Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Paul Adamson MD MPH @padamsonmd.bsky.social · 7d

Dr. Marrazzo is not only a role-model physician-scientist and tireless health advocate, but also a brave leader in these trying times.

#IDSky

Greg Folkers @gregfolkers.bsky.social · 7d

Dr. Jeanne Marrazzo, former Director of NIAID, is Fired by Health and Human Services Secretary Kennedy in Retaliation for Filing Whistleblower Complaint with the Office of Special Counsel

bit.ly/4gRA3yx

2

Reposted by Paul Adamson MD MPH

Open Forum Infectious Diseases @ofidjournal.bsky.social · Aug 15

The proportion of Treponema pallidum PCR-positive primary syphilis infections which are seronegative for syphilis: a systematic review and meta-analysis

✅ Just Accepted
#IDSky

The proportion of Treponema pallidum PCR-positive primary syphilis infections which are seronegative for syphilis: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Earlier syphilis detection is needed to reduce infectiousness, transmission and to improve control. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for...

doi.org

1 6

Paul Adamson MD MPH @padamsonmd.bsky.social · Aug 5

Super interesting, I had to miss this session, so thank you for sharing!

1

Reposted by Paul Adamson MD MPH

Joseph Cherabie MD MSc (They/He) @jncherabiemd.bsky.social · Aug 5

Alrighty, post vacay and ready to talk about @stihiv2025.org
Some amazing research and presentations:
1- Intense discussion about the need for screening for G/C in asymptomatic MSM. The evidence wasn't fully compelling but what it speaks to is the need for shared decision making in our field

1 2 15

Paul Adamson MD MPH @padamsonmd.bsky.social · Aug 4

Great talk by @ericpfchow.bsky.social about a ton of amazing work being done on #HPV #vaccination by he and many colleagues at MSHC in Australia.

Happy to have him at @dgsomucla.bsky.social to inspire the next generation of #STI researchers!

Students standing with the speaker in front of the slide presentation.

1 3

Paul Adamson MD MPH @padamsonmd.bsky.social · Aug 1

At least 500 federal grants to #UCLA have been suspended so far.

This is devastating to the scientific community here, but also threatens the science that fuels innovation, cures disease, and powers our economy.

When #science is attacked like this, we all lose.

chancellor.ucla.edu/messages/the...

1

Reposted by Paul Adamson MD MPH

Jen Curello @jencurello.bsky.social · Aug 1

Yet another blow to science and academic freedom. Cutting research funding - especially at institutions like UCLA - is a short sighted move that undermines innovation, public health, and progress. Feeling for all my colleagues in academia there 💔

Paul Adamson MD MPH @padamsonmd.bsky.social · Aug 1

This is terrible news for all of us at #UCLA.

The attacks on #science continue.

Jaweed Kaleem @jaweedkaleem.bsky.social · Aug 1

BREAKING: The Trump administration has canceled $200 million in research grants to UCLA, citing allegations over antisemitism. The move came after Atty. Gen. Pam Bondi said UCLA would pay a "heavy price" over its handling of last year's pro-Palestinian encampment www.latimes.com/california/s...

1 1

Paul Adamson MD MPH @padamsonmd.bsky.social · Aug 1

This is terrible news for all of us at #UCLA.

The attacks on #science continue.

Jaweed Kaleem @jaweedkaleem.bsky.social · Aug 1

BREAKING: The Trump administration has canceled $200 million in research grants to UCLA, citing allegations over antisemitism. The move came after Atty. Gen. Pam Bondi said UCLA would pay a "heavy price" over its handling of last year's pro-Palestinian encampment www.latimes.com/california/s...

Trump freezes $200 million in UCLA science, medical research funding, citing antisemitism

The Trump administration has frozen roughly $200 million in National Science Foundation, National Institutes of Health and other federal agency-funded research UCLA, citing allegations that UCLA discr...

www.latimes.com

7

Paul Adamson MD MPH @padamsonmd.bsky.social · Aug 1

Amazing - congratulations!!!

Reposted by Paul Adamson MD MPH

Joseph Cherabie MD MSc (They/He) @jncherabiemd.bsky.social · Jul 28

Got to present the LIMIT Trial @stihiv2025.org looking at adding lidocaine to prefilled Bicillin shots to see if it could affect pain at 10 mins and 24hrs after injection vs control w/saline. 4 pt decline in pain at 10 mins, no difference at 24 hrs. This is prelim analysis but is promising #STISky

1 1 12

Reposted by Paul Adamson MD MPH

Joseph Cherabie MD MSc (They/He) @jncherabiemd.bsky.social · Jul 30

Got to present @stihiv2025.org on risk based messaging in sexual health settings, focusing on person centered language, removal of risk based questions, and overall trying to not make your patients feel awful for their sex lives

1 11

Paul Adamson MD MPH @padamsonmd.bsky.social · Jul 31

😂

Reposted by Paul Adamson MD MPH

Nicola Low @nicolamlow.bsky.social · Jul 30

#stihiv2025 🧪
Closing plenary @drjeannem.bsky.social

Great promise of long-acting HIV PrEP, if available, accessible, in a functioning health system

All it takes is a disaster…

Like withdrawal of PEPFAR - a humanitarian crisis

👇 @avac.org counter of preventable deaths

4 14

Reposted by Paul Adamson MD MPH

Sarah Alexander @sarah1alexander.bsky.social · Jul 30

Always an inspiration Dr. Marrazzo - provides loads of hope, keep passionately advocating! We need honest conversations, work with our community partners and don’t lose ground - fantastic #STIHIV2025

2 1

Reposted by Paul Adamson MD MPH

AVAC @avac.org · Jul 30

“Silence equals death. We cannot go back there. We must resist erasure and rebuild trust with communities we’ve abandoned.” — Jeanne Marrazzo at the #STIHIV2025 closing, calling for renewed #STI & #HIV activism, diversified funding & unapologetic advocacy.

