The Impacts of Substance Use and Depression on HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis Use and Adherence Among Sexual and Gender Minority Adolescents and Young Adults in the Keeping it LITE Cohort.

Substance use and depression are prevalent in sexual and gender minorities (SGM), but evidence about their impacts on HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) use is mixed. We assessed these impacts in a US-based cohort of 3,330 young SGM who tested negative for HIV and completed baseline and semiannual assessments on substance use (cocaine, methamphetamine, or heroin), depression, and PrEP use and adherence. We estimated prevalence differences (PDs) to compare baseline and 12-month PrEP use and adherence between participants with and without substance use and depression, separately and jointly.

Acceptability of Long-Acting Cabotegravir + Rilpivirine in a Large, Urban, Ambulatory HIV Clinic.

Background: Outside of randomized controlled trials, there are limited data regarding the acceptability of injectable long-acting cabotegravir + rilpivirine (LA-CAB+RPV) among persons living with HIV. To evaluate acceptability, we described participant-reported outcomes of LA-CAB+RPV among a population underrepresented in randomized controlled trials.

Setting: Ruth M.

Consensus recommendations for the use of novel antiretrovirals in persons with HIV who are heavily treatment-experienced and/or have multidrug-resistant HIV-1: Endorsed by the American Academy of HIV Medicine, American College of Clinical Pharmacy.

Treatment options are currently limited for persons with HIV-1 (PWH) who are heavily treatment-experienced and/or have multidrug-resistant HIV-1. Three agents have been approved by the U.S.

Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and cellular therapy in persons living with HIV.

Purpose Of Review: Summarize the latest research of both stem cell transplantation and cellular therapy and present the implications with respect to persons with HIV (PWH), hematologic malignancies, and HIV-1 cure.

Recent Findings: Allogeneic (alloSCT) and autologous (autoSCT) stem cell transplantation have been shown to be well tolerated and effective regardless of HIV-1 status. AlloSCT leads to a decrease in the HIV-1 latently infected reservoir orders of magnitude below that achieved with antiretroviral therapy (ART) alone.

Wilms' tumor 1 (WT1) antigen is overexpressed in Kaposi Sarcoma and is regulated by KSHV vFLIP.

In people living with HIV, Kaposi Sarcoma (KS), a vascular neoplasm caused by KS herpesvirus (KSHV/HHV-8), remains one of the most common malignancies worldwide. Individuals living with HIV, receiving otherwise effective antiretroviral therapy, may present with extensive disease requiring chemotherapy. Hence, new therapeutic approaches are needed.

Assessment of the safety of nivolumab in people living with HIV with advanced cancer on antiretroviral therapy: the AIDS Malignancy Consortium 095 Study.

Background: Although immunotherapy has emerged as a therapeutic strategy for many cancers, there are limited studies establishing the safety and efficacy in people living with HIV (PLWH) and cancer.

Methods: PLWH and solid tumors or Kaposi sarcoma (KS) receiving antiretroviral therapy and a suppressed HIV viral load received nivolumab at 3 mg/kg every 2 weeks, in two dose deescalation cohorts stratified by CD4 count (stratum 1: CD4 count > 200/µL and stratum 2: CD4 count 100-199/µL). An expansion cohort of 24 participants with a CD4 count > 200/µL was then enrolled.

Treatment Initiation, Substance Use Trajectories, and the Social Determinants of Health in Persons Living With HIV Seeking Medication for Opioid Use Disorder.

Background: People living with HIV and opioid use disorder (OUD) are disproportionally affected by adverse socio-structural exposures negatively affecting health, which have shown inconsistent associations with uptake of medications for OUD (MOUD). This study aimed to determine whether social determinants of health (SDOH) were associated with MOUD uptake and trajectories of substance use in a clinical trial of people seeking treatment.

Methods: Data are from a 2018 to 2019 randomized trial comparing the effectiveness of different MOUD to achieve viral suppression among people living with HIV and OUD.

Brentuximab vedotin with AVD for stage II-IV HIV-related Hodgkin lymphoma (AMC 085): phase 2 results from an open-label, single arm, multicentre phase 1/2 trial.

Background: Brentuximab vedotin in combination with doxorubicin, vinblastine, and dacarbazine (AVD) is approved in the upfront setting for advanced stage classical Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL). People living with HIV have been excluded from these studies. We aimed to understand the activity and safety of brentuximab vedotin-AVD in people living with HIV diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma, while focusing on HIV disease parameters and antiretroviral therapy (ART) interactions.

