The Induction of Long-Term Potentiation by Medial Septum Activation under Urethane Anesthesia Can Alter Gene Expression in the Hippocampus.

We studied changes in the expression of early genes in hippocampal cells in response to stimulation of the dorsal medial septal area (dMSA), leading to long-term potentiation in the hippocampus. Rats under urethane anesthesia were implanted with stimulating electrodes in the ventral hippocampal commissure and dMSA and a recording electrode in the CA1 area of the hippocampus. We found that high-frequency stimulation (HFS) of the dMSA led to the induction of long-term potentiation in the synapses formed by the ventral hippocampal commissure on the hippocampal CA1 neurons.

Core components of infection prevention and control programs at the facility level in Kazakhstan: key challenges and opportunities.

Background: Kazakhstan is developing a National Roadmap to strengthen its Infection Prevention and Control (IPC), but until recently has lacked a country-wide facility-level assessment of IPC performance gaps.

Methods: In 2021, the World Health Organization (WHO)'s IPC Core Components and Minimal Requirements were assessed at 78 randomly selected hospitals across 17 administrative regions using adapted WHO tools. The study included site assessments, followed by structured interviews with 320 hospital staff, validation observations of IPC practices, and document reviews.

Costs and impact on HIV transmission of a switch from a criminalisation to a public health approach to injecting drug use in eastern Europe and central Asia: a modelling analysis.

Background: HIV incidence is increasing in eastern Europe and central Asia, primarily driven by injecting drug use. Coverage of antiretroviral therapy (ART) and opioid agonist therapy are suboptimal, with many people who inject drugs (PWID) being incarcerated. We aimed to assess whether use of monies saved as a result of decriminalisation of drug use or possession to scale up ART and opioid agonist therapy could control HIV transmission among PWID in eastern Europe and central Asia.

Core components of infection prevention and control programs at the facility level in Georgia: key challenges and opportunities.

Background: The Georgia Ministry of Labor, Health, and Social Affairs is working to strengthen its Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) Program, but until recently has lacked an assessment of performance gaps and implementation challenges faced by hospital staff.

Methods: In 2018, health care hospitals were assessed using a World Health Organization (WHO) adapted tool aimed at implementing the WHO's IPC Core Components. The study included site assessments at 41 of Georgia's 273 hospitals, followed by structured interviews with 109 hospital staff, validation observations of IPC practices, and follow up document reviews.

Optimizing HIV prevention and treatment outcomes for persons with substance use in Central Asia: what will it take?

Purpose Of Review: To summarize the status of HIV and substance use in Central Asia and discuss potential ways to move forward to effective epidemic control among people who inject drugs (PWID) in the region and beyond.

Recent Findings: PWID and their partners remain the population most affected by HIV in Central Asia. Lack of effective substance use prevention and treatment options and limited involvement of PWID-led community-based organizations in HIV programs, combined with the requirement for official registration, stigma and discrimination of PWID, and criminalization of drug use remain key barriers to effective HIV prevention and treatment.