Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0019163 (hepatitis B)
 38,309 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Concerns about the risks of HIV infection among drug injectors have eclipsed concerns about the prevalence and transmission of hepatitis, and in particular hepatitis B virus infection. Findings are reported from surveys undertaken with two separate community-recruited samples of drug injectors in London collected in 1992 (n = 505) and in 1993 (n = 507). Anonymized confirmed testing of saliva shows 51.5% of drug injectors in 1992 and 47.9% in 1993 to be antibody positive to the core antigen of hepatitis B virus (anti-HBc). Approximately half of the drug injectors confirmed as anti-HBc positive were unaware that they had been infected with hepatitis. Anti-HIV-1 prevalence was considerably lower at 7.0% in 1992 and 6.9% in 1993. Multivariate analyses showed anti-HBc positivity to be most likely among older injectors with longer injecting careers who had a history of having shared used needles and syringes. HIV-1 positivity was also associated with a history of having shared injecting equipment as well as with recent sharing (i.e. in the last 6 months). Unlike anti-HBc positivity, there were no associations between HIV-1 positivity and age or length of injecting career. Younger injectors with shorter injecting careers were more likely to report recent sharing of used injecting equipment than older injectors with longer injecting careers. We note the potential for continued transmission of HBV and HIV-1, particularly among younger injectors. We recommend an integrated strategy to maximize the health of drug injectors, of which HIV and HBV prevention is a part. There is a need to widen the availability of HBV vaccinations for HBV negative drug injectors and their sexual partners and for clear guidelines to drug injectors about the relative efficacy of bleach to disinfect injecting equipment of HBV and HIV.
Addiction 1996 Oct
PMID:Prevalence of markers for hepatitis B virus and HIV-1 among drug injectors in London: injecting careers, positivity and risk behaviour. 891 14

Increasing our knowledge about the major addictive diseases, opiate and cocaine addiction and alcoholism, is of great importance from a public, as well as personal health perspective. Each disease is associated with profound and negative impacts on physical and mental health and also each has devastating social and economic consequences. Each of these addictive diseases has been associated with major infectious diseases including AIDS, hepatitis B, C, D and G, either through parenteral or sexual transmission. Since 1967, we have addressed the research question related to our early hypotheses on the development of an addiction, that atypical responsitivity to stress and stressors may play a central role in the acquisition and persistence of, and relapse to, drug abuse. We have been conducting studies both in humans and in animal models focused on the role of disruption of the stress responsive hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis in opiate addiction, cocaine dependency and alcoholism. We also have conducted studies of the role of the endogenous opioid system in modulation of this axis, as well as the interaction of the endogenous opioid system with the dopaminergic system and other neurotransmitter and neuropeptides related to the reinforcing effects of drugs of abuse.
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PMID:Opiates, opioids and addiction. 911 48

Harm reduction strategies for the prevention of transmission of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) transmission among injecting drug users (IDUs) have been widely implemented in Australia and are seen to have been effective in preventing the spread of HIV. A major strategy has been increasing the availability of and accessibility to methadone maintenance therapy (MMT) programmes. We have reviewed the experience of a major MMT general practice with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection from 1991 to 1995. Of 1741 individuals tested for HCV antibodies at least once 66.7% were positive. Of 73 IDUs who were initially seronegative and were retested at least once, 19 were subsequently seropositive. Seroconverters to HCV were younger than non-seroconverters, and were more likely to have evidence of previous hepatitis B infection. The overall HCV incidence rate was 22 cases per 100 person-years, and this did not differ between those on MMT programs (continuous or interrupted) between HCV tests and those not on MMT. These findings suggest that the role of MMT in the control of the spread of HCV infection among IDUs needs further assessment, and that control of the current epidemic of HCV infection among IDUs in Australia will be very difficult.
Addiction 1997 Aug
PMID:Methadone maintenance and hepatitis C virus infection among injecting drug users. 937 82

A comprehensive study of an urban methadone clinic with supervised urine analyses for illicit drugs was conducted over an 18 month period for a 133 patient cohort as they entered or remained in methadone maintenance for narcotic addiction. Overall retention during the study was 85%, with significantly (p < .05) higher daily methadone doses (mean 67.1 mg +/- 2.1) in those patients still in treatment at the end of the study. Predictably, illicit opioid use was dramatically reduced, to 10% as measured by urine toxicology in the last month of treatment. Moreover, significantly more patients stopped regular cocaine abuse (69%) than started using cocaine (10%, Fisher's exact test, p = .02). Thus, with effective methadone maintenance using adequate dosages, the majority of patients remain in treatment and reduce cocaine abuse as well as illicit opioid use, with implications for public health by reducing the spread of infectious diseases including hepatitis B, C, D and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1).
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PMID:Cocaine abuse sharply reduced in an effective methadone maintenance program. 1063 64

This cross-sectional study investigated the prevalence and risk factors of hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections among 266 drug users attending a drug-addiction treatment centre in Dhaka, Bangladesh, from November 1996 to April 1997. Of the 266 addicts, 129 were injectable drug users (IDUs), and 137 were non-injectable drug users (non-IDUs). The seroprevalences of hepatitis B virus surface antigen (HBsAg), anti-HBc, anti-HBs, and anti-HCV antibodies among the IDUs were 8 (6.2%), 41 (31.8%), 15 (11.6%), and 32 (24.8%), and among the non-IDUs were 6 (4.4%), 33 (24.1%), 9 (6.6%), and 8 (5.8%) respectively. None of the drug users were positive for anti-HIV antibody. Although the prevalence of HBV infection did not significantly differ between the IDUs and the non-IDUs, the prevalence of HCV infection was significantly higher among the IDUs. Among the IDUs, the prevalence of both HBV and HCV infections was associated with sharing of needles and longer duration of injectable drugs used. The seroprevalence of HBV infection in both IDUs and non-IDUs was significantly higher among those who had a history of extramarital and premarital sex. The prevalence of HCV infection was not associated with sexual promiscuity. There was no association between the seroprevalence of HBV and HCV infections and age. Active preventive programmes focusing on educational campaigns among the youths against substance abuse should be undertaken.
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PMID:Prevalence and risk factors of hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus, and human immunodeficiency virus infections among drug addicts in Bangladesh. 1126 67

