Clinical and Behavioral Studies at New York State Psychiatric Institute and Columbia University, 1051 Riverside Drive, Unit 15, New York, NY, 10032, USA
| | - Clare Kajura-Manyindo
- HIV Center for Clinical and Behavioral Studies at New York State Psychiatric Institute and Columbia University, 1051 Riverside Drive, Unit 15, New York, NY, 10032, USA
| | - Curtis Dolezal
- HIV Center for Clinical and Behavioral Studies at New York State Psychiatric Institute and Columbia University, 1051 Riverside Drive, Unit 15, New York, NY, 10032, USA
| | | | - Miriam Gwande
- University of Zimbabwe College of Health Sciences Clinical Trials Research Center, Harare, Zimbabwe
| | - Susan Nampiira
- Makerere University - Johns Hopkins University Research Collaboration Clinical Research Site, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Thakasile Ndlovu
- South African Medical Research Council Clinical Trials Unit, Durban, South Africa
| | | | - Wezi Mwenda
- College of Medicine Clinical Research Site, Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital, Blantyre, Malawi
| | - Iván C Balán
- HIV Center for Clinical and Behavioral Studies at New York State Psychiatric Institute and Columbia University, 1051 Riverside Drive, Unit 15, New York, NY, 10032, USA.
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Lentz C, Giguere R, Kutner BA, Dolezal C, Kajura-Manyindo C, Yambira M, Asiimwe F, Mugocha C, Mwenda W, Ndlovu T, Naidu N, Madlala B, Balán IC. Culturally-Based Challenges to and Recommendations for Delivering Adherence Counseling in a Multicultural Biomedical HIV Prevention Trial in Four African Countries. AIDS Educ Prev 2020; 32:512-527. [PMID: 33779210 PMCID: PMC8059360 DOI: 10.1521/aeap.2020.32.6.512] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
Research is needed to identify how to effectively tailor evidence-based interventions across cultures with limited resources, particularly for behavioral components in large HIV prevention trials. Through surveys and interviews with counselors of sub-Saharan African women during an open-label microbicide trial (MTN-025), we examined language, education, and cultural barriers in delivering a motivational interviewing-based adherence counseling intervention (i.e., Options Counseling). Counselors encountered an array of barriers, most prominently that participants struggled to comprehend culturally incongruent pictorial guides, such as traffic light images, and to uphold product use when primary partners disapproved. Overwhelmingly, counselors cited the intervention's inherent flexibility as an asset; it encouraged them to tailor language and examples to be more culturally relevant to participants. Future resource-conscious researchers may preemptively offset similar barriers by consulting with communities during intervention development. Similarly, affording counselors flexibility while delivering the chosen intervention may enable them to troubleshoot barriers that arise on the ground.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cody Lentz
- HIV Center for Clinical and Behavioral Studies at New York State Psychiatric Institute and Columbia University, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Rebecca Giguere
- HIV Center for Clinical and Behavioral Studies at New York State Psychiatric Institute and Columbia University, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Bryan A. Kutner
- HIV Center for Clinical and Behavioral Studies at New York State Psychiatric Institute and Columbia University, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Curtis Dolezal
- HIV Center for Clinical and Behavioral Studies at New York State Psychiatric Institute and Columbia University, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Clare Kajura-Manyindo
- HIV Center for Clinical and Behavioral Studies at New York State Psychiatric Institute and Columbia University, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Makanaka Yambira
- University of Zimbabwe College of Health Sciences Clinical Trials Research Center, Harare, Zimbabwe
| | - Florence Asiimwe
- Makerere University – Johns Hopkins University Research Collaboration Clinical Research Site, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Caroline Mugocha
- University of Zimbabwe College of Health Sciences Clinical Trials Research Center, Harare, Zimbabwe
| | - Wezi Mwenda
- Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital, College of Medicine Clinical Research Site, Blantyre, Malawi
| | - Thakasile Ndlovu
- South African Medical Research Council Clinical Trials Unit, Durban, South Africa
| | - Nalini Naidu
- South African Medical Research Council Clinical Trials Unit, Durban, South Africa
| | | | - Iván C. Balán
- HIV Center for Clinical and Behavioral Studies at New York State Psychiatric Institute and Columbia University, New York, New York, United States of America
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Reyneke B, Ndlovu T, Vincent MB, Martínez-García A, Polo-López MI, Fernández-Ibáñez P, Ferrero G, Khan S, McGuigan KG, Khan W. Validation of large-volume batch solar reactors for the treatment of rainwater in field trials in sub-Saharan Africa. Sci Total Environ 2020; 717:137223. [PMID: 32062239 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.137223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2019] [Revised: 01/24/2020] [Accepted: 02/07/2020] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
