Interrelationship between chemsex engagement and PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) experience in men who have sex with men: a community-based cross-sectional study.

Background: Chemsex engagement is known to be associated with higher-risk sexual behaviour, HIV and sexually transmitted infection (STI). To reduce HIV infection risk, pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is increasingly used in the men who have sex with men (MSM) community. This study aims to examine the interrelationship between chemsex engagement and PrEP use in MSM.

Ambient PM exposure and tuberculosis reactivation: a cross-sectional study in an intermediate burden city.

Hong Kong is an intermediate tuberculosis (TB) endemicity city dominated by reactivation diseases. A cross-sectional study on the clinical and epidemiologic data of newly diagnosed TB cases was conducted in such a setting, to examine the association between ambient PM and TB reactivation. After the exclusion of cases most likely resulting from recent infection, four distinct TB population phenotypes were delineated by latent class analysis based on their reactivation risk and clinical profiles ( = 2,153): '' (26%), '' (34%), '' (19%) and '' (21%).

Uptake and service preferences of human papillomavirus vaccination in men who have sex with men.

Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination could reduce HPV infection in men who have sex with men (MSM), but the published statistics on HPV vaccination uptake in MSM were scarce globally. This study estimated the uptake and profiled the service preferences of HPV vaccination of Chinese MSM in Hong Kong. Adult MSM were recruited through non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and online channels for completing an online baseline survey.

Population Behavior Changes Underlying Phasic Shifts of SARS-CoV-2 Exposure Settings Across 3 Omicron Epidemic Waves in Hong Kong: Prospective Cohort Study.

Background: Exposure risk was shown to have affected individual susceptibility and the epidemic spread of COVID-19. The dynamics of risk by and across exposure settings alongside the variations following the implementation of social distancing interventions are understudied.

Objective: This study aims to examine the population's trajectory of exposure risk in different settings and its association with SARS-CoV-2 infection across 3 consecutive Omicron epidemic waves in Hong Kong.

HIV-related public stigma in the era of "Undetectable = Untransmittable": a population-based study in Hong Kong.

Background: While global efforts are increasingly relying upon biomedical advancements such as antiretroviral therapy and pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) to end the HIV epidemic, HIV-related stigma remains a concern. This study aimed to assess the general public's awareness and perception of "Undetectable = Untransmittable" (U = U) and PrEP, and the patterns of public stigma towards people living with HIV (PLWH) and their determinants in an Asian Pacific city.

Methods: A population-based, self-administrated online survey was conducted between 10-20 March 2023.

Is the new tuberculous antigen-based skin test ready for use as an alternative to tuberculin skin test/interferon-gamma release assay for tuberculous diagnosis? A narrative review.

In recent years, novel specific Mycobacteria tuberculous (TB) antigen-based skin test (TBST) has become available for clinical use. The mechanism of TBST is similar to the interferon-gamma release assay (IGRA), making it a potential alternative for identifying latent tuberculous infection (LTBI), especially in subjects with history of bacille Calmette-Guérin vaccination. Three different commercial brands have been developed in Denmark, Russia, and China.

Self-sampled multi-anatomic site testing for uncovering the community burden of undiagnosed Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae infection in men who have sex with men.

Purpose: To detect otherwise undiagnosed asymptomatic sexually transmitted infection (STI), and for estimating prevalence among men who have sex with men (MSM).

Methods: In this community-based study in Hong Kong, adult MSM were recruited. After completion of an online survey, free multi-anatomic sites self-sampling kits (urine specimens, pharyngeal and rectal swabs) for Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) and Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG) tests were delivered to requesting participants.

Dynamicity of HIV Pre-exposure Prophylaxis Usage Pattern and Association with Executed Adherence in MSM: An Implementation Study in Hong Kong.

Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) use has been shown to be effective for HIV prevention in men who have sex with men (MSM). PrEP use coverage aside, maintenance of high PrEP adherence is crucial in ensuring the achievement of HIV prevention. In this PrEP implementation study in Hong Kong, we examined the patterns of PrEP use in MSM and evaluated their association with prevention-effective adherence for HIV prevention.

Association of ambient PM concentration with tuberculosis reactivation diseases-an integrated spatio-temporal analysis.

Objectives: While the plausible role of ambient particulate matter (PM) exposure in tuberculosis (TB) reactivation has been inferred from experiments, epidemiologic evidence is lacking. We examined the relationship between ambient PM concentration and pulmonary TB (PTB) in an intermediate TB endemicity city dominated by reactivation diseases.

Methods: Spatio-temporal analyses were performed on TB notification data and satellite-based annual mean PM concentration in Hong Kong.