Developing effective HIV education in Central Asia: a cross-sectional study among Kazakh medical students.

Introduction: The HIV epidemic continues to expand in Central Asia, bridging from injecting drug users to the general population, largely through heterosexual transmission. This study describes medical students' attitudes and behaviours regarding HIV and sexual practices in response to recently introduced HIV curriculum.

Methodology: Medical students in Almaty, Kazakhstan, were invited to participate in a cross-sectional survey between April and November, 2013.

Relationship between vitamin D and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) viral load among HIV-infected patients in Kazakhstan.

Introduction: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is associated with inflammation. An association between vitamin D deficiency and inflammation also exists. Our study attempts to examine whether there may be a relationship between vitamin D and HIV viral load (HIV RNA) by: 1) characterizing the distribution of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OHD), and 2) determining if 25-OHD is independently associated with HIV RNA.

Universal precautions in Central Asia: the need for multiple strategies in this window of opportunity.

Background: Adoption of universal precautions remains a global concern. In low- and middle-income countries, the problem is exacerbated by a shortage of protective supplies, lack of training among clinicians, and an expanding human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) epidemic.

Aim: To describe the perceptions of medical students about the risk of HIV and use of universal precautions, and to identify recent exposures to blood or bodily fluids.

Genetic characterization of HIV-1 strains circulating in Kazakhstan.

To determine the HIV-1 genetic diversity in Kazakhstan, 85 blood samples from HIV-seropositive donors were collected between 2001 and 2003. The study population consisted of 91.8% injecting drug users (IDUs); the remainder was infected sexually or iatrogenically.