Clinical Characteristics and Histologic Features of Hysterectomy Specimens From Transmasculine Individuals.

Objective: To describe the clinical characteristics of transmasculine individuals who underwent hysterectomy and characterize surgical pathology findings.

Methods: Under an institutional review board-approved protocol, transmasculine individuals who were undergoing hysterectomy and bilateral salpingectomy or bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy were retrospectively identified from a single institution. Past medical, surgical, obstetric, and gynecologic history were collected, including prior testosterone use, cervical cancer screening status, and preoperative pelvic imaging.

Differences in the Selection Bottleneck between Modes of Sexual Transmission Influence the Genetic Composition of the HIV-1 Founder Virus.

Due to the stringent population bottleneck that occurs during sexual HIV-1 transmission, systemic infection is typically established by a limited number of founder viruses. Elucidation of the precise forces influencing the selection of founder viruses may reveal key vulnerabilities that could aid in the development of a vaccine or other clinical interventions. Here, we utilize deep sequencing data and apply a genetic distance-based method to investigate whether the mode of sexual transmission shapes the nascent founder viral genome.

Increased frequency and function of KIR2DL1-3⁺ NK cells in primary HIV-1 infection are determined by HLA-C group haplotypes.

The acquisition and maintenance of NK-cell function is mediated by inhibitory killer-cell immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIRs) through their interaction with HLA class I molecules. Recently, HLA-C expression levels were shown to be correlated with protection against multiple outcomes of HIV-1 infection; however, the underlying mechanisms are poorly understood. As HLA-C is the natural ligand for the inhibitory receptors KIR2DL1 and KIR2DL2/3, we sought to determine whether HLA-C group haplotypes affect NK-cell responses during primary HIV-1 infection.