The efficiency of two large-volume batch solar reactors [Prototype I (140 L) and II (88 L)] in treating rainwater on-site in a local informal settlement and farming community was assessed. Untreated [Tank 1 and Tank 2-(First-flush)] and treated (Prototype I and II) tank water samples were routinely collected from each site and all the measured physico-chemical parameters (e.g. pH and turbidity, amongst others), anions (e.g. sulphate and chloride, amongst others) and cations (e.g. iron and lead, amongst others) were within national and international drinking water guidelines limits. Culture-based analysis indicated that Escherichia coli, total and faecal coliforms, enterococci and heterotrophic bacteria counts exceeded drinking water guideline limits in 61%, 100%, 45%, 24% and 100% of the untreated tank water samples collected from both sites. However, an 8 hour solar exposure treatment for both solar reactors was sufficient to reduce these indicator organisms to within national and international drinking water standards, with the exception of the heterotrophic bacteria which exceeded the drinking water standard limit in 43% of the samples treated with the Prototype I reactor (1 log reduction). Molecular viability analysis subsequently indicated that mean overall reductions of 75% and 74% were obtained for the analysed indicator organisms (E. coli and enterococci spp.) and opportunistic pathogens (Klebsiella spp., Legionella spp., Pseudomonas spp., Salmonella spp. and Cryptosporidium spp. oocysts) in the Prototype I and II solar reactors, respectively. The large-volume batch solar reactor prototypes could thus effectively provide four (88 L Prototype II) to seven (144 L Prototype I) people on a daily basis with the basic water requirement for human activities (20 L). Additionally, a generic Water Safety Plan was developed to aid practitioners in identifying risks and implement remedial actions in this type of installation in order to ensure the safety of the treated water.
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Affiliation(s)
- B Reyneke
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Stellenbosch 7602, South Africa
| | - T Ndlovu
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Stellenbosch 7602, South Africa
| | - M B Vincent
- Ecosystem Environmental Services S.A., Sant Andreu de Llavaneres, Barcelona, Spain
| | - A Martínez-García
- Plataforma Solar de Almeria-CIEMAT, P.O. Box 22, Tabernas, Almería, Spain
| | - M I Polo-López
- Plataforma Solar de Almeria-CIEMAT, P.O. Box 22, Tabernas, Almería, Spain
| | - P Fernández-Ibáñez
- Plataforma Solar de Almeria-CIEMAT, P.O. Box 22, Tabernas, Almería, Spain; Nanotechnology and Integrated BioEngineering Centre, School of Engineering, University of Ulster, Newtownabbey, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom
| | - G Ferrero
- IHE Delft Institute for Water Education, Westvest 7, 2611, AX, Delft, the Netherlands
| | - S Khan
- Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Johannesburg, PO Box 17011, Doornfontein 2028, South Africa
| | - K G McGuigan
- Department of Physiology and Medical Physics, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin, Ireland
| | - W Khan
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Stellenbosch 7602, South Africa.
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Vlotman D, Ngila J, Ndlovu T, Doyle B, Carleschi E, Malinga S. Hyperbranched polymer membrane for catalytic degradation of polychlorinated biphenyl-153 (PCB-153) in water. REACT FUNCT POLYM 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.reactfunctpolym.2018.12.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
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Clements T, Ndlovu T, Khan S, Khan W. Biosurfactants produced by Serratia species: Classification, biosynthesis, production and application. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2018; 103:589-602. [DOI: 10.1007/s00253-018-9520-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2018] [Revised: 11/08/2018] [Accepted: 11/12/2018] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
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Waso M, Ndlovu T, Dobrowsky PH, Khan S, Khan W. Presence of microbial and chemical source tracking markers in roof-harvested rainwater and catchment systems for the detection of fecal contamination. Environ Sci Pollut Res Int 2016; 23:16987-7001. [PMID: 27206748 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-016-6895-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2015] [Accepted: 05/12/2016] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Microbial source tracking (MST) and chemical source tracking (CST) markers were utilized to identify fecal contamination in harvested rainwater and gutter debris samples. Throughout the sampling period, Bacteroides HF183 was detected in 57.5 % of the tank water samples and 95 % of the gutter debris samples, while adenovirus was detected in 42.5 and 52.5 % of the tank water and gutter debris samples, respectively. Human adenovirus was then detected at levels ranging from below the detection limit to 316 and 1253 genome copies/μL in the tank water and debris samples, respectively. Results for the CST markers showed that salicylic acid (average 4.62 μg/L) was the most prevalent marker (100 %) in the gutter debris samples, caffeine (average 18.0 μg/L) was the most prevalent in the tank water samples (100 %) and acetaminophen was detected sporadically throughout the study period. Bacteroides HF183 and salicylic acid (95 %) and Bacteroides HF183 and caffeine (80 %) yielded high concurrence frequencies in the gutter debris samples. In addition, the highest concurrence frequency in the tank water samples was observed for Bacteroides HF183 and caffeine (60 %). The current study thus indicates that Bacteroides HF183, salicylic acid and caffeine may potentially be applied as source tracking markers in rainwater catchment systems in order to supplement fecal indicator analyses.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Waso
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Stellenbosch, 7602, South Africa
| | - T Ndlovu
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Stellenbosch, 7602, South Africa
| | - P H Dobrowsky
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Stellenbosch, 7602, South Africa
| | - S Khan
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Wellness Sciences, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, P.O. Box 1906, Bellville, 7535, South Africa
| | - W Khan
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Stellenbosch, 7602, South Africa.
