Understanding drug-related mortality in released prisoners: a review of national coronial records.

Background: The prisoner population is characterised by a high burden of disease and social disadvantage, and ex-prisoners are at increased risk of death following release. Much of the excess mortality can be attributed to an increased risk of unnatural death, particularly from drug overdose; however, relatively few studies have investigated the circumstances surrounding drug-related deaths among released prisoners. This study aimed to explore and compare the circumstances of death for those who died from accidental drug-related causes to those who died from all other reportable causes.

Incidence and risk factors for non-fatal overdose among a cohort of recently incarcerated illicit drug users.

Background: Release from prison is associated with a markedly increased risk of both fatal and non-fatal drug overdose, yet the risk factors for overdose in recently released prisoners are poorly understood. The aim of this study was to identify risk and protective factors for non-fatal overdose (NFOD) among a cohort of illicit drug users in Vancouver, Canada, according to recent incarceration.

Methods: Prospective cohort of 2515 community-recruited illicit drug users in Vancouver, Canada, followed from 1996 to 2010.

Diffusion weighted MR imaging in patients with HCC and liver cirrhosis after administration of different gadolinium contrast agents: is it still reliable?

Purpose: Diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) is an emerging technique for abdominal MR and usually performed before intravenous contrast injection. Recent studies performed in patients with normal liver function have shown that DWI can be performed after gadolinium administration. Aim of this study was to compare DWI before and after administration of different gadolinium compounds in patients with HCC and liver cirrhosis.

Sensitivity of a national coronial database for monitoring unnatural deaths among ex-prisoners in Australia.

Background: The period immediately after release from custody is a time of marked vulnerability and increased risk of death for ex-prisoners. Despite this, there is currently no routine, national system for monitoring ex-prisoner mortality in Australia. This study subsequently aimed to evaluate the sensitivity of Australia's National Coroners Information System (NCIS) for identifying reportable deaths among prisoners and ex-prisoners.

Pills and pints: risky drinking and alcohol-related harms among regular ecstasy users in Australia.

Introduction And Aims: A significant proportion of young Australians engage in risky alcohol consumption, and an increasing minority are regular ecstasy (3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine) users. Risky alcohol use, alone or in combination with ecstasy, is associated with a range of acute and chronic health risks. The aim of this study was to document the incidence and some health-related correlates of alcohol use, and concurrent alcohol and ecstasy use, among a large, national sample of regular ecstasy users (REU) in Australia.

Contrast-enhanced ultra-high-field liver MRI: a feasibility trial.

The aim of this study was to investigate the feasibility of dynamic contrast-enhanced 7 T MRI of the liver using an eight-channel radiofrequency (RF) transmit/receive body-coil. 16 healthy subjects were examined on a 7 T MR system utilizing a custom-built eight-channel RF body-coil suitable for RF-shimming. The following data were acquired: (1) steady state free precession imaging, (2) T2w turbo spin echo imaging, (3) T1w in and opposed-phase imaging, (4) T1w 3D FLASH images pre-contrast and in arterial, portal-venous and venous phase and (5) a fat-saturated pre- and post-contrast 2D FLASH sequence.

Counting the cost: estimating the number of deaths among recently released prisoners in Australia.

Objective: To estimate the number of deaths among people released from prison in Australia in the 2007-08 financial year, within 4 weeks and 1 year of release.

Design, Participants And Setting: Application of crude mortality rates for ex-prisoners (obtained from two independent, state-based record-linkage studies [New South Wales and Western Australia]) to a national estimate of the number and characteristics of people released from prison in 2007-08.

Main Outcome Measures: Estimated number of deaths among adults released from Australian prisons in 2007-08, within 4 weeks and 1 year of release, classified by age, sex, Indigenous status and cause of death.

Contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance angiography in rabbits: evaluation of the gadolinium-based agent p846 and the iron-based blood pool agent p904 in comparison with gadoterate meglumine.

