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Health Policy Plan 2019 Feb 20. Epub 2019 Feb 20.

Centre for Research on Drugs and Health Behaviour, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, 15-17 Tavistock Place, London, WC1H 9SH, UK.

Integrating methadone and HIV care is a priority in many low- and middle-income settings experiencing a growing challenge of HIV epidemics linked to injecting drug use. There is as yet little understanding of how to integrate methadone and HIV care in these settings and how such services can be implemented; such a gap reflects, in part, limitations in theorizing an implementation science of integrated care. In response, we qualitatively explored the delivery of methadone after its introduction in Kenya to understand integration with HIV care. Read More

Am J Transl Res 2019 15;11(1):106-119. Epub 2019 Jan 15.

Medical College, Hubei University for Nationalities Enshi, Hubei, China.

This study aimed to investigate the protective effects, effective constituents and preliminary mechanisms of on liver fibrosis and screen new high-efficacy drug for fibrosis. 112 male C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into 14 groups: control group (CG), CCL group (CTG), low/medium/high dose of ethanol extracts (EAE), catechin (CA), dihydroquercetin (DHQ) and kaempferol (KA) groups. The study lasted for 30 days by injecting CCL in peritoneal cavity to make fibrosis model, all mice were sacrificed to observe morphological changes and collagenous fiber by HE and Masson staining, to test liver index, ALT, AST, to measure the expression of α-SMA and collagen I by immunohistochemistry and western blotting, to discuss the pathways of TβR1-Smad2/3 and TNF-α-NF-κB by WB and Elisa; after being evaluated the efficacy, anti-fibrosis drug of highest efficacy was chosen to repeat these indexes in human hepatic stellate cells-LX2. Read More

Infection 2019 Feb 19. Epub 2019 Feb 19.

Institute of Clinical Infectious Diseases, Catholic University of Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy.

Purpose: Our aim was to better explore the association between liver fibrosis (LF) and neurocognitive impairment (NCI) in people living with HIV (PLWH).

Methods: We performed a cross-sectional cohort study by consecutively enrolling PLWH at two clinical centers. All subjects underwent a comprehensive neuropsychological battery; NCI was defined as having a pathological performance (1. Read More

Indian J Med Res 2018 Dec;148(6):743-747

Department of Pharmacology, Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Belagavi, India.

Background & Objectives: Inflammatory processes are a recognized feature of atherosclerotic lesions. Ranolazine inhibits the inflammatory markers such as C-reactive protein, interleukins-1 and -6 and tumour necrosis factor-alpha. The present study was planned to evaluate the effect of anti-inflammatory activity of ranolazine in acute and sub-acute models of inflammation in rats and compare the same with that of control (gum acacia 1%) and aspirin (standard anti-inflammatory drug). Read More

Gastroenterol Hepatol Bed Bench 2018 ;11(Suppl 1):S129-S133

Deputy of Health, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran.

Aim: This study was conducted to provide a clear epidemiological picture of HCV spatial pattern.

Background: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is one of the major problems of public health, that its spatial and spatiotemporal pattern remain unclear in Hamadan province.

Methods: We used the scan statistic to identify the spatial and spatiotemporal clusters of HCV in Hamadan province with an emphasis on considering the role of carrier's and injecting drug users (IDUs) cases. Read More

J Immigr Minor Health 2019 Feb 15. Epub 2019 Feb 15.

Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, MC-0725, La Jolla, CA, 92093-0725, USA.

Cross-border infectious disease transmission is a concern related to drug tourism from the U.S. to Mexico. Read More

PLoS One 2019 15;14(2):e0207970. Epub 2019 Feb 15.

Department of Psychiatry, Division of Research, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.

