Smoking and cessation-related attitudes among men who have sex with men in the country of Georgia.

Among men who have sex with men (MSM) in low- or middle-income countries, smoking and related factors have been understudied. We examined correlates of smoking status, level, and importance and confidence regarding quitting among 608 MSM in the country of Georgia recruited in June-September, 2016 (493 without HIV via peer referral in 3 Georgian cities; 115 with HIV via the National AIDS Center). Median age was 26 years, 78.

How to RESPOND to Modern Challenges for People Living with HIV: A Profile for a New Cohort Consortium.

Background: the International Cohort Consortium of Infectious Disease (RESPOND) is a collaboration dedicated to research on HIV and other infectious diseases.

Methods: RESPOND is a flexible organization, with several independent substudies operating under one shared governance. HIV-related variables, including full antiretroviral therapy (ART) history, are collected annually for all participants and merged with substudy specific data into a shared data pool.

Integration of hepatitis C treatment at harm reduction centers in Georgia-Findings from a patient satisfaction survey.

Background: Georgia launched national HCV elimination program in 2015. PWID may experience barriers to accessing HCV care. To improve linkage to care among PWID, pilot program to integrate HCV treatment with HR services at opiate substitution therapy (OST) centers and needle syringe program (NSP) sites was initiated.

Treatment outcomes of integrase inhibitors, boosted protease inhibitors and nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors in antiretroviral-naïve persons starting treatment.

Objectives: Although outcomes of antiretroviral therapy (ART) have been evaluated in randomized controlled trials, experiences from subpopulations defined by age, CD4 count or viral load (VL) in heterogeneous real-world settings are limited.

Methods: The study design was an international multicohort collaboration. Logistic regression was used to compare virological and immunological outcomes at 12 ± 3 months after starting ART with an integrase strand transfer inhibitor (INSTI), contemporary nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI) or boosted protease inhibitor (PI/b) with two nucleos(t)ides after 1 January 2012.

Screening and linkage to care for hepatitis C among inpatients in Georgia's national hospital screening program.

The country of Georgia initiated an ambitious national hepatitis C elimination program. To facilitate elimination, a national hospital hepatitis C screening program was launched in November 2016, offering all inpatients screening for HCV infection. This analysis assesses the effectiveness of the first year of the screening program to identify HCV-infected persons and link them to care.

HIV care in times of the COVID-19 crisis - Where are we now in Central and Eastern Europe?

Introduction: The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has hit the European region disproportionately. Many HIV clinics share staff and logistics with infectious disease facilities, which are now on the frontline in tackling COVID-19. Therefore, this study investigated the impact of the current pandemic situation on HIV care and continuity of antiretroviral treatment (ART) supplies in CEE countries.

An evaluation of the hepatitis C testing, care and treatment program in the country of Georgia's corrections system, December 2013 - April 2015.

Background: The country of Georgia has a high burden of chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, and prisoners are disproportionately affected. During 2013, a novel program offering no cost screening and treatment of HCV infection for eligible prisoners was launched.

Methods: The HCV treatment program implemented a voluntary opt-in anti-HCV testing policy to all prisoners.

Treatment outcomes of patients with chronic hepatitis C receiving sofosbuvir-based combination therapy within national hepatitis C elimination program in the country of Georgia.

Background: Georgia has one of the highest HCV prevalence in the world and launched the world's first national HCV elimination programs in 2015. Georgia set the ambitious target of diagnosing 90% of people living with HCV, treating 95% of those diagnosed and curing 95% of treated patients by 2020. We report outcomes of Sofosbuvir (SOF) based treatment regimens in patients with chronic HCV infection in Georgia.

Uptake and Discontinuation of Integrase Inhibitors (INSTIs) in a Large Cohort Setting.

Background: Despite increased integrase strand transfer inhibitor (INSTI) use, limited large-scale, real-life data exists on INSTI uptake and discontinuation.

Setting: International multicohort collaboration.

Methods: RESPOND participants starting dolutegravir (DTG), elvitegravir (EVG), or raltegravir (RAL) after January 1, 2012 were included.

Interim effect evaluation of the hepatitis C elimination programme in Georgia: a modelling study.

Background: Georgia has a high prevalence of hepatitis C, with 5·4% of adults chronically infected. On April 28, 2015, Georgia launched a national programme to eliminate hepatitis C by 2020 (90% reduction in prevalence) through scaled-up treatment and prevention interventions. We evaluated the interim effect of the programme and feasibility of achieving the elimination goal.

Progress and challenges of a pioneering hepatitis C elimination program in the country of Georgia.

Background & Aims: Georgia, with a high prevalence of HCV infection, launched the world's first national hepatitis C elimination program in April 2015. A key strategy is the identification, treatment, and cure of the estimated 150,000 HCV-infected people living in the country. We report on progress and key challenges from Georgia's experience.

Three Years of Progress Toward Achieving Hepatitis C Elimination in the Country of Georgia, April 2015-March 2018.

Background: In April 2015, in collaboration with the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Gilead Sciences, the country of Georgia embarked on the world's first hepatitis C elimination program. We aimed to assess progress toward elimination targets 3 years after the start of the elimination program.

Methods: We constructed a hepatitis C virus (HCV) care cascade for adults in Georgia, based on the estimated 150 000 persons aged ≥18 years with active HCV infection.

