Accuracy of symptom checker for the diagnosis of sexually transmitted infections using machine learning and Bayesian network algorithms.

Background: A significant proportion of individuals with symptoms of sexually transmitted infection (STI) delay or avoid seeking healthcare, and digital diagnostic tools may prompt them to seek healthcare earlier. Unfortunately, none of the currently available tools fully mimic clinical assessment or cover a wide range of STIs.

Methods: We prospectively invited attendees presenting with STI-related symptoms at Melbourne Sexual Health Centre to answer gender-specific questionnaires covering the symptoms of 12 common STIs using a computer-assisted self-interviewing system between 2015 and 2018.

A web-based tool for cancer risk prediction for middle-aged and elderly adults using machine learning algorithms and self-reported questions.

Background: From a global perspective, China is one of the countries with higher incidence and mortality rates for cancer.

Objective: Our objective is to create an online cancer risk prediction tool for middle-aged and elderly Chinese adults by leveraging machine learning algorithms and self-reported data.

Method: Drawing from a cohort of 19,798 participants aged 45 and above from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (2011 - 2018), we employed nine machine learning algorithms (LR: Logistic Regression, Adaboost: Adaptive Boosting, SVM: Support Vector Machine, RF: Random Forest, GNB: Gaussian Naive Bayes, GBM: Gradient Boosting Machine, LGBM: Light Gradient Boosting Machine, XGBoost: eXtreme Gradient Boosting, KNN: K - Nearest Neighbors), which are mainly used for classification and regression tasks, to construct predictive models for various cancers.

Comparing the impact of sexualised drug use with and without chemsex on sexual behaviours among men who have sex with men in China: a national multi-site cross-sectional study.

Background Sexualised drug use (SDU) is common in men who have sex with men (MSM). Chemsex, a form of psychoactive SDU, is a strong risk factor for sexually transmitted infections (STIs). We investigated the associations of SDU and chemsex with the sexual behaviours in Chinese MSM.

Linkage to care and prevention after HIV self-testing: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Introduction: Effective linkage to prevention and care is a crucial step following HIV testing services. This systematic review aimed to determine the proportion of individuals linked to prevention and care after HIV self-testing (HIVST) and describe factors associated with linkage.

Methods: Following PRISMA guidelines, a comprehensive search across eight databases (2010-October 2023) identified studies on linkage to care after HIVST, defined as receiving a confirmatory test or initiating antiretroviral therapy (ART) if the self-test was reactive, and/or pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) if the self-test was non-reactive.

Polyfunctionality and breadth of HIV-1 antibodies are associated with delayed disease progression.

HIV-1 infection leads to chronic disease requiring life-long treatment and therefore alternative therapeutics, a cure and/or a protective vaccine are needed. Antibody-mediated effector functions could have a role in the fight against HIV-1. However, the properties underlying the potential beneficial effects of antibodies during HIV-1 infection are poorly understood.

Preferences for online or in-person STI testing vary by where a person lives and their cultural background: a survey of young Australians.

Objectives: The objectives are to explore the acceptability of online sexually transmitted infection (STI) testing services among young Australians (16-29 years) and how this may vary between sociodemographic populations.

Methods: A cross-sectional, online survey (using both closed and open-ended questions) of Australians aged 16-29 years. Of 905 participants, 781 (86%) responded to the question on preference for online versus in-person STI testing and are included in this analysis.

Exploring the diversity of sexual acts in Chinese men who have sex with men and its impacts on the risk of HIV and sexually transmitted infections.

Objectives: High-risk sexual behaviour contributes to sexually transmitted infections (STIs), but the diversity of sexual acts in men who have sex with men (MSM) was understudied. We aimed to identify the diversity of sexual acts in Chinese MSM and its impacts on HIV/STI risk.

Study Design: Cross-sectional study.

Real-world clinical data-driven modelling on the initiation time of antiviral prophylaxis among pregnant women with chronic hepatitis B infection.

Background & Aims: The risk of mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) for pregnant women with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) infection still exists, especially for those with high HBV DNA level. The guidelines for initiating prophylaxis for pregnant women with CHB vary across countries. We aimed to explore the latest prophylaxis initiation time for these women.

Preferences for attributes of an artificial intelligence-based risk assessment tool for HIV and sexually transmitted infections: a discrete choice experiment.

Introduction: Early detection and treatment of HIV and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are crucial for effective control. We previously developed MySTIRisk, an artificial intelligence-based risk tool that predicts the risk of HIV and STIs. We examined the attributes that encourage potential users to use it.

Community-engaged strategies to improve sexual health services for adults aged 45 and above in the United Kingdom: a qualitative data analysis.

Background Sexual health is an essential component of health and well-being across the life course. However, sexual health research often focuses on young adults and excludes those aged 45years and older. We organized a national crowdsourcing open call and co-creation events to identify recommendations to improve sexual health service provision for middle-aged and older adults in the United Kingdom (UK).

Duration of kissing in different intimate positions among men who have sex with men: A cross-sectional study.

Background: Despite mounting evidence showing that kissing (tongue-kissing) may transmit gonorrhoea between men who have sex with men (MSM), little data exists on factors influencing the duration of kissing while they are above and/or lying underneath a partner for this population group.

Methods: Between May 2019 and March 2020, we invited MSM aged ≥18 years who attended the Melbourne Sexual Health Centre (MSHC) to participate in a survey about the duration of their kissing (minutes) and intimate position while kissing (i.e.

