Finishing the euchromatic sequence of the human genome

The sequence of the human genome encodes the genetic instructions for human physiology, as well as rich information about human evolution. In 2001, the International Human Genome Sequencing Consortium reported a draft sequence of the euchromatic portion of the human genome. Since then, the international collaboration has worked to convert this draft into a genome sequence with high accuracy and nearly complete coverage. Here, we report the result of this finishing process. The current genome sequence (Build 35) contains 2.85 billion nucleotides interrupted by only 341 gaps. It covers ∼99% of the euchromatic genome and is accurate to an error rate of ∼1 event per 100,000 bases. Many of the remaining euchromatic gaps are associated with segmental duplications and will require focused work with new methods. The near-complete sequence, the first for a vertebrate, greatly improves the precision of biological analyses of the human genome including studies of gene number, birth and death. Notably, the human enome seems to encode only 20,000-25,000 protein-coding genes. The genome sequence reported here should serve as a firm foundation for biomedical research in the decades ahead

Retention, adherence, and compliance: special needs of HIV-infected adolescent girls and young women

To demonstrate that whereas all HIV-infected youth evidence complex factors that challenge retention in care and adherence to treatment, HIV-infected females have additional issues that are gender-specific. Preliminary data from a subset of 21 adolescent/young women under age 25 from the Whole Life mental health-perinatal HIV care project were analyzed to illustrate the needs of these patients. Of the 21 young women assessed, all but one was of minority background, and a sizeable majority had limited education (<high school diploma) and were quite poor (incomes <$500/mo.). Nearly 67% first learned of their HIV status between ages 16 and 19 years. More than three-fourths were pregnant and, of these, more than one-third entered prenatal care in the last trimester. More than half had responsibility for one to two other children. Two-thirds reported having unprotected sex in the prior 6 months. Nearly 43% had CD4 counts of 500 or below. About one-third screened positive for a mental health problem, and the majority reported a striking frequency of exposure to abusive events and traumatic losses across their short lifetimes. Adolescent girls and young women have unique needs for developmentally appropriate medical and psychosocial approaches to promote retention and adherence

Comparing injecting and non-injecting illicit opioid users in a multi-site Canadian sample (OPICAN cohort)

Illicit opioid use in Canada and elsewhere increasingly involves a variety of opioids and non-injection routes of administration. Injection and non-injection opioid users tend to differ in various key characteristics. From a public health perspective, non-injection routes of opioid use tend to be less harmful due to lesser morbidity and mortality risks. Our study compared current injectors (80%) and non-injectors (20%) in a multi-site sample of regular illicit opioid users from across Canada ('OPICAN' study). In bivariate analysis, injectors and non-injectors differed by prevalence in social and health characteristics as well as drug use. Logistic regression analysis identified city, drug use, housing status and mental health problems as independent predictors of injection status. Further analysis revealed that the majority of current non-injectors had an injection history. Our results reinforce the need to explore potential interventions aimed at preventing the transition from non-injectors to injecting, or facilitating the transition of injectors to non-injecting, as initiated in several other contexts