An Overview of Injecting Drug Use and HIV Infection in Edinburgh, Scotland - Maximizing Benefit and Minimizing Harm

1997 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 43-56
Author(s):  
Roger Lewis
Keyword(s):  
Hiv Infection ◽  
Harm Reduction ◽  
Drug Users ◽  
Sexual Transmission ◽  
Hiv Infections ◽  
Injecting Drug Use ◽  
Hiv Positive ◽  
Targeted Prevention ◽  
Hiv Epidemic ◽  
Major Drug

Since 1983 parts of Scotland, unlike England, have experienced a major drug-related HIV epidemic. Edinburgh and Lothian currently have a known HIV-infected population of 1,105. A variety of harm-reduction measures, including needle exchanges, methadone prescription, community drug agencies, and targeted prevention campaigns have been implemented since 1985. The number of drug-related HIV infections reported has fallen significantly since 1988. However, sexual transmission remains a cause for concern, particularly among the injecting and non-injecting partners of HIV-positive drug users.

scholarly journals Current trends in HIV/ AIDS epidemiology in Poland, 1999 – 2004

2006 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 11-12 ◽  
Author(s):  
M Rosinska
Keyword(s):  
Drug Use ◽  
Drug Users ◽  
Sexual Transmission ◽  
Hiv Infections ◽  
Injecting Drug Users ◽  
Injecting Drug Use ◽  
Annual Number ◽  
Hiv Surveillance ◽  
Route Of Transmission ◽  
Hiv Aids

The first HIV/ AIDS cases in Poland were diagnosed in the mid-1980, and the outbreak in injecting drug users was first observed in 1989. For many years the HIV epidemic in Poland was driven by injecting drug use. In this study we examine the trends in the HIV/ AIDS epidemic based on the surveillance data for 1999-2004. During this period, 3561 new HIV infections (annual rate of 15.4 per 1 000 000 inhabitants) were reported and 803 incident AIDS cases (incidence 3.5 per 1 000 000) were diagnosed. Both the annual number of newly detected HIV infections and the AIDS incidence showed a slight increasing trend. In particular, the vertically transmitted AIDS incidence increased from 0.46 in 1999 - 2000 to 0.91 per 1 000 000 children under 15 years in 2003 - 2004. Approximately 36% of AIDS patients aged 15 years or above had not been previously diagnosed with HIV. The annual number of the late presenters increased markedly between 1999 and 2004 and was higher amongst individuals infected through sexual transmission (51.0%) than those infected by injecting drug use (20.1%) . Injecting drug users made up 78.6% of new HIV infections with known transmission route, but for 47.9% of all cases the route of transmission was not reported. In order to generate more accurate data, HIV surveillance must be enhanced. Nevertheless, there is clear evidence for implementation of a comprehensive programme of prevention of vertical transmission and encouraging more extensive HIV testing especially in the groups at risk for sexual transmission. An effort is needed to enhance HIV surveillance and prevention in the framework of programmes for STI.

scholarly journals Hyaluronic acid is a negative regulator of mucosal fibroblast-mediated enhancement of HIV infection

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Johanne H. Egedal ◽  
Guorui Xie ◽  
Thomas A. Packard ◽  
Anders Laustsen ◽  
Jason Neidleman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
T Cells ◽  
Hyaluronic Acid ◽  
Hiv Infection ◽  
Cd4 T Cells ◽  
Hiv Transmission ◽  
Cell Metabolism ◽  
Sexual Transmission ◽  
Rectal Mucosa ◽  
Hiv Infections ◽  
Negative Regulator

AbstractThe majority of HIV infections are established through the genital or rectal mucosa. Fibroblasts are abundant in these tissues, and although not susceptible to infection, can potently enhance HIV infection of CD4+ T cells. Hyaluronic acid (HA) is a major component of the extracellular matrix of fibroblasts, and its levels are influenced by the inflammatory state of the tissue. Since inflammation is known to facilitate HIV sexual transmission, we investigated the role of HA in genital mucosal fibroblast-mediated enhancement of HIV infection. Depletion of HA by CRISPR-Cas9 in primary foreskin fibroblasts augmented the ability of the fibroblasts to increase HIV infection of CD4+ T cells. This amplified enhancement required direct contact between the fibroblasts and CD4+ T cells, and could be attributed to both increased rates of trans-infection and the increased ability of HA-deficient fibroblasts to push CD4+ T cells into a state of higher permissivity to infection. This HIV-permissive state was characterized by differential expression of genes associated with regulation of cell metabolism and death. Our results suggest that conditions resulting in diminished cell-surface HA on fibroblasts, such as genital inflammation, can promote HIV transmission by conditioning CD4+ T cells toward a state more vulnerable to infection by HIV.

scholarly journals The role of drug use in the spread and course of HIV-infection: a comprehensive view of the situation

2020 ◽  
pp. 69-83
Author(s):  
N. A. Belyakov ◽  
V. V. Rassokhin ◽  
O. E. Simakina ◽  
S. V. Ogurtsova ◽  
N. B. Khalezova
Keyword(s):  
Drug Use ◽  
Hiv Infection ◽  
Drug Users ◽  
Hiv Infections ◽  
Infection Process ◽  
Healthy Population ◽  
People Living With Hiv ◽  
Long Term Study

Intention. To conduct an analysis of HIV infections spread among drug users and subsequently show how HIV spreads in the society under interaction of drug addicts with other people.Methodology. An analysis of studies related to the area of research made by leading scientists in the field of epidemiology, infectology, narcology, psychiatry for a long-term period has been performed.Results and Discussion. Long-term study and thorough analysis demonstrate a persisting role of drug use and drug users in the spread of HIV infection and viral hepatitis through sexual contact and injection equipment and show main mechanisms of involvement all social groups in infection process.Conclusion. Injecting drug users represent a large number of people living with HIV, the least adherent to antiretroviral therapy and setting the stage for HIV transmitting in healthy population and maintaining the epidemic process at a high level.

scholarly journals The HIV infection in Europe: large East-West disparity

2003 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 57-64 ◽  
Author(s):  
C Semaille ◽  
J Alix ◽  
A M Downs ◽  
F F Hamers
Keyword(s):  
Hiv Infection ◽  
Central Europe ◽  
Drug Users ◽  
Western Europe ◽  
Hiv Infections ◽  
The Other ◽  
Bisexual Men ◽  
Newly Diagnosed ◽  
Heterosexual Contact ◽  
East West

In 2001, western Europe faces an endemic situation for AIDS (22.8 cases per million population) and for HIV infection (54.9 cases per million), the most affected groups remaining injecting drug users and the homo/bisexual men. However, numbers of new HIV diagnoses are increasing among persons infected through heterosexual contact. Central Europe have been relatively spared, with AIDS incidence under 6 cases per million per year, and new HIV diagnoses between 7 and 10 cases per million. On the other hand, eastern Europe shows an epidemic increase in the number of newly diagnosed HIV infections (233 cases in 1994, around 100 000 reported cases in 2001, ie 349 cases per million population) affecting all countries.

HIV Infection, AIDS and Vaccines

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Khrystyna Hrynkevych ◽  
Heinz-J. Schmitt
Keyword(s):  
Immune System ◽  
Hiv Infection ◽  
Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy ◽  
Opportunistic Infections ◽  
Sexual Transmission ◽  
Hiv Infections ◽  
Perinatal Transmission ◽  
Human Immune System ◽  
Acute Hiv Infection ◽  
Acquired Immunodeficiency

HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) is a retrovirus that infects CD4+ T cells of the human immune system. If the infection is not treated, these cells are destroyed, resulting in an acquired immunodeficiency, i.e., “AIDS” (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome). HIV owns a reverse transcriptase enzyme to convert its RNA into DNA, which is then integrated into the human genome – then undetectable by the immune system. Today, sexual transmission is the major route of HIV infection, while parenteral transmission (sharing needles among drug addicts; rarely blood transfusion) and perinatal transmission are also possible. Acute HIV infection is accompanied by infectious mononucleosis-like symptoms (fevers, rash, lymphadenopathy, sore throat, fatigue), followed by a chronic asymptomatic stage, with viral replication at low levels, followed years later by AIDS, characterized by a plethora of possible opportunistic infections and cancers that result from T-cell deficiency and finally in death within about 2–3 years. Antiretroviral treatment (ART) includes 6 main classes of medicines that affect different steps of viral activities. While no cure is possible, ART – and particularly “Highly active antiretroviral therapy” (HAART) – has made HIV infections a chronic disease and therapy also results in a reduction of transmission. A large variety of vaccine candidates have been assessed – including phase 3 studies – but for many reasons, none of them have been successful to date.

Global overview of injecting drug use and HIV infection among injecting drug users

AIDS ◽  
2004 ◽  
Vol 18 (17) ◽  
pp. 2295-2303 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carmen Aceijas ◽  
Gerry V Stimson ◽  
Matthew Hickman ◽  
Tim Rhodes
Keyword(s):  
Drug Use ◽  
Hiv Infection ◽  
Drug Users ◽  
Injecting Drug Users ◽  
Injecting Drug Use

scholarly journals 237Spatial distribution and correlates of HIV prevalence in South Africa

2021 ◽  
Vol 50 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jabulani Ncayiyana ◽  
Griffin Bell ◽  
Ari Solomon ◽  
Micheal Emch
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Logistic Regression ◽  
Hiv Infection ◽  
Sexual Debut ◽  
Hiv Infections ◽  
Hiv Prevalence ◽  
Spatial Clusters ◽  
Spatial Scan Statistic ◽  
Targeted Interventions ◽  
Hiv Epidemic

Abstract Background South Africa has a high HIV prevalence and generalized HIV epidemic. It is now well established that the HIV epidemic and its drivers are highly heterogeneous, even in generalized HIV epidemic settings. Methods This study uses data from South African HIV/AIDS, Behavioural Risks, Sero-status, and Mass Media Impact (SABSSM), 2005, 2008 and 2012 surveys. To identify spatial clusters, we used the spatial scan statistic method in SaTScan, assuming discrete Poisson distributions. Poisson regression models were used to explore the municipality-level correlates of HIV prevalence and a logistic regression model was used to determine individual-level correlates of HIV infection. Results Between 2005 and 2012, There was significant geographical variation in estimated HIV prevalence (range = <1.0%–27.5%). Eight, five and six significant overlapping high-risk spatial clusters of high HIV prevalence were detected in 2005, 2008 and 2012, respectively. HIV prevalence is clustered in the central and north-eastern regions of South Africa. Living in municipalities with high percentage of black South Africans, higher poverty index, higher population aged 25-49, and higher early sexual debut were associated with HIV prevalence, while living in municipalities with higher percentage male circumcision and a high percentage married were associated with low risk of HIV. Logistic regression revealed race, sex and mobility as correlates of HIV infection. Conclusions HIV prevalence is highly spatially heterogenous and affected by various municipal-level factors. Key messages Identification of the spatial clusters of HIV prevalence and contextual factors should inform targeted interventions that are necessary to bringing HIV infections under control.

scholarly journals RISK FACTORS OF HIV INFECTION AMONG THE INDIGENOUS PEOPLES AND THE MIGRANT POPULATION OF THE FAR NORTH

2017 ◽  
Vol 22 (3) ◽  
pp. 128-133
Author(s):  
P. V Istomin ◽  
L. Yu Volova ◽  
Vladimir Vasil’evich Mefod’ev ◽  
A. A Romanova
Keyword(s):  
Hiv Infection ◽  
Indigenous Peoples ◽  
Sexual Transmission ◽  
Chronic Viral Hepatitis ◽  
Hiv Positive ◽  
Migrant Population ◽  
Sexually Transmitted ◽  
Far North ◽  
High Incidence ◽  
Close Relationship

In the Far North are the most vulnerable to HIV infection by representatives of indigenous peoples living in the national villages, aged 20-29 years old, female. Due to the close relationship between the indigenous inhabitants of possible drift of HIV infection in the community tundra nomadic population. In the group of HIV-positive indigenous peoples in 100% have sexual transmission for migrants - 68,9%. For HIV-infected natives are characterized by a high incidence of sexually transmitted infections, alcoholism, tuberculosis, for alien population - chronic viral hepatitis. In HIV-infected persons indigenous have lower levels of CD4 lymphocytes, CD4/CD8 ratio compared with the migrant population.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document