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Reyneke B, Dobrowsky PH, Ndlovu T, Khan S, Khan W. EMA-qPCR to monitor the efficiency of a closed-coupled solar pasteurization system in reducing Legionella contamination of roof-harvested rainwater. Sci Total Environ 2016; 553:662-670. [PMID: 26990076 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.02.108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2015] [Revised: 02/12/2016] [Accepted: 02/15/2016] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Solar pasteurization is effective in reducing the level of indicator organisms in stored rainwater to within drinking water standards. However, Legionella spp. were detected at temperatures exceeding the recommended pasteurization temperatures using polymerase chain reaction assays. The aim of the current study was thus to apply EMA quantitative polymerase chain reaction (EMA-qPCR) to determine whether the Legionella spp. detected were intact cells and therefore possibly viable at pasteurization temperatures >70°C. The BacTiter-Glo™ Microbial Cell Viability Assay was also used to detect the presence of ATP in the tested samples, as ATP indicates the presence of metabolically active cells. Chemical analysis also indicated that all anions and cations were within the respective drinking water guidelines, with the exception of iron (mean: 186.76 μg/L) and aluminium (mean: 188.13 μg/L), which were detected in the pasteurized tank water samples at levels exceeding recommended guidelines. The BacTiter-Glo™ Microbial Cell Viability Assay indicated the presence of viable cells for all pasteurized temperatures tested, with the percentage of ATP (in the form of relative light units) decreasing with increasing temperature [70-79°C (96.7%); 80- 89°C (99.2%); 90-95°C (99.7%)]. EMA-qPCR then indicated that while solar pasteurization significantly reduced (p<0.05) the genomic copy numbers of intact Legionella cells in the pasteurized tank water (~99%), no significant difference (p>0.05) in the mean copy numbers was detected with an increase in the pasteurization temperature, with 6 × 10(3) genomic copies/mL DNA sample obtained at 95°C. As intact Legionella cells were detected in the pasteurized tank water samples, quantitative microbial risk assessment studies need to be conducted to determine the potential health risk associated with using the water for domestic purposes.
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Affiliation(s)
- B Reyneke
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, University of Stellenbosch, Private Bag X1, Stellenbosch 7602, South Africa
| | - P H Dobrowsky
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, University of Stellenbosch, Private Bag X1, Stellenbosch 7602, South Africa
| | - T Ndlovu
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, University of Stellenbosch, Private Bag X1, Stellenbosch 7602, South Africa
| | - S Khan
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Wellness Sciences, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, P.O. Box 1906, Bellville 7535, South Africa
| | - W Khan
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, University of Stellenbosch, Private Bag X1, Stellenbosch 7602, South Africa.
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Ndlovu T, Chimonyo M, Okoh AI, Muchenje V, Dzama K, Dube S, Raats JG. A comparison of nutritionally-related blood metabolites among Nguni, Bonsmara and Angus steers raised on sweetveld. Vet J 2007; 179:273-81. [PMID: 17959398 DOI: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2007.09.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2007] [Revised: 09/10/2007] [Accepted: 09/11/2007] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
The objective of the study was to determine monthly variations in serum glucose, cholesterol, total protein (TP), urea, albumin, globulin, albumin/globulin ratio, creatinine, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), creatinine kinase (CK), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), calcium, phosphorus and magnesium in Nguni, Bonsmara and Angus beef steers raised on sweetveld. Twenty-five Nguni, 15 Aberdeen Angus and 15 Bonsmara 8-month old steers were studied from June 2006 until March 2007. Across the 9 months, Nguni had higher concentrations of glucose (P =0.019) and cholesterol (P =0.001) than the other two breeds. The overall glucose and cholesterol concentrations in the Nguni were 4 and 2.86mmol/L, respectively. There was a breedxmonth interaction on glucose, cholesterol, creatinine, calcium, albumin and phosphorus concentrations. Breed had no effect on TP, urea, globulin and AST concentrations. Breed and month differences obtained could be attributed to changes in environment temperature and nutrient content of the forage.
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Affiliation(s)
- T Ndlovu
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Faculty of Science and Agriculture, University of Fort Hare, Alice 5700, South Africa
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