Intravenous Methamphetamine Use, HIV Status and PrEP Uptake Among a U.S. Sample of 29,880 Gender and Sexual Minorities, 2022-2023.

Methamphetamine use is prevalent among sexual and gender minority (SGM) populations and is associated with increased risk for HIV acquisition. Studies are needed to examine the prevalence of intravenous methamphetamine use and explore its association with HIV status and PrEP uptake. Between August 2022-July 2023, 29,880 SGM people who have sex with men in the U.

Anteriorly Based Middle Turbinate Flap for Skull Base Reconstruction: A Cadaveric Study and Case Series.

Objective: To describe a novel flap, the anteriorly based middle turbinate flap (ABMTF), via a cadaveric dissection, as well as present our experience using the ABMTF in 13 patients.

Methods: Cadaver dissection study demonstrating methodology of harvesting the ABMTF. Retrospective chart review of 13 patients from a tertiary rhinology referral center undergoing CSF leak repair using the ABMTF from January 2017 to August 2023.

A meta-analysis and systematic review of interventions to prevent or treat cognitive decline related to Alzheimer's disease in adults with Down syndrome.

Down syndrome (DS) is a leading genetic risk factor for Alzheimer's disease (AD). Although prevention and treatment of AD are well documented for those without DS, less is known about individuals with DS. This review evaluates the efficacy of AD and dementia interventions in people with DS.

HOME protocol for a national online survey of people who inject drugs.

Most surveys of people who inject drugs (PWID) fail to represent the full population of PWID, because usual recruitment methods do not achieve geographic and sociodemographic diversity. People of color, people residing in rural and/or harm reduction-deprived areas, and people who rarely connect with social services are the least surveyed and understood PWID populations. Online-based recruitment and surveys may better reach these hidden PWID populations than standard venue-based recruitment.

Attrition from Care and Barriers to PrEP Use Among Key Populations in Kinshasa, DRC: A Multiple Methods Study.

Female sex workers (FSW) and gay and other men who have sex with men (MSM) are disproportionately affected by HIV. Oral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is increasingly available in African countries, including the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), but data on factors influencing PrEP use remain limited. This multiple methods study examined PrEP attrition patterns and barriers to engagement among FSW and MSM in Kinshasa, DRC, using programmatic data from five sites, clinical records, and qualitative interviews.

The American Transformative HIV Study: Protocol for a US National Cohort of Sexual and Gender Minority Individuals With HIV.

Background: Sexual and gender minority (SGM) individuals represent 2%-5% of the US population, yet continue to account for more than two-thirds of new HIV infections annually.

Objective: This study seeks to identify multilevel (ie, structural, psychological, and social) and biobehavioral (ie, rectal cytokines or chemokines) determinants of amplified HIV seroconversion risk for SGM individuals, including those who use methamphetamine.

Methods: The American Transformative HIV Study is an ongoing web-based cohort study of 5364 SGM individuals from all 50 US states and Puerto Rico, enrolled in 2022 and 2023, and will be followed through 2027.

PrEP in the key population community: A qualitative study of perspectives on pre-exposure prophylaxis by gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men and female sex workers in Kigali, Rwanda.

Gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM) and cisgender female sex workers (FSW) are increasingly and disproportionately impacted by HIV in sub-Saharan Africa, yet current PrEP care models in this region are not optimized for these communities. Limited data exist describing experiences and preferences of GBMSM and FSW with respect to accessing and using PrEP. We conducted qualitative, semi-structured interviews with GBMSM and FSW recruited from three health centers and seven community organizations in Kigali, Rwanda.

Defining Study Populations in HIV Prevention Implementation Science Studies: A Case Comparison of 3 Ending the HIV Epidemic Projects.

Introduction: Implementation studies include both recipient populations, who will benefit from the study's evidence-based intervention, and study populations, who will participate in the intervention and contribute data to implementation outcomes. Decision making around inclusion criteria for the study population and whether to include the recipient population have significant implications for study design. We present 3 case studies of HIV prevention implementation studies that feature diverse study populations and describe the decision-making process around defining study populations to share generalizable lessons for the field.

Utilization and perceptions of chaplaincy among hospitalized adults of Dharmic religions with cancer.

Background: Spiritual care provided by chaplains plays a key role in cancer care in the United States, yet little is known about chaplaincy utilization among people of Dharmic religions (Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism, Jainism) with cancer.

Methods: This multi-methods study reviewed the records of patients (aged 18 years and older) who were hospitalized at a dedicated cancer hospital (2015-2019) and conducted interviews with chaplains and adults of Dharmic religions (2020). Primary outcomes included measuring chaplaincy utilization (at least one chaplain visit) across different religions and identifying perceptions of chaplaincy.

Feasibility and Acceptability of a Peer Influencer Delivered Social Media Based Intervention to Promote Mental Health Awareness for Young Black and Latinx Gay and Bisexual Men and Transgender Women.

