Characterization of Viruses in Phase 3 and Phase 3b Trials (the Ring Study and the Dapivirine Ring Extended Access and Monitoring Trial) of the Dapivirine Vaginal Ring for Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Infection Risk Reduction.

Background: The Ring Study demonstrated 35.1% human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection risk reduction among participants who used the Dapivirine vaginal ring-004 (DVR), whereas the Dapivirine Ring Extended Access and Monitoring (DREAM) trial, approximated a 62% risk reduction. The observed non-nucleoside reverse-transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI) resistance-associated mutations (RAMs) and effects on viral susceptibility are described here.

Clinical Presentation, Treatment Response, and Virology Outcomes of Women Who Seroconverted in the Dapivirine Vaginal Ring Trials-The Ring Study and DREAM.

Background: Participants with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) seroconversion in The Ring Study, a phase 3 trial of dapivirine vaginal ring (DVR), or in the open-label extension trial dapivirine ring extended access and monitoring (DREAM) were offered enrollment in an observational cohort study (IPM 007) to assess clinical presentation and response to antiretroviral therapy (ART).

Methods: Participants' HIV infection was managed at local treatment clinics according to national treatment guidelines. IPM 007 study visits occurred 3 and 6 months after enrollment and every 6 months thereafter.

Establishing communication challenges and preferences among clinical trial participants in an under-resourced setting to improve adherence to study visits and participant retention.

Background: Ensuring protocol visit compliance and maintaining high participant retention remain critical elements of clinical trials. In the HVTN 702 HIV vaccine trial, Setshaba Research Centre in Soshanguve, Tshwane, South Africa, experienced challenges in communicating with participants to remind them about their study visits. In order to improve participants adhering to their study visits, and study retention, we aimed to identify challenges in mobile communication, and to establish preferences in communication methods and interest in receiving study information via cellphones.

Safety, adherence, and HIV-1 seroconversion among women using the dapivirine vaginal ring (DREAM): an open-label, extension study.

Background: The Ring Study, a phase 3 trial in 1959 sexually active women (randomised 2:1), showed a favourable safety profile and a 31% HIV-1 infection risk reduction for a vaginal ring containing 25 mg of dapivirine, compared with a placebo ring. We report here the DREAM study, which aimed to evaluate safety, adherence, and HIV-1 incidence in those using the dapivirine vaginal ring (DVR) in open-label use.

Methods: The DREAM study is an open-label extension of The Ring Study, done at five research centres in South Africa and one research centre in Uganda.

Bacterial nasopharyngeal carriage following infant immunization with pneumococcal conjugate vaccines according to a 2+1 schedule in children in South Africa: an exploratory analysis of two clinical trials.

: We evaluated bacterial nasopharyngeal carriage (NPC) prevalence and cumulative acquisition following 7-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV7) or pneumococcal non-typeable protein D conjugate vaccine (PHiD-CV) administration. : Participants were children from two clinical trials in a South African center who received PCV7 (n = 250) or PHiD-CV (n = 100) at ~6 weeks, ~14 weeks, and ~9-10 months of age, and were enrolled between Dec2009-Apr2010 and Mar2009-May2010 in the PCV7 and PHiD-CV studies, respectively. Sample collection, most microbiological assessments, and data re-analysis methods were identical.