Predictors of poor health-related quality of life among people living with HIV aged ≥60 years in the PISCIS cohort: Findings from the Vive+ project.

INTRODUCTION: Advancements in and accessibility to effective antiretroviral therapy has improved the life expectancy of people living with HIV, increasing the proportion of people living with HIV reaching older age (≥60 years), making this population's health-related quality of life (HRQoL) more relevant. Our aim was to identify the determinants of poor HRQoL in people living with HIV aged ≥60 years and compare them with those of their younger counterparts. METHODS: We used data from the 'Vive+' study, a cross-sectional survey conducted between October 2019 and March 2020, nested within the PISCIS cohort of people living with HIV in Catalonia and the Balearic Islands, Spain. We used the 12-item short-form survey (SF-12), divided into a physical component summary (PCS) and a mental component summary (MCS), to evaluate HRQoL. We used the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator for variable selection and used multivariable regression models to identify predictors. RESULTS: Of the 1060 people living with HIV (78.6% males) who participated in the study, 209 (19.7%) were aged ≥60 years. When comparing older people living with HIV (≥60 years) and their younger counterparts, older people exhibited a worse PCS (median 51.3 [interquartile range {IQR} 46.0-58.1] vs. 46.43 [IQR 42.5-52.7], p < 0.001) but a similar MCS (median 56.0 [IQR 49.34-64.7] vs. 57.0 [IQR 48.9-66.3], p = 0.476). In the multivariable analysis, cognitive function correlated with a PCS (ß correlation factor [ß] -0.18, p = 0.014), and depressive symptoms and satisfaction with social role correlated with an MCS (ß 0.61 and ß -0.97, respectively, p < 0.001) in people living with HIV aged ≥60 years. CONCLUSION: Depressive symptoms, poor cognitive function, and lower satisfaction with social roles predict poorer HRQoL in older people living with HIV. These factors need to be considered when designing targeted interventions.

HIV and SARS-CoV-2 Co-infection: Epidemiological, Clinical Features, and Future Implications for Clinical Care and Public Health for People Living with HIV (PLWH) and HIV Most-at-Risk Groups.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The purpose of this review is to use the currently available clinical and epidemiological data, to identify key aspects to improve both the clinical management and public health response to SARS-CoV-2/HIV co-infection among HIV vulnerable populations and people living with HIV (PLWH). RECENT FINDINGS: While at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, the lack of robust information on SARS-CoV-2/HIV co-infection, prevented a clear picture of the synergies between them, currently available data strongly support the importance of common structural factors on both the acquisition and clinical impact of these infections and the relevance of age, comorbidities, and detectable HIV viral load as associated worse prognostic factors among PLWH. Although more information is needed to better understand the biological, clinical, and epidemiological relationship between both infections, a syndemic approach to prevent SARS-CoV-2 among HIV high-risk groups and PLWH, targeting these populations for SARS-CoV-2 vaccines and protocolizing early identification of PLWH with worse COVID-19 prognosis factors, is crucial strategies to decrease the overall impact of SARS-CoV-2 /HIV co-infection.

The COBATEST network: monitoring and evaluation of HIV community-based practices in Europe, 2014-2016.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this paper is to describe the data collected by the CBVCT services from the Community-based testing (COBATEST) network, from 2014 to 2016, in order to provide an insight into community-based voluntary counselling and testing (CBVCT) services' testing activity in Europe. METHODS: A descriptive analysis of HIV testing activity in CBVCT services that are using the COBATEST tools was performed for the period 2014-2016. RESULTS: During the study period, a total of 30 329 HIV tests were performed on 27 934 individuals, of which 1.8% were reactive. Of these reactive tests, 75.8% had a confirmatory test, 92.2% of those were confirmed as positive, and 90.38% of the confirmed positives were linked to care. The total number of tests performed over the study period increased 19.31%. The proportion of confirmatory tests increased from 63.0% to 90.0% and proportion linked to care increased from 84.1% to 93.8%. Most of the tested individuals were men (70.6%), aged between 21 and 35 years (58.5%) and non-foreign born (68.1%). A high proportion of individuals tested were men who have sex with men (MSM; 42.2%). The percentage of reactive screening tests was particularly high among transgender people (8.37%) and among male sex workers (6.38%). Repeat testers had a higher percentage of reactive tests (2.02%) than those tested for first time (1.1%). CONCLUSIONS: These results prove the feasibility of collecting standardized data from CBVCT services in different countries across Europe and demonstrate the usefulness of such data.

Can we afford to offer pre-exposure prophylaxis to MSM in Catalonia? Cost-effectiveness analysis and budget impact assessment.

Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) effectiveness has been well established. This study aims to assess the cost-effectiveness of providing PrEP, estimate the number of eligible MSM, and its budget impact in Catalonia. Cost-effectiveness analysis compared costs of on daily basis and "on demand" PrEP to prevent one infection with lifetime costs of one HIV infection. We estimated the total cost of providing PrEP by estimating number of eligible MSM, and included in the budget impact assessment antiretroviral and laboratory costs. Costs were lower for the on-demand PrEP group by €64015.1 and the incremental benefit was nearly 15 life-years and 17 quality-adjusted life-years gained. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) was cost-effective at €6281.62 when undiscounted PrEP was given daily. On-demand PrEP can be considered cost-saving in 20 years if the price is reduced by 90%. The number of eligible MSM in Catalonia ranges from 5,989 to 10,972. At current antiretroviral costs, the annual cost would range between €25.3-46.7 million/year (on demand PrEP), and €42.9-78.7 million/year (daily basis PrEP). PrEP is most cost-effective if targeted towards groups with high incidence rates of over 3%/year. Beneficial ICER depends on reducing the current price of Truvada® and ensuring that effectiveness is maintained at high levels.

Differences between migrants and Spanish-born population through the HIV care cascade, Catalonia: an analysis using multiple data sources.

Migrants are considered a key group at risk for HIV infection. This study describes differences between migrants and the Spanish-born population as they progress through the HIV care cascade in Catalonia, Spain. This study found that among people reached by prevention activities, migrants had a higher number of barriers to access HIV testing services than Spanish-born people, driven primarily by shared risk factors. Between 2001 and 2013, 9829 new HIV diagnoses were reported in Catalonia, the proportion of migrants increasing from 24% in 2001 to 41% in 2013. Compared with Spanish-born people, migrants had a higher proportion of women at diagnosis (24·6% vs. 16·7%), and were younger (median age of 33 vs. 37). The most frequent at-risk population was MSM (men who have sex with men) in both migrants and Spanish-born people, (40% and 43%, respectively), although there were significant differences by region of origin. People from sub-Saharan Africa had the highest proportion of late diagnosis (63·7%). Compared with the Spanish-born population, migrants on follow-up had a lower proportion of people on antiretroviral therapy (ART) (93·7% vs. 90·8%, P < 0·001) and with viral suppression (87·2% vs. 82·9%, P < 0·001). Migrants have higher number of barriers to access HIV testing services, lower retention rates and proportions on ART as compared with Spanish-born people, these differences not being uniform between migrants from different regions.

Elastic modulus and hydraulic permeability of MDCK monolayers.

The critical role of cell mechanics in tissue health has led to the development of many in vitro methods that measure the elasticity of the cytoskeleton and whole cells, yet the connection between these local cell properties and bulk measurements of tissue mechanics remains unclear. To help bridge this gap, we have developed a monolayer indentation technique for measuring multi-cellular mechanics in vitro. Here, we measure the elasticity of cell monolayers and uncover the role of fluid permeability in these multi-cellular systems, finding that the resistance of fluid transport through cells controls their force-response at long times.

The COBATEST network: a platform to perform monitoring and evaluation of HIV community-based testing practices in Europe and conduct operational research.

The European project "HIV community-based testing practices in Europe" (HIV-COBATEST) has contributed to the establishment of a network of community-based voluntary counselling and testing services (CBVCTs) that monitors and evaluates HIV testing activity in the communities. The objective of this paper is to describe the data that have been collected during 2014 by the COBATEST network in order to provide an insight into testing activity of CBVCTs in Europe. Members of the CBVCT network share common instruments for data collection and data entry. The network has a common database that allows global data analysis and comparison between different centres. In 2014, 40 CBVCTs of 18 European countries were participating in the network, and, from those, 20 CBVCTs were using the common COBATEST data collection tools. In these 20 CBVCTs, a total of 9266 HIV screening tests were performed on 8554 people, of which 1.58% (135/8554) were reactive and 51.1% (69/135) confirmed positive. Five cases were false positives, and 84.1% (58/69) of the confirmed positive cases were linked to care. Most of the tested individuals were men (70.8%), between 21 and 35 years of age (57.6%) and natives (67.1%). A higher proportion of men who had sex with men (MSM) (38.8%; 3267/8554) were tested compared to heterosexual men (27.7%) and women (23.5%). Rapid blood test was used in 78.5% of the cases and mostly performed in CBVCT offices (88.3%). Among sex workers (SWs), the percentage of reactive screening tests was particularly high (4.0%), especially among male SWs (7.7%) as compared to other risk groups, such as MSM (3.1%). The COBATEST network contributes to the availability of standardized information about the activity and impact of CBVCT centres in Europe. This information and standardized tools can help improve these services and inform decision-makers to better contextualize these interventions within their national HIV-prevention programmes.

Lymphogranuloma venereum in Barcelona, 2007-2012: the role of seroadaptation in men who have sex with men.

