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Open Access Publications from the University of California

Scholarly Works (17 results)

  • Article
  • Peer Reviewed
Western Journal of Emergency Medicine: Integrating Emergency Care with Population Health, Volume 24, Issue 6 (2023)

Introduction: Recent studies have demonstrated the promise of emergency department (ED)-initiated buprenorphine/naloxone (bup/nx) for improving 30-day retention in outpatient addiction care programs for patients with opioid use disorder (OUD). We investigated whether ED-initiated bup/nx for OUD also impacts repeat ED utilization.

Methods: We performed a retrospective chart review of ED patients discharged with a primary diagnosis of OUD from July 2019–December 2020. Characteristics considered included age, gender, race, insurance status, domicile status, presence of comorbid Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) diagnosis, presenting chief complaint, and provision of a bup/nx prescription and/or naloxone kit. Primary outcomes included repeat ED visit (opioid or non-opioid related) within 30 days, 90 days, and one year. Statistical analyses included bivariate comparison and Poisson regression.

Results: Of 169 participants, the majority were male (67.5%), White (82.8%), uninsured (72.2%), and in opioid withdrawal and/or requesting “detox” (75.7%). Ninety-one (53.8%) received ED-initiated bup/nx, which was independent of age, gender, race, insurance status, presence of comorbid DSM-5 diagnosis, or domicile status. Naloxone was more likely to be provided to patients who received bup/nx (97.8% vs 26.9%; P < 0.001), and bup/nx was more likely to be given to patients who presented with opioid withdrawal and/or requested “detox” (63.3% vs 36.7%; P < 0.001). Bup/nx provision was associated with decreased ED utilization for opioid-related visits at 30 days (P < 0.05). Homelessness and lack of insurance were associated with increased ED utilization for non-opioid-related visits at 90 days(P < 0.01), and again at one year for homelessness (P = 0.008 and p = 0.005, respectively). When controlling for age and domicile status, the adjusted incidence rate ratio for overall ED visits was 0.56 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.33–0.96) at 30 days, 0.43 (95% CI 0.27–0.69) at 90 days, and 0.60 (95%CI 0.39–0.92) at one year, favoring bup/nx provision.

Conclusion: Initiation of bup/nx in the ED setting was associated with decreased subsequent ED utilization. Socioeconomic factors, specifically health insurance and domicile status, significantly impacted non-opioid-related ED reuse. These findings demonstrate the ED’s potential as an initiation point for bup/nx and highlight the importance of considering the social risk and social need for OUD patients.

    Cover page: Impact of Emergency Department-Initiated Buprenorphine on Repeat Emergency Department UtilizationCreative Commons 'BY' version 4.0 license
    • Article
    • Peer Reviewed
    UC San Francisco Previously Published Works (2022)

    Context

    People living with HIV infection (PLWH) in the United States continue to experience a high symptom burden despite improvements in antiretroviral therapy.

    Objectives

    The purpose of this study was to determine if the number and types of symptom clusters differed based on whether symptom occurrence rates or distress ratings were used to create the clusters.

    Methods

    Data from 2,000 patients with complete symptom occurrence rates and distress scores on the 20-item HIV Symptom Index from their first ambulatory clinic visit at one of six national HIV centers of excellence in the Center for AIDS Research Network of Integrated Clinical Systems were used in these analyses. Exploratory factor analysis was used to create the symptom clusters.

    Results

    The same four symptom clusters (i.e., gastrointestinal, psychological, pain, body image) were identified using occurrence rates and distress ratings. For both dimensions of the symptom experience, the psychological, pain, and body image clusters each had the same symptoms. For the gastrointestinal cluster, four symptoms loaded on the occurrence dimension and six symptoms loaded on the distress dimension.

