Incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma and mortality in chronic viral hepatitis in an Asian population with and without HIV infection.

Background: It is uncertain whether people with HIV infection have a higher incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) than the general population.

Aims: To compare the incidence of HCC between people infected with HBV and/or HCV with and without HIV METHODS: We performed a retrospective population-based cohort study, involving people with HBV and/or HCV infection from 2001 to 2018. The primary endpoint was incidence of HCC; secondary endpoint was all-cause mortality.

Incorporation of information diffusion model for enhancing analyses in HIV molecular surveillance.

Molecular surveillance of infections is essential in monitoring their transmission in the population. In this study, newly diagnosed HIV patients' phylogenetic, clinical and behavioural data were integrated, and an information diffusion model was incorporated in analysing transmission dynamics. A genetic network was constructed from HIV sequences, from which transmission cascades were extracted.

Molecular Characterization of HIV-1 Minority Subtypes in Hong Kong: A Recent Epidemic of CRF07_BC among the Men who have Sex with Men Population.

Background: Over the past years, an increasing trend was noticed for non-B and non- CRF01_AE HIV-1 strains prevalence in Hong Kong.

Objective: In this study, we aimed at using the available HIV-1 pol sequences collected from 1994 to 2013 through our local antiretroviral resistance surveillance program to investigate the molecular epidemiology and evolution of HIV-1 minority subtypes in Hong Kong. We also aimed at investigating their potential association and impact of those transmission risk groups.

Changes of sexual risk behaviors and sexual connections among HIV-positive men who have sex with men along their HIV care continuum.

Background: While HIV incidence among men who have sex with men (MSM) is increasing in Hong Kong, unprotected sex apparently remains prevalent among those infected but virally non-suppressed. Little is known about how sexual behaviours and sexual connections may change among MSM along their HIV care continuum.

Methods: In this retrospective cross-sectional study, HIV-positive MSM attending the largest HIV specialist clinic in Hong Kong between October and December 2014 were invited to complete a self-administrated structured questionnaire.

Risk factors associated with 1-year mortality among patients with HIV-associated tuberculosis in areas with intermediate tuberculosis burden and low HIV prevalence.

Introduction: Data are limited regarding risk factors for mortality among patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-associated tuberculosis (TB) in areas with low HIV prevalence and intermediate TB burden, such as the Western Pacific region. This study aimed to assess such risk factors in Hong Kong, which has an intermediate TB burden and low HIV prevalence.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort analysis of adult patients reported to the Hong Kong TB-HIV Registry between 2006 and 2015.

Brief Report: Progression of Atherosclerosis in HIV-Infected Individuals-Prospective Data From an Asian Cohort.

Background: The magnitude and risk factors of progression of atherosclerosis in Asian HIV-infected individuals were unknown. This study aimed to evaluate: (1) the rate of progression of atherosclerosis in HIV-infected individuals, and (2) metabolic and inflammatory parameters that may predict atherosclerosis progression in HIV-infected individuals in an Asian cohort.

Setting: A prospective, longitudinal study was performed among adults attending an HIV Metabolic clinic in Hong Kong.

Transmitted drug resistance in recently infected HIV-positive Individuals from four urban locations across Asia (2007-2010) - TASER-S.

Background: The availability of HIV antiretroviral therapy (ART) has been associated with the development of transmitted drug resistance-associated mutations (TDRM). TDRM can compromise treatment effectiveness in patients initiating ART and the prevalence can vary in different clinical settings. In this study, we investigated the proportion of TDRM in treatment-naïve, recently infected HIV-positive individuals sampled from four urban locations across Asia between 2007-2010.

Tuberculin sensitivity testing and treatment of latent tuberculosis remains effective for tuberculosis control in human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients in Hong Kong.

Objective: To evaluate whether a policy to treat latent tuberculosis identified by annual tuberculin sensitivity testing is effective for tuberculosis control in human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients in Hong Kong.

Design: Historical cohort study.

Setting: Integrated Treatment Centre, Department of Health, Hong Kong.

Stable and low prevalence of transmitted HIV type 1 drug resistance despite two decades of antiretroviral therapy in Hong Kong.

Transmitted HIV resistance is of both clinical and public health importance. Baseline genotypic resistance testing was performed for HIV-1-infected treatment-naive patients who were newly diagnosed between 2003 and 2007 and attended the government HIV clinic in Hong Kong. International AIDS Society-USA mutation figures and the Stanford resistance interpretation algorithm were used to identify resistance mutations and drug susceptibility, respectively.

Quality of life constructs of Chinese people living with HIV/AIDS.

A range of quality of life (QOL) measurements specific for people living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) are available. They were, however, developed before or at about the time of introducing highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) and there has been very little measurement developed from a Chinese perspective. A study was therefore undertaken and we report our findings of the first phase, in which Chinese people living with HIV/AIDS in Hong Kong were asked to explain their perceptions of QOL so as to identify their construct of QOL using a qualitative approach.

