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Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) effectively reduces human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) transmission. We aimed to estimate the impact of different PrEP prioritization strategies among Black and Latino men who have sex with men (MSM) in the United States, populations most disproportionately affected by HIV. We developed an agent-based simulation to model the HIV epidemic among MSM. Individuals were assigned an HIV incidence risk index (HIRI-MSM) based on their sexual behavior. Prioritization strategies included PrEP use for individuals with HIRI-MSM ≥10 among all MSM, all Black MSM, young (≤25 years) Black MSM, Latino MSM, and young Latino MSM. We estimated the number needed to treat (NNT) to prevent one HIV infection, reductions in prevalence and incidence, and subsequent infections in non-PrEP users avoided under these strategies over 5 years (2016–2020). Young Black MSM eligible for PrEP had the lowest NNT (NNT = 10) followed by all Black MSM (NNT = 33) and young Latino MSM (NNT = 35). All Latino MSM and all MSM had NNT values of 63 and 70, respectively. Secondary infection reduction with PrEP was the highest among young Latino MSM (53.2%) followed by young Black MSM (37.8%). Targeting all MSM had the greatest reduction in prevalence (14.7% versus 2.9%–3.9% in other strategies) and incidence (49.4% versus 9.4%–13.9% in other groups). Using data representative of the United States MSM population, we found that a strategy of universal PrEP use by MSM was most effective in reducing HIV prevalence and incidence of MSM. Targeted use of PrEP by Black and Latino MSM, however, especially those ≤25 years, had the greatest impact on HIV prevention.

Purpose. Group B streptococcus (GBS) is an important cause of neonatal sepsis worldwide. Data on the prevalence of maternal GBS colonization, risk factors for carriage, antibiotic susceptibility and circulating serotypes are necessary to tailor adequate locally relevant public health policies.Methodology. A prospective study including pregnant women and their newborns was conducted between March and July 2013 in Morocco. We collected clinical data and vagino-rectal and urine samples from the recruited pregnant women, together with the clinical characteristics of, and body surface samples from, their newborns. Additionally, the first three newborns admitted every day with suspected invasive infection were recruited for a thorough screening for neonatal sepsis. Serotypes were characterized by molecular testing.Results. A total of 350 pregnant women and 139 of their newborns were recruited. The prevalence of pregnant women colonized by GBS was 24 %. In 5/160 additional sick newborns recruited with suspected sepsis, the blood cultures were positive for GBS. Gestational hypertension and vaginal pruritus were significantly associated with a vagino-rectal GBS colonization in univariate analyses. All of the strains were susceptible to penicillin, while 7 % were resistant to clindamycin and 12 % were resistant to erythromycin. The most common GBS serotypes detected included V, II and III.Conclusion. In Morocco, maternal GBS colonization is high. Penicillin can continue to be the cornerstone of intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis. A pentavalent GBS vaccine (Ia, Ib, II, III and V) would have been effective against the majority of the colonizing cases in this setting, but a trivalent one (Ia, Ib and III) would only prevent 28 % of the cases.

Full Title: A comparison of the toxicity of the botanical insecticide, Sirinol and two chemical insecticides, Mospilan and Consult, on two natural enemies of the pistachio psyllid, coccinellid predator (Oenopia conglobata) and parasitic wasp (Psyllaephagus pistaciae)The common pistachio psyllid, Agonoscena pistaciae, is one of the most important pests of pistachio tree. This pest has many natural enemies and some of the important ones are the coccinellid predator (CP) (Oenopia conglobata) and the parasitic wasp (PW) (Psyllaephagus pistaciae). In this research, the effect of three concentrations of Sirinol on the first and fourth instar larvae and the adult of O. conglobata and on the pupae and adult of P. pistaciae was tested and the toxicity of this insecticide was compared with that of two chemical insecticides, Consult and Mospilan. Topical bioassay was carried out in laboratory condition; however, to investigate the resistance stage of the parasitic wasp, a completely randomized experimental design was used in the field condition in 2010 and 2011. The results of these experiments show that the chemical pesticide, Mospilan, caused more mortality of all the stages of the two previously mentioned natural enemies than did Sirinol. The results show that Mospilan had a slightly harmful, moderately harmful, moderately harmful, and slightly harmful effect on the adult of the PW and the adult and the first and fourth instar larvae of the CP, respectively and Consult had a harmless, slightly harmful, slightly harmful, and moderately harmful effect on the named stages of the PW and CP respectively. On the other hand, Sirinol had a slightly harmful effect on the adult of PW, but a harmless effect on the other stages; consequently, it falls into the category of International Organisation for Biological Control (IOBC). The field experiments conducted in 2010 and 2011 showed that 15.79% Mospilan, 13.8% Consult, and 6.49% Sirinol caused the mortality of the larvae and pupae of the PW. This research showed that Sirinol which caused very low mortality of the natural enemies of pistachio psyllid can be used in Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program in pistachio orchards.Keywords: Oenopia conglobata, Psyllaephagus pistaciae, insecticide, Sirinol, Consult, Mospilan