    Conclusion

    The number and types of symptom clusters were relatively similar across the occurrence and distress dimensions of the symptom experience. Symptom clusters in PLWH may provide insights into the development of targeted interventions for multiple co-occurring symptoms.
      Cover page: HIV Symptom Clusters are Similar Using the Dimensions of Symptom Occurrence and DistressCreative Commons 'BY' version 4.0 license
      • Article
      • Peer Reviewed
      UC San Diego Previously Published Works (2021)

      Background

      Information regarding the impact of substance use on the timing of entry into HIV care is lacking. Better understanding of this relationship can help guide approaches and policies to improve HIV testing and linkage.

      Methods

      We examined the effect of specific substances on stage of HIV disease at entry into care in over 5000 persons with HIV (PWH) newly enrolling in care. Substance use was obtained from the AUDIT-C and ASSIST instruments. We examined the association between early entry into care and substance use (high-risk alcohol, methamphetamine, cocaine/crack, illicit opioids, marijuana) using logistic and relative risk regression models adjusting for demographic factors, mental health symptoms and diagnoses, and clinical site.

      Results

      We found that current methamphetamine use, past and current cocaine and marijuana use was associated with earlier entry into care compared with individuals who reported no use of these substances.

      Conclusion

      Early entry into care among those with substance use suggests that HIV testing may be differentially offered to people with known HIV risk factors, and that individuals with substances use disorders may be more likely to be tested and linked to care due to increased interactions with the healthcare system.
        Cover page: Substance use and HIV stage at entry into care among people with HIV
        • Article
        • Peer Reviewed
        UC San Francisco Previously Published Works (2020)

        Background

        The CD4/CD8 ratio is an indicator of immunosenescence and a predictor of all-cause mortality in HIV-infected patients. The effects of different ART regimens on CD4/CD8 ratio recovery remain unclear.

        Methods

        Clinical cohort study of ART-treated patients from the CFAR Network of Integrated Clinical Systems (CNICS). We included ART-naive adults with HIV infection who achieved undetectable HIV RNA during the first 48 weeks of treatment and had additional follow-up 48 weeks after virological suppression (VS). Primary endpoints included increase in CD4/CD8 ratio at both timepoints and secondary endpoints were CD4/CD8 ratio recovery at cut-offs of ≥0.5 or ≥1.0.

        Results

        Of 3971 subjects who met the study criteria, 1876 started ART with an NNRTI, 1804 with a PI and 291 with an integrase strand transfer inhibitor (INSTI). After adjusting for age, sex, race, year of entry, risk group, HCV serostatus, baseline viral load and baseline CD4/CD8 ratio, subjects on an NNRTI showed a significantly greater CD4/CD8 ratio gain compared with those on a PI, either 48 weeks after ART initiation or after 48 weeks of HIV RNA VS. The greater CD4/CD8 ratio improvement in the NNRTI arm was driven by a higher decline in CD8 counts. The INSTI group showed increased rates of CD4/CD8 ratio normalization at the ≥1.0 cut-off compared with the PI group.

        Conclusions

        NNRTI therapy was associated with a greater increase in the CD4/CD8 ratio compared with PIs. NNRTI- and INSTI-based first-line ART were associated with higher rates of CD4/CD8 ratio normalization at a cut-off of 1.0 than a PI-based regimen, which might have clinical implications.
          Cover page: Impact of first-line antiretroviral therapy regimens on the restoration of the CD4/CD8 ratio in the CNICS cohort
          • Article
          • Peer Reviewed
          UC San Francisco Previously Published Works (2017)

          Objective

          People living with HIV (PLWH) have chronic immune activation and increased cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. Activation of monocytes and T lymphocytes causes upregulation of glucose transporter-1 (GLUT1) for efficient function. PLWH have an increased percentage of GLUT1-expressing monocytes and T lymphocytes, but it is unclear if these cells are associated with CVD. We evaluated the expression of GLUT1 and CD38 on monocyte and T lymphocyte populations from HIV-infected women with subclinical CVD.