Setting a minimum threshold CD4 count for initiation of highly active antiretroviral therapy in HIV-infected patients.

The aim of our study was to determine a minimum threshold CD4 count for highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) initiation in HIV-infected patients. A schema using longitudinal data from a clinical cohort was designed. The presenting CD4 counts of asymptomatic HIV-infected patients in Hong Kong were evaluated in relation to their progression to AIDS within 1 year of diagnosis of HIV infection.

Epstein-Barr virus-associated smooth muscle tumor in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-associated smooth muscle tumor (SMT) is a recognized but uncommon disease that is found to occur in patients with immunocompromised conditions such as acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). These tumors may be multifocal and located at unusual sites, such as the brain and liver. This report describes the case of 2 AIDS patients with EBV-associated SMT and highlights the features and outcome of this rare but potentially important tumor in human immunodeficiency virus management.

Profiling of HIV clinic patients to determine the prevalence and characteristics of recent infections.

Patients newly attending the government HIV clinic in Hong Kong were studied for the prevalence and characteristics of recent HIV infection, which was defined as having a negative HIV antibody test and/or seroconversion illness within one year of a first positive antibody result. Fifty-nine (12.0%) of 492 HIV-positive patients first seen from 2001 to 2004 were determined to be recently infected.

Establishing CD4 thresholds for highly active antiretroviral therapy initiation in a cohort of HIV-infected adult Chinese in Hong Kong.

Studies on the use and outcome of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) in HIV-infected Chinese have been scarce. We evaluated risk of progression to (1) nonaccidental death and (2) new AIDS-defining illness (ADI) or death in 223, 89.9% of 248 HIV-1-infected adult Chinese patients who were first initiated on HAART between 1997 and 2002, and followed through 2003.

Twenty years of clinical human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) in Hong Kong.

Objective: To elucidate the development of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) clinical care and research in Hong Kong.

Data Sources: Articles on clinical HIV and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) published from 1985 to 2004 were identified through four sources: Red Ribbon Centre, Special Preventive Programme, Secretariat of the Scientific Committee on AIDS, and PubMed search. The first three are operated by the Centre for Health Protection, Department of Health, Hong Kong.

Universal decline in mortality in patients with advanced HIV-1 disease in various demographic subpopulations after the introduction of HAART in Hong Kong, from 1993 to 2002.

Objective: Reductions in HIV/AIDS mortality associated with highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) have mainly been reported from Western countries. We studied the impact on survival of patients with advanced HIV disease after the introduction of HAART in Hong Kong.

Methods: The mortality pattern in a government clinic cohort of 511 adult HIV-1-infected patients with AIDS or CD4 count <200 cells/microL from 1993 to 2002 was examined.

Highly active antiretroviral therapy per se decreased mortality and morbidity of advanced human immunodeficiency virus disease in Hong Kong.

Background: Morbidity and mortality of advanced human immunodeficiency virus infection (HIV) have declined in Western industrialized countries since the availability of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). It is unclear if this has also happened in Hong Kong.

Methods: We studied a retrospective cohort of patients with advanced HIV disease in Hong Kong, China.

Delayed progression to death and to AIDS in a Hong Kong cohort of patients with advanced HIV type 1 disease during the era of highly active antiretroviral therapy.

Background: The magnitude of the impact of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) since its introduction in non-Western countries is not entirely clear. We studied disease progression among adult patients with advanced human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection in the pre-HAART (i.e.

Determinants of adherence to highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) in Chinese HIV/AIDS patients.

Objective: Drug adherence is crucial to the success of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) in the treatment of HIV disease. Adherence to HAART and its determinants may, however, differ across HIV/AIDS populations.

Methods: We retrospectively studied drug adherence by self-report in HIV-1 infected Chinese patients who have been on HAART for at least 1 year as at the end of year 2000.

Prevalence of purified protein derivative positivity in human immunodeficiency virus infected individuals in Hong Kong.

Objective: To study the prevalence of skin positivity to purified protein derivative (PPD) in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients in Hong Kong.

Methods: Consecutive clients of an HIV clinic were administered the PPD test and 2 units of PPD-RT23 were used. The area of induration was then measured in 48 to 72 h.

Epidemiology and detection of human immunodeficiency virus among pregnant women in Hong Kong.

Objectives: To determine the epidemiology of human immunodeficiency virus infection among pregnant women and the neonatal outcomes in Hong Kong.

Design: Retrospective observational study composed of two parts: record review of pregnant women and unlinked anonymous screening of cord blood from neonates.

Setting: Two human immunodeficiency virus clinics and the Government Virus Unit.