HIV, hepatitis B and C, and syphilis share common transmission routes of which primarily unsafe sexual contact and injecting drug use are important. Impulsivity is a major factor contributing to this transmission risk behavior; however comprehensive studies within female, prison, and Asian populations are scarce. This cross-sectional study aims to delineate the contributions of different aspects of impulsivity to risk behavior, among female inmates living in a prison in Jakarta (N = 214). Read More

Addiction 2019 Mar;114(3):404-405

National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, University of New South Wales Sydney, NSW, Australia.

Sci Rep 2019 Feb 14;9(1):2090. Epub 2019 Feb 14.

Infectious Disease Epidemiology Group, Weill Cornell Medicine - Qatar, Cornell University, Qatar Foundation - Education City, Doha, Qatar.

The objective was to delineate hepatitis C virus (HCV) epidemiology in countries of Central Asia (CA), specifically Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. A systematic review was conducted guided by the Cochrane Collaboration Handbook, and reported using PRISMA guidelines. Meta-analyses were performed using DerSimonian-Laird random-effects models with inverse variance weighting. Read More

Eur J Orthop Surg Traumatol 2019 Feb 12. Epub 2019 Feb 12.

Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand.

Background: Periarticular multimodal drug injection (PMDI) has gained popularity as common postoperative pain protocols in knee arthroplasty. PMDI sites can vary, but posterior capsule (PC) is a common injection site because of its abundance of pain nociceptors.

Purpose: To prove the hypothesis whether posteromedial drug injection alone is sufficient to provide enough effect covering the PC in order to reduce risks of neurovascular injury. Read More

J Int AIDS Soc 2019 Feb;22(2):e25222

Kirby Institute, UNSW, Sydney, NSW, Australia.

Introduction: Over the last two decades, the incidence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) co-infection among men who have sex with men (MSM) living with HIV began increasing in post-industrialized countries. Little is known about transmission of acute or recent HCV, in particular among MSM living with HIV co-infection, which creates uncertainty about potential for reinfection after HCV treatment. Using phylogenetic methods, clinical, epidemiological and molecular data can be combined to better understand transmission patterns. Read More

Zhonghua Liu Xing Bing Xue Za Zhi 2019 Feb;40(2):196-201

School of Public Health, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou 510310, China.

To understand the prevalence of drug resistance in treatment-naive injecting drug users (IDUs) infected with HIV-1 in Guangzhou. HIV-1 RNA were extracted from the serum specimens of the newly confirmed HIV-1 positive IDUs living in Guangzhou, being infected through injecting drug use and receiving no antiretroviral therapy at the time of confirmation during 2008-2015. Full sequence of protease (PR) gene and partial sequence of reverse transcriptase (RT) gene were amplified by nested reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (nested-PCR) and sequenced. Read More

Int J Drug Policy 2019 Feb 8;66:87-93. Epub 2019 Feb 8.

The Kirby Institute, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Electronic address:

It is estimated that 6.1 million people with recent injecting drug use (PWID) are living with hepatitis C virus (HCV). Although HCV-related morbidity and mortality among PWID continues to increase, the advent of direct acting antiviral (DAA) HCV regimens with cure rates >95% provides an opportunity to reverse the rising burden of disease. Read More

J Neurosurg 2019 Feb 8:1-9. Epub 2019 Feb 8.

1Functional Neurosurgery Unit.

OBJECTIVEAlthough epidural blood patch (EBP) is considered the gold-standard treatment for drug-resistant orthostatic headache in spontaneous intracranial hypotension (SIH), no clear evidence exists regarding the best administration method of this technique (blind vs target procedures). The aim of this study was to assess the long-term efficacy of blind lumbar EBP and predictors on preoperative MRI of good outcome.METHODSLumbar EBP was performed by injecting 10 ml of autologous venous blood, fibrin glue, and contrast medium in 101 consecutive patients affected by SIH and orthostatic headache. Read More

BMJ Case Rep 2019 Feb 6;12(2). Epub 2019 Feb 6.

Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.