Objectives: : To evaluate the performance of a gadolinium-based contrast compound (P846) as well as an ultra-small particle of iron oxide agent (P904) in contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) in rabbits and to compare those agents with gadoterate meglumine (Gd-DOTA) for first pass and steady state imaging.

Materials And Methods: : A total of 6 rabbits underwent contrast-enhanced MRA of the aorta and its branches at 3 different time points. All examinations were performed on a 1.

From knowledge to action: establishing an international network for justice health.

A group of 38 researchers, policy makers, and practitioners from seven countries, speaking nine languages and representing diverse perspectives, gathered in May 2009 in Orlando, Florida, to establish the International Network for Justice Health. The Network can assist policy makers, researchers, and practitioners to improve the health of justice-involved populations; however, achieving progress will require individual and organizational commitment to working with colleagues across different disciplines and different countries. The Network aims to facilitate this collaboration and become a focal point for the sharing and dissemination of knowledge.

AOD treatment agencies: does religious affiliation influence service delivery?

Introduction And Aims: Religious organisations have been involved in delivering alcohol and other drug (AOD) services since Australian colonial times and are a familiar presence in the AOD sector. However, there is concern in some sectors that AOD services delivered by religious organisations might be influenced by religious ideology, at the expense of evidence-based service provision.

Design And Methods: A national, cross-sectional survey of non-government AOD agencies was undertaken using a mailed questionnaire.

Dynamic contrast-enhanced renal MRI at 7 Tesla: preliminary results.

Objective: With the successful implementation of ultra-high-field imaging in neuro- and musculoskeletal imaging, the interest of scientific research expanded toward whole-body applications. The aim of this study was to assess the feasibility of dynamic contrast-enhanced renal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at 7 Tesla (T), with optimization and implementation of a dedicated examination protocol.

Material And Methods: In vivo dynamic contrast-enhanced high-field examinations were obtained in 10 healthy subjects on a 7 T whole-body MR scanner.

Beyond reintegration: a framework for understanding ex-prisoner health.

Purpose: This paper proposes a framework to better understand ex-prisoner health, and pilot-tests the framework using qualitative interviews with ten people who have been out of prison for two years or more. The proposed framework considers different stages of re-entry (from pre-incarceration through to post-release), individual and structural factors influencing health, and health outcomes.

Design/methodology/approach: The authors conducted qualitative, open-ended interviews with ex-prisoners released from prison two or more years ago, who could be considered to have transitioned "successfully" out of prison.

Peripheral MRA with k-space segmentation and blood-pool contrast agent.

Rationale And Objectives: The purpose of this study was to perform high-resolution contrast-enhanced peripheral multistation magnetic resonance angiography using a new blood-pool contrast agent (gadofosveset trisodium; Vasovist) while suppressing venous signal by using an acquisition scheme with k-space segmentation.

Materials And Methods: Multistation peripheral magnetic resonance angiography with Vasovist was performed in 20 patients with known peripheral arterial occlusive disease. The k-space of the three-dimensional data sets was segmented such that the central parts were acquired during the first pass of the blood-pool agent, while the peripheral parts were acquired in the steady state.

Young prisoners: an important group for health research?

This study contrasted the health of young prisoners (18 to 24 years) with that of adult (25 to 40 years) and older adult (older than 40 years) prisoners. Young prisoners reported good physical health but poor educational and employment histories, involvement in the juvenile justice system, and a high prevalence of substance misuse. Young prisoners represent an important group for research aiming to improve prisoner health.

Renal imaging at 7 Tesla: preliminary results.

Objective: To investigate the feasibility of 7T MR imaging of the kidneys utilising a custom-built 8-channel transmit/receive radiofrequency body coil.

Methods: In vivo unenhanced MR was performed in 8 healthy volunteers on a 7T whole-body MR system. After B(0) shimming the following sequences were obtained: 1) 2D and 3D spoiled gradient-echo sequences (FLASH, VIBE), 2) T1-weighted 2D in and opposed phase 3) True-FISP imaging and 4) a T2-weighted turbo spin echo (TSE) sequence.

The self-reported personal wellbeing of a sample of Australian injecting drug users.

