Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0021051 (immunodeficiency)
 71,517 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Prevalence and determinants for human immunodeficiency (HIV) virus infection was assessed in 581 heterosexual intravenous drug users, recruited from public drug assistance centers in the northeast of Italy between 1984 and 1988. The overall seroprevalence rate for HIV antibody was 39% (95% confidence interval-CI-35-43%). HIV prevalence had risen from 32% in 1984-85 to 47% in 1986-88. Age was not associated with HIV infection risk, whereas gender was, women being at lower risk of infection than men (odds ratio-OR- = 0.7, 95% CI: 0,5-1.0). Seropositivity rates showed a strong east-west geographical gradient: intravenous drug users living in the western part of the study area had a nearly sevenfold higher risk of infection (95% CI = 4.4-13.9) than those living in the eastern part. Sharing of drug injection equipment was by far the most important risk factor. IVDUs who reported to always share injection equipment had a fourfold higher risk of HIV infection, as compared with those who never did (95% CI = 1.6-12.7). The duration of drug addiction (odds ratio = 2.6), the use of heroin in high-incidence cities (odds ratio = 2.3) and of cocaine in addition to heroin (odds ratio = 1.5) and the practice of prostitution (odds ratio = 2.3) were also important determinants of HIV infection. Over the study period, the odds ratios associated with area of residence decreased, whereas those associated with the use of heroin in high-incidence cities and with prostitution increased.
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PMID:[Prevalence and determinants of HIV infection in 581 drug addicts in the Northeastern Italy, from 1984 to 1988]. 215 22

Primary care clinicians are acquiring an increasingly important role in preventing, diagnosing, and treating both chemical dependence and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) illness. Towards this end they need to know the epidemiology of HIV infection in chemically dependent persons and methods of educating persons at high risk for these problems. It is critical that physicians screen for alcohol and drug addiction. Health care providers should understand the risks and benefits of HIV antibody testing and include in their practices the basic components of counseling before and after testing and informed consent. Both HIV illness and addiction are chronic diseases with long-term health implications. A knowledge of patient characteristics, intensity of treatments, and treatment modalities is important in making recommendations for individualized therapy. Combining service delivery is a future challenge necessitated by today's joint epidemics of the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome and chemical dependence.
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PMID:Primary care for AIDS and chemical dependence. 219 Apr 22

We report the results of a survey of a total of 553 intravenous drug users (IVDUs) investigated at the drug addiction out-patient unit of the Psychiatric Department of Vienna University for antibodies to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1) using both enzyme-linked immuno sorbent and Western blot assays. HIV-1 antibodies were found 1985/86 in 8.5%, 1986/87 in 14.5%, 1988 in 27.7% and 1989 in 29.7% of IVDUs. The introduction of methadone maintenance in 1987 attracted many IVDUs and increased the number of patients at the out-patient clinic. In 1989 more than 50% of the IVDUs are on methadone maintenance and already 84.5% of the HIV-1 infected drug users are treated with methadone.
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PMID:[Prevalence of HIV-1 infection in intravenous drug dependent patients 1986 to 1989 in Vienna]. 231 24

Since human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is known to lead to modifications of immune function and interrelationships among malnutrition, anergy and drug addiction have been shown, the aim of this work was to assess the nutritional status of 36 male heroin addicts under a period of detoxication (3 months). They were divided into two groups: (1) HIV negative (n = 20) and (2) HIV positive (n = 16); heights, weights and serum albumin concentration were measured and immune function was tested, using delayed hypersensitivity skin tests containing 7 antigens. No significant differences in anthropometric measurements were found between both groups, but anthropometric improvement was shown in every patient after the detoxication period. Serum albumin, often used as a classical index of malnutrition, remained within the normal values in both groups. The whole response to skin tests was depressed in both groups and no significant differences were shown between them. Therefore, these results might suggest that in spite of the apparent anthropometric recovery and the normal values of albumin, a subclinical malnutrition was indicated by the depressed immune function, which was more noticeable in the HIV-positive group.
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PMID:Nutritional status assessment of HIV-positive drug addicts. 238 76

Eighty-eight drug addicts from the "BAN Center" in Torre Annunziata (Naples) and 88 normal subjects pair-matched for age and sex were tested for IgG to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), herpes simplex virus (HSV) type 1 and 2 and cytomegalovirus (CMV). A high prevalence of subjects with antibodies to HSV-1 and CMV (80.7% and 65.9%) were recorded in the control group testifying to the high level of these infections in Campania. Prevalences were higher in drug addicts, and drug abuse was identified as a risk factor for the acquisition of CMV infection (odds ratio = 2.3). Moreover, drug addiction is also a risk factor for HSV-2 and HIV infection as demonstrated by the observation that drug abusers were anti-HSV-2 (9.1 vs. 1.1%, odds ratio = 6.16) or anti-HIV (11.4 vs. 0%, odds ratio = 23.6) positive more frequently than normal controls. Thus, drug addiction is a risk factor for the acquisition of HIV, HSV-2 and CMV infections. This is probably due to similar habits, frequent among drug addicts from our geographic area and uncommon in the normal population, such as tattooing, needle-sharing needlestick and unsafe sex. Some of these habits, such as unsafe sex and tattooing, seem to be, per se, risk factors for the acquisition of both HIV and CMV infections. The data also suggest that HIV infection was probably introduced in Campania more recently than in northern and central Italy where the prevalence of anti-HIV positive cases among drug addicts is definitely higher.
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PMID:[Epidemiological evaluations of human immunodeficiency virus, herpes simplex virus type 1 and 2 and cytomegalovirus infections in drug addicts]. 256 4