A female intravenous drug user was reviewed in A&E following a deliberate overdose. After claiming to have swallowed a razor blade, an abdominal radiograph was performed; this showed a linear metallic density projected over the right side of the pelvis, eventually identified as a needle fragment. Subsequent CT imaging revealed three additional needles situated within the groin. Read More

Carbohydr Polym 2019 Apr 3;209:181-189. Epub 2019 Jan 3.

Contipro a.s., Dolní Dobrouč 401, 561 02 Dolní Dobrouč, Czech Republic.

A better understanding of in vivo behavior of nanocarriers is necessary for further improvement in their development. Here we present a novel approach, where both the matrix and the drug can be analyzed by LCMS/MS after one sample handling. The developed method was applied for the comparison of pharmacokinetic profile of free and encapsulated doxorubicin (DOX) in oleyl hyaluronan (HA-C18:1) polymeric micelles. Read More

Brain Res 2019 Feb 4. Epub 2019 Feb 4.

Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, and Precision Pharmacy & Drug Development Center, Department of Pharmacy, Tangdu Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, 710032, China. Electronic address:

Patients with irritable bowel syndrome suffer from chronic visceral pain, and in some of them, this is accompanied by anxiety comorbidity. Cytoplasmic polyadenylation element binding protein 1 (CPEB1) mediates the cytoplasmic polyadenylation of mRNAs and facilitates their translation. Our previous studies have shown that CPEB1 knockdown in the amygdala exerts anxiolytic but not analgesic effects in a mouse model of inflammatory pain. Read More

Harm Reduct J 2019 Feb 6;16(1):10. Epub 2019 Feb 6.

Division of Health Research, University of Lancaster, Lancaster, LA1 4YW, UK.

Background: Injecting drug users are at high risk of HIV infection globally. Research related to female drug users is rare in Kenya, yet it is required to inform the development of gender-sensitive HIV prevention and harm reduction services in East Africa, where injecting drug use is on the rise.

Methods: This study aimed to document the nature of HIV risks encountered by women who inject drugs in the Mombasa and Kilifi, Kenya. Read More

J Infect Dis 2019 Feb 6. Epub 2019 Feb 6.

National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.

Background: Women-specific factors exist that increases vulnerability to drug-related harms from injecting drug use including bloodborne viruses (BBV), but gender differences in BBV prevalence have not been systematically examined.

Methods: We conducted meta-analyses to estimate country, regional, and global prevalence of serologically-confirmed HIV, hepatitis C (anti-HCV) and hepatitis B (HBsAg) prevalence in people who inject drugs (PWID) by gender. Gender differences in BBV (relative risks, RR in women vs men) were regressed on country-level prevalence and inequality measures. Read More

Zebrafish 2019 Feb 6. Epub 2019 Feb 6.

2 Department of Molecular Medicine and Pathology, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.

Chemical interventions are regularly used to examine and manipulate macrophage function in larval zebrafish. Given chemicals are typically administered by simple immersion or injection, it is not possible to resolve whether their impact on macrophage function is direct or indirect. Liposomes provide an attractive strategy to target drugs to specific cellular compartments, including macrophages. Read More

Lancet Infect Dis 2019 Feb 30;19(2):130-131. Epub 2019 Jan 30.

Burnet Institute, Behaviours and Health Risks Program, Melbourne, VIC, Australia; Department of Public Health, La Trobe University, Bundoora, VIC, Australia.

J Psychoactive Drugs 2019 Jan 31:1-12. Epub 2019 Jan 31.

a French Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addictions , Observatoire Français des Drogues et Toxicomanies (OFDT) , La Plaine Saint Denis Cedex , France.

This exploratory analysis of time-series cross-sectional data provides insights on trends in age at first injection among people who inject drugs in France, and on associations with recent risky injecting behaviors. Data were collected from a national survey conducted in harm reduction facilities in five phases between 2006 and 2015. Standardized questionnaires collected information on demographics, substance use, and route of administration, as well as lifetime and past-month injection. Read More

J Biol Regul Homeost Agents 2019 Jan 30;33(1). Epub 2019 Jan 30.

Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Affiliated Hangzhou First People's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China.

Gout is a common metabolic disease and acute gouty arthritis (AGA) is one of the important complications. Jia-Wei-Si-Miao-Wan is a newly developed drug for treating acute gouty arthritis, but the molecular mechanism has not been completely clarified. Thus, this study was aimed to explore the regulation of Jia-Wei-Si-Miao-Wan on NLRP3 inflammasome and TLR/NF-κB signaling, which are two important signaling pathways in inflammation. Read More

Aust N Z J Public Health 2019 Jan 28. Epub 2019 Jan 28.

The Kirby Institute, University of New South Wales.

Objective This study describes and compares prevalence trends of markers for hepatitis B (HBV) from 2004 to 2013 and HBV risk factors between Indigenous and non-Indigenous prison entrants. Methods A cross-sectional survey carried out over two weeks in 2004, 2007, 2010 and 2013 in reception prisons in New South Wales, Queensland, Western Australia and Tasmania. Results The study included 2,223 prison entrants; 544 were Indigenous. Read More

Int J Drug Policy 2019 Jan 25;66:30-37. Epub 2019 Jan 25.

Scottish Improvement Science Collaborating Centre, University of Dundee, UK.

Background: Novel Psychoactive Substance (NPS) use has increased in recent years and generated significant concern within public health. People who inject drugs (PWID) are at increased risk of blood borne viruses, in particular Hepatitis C virus (HCV). However, little is known about the extent of NPS injecting at a national level and its association with HCV. Read More

J Vis Exp 2019 Jan 10(143). Epub 2019 Jan 10.

Department of Interventional Radiology and Vascular Surgery, Peking University Third Hospital; Wound Healing Center, Peking University Third Hospital.

Chemical lumbar sympathectomy (CLS) is a commonly used, minimally invasive procedure for the treatment of conditions including ischemic diseases of the lower extremities, hyperhidrosis, etc. It is commonly practiced to position the puncture needle tip in front of the anterior fascia of the psoas major muscle and inject the inactivating agent around the sympathetic trunk, which is defined as conventional CLS. Although relatively rare, ureteropelvic damage is the most frequently reported complication of conventional CLS and can cause serious harm to patients. Read More

Addict Behav 2019 Jan 17;93:20-28. Epub 2019 Jan 17.

Division of Health Research, University of Lancaster, United Kingdom. Electronic address:

Introduction: Gender dynamics and interpersonal relations within intimate partnerships are known to determine health behaviors, including substance use, within couples. In addition, influence from intimate partners may occur in the context of wider social ecological determinants of health behavior. The aim of this study was to document the role of intimate partners in influencing injecting drug use among women in Kenya, where injecting drug use is on the rise. Read More

Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis 2019 Mar 24;38(3):575-580. Epub 2019 Jan 24.

Infectious Diseases Department, Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, Herston, QLD, 4029, Australia.

People who inject drugs (PWID) are susceptible to endovascular and deep-seated infections which require prolonged antibiotic therapy. There are concerns regarding this cohort's suitability for outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy (OPAT), but relatively little published data. Our aim is to publish our outcomes in this setting, to inform other clinicians' decisions regarding PWID in OPAT. Read More

Sci Rep 2019 Jan 24;9(1):443. Epub 2019 Jan 24.

Institute of Scientific and Technological Communication and Information in Health (ICICT), FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Despite the initiative by WHO and other international organizations to eliminate HCV in the medium term, hepatitis C infection is still a major public health problem. Even non-injecting drugs users who engage in harmful or addictive drug use are at greater risk of acquiring the infection, when compared to the general population. This study evaluate risk factors for HCV infection in users of crack/cocaine in Brazil, using multilevel models that incorporate variations in the sensitivity and specificity of the respective diagnostic tests. Read More

Am J Public Health 2019 Mar 24;109(3):445-450. Epub 2019 Jan 24.

