Challenges facing HIV-positive persons who use drugs and their families in Vietnam

It is hypothesized that persons who use drugs (PWUD) in Vietnam who are also HIV-positive may face additional challenges in psychosocial outcomes, and these challenges may extend to their family members. In this study, we examined depressive symptoms, stigma, social support, and caregiver burden of HIV-positive PWUD and their family members, compared to the outcomes of HIV-negative PWUD and their family members. Baseline, 3-month, and 6-month assessment data were gathered from 83 PWUD and 83 family members recruited from four communes in Phú Th? Province, Vietnam. For PWUD, although we observed a general decline in overall stigma over time for both groups, HIV-positive PWUD consistently reported significantly higher overall stigma for all three periods. Depressive symptoms among family members in both groups declined over time; however, family members of HIV-positive PWUD reported higher depressive symptoms across all three periods. In addition, family members of HIV-positive PWUD reported lower levels of tangible support across all three periods. Caregiver burden among family members of HIV-positive PWUD increased significantly over time, whereas the reported burden among family members of HIV-negative PWUD remained relatively unchanged. The findings highlight the need for future interventions for PWUD and family members, with targeted and culturally specific strategies to focus on the importance of addressing additional stigma experienced by PWUD who are HIV-positive. Such challenges may have direct negative impact on their family members' depressive symptoms, tangible support, and caregiver burden.     

1993年云南省瑞丽等地吸毒者艾滋病病毒感染定群研究

１９９３年３月对已建立一年的吸毒者定群研究现场──云南省德宏州瑞丽市、陇川县及潞西县再次进行调查。本次调查７５５例吸毒者及１０２例配偶。从１９９２年进入定群研究ＨＩＶ阴性的８９例静脉吸毒者中，１９９３年又采到血样有５４例，其中９例血清转阳。瑞丽市、陇川县及潞西县１９９２年和１９９３年静注者血清阳转率（／百观察人年）分别为４３．２％及４０．０％，１２．２％及１２．２％，０％及０％。１９９３年新进入定群研究的１１６例静注者中，采集到血样的有１０４例，发现ＨＩＶ阳性３８例。上述三市县１９９２年及１９９３年入定群研究的静注者的ＨＩＶ感染率分别为８１．８％及８５．７％，４４．６％及４０．０％，５．１％及０％。可以看出血清阳转率的高低与ＨＩＶ感染率高低相吻合。ＨＩＶ阳性者的配偶１９９０、１９９２及１９９３年的ＨＩＶ感染率分别为３．１％、９．８％和７．４％，有上升趋势。潞西县ＨＩＶ阳性者少，静脉注射出现时间晚，但近年来静脉吸毒者比例上升快，值得注意。     

One-year follow-up results of combined use of CO<Subscript>2</Subscript> laser and cold instrumentation for Reinke’s edema surgery in professional voice users

The purpose of this study was to present our experience with combined use of CO₂ laser and cold instrumentation for Reinke’s edema surgery and to evaluate 1-year follow-up results of the technique in a series of professional voice users. Fifteen patients with Reinke’s edema who underwent microlaryngoscopic surgery were included. Videolaryngostroboscopy, perceptual and acoustic voice analyses were performed before and after surgery. During the 1-year follow-up, no recurrence of Reinke’s edema was encountered. Significant postoperative improvement was obtained in the quality of voice, in terms of GRBAS scores, Fo, jitter, shimmer and NHR. No evidence of laryngeal cancer was found on the histological examinations. Combined use of CO₂ laser and cold instrumentation provides a reliable and safe method for Reinke’s edema surgery, and cessation of smoking, voice rest and control of the laryngopharyngeal reflux contribute to the success of surgery. We consider that the removal of redundant mucosa of the vocal fold reduces the risk of the recurrence of Reinke’s edema and provides better quality of voice. However, it does not imply that our method is superior to others’, but this procedure constitutes an effective treatment of choice for Reinke’s edema patients, including professional voice users.     

注射吸毒致破伤风的临床特点及分析

目的探讨注射吸毒致破伤风的诊断与治疗。方法回顾性分析了9例注射吸毒者破伤风的临床资料。结果9例注射吸毒致破伤风的病人中,5例治愈,4例死亡,死亡原因:3例因呼吸肌痉挛和分泌物过多阻塞呼吸道窒息死亡,1例因呼吸衰竭死亡。结论注射后皮肤和软组织感染可认为是引起破伤风外伤伤口。注射吸毒破伤风应按重症破伤风处理。及时气管切开或气管插管机械辅助呼吸可降低死亡率。     

Pilot study to enhance HIV care using needle exchange-based health services for out-of-treatment injecting drug users

