Control and Elimination of Hepatitis C Virus Among People With HIV in Australia: Extended Follow-up of the CEASE Cohort (2014-2023).

Background: Approximately 10% of people with HIV in Australia had active hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection prior to availability of government-subsidized direct-acting antiviral (DAA) therapy in 2016. This analysis evaluated progress toward HCV elimination among people with HIV in Australia between 2014 and 2023.

Methods: The CEASE cohort study enrolled adults with HIV with past or current HCV infection (anti-HCV antibody positive) from 14 primary and tertiary clinics.

Uptake of guideline-based testing for chronic viral hepatitis in Australian primary care: retrospective analysis of electronic medical record data.

Background Diagnosis is essential for engagement in care for chronic hepatitis B (CHB) and chronic hepatitis C (CHC), however, many Australians remain undiagnosed, especially for CHB. Primary care represents an important setting for testing, and this study sought to examine coverage in a large representative cohort of patients. Methods We analysed retrospective data from the electronic medical records of active patients visiting 566 primary care clinics in Victoria, Australia.

Prevalence of blood-borne virus infections and uptake of hepatitis C testing and treatment in Australian prisons: the AusHep study.

Background: Incarcerated people are at high risk of blood-borne virus infections, particularly HCV, and a priority population for elimination efforts. This national bio-behavioural survey evaluated blood-borne virus prevalence and HCV testing-and-treatment uptake amongst people in Australian prisons.

Methods: Randomly-selected participants from 23 representative prisons nationally were offered point-of-care testing for HIV and HCV (anti-HCV) antibodies, hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), and HCV RNA (if anti-HCV positive).

A Pilot Randomised Controlled Trial Involving Financial Incentives to Facilitate Hepatitis C Treatment Uptake Among People Who Inject Drugs: ETHOS Engage Study.

The primary aim of this study was to establish the feasibility of implementing a larger RCT designed to evaluate the effect of financial incentives on HCV treatment initiation among persons receiving opioid agonist therapy and/or who have injected drugs in the prior six months. ETHOS Engage is an observational cohort of participants recruited from drug treatment and needle and syringe programs in Australia. Among 11 drug and alcohol clinics, participants who were HCV RNA-positive were randomized (1:1) to receive standard of care or a AUD $60 gift card at treatment initiation.

Adenoviral delivery of the CIITA transgene induces T-cell-mediated killing in glioblastoma organoids.

The immunosuppressive nature of the tumor microenvironment poses a significant challenge to effective immunotherapies against glioblastoma (GB). Boosting the immune response is critical for successful therapy. Here, we adopted a cancer gene therapy approach to induce T-cell-mediated killing of the tumor through increased activation of the immune system.

Utilising integrated bio-behavioural surveillance (IBBS) to investigate declining hepatitis C antibody prevalence among people who inject drugs in the Australian Needle and Syringe Program Survey.

Background: Prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibody (Ab) on dried blood spot (DBS) samples in the Australian Needle and Syringe Program Survey (ANSPS) decreased nationally from 57 % in 2015 to 32 % in 2022. We aimed to investigate potential explanations for this decline.

Methods: Changes in DBS HCV Ab prevalence were investigated by redefining positive cases as those with those with either a positive HCV Ab test result or a self-reported history of ever having HCV treatment (modified prevalence), examining HCV Ab prevalence by birth and age cohorts, and assessing trends in key risk behaviours.

Hepatitis C treatment outcome among people in prison: The SToP-C study.

Background And Aims: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) burden is higher among people in prison given high prevalence of injecting drug use. This study evaluated direct-acting antiviral (DAA) treatment outcome in prisons.

Methods: The Surveillance and Treatment of Prisoners with hepatitis C (SToP-C) study enrolled individuals incarcerated in four Australian prisons (2017-2019).

Utilising Integrated Bio-behavioural Surveillance (IBBS) to investigate declining hepatitis C antibody prevalence among people who inject drugs in the Australian Needle and Syringe Program Survey.

