Reported Side Effects and Adherence of Daily HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis Users in Ontario, Canada: An Analysis of the Ontario Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis Cohort Study.

Side effects are a common concern of current and potential HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) users, potentially leading to missed doses. We examined the relationship between reported side effects and adherence in the Ontario PrEP Cohort Study (ON-PrEP). In total, 600 predominantly gay (87.

Approach to sexually transmitted infection testing for men who have sex with men.

Objective: To provide a guide on appropriate sexually transmitted infection (STI) testing for primary care providers to use with patients who identify as men who have sex with men (MSM).

Sources Of Information: Canadian guidelines for STI testing and enteric and protozoan infections; Ontario guidelines for HIV screening and mpox; and US guidelines for STI testing.

Main Message: Across Canada rates of sexually transmitted bacterial, enteric, protozoan, and systemic infections-including HIV and mpox-have been steadily increasing among cisgender and transgender MSM.

HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis and opportunities for vaccination against hepatitis A virus, hepatitis B virus and human papillomavirus: an analysis of the Ontario PrEP cohort study.

Objectives: Populations who seek HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) are disproportionately affected by hepatitis A virus (HAV), hepatitis B virus (HBV) and human papillomavirus (HPV). We examined immunity/vaccination against these infections among participants in the Ontario PrEP cohort study (ON-PrEP).

Methods: ON-PrEP is a prospective cohort of HIV-negative PrEP users from 10 Ontario clinics.

Increased PrEP uptake and PrEP-RN coincide with decreased HIV diagnoses in men who have sex with men in Ottawa, Canada.

Background: We sought to evaluate if increased uptake of HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) correlated to population-level changes in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) epidemiology, in a setting with an integrated PrEP delivery system centred on a public health nurse-led PrEP clinic and referral process.

Methods: This study was conducted in Ottawa, Canada, where all positive HIV test results are reported to the public health units. Risk factor information is also collected by nurses and subsequently entered into a provincial database.

The Canadian Study of Arterial Inflammation in Patients with Diabetes and Recent Vascular Events, Evaluation of Colchicine Effectiveness (CADENCE): protocol for a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

Background: Inflammation is a key mediator in the development and progression of the atherosclerotic disease process as well as its resultant complications, like myocardial infarction (MI), stroke and cardiovascular (CV) death, and is emerging as a novel treatment target. Trials involving anti-inflammatory medications have demonstrated outcome benefit in patients with known CV disease. In this regard, colchicine appears to hold great promise.

Psychosocial and pharmacologic interventions for problematic methamphetamine use: Findings from a scoping review of the literature.

Rationale: Methamphetamine use and related harms have risen at alarming rates. While several psychosocial and pharmacologic interventions have been described in the literature, there is uncertainty regarding the best approach for the management of methamphetamine use disorder (MUD) and problematic methamphetamine use (PMU). We conducted a scoping review of recent systematic reviews (SR), clinical practice guidelines (CPG), and primary controlled studies of psychosocial and pharmacologic treatments for MUD/PMU.

Reasons for not using pre-exposure prophylaxis for HIV and strategies that may facilitate uptake in Ontario and British Columbia among gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men: a cross-sectional survey.

Background: Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV is underutilized. We aimed to identify barriers to use of PrEP and strategies that may facilitate its uptake.

Methods: Gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men, aged 19 years or older and living in Ontario and British Columbia, Canada, completed a cross-sectional survey in 2019-2020.

Disjuncture between self-perceived and clinically assessed risk of HIV among gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men in Ontario and British Columbia, Canada.

Background: Self-perceived and clinically assessed HIV risk do not always align. We compared self-perceived and clinically assessed risk of HIV and the reasons for self-perceived low risk of HIV among gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (GBM) from large urban centers in Ontario and British Columbia, Canada.

Methods: Never PrEP users recruited from sexual health clinics or online, completed a cross-sectional survey between July/2019 and August/2020.

Navigating imperfect policies to donate plasma: Survey on plasma donation and a pilot plasma donation program among men who have sex with men in Canada.

Background: In 2021, Canada implemented a pilot plasma program allowing some sexually active men who have sex with men (including but not limited to gay and bisexual men; gbMSM) to donate plasma. Changes to plasma donation policy could help address inequities in access to plasma donation and increase Canada's domestically collected plasma supply if more gbMSM donate as a result. We aimed to (1) examine views regarding plasma donation and the pilot program prior to implementation and (2) identify modifiable theory-informed predictors of gbMSM's intention to donate plasma.

Improved access yet inequitable experience: gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men's views of more inclusive criteria for source plasma donation.

Background: Canada has incrementally reduced restrictions to blood and plasma donation that impact men who have sex with men, gay, bisexual, and queer men, and some Two Spirit, transgender and non-binary individuals (MSM/2SGBTQ+). Prior to the launch of a pilot program in 2021 enabling some MSM/2SGBTQ + to donate source plasma, we explored the acceptability of the program among individuals who could become eligible to donate in the program.

