Positive STEPS: Enhancing Medication Adherence and Achieving Viral Load Suppression in Youth Living with HIV in the United States - Results from a Stepped-Care Randomized Controlled Efficacy Trial.

Background: In the U.S. and worldwide, there is a significant number of young people acquiring and living with HIV.

DoxyPEP Implementation Preferences for Bacterial STD Prevention Among Gay, Bisexual, and Other Men Who Have Sex with Men Living With and Without HIV in Los Angeles: A Mixed-Methods Approach.

Bacterial sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) remain prominent in the United States among gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM). Doxycycline for post-exposure prophylaxis (DoxyPEP) is a regimen by which the antibiotic doxycycline is taken after sex to prevent bacterial STDs, such as, chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis. Despite this, this study was conducted because there are a limited number of publications that describe GBMSM's knowledge of, and interest in, taking DoxyPEP and preferences regarding its implementation.

Healthy Aging and the Gut Microbiome in People With and Without HIV.

Background: Aging-related comorbidities are more common in people with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) compared to people without HIV. The gut microbiome may play a role in healthy aging; however, this relationship remains unexplored in the context of HIV.

Methods: 16S rRNA gene sequencing was conducted on stool from 1409 women (69% with HIV; 2304 samples) and 990 men (54% with HIV; 1008 samples) in the MACS/WIHS Combined Cohort Study.

Randomized Pilot Trial of the Text-Based Adherence Game for Ghanaian Youth with HIV.

This study examined the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of a mobile intervention called the Text-Based Adherence Game (TAG). TAG aimed to improve HIV treatment adherence among young people with HIV (YPWH) in Ghana. Participants, YPWH aged 18 to 24, were recruited from an HIV clinic in Kumasi, Ghana where study procedures were conducted.

An initial randomized controlled trial of a Combined Medication and Behavioral Activation Treatment (CoMBAT) for people with opioid use disorder.

Introduction: Opioid use disorder is a chronic, relapsing disease and a major source of morbidity and mortality in the U.S. Medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) have been shown to reduce opioid use; however, MOUD maintenance is often suboptimal.

Comparison of basic lymphocyte phenotype results between a diagnostic and a research laboratory.

Objective: Lymphocyte phenotyping is a valuable tool for monitoring the effects of antiretroviral therapy on individuals living with HIV-1. A switch study was conducted to compare T-cell subset quantification performed by a research laboratory and a diagnostic, laboratory to understand the impact on the retrospective and prospective results of a long-term study.

Methods: Using FACSCanto II Flow Cytometers, EDTA anticoagulated peripheral blood from 73 males enrolled in the Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study/Women Interagency HIV Combined Cohort Study was analyzed by both a research (laboratory 1) and a diagnostics laboratory (laboratory 2) for quantification of cluster of differentiation (CD)3, CD4, and CD8 T-cells.

Characterization of unique B-cell populations in the circulation of people living with HIV prior to non-Hodgkin lymphoma diagnosis.

People living with HIV (PLWH) are at higher risk of developing lymphoma. In this study, we performed cytometry by time-of-flight (CyTOF) on peripheral blood mononuclear cells of cART-naïve HIV+ individuals and cART-naïve HIV+ individuals prior to AIDS-associated non-Hodgkin lymphoma (pre-NHL) diagnosis. Participants were enrolled in the Los Angeles site of the MACS/WIHS Combined Cohort Study (MWCCS).

The Relationship between Serving as a Mentor and Depressive Symptoms among Sexual Minority Men in the MACS Healthy Aging Study.

Sexual minority men (SMM) in the US are twice as likely to experience mental health challenges, including depressive symptoms, compared with their heterosexual counterparts. Having a like-mentor, or a sexual minority mentor, is associated with improved mental well-being among SMM mentees. However, few studies have explored the potential benefits to mentors.

Longitudinal Analysis of Overlapping Psychosocial Factors Predicting Incident Hospitalization Among Mixed HIV Serostatus Men who have Sex with Men in the Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study.

Men who have sex with men (MSM) are at increased risk for certain types of chronic diseases and mental health problems. Despite having extended survival in the highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) era, MSM living with HIV contend with aging-related diseases and complications with treatment. Consequent hospitalizations incur high costs, fear, low quality of life, and frailty.

Intersectional stigma and the non-communicable disease syndemic in the context of HIV: protocol for a multisite, observational study in the USA.

Introduction: The increasing burden of non-communicable diseases, such as hypertension, diabetes and dyslipidaemia, presents key challenges to achieving optimal HIV care outcomes among ageing people living with HIV. These diseases are often comorbid and are exacerbated by psychosocial and structural inequities. This interaction among multiple health conditions and social factors is referred to as a syndemic.

Study protocol of a randomized controlled trial to assess the efficacy of the "PrEPare for Work" intervention to enhance PrEP uptake and optimize adherence for HIV prevention among male sex workers in the U.S.

Background: Male sex workers (MSWs), specifically cisgender men who exchange sex for money, goods, drugs, or other items of value with other cisgender men, are at high risk for HIV infection. Compared to men not engaged in sex work, MSWs are more likely to engage in frequent condomless sex with paying and non-paying sexual partners. While MSWs are often included as a subgroup of gay and bisexual men, data show that a large proportion identify as heterosexual; additionally, most MSWs do not identify as "sex workers.

