Is the HCV-HIV co-infection prevalence amongst injecting drug users a marker for the level of sexual and injection related HIV transmission?

BACKGROUND: Amongst injecting drug users (IDUs), HIV is transmitted sexually and parenterally, but HCV is transmitted primarily parenterally. We assess and model the antibody prevalence of HCV amongst HIV-infected IDUs (denoted as HCV-HIV co-infection prevalence) and consider whether it proxies the degree of sexual HIV transmission amongst IDUs. METHODS: HIV, HCV and HCV-HIV co-infection prevalence data amongst IDU was reviewed. An HIV/HCV transmission model was adapted. Multivariate model uncertainty analyses determined whether the model's ability to replicate observed data trends required the inclusion of sexual HIV transmission. The correlation between the model's HCV-HIV co-infection prevalence and estimated proportion of HIV infections due to injecting was evaluated. RESULTS: The median HCV-HIV co-infection prevalence (prevalence of HCV amongst HIV-infected IDUs) was 90% across 195 estimates from 43 countries. High HCV-HIV co-infection prevalences (>80%) occur in most (75%) settings, but can be lower in settings with low HIV prevalence (0.75). The model without sexual HIV transmission reproduced some data trends but could not reproduce any epidemics with high HIV/HCV prevalence ratios (>0.85) or low HCV-HIV co-infection prevalence (10%. The model with sexual HIV transmission reproduced data trends more closely. The proportion of HIV infections due to injecting correlated with HCV-HIV co-infection prevalence; suggesting that up to 80/60/90%. CONCLUSION: Substantial sexual HIV transmission may occur in many IDU populations; HCV-HIV co-infection prevalence could signify its importance

Determining the structure of the bacterial voltage-gated sodium channel NaChBac embedded in liposomes by cryo electron tomography and subtomogram averaging

Voltage-gated sodium channels shape action potentials that propagate signals along cells. When the membrane potential reaches a certain threshold, the channels open and allow sodium ions to flow through the membrane depolarizing it, followed by the deactivation of the channels. Opening and closing of the channels is important for cellular signalling and regulates various physiological processes in muscles, heart and brain. Mechanistic insights into the voltage-gated channels are difficult to achieve as the proteins are typically extracted from membranes for structural analysis which results in the loss of the transmembrane potential that regulates their activity. Here, we report the structural analysis of a bacterial voltage-gated sodium channel, NaChBac, reconstituted in liposomes under an electrochemical gradient by cryo electron tomography and subtomogram averaging. We show that the small channel, most of the residues of which are embedded in the membrane, can be localized using a genetically fused GFP. GFP can aid the initial alignment to an average resulting in a correct structure, but does not help for the final refinement. At a moderate resolution of ˜16 Å the structure of NaChBac in an unrestricted membrane bilayer is 10% wider than the structure of the purified protein previously solved in nanodiscs, suggesting the potential movement of the peripheral voltage-sensing domains. Our study explores the limits of structural analysis of membrane proteins in membranes

Mortality risk during and after opioid substitution treatment: systematic review and meta-analysis of cohort studies

Objective To compare the risk for all cause and overdose mortality in people with opioid dependence during and after substitution treatment with methadone or buprenorphine and to characterise trends in risk of mortality after initiation and cessation of treatment.Design Systematic review and meta-analysis.Data sources Medline, Embase, PsycINFO, and LILACS to September 2016.Study selection Prospective or retrospective cohort studies in people with opioid dependence that reported deaths from all causes or overdose during follow-up periods in and out of opioid substitution treatment with methadone or buprenorphine.Data extraction and synthesis Two independent reviewers performed data extraction and assessed study quality. Mortality rates in and out of treatment were jointly combined across methadone or buprenorphine cohorts by using multivariate random effects meta-analysis.Results There were 19 eligible cohorts, following 122 885 people treated with methadone over 1.3-13.9 years and 15 831 people treated with buprenorphine over 1.1-4.5 years. Pooled all cause mortality rates were 11.3 and 36.1 per 1000 person years in and out of methadone treatment (unadjusted out-to-in rate ratio 3.20, 95% confidence interval 2.65 to 3.86) and reduced to 4.3 and 9.5 in and out of buprenorphine treatment (2.20, 1.34 to 3.61). In pooled trend analysis, all cause mortality dropped sharply over the first four weeks of methadone treatment and decreased gradually two weeks after leaving treatment. All cause mortality remained stable during induction and remaining time on buprenorphine treatment. Overdose mortality evolved similarly, with pooled overdose mortality rates of 2.6 and 12.7 per 1000 person years in and out of methadone treatment (unadjusted out-to-in rate ratio 4.80, 2.90 to 7.96) and 1.4 and 4.6 in and out of buprenorphine treatment.Conclusions Retention in methadone and buprenorphine treatment is associated with substantial reductions in the risk for all cause and overdose mortality in people dependent on opioids. The induction phase onto methadone treatment and the time immediately after leaving treatment with both drugs are periods of particularly increased mortality risk, which should be dealt with by both public health and clinical strategies to mitigate such risk. These findings are potentially important, but further research must be conducted to properly account for potential confounding and selection bias in comparisons of mortality risk between opioid substitution treatments, as well as throughout periods in and out of each treatment.This work was partially supported by the ISCIII Network on Addictive Disorders (Networks for Cooperative Research in Health from the Carlos III Institute of Health) (grant No RD16/0017/0013 and RD12/0028/0018) and by the EMCDDA in the context of the activities related to identification, promotion, and monitor of best practices.S

