High Rates of Drug Use and Chemsex Among PrEP Users and People with HIV in Milan Highlight Need for Targeted Interventions.

Chemsex, the use of psychostimulant substances during sexual activity particularly among men who have sex with men (MSM), is a growing public health concern. This study aimed to assess drug use, engagement in chemsex, and related knowledge among pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) users and people with HIV (PWH) attending two sexually transmitted infection (STI) services in Milan, Italy. An anonymous online survey was conducted between January and March 2024 at a hospital-based clinic and a community-based center.

Knowledge, Use, and Misuse of Self-Prescribed Doxycycline Postexposure Prophylaxis in a Community-Based Preexposure Prophylaxis Service.

This study described knowledge and usage of doxycycline postexposure prophylaxis (doxyPEP) among preexposure prophylaxis users. A survey was launched enrolling 703 respondents: 28.2% were aware of doxycycline postexposure prophylaxis, but only 8.

High Prevalence of High-Risk HPV Among People with and Without HIV: Insights into Risk Factors for Tailored Screening Approaches.

Men who have sex with men (MSM) and people with HIV are at increased risk of anal HPV infection and cancer. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of anal HPV among MSM with HIV (MWH) and without HIV (MWoH), as well as among MSM under and over 35 years. Factors associated with infection from high-risk (HR) HPV were investigated.

Challenges and opportunities for hepatitis B virus screening in people attending PrEP services: a retrospective prevalence study.

Objectives: Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) with emtricitabine/tenofovir to prevent HIV in individuals with hepatitis B virus (HBV) raises concerns about HBV reactivation when stopping event-driven PrEP or redundancy in HBV treatment for continuous PrEP (since tenofovir alone would be enough for HBV). Real-world data from PrEP services could provide useful epidemiological information on HBV prevalence in PrEP attendees in low-prevalence countries.

Methods: A retrospective analysis on PrEP attendees of three services in northern Italy were conducted to assess HBV prevalence among PrEP attendees and the need for primary cycle/booster dose HBV vaccination despite previous vaccination during childhood (at birth or 12 years).

Oral HPV infection clearance and acquisition after nonavalent vaccination in men who have sex with men and transgender women: a prospective analysis.

Oral HPV infection is the main risk factor for the development of oropharyngeal carcinoma. Men who have sex with men (MSM), especially if living with HIV (PLWH), are at increased risk of infection and consequently of cancer development. Aim of this study is to evaluate the impact of nonavalent vaccine on oral HPV infection in a cohort of MSM and transgender women (TGW).

Performance evaluation of a self-administered point-of-care test for anal HPV screening in PrEP users: data from a community-based PrEP service.

Objectives: In this study, we compared the performance of a self-administered point-of-care test (POCT) for anal human papillomavirus (HPV) screening with laboratory gold-standard test in pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) users and evaluated its feasibility.

Methods: We enrolled PrEP users from a local community-based PrEP service. Each participant self-collected an anal swab to test anal HPV with a PCR POCT capable of detecting 14 high-risk HPV genotypes.

Do we Still Need Eligibility Criteria to Recommend PrEP? Impact of National Prescribing Requirements on Retention in Care and Sexually Transmitted Infections Acquisition.

Italian guidelines recommend HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) only upon satisfying strict eligibility criteria. The objective of this study is to evaluate if PrEP candidates attending a community-based service comply with these criteria and whether these prescribing conditions affect retention in care and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) acquisition. A retrospective analysis was performed on PrEP candidates evaluated from January 2019 to June 2022.

Probable West Nile Virus hepatitis: Case report.

West Nile Virus infections has become endemic in various locations around the world. Symptomatic cases manifest as an acute febrile illness and in less than 1% with neuroinvasive manifestations. We report one of the very few cases of probable WNV-mediated isolated hepatitis to shed light on a possibly underestimated clinical picture.

Prevalence and Risk Factors of Anal HPV Infection in MSM Living With HIV: Identifying the Target Groups to Prioritize for Immunization.

Background: Aims of this study are assessing prevalence of anal human papillomavirus (HPV) genotypes in male who have sex with men (MSM) living with HIV over a period of 5 years and determining risk factors for anal infection from high-risk (HR) HPV genotypes or included in vaccine Gardasil 9.

Setting: Time-trend, monocentric study on MSM living with HIV who underwent HPV test at anal site from 2015 to 2019.

Methods: Anal swabs were processed by multiplex real-time polymerase chain reaction to detect HPV genotypes.

High prevalence of anal papillomavirus infection in men who have sex with men PrEP users.

Objectives: Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common STI and is associated with a wide range of diseases from anogenital warts to malignancies. Anal HPV infection is considerably more common in men who have sex with men (MSM) living with HIV. Aims of the present study are to (i) describe the prevalence of anal HPV infection in MSM who started pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and (ii) analyse factors associated with anal infection from genotypes that would be covered by nonavalent vaccination.

Association between low levels of HIV-1 DNA and HLA class I molecules in chronic HIV-1 infection.