Background: Young Black and Latinx Gay and Bisexual Men and Transgender Women (YBLGBMTW) face high levels of mental health related concerns. While online interventions show promise for addressing mental health conditions, few models focus on this population.

Methods: We used a pre-post design to assess the feasibility and acceptability of a peer delivered mental health awareness intervention for YBLGBMTW.

Correlates of Using Antibiotics to Prevent Sexually Transmitted Infections Among Cisgender Sexual Minority Men and Transgender Women.

Prophylactic antibiotics are effective prevention strategies for sexually transmitted infections. This analysis explored preventative antibiotic use among cisgender sexual minority men and transgender women. Data were collected from August 2022 to July 2023.

Preferences for HIV preexposure prophylaxis care among gay, bisexual, and other MSM: a large discrete choice experiment.

Objective: We aimed to identify preferences for preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) care among diverse gay, bisexual, and other MSM (GBM) in the United States with discrete choice experiment (DCE).

Design: We conducted two DCEs to elicit care delivery preferences for starting and continuing PrEP among 16-49-year-old GBM who were HIV-negative and not using PrEP from across the United States. DCEs assessed preferences for care options including location, formulation (pills, injectable), lab testing, and costs.

PrEP in the key population community: a qualitative study of perspectives on pre-exposure prophylaxis by men who have sex with men and female sex workers in Kigali, Rwanda.

Background: Men who have sex with men (MSM) and female sex workers (FSW) are increasingly and disproportionately impacted by HIV in sub-Saharan Africa, yet current PrEP care models in this region are not optimized for these communities. Limited data exist describing experiences and preferences of MSM and FSW with respect to accessing and using PrEP.

Methods: We conducted qualitative, semi-structured interviews with MSM and FSW recruited from three health centers and seven community organizations in Kigali, Rwanda.

The lateral based nasopharyngeal flap: A novel vascularized flap for skull base reconstruction.

As the indications for endoscopic skull base approaches have increased, so has the need for more versatile vascularized flaps for skull base reconstruction. Here, we describe a novel lateral based nasopharyngeal flap (LNPF). Two cadaver heads were dissected to elucidate flap anatomy, dimensions, and technique.

Factors associated with PrEP-era HIV seroconversion in a 4-year U.S. national cohort of n = 6059 sexual and gender minority individuals who have sex with men, 2017-2022.

Introduction: Community-based cohort studies of HIV seroconversion can identify important avenues for enhancing HIV prevention efforts in the era of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). Within individuals, one can assess exposure and outcome variables repeatedly and with increased certainty regarding temporal ordering. This cohort study examined the association of several risk factors with subsequent HIV seroconversion.

Housing instability among young men who have sex with men in a US national sample.

Background: Youth, including those experiencing housing instability, are among the fastest growing groups of individuals with new STI diagnoses, including HIV. The unpredictable nature of the lives of youth experiencing housing instability often leads to inconsistent or non-existent health care and preventive follow up, leaving gaps in our knowledge about the most prominent needs for intervention.

Methods: Using data from the (T5K) study, we examined factors associated with housing instability in a sample of 2,228 youth between the ages of 16-24 who identified as sexual and gender minority (SGM) men having sex with men.

Awareness and willingness to use pre-exposure prophylaxis for HIV prevention among men who have sex with men in Rwanda: findings from a web-based survey.

Introduction: Pre-exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) is a daily pill aimed at reducing HIV transmission risk when taken as prescribed. It's highly recommended for high-risk Men who have sex with Men (MSM). This study aimed to assess PrEP awareness and willingness to use it among Rwandan MSM, a critical aspect given PrEP's proven effectiveness.

PrEP Discontinuation In A US National Cohort Of Sexual And Gender Minority Populations, 2017-22.

In the US, sexual and gender minority populations are disproportionately affected by HIV. Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is a key prevention method, but its effectiveness relies on consistent usage. Our four-year national cohort study explored PrEP discontinuation among sexual and gender minority people who initiated PrEP.

PrEP Uptake and Methamphetamine Use Patterns in a 4-Year U.S. National Prospective Cohort Study of Sexual and Gender Minority People, 2017-2022.

Methamphetamine use is on the rise among sexual and gender minority people who have sex with men (SGMSM), escalating their HIV risk. Despite pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) being an effective biomedical HIV prevention tool, its uptake in relation to methamphetamine use patterns in SGMSM has not been studied. In a U.

Awareness and Willingness to Use HIV Infection Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis among Rwandan Men Who Have Sex with Men: Findings from a Web-based Survey.

Introduction: Pre-exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) is a daily pill intended to reduce the risk of acquiring Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) when taken as prescribed. It is strongly recommended for Men who have sex with Men (MSM) at high risk of HIV transmission to minimize infection risk. Despite its proven effectiveness, there is a lack of information about awareness and willingness to use PrEP among Rwandan MSM.