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The gut–liver axis has been recognized as a potential pathway in which dietary factors may contribute to liver disease in people living with HIV (PLWH). The objective of this study was to explore associations between dietary quality, the fecal microbiome, the metabolome, and liver health in PLWH from the Miami Adult Studies on HIV (MASH) cohort. We performed a cross-sectional analysis of 50 PLWH from the MASH cohort and utilized the USDA Healthy Eating Index (HEI)–2015 to measure diet quality. A Fibrosis-4 Index (FIB-4) score < 1.45 was used as a strong indication that advanced liver fibrosis was not present. Stool samples and fasting blood plasma samples were collected. Bacterial composition was characterized using 16S rRNA sequencing. Metabolomics in plasma were determined using gas and liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry. Statistical analyses included biomarker identification using linear discriminant analysis effect size. Compared to participants with FIB-4 ≥ 1.45, participants with FIB-4 < 1.45 had higher intake of dairy (p = 0.006). Fibrosis-4 Index score was inversely correlated with seafood and plant protein HEI component score (r = −0.320, p = 0.022). The relative abundances of butyrate-producing taxa Ruminococcaceae, Roseburia, and Lachnospiraceae were higher in participants with FIB-4 < 1.45. Participants with FIB-4 < 1.45 also had higher levels of caffeine (p = 0.045) and related metabolites such as trigonelline (p = 0.008) and 1-methylurate (p = 0.023). Dietary components appear to be associated with the fecal microbiome and metabolome, and liver health in PLWH. Future studies should investigate whether targeting specific dietary components may reduce liver-related morbidity and mortality in PLWH.

Persistent immune activation is a hallmark of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and thought to play a role on chronic diseases in people with HIV (PWH). Food insecurity is disproportionately prevalent in PWH and is associated with adverse health outcomes. We determined whether food insecurity was associated with increased plasma levels of soluble CD14, CD27, and CD163 in 323 antiretroviral-treated PWH from the Miami Adult Studies on HIV cohort. Nearly half (42.7%) of participants were food insecure, and 85.5% were virally suppressed (

Background: Socioeconomic disadvantages and potential immunocompromise raise particular concerns for people living with HIV (PLWH) and other marginalized communities during the COVID-19 pandemic. In this study, we explored COVID-19 testing and the impact of the pandemic among participants from the Miami Adult Studies on HIV cohort, predominantly composed of lowincome minorities living with and without HIV. Methods: Between July and August 2020, a telephone survey was administered to 299 Miami Adult Studies on HIV participants to assess COVID-19 testing, prevention behaviors, and psychosocial stressors. Health care utilization, antiretroviral adherence, food insecurity, and substance use during the pandemic were compared with those of their last cohort visit (7.8 6 2.9 months earlier). Results: Half of surveyed participants had been tested for COVID-19, 8 had tested positive and 2 had been hospitalized. PLWH (n = 183) were 42% times less likely than HIV-uninfected participants to have been tested. However, after adjustment for age, employment, COVID-19 symptoms, mental health care, and substance use, the effect of HIV status was no longer significant. PLWH were more likely to have seen a health care provider, use face coverings, and avoid public transportation and less likely to be food insecure and drink hazardously. There were significant changes in substance use patterns during the pandemic when compared with those before. Conclusion: PLWH, compared with their HIV-uninfected peers, were more likely to engage in preventive measures and health care during the pandemic, potentially reducing their exposure to COVID-19. There were no reported changes in antiretroviral adherence or health care utilization, but there were changes in substance use;these need to be monitored as this crisis progresses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] Copyright of JAIDS: Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes is the property of Lippincott Williams & Wilkins and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background: Smoking has been associated with mental disorders (MD). People who smoke are at a higher risk of contracting COVID-19 and experiencing more severe symptoms of the illness. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between cigarette smoking and MD before and during the COVID-19 pandemic and whether it was influenced by COVID-19-related stress in the MASH cohort. Methods: An ambispective design was used with data collected during the pandemic (July/August 2020) by the COVID-19-Related Worry Scale, a parameter for stress, and data collected at the participants’ last cohort visit before the pandemic (December 2019). Results: In our sample of 314 participants, 58.6% were living with HIV, 39.2% had MD, 52.5% smoked before, and 47.8% smoked during the pandemic. Participants with MD were twice as likely to smoke cigarettes both before (aOR = 2.02, 95% CI: 1.21–3.37, p = 0.007) and during the pandemic (aOR = 2.10, 95% CI: 1.24–3.56, p = 0.006); and experienced higher levels of stress measured by the COVID-19-Related Worry Scale (8.59 [5.0–10.0] vs. 7.65 [5.0–10.0]; p = 0.026) compared to those without MD. Participants with MD and high levels of stress smoked more days per month (20.1 [0–30] days) than those with lower levels of stress (9.2 [0–30] days, p = 0.021), and more than those with high levels of stress, but no MD (2.6 [0–30] days, p < 0.001). Conclusions: Cigarette smoking decreased in the MASH cohort during the pandemic, but increased in participants with MD and higher levels of stress.

