Publications by authors named "Nicky Mehtani"

Purpose Of Review: This review summarizes key implementation strategies to advance oral and long-acting PrEP delivery for unstably housed people in the United States.

Recent Findings: People experiencing homelessness and housing instability face barriers to PrEP uptake and adherence including lack of safe medication storage, competing basic needs, insurances issues, and/or mental health or substance use disorders. Recent advancements in HIV treatment and prevention provide evidence on high-touch, low-barrier implementation approaches to address these challenges.

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As a proposed mediator between stigma-related stressors and negative mental health outcomes, HIV-related shame has been predictive of increased rates of substance use and difficulties adhering to antiretroviral treatment among people with HIV. These downstream manifestations have ultimately impeded progress toward national goals to End the HIV Epidemic, in part due to limited success of conventional psychotherapies in addressing HIV-related shame. In a pilot clinical trial (N = 12), receipt of psilocybin-assisted group therapy was associated with a large pre-post decrease in HIV-related shame as measured by the HIV and Abuse Related Shame Inventory, with a median (IQR) change of - 5.

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Article Synopsis
  • - Long-acting antiretrovirals (LA-ART and LA-PrEP) could significantly help people who use drugs and those experiencing homelessness in managing HIV, as these groups often struggle with the daily routine of oral therapy due to various barriers.
  • - A study conducted at the Maria X. Martinez Health Resource Center in San Francisco, which focuses on low-barrier access, showed that out of 33 patients receiving LA-ART or LA-PrEP, most achieved viral suppression or maintained their HIV-negative status over the first 24 months.
  • - The success of this program demonstrates that providing LA antiretrovirals in supportive community settings is feasible and highlights the need for similar initiatives to combat the HIV epidemic among vulnerable populations.
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Stimulant use among unstably housed individuals is associated with increased risks of psychiatric co-morbidity, violence, HIV transmission, and overdose. Due to a lack of highly effective treatments, evidence-based policies targeting the prevention of stimulant use disorder are of critical importance. However, little empirical evidence exists on risks associated with initiating or returning to stimulant use among at-risk populations.

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In recent years, policymakers have proposed and implemented regulatory changes promoting the deprioritization, decriminalization, or state-level legalization of one or more psychedelic substances, usually referencing data from clinical trials as reasons to support liberalizing drug control policies. As psychedelic policies continue to be drafted, personal possession limits may be considered for inclusion in those regulations. If "allowable amount" limits are to be written into law to set personal possession limits, then such amounts should be more consistently related to psychedelic doses found to be safe and efficacious in clinical trials, existing data on moderate-high doses commonly used in various naturalistic settings, and the few studies that estimate psychedelic dose equivalence based on the intensity of subjective effects.

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Fewer than a quarter of people considered to have factors associated with HIV acquisition are prescribed pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) in the United States. Prior studies demonstrate disparities in provider comfort and knowledge regarding PrEP, suggesting a need for provider capacity building to support widespread PrEP availability. This study examined real-world PrEP clinical questions/cases from providers to a teleconsultation service to identify knowledge gaps and improve PrEP-related training materials and clinical guidelines.

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There is an alarming shortage of addiction psychiatrists in the United States. To promote interest in addiction psychiatry (ADP), it is essential to maximize resources available through ADP fellowship websites. The aim of this study was to investigate the perceived adequacy and accessibility of content on ADP fellowship websites and discover what further information is considered important among trainees interested in becoming addiction specialists.

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Tuberculosis (TB) remains the leading cause of death among people with human immunodeficiency virus (PWH). The diagnosis of latent TB infection (LTBI) and treatment with TB preventative therapy (TPT) can reduce morbidity and mortality in this population. Historically, isoniazid has been recommended for TPT in PWH due to the absence of drug-drug interactions with most antiretroviral therapy (ART).

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The COVID-19 crisis presents new challenges and opportunities in managing alcohol use disorders, particularly for people unable to shelter in place due to homelessness or other reasons. Requiring abstinence for shelter engagement is impractical for many with severe alcohol use disorders and poses a modifiable barrier to self-isolation orders. Managed alcohol programs (MAPs) have successfully increased housing adherence for those with physical alcohol dependence in Canada, but to our knowledge, they have not been implemented in the United States.

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Background: COVID-19 has exacerbated income inequality, structural racism, and social isolation-issues that drive addiction and have previously manifested in the epidemic of opioid-associated overdose. The co-existence of these epidemics has necessitated care practice changes, including the use of telehealth-based encounters for the diagnosis and management of opioid use disorder (OUD).

Methods: We describe the development of the "Addiction Telehealth Program" (ATP), a telephone-based program to reduce treatment access barriers for people with substance use disorders staying at San Francisco's COVID-19 Isolation and Quarantine (I&Q) sites.

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Background: Multiple antiretroviral (ARV) regimens are effective at achieving HIV viral suppression, but differ in pill burden, side effects, barriers to resistance, and impact on comorbidities. Current guidelines advocate for an individualized approach to ARV regimen selection, but synthesizing these modifying factors is complex and time-consuming.

Methods: We describe the development of HIV-ASSIST (https://www.

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Children infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) are at increased risk of measles morbidity and mortality. We searched abstracts from the PubMed, Embase, and Latin American and Caribbean Center on Health Sciences Information databases for articles published from the earliest date available through September 26, 2017. The primary outcome of interest was serological responses to measles vaccine, stratified by HIV infection status.

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Objective: To assess the prevalence and determinants of food insecurity among people living with HIV (PLWH) in Pune, India and its association with biomarkers known to confer increased risks of morbidity and mortality in this population.

Design: Cross-sectional analysis assessing food insecurity using the standardized Household Food Insecurity Access Scale. Participants were dichotomized into two groups: food insecure and food secure.

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Article Synopsis
  • The study investigates how the demand for publicly funded sexually transmitted disease (STD) clinics changed after the implementation of the Affordable Care Act in 2014.
  • Researchers compared the rates of STDs diagnosed at these clinics before and after the Medicaid and insurance expansions, using statistical analysis to understand risk factors.
  • Results showed that while overall diagnoses at STD clinics decreased, certain groups, particularly black and Latino men under 25, continued to utilize these services, highlighting the ongoing need for funding in STD clinics despite increased access to traditional healthcare.
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Introduction: Following the 2014 expansions of Medicaid and private health insurance through the Affordable Care Act, municipal sexually transmitted disease (STD) clinics-which have historically served predominantly uninsured patients-have been threatened with budget cuts nationwide. This study was conducted to evaluate the impact of the insurance expansions on the demand for STD clinic services.

Methods: The proportion of total incident sexually transmitted infections in Baltimore City that were diagnosed at STD clinics was compared between 2013 and 2014, and a multivariate analysis was conducted to determine factors associated with diagnosis at an STD clinic.

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