Sean T. Allen, Rebecca Hamilton White, and Susan G. Sherman are with the Department of Health, Behavior and Society, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD. Allison O'Rourke is with the DC Center for AIDS Research, George Washington University, Washington, DC. Kristin E. Schneider is with the Department of Mental Health, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health. Michael Kilkenny is with the Cabell-Huntington Health Department, Huntington, WV.

Objectives: To demonstrate how we applied the capture-recapture method for population estimation directly in a rural Appalachian county (Cabell County, WV) to estimate the number of people who inject drugs (PWID).

Methods: We conducted 2 separate 2-week periods of data collection in June ("capture") and July ("recapture") 2018. We recruited PWID from a syringe services program and in community locations where PWID were known to congregate. Read More

J Menopausal Med 2018 Dec 31;24(3):196-203. Epub 2018 Dec 31.

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical Research Institute, Pusan National University Hospital, Pusan National University School of Medicine, Busan, Korea.

Objectives: This study was aimed to establish the most effective premature ovarian failure (POF) mouse model using Cyclophosphamide (CTX), busulfan (Bu), and cisplatin considering treatment duration of anticancer drugs and natural recovery time.

Methods: POF was induced by intraperitoneally injecting CTX (120 mg/kg)/Bu (12 mg/kg) for 1 to 4 weeks or cisplatin (2 mg/kg) for 3 to 14 days to C57BL/6 female mice aged 6 to 8 weeks. Controls were injected with equal volume of saline for the same periods. Read More

Zhonghua Liu Xing Bing Xue Za Zhi 2019 Jan;40(1):70-73

Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Nanning 530028, China.

To understand the characteristics of HIV infected persons without long term disease progress [also known as long term non-progressors (LTNPs)], and related factors in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region (Guangxi). Data of persons living with HIV and receiving no antiretroviral therapy in Guangxi by the end of 2016 were collected from the national HIV/AIDS comprehensive control and prevention information system of China. By the end of 2016, there were 313 LTNPs in Guangxi, accounting for 2. Read More

Int J Drug Policy 2019 Jan 18;65:65-72. Epub 2019 Jan 18.

School of Media, Culture and Society, University of the West of Scotland, Paisley, PA1 2BE, Scotland, United Kingdom.

Background: Bacterial skin and soft tissue infections (SSTI) among people who inject drugs (PWID) are considered a public health concern. There is a lack of qualitative research examining the lived experience of PWID who have had SSTI. This paper explores PWID views and experiences of their SSTI, their perceptions on the causes of their SSTI and their harm reduction (HR) behaviours. Read More

J Viral Hepat 2019 Jan 21. Epub 2019 Jan 21.

Statistics Modelling and Economics Department, National Infections Service Public Health England, London, UK.

In England, 160,000 individuals were estimated to be chronically infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV) in 2005 and the burden of severe HCV-related liver disease has increased steadily for the past 15 years. Direct-acting antiviral treatments can clear infection in most patients, motivating HCV elimination targets. However, the current burden of HCV is unknown and new methods are required to monitor progress. Read More

Int J Infect Dis 2019 Jan 15. Epub 2019 Jan 15.

Department for Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Division for HIV/AIDS, STI and Blood-borne Infections, Robert Koch Institute, Berlin, Germany. Electronic address:

Objectives: To investigate the association between detention experience and HCV status, the role of detention duration and frequency and whether risk behaviours practiced in detention could explain an observed increase in risk.

Methods: Current drug injectors (injecting in the last 12 months) were recruited to participate in a sero-behavioural, cross-sectional survey using respondent-driven sampling in eight German cities, 2011-2014. Using multivariable logistic regression the association between HCV status and reported detention experience was investigated. Read More

Infect Genet Evol 2019 Jan 14;69:76-84. Epub 2019 Jan 14.

