Glutamatergic and GABAergic susceptibility loci for heroin and cocaine addiction in subjects of African and European ancestry.

Background: Drug addiction, a leading health problem, is a chronic brain disease with a significant genetic component. Animal models and clinical studies established the involvement of glutamate and GABA neurotransmission in drug addiction. This study was designed to assess if 258 variants in 27 genes of these systems contribute to the vulnerability to develop drug addiction.

Stress-related genes and heroin addiction: a role for a functional FKBP5 haplotype.

Background: Stress is a critical risk factor affecting both the development of and the relapse to drug addictions. Drug addictions are caused by genetic, environmental and drug-induced factors. The objective of this hypothesis-driven association study was to determine if genetic variants in stress-related genes are associated with heroin addiction.

Knowledge, attitudes and barriers regarding vaccination against hepatitis A and B in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection: a survey of family medicine and internal medicine physicians in the United States.

Background: Although vaccination against hepatitis A virus (HAV) and hepatitis B virus (HBV) is recommended for all patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, physician vaccination practices are suboptimal. Since training for family medicine (FM) and internal medicine (IM) physicians differ, we hypothesised that there are differences in knowledge, attitudes and barriers regarding vaccination against HAV and HBV in patients with chronic HCV between these two groups.

Methods: A two-page questionnaire was mailed to 3000 primary care (FM and IM) physicians randomly selected from the AMA Physician Masterfile in 2005.

National multicenter study of HIV testing and HIV seropositivity in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection.

Background: Although HIV testing is recommended for persons with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection who are at risk for HIV, little is known about HIV testing in this population.

Methods: Data were prospectively collected in 4364 HCV-infected patients at 24 Veterans Affairs medical centers across the United States, including demographics, risk factors for HIV infection, and self-reported information on HIV testing.

Results: Overall, 76.

Sustained virological response rates and health-related quality of life after interferon and ribavirin therapy in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection and persistently normal alanine aminotransferase levels.

Background: Few studies have evaluated interferon and ribavirin therapy in hepatitis C virus-infected patients with persistently normal alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels.

Aim: To determine the efficacy and safety of combination therapy in this population, and to evaluate the impact of treatment on health-related quality of life.

Methods: Forty-six hepatitis C virus-infected patients with persistently normal ALT levels and 92 matched subjects with elevated ALT levels were treated with interferon-alpha2b plus ribavirin for up to 48 weeks.

Susceptibility to hepatitis A in patients with chronic liver disease due to hepatitis C virus infection: missed opportunities for vaccination.

Hepatitis A virus (HAV) superinfection is associated with a high risk of liver failure and death in patients with underlying chronic liver disease. Although HAV vaccination is recommended for all patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, little is known about adherence to these recommendations in clinical practice. The aims of this study were to determine the frequency of HAV testing and vaccination among patients with chronic HCV infection.

Colorectal cancer screening in HIV-infected patients 50 years of age and older: missed opportunities for prevention.

Objectives: Although human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients are now living longer, there are no published data on colorectal cancer (CRC) screening in this population. We hypothesized that HIV-infected patients were less likely to be screened for CRC compared to patients without HIV.

Methods: Consecutive HIV-infected patients > or =50 yr old seen in our outpatient clinic from 1/1/01 to 6/30/02 were identified.

Prospective multicenter study of eligibility for antiviral therapy among 4,084 U.S. veterans with chronic hepatitis C virus infection.

Background: Many veterans may not be candidates for hepatitis C virus (HCV) treatment due to contraindications to therapy. The aims of this study were to determine the proportion of HCV-infected veterans who were eligible for interferon alfa and ribavirin therapy and to evaluate barriers to HCV treatment.

Methods: We prospectively enrolled 4,084 veterans who were referred for HCV treatment over a 1-yr period at 24 Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Centers.

Prevalence of gallbladder disease among persons with hepatitis C virus infection in the United States.

Although cirrhosis is a known risk factor for gallstones, little is known about gallbladder disease (GBD) in individuals with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. We determined the association between chronic HCV infection and GBD in a representative sample of adults in the United States. Data on HCV infection and GBD were available for 13,465 persons 20 to 74 years of age who participated in the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.