Acceso a servicios de salud en mujeres transgénero de la ciudad de Cali, Colombia

Introduction: Transgender population faces challenges in terms of guaranteeing the rights to health and an effective access to health services in every country. Objective: To describe and analyze the access to preventive, healing, specific care, and associated out-of-pocket health services for transgender women in Cali, Colombia. Methodology: An observational cross-sectional study with probability sampling. An adaptation of the Survey on Access to Health Services for Colombian Homes was applied to a total of 109 people who identified themselves as transgender, and all of them were over 18. A univariate analysis of all variables evaluated was carried out. Results: Although 71.6% of transgender women surveyed were covered by the health system, this percentage does not guarantee timely access to services. There is an institutional weakness regarding to the Health Promoting Entities (EPS) to promote preventive services; the access to consultation with a specialist and medicines had unfavorable results in opportunity and quality; also, the needs related to their gender identity or processes of corporal transformation are not treated. Discussion: As reported in other studies, for the population in general, the findings are coherent with the Colombian health system structure which is designed to invest resources in treating diseases but not preventing them. Conclusions: Differential care protocols are required given the risks for transgender people due to the lack of medical and psychosocial care. In this way, the full right to health, and the respect for the free development of personality are guaranteed, which were constitutionally established in the country. [Domínguez CM, Ramírez SV, Arrivillaga-Quintero M. Access to Health Services for Transgender Women in the City of Cali, Colombia. MedUNAB 2017-2018; 20(3): 296-309].  Introducción: La población transgénero enfrenta retos en cuanto a la garantía del derecho a la salud y el acceso efectivo a los servicios de salud en todos los países. Objetivo: Describir y analizar el acceso a los servicios de salud preventivos, curativos, de atención específica, y asociados al gasto de bolsillo, en mujeres transgénero de Cali, Colombia. Metodología: Estudio observacional de tipo transversal con muestreo probabilístico. Se aplicó una adaptación de la Encuesta de Acceso a Servicios de Salud para Hogares Colombianos a un total de 109 personas que se auto identificaron como transgénero, mayores de 18 años. Se efectuó un análisis univariado de la totalidad de las variables evaluadas. Resultados: Si bien el 71.6% de las mujeres transgénero encuestadas se encontraban cubiertas por el sistema de salud, esto no garantiza el acceso oportuno a los servicios. Existe debilidad institucional por parte de las Entidades Promotoras de Salud (EPS) para promover servicios preventivos; el acceso a consulta con especialista y a medicamentos tuvo resultados desfavorables en oportunidad y calidad; no se atienden necesidades relacionadas con su identidad de género ni procesos de transformación corporal. Discusión: Tal como se ha reportado en otros estudios para población general, los hallazgos son coherentes con la estructura del sistema de salud colombiano que está diseñado para invertir los recursos en la atención de la enfermedad y no en la prevención. Conclusiones: Se requieren protocolos de atención diferencial dados los riesgos para personas transgénero por falta de atención médica y psicosocial. De esta manera, se garantiza el pleno derecho a la salud y el respeto por el libre desarrollo de la personalidad, establecido constitucionalmente en el país. [Domínguez CM, Ramírez SV, Arrivillaga-Quintero M. Acceso a servicios de salud en mujeres transgénero de la ciudad de Cali, Colombia. MedUNAB 2017-2018; 20(3): 296-309].&nbsp

Self-reported testing, HIV status and associated risk behaviours among people who inject drugs in Europe : Important differences between East and West

Aims: To describe HIV-related risk behaviours, HIV testing and HIV status among people who inject drugs (PWIDs) in the 2000 in European countries with high-prevalence HIV epidemics among PWID. Methods: Data from 12 cross-sectional studies among PWID from seven countries were used. Meta-analysis was used to synthesize the data and meta-regression to explain heterogeneity [in addition to deriving adjusted odds ratios (AORmeta)]. Results: Data on 1791 PWID from western (the West) and 3537 from central and eastern (the East) European countries were available. The mean age of participating PWIDs was 30.6 years (SD 7.9), 75% were men, and 36% [95% confidence interval 34-37%) were HIV-infected (30% West, 38% East); 22% had not previously been tested for HIV. The prevalence of reported high-risk behaviour was significantly higher among PWID from the East. Comparison of HIV-infected and uninfected PWID within countries yielded similar results across all countries: HIV-infected PWID were less likely to be sexually active [AORmeta 0.69 (0.58-0.81)], reported less unprotected sex [AORmeta 0.59 (0.40-0.83)], but reported more syringe sharing [AORmeta 1.70 (1.30-2.00)] and more frequent injecting [AORmeta 1.40 (1.20-1.70)] than their HIV-uninfected counterparts. Conclusion: Despite the absolute differences in reported risk behaviours among PWID in western and eastern Europe, the associations of risk behaviours with HIV status were similar across the sites and regions. There is a substantial potential for further HIV transmission and acquisition based on the continuous risk behaviours reported. HIV prevention and harm reduction interventions targeting PWID should be evaluated.publishersversionPeer reviewe

The state of hepatitis B and C in Europe: report from the hepatitis B and C summit conference *

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/87185/1/j.1365-2893.2011.01499.x.pd