Drug injecting and syringe use in the HIV risk environment of Russian penitentiary institutions: Qualitative study.

Background: Evidence highlights the prison as a high risk environment in relation to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) transmission associated with injecting drug use.

Methods: We undertook qualitative studies among 209 injecting drug users (IDUs) in three Russian cities: Moscow (n = 56), Volgograd (n = 83) and Barnaul in western Siberia (n = 70).

Results: Over three-quarters (77%) reported experience of police arrest related to their drug use, and 35% (55% of men) a history of imprisonment or detention.

Exploring barriers to 'respondent driven sampling' in sex worker and drug-injecting sex worker populations in Eastern Europe.

Respondent driven sampling (RDS) has been used in several counties to sample injecting drug users, sex workers (SWs) and men who have sex with men and as a means of collecting behavioural and biological health data. We report on the use of RDS in three separate studies conducted among SWs between 2004 and 2005 in the Russian Federation, Serbia, and Montenegro. Findings suggest that there are limitations associated with the use of RDS in SW populations in these regions.

Methods to recruit hard-to-reach groups: comparing two chain referral sampling methods of recruiting injecting drug users across nine studies in Russia and Estonia.

Evidence suggests rapid diffusion of injecting drug use and associated outbreaks of HIV among injecting drug users (IDUs) in the Russian Federation and Eastern Europe. There remains a need for research among non-treatment and community-recruited samples of IDUs to better estimate the dynamics of HIV transmission and to improve treatment and health services access. We compare two sampling methodologies "respondent-driven sampling" (RDS) and chain referral sampling using "indigenous field workers" (IFS) to investigate the relative effectiveness of RDS to reach more marginal and hard-to-reach groups and perhaps to include those with the riskiest behaviour around HIV transmission.

Improving cleft palate/cleft lip antenatal diagnosis by 3-dimensional sonography: the "flipped face" view.

Objective: Three-dimensional sonography has enhanced the diagnosis of congenital anomalies in the early stages of pregnancy. Both cleft lip and palate remain a diagnostic challenge for the sonographer because of the variable size of the defects as well as their location. Recently, a technique described by Campbell et al (Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol 2003; 22:552-554, 2005; 25:12-18) demonstrated an improved method called the "reverse face" view, which appears to assist in the diagnosis of clefts involving the palate.

High HIV prevalence among injecting drug users in Estonia: implications for understanding the risk environment.

We found a high prevalence of HIV among injecting drug users (IDU) 54% in Tallinn and 90% in Kohtla Jarve, Estonia. Risk factors for HIV in Tallinn included use of the drug 'china white', being registered as an IDU at a drug treatment clinic, and sharing injecting equipment with sex partners. Differences existed in risk behaviour between the cities.

Effects of sex work on the prevalence of syphilis among injection drug users in 3 Russian cities.

Objectives: We examined risk factors for syphilis infection among injection drug users in 3 Russian Federation cities, focusing particular attention on the potential roles of gender and sex work.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional survey of injection drug users in Moscow, Volgograd, and Barnaul, collecting behavioral data and testing for antibodies to Treponema pallidum. Associations between presence of antibodies to T pallidum and covariates were explored.

Prolonged absence of myostatin reduces sarcopenia.

Sarcopenia is a progressive age-related loss of skeletal muscle mass and strength. Parabiotic experiments show that circulating factors positively influence the proliferation and regenerative capacity of satellite cells in aged mice. In addition, we believe that negative regulators of muscle mass also serve to balance the signals that influence satellite cell activation and regeneration capacity with ageing.

Street policing, injecting drug use and harm reduction in a Russian city: a qualitative study of police perspectives.

We undertook a qualitative exploration of police perspectives on injecting drug use and needle and syringe access among injecting drug users (IDUs) in a Russian city which has witnessed explosive spread of HIV associated with drug injecting. Twenty-seven in-depth qualitative interviews were conducted in May 2002 with police officers of varying rank who reported having regular contact with IDUs. All interviews were tape-recorded, transcribed, translated and coded thematically.

Estimating prevalence of injecting drug use: a comparison of multiplier and capture-recapture methods in cities in England and Russia.

We consider the question of what method should be recommended to estimate the prevalence of injecting drug use (IDU); and compare multiplier and capture-recapture (CRC) methods of estimating prevalence of injecting drug use (IDU). The prevalence of injecting drug use in four cities (Brighton, Liverpool, London and Togliatti) was estimated using similar methods: covariate capture-recapture (CRC) and multipliers. The multipliers, generated either from a community recruited survey or historical/literature-based, were applied to a range of 'benchmarks': specialist drug treatment, arrests, accident and emergency department (A&E), syringe exchange, HIV tests and opiate overdose deaths.

Prevalence of HIV, hepatitis C and syphilis among injecting drug users in Russia: a multi-city study.

Objectives: To estimate the prevalence of HIV, hepatitis C virus (HCV) and syphilis in injecting drug users (IDUs) in Russia.

Methods: Unlinked anonymous cross-sectional survey of 1473 IDUs recruited from non-treatment settings in Moscow, Volgograd and Barnaul (Siberia), with oral fluid sample collection for HIV, HCV antibody (anti-HIV, anti-HCV) and syphilis testing.

Results: Prevalence of antibody to HIV was 14% in Moscow, 3% in Volgograd and 9% in Barnaul.

Possibilities for intervention in adolescents' and young adults' depression from a public health perspective.

When considering measures to decrease the burden of disease that is caused by depression, depressive disorders of adolescents and young adults are of increasing interest. The prevalence of depressive disorders in adolescents and young adults is high. The probable increases in prevalence affect predominantly young people and their prognosis is particularly bad.