Background: Prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibody (Ab) on dried blood spot (DBS) samples in the Australian Needle and Syringe Program Survey (ANSPS) decreased nationally from 57% in 2015 to 32% in 2022. We aimed to investigate potential explanations for this decline.

Methods: Changes in DBS HCV Ab prevalence were investigated by redefining positive cases as those with those with either a positive HCV Ab test result or a self-reported history of ever having HCV treatment (modified prevalence), examining HCV Ab prevalence by birth and age cohorts, and assessing trends in key risk behaviours.

De Novo Hybrid Assembly Unveils Multi-Chromosomal Mitochondrial Genomes in Species, Highlighting Genomic Recombination, Gene Transfer, and RNA Editing Events.

Biological invasions have been identified as the fifth cause of biodiversity loss, and their subsequent dispersal represents a major ecological challenge. The aquatic invasive species subsp. () and subsp.

A phase 3 randomised double-blind placebo-controlled trial of mirtazapine as a pharmacotherapy for methamphetamine use disorder: a study protocol for the Tina Trial.

Background: There are no approved pharmacotherapies for methamphetamine use disorder. Two preliminary phase 2 randomised controlled trials have found mirtazapine, a tetracyclic antidepressant, to be effective in reducing methamphetamine use. The proposed Tina Trial is the first phase 3 placebo-controlled randomised trial to examine the effectiveness and safety of mirtazapine as an outpatient pharmacotherapy for methamphetamine use disorder.

Applying a stigma and time framework to facilitate equitable access to hepatitis C care among women who inject drugs: The ETHOS Engage Study.

Background: Women who inject drugs are significantly less likely to initiate hepatitis C virus (HCV) treatment than men. Concerted efforts are needed to minimise gender-based inequalities in care. The study aim was to use a stigma and time framework to investigate how women who inject drugs experienced HCV care in healthcare settings.

Ovine papillomavirus type 3 virus-like particle-based tools for diagnosis and detection of infection.

The design of prophylactic and diagnostic tools specific to animal papillomaviruses is hampered by the difficulties of viral in vitro manipulation and by the scarce availability of dedicated biotechnological tools. This paper reports the production of Ovine Papillomavirus 3 (OaPV3)-based virus-like particles (OaPV3-VLPs) in the baculovirus system and their use to investigate host humoral immune response through the establishment of an indirect ELISA test., Polyclonal sera and monoclonal antibodies were generated against OaPV3-VLPs, and their isotype and reactivity were determined.

Factors associated with experiencing stigma, discrimination, and negative health care treatment among people who inject drugs.

Introduction: Stigma has negative consequences for the health of people who inject drugs and people living with hepatitis C virus (HCV). This study evaluated factors associated with stigma related to injecting drug use (IDU) or HCV and those associated with being treated negatively by health workers.

Methods: ETHOS Engage is an observational cohort study of people who inject drugs attending drug treatment clinics and needle and syringe programs in Australia.

Blood brain barrier disruption and glutamatergic excitotoxicity in post-acute sequelae of SARS COV-2 infection cognitive impairment: potential biomarkers and a window into pathogenesis.

Objective: To investigate the association between blood-brain barrier permeability, brain metabolites, microstructural integrity of the white matter, and cognitive impairment (CI) in post-acute sequelae of SARS-COV-2 infection (PASC).

Methods: In this multimodal longitudinal MRI study 14 PASC participants with CI and 10 healthy controls were enrolled. All completed investigations at 3 months following acute infection (3 months ± 2 weeks SD), and 10 PASC participants completed at 12 months ± 2.

Challenges and facilitators in repeated bio-behavioural surveys for blood-borne virus infections in Australian prisons.

Background: Prison-based blood-borne virus (BBV) surveillance is essential for evaluation of prevention and treatment programs for high-risk populations, such as people who inject drugs who are over-represented amongst those incarcerated. Regular triennial surveillance has been in place in Australian prisons for almost two decades, but has been focused to date only on new prison entrants. Recently, the Australian Hepatitis and risk survey in prisons (AusHep study) was established to provide improved surveillance via an expanded bio-behavioural survey representative of all people in prison, including those sentenced and those on remand.

