Tuberculosis (TB) and HIV/AIDS are among the leading infectious diseases worldwide, while diabetes mellitus (DM) is a major chronic endocrine and metabolic disorder. Together, these conditions contribute substantially to the global burden of disease and mortality and are increasingly recognized as interconnected comorbidities. The combination of these three diseases can worsen patients' health conditions, increase mortality risk, and complicate treatment, which is why this study aims to summarize the relationship between HIV, TB, and DM. To achieve this, a systematic literature search was conducted across four databases PubMed, Wiley, ScienceDirect, and Scopus focusing on English articles from the last 5 years, where researchers independently established eligibility criteria, conducted a comprehensive search, meticulously extracted data, and determined the risk of bias. The findings indicate a significant relationship between these conditions, as the six articles analyzed showed that the prevalence of DM in TB patients ranged from 7.6% to 22.6%, while the prevalence of HIV in TB patients reached up to 38.57%. Specifically, DM increases the risk of developing active TB and is associated with unfavorable treatment outcomes, whereas HIV progressively impairs cell-mediated immunity through CD4+ T-cell depletion, substantially increasing the risk of progression from latent TB infection to active disease. Ultimately, there is a complex relationship between HIV, TB, and DM that adversely affects patients' overall health, leading to the conclusion that integrated screening and management for these three diseases are essential to reduce mortality risk and improve treatment outcomes.

Long-acting antiretroviral therapy and long-acting pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) have rapidly become prominent areas of HIV research. To our knowledge, as of June 30, 2026, no previous bibliometric study had jointly mapped the long-acting HIV treatment and prevention literatures within a single Scopus-based science-mapping framework. We conducted a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of English-language research articles and reviews indexed in Scopus, with no restriction on publication year. A total of 1573 publications met the inclusion criteria. Publication output, citation patterns, collaboration networks, conceptual structure, and thematic evolution were examined using co-authorship, keyword co-occurrence, bibliographic coupling, co-citation, and thematic-map analyses. The literature showed an annual growth rate of 32.1%, and 36.1% of publications involved international co-authorship. The United States was the leading corresponding author country, followed by several European countries. Scientific output increased rapidly, with early growth centered on cabotegravir/rilpivirine trials and more recent expansion involving lenacapavir-related research. Keyword and thematic analyses identified long-acting PrEP and cabotegravir/rilpivirine as central, well-established topics, whereas lenacapavir has emerged as a recent and increasingly central research theme. A substantial share of the most-cited literature was linked to industry-funded or industry-affiliated clinical development programs. These findings provide an integrated map of long-acting HIV treatment and prevention research and may inform future research priorities, international collaborations, and implementation research.

Digital health is now a delivery strategy for HIV prevention and sexual health promotion, not simply a channel for health education. Mobile messaging, web-based testing, HIV self-testing (HIVST) support, mobile applications, social media recruitment, telehealth, tele-pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), and chatbot-assisted workflows can reduce barriers related to stigma, distance, clinic capacity, and confidentiality. These tools also create an opportunity for primary HIV and sexually transmitted infection (STI) prevention before high-risk patterns are established, using positive, age-appropriate messages that support consent, healthy relationships, condom and vaccine uptake, timely testing, and informed prevention choices. This narrative review synthesizes evidence from trials, systematic reviews, implementation studies, and program evaluations, emphasizing quantitative outcomes and implementation limits. The most consistent benefits are seen for service actions with clear endpoints: HIVST, online STI testing, PrEP initiation through telehealth, and interactive text-message support for adherence. Effects are less consistent for sustained PrEP persistence, complex behavior change, linkage after reactive self-tests, and equity. Digital tools can improve access among men who have sex with men, adolescents and young adults, women, sex workers, and rural populations. Still, they can also reproduce inequities when privacy, cost, literacy, device access, legal vulnerability, and laboratory infrastructure are not addressed. Future systems should integrate prevention education and digital entry points with laboratories, pharmacies, clinicians, community navigators, human escalation, privacy governance, and equity monitoring. The field should now move from platform-centered pilots toward accountable hybrid sexual health systems.

The stigmatized status of injecting illicit drugs use and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome in Pakistan, enlists HIV positive injection drug users (IDUs) at preeminent risk for poor mental health. This study aims to investigate the potential link between enacted HIV stigma, community attachment, and mental health problems in HIV-positive IDUs, along with mediating role of community attachment and moderating role of drug type. Correlation analysis revealed that enacted HIV stigma and community attachment were significantly negatively associated with mental health. Mediation analysis indicated that enacted HIV stigma influences mental health indirectly by shaping individuals' level of attachment to the community of IDUs. Moderation analysis revealed that synthetic illicit drugs significantly moderated the association between enacted HIV stigma and mental health. The findings highlight the need for targeted interventions addressing enacted HIV stigma among IDUs to effectively improve their mental health outcomes.

HIV remains a major global public health challenge. Although antiretroviral therapy (ART) effectively reduces morbidity and mortality, its success depends on sustained adherence to treatment. Barriers such as stigma, psychosocial problems, and limited access to healthcare continue to compromise adherence among people living with HIV (PLHIV). Adherence counseling (AC) has been increasingly implemented to address these challenges and improve treatment outcomes. This study aimed to map and synthesize the types and effectiveness of AC interventions in improving ART adherence among PLHIV. A scoping review was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Extension for Scoping Reviews guidelines. Literature searches were performed in Scopus, ScienceDirect, ProQuest, and PubMed using population, intervention, comparison, and outcomes-based keywords. Eligible studies evaluated AC interventions with ART adherence as an outcome and were published in the last 5 years. Of the 689 identified articles, 13 met the inclusion criteria. Most studies were conducted in Uganda and focused on intensive AC (IAC). IAC improves ART adherence and viral load suppression, particularly when delivered through structured, patient-centered approaches. However, the effectiveness varied according to social, health system, and contextual factors. Digital-based interventions, including real-time medication monitoring and mobile health applications, have also demonstrated promising effects on adherence. IAC plays an important role in improving ART adherence among PLHIV. Its effectiveness is influenced by the quality of counseling, social support, and health system integration. Combining face-to-face counseling with digital innovations and community-based support offers the most sustainable strategy for enhancing adherence and achieving viral suppression in PLHIV.

