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Query: UMLS:C0019693 (HIV)
 170,526 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

In December 2002, the author conducted a comprehensive review of indicators of use of illicit substances in the San Francisco Bay Area. Cocaine use prevalence appears to be rising again, after a significant decline in the late 1990s. The shift away from smoking crack and toward snorting powder cocaine persists. The former predominance of Blacks among users continues to ebb. Heroin use indicators consistently show a peak in 1999, followed by a significant decline. The average age of users keeps increasing. Local street prices of heroin have risen considerably since 2001. Marijuana indicators suggest a continued increase in prevalence. Methamphetamine indicators are mixed. Usage is still widespread, and risky injection practices among gay/bisexual men remain a major factor for HIV incidence. Incidence of new HIV infection declined between 1997 and 2001 for heterosexual drug injectors, but increased for gay male and transsexual injectors.
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PMID:Patterns and trends of drug use in the San Francisco Bay Area. 1282 55

HIV-1 infection of the brain can lead to the development of clinical syndromes reminiscent of Parkinson's disease, suggesting that HIV infection may damage nigrostriatal dopamine (DA) neurons. Although the responsible mechanisms have not been well defined, neurotoxic viral proteins, such as Tat, released from infected cells may be involved. Drug abuse is a major risk factor for contracting HIV infection. Methamphetamine (METH), a psychostimulant with high abuse potential, may also be toxic to brain DA neurons. Thus, the combination of METH abuse and HIV infection may lead to substantial alterations in DA neuron functioning. The present experiments examined how Tat, alone and with METH, affects DA release in the striatum. Male rats were given an intrastriatal injection of Tat (25 micro g) or vehicle 24 h before treatment with saline or neurotoxic doses of METH. Seven days later microdialysis studies were carried out to measure potassium- and amphetamine-evoked overflow of DA from the striatum. The Tat treatment alone led to no change in potassium-evoked overflow of DA, a 20% decrease in amphetamine-evoked overflow of DA, and a 16% decrease in striatal DA content. The METH alone led to a 37-42% decrease in striatal DA overflow and content. The combined treatment with Tat and METH led to significantly greater 70-78% decreases in striatal DA overflow and content. These results indicate that Tat enhances METH-induced reductions in striatal DA release and content, possibly in a synergistic manner, and suggest that METH abusers infected with HIV may be at increased risk for basal ganglia dysfunction.
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PMID:HIV-1 protein Tat potentiation of methamphetamine-induced decreases in evoked overflow of dopamine in the striatum of the rat. 1293 47

The stability of human immunodeficiency virus, type 1 (HIV-1), strain IIIB, was studied in liquid preparations of homemade drugs. The "Vint" preparation (containing Methamphetamine and obtained from Ephedrine) as well as "Khanka" (a liquid surrogate opiate made from poppy straw) were analyzed within the case study. HIV-1/IIIB was shown to maintain its infectious activity in "Khanka" at room temperature for least 7 days. The HIV-1 activity in neutralized "Vint" did not essentially change after a 30-minute incubation at pH 7.0. While an incubation in the acid "Vint" solution entailed a more rapidly decreasing activity. However, the virus infection ability preserved during the entire time period, during which the drug was fit for injections, i.e. for 30 minutes at room temperature or for 20 hours at 4 degrees C. Therefore, the infection virus could well preserve in the "Khanka" and "Vint" solutions after its entry, with infected blood, of large volumes of the discussed drugs. The mentioned big volumes of HIV-1 contaminated drugs, shared later into ready-to-use portions, could be the cause for HIV-1 dissemination among those who practice the parenteral administration of these substances. Besides, "Khanka" was shown to have little or no effect on the virus replication to cell culture MT-4. Its presence brought about an insignificant 1.5-fold increase in the viral stock (observed on days 2 and 3 after contamination) only when 2 x 10(5) MT-4 cells per ml and HIV-1/IIIB TCID 50 0.005 were used.
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PMID:[Effect of home-made narcotics on infectious activity of HIV-1]. 1470 26

