The Serum Changes of Neuron-Specific Enolase and Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 in Patients With Diffuse Axonal Injury Following Progesterone Administration: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Background: Improvement of neurologic outcome in progesterone-administered patients with diffuse axonal injury (DAI) has been found in a recent study. Also, there has been interest in the importance of serum parameters as predictors of outcome in traumatic brain injury. Objectives: The aim of this study was to examine the effect of progesterone administration on serum levels of neuron-specific enolase (NSE), and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) in clinical DAI. Patients and Methods: In this study, the serum levels of ICAM-1 and NSE of 32 male DAI patients (18 - 60 years of age, a Glasgow coma scale of 12 or less, and admitted within 4 hours after injury) who were randomized for a controlled phase II trial of progesterone were analyzed. The analysis was performed between the control and progesterone groups at admission time, and 24 hours and six days after DAI, respectively. Results: A reduction in the serum level of ICAM-1 was noticed in the progesterone group 24 hours after the injury (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in the serum level of NSE between the study groups during evaluation. At 24 hours after the injury, the level of ICAM-1 in the control group was higher than that at admission time (P < 0.05). The lowest level of NSE in the two groups was seen six days after DAI (P < 0.01). Conclusions: In summary, progesterone administration reduced serum ICAM-1, and whereby may attenuate blood brain barrier disruption, the latter needs further investigation for confirmation

The Social and Political Dimensions of the Ebola Response: Global Inequality, Climate Change, and Infectious Disease

The 2014 Ebola crisis has highlighted public-health vulnerabilities in Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Guinea – countries ravaged by extreme poverty, deforestation and mining-related disruption of livelihoods and ecosystems, and bloody civil wars in the cases of Liberia and Sierra Leone. Ebola’s emergence and impact are grounded in the legacy of colonialism and its creation of enduring inequalities within African nations and globally, via neoliberalism and the Washington Consensus. Recent experiences with new and emerging diseases such as SARS and various strains of HN influenzas have demonstrated the effectiveness of a coordinated local and global public health and education-oriented response to contain epidemics. To what extent is international assistance to fight Ebola strengthening local public health and medical capacity in a sustainable way, so that other emerging disease threats, which are accelerating with climate change, may be met successfully? This chapter considers the wide-ranging socio-political, medical, legal and environmental factors that have contributed to the rapid spread of Ebola, with particular emphasis on the politics of the global and public health response and the role of gender, social inequality, colonialism and racism as they relate to the mobilization and establishment of the public health infrastructure required to combat Ebola and other emerging diseases in times of climate change

Perceived Devaluation and STI Testing Uptake among a Cohort of Street-involved Youth in a Canadian Setting

Perceived devaluation has been shown to have adverse effects on the mental and physical health outcomes of people who use drugs. However, the impact of perceived devaluation on sexually transmitted infections (STI) testing uptake among street-involved youth, who face multiple and intersecting stigmas due to their association with drug use and risky sexual practices, has not been fully characterized. Data were obtained between&nbsp;December 2013&nbsp;and November 2014 from a cohort of street-involved youth who use illicit drugs aged 14–26 in Vancouver, British Columbia. Multivariable generalized estimating equations were constructed to assess the independent relationship between perceived devaluation and STI testing uptake. Among 300 street-involved youth, 87.0% reported a high perceived devaluation score at baseline. In the multivariable analysis, high perceived devaluation was negatively associated with STI testing uptake after adjustment for potential confounders (Adjusted Odds Ratio = 0.38, 95% Confidence Interval 0.15–0.98). Perceived devaluation was high among street-involved youth in our sample and appears to have adverse effects on STI testing uptake. HIV prevention and care programs should be examined and improved to better meet the special needs of street-involved youth in non-stigmatizing ways

Variations of the Circle of Willis in 100 Cadavers in Kerman Province

Abstract: Background & Aims: The relationship between variations of Willis circle and some cerebrovascular diseases has been shown in previous studies. A few studies have been conducted in Iran on these variations. Methods: This study was performed on 100 recently deceased Iranians due to car accidents who had been referred to Kerman Forensic Medicine Center for autopsy. The length and diameter of cerebral vessels were measured using glass plate method and variations of Willis circle were determined according to Lazorthes classification. Results: The sample included 81 males and 19 females aged 16-81 years. The two most prevalent forms of Willis circle were type 1 (50%) and type 4 (38%) according to Lazorthes classification. Asymmetry and hypoplasia were seen in 51% and 61% of cases respectively. Asymmetry was most often seen in the left posterior communication artery. There was no significant relationship between the presence of asymmetry in anterior cerebral arteries and the size of anterior communicating artery. Moreover, the size of the posterior communication artery had not been affected by the presence of asymmetry in the posterior cerebral arteries. Conclusion: However, the anatomical variations found in this study were similar to those in the literature, racial similarities among the studied populations do not allow to exclude the role of race on the variations of Willis circle. The difference between common variations in the cadaver and in vivo studies hypothesizes that radiological studies during life are more appropriate to show the role of race on the variations of the circle of Willis. Nonsignificant relationships between the size of communication arteries and anterior and posterior cerebral arteries support this hypothesis. Keywords: Aneurysm, Circle of Willis, Kerman, Variatio

Childhood abuse as a risk factor for injection drug use: A systematic review of observational studies

Issues: Childhood abuse is a public health challenge with lifelong impacts, including future drug use. However, previous research has been mixed regarding impacts on injection drug use. This systematic review examines the impact of childhood abuse (sexual, physical and emotional) on adult injection drug use. Approach: We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO, CINAHL, Web of Science and grey literature to identify relevant studies from database inception to 26 September 2018. Studies were eligible if: (i) they were empirical original research published in English; (ii) considered childhood abuse as potential risk factors for lifetime history of injection drug use; and (iii) included adult participants. Risk of bias was assessed using the modified Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. Key Findings: Of the 1994 articles screened, 17 studies met the inclusion criteria. Most studies were conducted in the USA and utilised cross-sectional research designs. All of the 17 studies measured sexual abuse, six studies measured physical abuse and three studies measured emotional abuse; most (N = 11) of which reported a statistically significant and positive association between at least one sub-scale of childhood abuse and injection drug use. Implications: Our findings highlight the need for devising interventions to reduce the harms associated with childhood abuse. Conclusions: The evidence base suggests a significant positive association between experiences of childhood physical abuse and elevated risks of injection drug initiation with mixed results for sexual and emotional abuse. © 2019 Australasian Professional Society on Alcohol and other Drug