OBJECTIVES: Cocaine use is one of the most widely used illicit drugs in Miami, FL and especially among PLWH. Cocaine use is associated with greater systemic inflammation and poor dietary intake. Lifestyle factors such as diet may influence inflammation and further exacerbate the effects of substance use and HIV infection on systemic inflammation. This study examined the relationships of cocaine use, inflammation and diet quality in PLWH from the Miami Adult Studies on HIV (MASH) cohort. METHODS: After obtaining informed consent, data on demographics, socioeconomic status, substance use and parameters of HIV disease progression (CD4 cell count and HIV viral load) were collected from 50 participants enrolled in the MASH cohort in Miami, FL. A total of 4 to 5 24-hour recalls were collected for each participant. Diet quality was assessed using the USDA Healthy Eating Index (HEI)-2015. Interleukin 6 (IL-6) was measured using the Quantikine ELISA kit (R&D Systems, Minneapolis, MN). Statistical analyses used descriptive statistics, Spearman's correlations, Mann-Whitney U and logistic regression. RESULTS: The participants’ mean age was 55 ± 6.81, 58% were male, and 68% were African Americans. Overall the diet quality was low with a total median HEI-2015 score of 44.5 (IQR = 38.8–53.8), lower than the general US population score of 59 (P

OBJECTIVES: Distinct dietary components and microbiome metabolites may affect liver disease progression, a common comorbidity among people living with HIV (PLWH). Similarly, diet composition, including micronutrients, have been associated with markers of HIV disease progression (CD4 cell count). The objective of this study was to investigate the associations between dietary components, plasma metabolites, and liver fibrosis in PLWH. METHODS: A cross-sectional pilot study that enrolled 50 PLWH on antiretroviral therapy from the Miami Adult Studies on HIV (MASH) cohort. Diet quality was measured with the USDA Healthy Eating Index (HEI) and liver fibrosis was measured via the Fibrosis-4 Index (FIB-4). Microbiome metabolites were measured from plasma samples via metabolomics-non-targeted gas chromatography/mass spectrometry and liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry. Statistical analysis included T-test, Chi-square, Spearman correlation, and Partial Least Squares Discriminant Analysis (PLS-DA). RESULTS: The participants’ mean age was 55 ± 6.81, 58% were male, and 68% were African Americans. FIB-4 and HEI seafood/plant protein score were inversely correlated (rho = -0.320, P = 0.022). There were also trends towards significance between CD4 cell count and seafood/plant protein score (rho = 0.251; P = 0.078), and CD4 cell count and greens/beans HEI score (rho = 0.269; P = 0.059). Microbiome metabolites that differed between the high and the low FIB-4 group using PLS-DA included 3-methylhistidine and phosphatidylcholine (PC) metabolites, often associated with meat consumption. CONCLUSIONS: Lower liver fibrosis and higher CD4 cell count, a measure of HIV disease progression, were associated with consumption of foods typically high in micronutrients and fiber (seafood, plant protein, greens, and beans) in PLWH. Additionally, higher levels of 3-methylhistidine and PC metabolites, biomarkers associated with higher meat intake, were associated with higher liver fibrosis scores. These relationships confirm similar findings in the literature. Higher meat and lower vegetable intake are known risk factors for liver disease. These findings may provide the basis for larger studies and potential targets for dietary intervention in this population. FUNDING SOURCES: National Institute on Drug Abuse and National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities.