Age-related clonal hematopoiesis and HIV infection are associated with geriatric outcomes: The ARCHIVE study.

While HIV infection and clonal hematopoiesis (CH) have been linked with inflammatory dysregulation and an increased risk of aging-related comorbidities, their relationship with clinical geriatric syndromes has not been well defined. In the Age-related Clonal Haematopoiesis in an HIV Evaluation Cohort (ARCHIVE) study (NCT04641013), we measure associations between HIV and CH and geriatric syndromes. Of 345 participants (176 with HIV and 169 without HIV), 23% had at least one mutation associated with CH: 27% with HIV and 18% without HIV (p = 0.

Stigma, support, and messaging for people recently diagnosed with HIV: a qualitative study.

Background Despite advances in antiretroviral treatment and the message of undetectable equals untransmittable (U=U), there remain challenges related to stigma and quality of life for people living with HIV. This study aimed to understand the experiences of people recently diagnosed with HIV at a clinical service, to guide insights into how to improve care and support in the contemporary treatment era. Methods This qualitative study involved semi-structured interviews with individuals diagnosed with HIV between 2016 and 2021 at RPA Sexual Health service (a sexual health clinic in Sydney, Australia), or who were referred to the clinic directly after diagnosis.

Does use of anal cytology as a triage test improve the performance of high-risk human papillomavirus screening in gay and bisexual men for anal cancer prevention?

Anal high-risk human papillomavirus (HRHPV) testing-based anal cancer screening gay and bisexual men (GBM) is associated with high sensitivity, but low specificity. We report the potential role of triage use of anal cytology with HRHPV testing in detecting 12-month persistent anal high-grade squamous epithelial lesions (HSIL) in a cohort of GBM in Sydney, Australia. Participants were GBM from the Study of the Prevention of Anal Cancer (SPANC) who underwent annual anal HPV testing, cytology, and high-resolution anoscopy (HRA)-guided histology.

Syphilis testing, incidence, and reinfection among gay and bisexual men in Australia over a decade spanning HIV PrEP implementation: an analysis of surveillance data from 2012 to 2022.

Background: Gay and bisexual men (GBM) remain overrepresented among syphilis diagnoses in Australia and globally. The extent to which changes in sexual networks associated with HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and treatment as prevention (TasP) may have influenced syphilis transmission among GBM at the population-level is poorly understood. We describe trends in syphilis testing and incidence among GBM in Australia over eleven years spanning widespread uptake of HIV PrEP and TasP.

HIV Treatment Outcomes After 10 years on ART in the TREAT Asia Observational Database and Australian HIV Observational Database.

Background: Increasing numbers of people with HIV have received prolonged antiretroviral therapy (ART). We assessed long-term immunological and survival outcomes among people with HIV from Asia (TREAT Asia HIV Observational Database) and Australia (Australian HIV Observational Database).

Methods: People with HIV receiving ART for ≥10 years were included.

Condom Failure Among HIV-Negative Men in Serodiscordant Relationships in Australia, Brazil, and Thailand.

Condoms continue to be used by many gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (GBM) to reduce the risk of HIV transmission. However this is impacted by condom failure events, defined here as condom breakage and slippage. In a prospective, observational cohort study of 343 HIV serodiscordant male couples recruited through high HIV caseload clinics and hospitals between 2012 and 2016 in Australia, Brazil, and Thailand, condom failure rates and associated factors were analysed, including with the study partner versus other sexual partners.

Factors Associated With Recent Decline in Anal Health Among Older Gay and Bisexual Men: A Cross-sectional Analysis.

We investigated factors associated with "worse than usual" anal health among gay and bisexual men aged ≥35 years recruited to a longitudinal study of anal human papillomavirus infection/lesions from September 2010 to August 2015.Among 616 participants (median age 49 years; 36% HIV-positive), 42 (6.8%) reported worse than usual anal health in the last 4 weeks.

A drug delivery strategy emerges that has the potential to transform cancer therapy.

The shortcomings of current approaches to treating cancer are driving the need for novel, innovative strategies that reduce the toxicity associated with chemotherapy and improve on the limited efficacy of immunotherapy. We believe that dual delivery of small interfering RNA (siRNA) via a suitable delivery system, with or without a relevant, additional, small-molecule therapeutic agent, will herald new era of treatment efficiency in cancer.

The challenge of providing medical follow-up for sexual assault victims: can we predict who will attend? A retrospective cross-sectional study.

This study examined the impact of a pathway between a sexual assault service and a public sexual health service developed to improve rates of post-sexual assault medical follow-up. Follow-up attendances improved in the first 12months of the pathway (2014) compared with attendances in 2013 (17.8%vs 9.

HIV treatment-as-prevention and its effect on incidence of HIV among cisgender gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men in Australia: a 10-year longitudinal cohort study.

Background: Although HIV treatment-as-prevention reduces individual-level HIV transmission, population-level effects are unclear. We aimed to investigate whether treatment-as-prevention could achieve population-level reductions in HIV incidence among gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (GBM) in Australia's most populous states, New South Wales and Victoria.

Methods: TAIPAN was a longitudinal cohort study using routine health record data extracted from 69 health services that provide HIV diagnosis and care to GBM in New South Wales and Victoria, Australia.

Adult Sexual Assault Patients' Experience of the Physical Examination Component of the Medical Forensic Examination: A Scoping Review to Identify Gaps in the Research Literature.

We undertook a scoping review of published research literature that reported on adult sexual assault patients' experience of the physical examination component of the medical forensic examination (MFE). Eligible papers were those reporting data about the physical examination component of the MFE from the adult patient's perspective, published in the period January 2000 to March 2022 in peer reviewed journals and reports containing original research data published from a tertiary institution. Twelve papers were identified.

Second Primary Cancers in People With HIV/AIDS: A National Data Linkage Study of Incidence and Risk Factors.

Background: Evidence regarding the characteristics of second primary cancer (SPC) in people living with HIV (PLWHIV) is limited.

Setting: We performed a national population-based data linkage study to determine the incidence and risk factors of SPC in PLWHIV in Australia between 1982 and 2012.

Methods: We conducted a probabilistic data linkage study to compare the incidence of SPC over time, defined using HIV treatment eras, for SPCs related to oncogenic viral infection in comparison with non-infection-related SPCs.

Performance of Human Papillomavirus Attribution Algorithms to Predict Causative Genotypes in Anal High-Grade Lesions.

Background: Gay and bisexual men (GBM) are at increased risk of human papillomavirus (HPV)-associated anal high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (HSILs). Understanding the fractions of HSILs attributable to HPV genotypes is important to inform potential impacts of screening and vaccination strategies. However, multiple infections are common, making attribution of causative types difficult.

Experiences of recently HIV-diagnosed gay and bisexual migrants in Australia: Implications for sexual health programmes and health promotion.

Gay and bisexual migrants from low- and middle-income countries living in high-income countries are disproportionately diagnosed with HIV. Most research focuses on preventing HIV acquisition among HIV-negative migrant gay and bisexual men (GBM). This study is uniquely positioned to report on migrant GBM's experiences and needs at and after an HIV diagnosis.

Physical function limitation among gay and bisexual men aged ≥55years with and without HIV: findings from the Australian Positive and Peers Longevity Evaluation Study (APPLES).

Background: As people living with HIV now have a life expectancy approaching that of the general population, clinical care focuses increasingly on the management and prevention of comorbidities and conditions associated with aging. We aimed to assess the prevalence of physical function (PF) limitation among gay and bisexual men (GBM) and determine whether HIV is associated with severe PF limitation in this population.

Methods: We analysed cross-sectional data from GBM aged ≥55years in the Australian Positive and Peers Longevity Evaluation Study who completed a self-administered survey on health and lifestyle factors.

Deagglomeration of DNA nanomedicine carriers using controlled ultrasonication.

Control over the agglomeration state of manufactured particle systems for drug and oligonucleotide intracellular delivery is paramount to ensure reproducible and scalable therapeutic efficacy. Ultrasonication is a well-established mechanism for the deagglomeration of bulk powders in dispersion. Its use in manufacturing requires strict control of the uniformity and reproducibility of the cavitation field within the sample volume to minimise within-batch and batch-to-batch variability.

Characteristics of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Seroconversions in a Large Prospective Implementation Cohort Study of Oral HIV Preexposure Prophylaxis in Men Who Have Sex with Men (EPIC-NSW).

Background: Most human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) seroconversions in people who have initiated preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) occur in the context of insufficient adherence. We describe participants who seroconverted after being dispensed PrEP in a large PrEP implementation study in Australia.

Methods: Expanded PrEP Implementation in Communities in New South Wales was an implementation study of daily oral PrEP in individuals aged ≥18 years at high risk for acquiring HIV.

Comparison of four assays for human papillomavirus detection in the anal canal.

Objective: Anal cancer is preceded by high-risk human papillomavirus (HRHPV) infection, predominantly HPV16. No HPV assay is licenced for use in anal screening. We aimed to determine the sensitivity and specificity of four anal canal swab HPV assays to predict high-grade squamous epithelial lesions (HSIL).

Low Prior Exposure and Incidence of Hepatitis C in Human Immunodeficiency Virus-Negative Gay and Bisexual Men Taking Preexposure Prophylaxis (PrEP): Findings From the Expanded PrEP Implementation in Communities-New South Wales Prospective Implementation Study.

Background: The use of preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for the prevention of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) has raised concerns of increased sexual risk behaviors. These behaviors may be associated with increased incidence of sexually acquired hepatitis C virus (HCV) among gay and bisexual men.

Methods: The Expanded PrEP Implementation in Communities-New South Wales (EPIC-NSW) study was a cohort study of daily coformulated tenofovir disoproxil fumarate and emtricitabine for HIV prevention.

Possible Reactivation of Latent Anal Human Papillomavirus Associated with Markers of Immune Dysfunction in Gay and Bisexual Men.

Background: It is unknown whether reactivation of human papillomavirus (HPV) after latency occurs in the anus. We measured incidence and predictors of incident anal HPV in sexually inactive gay and bisexual men (GBM) as a surrogate of HPV reactivation.

Methods: The Study of the Prevention of Anal Cancer collected data on sexual behavior, anal cytology, HPV DNA, histology and HPV serology.