Access to healthcare among sexual and gender minority youth at risk for HIV: barriers and experiences of discrimination.

This study examined experiences of healthcare inaccessibility and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, plus (LGBTQ+) discrimination among sexual and gender minority youth at elevated risk for HIV in the United States. Participants for this cross-sectional survey study (= 3330) were cisgender men, transgender men and women, and nonbinary individuals ages 18-34 recruited for a larger study examining HIV risk behavior between December 2017 and December 2019. Results indicated that 41.

Long-acting injectable antiretroviral therapy: will it change the future of HIV treatment?

The treatment of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) has greatly advanced over the past few decades from complex regimens, with high toxicities, multiple daily dosing, and incomplete viral suppression to more simplified, highly effective, daily oral regimens. Although these advancements greatly improved access and tolerability, the need for daily antiretroviral (ARV) administration remained until recently. With long-acting (LA) injectable ARV options emerging, patients may choose how they want to receive treatment.

The ATEAM study: Advances in technology to enhance PrEP adherence monitoring (ATEAM) among young men who have sex with men.

Young age has consistently correlated with lower adherence to pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) in young men who have sex with men (YMSM). Digital medicine, a dynamic healthcare platform of wearable physiological sensors and mobile communication technology that can respond to medication nonadherence rapidly, has the potential in promoting PrEP adherence. We evaluated the feasibility and acceptability of Proteus Discover, a digital monitoring adherence system, to measure PrEP adherence and provide real-time feedback among cisgender YMSM and transgender women.

COVID-19 symptom relationship to antibody response and ACE2 neutralization in recovered health systems employees before and after mRNA BNT162b2 COVID-19 vaccine.

Background: The humoral response to SARS-CoV-2 can provide immunity and prevent reinfection. However, less is known about how the diversity, magnitude, and length of the antibody response after a primary infection is associated with symptoms, post-infection immunity, and post-vaccinated immunity.

Methods: Cook County Health employees provided blood samples and completed an online survey 8-10 weeks after a PCR-confirmed positive SARS-CoV-2 test (pre-vaccinated, N = 41) and again, 1-4 weeks after completion of a 2-dose series mRNA BNT162b2 COVID-19 vaccine (post-vaccinated, N = 27).

Experiences of Online Racialized Sexual Discrimination among Sexual and Gender Minorities in the United States: Online Survey Data from Keeping It LITE.

This study sought to analyze prevalence and correlates of online racialized sexual discrimination (RSD), or sexualized discriminatory treatment, in the context of sexualized encounters, among cisgender men and transgender individuals who have sex with men at risk for HIV. Data were collected as part of a baseline survey from a large national sample ( = 2,166). Among participants of color ( = 1,042), 84.

HIV clinic-based extended-release naltrexone versus treatment as usual for people with HIV and opioid use disorder: a non-blinded, randomized non-inferiority trial.

Background And Aim: Opioid agonist medications for treatment of opioid use disorder (OUD) can improve human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) outcomes and reduce opioid use. We tested whether outpatient antagonist treatment with naltrexone could achieve similar results.

Design: Open-label, non-inferiority randomized trial.

Endogenous Antibody Responses to SARS-CoV-2 in Patients With Mild or Moderate COVID-19 Who Received Bamlanivimab Alone or Bamlanivimab and Etesevimab Together.

Background: Neutralizing monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) to SARS-CoV-2 are clinically efficacious when administered early, decreasing hospitalization and mortality in patients with mild or moderate COVID-19. We investigated the effects of receiving mAbs (bamlanivimab alone and bamlanivimab and etesevimab together) after SARS-CoV-2 infection on the endogenous immune response.

Methods: Longitudinal serum samples were collected from patients with mild or moderate COVID-19 in the BLAZE-1 trial who received placebo (n=153), bamlanivimab alone [700 mg (n=100), 2800 mg (n=106), or 7000 mg (n=98)], or bamlanivimab (2800 mg) and etesevimab (2800 mg) together (n=111).

Metagenomic analysis to identify novel infectious agents in systemic anaplastic large cell lymphoma.

Systemic anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL) is a rare CD30-expressing T-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Risk of systemic ALCL is highly increased among immunosuppressed individuals. Because risk of cancers associated with viruses is increased with immunosuppression, we conducted a metagenomic analysis of systemic ALCL to determine whether a known or novel pathogen is associated with this malignancy.

Associations between fentanyl use and initiation, persistence, and retention on medications for opioid use disorder among people living with uncontrolled HIV disease.

