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Imaging Techniques May Help Characterize Vaginal MicrobicidesA USAID-supported study conducted by CONRAD and its partners shows that three different imaging techniques provide valuable information about the movement of a vaginal gel inside a woman's vagina. This information may be particularly useful in the development of a vaginal microbicide to prevent HIV. Magnetic resonance imaging, gamma scintigraphy, and a fiberoptic probe were used to evaluate the movement and retention of gels inside the vagina. The scientists used two microbicide surrogates — Replens gel and K-Y Jelly. The scientists showed how a woman's body movements, the number of children she has had, and her body mass index can affect the diffusion and retention of a vaginal gel. They also identified unique advantages and disadvantages of the imaging techniques and concluded that the three techniques would provide complementary information about a microbicide. Although microbicides can be produced in many forms, most of the current candidates are formulated as gels. The ideal microbicidal gel would spread quickly, completely covering both the vaginal walls and the outer part of the cervix. It would also stay in place throughout sexual intercourse. More than 30 microbicide candidates are in some stage of laboratory or clinical development. No product has yet been shown to prevent HIV in humans. Family Health International provided biostatistical support to this CONRAD study. Additional partners included Duke University, Scintipharma, Inc., the University of Kentucky, and the University of Pennsylvania. To read more about this topic, click here. Source |
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