The use of authorized medicinal products under conditions other than those approved, commonly referred to as off-label use, is an increasingly frequent practice in health care. It is particularly relevant in the therapeutic management of human immunodeficiency virus infection, where treatment innovation often outpaces regulatory updates. In the absence of specific protocols to guide the appropriateness of off-label prescribing, this narrative review analyses, from an ethical and legal perspective, the conditions under which off-label use may be considered an appropriate therapeutic option. To this end, we examine the clinical foundations of off-label use, including the quality and certainty of the available scientific evidence and its impact on the benefit-risk and cost-benefit balance, the exceptional nature of its use, and the application of decision-making algorithms to guide prescribing. We also identify the main ethical dilemmas associated with off-label use from principlist, virtue-based, and utilitarian bioethical perspectives, as well as the principal conflicts of interest among the different stakeholders involved in the off-label use of antiretroviral drugs. Finally, we propose strategies aimed at promoting a more prudent, equitable, and transparent use of off-label medicines, strengthening responsible, patient-centered decision-making.

HIV testing is a critical tool for preventing HIV transmission, with early identification in key populations reducing onward spread. This study aims to evaluate risk prediction models, identify factors influencing HIV testing, and provide recommendations to enhance testing among key populations. Electronic databases were searched for peer-reviewed and gray literature published in English and Chinese from January 1, 1996, to November 14, 2025. Two reviewers independently assessed methodological quality and extracted data. The prediction model risk of bias assessment tool was used to evaluate bias and applicability. Of 3693 initially identified studies, seven met the inclusion criteria. Reported area under the curve (AUC) values ranged from 0.72 to 0.82, and the pooled AUC of validated models was 0.77 (95% confidence interval: 0.70-0.84), indicating moderate discriminative performance. However, most of the studies were assessed as having a high risk of bias, primarily due to insufficient reporting in the analysis domain, limiting the reliability of existing models for clinical or public health applications. Predictors of HIV testing were broadly grouped into sociodemographic, behavioral, knowledge-related, and structural factors, and predictors of HIV testing varied considerably across models, reflecting differences in study populations, behavioral characteristics, and contextual factors across settings. Overall, although existing models demonstrate moderate predictive ability, their methodological limitations and lack of external validation restrict their generalizability and practical utility. Therefore, reliable prediction models remain limited. Future research should develop high-quality models with larger sample sizes, robust designs, and multi-center external validation to support clinical application, improve practical relevance, and inform strategies to advance HIV testing. Beyond HIV testing prediction, this study highlights the need for broader prevention approaches, including sexuality education, risk awareness, and safe sexual behaviors, alongside targeted testing interventions.

With the advancement of antiretroviral therapy, two-drug regimens have emerged as a viable and promising strategy for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) care and management, offering potential advantages in safety, treatment adherence, and cost-effectiveness. Although scholarly interest in this field is growing, a comprehensive bibliometric analysis remains lacking; accordingly, this study aimed to map the research landscape, identify emerging trends, and explore collaborative networks in the field of two-drug HIV treatment regimens. To this end, studies on two-drug HIV treatment regimens were retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection. After screening and deduplication, key bibliometric data were extracted. Subsequent analyses were performed using the Bibliometrix R-package and VOSviewer to visualize annual publication output, geographical distribution, institutional collaborations, journal influence, author networks, and keyword evolution trends. Ultimately, 3,262 publications were included, with an annual growth rate of 9.23%. The United States was the most productive country (974 publications, 29.9%), while Harvard University topped institutional rankings (430 publications). AIDS was the leading journal (199 publications), and core authors (e.g., Carr A) contributed substantially. Keyword analysis revealed that two-drug regimens are transitioning from "alternative options" to "mainstream choices" in HIV treatment, with their development reflecting a focus on balancing efficacy and safety, as well as aligning technological innovation with clinical demands. This bibliometric study delineates the evolving landscape of two-drug HIV treatment research, with North America and Europe making prominent contributions. It highlights key research foci and collaboration patterns, providing valuable insights for researchers, clinicians, and policymakers to prioritize future research and optimize HIV treatment strategies.

The human being is sexed, as there are men and women. The presence of two complementary sexes provides a biological mechanism for evolution and adaptation to changing environments through reproduction with the admixture of distinct genetic traits. Ultimately, this reproductive meaning of sex provides its most important biological foundation. In humans, sexuality also plays a significant role in interpersonal relationships and affection, uniquely contributing to personhood, well-being, and flourishing. In this way, both meanings of human sexuality, reproductive and affective, can be challenged in certain scenarios, such as when there are intersex states of biological basis, nowadays referred to as disorders or differences of sex development (DSD), same-sex orientation, or gender dysphoria. Following the approach taken for DSD, same-sex attraction and transgender identity could be categorized medically as differences in sexual orientation and self-identity, respectively. This could provide a respectful framework for conducting research about sexuality. Herein, we examine the spectrum of differences in the sexual sphere and update on major determinants. Whereas biological factors lead to DSD, psychological and sociocultural variables largely contribute to same-sex orientation and transgender identity. Inclusive efforts for persons with atypical sexuality must be encouraged to avoid discrimination. However, these conditions should not be overlooked medically. Denying their relevance might discourage research that would ultimately benefit these individuals.