          Methods

          Participants with more than 75th percentile (n = 15) and less than 25th percentile (n = 15) age-adjusted intima-media thickness (IMT) at the right common carotid artery and bifurcation were identified from the Women's Interagency HIV Study. Groups were matched by age, race/ethnicity, smoking status, and CD4 cell count. All women were receiving suppressive antiretroviral therapy except for one high and one low IMT participant. Monocyte and T lymphocyte populations were evaluated for GLUT1 and CD38 expression using flow cytometry.

          Results

          Intermediate monocytes from high IMT women had significantly increased expression of GLUT1 (310 MFI vs. 210 MFI, P = 0.024) (66.4% vs. 48.5%, P = 0.031) and CD38 (339 MFI vs. 211 MFI, P = 0.002) (10.5% vs. 3.8%, P = 0.0002) compared with women with low IMT. High and low IMT participants showed no differences in GLUT1 or CD38 expression on classical monocytes, nonclassical monocytes, CD4 and CD8 T lymphocytes.

          Conclusion

          GLUT1-expressing intermediate monocytes are elevated in HIV-infected women with subclinical CVD. These cells may contribute to development of CVD in PLWH and could be a novel target to limit inflammation.
            Cover page: Increased glucose transporter-1 expression on intermediate monocytes from HIV-infected women with subclinical cardiovascular disease
            • Article
            • Peer Reviewed
            UC San Francisco Previously Published Works (2017)

            Background

            Monocytes and monocyte-derived macrophages promote atherosclerosis through increased inflammation and vascular remodeling. This may be especially true in chronic human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection.

            Methods

            We examined 778 women (74% HIV+) in the Women's Interagency HIV Study and 503 men (65% HIV+) in the Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study who underwent repeated B-mode carotid artery ultrasound imaging in 2004-2013. We assessed baseline associations of the serum macrophage inflammation markers soluble (s)CD163, sCD14, galectin-3 (Gal-3), and Gal-3 binding protein (Gal-3BP) with carotid plaque formation (focal intima-media thickness >1.5 mm) over 7 years.

            Results

            Marker levels were higher in HIV+ persons versus HIV- persons. Presence of focal plaque increased over time: from 8% to 15% in women, and 24% to 34% in men. After adjustment for demographic, behavioral, and cardiometabolic factors, and CRP and interleukin-6, each standard deviation increase in sCD14 was associated with increased plaque formation (risk ratio [RR] 1.24, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.07-1.43). This pattern was consistentby sex. sCD163 was associated with plaque formation in virally suppressed HIV+ men (RR 1.52, 95% CI 1.04-2.22); Gal-3BP and Gal-3 were not associated with increased plaque.

            Conclusions

            sCD14 and sCD163 may play important roles in atherogenesis among HIV+ persons.
              Cover page: Association of Macrophage Inflammation Biomarkers With Progression of Subclinical Carotid Artery Atherosclerosis in HIV-Infected Women and Men
              • Article
              • Peer Reviewed
              UC Irvine Previously Published Works (2023)

              Background

              Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) convalescent plasma (CCP) reduces hospitalizations among outpatients treated early after symptom onset. It is unknown whether CCP reduces time to symptom resolution among outpatients.

              Methods

              We evaluated symptom resolution at day 14 by trial arm using an adjusted subdistribution hazard model, with hospitalization as a competing risk. We also assessed the prevalence of symptom clusters at day 14 between treatments. Clusters were defined based on biologic clustering, impact on ability to work, and an algorithm.

              Results

              Among 1070 outpatients followed up after transfusion, 381 of 538 (70.8%) receiving CCP and 381 of 532 (71.6%) receiving control plasma were still symptomatic (P = .78) at day 14. Associations between CCP and symptom resolution by day 14 did not differ significantly from those in controls after adjustment for baseline characteristics (adjusted subdistribution hazard ratio, 0.99; P = .62). The most common cluster consisted of cough, fatigue, shortness of breath, and headache and was found in 308 (57.2%) and 325 (61.1%) of CCP and control plasma recipients, respectively (P = .16).

              Conclusions

              In this trial of outpatients with early COVID-19, CCP was not associated with faster resolution of symptoms compared with control. Overall, there were no differences by treatment in the prevalence of each symptom or symptom clusters at day 14.

              Clinical trials registration

              NCT04373460.
                Cover page: Symptom Duration and Resolution With Early Outpatient Treatment of Convalescent Plasma for Coronavirus Disease 2019: A Randomized Trial
                • Article
                • Peer Reviewed
                UC San Francisco Previously Published Works (2023)
                Hepatitis delta virus (HDV) infection increases the risk of liver complications compared to hepatitis B virus (HBV) alone, particularly among persons with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). However, no studies have evaluated the prevalence or determinants of HDV infection among people with HIV/HBV in the US. We performed a cross-sectional study among adults with HIV/HBV coinfection receiving care at eight sites within the Center for AIDS Research Network of Integrated Clinical Systems (CNICS) between 1996 and 2019. Among patients with available serum/plasma specimens, we selected the first specimen on or after their initial HBV qualifying test. All samples were tested for HDV IgG antibody and HDV RNA. Multivariable log-binomial generalized linear models were used to estimate prevalence ratios (PRs) with 95% CIs of HDV IgG antibody-positivity associated with determinants of interest (age, injection drug use [IDU], high-risk sexual behaviour). Among 597 adults with HIV/HBV coinfection in CNICS and available serum/plasma samples (median age, 43 years; 89.9% male; 52.8% Black; 42.4% White), 24/597 (4.0%; 95% CI, 2.4%-5.6%) were HDV IgG antibody-positive, and 10/596 (1.7%; 95% CI, 0.6%-2.7%) had detectable HDV RNA. In multivariable analysis, IDU was associated with exposure to HDV infection (adjusted PR = 2.50; 95% CI, 1.09-5.74). In conclusion, among a sample of adults with HIV/HBV coinfection in care in the US, 4.0% were HDV IgG antibody-positive, among whom 41.7% had detectable HDV RNA. History of IDU was associated with exposure to HDV infection. These findings emphasize the importance of HDV testing among persons with HIV/HBV coinfection, especially those with a history of IDU.
                  Cover page: Prevalence and determinants of hepatitis delta virus infection among HIV/hepatitis B‐coinfected adults in care in the United States
                  • Article
                  • Peer Reviewed
                  UC San Francisco Previously Published Works (2022)

                  Background

                  Cryopreserved peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) are frequently collected and provide disease- and treatment-relevant data in clinical studies. Here, we developed combined protein (40 antibodies) and transcript single-cell (sc)RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) in PBMCs.

                  Results

                  Among 31 participants in the Women's Interagency HIV Study (WIHS), we sequenced 41,611 cells. Using Boolean gating followed by Seurat UMAPs (tool for visualizing high-dimensional data) and Louvain clustering, we identified 50 subsets among CD4+ T, CD8+ T, B, NK cells, and monocytes. This resolution was superior to flow cytometry, mass cytometry, or scRNA-seq without antibodies. Combined protein and transcript scRNA-seq allowed for the assessment of disease-related changes in transcriptomes and cell type proportions. As a proof-of-concept, we showed such differences between healthy and matched individuals living with HIV with and without cardiovascular disease.

                  Conclusions

                  In conclusion, combined protein and transcript scRNA sequencing is a suitable and powerful method for clinical investigations using PBMCs.
                    Cover page: Combined protein and transcript single-cell RNA sequencing in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells
                    • Article
                    • Peer Reviewed
                    UC San Francisco Previously Published Works (2022)
                    The original article [1] contained significant errors in Fig 1A which necessitated correction; the figure has since been updated to the corrected version.
                      Cover page: Author Correction: Combined protein and transcript single-cell RNA sequencing in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells
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