Transcript tinkering: RNA modifications in protozoan parasites.

Apicomplexan and trypanosomatid parasites have evolved a wide range of post-transcriptional processes that allow them to replicate, differentiate, and transmit within and among multiple different tissue, host, and vector environments. In this review, we highlight the recent advances that point toward the regulatory potential of RNA modifications in mediating these processes on the coding and noncoding transcriptome throughout the life cycle of protozoan parasites. We discuss the recent technical advancements enabling the study of the 'epitranscriptome' and how parasites evolved RNA modification-mediated mechanisms adapted to their unique lifestyles.

Improvement of immune dysregulation in individuals with long COVID at 24-months following SARS-CoV-2 infection.

This study investigates the humoral and cellular immune responses and health-related quality of life measures in individuals with mild to moderate long COVID (LC) compared to age and gender matched recovered COVID-19 controls (MC) over 24 months. LC participants show elevated nucleocapsid IgG levels at 3 months, and higher neutralizing capacity up to 8 months post-infection. Increased spike-specific and nucleocapsid-specific CD4 T cells, PD-1, and TIM-3 expression on CD4 and CD8 T cells were observed at 3 and 8 months, but these differences do not persist at 24 months.

Needle and syringe sharing among people who have recently injected drugs in Australia: The ETHOS Engage Study.

Introduction: Understanding needle/syringe sharing is crucial for reducing hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and reinfection. This study aimed to assess the prevalence and factors associated with needle/syringe sharing among people who inject drugs in Australia, including those previously receiving HCV treatment.

Methods: The ETHOS Engage study was an observational cohort study which collected self-reported survey data on demographic and drug use information from people who inject drugs attending drug treatment clinics and needle and syringe programs over two waves between May 2018 and June 2021.

Factors associated with hepatitis C testing, treatment, and current hepatitis C infection among men and women who inject drugs: The ETHOS engage study.

Background: Evaluating gender-specific trends in hepatitis C virus (HCV) treatment uptake among men and women who inject drugs is crucial for ensuring equitable progress towards HCV elimination. This study aimed to quantify differences in testing, treatment, and current HCV infection between men and women who inject drugs.

Method: ETHOS Engage is an observational cohort study of people who inject drugs attending drug treatment clinics and needle and syringe programs in Australia recruited from May 2018-September 2019 (wave 1) and November 2019-April 2021 (wave 2).

96-week retention in treatment with extended-release subcutaneous buprenorphine depot injections among people with opioid dependence: Extended follow-up after a single-arm trial.

Background: The most recent formulation of buprenorphine treatment is extended-release depot injections (BUP-XR) that are administered subcutaneously by health care professionals. This study aimed to observe treatment outcomes of BUP-XR delivered in standard practice during a 96-week follow-up period in a community setting.

Methods: This study is an extension of the CoLAB study, a prospective single-arm, multicentre, open label trial (N=100, 7 sites in Australia) among people with opioid dependence who received monthly injections of BUP-XR to evaluate the retention in treatment.

Vaccination coverage among people who inject drugs: A systematic review.

Background: People who inject drugs may be at excess risk of acquiring vaccine-preventable diseases and negative associated health outcomes, but experience barriers to vaccination. We aimed to determine vaccination coverage among people who inject drugs globally.

Methodology: We conducted systematic searches of the peer-reviewed and grey literature, date limited from January 2008 to August 2023, focusing on diseases for which people who inject drugs are at elevated risk for and for which an adult vaccination dose is recommended (COVID-19, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, human papillomavirus, influenza, pneumococcal disease, tetanus).

Corrigendum to "Trends in decompensated cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma among people with a hepatitis B notification in New South Wales" [JHEP Reports 4 (2022)].

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1016/j.jhepr.