Background: Associations between fentanyl use and initiation and retention on medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) are poorly understood.

Methods: Data were from a multisite clinical trial comparing extended-release naltrexone (XR-NTX) with treatment as usual (TAU; buprenorphine or methadone) to achieve HIV viral suppression among people with OUD and uncontrolled HIV disease. The exposure of interest was fentanyl use, as measured by urine drug screening.

KSHV/HHV8-mediated hematologic diseases.

Kaposi sarcoma (KS) herpesvirus (KSHV), also known as human herpesvirus 8, is the causal agent of KS but is also pathogenetically related to several lymphoproliferative disorders, including primary effusion lymphoma (PEL)/extracavitary (EC) PEL, KSHV-associated multicentric Castleman disease (MCD), KSHV+ diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, and germinotropic lymphoproliferative disorder. These different KSHV-associated diseases may co-occur and may have overlapping features. KSHV, similar to Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), is a lymphotropic gammaherpesvirus that is preferentially present in abnormal lymphoid proliferations occurring in immunecompromised individuals.

A Narrative Review of the Clinical Practicalities of Bamlanivimab and Etesevimab Antibody Therapies for SARS-CoV-2.

The severity of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) ranges from mild to death, with high morbidity and mortality rates reported amongst a vulnerable subset of patients termed high risk. While vaccines remain the primary option for COVID-19 prevention, neutralizing monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), such as bamlanivimab and etesevimab, have been shown to benefit certain subpopulations after exposure to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Unlike vaccine-derived immunity that develops over time, administration of neutralizing mAbs is an immediate and passive immunotherapy, with the potential to reduce disease progression, emergency room visits, hospitalizations, and death.

Limited Interaction Targeted Epidemiology of HIV in Sexual and Gender Minority American Adolescents and Adults: Feasibility of the Keeping it LITE Study.

Background: HIV infection rates among sexual minority men and transgender individuals, particularly adolescents and young adults, remain elevated in the United States despite continued improvement in the HIV public health response. However, there remains a knowledge gap in understanding the barriers faced by this community in receiving HIV care and prevention resources. To address this, the Keeping it LITE study was conducted to assess HIV risk factors and barriers to preventive treatment in a large national cohort of young sexual minority men and transgender individuals at high risk of HIV infection.

HIV self-testing and STI self-collection via mobile apps: experiences from two pilot randomized controlled trials of young men who have sex with men.

Background: Young men who have sex with men (YMSM) are disproportionately impacted by HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in the United States (US) and have low rates of HIV/STI testing. Provision of HIV self-testing and STI self-collection can increase testing rates, and access to these kits through mobile applications (apps) could help facilitate YMSM using HIV self-testing and STI self-collection.

Methods: Data for this study comes from two pilot randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of mobile apps within the Adolescent Trials Network-LYNX and MyChoices-aimed to increase HIV/STI testing among YMSM (age 15-24) who had not recently tested for HIV and were at high risk for HIV acquisition across five US cities.

Challenges and Barriers to HIV Care for Mexican Born Men Living in Chicago.

Background: Latinx men are disproportionately impacted by HIV. Research often looks at Latinx people as a heterogeneous population. This paper describes baseline characteristics and barriers to HIV care among Mexican born men enrolled in an HIV care engagement intervention at a public health clinic in Chicago.

Week 96 subgroup analyses of the phase 3, randomized AMBER and EMERALD trials evaluating the efficacy and safety of the once daily darunavir/cobicistat/emtricitabine/tenofovir alafenamide (D/C/F/TAF) single-tablet regimen in antiretroviral treatment (ART)-naïve and -experienced, virologically-suppressed adults living with HIV-1.

Background: Darunavir/cobicistat/emtricitabine/tenofovir alafenamide (D/C/F/TAF) 800/150/200/10 mg was investigated in AMBER (treatment-naïve adults; NCT02431247) and EMERALD (treatment-experienced, virologically-suppressed adults; NCT02269917).

Objective: To describe a Week 96 pre-planned subgroup analysis of D/C/F/TAF arms by demographic characteristics (age ≤/>50 years, gender, black/non-black race), and baseline clinical characteristics (AMBER: viral load [VL], CD4 count, WHO clinical stage, HIV-1 subtype and antiretroviral resistance; EMERALD: prior virologic failure [VF], antiretroviral experience, screening boosted protease inhibitor [PI], and boosting agent).

Methods: Patients in D/C/F/TAF and control arms could continue on/switch to D/C/F/TAF in a single-arm, open-label extension phase after Week 48 until Week 96.