Epidemiological characteristics and access to end-stage liver disease care for HIV-positive patients with HCV and/or HBV coinfections in Central/Eastern European and neighboring countries – data from the ECEE network.

Objectives: There is currently an urgent need to harmonize hepatitis standards of care for HIV-positive patients across Europe. The HIV epidemic in Central and Eastern Europe has often been driven by injecting drug use, therefore a higher rate of co-infection with HCV and HBV is expected in this region. We have investigated the epidemiological prevalence and treatment availability for end-stage liver disease in HIV/HCV/HBV coinfections in countries represented in the ECEE Network Group.

CHARACTERISTICS OF DIARRHEAL DISEASE COMPLICATED WITH HEMOLYTIC UREMIC SYNDROME AMONG CHILDREN IN GEORGIA, 2009-2016.

Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) causes illness ranging from mild diarrhea to bloody diarrhea, to the hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), which manifests with a triad of microangiopathic hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia and acute renal failure. Surveillance of HUS and bloody diarrhea is not performed in Georgia. The primary objective of our study was to determine the annual incidence of diarrheal diseases.

Incarceration history and risk of HIV and hepatitis C virus acquisition among people who inject drugs: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: People who inject drugs (PWID) experience a high prevalence of incarceration and might be at high risk of HIV and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection during or after incarceration. We aimed to assess whether incarceration history elevates HIV or HCV acquisition risk among PWID.

Methods: In this systematic review and meta-analysis, we searched MEDLINE, Embase, and PsycINFO databases for studies in any language published from Jan 1, 2000 until June 13, 2017 assessing HIV or HCV incidence among PWID.

Safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetics of AL-335 in healthy volunteers and hepatitis C virus-infected subjects.

Background: The nucleotide analog AL-335 is a pangenotypic hepatitis C virus (HCV) nonstructural protein (NS)5B inhibitor being evaluated as treatment for chronic HCV infection.

Methods: This three-part randomized, double-blind study evaluated the safety and pharmacokinetics of single and multiple ascending oral doses of AL-335. Healthy volunteers (HVs) received single doses of AL-335 (100-1,200 mg) or placebo in a fasted or fed (400 mg) state.

Uptake of hepatitis C virus treatment in HIV/hepatitis C virus-coinfected patients across Europe in the era of direct-acting antivirals.

Background And Aims: To investigate the uptake of hepatitis C virus (HCV) therapy among HIV/HCV-coinfected patients in the pan-European EuroSIDA study between 2011 and 2016.

Methods: All HCV-RNA+ patients were included. Baseline was defined as latest of anti-HCV+, January 2011 or enrolment in EuroSIDA.

Epidemiology of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) drug resistance in HIV patients with virologic failure of first-line therapy in the country of Georgia.

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) drug resistance is a major threat to the sustained impact of antiretroviral therapy (ART). We studied the epidemiology of drug resistance in the country of Georgia. The study included all adult patients who experienced virologic failure on first line ART and received HIV drug resistance testing between 2005 and 2016.

The Attitudes, Needs, and Requirements at End of Life in the Republic of Georgia (Comparative Analysis of Groups of Patients With Cancer and Elders).

Introduction: In developing a model of palliative care, the attitudes, needs, and requirements of its beneficiaries recognizing the limited remaining life expectancy need to be met. We aimed to map and compare these issues at the end of life in the groups of patients with advanced cancer and elderly individuals.

Materials And Methods: The prospective study based on the analysis of semistructured interviews was conducted.

Persistent disparities in antiretroviral treatment (ART) coverage and virological suppression across Europe, 2004 to 2015.

Background: Direct comparisons between countries in core HIV care parameters are often hampered by differences in data collection.

Aim: Within the EuroSIDA study, we compared levels of antiretroviral treatment (ART) coverage and virological suppression (HIV RNA < 500 copies/mL) across Europe and explored temporal trends.

Methods: In three cross-sectional analyses in 2004-05, 2009-10 and 2014-15, we assessed country-specific percentages of ART coverage and virological suppression among those on ART.

Linkage and retention in HCV care for HIV-infected populations: early data from the DAA era.

Introduction: There is currently no published data on the effectiveness of DAA treatment for elimination of HCV infection in HIV-infected populations at a population level. However, a number of relevant studies and initiatives are emerging. This research aims to report cascade of care data for emerging HCV elimination initiatives and studies that are currently being evaluated in HIV/HCV co-infected populations in the context of implementation science theory.

ASSESSMENT OF THE LEVEL OF KNOWLEDGE OF MEDICAL PERSONNEL IN DIARRHEA AND HEMOLYTIC-UREMIC SYNDROME.

Survey have been conducted among medical professionals to test knowledge level of HUS and diarrheal diseases and to identify predictor variables for better knowledge. Cross-sectional survey have been conducted among medical personnel at different clinics in Tbilisi and in regions of Georgia. Participants were selected from different clinics in Tbilisi and in three biggest regional cities (Zugdidi, Batumi and Kutaisi) of Georgia.

Availability of hepatitis C diagnostics and therapeutics in European and Eurasia countries.

Background: Treatment with direct acting antiviral agents (DAAs) has provided sustained virological response rates in >95% of patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. However treatment is costly and market access, reimbursement and governmental restrictions differ among countries. We aimed to analyze these differences among European and Eurasian countries.