Aims: To examine the self-reported personal wellbeing of a sample of Australian injecting drug users (IDU) using a standardized instrument and determine the key correlates of variations in self-reported personal wellbeing.

Design, Setting And Participants: Cross-sectional survey of 881 Australian IDU.

Measurements: Self-reported personal wellbeing collected using the Personal Wellbeing Index (PWI).

Detection of biliary stenoses in patients after liver transplantation: is there a different diagnostic accuracy of MRCP depending on the type of biliary anastomosis?

Purpose: Two different forms of biliary anastomosis can be created in patients undergoing liver transplantation: (a) bilio-digestive anastomoses or (b) choledocho-choledochostomy. Aim of this study was to assess the accuracy of MR cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) for the depiction of biliary stenoses in liver transplant patients depending on the type of biliary anastomosis.

Method And Materials: 24 liver transplant patients with clinical suspicion of biliary stenosis were studied (each 12 with bilio-digestive anastomosis/choledocho-choledochostomy).

Contextualising psychological distress among regular ecstasy users: the importance of sociodemographic factors and patterns of drug use.

Introduction And Aims: Considerable concern has been raised about associations between ecstasy use and mental health. Studies of ecstasy users typically investigate varying levels of lifetime use of ecstasy, and often fail to account for other drug use and sociodemographic characteristics of participants, which may explain mixed findings. The current study aimed to examine the relationship between patterns of recent (last six months) ecstasy use and psychological distress among current, regular ecstasy users, controlling for sociodemographic risk factors and patterns of other drug use.

Comparison of different MRCP techniques for the depiction of biliary complications after liver transplantation.

Objective: Biliary strictures after liver transplantation are common. We aimed to compare different magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) sequences with regard to their diagnostic accuracy in depicting anastomotic stenoses (AST), ischaemic-type biliary lesions (ITBL) and cholelithiasis.

Methods: In patients with clinically suspected biliary obstruction after liver transplantation, MRCP was performed at 1.

The epidemiology of ecstasy use and harms in Australia.

Aims: This paper examines the epidemiology of ecstasy use and harm in Australia using multiple data sources.

Design: The data included (1) Australian Customs Service 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) detections; (2) the National Drug Strategy Household and Australian Secondary Student Alcohol and Drug Surveys; (3) data from Australia's ecstasy and Related Drugs Reporting System; (4) the number of recorded police incidents for ecstasy possession and distribution collated by the N.S.

Crime, drugs and distress: patterns of drug use and harm among criminally involved injecting drug users in Australia.

Objective: Explore demographic characteristics, patterns of drug use and psychological distress among regular injecting drug users (IDUs) in Australia, as a function of recent criminal activity.

Methods: Structured, face-to-face interviews with 909 regular IDUs recruited from every capital city in Australia, between June and August 2007, as part of the annual Illicit Drug Reporting System (IDRS). Criminal activity in the past month was assessed using the Opiate Treatment Index (OTI); psychological distress was assessed using the Kessler psychological distress scale (K10).

The insidious problem inside: mental health problems of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People in custody.

Objective: Despite recognition of the extremely high rates of mental illness among custodial populations and the fact that Indigenous people represent around one-quarter of Australia's custodial population, little is known about the mental health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in custody. Mental health is an important component of social and emotional wellbeing for Indigenous people and this paper considers current evidence regarding the mental health status of Indigenous Australians in custody.

Method: A systematic review was undertaken of the quantitative literature relating to the mental health problems of Indigenous people in custody in Australia.

Water-equivalent oral contrast agents in dual-modality PET/computed tomography scanning: does a little barium make the difference?

Objective: To retrospectively evaluate the performance of two water-equivalent oral contrast agents [locust bean gum (LBG)-mannitol and VoLumen] concerning their potential to distend the bowel while avoiding contrast-associated artifacts in PET/computed tomography.

Methods: PET/computed tomography examinations of 30 patients with two different oral contrast agents were reviewed. Bowel distension, intraluminal density, and potential contrast-associated artifacts were assessed for stomach, jejunum, and ileum.