2024
High rates of deferring antiretroviral treatment for patients with HIV and substance use disorders: Results from a national sample of HIV physicians in Ukraine
Ottesen T, Wickersham J, Lawrence J, Antoniak S, Zezuilin O, Polonsky M, Antonyak S, Rozanova J, Dvoriak S, Pykalo I, Filippovych M, Altice F. High rates of deferring antiretroviral treatment for patients with HIV and substance use disorders: Results from a national sample of HIV physicians in Ukraine. PLOS ONE 2024, 19: e0305086. PMID: 39028735, PMCID: PMC11259278, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0305086.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsAntiretroviral therapy prescriptionAntiretroviral therapyCD4 countSubstance use disordersIncreased levels of stigmaNational sampleLevel of stigmaIndependent of risk groupSuboptimal antiretroviral therapyInitiate antiretroviral therapyPopulation of peopleHIV expertsHIV incidenceHIV physiciansHIV treatmentKey populationsTransgender womenAntiretroviral treatmentFeeling thermometerDrinking alcoholSex workersPhysiciansSex partnersPWHRisk groupsHIV Activist Identity, Commitment, and Orientation Scale (HAICOS): Psychometric Evaluation to Assess Clinician’s Propensity Towards HIV Activism in Malaysia
Chong N, Azwa I, Hassan A, Mousavi M, Wong P, Ng R, Saifi R, Basri S, Omar S, Walters S, Collier Z, Haddad M, Altice F, Kamarulzaman A, Earnshaw V. HIV Activist Identity, Commitment, and Orientation Scale (HAICOS): Psychometric Evaluation to Assess Clinician’s Propensity Towards HIV Activism in Malaysia. AIDS And Behavior 2024, 28: 2780-2792. PMID: 38806844, DOI: 10.1007/s10461-024-04381-4.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsExploratory factor analysisHIV-related stigmaIntra-class correlation coefficientPrimary care physiciansTest-retest reliabilityCronbach's alpha valuesOrientation ScaleCare physiciansStigma-relatedPsychometric evaluationHIV treatmentHIV activityAlpha valuesPsychometric qualitiesActivist identitiesHIVClinical practiceFactor analysisCliniciansCorrelation coefficientDay-to-dayStructured activitiesCronbachStigmaPhysicians
2023
Clinic-Integrated Smartphone App (JomPrEP) to Improve Uptake of HIV Testing and Pre-exposure Prophylaxis Among Men Who Have Sex With Men in Malaysia: Mixed Methods Evaluation of Usability and Acceptability
Shrestha R, Altice F, Khati A, Azwa I, Gautam K, Gupta S, Sullivan P, Ni Z, Kamarulzaman A, Phiphatkunarnon P, Wickersham J. Clinic-Integrated Smartphone App (JomPrEP) to Improve Uptake of HIV Testing and Pre-exposure Prophylaxis Among Men Who Have Sex With Men in Malaysia: Mixed Methods Evaluation of Usability and Acceptability. JMIR MHealth And UHealth 2023, 11: e44468. PMID: 36795465, PMCID: PMC9982718, DOI: 10.2196/44468.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsHIV prevention servicesINTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIERPrevention servicesMean ageHIV preventionPre-exposure prophylaxisHIV prevention outcomesHIV self-testing (HIVST) kitsParticipants' mean ageSelf-testing kitsHealth care settingsMobile health platformMalaysian MSMMixed-methods evaluationHIV testingCare settingsLocal clinicSystem Usability ScalePrevention outcomesDays of testingMSMSmartphone appPrEPHIVMean score
2022
Reinfection and Risk Behaviors After Treatment of Hepatitis C Virus Infection in Persons Receiving Opioid Agonist Therapy : A Cohort Study.