BC Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, Vancouver, BC, Canada.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) mixed genotype infections can affect treatment outcomes and may have implications for vaccine design and disease progression. Previous studies demonstrate 0-39% of high-risk, HCV-infected individuals harbor mixed genotypes however standardized, sensitive methods of detection are lacking. This study compared PCR amplicon, random primer (RP), and probe enrichment (PE)-based deep sequencing methods coupled with a custom sequence analysis pipeline to detect multiple HCV genotypes. Read More

J Hepatol 2019 Jan 14. Epub 2019 Jan 14.

Department of Gastroenterology, St Vincent's Hospital and the University of Melbourne, Australia. Electronic address:

Background: Treatment programs for people who inject drugs (PWID), including prisoners, are important for achieving hepatitis C elimination targets. There are multiple barriers to treatment of hepatitis C in prisons, including access to specialist physicians, testing and antiviral therapy, short prison sentences, and frequent inter-prison transfer. A state-wide program for assessment and management of hepatitis C was developed in Victoria, Australia to improve access to care for prisoners. Read More

Drug Alcohol Rev 2019 Feb 16;38(2):177-184. Epub 2019 Jan 16.

The Kirby Institute, Faculty of Medicine, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, Australia.

Introduction And Aims: Increasing treatment uptake among people who inject drugs (PWID) with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is integral to eliminating viral hepatitis. This study explored the role of community-based outreach in engaging and retaining Australian PWID in the testing component of the HCV care cascade.

Design And Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 28 PWID, including new initiates to injecting and those from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds, who acquired HCV infection while enrolled in a community-based prospective observational study of hepatitis C vaccine preparedness in Sydney. Read More

Subst Abuse Treat Prev Policy 2019 Jan 15;14(1). Epub 2019 Jan 15.

Department of Psychological Medicine, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.

Background: Globally, people who inject drugs are highly vulnerable to HIV transmission. Methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) programs are one of the most cost-effective mechanisms to substitute opioid use and improve the quality of life of patients. Since the coverage of MMT is still limited and even for those patients who are treated, improving their knowledge on HIV and maintaining healthy behaviors are key to maximizing the outcomes of HIV harm reduction programs. Read More

Int J Drug Policy 2019 Feb 12;64:95-102. Epub 2019 Jan 12.

University Hospital for Infectious Diseases "Dr. Fran Mihaljevic", School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Mirogojska cesta 8, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia. Electronic address:

Background: Drug overdose is the major cause of morbidity and mortality among persons who inject drugs (PWID). We assessed factors associated with the non-fatal drug overdose among PWID in three Croatian cities and national trends of overdose-related mortality (OM), and rates of uptake of opioid agonist drug treatment (OAT).

Methods: We used a respondent-driven sampling method to recruit 830 PWID in Zagreb, Split and Rijeka in 2014/2015. Read More

Gene 2019 Apr 7;691:87-95. Epub 2019 Jan 7.

Molecular Medicine and Cancer Research Center, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China; School of Pharmaceutical Science, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China. Electronic address:

Hepatitis B virus X (HBx), a viral onco-protein encoded by HBV, can promote oncogenesis of HCC. However, the mechanism of HBx in hepatocarcinogenesis is still unclear. In this study, we establish a new mouse model with normal immune system to investigate the role of HBx and its functional mechanisms under normal immune function. Read More

Commun Dis Intell (2018) 2018 17;42. Epub 2018 Dec 17.

Melbourne Sexual Health Centre, Alfred Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.

Introduction: There has been a steady increase in gonorrhoea cases among females in Australian major cities but the reasons remain unclear. The aim of this study was to identify the risk factors associated with gonorrhoea among females attending a sexual health centre in Melbourne.

Methods: Analysis of retrospective electronic patient records of females aged 16 to 80 years old attending the Melbourne Sexual Health Centre, Australia between 1st January 2008 and 20th March 2015. Read More

BMC Public Health 2019 Jan 8;19(1):30. Epub 2019 Jan 8.