The use of the recreational drug crystal methamphetamine among younger homosexual men is expanding, and with it, unsafe sex behaviors that increase the transmission of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). This article reviews available literature on the medical and psychiatric morbidities associated with methamphetamine abuse in HIV-infected patients. Medical complications include hypertension, hyperthermia, rhabdoymyolysis, and stroke. One fatal case of ingestion of methamphetamine with HIV medication has been documented. Two fatal cases of ingestion of HIV medication with the amphetamine analogue n-methyl-3,4 methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, or "ecstasy") have also been reported. Some molecular researchers suggest that dopaminergic systems are vulnerable to the combined neurotoxicity of HIV infection and methamphetamine. Population surveys indicate high rates of HIV infection among methamphetamine abusers and high rates of unprotected anal intercourse during drug intoxication. Intoxication can sometimes produce paranoia, auditory hallucinations, and, occasionally, violent behavior. Amphetamine withdrawal commonly results in symptoms of depression. Methamphetamine is a new challenge related to treatment and prevention of HIV infection.
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PMID:Crystal methamphetamine, its analogues, and HIV infection: medical and psychiatric aspects of a new epidemic. 1499 36

Methamphetamine is widely used among gay and bisexual men in the West Coast of the United States, and is often used in combination with high-risk sexual activities. This study combined quantitative and qualitative research methodologies to examine sexual risk behaviors among gay and bisexual male methamphetamine abusers as they entered treatment and at 1-year follow-up evaluations. Findings from the quantitative follow-up data demonstrate that gay and bisexual men reduce sexual risk behaviors and sustain those reductions following substance abuse treatment, and qualitative data reveal the meaning of these behavior changes from the perspective of the participant. At 1-year evaluations, associated behaviors of methamphetamine use and sexual risk behaviors were lessened. Although condom use decreased slightly, participants reported fewer anonymous sexual partners, reductions in episodes of both receptive and insertive anal intercourse, and an increased sense of responsibility to disclose their HIV status. This study further demonstrates the value of coupling quantitative with qualitative data in understanding the meanings behind reductions in high-risk behaviors.
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PMID:Changes in the meaning of sexual risk behaviors among gay and bisexual male methamphetamine abusers before and after drug treatment. 1514 36

Methamphetamine use has become a major problem among communities of men having sex with men (MSM), where it has been associated with high-risk behaviors. Methamphetamine is often combined with other drugs that may increase its risks and adverse health consequences. To examine differences in background characteristics, HIVrisk behaviors, and psychosocial variables among polydrug-using HIV-positive MSM, the researchers classified a sample of 261 HIV-positive, methamphetamine-using MSM into three user groups: (1) methamphetamine only; (2) methamphetamine, marijuana, and poppers (light polydrug users); and (3) methamphetamine and other drugs (e.g., cocaine, heroin, hallucinogens, and ketamine; heavy polydrug users). Only 5% reported using only methamphetamine during the past 2 months; 31% were classified as light polydrug users, and 64% were classified as heavy polydrug users. Heavy polydrug users were significantly younger than light polydrug users (35.6 vs. 38.4, P<.01) and reported using methamphetamine for significantly fewer years (10.3 vs. 14.2 years, P<.001), but did not differ in the amount and frequency of methamphetamine or alcohol consumed. Heavy polydrug users reported significantly more sex partners of HIV-negative and unknown serostatus and had more unprotected sex with these partners. Heavy polydrug users had significantly higher scores on impulsivity and negative self-perceptions, as compared with those of light polydrug users. In this sample of HIV-positive MSM, most of those who used methamphetamine had a pattern of polydrug use. Heavy polydrug users reported significantly more high-risk sexual behaviors and tended toward higher levels of impulsivity than light polydrug users. The implications of these findings are two-fold: (1) Longitudinal research is needed to establish causal relationships among methamphetamine use, impulsivity, negative self-perceptions, and sexual risk behavior in this target population; (2) behavioral interventions should evaluate whether methamphetamine use and sexual risk behavior can be reduced by modifying impulsivity and negative self-perceptions.
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PMID:Methamphetamine-using HIV-positive men who have sex with men: correlates of polydrug use. 1573 13

Methamphetamine abusers often complain of feelings of depression that can complicate accurately diagnosing these individuals during treatments for methamphetamine abuse. This article presents an examination of temporal associations between documented methamphetamine use and reported ratings of depression among 162 gay and bisexual male methamphetamine abusers who participated in a 16-week randomized clinical trial of four behavioral therapies for methamphetamine abuse. Methamphetamine use was measured using thrice-weekly urine samples analyzed for drug metabolite. Self-reported depressive symptoms were collected weekly using the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). At treatment entry, 73.2% of participants rated their depressive symptoms as mild or higher in severity (BDI>or=10), with 28.5% reporting BDI scores in the moderate to severe range (BDI>or=19). All participants reported significant decreases in depressive symptoms from baseline through the end of treatment, regardless of treatment condition, HIV status, or mood disorder diagnosis. A mixed regression model showed methamphetamine use for up to 5 days prior to the BDI score strongly predicted depressive symptoms (F1, 968=18.6, P<.0001), while BDI scores had no significant association with subsequent methamphetamine use. Findings show that behavioral methamphetamine abuse treatment yields reductions in methamphetamine use and concomitant depressive symptom ratings that are sustained to 1 year after treatment entry.
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PMID:Sustained reductions in drug use and depression symptoms from treatment for drug abuse in methamphetamine-dependent gay and bisexual men. 1573 15

Methamphetamine causes long-term toxicity to dopamine nerve endings of the striatum. Evidence is emerging that microglia can contribute to the neuronal damage associated with disease, injury, or inflammation, but their role in methamphetamine-induced neurotoxicity has received relatively little attention. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and the neurotoxic HIV Tat protein, which cause dopamine neuronal toxicity after direct infusion into brain, cause activation of cultured mouse microglial cells as evidenced by increased expression of intracellular cyclooxygenase-2 and elevated secretion of tumor necrosis factor-alpha. MK-801, a non-competitive NMDA receptor antagonist that is known to protect against methamphetamine neurotoxicity, prevents microglial activation by LPS and HIV Tat. Dextromethorphan, an antitussive agent with NMDA receptor blocking properties, also prevents microglial activation. In vivo, MK-801 and dextromethorphan reduce methamphetamine-induced activation of microglia in striatum and they protect dopamine nerve endings against drug-induced nerve terminal damage. The present results indicate that the ability of MK-801 and dextromethorphan to protect against methamphetamine neurotoxicity is related to their common property as blockers of microglial activation.
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PMID:MK-801 and dextromethorphan block microglial activation and protect against methamphetamine-induced neurotoxicity. 1598 31

The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between methamphetamine (meth) use and impulsivity in a sample of 385 HIV-negative heterosexually identified meth users. Participants who scored highest on a self-report measure of impulsivity were compared with those who scored lower in terms of background characteristics, meth use patterns, use of alcohol and other illicit drugs, sexual risk behavior, and psychiatric health variables. Methamphetamine users in the high impulsivity group were younger, less educated, used larger quantities of meth, were more likely to be binge users, had a larger number of sexual partners, engaged in more unprotected vaginal and oral sex, and scored higher on the Beck Depression Inventory as compared with those in the low impulsivity group. In a logistic regression analysis, Beck depression was the factor that best distinguished between meth users who scored high and those who scored low on impulsivity. Neurophysiological pathways that may underlie the relationship between impulsivity and meth use are discussed.
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PMID:Impulsivity and methamphetamine use. 1613 37

Methamphetamine and related amphetamine compounds are among the most commonly used illicit drugs, with over 35 million users worldwide. In the United States, admissions for methamphetamine treatment have increased dramatically over the past 10 years. Methamphetamine use is prevalent among persons with HIV infection and persons at risk for HIV, particularly among men who have sex with men. In addition to being associated with increased sexual risk behavior, methamphetamine causes significant medical morbidity, including neurologic deficits, cardiovascular compromise, dental decay, and skin infections, all of which may be worsened in the presence of HIV/AIDS. Methamphetamine use may also result in decreased medication adherence, particularly during "binging" episodes. Behavioral counseling remains the standard of treatment for methamphetamine dependence, although the effectiveness of most counseling interventions has not been rigorously tested. Pharmacologic and structural interventions may prove valuable additional interventions to reduce methamphetamine use.
Curr HIV/AIDS Rep 2005 Nov
PMID:The methamphetamine epidemic: implications for HIV prevention and treatment. 1634 78


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