Female partners of male drug users may not recognize that they are endangered by sexual transmission of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). However, even when women acknowledge this problem, there are multiple subsequent impediments to behavior change. Chemically dependent women also have specific additional needs. Most chemical dependence outreach and treatment programs are not yet designed to address the issues of contraception, pregnancy, motherhood, child rearing, and prevention of sexually transmitted diseases. Chemically dependent women may not only give birth to drug-affected infants but they may also perpetuate an intergenerational cycle of inadequate parenting. Most women at risk for HIV infection are in their childbearing years. Infection of either or both mother and infant further complicates an already complex problem. Multiple interdisciplinary resources are needed to integrate AIDS prevention and treatment with chemical dependence treatment for women and their children.
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PMID:AIDS prevention and chemical dependence treatment needs of women and their children. 262 10

This article examines the issue of testing for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in chemical dependence treatment programs. Three types of treatment programs are considered: 21- to 28-day inpatient, eight-week outpatient, and methadone maintenance. Through discussion by groups of chemical dependence treatment providers, recommendations are made in regard to issues of who to test, when to test, confidential versus anonymous testing, charting policies, informed consent, elements of pre- and posttest counseling, and the duty to warn others.
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PMID:Testing for human immunodeficiency virus in chemical dependence treatment programs. 262 12

Because gay and bisexual men continue to be the largest at-risk group for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) related conditions, the special role of substance abuse, and not just intravenous drug abuse, must be understood in order to provide adequate services and prevention. Gay men and women appear to have a higher incidence of substance abuse than the general population. Genetic, biochemical, societal, and cultural factors may all contribute to this increase, especially the overwhelming impact of societal homophobia. To address the treatment barriers to gay and bisexual men seeking or needing treatment for HIV-related conditions, chemical dependence or both, the gay community should be seen like any other minority community. The social and cultural norms of this widely varied community should be studied: the socialization of being gay in mainstream society, including the awareness of being different; the coming-out process; and dealing with internalized homophobia need to be understood. In addition, the resistance or anxiety health care providers may feel in working with gay or bisexual men or with HIV-related conditions should be addressed.
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PMID:AIDS and chemical dependency: special issues and treatment barriers for gay and bisexual men. 262 9

Controversy surrounds the issue of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) antibody testing in chemically dependent patients. However, HIV testing can be clinically and therapeutically useful in chemical dependence treatment programs. Prerequisites for HIV testing include: staff education, high-quality pre- and posttest counseling for patients, assurance of confidentiality of results, and the use of accurate screening and confirmatory tests. Reasons to offer voluntary HIV testing in chemical dependence treatment programs include: appropriate medical evaluation and treatment, prevention of the spread of HIV infection, and support for working through the crisis of a positive diagnosis. Voluntary informed consent should be obtained prior to HIV testing; involuntary testing and mass screening are not justified. Testing decisions should be individualized, with the focus on the patient's participation based on treatment- and health-related decisions.
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PMID:The argument for HIV-antibody testing in chemical dependence treatment programs. 262 13

At the emergency station of the Surgical Department of the University Hospital in Zurich, 90% of the group with high risk of infection with the human immunodeficiency virus are intravenous drug abusers and 10% are promiscuous homosexuals. When compared with the group of i.v. drug addicts, the group of homosexual patients is small, as homosexual behaviour is not recognised and drug consumption and surgical emergency cases occur more often with i.v. drug addicts than with homosexuals. Surgical illnesses of i.v. drug abusers are directly connected with drug addiction (needle abscesses, injuries by accident or violence). Homosexual patients have no characteristic surgical problems outside of anal difficulties. I.v. drug abusers are running a very high risk of viral infections: 75% have antibodies against the human immunodeficiency virus. 77% have antibodies against the hepatitis-B virus and 50% have antibodies against the hepatitis-A virus. At the surgical emergency station of the University Hospital in Zurich, the problem of i.v. drug consumption patients with risk of viral infection is permanently increasing. The surgical emergency station can be considered as an ideal place for the prevention from HIV-infection and for taking care of i.v. drug abusers.
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PMID:[The HIV patient in the surgical emergency unit]. 270 21


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