Grebely J, Dore GJ, Altice FL, Conway B, Litwin AH, Norton BL, Dalgard O, Gane EJ, Shibolet O, Nahass R, Luetkemeyer AF, Peng CY, Iser D, Gendrano IN, Kelly MM, Hwang P, Asante-Appiah E, Haber BA, Barr E, Robertson MN, Platt H. Reinfection and Risk Behaviors After Treatment of Hepatitis C Virus Infection in Persons Receiving Opioid Agonist Therapy : A Cohort Study. Annals Of Internal Medicine 2022, 175: 1221-1229. PMID: 35939812, DOI: 10.7326/m21-4119.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsOpioid agonist therapyLong-term extension studyHCV reinfectionDrug useExtension studyAgonist therapySuccessful treatmentHepatitis C virus (HCV) reinfectionHepatitis C virus infectionBenefits of cureC virus infectionChronic HCV infectionRate of reinfectionUrine drug screeningOngoing drug useClinical trial sitesSubsidiary of MerckHCV infectionCohort studyVirus reinfectionDohme Corp.Treatment completionGenotype 1Virus infectionHigh riskHealth-related quality of life in people receiving opioid agonist treatment and treatment for hepatitis C virus infection
Dalgard O, Litwin AH, Shibolet O, Grebely J, Nahass R, Altice FL, Conway B, Gane EJ, Luetkemeyer AF, Peng CY, Iser D, Gendrano IN, Kelly MM, Haber BA, Platt H, Puenpatom A. Health-related quality of life in people receiving opioid agonist treatment and treatment for hepatitis C virus infection. Journal Of Addictive Diseases 2022, 41: 213-224. PMID: 35920743, DOI: 10.1080/10550887.2022.2088978.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsElbasvir/grazoprevirHepatitis C virus infectionC virus infectionOpioid agonist therapyHealth-related qualityEnd of treatmentHCV infectionAgonist therapyVirus infectionChronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infectionImproved health-related qualityMental component summary scoresTreatment week 4Placebo-controlled studyOpioid agonist treatmentMedical Outcomes StudyComponent summary scoresSF-36v2 scoresTreatment differencesImproved HRQOLViral eradicationActing antiviralsOpioid dependenceAgonist treatmentGeneral healthA PrEP Demonstration Project Using eHealth and Community Outreach to Justice-Involved Cisgender Women and Their Risk Networks
Meyer JP, Price CR, Ye Y, Qin Y, Tracey D, Demidont AC, Melbourne K, Altice FL. A PrEP Demonstration Project Using eHealth and Community Outreach to Justice-Involved Cisgender Women and Their Risk Networks. AIDS And Behavior 2022, 26: 3807-3817. PMID: 35672552, DOI: 10.1007/s10461-022-03709-2.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsTDF/FTCPrEP care continuumPre-exposure prophylaxisPrimary care providersPrEP demonstration projectRisk network membersNon-Hispanic whitesCisgender womenOutreach modelRespondent-driven samplingPrEP awarenessCommunity outreach modelEnrolled participantsMean ageClinical criteriaIndex participantsCare continuumHIV preventionSocial comorbiditiesCare providersKey populationsPrEPSubstance useMedical insuranceWomen
2021
Individual and poly-substance use and condomless sex among HIV-uninfected adults reporting heterosexual sex in a multi-site cohort
Fredericksen RJ, Whitney BM, Trejo E, Nance RM, Fitzsimmons E, Altice FL, Carrico AW, Cleland CM, Del Rio C, Duerr A, El-Sadr WM, Kahana S, Kuo I, Mayer K, Mehta S, Ouellet LJ, Quan VM, Rich J, Seal DW, Springer S, Taxman F, Wechsberg W, Crane HM, Delaney JAC. Individual and poly-substance use and condomless sex among HIV-uninfected adults reporting heterosexual sex in a multi-site cohort. BMC Public Health 2021, 21: 2002. PMID: 34736425, PMCID: PMC8567631, DOI: 10.1186/s12889-021-12026-7.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsLikelihood of CSRecent substance useHIV-negative partnersVaginal sexAnal sexSubstance useHIV-status unknown partnersMultivariable relative risk regressionExposure classificationType of sexHIV-negative adultsPooled effect estimatesPartner's HIV statusMulti-site cohortHigher likelihoodHeterosexual sexRelative risk regressionSingle substance usePoly-substance useHIV-negativeHIV statusRisk regressionPolysubstance useCannabis useSU exposureAn expanding HIV epidemic among older adults in Ukraine: Implications for patient-centered care
Rozanova J, Zeziulin O, Rich KM, Altice FL, Kiriazova T, Zaviryukha I, Sosidko T, Gulati K, Carroll C, Shenoi SV. An expanding HIV epidemic among older adults in Ukraine: Implications for patient-centered care. PLOS ONE 2021, 16: e0256627. PMID: 34591848, PMCID: PMC8483339, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0256627.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsStandardized mortality ratioMortality rateCause standardized mortality ratioTime of diagnosisGeneral population ratesLate-stage HIVAge-matched groupHigh mortality ratePatient-centered careIncident HIVHIV diagnosisHIV testingHIV incidenceHIV treatmentHIV epidemicMortality ratioTreatment strategiesGeneral populationHIVMortality trendsAge groupsEECA countriesTreatment programSame calendar yearOlder peopleSuccessful transfer of stable patients on opioid agonist therapies from specialty addiction treatment to primary care settings in Ukraine: A pilot study
Meteliuk A, Galvez S, Fomenko T, Kalandiia H, Iaryi V, Farnum SO, Islam Z, Altice FL, Madden LM. Successful transfer of stable patients on opioid agonist therapies from specialty addiction treatment to primary care settings in Ukraine: A pilot study. Journal Of Substance Use And Addiction Treatment 2021, 134: 108619. PMID: 34579978, DOI: 10.1016/j.jsat.2021.108619.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsOpioid agonist therapyPrimary care clinicsPrimary care settingOAT coverageAgonist therapyStable patientsCare clinicsSubstance useCare settingsNegative urine drug testsSpecialty addictions treatmentUrine drug testsSymptom Identification ScaleMental health symptomsAddiction treatment clinicsHIV transmissionPrimary careTreatment clinicsOAT patientsBASIS-24PatientsHealth symptomsEmotional labilityAddiction treatmentPilot studyPreferences for pre-exposure prophylaxis among U.S. military men who have sex with men: results of an adaptive choice based conjoint analysis study
Gutierrez JI, Dubov A, Altice FL, Vlahov D. Preferences for pre-exposure prophylaxis among U.S. military men who have sex with men: results of an adaptive choice based conjoint analysis study. Military Medical Research 2021, 8: 32. PMID: 34006328, PMCID: PMC8132436, DOI: 10.1186/s40779-021-00323-6.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsDaily tabletHuman immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infectionMilitary healthcare settingsImmunodeficiency virus infectionPre-exposure prophylaxisU.S. military menTelehealth visitsResultsA totalVirus infectionProvider typeUtility scoresPrEP programHealthcare settingsMental healthMilitary providersProphylaxisMenSexInjectionConjoint analysis studyMilitary menService deliverySocial media groupsMedia groupsMedicationsModelling the intervention effect of opioid agonist treatment on multiple mortality outcomes in people who inject drugs: a three-setting analysis
Stone J, Degenhardt L, Grebely J, Larney S, Altice FL, Smyrnov P, Rahimi-Movaghar A, Alavi M, Young AM, Havens JR, Miller WC, Hickman M, Vickerman P. Modelling the intervention effect of opioid agonist treatment on multiple mortality outcomes in people who inject drugs: a three-setting analysis. The Lancet Psychiatry 2021, 8: 301-309. PMID: 33640039, PMCID: PMC8255389, DOI: 10.1016/s2215-0366(20)30538-1.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsOpioid agonist treatmentDrug-related deathsOAT coverageDrug-related harmAgonist treatmentHepatitis C virus transmissionC virus transmissionOverall health benefitsUK National InstituteNational InstituteHIV 0OAT retentionHIV mortalityInjury 3Opioid dependenceMortality outcomesUS National InstitutesHCV-2Overdose deathsSignificant additional effectIntervention effectsDrug abuseHealth benefitsMortalityDeathThe opioid crisis and HIV in the USA: deadly synergies
Hodder SL, Feinberg J, Strathdee SA, Shoptaw S, Altice FL, Ortenzio L, Beyrer C. The opioid crisis and HIV in the USA: deadly synergies. The Lancet 2021, 397: 1139-1150. PMID: 33617769, DOI: 10.1016/s0140-6736(21)00391-3.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAdolescentAdultAnalgesics, OpioidBlack or African AmericanCase-Control StudiesDisease OutbreaksEvidence-Based MedicineFemaleFentanylHealth Services AccessibilityHispanic or LatinoHIV InfectionsHumansMaleNeedle SharingOpiate OverdoseOpioid EpidemicOpioid-Related DisordersSocial StigmaUnited StatesWhite PeopleYoung AdultConceptsNew HIV diagnosesHIV diagnosisOpioid epidemicHIV preventionMultiple evidence-based interventionsGreat public health problemRecent HIV outbreaksOpioid overdose death ratesOpioid use disorderLarge central metropolitan areasPublic health problemOverdose death ratesComprehensive health careEvidence-based interventionsDeadly synergyHIV acquisitionSynthetic opioid fentanylSyringe sharingHIV outbreakUse disordersOpioid fentanylTreatment servicesHealth problemsOpioid crisisDeath rateWillingness to initiate pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and its use among opioid-dependent individuals in drug treatment
