Psychological features of abstinent heroin users before and after rehabilitation in Saint Petersburg, Russia.

Objective: The objective of the study was to describe psychological features of abstinent heroin users undergoing rehabilitation in Saint Petersburg, Russia. Study subjects (n = 197) were recruited prospectively at the time of their admission to rehabilitation between March 2010 and May 2011 at 7 inpatient opiate addiction rehabilitation centers in Saint-Petersburg and neighboring regions, Russia. The centers provided varying rehabilitation programs; 6 of them were religious centers.

Russian nursing students' knowledge level and attitudes in the context of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) - a descriptive study.

Background: The purpose of this study was to describe the knowledge of Russian nursing students regarding HIV and Acquired Immuno-Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS), and their attitudes towards caring for people/patients living with HIV or AIDS (PLWHA - People Living With HIV/AIDS) and their possible homophobic attitudes. The HIV epidemic in Russia is substantial and increasing rapidly. Hence this study provides important new information regarding this phenomenon.

Genetic diversity of Dirofilaria spp. isolated from subcutaneous and ocular lesions of human patients in Ukraine.

This short communication describes the phylogenetic analysis of 48 Dirofilaria worms isolated from human patients in Ukraine. 102 cases were both of subcutaneous (47; 46.1%) and ocular (54; 52.

Gender disparities in HIV risk behavior and access to health care in St. Petersburg, Russia.

Over 40,000 HIV-infected individuals live in St Petersburg, Russia. Population characteristics and barriers to care are largely undefined. 152 consecutive patients receiving HIV care at two sites completed a questionnaire in Spring 2011.