@stihiv2025.org

3 5

Paul Adamson MD MPH @padamsonmd.bsky.social · Jul 31

Thank you @stihiv2025.org for a fantastic conference!

Great to see so many colleagues. There were some amazing talks, it was so fun to learn from the best! Leaving feeling very inspired, even in these dark times.

And #Montreal was a great host city!

#STIHIV2025

Pic of the team from Vietnam 👋🏽

1 6

Paul Adamson MD MPH @padamsonmd.bsky.social · Jul 31

Really interesting talk on penA among commensal Neisseria by team at Maastricht.

They looked at species distribution and penA mutations before/after treatment for #gonorrhea. They did not find a trend in ceftriaxone resistance mutations after treatment.

#STIHIV2025 @stihiv2025.org #AMR

Graphic showing Neisseria gonorrhoea genome and pena gene with flanking region

Graphic showing study design, following people before and after treatment for gonorrhea.

Slide showing abundance of neisseria strains with predicted resistance to ceftriaxone

Take home message. Many commensal Neisseria carry relevant resistance associated amino acida at baseline. Despite frequent ceftriaxone exposure no trends towards further accumulation of resistance associated mutations are seen

4

Reposted by Paul Adamson MD MPH

Nicola Low @nicolamlow.bsky.social · Jul 29

#stihiv2025 🧪 day 2
Publish and thrive

Enthusiasm for writing to publish you science is vital
Great to be here with editors of
📣 Sexually Transmitted Infections
📣 Sexually Transmitted Diseases
📣 Journal of the IAS
📣 Sexual Health

Me
@joetucker.bsky.social
Jason Ong
Kees Rietmeijer
Kenneth Mayer

2 5 11

Paul Adamson MD MPH @padamsonmd.bsky.social · Jul 29

Prof Bobbie Van Der Pol discussing point-of-care tests

We have made high demands, but don't really know what we want from #POCT

She also discussed regulatory hurdles and challenges that limit availability.

Takeways: better is better and we need #regulatoryreform

#STIHIV2025 @stihiv2025.org

Issue 1: demand for ultra sensitivity. Do we need a fast, cheap, easy PERFECT test?
If someone with a vagina needs to be tested using urine, would you do it? Even if it could miss 10-20% of infections?

Issue 1: if we will accept urine from people with a vagina, why do regulators reject assays that detect 80-85% of infections using vaginal swabs? Do we need ultra sensitivity? Detection of exposures rather than infections. Viability assays are explored to STOP over treatment.

1 2

Reposted by Paul Adamson MD MPH

Sarah Alexander @sarah1alexander.bsky.social · Jul 29

We are over detecting and over treating infections using NAATS - viability assays are the way forward #STIHIV2025

2 1 2

Reposted by Paul Adamson MD MPH

Nicola Low @nicolamlow.bsky.social · Jul 28

#stihiv2025 🧪
„What the hell do we do now?“

Special plenary on the sudden new reality of 📉 STI HIV and global health funding

Redress donor dependence

Donor funding needed, but needs to be smarter and done with governments

Need and opportunity to strengthen primary care service
@stihiv2025.org

STI and HIV 2025 congress panel discussing what to do in the appalling situation of sudden withdrawal of global health funding

3 7

Paul Adamson MD MPH @padamsonmd.bsky.social · Jul 28

Exciting talks in the Next-Generation #Diagnostics session.

Prof Pingyu Zhou presented data about TMF7, a novel target for #syphilis diagnosis. Worked on the target from bench to bedside!

And can potentially be a great tool for #neurosyphilis

#STIHIV2025 #STIsky

Data showing selection of T pallidum genes for target development

Data showing laboratory sensitivity and specificity

1 2

Paul Adamson MD MPH @padamsonmd.bsky.social · Jul 28

Interesting talk about the evidence, or lack thereof, on #chlamydia #gonorrhea & #Mgen screening among men who have sex with men by Chris Kenyon.

He presented a compelling case, that risks might outweigh benefits of screening.

But this is complicated, I think more data are needed.
#STIHIV2025

Presentation slide: Conclusion: the reason guidelines advise NG/CT (but not NM/SA) screening in MSM is based on values not evidence

This is causing harm
-AMR
-Microbiome damage

Drop STI exceptionalism

Use Wilson's criteria to determine if screening is advisable

Current evidence doesn't support screening MSM for NG/CT/MG/SA/NM

Andermann Bull WHO 2008

1 1 2

Reposted by Paul Adamson MD MPH

AVAC @avac.org · Jul 28

Beautiful prez on #stigma by #HIV journalist @picardonhealth.bsky.social @ #STIHIV2025: “That’s what stigma means. When an illness affects not only your body, but your soul, & your place in society.”

ICYMI, our ED tells Devex that we must act now to prioritize equity, www.devex.com/news/why-int...

4 5

Reposted by Paul Adamson MD MPH

Sarah Alexander @sarah1alexander.bsky.social · Jul 28

Great presentation on ST8123 clade b - which is associated with ceftriaxone resistance originated in China traveled to UK and USA #STIHIV2025

1 2