CD4 antigen levels in sera from asymptomatic intravenous drug users and homosexuals and patients with lymphadenopathy, acquired immunodeficiency syndrome-related complex, or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome were quantitated. Like soluble CD8, CD4 antigen levels were elevated in human immunodeficiency virus-seronegative asymptomatic intravenous drug users and homosexuals, probably reflecting i...

We estimated the prevalence of HIV, HBV and HCV infections among injecting and noninjecting drug users treated within public drug-treatment centres in Italy to determine the correlates of infection. In the sample of 1330 drug users, the prevalence of HIV was 14.4% among drug injectors and 1.6% among non-injectors; the prevalence of HBV was 70.4% among injecting drug users and 22.8% among non-in...

Narcotic substances have a pronounced toxic effect on the entire body and can lead to disability. Despite ongoing efforts combat drug addiction, in today's society, many drugs are available for potential use. Their destructive action leads numerous adverse ocular systemic manifestations. The most frequently, drug-users people of working age, whom visual impairment restrictions labor social acti...

results the most frequent risk factors for hcv infection were intravenous drug abuse (59.3%), unsafe sexual contact (30.5%), and history of being imprisoned (25.4%). the prevalence rate of depression in the hcv group was 55.9 % (95% ci: 42.99% - 68.87%) that was significantly higher than the corresponding rate of the control group as 17.7 % ( 95% ci: 8.49% - 28.79%) (p < 0.001). the severity of...

BACKGROUND China has witnessed a remarkable increase in sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and HIV. The study is to assess the prevalence of HIV, HBV, HCV and syphilis and related risk factors among drug users in mandatory detoxification center Qingyuan, Guangdong, China. METHOD A cross-sectional study on drug use behaviors, sex behaviors, and presence of antibodies to HIV, HCV, Treponema...

Right sided endocarditis usually involves the tricuspid valve, predominantly in intravenous drug users. It is also occasionally acquired in hospital as a result of contaminated intravascular devices. Isolated infection of the pulmonary valve is rarely seen. A case of community acquired Staphylococcus aureus pulmonary valve endocarditis that caused diagnostic confusion is reported. This infectio...

Right sided endocarditis usually involves the tricuspid valve, predominantly in intravenous drug users. It is also occasionally acquired in hospital as a result of contaminated intravascular devices. Isolated infection of the pulmonary valve is rarely seen. A case of community acquired Staphylococcus aureus pulmonary valve endocarditis that caused diagnostic confusion is reported. This infectio...

BACKGROUND More than half of intravenous drug users (IDUs) in China suffer from the Hepatitis C virus (HCV). The virus is also more prevalent in non-injection drug users (NIDUs) than in the general population. However, not much is known about HCV subtype distribution in these populations. METHODS Our research team conducted a cross-sectional study in four provinces in China. We sampled 825 ID...