Outness predicts greater leukocyte telomere length in sexually minoritized men with HIV who use methamphetamine.

Objective: This longitudinal study aimed to examine the associations of sexual minority stress and outness with leukocyte telomere length across time among sexually minority men (SMM) with HIV who use methamphetamine.

Methods: A sample of 91 SMM with HIV with biologically confirmed recent methamphetamine use completed measures of sexual minority stress and outness at the baseline visit in a randomized controlled trial. Telomere length was measured over 15 months using extracted leukocyte DNA Statistical analyses were performed using bivariate analyses and generalized estimation equations to examine the independent association between baseline outness and leukocyte telomere length, adjusting for chronological age and recent stimulant use.

'I was like, this is gonna hurt': Implementing self-sampling of dried blood spots to measure HIV viral load.

Background: Sexual minority men (SMM) with HIV who use stimulants may experience greater difficulties with antiretroviral therapy adherence which amplifies risk for unsuppressed HIV viral load (VL). Remote monitoring of VL could support efforts to rapidly respond to sub-optimal adherence.

Methods: This qualitative study enrolled 24 SMM with HIV who use stimulants to examine experiences with two different dried blood spots (DBS) self-sampling devices (i.

Getting to yes: Pilot sequential multiple assignment randomized trial of motivational enhancement interventions targeting preexposure prophylaxis use in sexual minority men who use stimulants.

Objective: This pilot sequential multiple assignment randomized trial estimated the feasibility, acceptability, and scalability of telehealth motivational enhancement interventions for optimizing HIV prevention efforts in sexual minority men (SMM) who use stimulants.

Method: Seventy SMM who use stimulants with nonreactive HIV results that were not taking preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) were randomized to: (a) a two-session motivational interviewing (MI) intervention focusing on PrEP use and concomitant risk behaviors; or (b) a contingency management (CM) intervention with financial incentives for PrEP clinical evaluation ($50) and filling a PrEP prescription ($50). After 3 months, participants who reported they had not filled a prescription for PrEP were randomized a second time to: (a) switch to a second-stage intervention (i.

Neighborhood-level adversity and inflammation among sexual minority men living with HIV.

Objective: This cross-sectional study investigated the associations of neighborhood-level factors with immune activation, systemic inflammation, and leukocyte telomere length in 110 sexual minority men with human immunodeficiency virus.

Method: From 2013 to 2017, sexual minority men with human immunodeficiency virus who used stimulants were recruited in San Francisco, California and provided blood samples to measure the markers of immune activation, systemic inflammation, and leukocyte telomere length. To measure neighborhood-level indices, the home address for each participant was geocoded and linked to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Relations Between Optimism-Pessimism and Loneliness in Sexually Minoritized Men: The Moderating Role of Chronicity-Based Discrimination.

Loneliness has reached epidemic proportions, affecting nearly one-in-two adults in the United States and is particularly potent in sexually minoritized men (SMM). Individual differences in optimism and pessimism may exert protective or maladaptive effects for the impact of discrimination on loneliness. This study investigated interrelationships between optimism/pessimism, discrimination, and loneliness within a sample of sexual minoritized men (SMM).

Supporting treatment adherence for resilience and thriving (START): protocol for a mHealth randomized controlled trial.

Background: Although behavioral interventions show some promise for reducing stimulant use and achieving durable viral suppression in sexual minority men (SMM) with HIV, scalable mHealth applications are needed to optimize their reach and cost-effectiveness.

Methods: Supporting Treatment Adherence for Resilience and Thriving (START) is a randomized controlled trial (RCT) testing the efficacy and cost-effectiveness of a mHealth application that integrates evidence-based positive affect regulation skills with self-monitoring of adherence and mood. The primary outcome is detectable HIV viral load (i.

Challenges and Opportunities with at-Home Blood Collection for HIV-1 Viral Load Monitoring among Sexual Minoritized Men who use Stimulants.

Sexually minoritized men (SMM) with HIV who use stimulants experience difficulties achieving and maintaining an undetectable viral load (VL). Home-based VL monitoring could augment HIV care by supporting interim, early identification of detectable VL. We describe implementation challenges associated with a home-collection device for laboratory-based VL testing among SMM with HIV who use stimulants.

Structural Determinants of Health and Markers of Immune Activation and Systemic Inflammation in Sexual Minority Men With and Without HIV.

Among sexual minority men (SMM), HIV and use of stimulants such as methamphetamine are linked with immune activation and systemic inflammation. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, SMM encountered financial challenges and structural obstacles that might have uniquely contributed to immune dysregulation and systemic inflammation, beyond the impacts of HIV and stimulant use. Between August 2020 and February 2022, 72 SMM with and without HIV residing in South Florida enrolled in a COVID-19 prospective cohort study.

A positive affect intervention alters leukocyte DNA methylation in sexual minority men with HIV who use methamphetamine.

Objective: This epigenomics sub-study embedded within a randomized controlled trial examined whether an evidenced-based behavioral intervention model that decreased stimulant use altered leukocyte DNA methylation (DNAm).

Methods: Sexual minority men with HIV who use methamphetamine were randomized to a five-session positive affect intervention (n = 32) or an attention-control condition (n = 21), both delivered during three months of contingency management for stimulant abstinence. All participants exhibited sustained HIV virologic control - an HIV viral load less than 40 copies/mL at baseline and six months post-randomization.

I was like sh*t this is gonna hurt': Implementing Self-Sampling of Dried Blood Spots to Measure HIV Viral Load.

Background: Sexual minority men (SMM) with HIV who use stimulants may experience greater difficulties with antiretroviral therapy adherence which amplifies risk for unsuppressed HIV viral load (VL). Remote monitoring of VL could support efforts to rapidly respond to sub-optimal adherence.

Methods: This qualitative study enrolled 24 SMM with HIV who use stimulants to examine experiences with two different dried blood spots (DBS) self-sampling devices (i.

Through the Looking-Glass: Psychoneuroimmunology and the Microbiome-Gut-Brain Axis in the Modern Antiretroviral Therapy Era.

Objective: Depression, substance use disorders, and other neuropsychiatric comorbidities are common in people with HIV (PWH), but the underlying mechanisms are not sufficiently understood. HIV-induced damage to the gastrointestinal tract potentiates residual immune dysregulation in PWH receiving effective antiretroviral therapy. However, few studies among PWH have examined the relevance of microbiome-gut-brain axis: bidirectional crosstalk between the gastrointestinal tract, immune system, and central nervous system.

Sexual Minority Stress and Cellular Aging in Methamphetamine-Using Sexual Minority Men With Treated HIV.

Objective: Sexual minority men (e.g., gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men) experience stigma and sexual minority stress, which are theorized to drive negative health outcomes.

Running with Scissors: a Systematic Review of Substance Use and the Pre-exposure Prophylaxis Care Continuum Among Sexual Minority Men.

Purpose Of Review: Patterns of sexualized drug use, including stimulants (e.g., methamphetamine) and chemsex drugs, are key drivers of HIV incidence among sexual minority men (SMM).