Aim: To study the seroprevalence of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) amongst a population of injecting drug users and to examine the relationship between potential risk factors and HCV infection.
Methods: A sample of 116 clients attending a methadone treatment clinic in Christchurch took part in this study. Blood samples were analysed to detect antibodies to HCV and to test for HCV RNA: Serum transaminases were also measured. In addition a short questionnaire about sexual behaviour and drug use practices was self completed by all participants in strictest confidence.
Results: Slightly more than half the sample were female (54.3%) and most were of European origin (90.6%). The average age was 31.56 years and the average length of time they had been injecting drugs was 9.54 years. HCV antibodies were detected in 84.2% of the sample and HCV RNA in 66.1% of the sample including 75.9% amongst those who were anti-HCV positive and 16.6% amongst those who were anti-HCV negative. AST and ALT levels were elevated amongst 16.8% and 46.2% of the sample respectively. The likelihood of being anti-HCV positive increased with years of drug use and with increased sharing of injecting equipment. No significant relationship between HCV status and sexual practices was evident. Data on the history of drug using practices indicated that sharing of injecting equipment had become less common over time and access to new equipment through reliable sources had become more common with time.
Conclusions: HCV is widespread amongst this population of injecting drug users suggesting the possibility of a major clinical and social problem. Despite evidence of a reduction in the sharing of injecting equipment, HCV transmission is still occurring indicating the potential for other parenterally transmitted diseases, such as HIV, to become established amongst injecting drug users. Those at high risk of HCV should be discouraged from donating blood because of the possibility of HCV seronegative infectivity.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
|---|
Publication Analysis
Top Keywords
Similar Publications
Preclinical evaluation of zirconium-89 labeled anti-Trop2 antibody-drug conjugate (Trodelvy) for imaging in gastric cancer and triple-negative breast cancer.
Eur J Nucl Med Mol Imaging
January 2025
Departments of Radiology and Medical Physics, University of Wisconsin - Madison, Madison, WI, 53705, USA.
Purpose: Trophoblast cell-surface antigen 2 (Trop2) is overexpressed in various solid tumors and contributes to tumor progression, while its expression remains low in normal tissues. Trop2-targeting antibody-drug conjugate (ADC), sacituzumab govitecan-hziy (Trodelvy), has shown efficacy in targeting this antigen. Leveraging the enhanced specificity of ADCs, we conducted the first immunoPET imaging study of Trop2 expression in gastric cancer (GC) and triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) models using Zr-labeled Trodelvy ([Zr]Zr-DFO-Trodelvy).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFA combination of gold nanoparticles and laser photobiomodulation to boost antioxidant defenses in the recovery of muscle injuries caused by Bothrops jararaca venom.
Lasers Med Sci
January 2025
Laboratory of Pathophysiology Experimental, Postgraduate Program in Health Sciences, Universidade do Extremo Sul Catarinense (UNESC), Criciúma, SC, Brazil.
Unlabelled: This study aimed to evaluate gold nanoparticles (GNPs) and photobiomodulation (PBM), associated with antibothropic serum (AS), to treat a muscle lesion induced by Bothrops jararaca venom.
Methods: 108 Swiss male mice were used, divided into nine groups (n = 12) with different combinations of treatments. Animals were inoculated with 250 µg of B.
Intralesional injection of CpG ODNs complexed with glatiramer acetate mitigates systemic cytokine toxicities and synergistically advances checkpoint blockade efficacy.
Drug Deliv Transl Res
January 2025
Kinimmune, Inc. St. Louis, 63141, Missouri, USA.
PD-L1/PD-1 checkpoint inhibitors (CPIs) are mainstream agents for cancer immunotherapy, but the prognosis is unsatisfactory in solid tumor patients lacking preexisting T-cell reactivity. Adjunct therapy strategies including the intratumoral administration of immunostimulants aim to address this limitation. CpG oligodeoxynucleotides (ODNs), TLR9 agonists that can potentiate adaptive immunity, have been widely investigated to tackle PD-L1/PD-1 resistance, but clinical success has been hindered by inconsistent efficacy and immune-related toxicities caused by systemic exposure.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe effects of prenatal administration of tumor necrosis factor-α on osteocalcin and RANK expression in newborn mice.
J Mol Histol
January 2025
Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
Tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) induces a multitude of actions and consequences in bone and cartilage resorption and immune response augmentation. In this research, we aimed to investigate the effects of TNF-α on osteogenesis parameters in newborn mice. Experimental research was conducted on 42 pregnant mice, dividing into seven groups as follows: control (no injection), vehicle 1 (PBS injection on 7-9th pregnancy days (PD)), vehicle 2 (PBS injection during pregnancy), experimental 1 (injection of 10 ng/kg of TNF-α on 7-9th PD), experimental 2 (injection of 100 ng/kg of TNF-α on 7-9th PD), experimental 3 (injection of 10 ng/kg of TNF-α during pregnancy) and experimental 4 (injection of 100 ng/kg of TNF-α during pregnancy).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEvaluation of the Effect of Virgin Rice Bran Oil (VRBO) on DoxorubicinInduced Cardiotoxicity in Wistar Rats.
Curr Cardiol Rev
January 2025
Department of Nutrition, Société Francophone de Nutrithérapie et de Nutrigénétique Appliquée, Villeurbanne, France.
Objective: The usage of doxorubicin (DOX), an antineoplastic drug that is frequently used for the cure of cancer, is restricted to maximal doses due to its cardiac toxicity. Reactive oxygen species produced by DOX result in lipid peroxidation and organ failure, ultimately resulting in cardiomyopathy. Due to its high polyphenol content, virgin rice bran oil (VRBO) is a diet nutritional supplement with a strong antioxidant.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWant AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?
Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!