Ni Z, Altice FL, Wickersham JA, Copenhaver MM, DiDomizio EE, Nelson LE, Shrestha R. Willingness to initiate pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and its use among opioid-dependent individuals in drug treatment. Drug And Alcohol Dependence 2021, 219: 108477. PMID: 33422864, PMCID: PMC7946167, DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2020.108477.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsOpioid-dependent individualsPre-exposure prophylaxisPrEP useHIV riskHealthcare providersSex-related risk behaviorsMultivariable logistic regression analysisAwareness of PrEPUrban methadone clinicMultiple logistic regressionDisproportionate HIV burdenLogistic regression analysisCross-sectional surveyHIV burdenHIV infectionHIV testingIndependent correlatesMethadone clinicsDrug treatmentRisk behaviorsLogistic regressionPrEPPrevious useHigher likelihoodProphylaxis
2020
Response to the COVID-19 Outbreak in Urban Settings in China
Ni Z, Lebowitz ER, Zou Z, Wang H, Liu H, Shrestha R, Zhang Q, Hu J, Yang S, Xu L, Wu J, Altice FL. Response to the COVID-19 Outbreak in Urban Settings in China. Journal Of Urban Health 2020, 98: 41-52. PMID: 33258088, PMCID: PMC7703725, DOI: 10.1007/s11524-020-00498-8.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchUsing individual stated-preferences to optimize HIV self-testing service delivery among men who have sex with men (MSM) in Malaysia: results from a conjoint-based analysis
Shrestha R, Alias H, Wong LP, Altice FL, Lim SH. Using individual stated-preferences to optimize HIV self-testing service delivery among men who have sex with men (MSM) in Malaysia: results from a conjoint-based analysis. BMC Public Health 2020, 20: 1777. PMID: 33238941, PMCID: PMC7687720, DOI: 10.1186/s12889-020-09832-w.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsClinic-based HIV testingHIV testing uptakeMethodsA cross-sectional online surveyCross-sectional online surveyNational AIDS ProgramAcceptability of HIVSTMalaysian MSMHIV testingTesting uptakeService delivery programsKey populationsHIVSTService delivery modelsAIDS ProgramMSMKit deliveryTelephone hotlineService delivery approachHigh acceptabilityDelivery programsMultiple barriersSafe useMean acceptabilityDelivery approachDelivery modelHazardous alcohol use, antiretroviral therapy receipt, and viral suppression in people living with HIV who inject drugs in the United States, India, Russia, and Vietnam.
Wagman JA, Wynn A, Matsuzaki M, Gnatienko N, Metsch LR, Del Rio C, Feaster DJ, Nance RM, Whitney BM, Delaney JAC, Kahana SY, Crane HM, Chandler RK, Elliott JC, Altice F, Lucas GM, Mehta SH, Hirsch-Moverman Y, El-Sadr WM, Vu Q, Nguyen Thanh B, Springer SA, Tsui JI, Samet JH. Hazardous alcohol use, antiretroviral therapy receipt, and viral suppression in people living with HIV who inject drugs in the United States, India, Russia, and Vietnam. AIDS 2020, 34: 2285-2294. PMID: 33048870, PMCID: PMC7951611, DOI: 10.1097/qad.0000000000002716.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsHazardous alcohol useFormer injection drug useART receiptViral suppressionInjection drug useLow-middle income countriesAlcohol useAntiretroviral therapyMiddle-income countriesDrug useAlcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) scoresHIV viral suppressionAlcohol Use Disorders Identification TestDisorders Identification TestTherapy receiptHIV continuumMean ageHigh-income countriesCare outcomesLogistic regressionUpper middle-income countriesPLHIVDrugsIdentification TestHIVThe real‐world impact of dosing of methadone and buprenorphine in retention on opioid agonist therapies in Ukraine
