Pharmacokinetics of single dose doxycycline in the rectum, vagina, and urethra: implications for prevention of bacterial sexually transmitted infections.

Background: Clinical trials showed a single oral dose of doxycycline taken after sex protects against STIs among men who have sex with men (MSM) but not women. Pharmacokinetic data at vaginal, rectal and penile sites of STI exposure are lacking. We examined vaginal, rectal and urethral doxycycline concentrations in men and women to better inform STI prevention.

Pharmacology of boosted and unboosted integrase strand transfer inhibitors for two-dose event-driven HIV prevention regimens among men.

Background: Event-driven HIV prevention strategies are a priority for users who do not require daily pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). Regimens containing integrase strand transfer inhibitors (INSTIs) are under evaluation as alternatives to daily PrEP. To better understand INSTI distribution and inform dosing selection we compared the pharmacology of two-dose boosted elvitegravir and unboosted bictegravir regimens in MSM.

Short Communication: Evaluation of Antiretroviral Drug Concentrations in Minimally Invasive Specimens for Potential Development of Point-of-Care Drug Assays.

Point-of-care (POC) tests for antiretroviral drugs (ARVs) could help improve individual adherence. This study sought to define the utility of urine, blood, and buccal swabs as minimally invasive specimens amenable to development of POC tests for ARVs. Urine, dried blood spots (DBS) and buccal swabs were collected from 35 HIV-negative men between 2 and 96 h after a single dose of tenofovir (TFV) alafenamide/emtricitabine (FTC)/elvitegravir (EVG)/cobicistat and darunavir (DRV).

Brief Report: Urine Emtricitabine and Tenofovir Concentrations Provide Markers of Recent Antiretroviral Drug Exposure Among HIV-Negative Men Who Have Sex With Men.

Background: Urine provides a minimally invasive specimen that may allow for development of rapid tests to detect antiretroviral drugs and provide opportunities to improve individual adherence. This study sought to determine whether urine could provide a biomarker of adherence for currently approved pre-exposure prophylaxis and HIV treatment regimens.

Methods: Urine and blood were collected from 34 HIV-negative men who have sex with men aged 18-49 years, enrolled in a clinical trial comparing 2 antiretroviral regimens.

Randomised controlled trial of a sexual risk reduction intervention for STI prevention among men who have sex with men in the USA.

Objectives: Novel interventions to address sexual risk taking and slow rates of STIs are urgently needed, in particular among black men who have sex with men (MSM) in the USA. Serosorting, or limiting condomless sex acts to partners of the same HIV status, is commonly practised among MSM, yet can lead to STI and remains largely unaddressed by public health agencies.

Methods: A two-arm, randomised controlled trial was conducted from 2012 to 2015.

The Daily Relationship Between Aspects of Food Insecurity and Medication Adherence Among People Living with HIV with Recent Experiences of Hunger.

Background: Limited access to resources can significantly impact health behaviors. Previous research on food insecurity and HIV has focused on establishing the relationship between lacking access to nutritious food and antiretroviral (ARV) medication non-adherence in a variety of social contexts.

Purpose: This study aims to determine if several aspects of food insecurity co-occur with missed doses of medication on a daily basis among a sample of people living with HIV who have recently experienced hunger.

Minimal Awareness and Stalled Uptake of Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) Among at Risk, HIV-Negative, Black Men Who Have Sex with Men.

In the United States, rates of HIV infection are highest among black men who have sex with men (BMSM). Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is a highly effective form of HIV prevention, but the uptake of this strategy has been slow since FDA approval in 2012, and it is unknown whether information about PrEP is reaching BMSM. Four hundred and thirty-six BMSM in Atlanta, GA were surveyed from January 2012 (6 months prior to PrEP approval) to March 2014 (20 months after approval).

The role of stigma and medical mistrust in the routine health care engagement of black men who have sex with men.

Unlabelled: Objectives: We assessed how health care-related stigma, global medical mistrust, and personal trust in one's health care provider relate to engaging in medical care among Black men who have sex with men (MSM).

Methods: In 2012, we surveyed 544 Black MSM attending a community event. We completed generalized linear modeling and mediation analyses in 2013.

Psychosocial factors related to willingness to use pre-exposure prophylaxis for HIV prevention among Black men who have sex with men attending a community event.

Unlabelled: Objectives In the US, Black men who have sex with men (BMSM) are disproportionately affected by HIV/AIDS. Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) holds tremendous promise for curbing the HIV/AIDS epidemic among these men. However, many psychosocial components must be addressed in order to implement this prevention tool effectively among BMSM.

Black men who have sex with men, sexual risk-taking, and willingness to use rapid home HIV tests.

The availability of rapid home-based HIV testing (RHT) in the USA has provided us with a valuable, new option in our efforts to identify more people living with HIV and to do so sooner. Furthermore, it is possible that RHT will be or is currently being used as a means of learning one's own and one's partner's HIV status prior to engaging in condomless intercourse. Data regarding knowledge and willingness to use RHT, however, is very limited.