HIV symptom severity and associated factors among young people with HIV in Ghana.

Adolescents and young adults (young people) with HIV (YPWH) often struggle with treatment self-management. Many have symptoms due to HIV disease, medication side-effects, or comorbid conditions. Our study investigated the severity of HIV-related symptoms among YPWH aged 18-24 with detectable viral loads from an HIV clinic in Ghana ( = 60) and potential correlates of severity across a range of factors.

Prevalence of methamphetamine use among gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: International efforts have reduced the availability of methamphetamine precursors, but its distribution and use continue to rise. Methamphetamine use can lead to short- and long-term adverse effects, including addiction, physical and psychosocial health problems, socioeconomic troubles, incarceration, overdose, and death. Gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (MSM) have been shown to have an elevated prevalence of methamphetamine use.

Relationship among serum levels of IL-6, sIL-6R, s gp130 and CD126 on T-cell in HIV-1 infected and uninfected men participating in the Los Angeles Multi-Center AIDS Cohort Study.

Introduction: Interleukin 6 (IL-6) activates cells through its unique heterodimeric signaling complex of IL-6 receptor (IL6R) subunit and interleukin 6 signal transducer β-subunit glycoprotein 130 (gp130). The objective of this study was to investigate associations among serum levels of IL-6, sIL-6R, sgp130 and relative fluorescence intensity (RFI) of the α-subunit of the IL-6 receptor (CD126) on T-cells of HIV-1 infected and uninfected men.

Methods: Blood samples were obtained from 69 HIV-1-infected men on Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART) with mean age of 49.

Association of Partnership-Level Methamphetamine Use on Inconsistent PrEP Care Engagement Among GBMSM in Los Angeles County.

There are limited quantitative studies describing the association between meth use in the context of male-male sexual partnerships and PrEP care engagement. We assessed the longitudinal relationship between individual and partnership level meth use with inconsistent PrEP engagement among young gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM) in Los Angeles. The primary exposure was meth use at the partnership level with a ternary variable (neither partner nor participant used meth, either used meth, or both used meth).

A qualitative exploration of how to support PrEP adherence among young men who have sex with men.

New HIV infections disproportionately affect young men who have sex with men (YMSM). PrEP is effective in preventing HIV acquisition; however, adherence is critical and is often suboptimal among YMSM. Interventions addressing the unique PrEP adherence challenges faced by YMSM are needed.

The need for targeted behavioural HIV-related interventions for transgender women in India: A scoping review.

Background & Objectives: Transgender women (TGW) in India are at high risk of HIV infection. Despite behavioural interventions aimed at reducing HIV risk, no literature synthesis exists so far to evaluate their potential for reducing HIV incidence in India This review was aimed to identify and evaluate HIV-focussed behaviour change interventions for TGW in India.

Methods: Literature from three databases were reviewed up to June 2, 2021, for studies describing behavioural interventions for HIV prevention among TGW in India.

PrEPare for Work: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial of an Intervention to Optimize HIV PrEP Outcomes Among Male Sex Workers.

HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) use is limited among male sex workers, who are at exceptionally high-risk for HIV infection. We developed a theory-informed, two-pronged intervention ("PrEPare-for-Work") to optimize PrEP initiation and adherence among male sex workers, which was preliminarily evaluated in a two-stage pilot randomized controlled trial of 110 male sex workers in the US Northeast. Individuals randomized to the Stage 1 PrEPare-for-Work Case Management arm were three times as likely as those in the standard of care (SOC) arm to initiate PrEP (RR = 2.

Individual-Level Psychosocial Resiliencies as Mediators of the Relationship Between Internalized Homophobia and Depressive Symptoms Among Middle-Aged and Older Men Living With and Without HIV.

Among sexual minority men (SMM), internalized homophobia (IH) has been consistently associated with increased depression symptoms. However, some SMM experiencing IH demonstrate resilience to buffer against depression symptoms. In this analysis, we used the Stress Process Model (SPM) as a conceptual framework to explore individual-level psychosocial resilience (ILPR) factors serving as a buffer of the IH-depression relationship.

Study protocol for an efficacy trial of the "PrEP for Health" intervention to increase HIV PrEP use among people who inject drugs.

Background: HIV incidence has recently increased among people who inject drugs (PWID) across the United States, with outbreaks occurring in states with long-standing syringe service programs (SSPs) including Massachusetts (MA). Antiretroviral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is an evidence-based HIV prevention strategy recommended for PWID, but uptake in this marginalized population is extraordinarily low.

Methods: We describe the design and procedures for a National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)-funded (R01) randomized controlled trial (RCT) testing the efficacy of "PrEP for Health," a multicomponent behavioral intervention to increase PrEP uptake, adherence, and persistence among HIV-negative PWID attending SSPs in two areas of the U.

The role of social support on cognitive function among midlife and older adult MSM.

Objective: This study examines the association between social support and cognitive function among midlife and older MSM living with or without HIV.

Design: We analyzed longitudinal data from participants enrolled from October 2016 to March 2019 in the Patterns of Healthy Aging Study, a substudy of the Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional analysis to estimate the association between social support and three measures of cognitive function [Trail Making Test (TMT) Part A, TMT Part B to A ratio, and Symbol Digit Modalities Tasks (SDMT)].