The introduction of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) has resulted in marked reductions in mortality and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) incidence across all risk groups; however, the proportionate decrease among injecting drug users (IDUs) has been less impressive. Much of the disparity in benefit to IDUs has been a consequence of decreased access to and receipt of potent antiretroviral combinations. Strategies to increase access to and utilization of HAART have included entry into drug treatment and abstinence. Unfortunately, as few as 15%–20% of active drug users in the United States, and in many other countries, are in drug treatment at any one time. We report a pilot project among out-of-drug treatment IDUs infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV); HIV therapy was successfully provided to active heroin injectors using the Community Health Care Van (CHCV) at sites of needle exchange. Subjects were willing to initiate, but were not receiving, recommended HIV therapy and were not interested in formal drug treatment. Antiretroviral therapy regimens were selected and linked to heroin injection timing. Weekly visits were scheduled by CHCV staff to assess adverse side effects and encourage adherence. Of the 13 participants, the mean baseline HIV-1 RNA level and CD4 lymphocyte count were 162,369 (log 5.21) copies per milliliter and 265 cells per milliliter, respectively. By 6 months, the proportion whose HIV-1 RNA was below the limits of detection (<400 copies/mL) was 85% (N=11); 77% (N=10) had nondetectable levels by 9 months. By 12 months, 54% (N=7) had a persistently nondetectable viral load, and the net increase in CD4 lymphocyte count was 150 cells per milliliter. As an additional and unintended benefit of this pilot project, 9 (69%) subjects chose to enter drug treatment after achieving a nondetectable viral load. Entry into drug treatment was associated with durability of viral suppression. This small pilot study suggests that health services based on needle exchange may enhance access to HAART among out-of-treatment HIV-infected IDUs. In addition, it demonstrates that this population can benefit from this therapy with the support of a nontraditional, community-based health intervention.     

揭阳市1460例吸毒者HIV及梅毒监测结果分析

目的了解揭阳市吸毒人员艾滋病病毒（HIV）及梅毒的感染状况及相关危险因素。方法采用统一的调查表．对2006年新进入戒毒所的吸毒人员进行面对面的问卷调查，同时对每一个调查对象采用一次性注射器采集静脉血3～5ml进行HIV和梅毒抗体检测。结果共监测1460名吸毒者，HIV阳性率为0．48％，梅毒感染率为10．55％：有43．84％注射毒品行为，注射毒品的吸毒者中有38．60％承认曾与他人共用注射器或针头：28．22％吸毒者承认曾通过钱或毒品交易与他人发生过性行为，16．26％的吸毒者每次与他人发生性关系时都使用安全套。结论揭阳市吸毒人群的HIV感染率较低，但存在高危行为，应加强干预等工作，阻止艾滋病由高危人群向一般人群传播。     

Immunogenicity of a yeast-recombinant hepatitis B vaccine in high-risk children

Horizontal transmission of hepatitis B virus (HBV) from illicit drug users to their contacts, including young children, can be prevented by active immunization against HBV. Yeast-recombinant hepatitis B vaccines are now available for this purpose, but their potential efficacy in such high-risk contacts has not yet been evaluated. Therefore we gave 20 mcg of a recombinant yeast-derived hepatitis B vaccine to 38 children who were at high risk for HBV infection because they had been institutionalized in a community for drug users in which 8.7% of the occupants are carriers. After third dose of vaccine (at 0, 1, and 6 months), all children had anti-HBs responses with titers of 10 mIU/ml or more, with 81% showing responses greater than 1,000 mIU/ml. At 12 months, the percentage of anti-HBs-positive children was 100%, and the percentage of children with anti-HBs higher than 1,000 mIU/ml was 56%. None of the children developed HBV infection during follow-up. Hence the recombinant vaccine was immunogenic, with percentages of seroconversion and anti-HBs titers comparable with those attained in other categories of high-risk children with plasma-derived vaccines.     

HIV prevalence among IDUs in Australia: a methodological review

A review was carried out of Australian studies which have measured the prevalence of HIV infection among injecting drug users (IDUs). The review considered published studies which had reported on serologically-determined HIV prevalence. There were five studies reported from specialized sexually-transmissible disease of HIV clinics, five studies reported from health services aimed at IDUs, three studies reported from other health services and one multi-centre behavioural study. The main findings from the studies were that HIV prevalence in IDUs has been low in Australia, apart from in male IDUs who also had homosexual contact. HIV prevalence ranged from 20 to 24% in male IDUs reporting homosexual contact and from 0 to 5% in other IDUs.

The studies, while reflecting a range of research methodologies, are subject to a number of limitations. Most of the studies did not provide detailed analyses of HIV prevalence by age and sex or behavioural factors, and several studies used sampling frames which were not clearly defined. There is little available information on temporal trends in seroprevalence and geographical comparisons are rendered difficult by differences in the study methodology. Adoption of standardized, continuing seroprevalence surveys on IDUs would provide a better means of monitoring the occurrence of HIV infection in this group, which has been a key determinant of the course of the HIV epidemic in a number of Western countries.