Farnum SO, Makarenko I, Madden L, Mazhnaya A, Marcus R, Prokhorova T, Bojko MJ, Rozanova J, Dvoriak S, Islam Z, Altice FL. The real‐world impact of dosing of methadone and buprenorphine in retention on opioid agonist therapies in Ukraine. Addiction 2020, 116: 83-93. PMID: 32428276, PMCID: PMC7674222, DOI: 10.1111/add.15115.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsOpioid agonist therapyOAT discontinuationAgonist therapyTreatment retentionIndependent predictorsHIV epidemicCost-effective HIV prevention strategyMethadone maintenance treatment patientsObservational longitudinal cohort studySpecialty addictions treatmentBuprenorphine maintenance treatmentHigh dosageHIV prevention strategiesLongitudinal cohort studyOpioid-dependent peopleTreatment discontinuationCohort studyMaintenance treatmentMale sexTreatment patientsPrevention strategiesDiscontinuationYounger ageCenter settingAddiction treatmentTocilizumab Treatment for Cytokine Release Syndrome in Hospitalized Patients With Coronavirus Disease 2019 Survival and Clinical Outcomes
Price CC, Altice FL, Shyr Y, Koff A, Pischel L, Goshua G, Azar MM, Mcmanus D, Chen SC, Gleeson SE, Britto CJ, Azmy V, Kaman K, Gaston DC, Davis M, Burrello T, Harris Z, Villanueva MS, Aoun-Barakat L, Kang I, Seropian S, Chupp G, Bucala R, Kaminski N, Lee AI, LoRusso PM, Topal JE, Dela Cruz C, Malinis M. Tocilizumab Treatment for Cytokine Release Syndrome in Hospitalized Patients With Coronavirus Disease 2019 Survival and Clinical Outcomes. CHEST Journal 2020, 158: 1397-1408. PMID: 32553536, PMCID: PMC7831876, DOI: 10.1016/j.chest.2020.06.006.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsCytokine release syndromeTocilizumab-treated patientsSevere diseaseRelease syndromeTocilizumab treatmentInflammatory biomarkersNonsevere diseaseSoluble IL-2 receptor levelsHigh-sensitivity C-reactive proteinIL-2 receptor levelsConsecutive COVID-19 patientsIL-6 receptor antagonistMechanical ventilation outcomesC-reactive proteinCOVID-19 patientsHigher admission levelsRace/ethnicityMV daysVentilation outcomesAdverse eventsChart reviewClinical responseMedian ageWhite patientsClinical outcomesSafety of oral naltrexone in HIV-positive men who have sex with men and transgender women with alcohol use disorder and initiating antiretroviral therapy
Gonzales P, Grieco A, White E, Ding R, Ignacio RB, Pinto-Santini D, Lama JR, Altice FL, Duerr A. Safety of oral naltrexone in HIV-positive men who have sex with men and transgender women with alcohol use disorder and initiating antiretroviral therapy. PLOS ONE 2020, 15: e0228433. PMID: 32134956, PMCID: PMC7058313, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0228433.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsAlcohol use disorderAntiretroviral therapyClinical adverse eventsAdverse eventsTransgender womenUse disordersDouble-blind randomized placebo-controlled trialMSM/transgender womenRandomized placebo-controlled trialART-naïve participantsPossibility of hepatotoxicityPlacebo-controlled trialSerious adverse eventsHIV-positive menMedication-assisted therapyProportion of subjectsAdverse event dataMultiple new medicationsOral naltrexoneStudy medicationTransaminase elevationPlacebo armNTX treatmentTreatment armsNew medications
2019
Self-reported antiretroviral therapy adherence and viral load in criminal justice-involved populations
Cunningham WE, Nance RM, Golin CE, Flynn P, Knight K, Beckwith CG, Kuo I, Spaulding A, Taxman FS, Altice F, Delaney JA, Crane HM, Springer SA. Self-reported antiretroviral therapy adherence and viral load in criminal justice-involved populations. BMC Infectious Diseases 2019, 19: 913. PMID: 31664910, PMCID: PMC6819597, DOI: 10.1186/s12879-019-4443-z.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsViral loadART adherenceAdherence measuresSelf-reported antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherenceCriminal justice-involved populationsSelf-reported ART adherenceLogistic regressionSelf-reported health statusContinuum of HIVDetectable viral loadPlasma viral loadAIDS Research NetworkAntiretroviral therapy adherenceAssociation of adherenceHealth status levelsVisual analog scaleViral load dataMixed-effects logistic regressionMixed effects linear regressionEffects linear regressionJustice-involved populationsEffects logistic regressionVL outcomesCD4 countART doses