Purpose: To assess the accuracy of voided urine cytology versus urinary nuclear matrix protein 22 (NMP22) qualitative assay in the diagnosis of various grades and stages of recurrent bladder transitional cell carcinoma (TCC). Materials and Methods: From July 2007 to February 2009, all patients with history of superficial bladder TCC were included in this multi-center study. Each patient provided three serial voided urine samples for cytologic examination and one sample for the NMP22 qualitative assay prior to urethrocystoscopy. The sensitivity and specificity of urine cytology and the NMP22 test were determined.Results: The sensitivities of the NMP22 test and cytology for detection of recurrence were 78.8% and 44.2%, respectively (P = .001), while the specificities were 69.6% and 83.7%, respectively (P = .019). The NMP22 test showed significantly higher sensitivity than cytology in detecting recurrences in low-risk and intermediate-risk groups.Conclusion: The NMP22 assay could be used for detection of superficial bladder cancer, especially in low- and intermediate-risk groups; however, the value of the test is limited by its low specificity.

BACKGROUND: CD44 is a transmembrane glycoprotein involved in cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions. De novo expression of CD44 and its variant isoforms has been associated with aggressive behavior in various tumors. Since little data is available on the role of CD44 expression in renal cell carcinoma, we evaluated CD44 expression to determine its prognostic value. METHODS: Forty-six patients with renal cell carcinoma were studied. CD44 expression was evaluated semiquantitively on paraffin-embedded tumor tissue by immunohistochemistry. The prognostic value of CD44 was tested using Kaplan Meier plots by the log rank test and Cox regression analysis. RESULTS: Fifteen out of 46 specimens (32.6%) were CD44-positive. According to bivariate analysis, tumor stage, tumor size, nuclear grade and CD44 expression were significant prognostic factors. CONCLUSIONS: CD44 expression can be considered as a useful prognostic parameter in renal cell carcinoma. KEY WORDS: CD44 expression, renal cell carcinoma, immunohistochemistry.

Neonatal bacterial meningitis has a mortality rate that exceeds 10% and is responsible for sequelae in 20-50% of cases. The epidemiology of bacterial meningitis is variable depending on the age, areas and periods. Aim of the study: To study the incidence of neonatal meningitis, know the evolution of bacterial epidemiology and risk factors. Population and methods: A retrospective study about 60 cases of neonatal meningitis over a period of 3 years (January 2011-December 2013) at the National Reference Centre for Nutrition and Neonatology of the Children's Hospital of Rabat. Results: The prevalence of neonatal bacterial meningitis was 0.5 per 1000 live births. Parturients were aged between 21 and 35 years in 50% of cases. They were illiterate in 65% of cases. The pregnancies were followed in 60% of cases. Families were from urban environment in 70% of cases. Primiparity was noted in 69% of mothers. We had vaginal delivery in 80% of women. The Apgar was

El Kabiri, M Paranthoen, P Rosset, L Lecordier, JC; Temperature fluctuations and fluxes downstream of a heated line source located in a turbulent boundary layer. The purpose of the present communication is to present and discuss some recent experimental results concerning the dispersion downstream of a heated line source located, in a turbulent boundary layer, successively at two distances from an adiabatic wall. Information on the mean and fluctuating temperature fields and associated heat fluxes are presented and analysed by testing closure assumptions for model dispersion at first and second orders. This model, which only requires the use of temporal velocity scales of the flow, leads to a rather good agreement with measurements. (C) Elsevier, Paris.