Methods: We invited men identifying as MSM/2SGBTQ + to participate in two consecutive semi-structured interviews to explore their views on blood and plasma donation policy, plasma donation, and the proposed Canadian plasma donation program.

Influence of previous experience with and beliefs regarding anal cancer screening on willingness to be screened among men living with HIV.

Background: Implementation of anal cancer screening requires the procedure to be acceptable to the target population. Our objective was to assess the beliefs of men living with HIV regarding anal cancer screening and identify factors associated with their willingness to participate in screening.

Methods: We developed a cross-sectional questionnaire using the Theory of Planned Behavior to examine beliefs regarding prevention of human papillomavirus (HPV)-related diseases, administered to men living with HIV in 2016-2017 in a multi-site HIV clinical cohort.

PrEP-related stigma and PrEP use among gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men in Ontario and British Columbia, Canada.

Background: We aimed to explore the association between PrEP-related stereotypes and perceived disapproval (hereafter PrEP-related stigma), and PrEP use.

Methods: We used data from a cross-sectional online survey among adult gay, bisexual, other men who have sex with men in Ontario and British Columbia, Canada. Participants were recruited 2019-2020 in-person from sexual health clinics and outreach programs, and online through dating mobile applications and websites.

"They're all struggling as well": social and economic barriers and facilitators to self-managing chronic illness among marginalized people who use drugs.

Purpose: Self-management is recommended for addressing chronic conditions, and self-management programmes improve health behaviours and outcomes. However, social and economic factors have been neglected in self-management research, despite their relevance for marginalized groups. Thus, we aimed to explore barriers and facilitators that influence self-management among socioeconomically marginalized people who use drugs (PWUD).

Syphilis in Ottawa: An evolving epidemic.

Background: The incidence of infectious syphilis in Canada has declined throughout the latter decades of the last century; however, in Ottawa, an upsurge in new cases began in 2001. The local epidemic continues to involve predominantly gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (gbMSM), but in recent years, has expanded further into heterosexual populations. This has coincided with an increase in the number of pregnant women testing positive for syphilis on antenatal screening.

"The Drug Use Unfortunately isn't all Bad": Chronic Disease Self-Management Complexity and Strategy Among Marginalized People Who Use Drugs.

Self-management programs improve health outcomes and self-management is recommended for chronic conditions. Yet chronic disease self-management supports have rarely been applied to people who use drugs (PWUD). Thus, our objective was to explore self-management experiences among marginalized PWUD.

Anti-inflammatory effect of rosuvastatin in patients with HIV infection: An FDG-PET pilot study.

Aims: This study aimed to evaluate markers of systemic as well as imaging markers of inflammation in the ascending aorta, bone marrow, and spleen measured by 18F-FDG PET/CT, in HIV+ patients at baseline and following therapy with rosuvastatin.

Methods And Results: Of the 35 HIV+ patients enrolled, 17 were randomized to treatment with 10 mg/day rosuvastatin and 18 to usual care for 6 months. An HIV- control cohort was selected for baseline comparison of serum inflammatory markers and monocyte markers of inflammation.

Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis Among Gay, Bisexual, and Other Men Who Have Sex With Men in Ottawa: A Real World View With Benefits Beyond HIV Risk Reduction.

The number of gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men taking pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) has grown since its approval in Canada. While there are sound clinical data on PrEP efficacy, there is less research describing outcomes in routine clinical practice. We conducted a cross-sectional study with 113 men attending our PrEP clinic.

Patient perspectives on the implementation of routinised syphilis screening with HIV viral load testing: Qualitative process evaluation of the Enhanced Syphilis Screening Among HIV-positive Men trial.

Background: Syphilis infections have been on the rise, affecting men living with HIV in urban centres disproportionately. Since individuals in HIV care undergo routine blood testing, HIV clinics provide practical opportunities to conduct regular and frequent syphilis testing. Following the implementation of a routine syphilis testing intervention in HIV outpatient clinics, we conducted a qualitative process evaluation of patient experiences to measure patient acceptability, barriers to implementation, and facilitators of successful uptake.

Routinized Syphilis Screening Among Men Living With Human Immunodeficiency Virus: A Stepped Wedge Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: We implemented an opt-out clinic-based intervention pairing syphilis tests with routine human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) viral load testing. The primary objective was to determine the degree to which this intervention increased the detection of early syphilis.

Methods: The Enhanced Syphilis Screening Among HIV-Positive Men (ESSAHM) Trial was a stepped wedge cluster-randomized controlled trial involving 4 urban HIV clinics in Ontario, Canada, from 2015 to 2017.

Early Warning of Infection in Patients Undergoing Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation Using Heart Rate Variability and Serum Biomarkers.

Early warning of infection is critical to reduce the risk of deterioration and mortality, especially in neutropenic patients following hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HCT). Given that heart rate variability (HRV) is a sensitive and early marker for infection, and that serum inflammatory biomarkers can have high specificity for infection, we hypothesized their combination may be useful for accurate early warning of infection. In this study, we developed and evaluated a composite predictive model using continuous HRV with daily serum biomarker measurements to provide risk stratification of future deterioration in HCT recipients.