Injection drug use is associated with high risk for transmission of bloodborne infections, including human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis B and C. Since 1993, the proportion of persons admitted to New Jersey addiction treatment centers for illicit drug use who reported injecting drugs has increased, reversing a decline that began in approximately 1980 (1; Community EpidemiologyWork Group, unpublished data, 2000). This report summarizes an analysis of trends in injection drug use among persons admitted to New Jersey addiction treatment programs during 1992-1999; the findings suggest substantial increases in injection use among young adult heroin users throughout the state and an increase in heroin use among young adults who reside in suburban and rural New Jersey.
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PMID:Trends in injection drug use among persons entering addiction treatment--New Jersey, 1992-1999. 1146 5

Prison populations throughout the Unites States are growing; the 1990s saw an average 6.5% per year increase. Average inmate age is increasing, as are both the number and rate of inmate deaths. Aging inmates experience health concerns typical of the general, free, aging population. Inmates have higher incidence of health complications associated with various circumstances, risk behaviors, and associated medical conditions. These circumstances include prison violence, incarceration-related constraints on exercise, and diet. Inmates are more likely to have a history of alcohol abuse, substance abuse or addiction and sex industry work. Risk-behavior conditions include human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immune deficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS), hepatitis B and C, liver disease, tuberculosis, endocarditis, and cardiomyopathy. Hospice is increasingly the preferred response to the health and care needs of terminally ill inmates. Implementing hospice behind bars has some unique challenges in addition to those inherent in hospice work. This series will provide an in-depth look at four hospice programs for inmates in the United States.
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PMID:Hospice care for the incarcerated in the United States: an introduction. 1224 79

Journal publications and conference presentations on prison-based syringe exchange (PSE) programmes were identified by a comprehensive search of electronic databases. Experts involved with development and evaluation of current PSE programmes or policy were contacted for reports, documents and unpublished material. Spanish information on PSE was translated for this review. We identified 14 papers specifically on PSE programmes in Switzerland (six papers), Germany (four) and Spain (four). The first PSE programme started in 1992 in Switzerland. As of December 2000, seven PSEs were operating in Switzerland, seven in Germany and five in Spain. There have been six evaluations of prison syringe exchange programmes and all have been favourable. Reports of drug use decreased or remained stable over time. Reports of syringe sharing declined dramatically. No new cases of HIV, hepatitis B or hepatitis C transmission were reported. The evaluations found no reports of serious unintended negative events, such as initiation of injection or of the use of needles as weapons. Staff attitudes were generally positive but response rates to these surveys varied. Overall, this review indicated that prison syringe exchange programmes are feasible and do provide benefit in the reduction of risk behaviour and the transmission of blood-borne infection without any unintended negative consequences.
Addiction 2003 Feb
PMID:Prison-based syringe exchange programmes: a review of international research and development. 1253 19

This study identified the impact of heroin compared to other drugs of abuse on the social, nutritional and health status of addicts, and assessed their response to detoxification. A total of 243 heroin addicts and 66 non-heroin addicts were included in the study. Heroin and non-heroin addiction had similar impact on social and nutritional status, but heroin addicts were seven times more likely to develop hepatitis B or C infection. Non-heroin addicts were more prone to develop depressed cellular immunity. The number of relapses was twice as high for heroin addicts who experienced more unpleasant symptoms during therapy. Active interventions to prevent and control addiction are needed regardless of the type of drug abused.
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PMID:Social status, health status and therapy response in heroin addicts. 1269 Jul 68

The study assessed rates and predictor variables of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection among drug users receiving pharmacological treatment for opiates addiction. There was a large cohort study in 16 public centres for drug users in north-eastern Italy, with data collected by standardized face-to-face interviews between February 2001 and August 2001. Of 1095 participants, 74.2% were HCV seropositive. Anti-HCV status was independently associated with duration of drug use of over 10 years, injecting as a route of drug administration, and hepatitis B virus (HBV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) seropositivity. Further statistical analysis was conducted by dividing the subjects on the basis of the duration of heroin use: more or <10 years. In the multivariate analyses, route of drug administration and HBV status were associated with HCV seropositivity among both groups. Less education was associated with HCV among the shorter term drug users. HIV status and having a sexual partner with a history of drug use were associated with HCV seropositivity among the longer term drug users. Half of the short-term heroin users were still HCV seronegative when starting treatment, suggesting opportunities for reducing new HCV infections. Remarkable was the relationship between vaccination for hepatitis B and HCV serostatus. Being HBV seropositive was strongly associated with being HCV seropositive. But heroin users who had been vaccinated for HBV were not significantly more likely to be HCV seropositive than heroin users who were HBV seronegative. HBV vaccination does not provide biological protection against HCV; however, vaccinating heroin users against HBV may help to create a stronger pro-health attitude among heroin users, leading to a reduction in HCV risk behaviour.
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PMID:Hepatitis C virus infection: prevalence, predictor variables and prevention opportunities among drug users in Italy. 1296 92


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