IAS 2023 | Short-course tuberculosis (TB) preventive treatment does not affect the virologic efficacy of INSTIs in treating HIV

IAS 2023 | Short-course tuberculosis (TB) preventive treatment does not affect the virologic efficacy of INSTIs in treating HIV

People Living With HIV (PLWH) are at high risk of active tuberculosis (TB). Guidelines both domestically and internationally suggest that PLWH with positive latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) screening and those with a history of close contact with active TB should receive TB preventive treatment. However, commonly used preventive treatment regimens such as rifampin and rifapentine have potential drug interactions with HIV antiretroviral therapy (ART). A multi-center retrospective study from Taiwan, China, presented at the 12th International AIDS Society HIV Science Conference (IAS 2023) showed that ART based on integrase inhibitors (INSTIs) combined with rifapentine-based short-course TB preventive treatment does not affect the patient's sustained HIV virologic suppression rate.
IAS 2023 | RESPOND Study: INSTIs Might Indeed be “A Bit Sweet”

IAS 2023 | RESPOND Study: INSTIs Might Indeed be “A Bit Sweet”

Integrase strand transfer inhibitors (INSTIs) are associated with weight gain, but this weight gain doesn't harm survival or increase cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. So, does the weight gain associated with INSTIs lead to a higher risk of diabetes? At the recent 12th International AIDS Society (IAS) HIV Science Conference (IAS 2023), the renowned RESPOND cohort study from Europe and America indicated that INSTIs might increase the risk of diabetes onset. Even after adjustment, the onset risk remains statistically significant.
IAS 2023 | WHO Guidelines Update: The Risk of HIV Sexual Transmission with Low Viral Load is Nearly Zero  

IAS 2023 | WHO Guidelines Update: The Risk of HIV Sexual Transmission with Low Viral Load is Nearly Zero  

The 12th International AIDS Society Conference on HIV Science (IAS 2023) began on July 23, 2023, in Brisbane, Australia. At the conference, experts from the World Health Organization (WHO) introduced important updates to the HIV guidelines, emphasizing the importance of "HIV viral suppression for improved individual health and reduced transmission." On the eve of the conference, The Lancet published a systematic review showing that the risk of HIV transmission with low-level viral load is almost zero.
IAS 2023 | Thymosin α1 Therapy for HIV Immunological Non-responders: A Single-arm Clinical Study

IAS 2023 | Thymosin α1 Therapy for HIV Immunological Non-responders: A Single-arm Clinical Study

As HIV treatment enters the post-ART era, drug side effects and complications have become significant factors affecting the quality of life for patients. Approximately 20% of patients, after 1-2 years of treatment, have viral loads below the detectable limit, but their CD4 cell count remains below normal levels, leading to poorer clinical outcomes. From 2021 to 2022, the Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center conducted a clinical study on the use of thymosin α1 for the treatment of HIV immunological non-responders. The study results were presented as an e-poster at the IAS 2023 conference (Abstract No. 4511). A total of 20 participants were enrolled in the study, undergoing treatment and follow-up for a duration of six months (Registration No. NCT04963712).
Dr. Weiming Tang: Exploring Crowdsourced Partner Notification Services for High-Risk HIV Populations

Dr. Weiming Tang: Exploring Crowdsourced Partner Notification Services for High-Risk HIV Populations

In China, the transmission of HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) primarily occurs through sexual transmission. [1] Partner notification services help those who are HIV-positive inform their sexual partners of their infection status and guide these partners to undergo HIV testing. [2] Thus, it is crucial for identifying newly infected individuals and preventing further HIV transmission. [3] Currently, the partner notification rate among key populations in China (e.g., men who have sex with men) is low. [4] To increase the acceptance of partner notification services (HIV PS) among men who have sex with men living with HIV (MLWH), the Dermatology Hospital of Southern Medical University collaborated with the China Program Office of the University of North Carolina to establish the Saith Project. This initiative aims to develop a crowdsourced intervention scheme through a series of crowdsourcing competitions in partnership with community organizations.