Addiction Treatment Centre, Biella, Italy.

Background: Prisoners have a high prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection but may find it difficult to access healthcare services. This may be related to risk behaviour including history of injecting drugs and marginalisation related to problem drug use/ opioid use disorder (OUD). Direct-acting antiviral products with superior efficacy and safety compared to interferon-based regimens offer HCV cure. Read More

Int J STD AIDS 2019 Jan 8:956462418814985. Epub 2019 Jan 8.

3 St Mary's Hospital and Imperial College, London, UK.

Following changes in national antiretroviral therapy (ART) guidelines removing the CD4 threshold for initiation of ART, we evaluated the time to ART initiation and reasons for delayed or non-initiation. A retrospective notes review of 292 newly diagnosed HIV-positive individuals attending two London clinics between August 2015 and December 2016 was performed. Two hundred and fifty-four of 292 (87%) individuals started ART. Read More

Front Neurol 2018 18;9:1092. Epub 2018 Dec 18.

Cardiff University Brain Research Imaging Centre (CUBRIC), School of Psychology, Cardiff, United Kingdom.

Convection-enhanced delivery (CED) is an innovative method of drug delivery to the human brain, that bypasses the blood-brain barrier by injecting the drug directly into the brain. CED aims to target pathological tissue for central nervous system conditions such as Parkinson's and Huntington's disease, epilepsy, brain tumors, and ischemic stroke. Computational fluid dynamics models have been constructed to predict the drug distribution in CED, allowing clinicians advance planning of the procedure. Read More

Hepat Med 2019 24;11:1-11. Epub 2018 Dec 24.

Spanish Society of Dual Diagnosis, Bilbao, Spain.

Objectives: People with a history of injecting drugs have high prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, and many have opioid use disorder (OUD). Modern HCV therapies with improved efficacy and tolerability are available, but access is often limited for this group, who may be underserved for health care and face social inequity. This work develops practical steps to improve HCV care in this population. Read More

Life Sci 2019 Feb 3;218:284-291. Epub 2019 Jan 3.

Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Cairo University, Kasr El Aini st., 11562 Cairo, Egypt; School of Pharmacy, Newgiza University, Cairo, Egypt. Electronic address:

Background And Purpose: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic, systemic autoimmune inflammatory disease which poses a need to explore effective yet safe pharmacotherapeutic options. The current work aimed to study the therapeutic role of nicorandil in controlling RA.

Experimental Approach: Complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA)-induced arthritis model was applied by injecting 400 μL of CFA in the right hind paw at day 0 and day 7. Read More

Harm Reduct J 2019 Jan 5;16(1). Epub 2019 Jan 5.

ICAP at Columbia University, Allan Rosefield Building, 722 West 168th Street, Room 1310, New York, NY, USA.

Background: We conducted a cross-sectional integrated bio-behavioral survey among sex partners of persons who inject drugs (PWID) to explore reasons for reported increase in reporting of heterosexually transmitted HIV in Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan.

Methods: Sexual partners of PWID were recruited through PWID. Behavioral data were collected through semi-structured interviews. Read More

Dis Mon 2018 Dec 29. Epub 2018 Dec 29.

Drexel University College of Medicine, 245N 15th Street, Mail Stop 1011, Philadelphia, PA 19102, United States. Electronic address:

The US is facing dual public health crises related to opioid overdose deaths and HIV. Injection drug use is fueling both of these epidemics. The War on Drugs has failed to stem injection drug use and has contributed to mass incarceration, poverty, and racial disparities. Read More

J Family Med Prim Care 2018 Sep-Oct;7(5):898-902

Department of Community Medicine, Calcutta National Medical College, Kolkata, West Bengal, India.

Background: West Bengal is a low-prevalent state with high vulnerability for HIV. The state bears around 6% of HIV burden of India. With consistent effort on preventive, diagnostic, and curative services under National AIDS Control Program, HIV prevalence is gradually coming down. Read More