HPV vaccination is highly effective and cost-effective for cervical cancer prevention in women living with HIV in China: A cost-effectiveness analysis.

The presence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection increases the risk of acquiring human papillomavirus (HPV) infection and developing HPV-related adversities. We aimed to estimate the cost-effectiveness of HPV vaccination for women living with HIV in a Chinese setting. A decision-analysis Markov model was developed to estimate the cost-effectiveness of 36 HPV vaccination strategies for women living with HIV aged 18-45 years, from the healthcare system perspective.

Lefamulin for treatment failure in Australia and the USA: a case series and pilot open-label parallel arm randomised trial.

Objectives: (MG) causes urethritis and is associated with cervicitis, pelvic inflammatory disease and preterm delivery. Antimicrobial resistance is widespread and cure rates are declining. Lefamulin, a novel pleuromutilin, may be effective in cases of treatment failure.

Network-based hub biomarker discovery for glaucoma.

Objective: Glaucoma is an optic neuropathy and the leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide. However, the early detection of glaucoma remains challenging, as chronic forms of glaucoma remain largely asymptomatic until considerable irreversible visual field deficits have ensued. Thus, biomarkers that facilitate early diagnosis and treatment for glaucoma patients with a high risk of progression are pressing.

Prescribing pre-exposure prophylaxis for HIV prevention: a cross-sectional survey of general practitioners in Australia.

Background Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is a safe and effective medication for preventing HIV acquisition. We examined Australian general practitioners' (GP) knowledge of PrEP efficacy, characteristics associated with ever prescribing PrEP and barriers to prescribing. Methods We conducted an online cross-sectional survey of GPs working in Australia between April and October 2022.

Early medical abortion provision via telehealth in Victoria: A qualitative descriptive study.

Background And Objectives: Little is known about the views of service providers currently working in telehealth early medical abortion (EMA) provision in Victoria, Australia. This study aims to contextualise the enablers and barriers to telehealth EMA provision, providing insight for healthcare policy and practice to improve the accessibility of this service.

Method: This was a qualitative descriptive study involving semi-structured interviews with 14 Victorian stakeholders with expertise and knowledge on telehealth EMA provision.

User Views on Online Sexual Health Symptom Checker Tool: Qualitative Research.

Background: Delayed diagnosis and treatment of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) contributes to poorer health outcomes and onward transmission to sexual partners. Access to best-practice sexual health care may be limited by barriers such as cost, distance to care providers, sexual stigma, and trust in health care providers. Online assessments of risk offer a novel means of supporting access to evidence-based sexual health information, testing, and treatment by providing more individualized sexual health information based on user inputs.

Telehealth for HIV care and management among people living with HIV in Australia: results from an online survey.

Background The aims of this study were to evaluate the experiences of telehealth for routine HIV care and identify preferred models of HIV routine care for the future. Methods Anonymous, online questionnaire among people living with HIV aged 18years or older. This survey was advertised via posters with a QR code in six sexual health clinics and one community organisation as well as on social media from November 2021 to December 2022.

Assessing the impact of COVID-19 on HIV care cascade for people living with HIV in Ethiopia: a retrospective longitudinal study.

Objective: The study aimed to investigate the impact of COVID-19 on the cascade of HIV care for people living with HIV (PLHIV) in Ethiopia.

Design: A retrospective longitudinal study.

Setting: The study was conducted in North Showa Zone, Ethiopia, from pre-COVID-19 (January 2018-December 2019) and during COVID-19 (January 2020-December 2021).

What Do People Want from an AI-Assisted Screening App for Sexually Transmitted Infection-Related Anogenital Lesions: A Discrete Choice Experiment.

Background: One of the World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations to achieve its global targets for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) is the increased use of digital technologies. Melbourne Sexual Health Centre (MSHC) has developed an AI-assisted screening application (app) called AiSTi for the detection of common STI-related anogenital skin conditions. This study aims to understand the community's preference for using the AiSTi app.

Transiently boosting Vγ9+Vδ2+ γδ T cells early in Mtb coinfection of SIV-infected juvenile macaques does not improve Mtb host resistance.

Children living with HIV have a higher risk of developing tuberculosis (TB), a disease caused by the bacterium (Mtb). Gamma delta (γδ) T cells in the context of HIV/Mtb coinfection have been understudied in children despite evidence suggesting γδ T cells assist with Mtb control. We investigated whether boosting a specific subset of γδ T cells, phosphoantigen-reactive Vγ9+Vδ2+ cells, could improve TB outcome using a nonhuman primate model of pediatric HIV/Mtb coinfection.

User experiences of an AI application for predicting risk of sexually transmitted infections.

Objective: Awareness of one's individual risk of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a necessary precursor to engagement with prevention strategies and sexual health care. Web-based sexual health applications may improve engagement in sexual health prevention and care by providing individualised and evidence-based sexual health information. The STARTOnline () study sought the views of sexual health service users on three web-based sexual health applications to better understand their usefulness, acceptability and accessibility.

Global Trends and Inequalities of Liver Complications Related to Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease: An Analysis From 1990 to 2021.

Background: Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease is a significant driver of the increasing global burden of chronic liver disease. This study aimed to describe the temporal trends and inequalities of liver complications related to metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (LC-MASLD) by geographical region, age and sex during 1990-2021.

Methods: Global Burden of Diseases Study 2021 data were analysed to assess LC-MASLD incidence, prevalence, mortality and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs).