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2022 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Layla Honorato ◽  
Steven S. Witkin ◽  
Maria Cássia Mendes-Correa ◽  
Ana Luiza Castro Conde Toscano ◽  
Iara Moreno Linhares ◽  
...  

IntroductionTorque teno virus (TTV) is a non-pathogenic virus present in body fluids. Its titer in the circulation increases in association with immune suppression, such as in HIV-infected individuals. We evaluated if the TTV titer in saliva from HIV-positive individuals undergoing antiretroviral therapy (ART) was related to the circulating CD4+ T lymphocyte concentration and the HIV titer.MethodsSaliva was collected from 276 asymptomatic individuals undergoing ART, and an additional 48 individuals positive for AIDS-associated Kaposi's Sarcoma (AIDS-KS). The salivary TTV titer was measured by gene amplification analysis. The circulating CD4+ T lymphocyte and HIV levels were obtained by chart review.ResultsTTV was detectable in saliva from 80% of the asymptomatic subjects and 87% of those with AIDS-KS. In the asymptomatic group the median log10 TTV titer/ml was 3.3 in 200 males vs. 2.4 in 76 females (p < 0.0001). TTV titer/ml was 3.7 when HIV was acquired by intravenous drug usage, 3.2 when by sexual acquisition and 2.4 when blood transfusion acquired. The salivary TTV titer was inversely correlated with the circulating CD4+ T lymphocyte level (p < 0.0001) and positively correlated with the circulating HIV concentration (p = 0.0005). The median salivary TTV titer and circulating HIV titer were higher, and the CD4+ count was lower, in individuals positive for AIDS-KS than in the asymptomatic subjects (p < 0.0001).ConclusionThe TTV titer in saliva is a potential biomarker for monitoring immune status in individuals undergoing ART.


2021 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 10-17
Author(s):  
Eliana F. R. Duraes ◽  
Ya-Ching Hung ◽  
Mohammed Asif ◽  
Ashley Modica ◽  
Giulia Sikorski ◽  
...  

Treating pain in burn patients with a history of opioid or drug abuse is challenging. There is no consensus on pain management for burn patients with a history of drug usage. Our aim was to study the association of previous drug addiction and the treatment of acute burn patients, focusing on daily morphine milligram equivalent (MME) requirements and outcomes. We compared patients with (group 1) and without (group 2) a drug addiction history who were admitted to an American Burn Association verified burn center using the Premier database from 2013 to 2018 (n = 3046). Primary outcome was daily MME usage. Secondary outcomes included mortality, expected mortality rate, length of stay (LOS), and number of surgeries. Linear regression was performed to predict MME usage. In total, 16.6% of patients had history of drug abuse. In unadjusted analysis, group 1 had more males (68.1% vs. 57.3%, p < 0.001) and was younger (median 47 vs. median 53, p < 0.001) compared to group 2. In the adjusted analysis, group 1 required 84.1 additional daily MME usage than group 2 (p < 0.01). Drug addiction was associated with an increased number of surgeries, LOS, and higher daily MME usage. Patients with a history of drug usage required almost 60 mg of additional oxycodone per day.


Author(s):  
Saloni Patil ◽  
P. Shilna Rani ◽  
K. U. Dhanesh Kumar

Background: Complementary and experimental medicine is gaining interest in the treatment of asthma around the world. This study summarizes the literature on complementary and alternative medicine approaches that use breathing retraining, i.e Buteyko breathing technique (BBT) as a primary component. Aim: The aim of this research is to provide background for BBT, analyse the available evidence for its efficacy and evaluate the physiological framework behind it. Methods: The analysis of literature is carried out by studying papers from electronic databases such as Cochrane, Medline, Embase, AMED, PEDro, Google Scholar, Elsevier, APTA, Campbell, Web of Science, and Research Gate. Conclusion: Individual studies using BBT consistently showed a reduction in asthma medication use. In either of the BBT experiments, no significant difference in lung ability was found. BBT detractors argue that drug reduction can be due to the physicians' influence, which is difficult to determine. Longer follow-up is needed to show that the improvement in asthma treatment as measured by drug usage is sustained over a clinically appropriate time span.


2021 ◽  
Vol 15 (12) ◽  
pp. 3381-3383
Author(s):  
Qurrat ul Ain Mehfooz ◽  
Qasim Saleem ◽  
Khursheed Anwer ◽  
Hamid Mahmood

Objective: The goal of this study to look at the patterns of drug use among medical students. Methodology: All medical students enrolled in the Bakhtawer Amin Medical & Dental College Multan, from first to fifth year were included in this study. The sample size was calculated using a single population proportion formula. The sample consisted of 200 students drawn from various batches and chosen using a stratified random selection procedure Results: The total study participants were 200 medical students of different years in which 139(70%) were males and 61(30%) were females. The participants having age range 18-25 years and maximum number of students were fall in age group 21-25 [117(58.5%)]. The results of the study showed that 76% used tranquilizer and 68% of the students used Stimulants without prescription as p-value 0.004 showing statistical significant difference in the use of both types of drugs. Student used tranquilizer and stimulants once a month as 32% vs 37% with significant p-value 0.034. Conclusion: The fourth-year students had the highest rate of drug usage. During the evaluation, the majority of students were drug users; there was no sign of physical dependency. The topic of non-prescribed drug usage among medical students is examined in this study. More research is needed to investigate national trends of drug addiction among medical students, as well as to find and reinforce protective variables. Supporting children with a non-prescription usage necessitates the development of strategies. Keywords:Nonmedical prescription drug use; Nonmedical prescription stimulant use; Nonmedical prescription tranquilizer use; Trends.


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Azmawati Mohammed Nawi ◽  
Rozmi Ismail ◽  
Fauziah Ibrahim ◽  
Mohd Rohaizat Hassan ◽  
Mohd Rizal Abdul Manaf ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Drug abuse is detrimental, and excessive drug usage is a worldwide problem. Drug usage typically begins during adolescence. Factors for drug abuse include a variety of protective and risk factors. Hence, this systematic review aimed to determine the risk and protective factors of drug abuse among adolescents worldwide. Methods Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) was adopted for the review which utilized three main journal databases, namely PubMed, EBSCOhost, and Web of Science. Tobacco addiction and alcohol abuse were excluded in this review. Retrieved citations were screened, and the data were extracted based on strict inclusion and exclusion criteria. Inclusion criteria include the article being full text, published from the year 2016 until 2020 and provided via open access resource or subscribed to by the institution. Quality assessment was done using Mixed Methods Appraisal Tools (MMAT) version 2018 to assess the methodological quality of the included studies. Given the heterogeneity of the included studies, a descriptive synthesis of the included studies was undertaken. Results Out of 425 articles identified, 22 quantitative articles and one qualitative article were included in the final review. Both the risk and protective factors obtained were categorized into three main domains: individual, family, and community factors. The individual risk factors identified were traits of high impulsivity; rebelliousness; emotional regulation impairment, low religious, pain catastrophic, homework completeness, total screen time and alexithymia; the experience of maltreatment or a negative upbringing; having psychiatric disorders such as conduct problems and major depressive disorder; previous e-cigarette exposure; behavioral addiction; low-perceived risk; high-perceived drug accessibility; and high-attitude to use synthetic drugs. The familial risk factors were prenatal maternal smoking; poor maternal psychological control; low parental education; negligence; poor supervision; uncontrolled pocket money; and the presence of substance-using family members. One community risk factor reported was having peers who abuse drugs. The protective factors determined were individual traits of optimism; a high level of mindfulness; having social phobia; having strong beliefs against substance abuse; the desire to maintain one’s health; high paternal awareness of drug abuse; school connectedness; structured activity and having strong religious beliefs. Conclusion The outcomes of this review suggest a complex interaction between a multitude of factors influencing adolescent drug abuse. Therefore, successful adolescent drug abuse prevention programs will require extensive work at all levels of domains.


2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 1-5
Author(s):  
Deeza-Syafiqah Mohd Sidek ◽  
Imran Ahmad ◽  
Ruzilawati Abu Bakar ◽  
Nik Norizah Nik Ibrahim

The objective of this study was to examine the socio-demographic characteristics and drug abused patterns of combined amphetamine-type stimulants (ATS) and opioid dependence in Malay Male subjects in Kota Bharu, Kelantan, Malaysia. Seventy drug dependent subjects who were diagnosed using Diagnostic and Statistical Manual-IV (DSM-IV), and 87 control subjects who fulfilled the inclusion and exclusion criteria were interviewed using a questionnaire.The median age (IQR) for drug dependent group was 28.0 (7.68) years old while median age for control group was 24.0 (10.55). The mean (SD) initiation age for ATS was 27.39 (9.79) while the mean (SD) initiation age for opioid was 22.20 (7.19). 57.1% of the drug dependent subjects used injections as their method of opioid ingestion, while 65.7% preferred chase to ingest ATS. Most of the subjects were HIV negative (61.4%). Majority have not sought any treatment regarding their drug usage (71.4%). Most of the drug dependent subjects have been arrested and convicted for drug use (88.6%). However, majority demonstrated no history of arrest or conviction for non-drug related crime (77.1%). This study provides an update on the socio-demographic and drug abuse patterns of combined amphetamine-type stimulants and opioid dependence subjects that may help in combating the alarming increase of the drug abuse.


2021 ◽  
Vol 15 (5) ◽  
pp. 89-95
Author(s):  
E. Yu. Loginova ◽  
Yu. L. Korsakova ◽  
T. V. Korotaeva

The article presents an analysis of literature on the efficacy and safety of a new biologic disease modifying antirheumatic drug usage, the interleukin 23 inhibitor – guselkumab (GUS) – in the treatment of patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA). Two own clinical observations of GUS therapy are described. It has been demonstrated that in PsA of moderate activity and in severe to moderate psoriasis with nail damage, the use of GUS (100 mg at weeks 0 and 4, and then every 8 weeks), allows to achieve remission of peripheral arthritis, enthesitis and psoriasis by the 20th week of treatment as in the monotherapy regimen and in combination with methotrexate. When GUS is re-prescribed (re-treat) after a long break (10 months), its effectiveness is quickly and completely restored. The safety of GUS was confirmed in patients with comorbid pathology, in particular, Gilbert's syndrome, hyperuricemia, metabolic disorders (abdominal obesity).


2021 ◽  
pp. 152483992110410
Author(s):  
Aleksandra Bartoszko

This article describes a process of creating an ethnographic comic about injection drug use and hepatitis C, based on long-term ethnographic fieldwork in Norway. The project and the graphic publication titled The Virus were a collaboration between a social anthropologist, a graphic artist, and individuals who inject illegal drugs and are aimed at reducing bodily, social, and narrative harms related to drug use. The article argues that structurally informed interventions, such as this project, which account for the social, economic, and epistemological inequalities, benefit from taking phenomenological perspectives seriously. In our case, that attitude meant including participants’ positive associations with their current or former heroin and injecting drug usage, their stigmatized desires, and their emotions—such as love—related to the disease. The article describes the narrative, conceptual, aesthetic, and practical choices encountered in making The Virus to confront the dominant, authorized narratives in the field of drug use and hepatitis C. We sought to make choices that ultimately would not contribute to the (re)production of the very object of the prevention—stigma related to hepatitis C—but instead would create a new narrative(s) that forged a sense of purpose, recognition, and humanity.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Isa Baba ◽  
Saudatu Baba Sambo

Abstract This paper presents a mathematical model that studies the importance of treatment at rehabilitation centers intending to show the impact of the rehabilitation centers in minimizing illicit drug usage. We consider the global stability of endemic equilibrium using the properties of Volterra-Lyapunov matrices. Numerical simulations were carried out to show the impact of rehabilitation centers on illicit drug users.


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