Rapid initiation of bictegravir/emtricitabine/tenofovir alafenamide as first-line therapy in HIV infection. A prospective study.

Introduction: Rapid initiation of ART after HIV diagnosis is recommended for individual and public health benefits. However, certain clinical and ART-related considerations hinder immediate initiation of therapy.

Methods: An open-label, single-arm, single-centre 48-week prospective clinical trial involving ART-naïve HIV-diagnosed adults who started bictegravir/emtricitabine/tenofovir alafenamide (BIC/FTC/TAF) within a week from the first hospital visit, before the availability of baseline laboratory and genotype results.

Community-based screening enhances hepatitis B virus linkage to care among West African migrants in Spain.

Background: Chronic infection with HBV is responsible for >50% of all hepatocellular cancer cases globally and disproportionately affects sub-Saharan African (sSA) countries. Migration from these countries to Europe has increased substantially in recent years, posing unique challenges to health systems. The aim of this study was to carry out a community-based intervention to increase HBV screening, vaccination, and linkage to care among sSA migrants in Catalonia, Spain.

Doravirine/Lamivudine/Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate for Nonoccupational HIV-1 Postexposure Prophylaxis: A Prospective Open-Label Trial (DORAVIPEP).

Background: New regimens may provide better tolerability, convenience, and safety for nonoccupational human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) postexposure prophylaxis (PEP). For this reason, we evaluated the single-tablet regimen of doravirine/lamivudine/tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (DOR/3TC/TDF) for 28 days.

Methods: This was a prospective, open-label, single-arm trial including individuals with potential HIV-1 exposure within 72 hours.

Perception of quality of care using patient reported experience measures (PREMs) in a cohort of adults with HIV: A cross-sectional study.

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection is considered a chronic disease. Antiretroviral therapy has allowed persons with HIV (PLWHIV) to achieve the 90-90-90 objectives proposed by the World Health Organization for 2020; but an additional challenge is getting an adequate health-related quality of life. A determining factor in the health-related quality of life of PLWHIV is the health care they perceive to receive.

Sex-based epidemiological and immunovirological characteristics of people living with HIV in current follow-up at a tertiary hospital: a comparative retrospective study, Catalonia, Spain, 1982 to 2020.

BackgroundEpidemiological and immunovirological features of people living with HIV (PLWH) can vary by sex.AimTo investigate, particularly according to sex, characteristics of PLWH who consulted a tertiary hospital in Barcelona, Spain, in 1982-2020.MethodsPLWH, still in active follow-up in 2020 were retrospectively analysed by sex, age at diagnosis, age at data extraction (December 2020), birth place, CD4+ cell counts, and virological failure.

Determinants of Depressive Symptoms in People Living with HIV: Findings from a Population-Based Study with a Gender Perspective.

Depressive symptoms are common among people living with HIV (PLWH). The aim of this study was to identify the determinants of depressive symptoms in PLWH in Spain. A total of 1060 PLWH participated in this cross-sectional study and completed the Patient Health Questionnaire-9.

A novel model of care for simplified testing of HBV in African communities during the COVID-19 pandemic in Spain.

Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a major public health threat for migrant populations in Spain and efforts to scale up testing are needed to reach the WHO elimination targets. The Hepatitis B Virus Community Screening and Vaccination in Africans (HBV-COMSAVA) study aims to use point-of-care testing and simplified diagnostic tools to identify, link to care, or vaccinate African migrants in Barcelona during the COVID-19 pandemic. From 21/11/20 to 03/07/2021, 314 study participants were offered HBV screening in a community clinic.

Immunological and virological efficacy of different antiretroviral regimens initiated during acute/recent HIV infection.

Objectives: Antiretroviral treatment (ART) during acute/recent HIV infection decreases transmission and optimizes immune recovery but the optimal ART-regimen in this setting is unknown. The objectives were to analyze the virological efficacy, immunological reconstitution and tolerability of different ART-regimens at 3 years after starting ART during acute/recent HIV infection.

Design: Retrospective cohort study of consecutive acutely/recently infected patients who started ART within 6 months postinfection.

Global health and the Royal College of Emergency Medicine: a cross-sectional survey of members and fellows.

Background: There is growing interest in global health participation among emergency care doctors in the UK. The aim of this paper was to describe the demographics of members and fellows of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine involved in global health, the work they are involved in, as well as the benefits and barriers of this work.

Methods: We conducted a survey to include members and fellows of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine describing the context of their global health work, funding arrangements for global health work and perceived barriers to, and benefits of, global health work.

Prevalence, clinical characteristics and outcome of severe primary HIV-1 infection: A prospective cohort study.

Background: Severe cases of primary HIV infection have been described in patients presenting with neurological involvement, AIDS defining events or other life-threatening events. These severe forms have not been fully studied.

Objectives: To determine the prevalence and characteristics of severe PHI in a hospital-based cohort of primary HIV infection, and the response to the early initiation of antiretroviral therapy (ART) at 12 months.

Cholesterol efflux responds to viral load and CD4 counts in HIV+ patients and is dampened in HIV exposed.

Cholesterol efflux (CE) capacity has been inversely associated with atherosclerosis and may provide an insight on inflammation occurring in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) individuals. We address this by studying CE in HIV patients at different stages of HIV disease progression. In this cross-sectional study, CE from ApoB-depleted plasma, lipids levels, viral load (VL), CD4+/CD8+ T-cells, high-sensitive C-reactive protein (hsCRP), and lipoprotein (a) were evaluated in untreated HIV-infected patients (UHIVs; n = 43), elite controllers (ECs; n = 8), HIV-exposed seronegative individuals (HESNs; n = 32), and healthy controls (HCs; n = 14).

Clinical care of patients with HIV.

There has been a significant change in the clinical characteristics of people living with HIV, with new needs arising that must be tackled. The life expectancy of a subject diagnosed early with HIV infection and recei-ving suppressive antiretroviral therapy is currently on a par with the life expectancy of the general popula-tion. HIV is now a chronic treatable disease and requires a multidisciplinary approach that includes both the hospital medicine specialties and primary care physicians.

Burden of HIV infection, vulnerable populations and access barriers to healthcare.

In Spain, HIV incidence has remained stable and higher than the European average since 2000 due to insuf-ficient prevention measures. An estimated 130,000-160,000 people are believed to be living with HIV in Spain, including 18% who do not know they are infected, and half are late diagnoses, with a poorer clinical course, lower quality of life and life expectancy, as well as higher costs. Late diagnosis is more common in heterosexuals, intravenous drug users, people over 50 years of age and immigrants, whereas men who have sex with men are the only group where the rate of new diagnoses is increasing.

Detection of HIV-1-specific T-cell immune responses in highly HIV-exposed uninfected individuals by in-vitro dendritic cell co-culture.

Background: Although virus-specific responses are rarely detected by conventional approaches, we report here the detection of T-cell responses in HIV-exposed seronegative (HESN) patients by two distinct assays.

Methods: HIV-specific T-cell responses were analyzed by enzyme-linked immunospot in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from HESN patients after a 48-h co-culture with boosted dendritic cells. Additionally, a boosted flow cytometry approach was used to capture antiviral T-cell responses.

A new multidisciplinary home care telemedicine system to monitor stable chronic human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients: a randomized study.

Background: Antiretroviral therapy has changed the natural history of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection in developed countries, where it has become a chronic disease. This clinical scenario requires a new approach to simplify follow-up appointments and facilitate access to healthcare professionals.

Methodology: We developed a new internet-based home care model covering the entire management of chronic HIV-infected patients.