Background: HLA-B27 and -B57 were found in people with low levels of HIV-1 DNA, suggesting that HLA class I molecules may influence the size of HIV-1 reservoir. Aim of the study was to explore the association between HLA class I molecules and HIV-1 DNA in people with chronic HIV-1 infection.

Methods: Post-hoc analysis of the APACHE trial, on adults with chronic HIV-1 infection, prolonged suppressive antiretroviral therapy and good immunological profile.

Correlates of Treatment and Disease Burden in People Living with HIV (PLHIV) in Italy.

Treatment burden is a multidimensional concept, including several aspects of life of patients affected by chronic conditions. It has been poorly explored in people living with HIV (PLHIV). An online anonymous survey of PLHIV taking antiretroviral therapy (ART) was conducted, in order to investigate the self-reported correlates of disease burden.

A Comparison of Tenofovir Predose Concentrations in Generic Pre-exposure Prophylaxis Formulations: A Short Communication.

Background: There is extensive evidence to show that pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) using tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF)-based formulations dramatically reduces the risk of HIV acquisition among individuals without HIV infection. Here, the authors aim to compare tenofovir plasma predose concentrations in subjects taking PrEP daily versus on demand and using different TDF-based generic formulations.

Methods: Subjects providing informed signed consent for the measurement of tenofovir plasma levels were included in the study.

Incidence and Predictors of Serological Treatment Response in Early and Late Syphilis Among People Living With HIV.

Background: Few studies have investigated predictors of serological response to syphilis treatment in people living with HIV (PLWH).

Methods: This was a retrospective, longitudinal study on PLWH who were diagnosed with and treated for syphilis who had an assessable serological response between January 2004 and June 2016. Serological treatment response (TR) was defined as a ≥4-fold decline in rapid plasma reagin (RPR) titers or a reversion to nonreactive (if RPR ≤1:4 at diagnosis) 12 months after treatment for early syphilis and 24 months after treatment for late syphilis.

Presence of multiple genotypes in subjects with HPV-16 infection is highly associated with anal squamous intraepithelial lesions in HIV-1 infected males.

Objectives: The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence of abnormal cytological findings, high risk (HR)-HPV genotypes and to identify factors associated with an abnormal cytological findings in a cohort of HIV-infected males.

Patients And Methods: Retrospective observational study on HIV-infected male patients who performed screening in the absence of clinical symptoms. Cytological abnormalities were classified as atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASC-US), low-grade(LSIL) or high high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (HSIL).

A pilot study of brisk walking in sedentary combination antiretroviral treatement (cART)- treated patients: benefit on soluble and cell inflammatory markers.

Background: Chronic HIV infection is associated with low-level inflammation and increased risk of chronic diseases and mortality. The objective was to assess the effects of moderate intensity exercise on metabolic and inflammatory markers in HIV-infected treated persons.

Methods: This was a pilot study enrolling cART-treated, sedentary persons with metabolic complications in a 12-week protocol, consisting of three sessions per week of 60 min brisk walking with (strength-walk group) or without (walk group) 30 min circuit-training.

Diagnostic accuracy of APRI, FIB-4 and Forns for the detection of liver cirrhosis in HIV/HCV-coinfected patients.

We determined the diagnostic accuracy and optimal cut off of three indirect fibrosis biomarkers (APRI, FIB-4, Forns) compared with liver stiffness (LS) for the detection of liver cirrhosis in HIV/HCV-coinfected patients. An observational retrospective study on HIV/HCV-coinfected patients with concomitant LS measurement and APRI, FIB-4 and Forns was performed. The presence of liver cirrhosis was defined as a LS ≥13 KPa.

Efficacy and safety in clinical practice of a rilpivirine, tenofovir and emtricitabine single-tablet regimen in virologically suppressed HIV-positive patients on stable antiretroviral therapy.

Introduction: Switching to a rilpivirine, tenofovir and emtricitabine (RTE) single-tablet regimen (STR) has been evaluated in a limited number of virologically suppressed patients. The aim of this study was to describe clinical outcomes in HIV-positive patients switched from a suppressive antiretroviral regimen to RTE STR in routine clinical practice.

Methods: In this retrospective study of antiretroviral-treated patients with <50 copies of HIV RNA/mL switched to RTE STR, virological failure (VF) was defined as two consecutive measurements of ≥50 copies/mL or a single measurement of ≥50 copies/mL followed by any change in treatment.

Predictors of lack of serological response to syphilis treatment in HIV-infected subjects.

Introduction: The aim of this study was to determine factors associated with lack of serological response (LSR) to treatment of syphilis among HIV-infected subjects.

Materials And Methods: Retrospective, longitudinal study on HIV-infected subjects diagnosed and treated for syphilis and with an assessable serological response between 1 January 2004 and 15 September 2013. LSR was defined as a <4-fold decline of rapid plasma reagin (RPR) titer or a failed reversion to nonreactive (if RPR ≤1:4 at diagnosis) after one year since treatment.