Medical and orthopaedic conditions in special olympics athletes.

Objective: Many Special Olympics athletes experience hypokinetic diseases and comorbid conditions that may predispose them to serious injuries during physical activity. A clear understanding of these conditions and diseases may assist health care professionals in preventing further distress and managing the injuries sustained by these athletes. Such diseases and conditions include overweight and obesity, diabetes, vision problems, seizure disorders, and Down syndrome, which is often associated with atlantoaxial instability.

Hepatitis C virus infection, HIV co-infection, and associated risk among injecting drug users in Togliatti, Russia.

The objective of this study was to estimate the prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and co-infection with HIV among injecting drug users (IDUs) in Togliatti City, Russia. Unlinked anonymous cross-sectional survey of IDUs recruited from community settings, with oral fluid sample collection for HCV and HIV antibody (anti-HCV, anti-HIV) testing, was carried out. The anti-HCV prevalence was 87% (357/411), anti-HIV prevalence 56% (234/418), and 93% (214/230) of HIV-positive IDUs were co-infected with HCV.

Three- and 4-dimensional ultrasound in obstetrics and gynecology: proceedings of the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine Consensus Conference.

The American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine convened a panel of physicians and scientists with interest and expertise in 3-dimensional (3D) ultrasound in obstetrics and gynecology to discuss the current diagnostic benefits and technical limitations in obstetrics and gynecology and consider the utility and role of this type of imaging in clinical practice now and in the future. This conference was held in Orlando, Florida, June 16 and 17, 2005. Discussions considered state-of-the-art applications of 3D ultrasound, specific clinical situations in which it has been found to be helpful, the role of 3D volume acquisition for improving diagnostic efficiency and patient throughput, and recommendations for future investigations related to the utility of volume sonography in obstetrics and gynecology.

Stability and change in ethnic groups in England and Wales.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) Longitudinal Study (LS) is an exceptional resource for exploring dynamic processes in individuals' lives for a representative sample of the population of England and Wales and across a thirty year period, including how those processes vary by ethnic group. However, analyses tend to assume a certain stability in the meaning of the ethnic group being studied: the insights into ethnic group differentiation are premised on the fact that the group has the same meaning over time. Here we show how the LS allows us to challenge such notions of group stability.

Impact of gender and sex work on sexual and injecting risk behaviors and their association with HIV positivity among injecting drug users in an HIV epidemic in Togliatti City, Russian Federation.

Objectives: Togliatti City is witness to a large epidemic of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) associated with injecting drug use (IDU).

Goal: This study sought to examine whether risk behaviors and risk factors associated with HIV differed across a sample IDUs by gender and sex work.

Study: A sample of IDU (n = 423) comprising female sex workers (SWs) (n = 66), non-sex workers (nonSWs) (n = 89) and men (n = 268) were recruited by field workers in community settings.

First-trimester risk assessment: twin gestations.

Objective: To determine the role of first-trimester screening in multiple gestations.

Materials And Methods: A review of the literature revealed numerous studies in this area. However, most of the studies involved first-trimester singleton pregnancies.

Improved muscle healing through enhanced regeneration and reduced fibrosis in myostatin-null mice.

Numerous stimulatory growth factors that can influence muscle regeneration are known. Recently, it has been demonstrated that neutralization of muscle growth inhibitory factors, such as myostatin (Mstn; also known as growth differentiation factor 8, Gdf8), also leads to increased muscle regeneration in mdx mice that are known to have cycles of degeneration. However, the precise mechanism by which Mstn regulates muscle regeneration has not yet been fully determined.

Fetal Doppler Hypoxic index for the prediction of abnormal fetal heart rate at delivery in chronic fetal distress.

Objective: To design a Doppler Hypoxic index (HI), which takes into account both the duration and the intensity of fetal flow redistribution (i.e. hypoxia) for predicting the occurrence of abnormal fetal heart rate (FHR) at delivery.

An isolated intracardiac echogenic focus as a marker for aneuploidy.

Objective: This study was undertaken to evaluate the relationship of an isolated fetal intracardiac echogenic focus in a population of patients with a mixed risk for aneuploidy when presenting for prenatal diagnosis.

Study Design: All women referred to our institution for screening ultrasound were prospectively evaluated for the presence of an intracardiac echogenic focus in the fetal heart. Each patient was evaluated for the presence of clinical risk factors including ultrasound findings, biochemical screening, and maternal age.

Elevated first-trimester nuchal translucency increases the risk of congenital heart defects.

Objective: We sought to evaluate the association between first trimester nuchal translucency measurement and the risk for major congenital heart defect in chromosomally normal fetuses.

Study Design: First trimester (10 weeks 4 days of gestation to 13 weeks 6 days of gestation) nuchal translucency was obtained in a large prospective multicenter National Institute of Child Health and Human Development study for Down syndrome prediction. The study, which was conducted between May 1998 and December 2000, was restricted to singleton pregnancies.

Late first-trimester placental disruption and subsequent gestational hypertension/preeclampsia.

Objective: To evaluate the potential relationship between placental disruption in weeks 13 and 14 and the subsequent development of gestational hypertension or preeclampsia.

Methods: Using subjects recruited during a randomized trial funded by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, which compared early amniocentesis and late transabdominal chorionic villus sampling (CVS) in weeks 13 and 14, rates of gestational hypertension and preeclampsia were compared between cases with varying degrees of placental disruption.

Results: A total of 3,698 of 3,775 randomized subjects had cytogenetically normal pregnancies and were analyzed.