This study describes the incidence rate of reported lymphogranuloma venereum (LGV) in men who have sex with men (MSM) in Barcelona from 2007 to 2012. Epidemiological, clinical and sexual behaviour characteristics of LGV cases are described. Seroadaptive behaviours as a transmission risk factor were assessed by a telephone questionnaire during 2012. Data were handled on a strictly confidential basis. LGV annual rate ratios in MSM were compared with cases from 2007. Differences were statistically analysed with a Poisson test. The incidence rate of LGV in MSM aged 15-69 years ranged from 32·1/105 MSM per year in 2007 to 182·7/105 MSM per year in 2012. In 2012, 31/51 LGV cases (61%) answered the telephone questionnaire, of which 84% (26/31) were HIV positive, 39% (12/31) reported having sex according to their partners' serostatus and 7% (2/31) used strategic positioning. The incidence of LGV has increased since 2007 and mainly affects HIV-positive MSM. It is probable that seroadaptation has facilitated LGV transmission.

Polymer fluctuation lubrication in hydrogel gemini interfaces.

Interfacial sliding speed and contact pressure between the sub-units of particulate soft matter assemblies can vary dramatically across systems and with dynamic conditions. By extension, frictional interactions between particles may play a key role in their assembly, global configuration, collective motion, and bulk material properties. For example, in tightly packed assemblies of microgels - colloidal microspheres made of hydrogel - particle stiffness controls the fragility of the glassy state formed by the particles. The interplay between particle stiffness and shear stress is likely mediated by particle-particle normal forces, highlighting the potential role of hydrogel-hydrogel friction. Here we study friction at a twinned "Gemini" interface between hydrogels. We construct a lubrication curve that spans four orders of magnitude in sliding speed, and find qualitatively different behaviour from traditional lubrication of engineering material surfaces; fundamentally different types of lubrication occur at the hydrogel Gemini interface. We also explore the role played by polymer solubility and hydrogel-hydrogel adhesion in hydrogel friction. We find that polymer network elasticity, mesh size, and single-chain relaxation times can describe friction at the gel-gel interface, including a transition between lubrication regimes with varying sliding speed.

New times for migrants' health in Europe.

Patterns of migration can change greatly over time, with the size and composition of migrant populations reflecting both, current and historical patterns of migration flows. The recent economic crisis has caused a decrease on migration flows towards the most affected areas, as well as cut offs in health interventions addressed to migrants. The objective of this paper is to review available data about interventions on migrants' health in Europe, and to describe changes in migrant health policies across Europe after the economic crisis, that can have a negative effect in their health status. Although migrants have the right to health care under legal settlements issued by the EU, there is no a standard European approach to offer health care to migrants, since; policies in each EU Member State are developed according to specific migrant experience, political climate, and attitudes towards migration. Migrants use to face greater health problems and major health care access barriers, compared with their counterparts from the EU. Therefore, migrant health policies should focus in protects this vulnerable group, especially during economic hardship, taking into account economic and socio-demographic risk factors. There is an especial need for research in the cost-effectiveness of investing in the health care of the migrant population, demonstrating the benefit of such, even in the health of the European native population, and the need for constant intervention despite of resource constraints.

Cell friction.

Cells sense and respond to their environment. Mechanotransduction is the process by which mechanical forces, stress, and strains are converted into biochemical signals that control cell behavior. In recent decades it has been shown that appropriate mechanical signals are essential to tissue health, but the role of friction and direct contact shearing across cell surfaces has been essentially unexplored. This, despite the obvious existence of numerous biological tissues whose express function depends on sliding contacts. In our studies on frictional interactions of corneal cells we find that the friction coefficients are on the order of mu = 0.03-0.06 for in vitro and in vivo experiments. Additionally, we observe cell death after single cycles of sliding at contact pressures estimated to be approximately 12 kPa. These experimental results suggest that frictional contact forces produce mechanical stresses and strains that are in the cellular mechanosensing ranges.

Total immunoreactive alpha-inhibin in human seminal plasma, sperm quality, and in vitro fertilization rates.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the relationship between the concentrations of total immunoreactive alpha-inhibin in human seminal plasma, sperm quality, and in vitro fertilization (IVF) rates. SETTING: Medical school hospital. DESIGN: Prospective study. PATIENTS: 72 consecutive couples undergoing IVF with husband's sperm in which at least 4 oocytes were obtained. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Alpha-inhibin determination by means of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, sperm analysis for density and motility, IVF rates. RESULTS: Total immunoreactive alpha-inhibin levels were not correlated with IVF rates. Nor were there any differences in fertilization rates in the different groups. Lower inhibin levels were found in oligozoospermic cases. Lower sperm counts were found in cases with inhibin values below the median value, and also with respect to various other cutoffs. No correlation was found between inhibin levels and any of the sperm variables measured. CONCLUSION: Total immunoreactive alpha-inhibin is not a prognostic factor in IVF cycles. However, an association was found between inhibin and sperm concentration, suggesting that alpha-inhibin in the human seminal fluid could be a marker for some aspects of spermatogenesis.