Determinants of Risky Sexual Behavior Among Injecting Drug Users (IDUs) in Georgia

Injection risk practices and risky sexual behaviors place injection drug users (IDUs) and their sexual partners particularly vulnerable to HIV. The purpose of the study was to describe and understand determinants of high-risk sexual behavior among IDUs in Georgia. A cross-sectional, anonymous survey assessed knowledge, behavior and HIV status in IDUs in five Georgian cities (Tbilisi, Gori, Telavi, Zugdidi, Batumi) in 2009. The study enrolled in total 1,127 (1,112 males, 15 females) IDUs. Results indicate that occasional sexual relationships are common among male IDUs, including married ones. A subsample of 661 male IDUs who reported having occasional and paid sex partners during the last 12 months was analyzed. Multivariate analysis shows that not having a regular partner in the last 12 month (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 1.57, 95 % CI 1.04 2.37), and using previously used needles/syringes at last injecting (aOR 2.37, 95 % I 1.10–5.11) are independent correlates of inconsistent condom use with occasional and paid sexual partners among IDUs. Buprenorphine injectors have lower odds of inconsistent condom use with occasional and paid sexual partners compared to heroin injectors (aOR 0.47, 95 % CI 0.27–0.80), and IDUs who live in Telavi are twice more likely to engage in such risky sexual behavior than capital city residents (aOR 2.55, 95 % CI 1.46–4.48). More effective programs focused on sexual risk behavior reduction strategies should be designed and implemented.     

Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of the new Russian anti-arrhythmia drug allapinin

Pharmacokinetics of allapinin tablets, used as a single dose, alone or in combination with other antiarrhythmic drugs (cordarone, mexitil, ritmilen) were assessed in 11 patients with frequent extrasystoles. Allapinin pharmacokinetic pattern was basically similar in patients in whom it was very effective and those in whom it had no effect. Combined use of the above-mentioned antiarrhythmic drugs and allapinin did not affect the latter's pharmacokinetic parameters. Allapinin pharmacokinetics can be described using a one-part model.     

Manifestations of oxidative stress and its correction in traumatic shock

The case study purpose was to investigate the oxidation-antioxidation process in the affected organism after traumatic shock and under the impact of Plapherone LB. A randomized experiment involved 94 patients who were shared between 2 groups: group 1--routine intensive therapy, group 2--it received additionally Plapherone LB (sublingually, 2 mg protein/day). Ten persons of the control group were investigated separately. It was found by the method of electron paramagnet resonance that the antixidant system became weaker (in patients with traumatic chock), the lipoid oxidants got more intensified, the activity of their oxidant enzymes went up and the concentration of free radical got to be higher. Finally, Plapherone LB was found to promote the optimization of such systemic changes, since it normalized the xanthine oxidase activity in experimental traumatic shock.     

Unsafe Injection and Sexual Risk Behavior among Injecting Drug Users in Georgia

Injection drug users (IDUs) are at risk for acquiring human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) through parenteral and sexual transmission. In this paper, we describe the prevalence and correlates of unsafe drug injecting and sexual behaviors among IDUs recruited across five cities in Georgia in 2009. IDUs were administered a questionnaire collecting information on demographics, drug use, sexual behaviors, and HIV testing behaviors. Correlates of risky injecting and sexual behaviors were determined using logistic regression. Of 1,127 IDUs, the majority (98.7%) were men, and the median duration of injecting drugs was 7 years. Unsafe injecting behavior at last injection was reported by 51.9% of IDUs, while 16.8% reported both unsafe injecting behavior and not using condoms with last occasional and/or commercial partner. In the multivariate analysis, independent correlates of unsafe injecting behavior at last injection were types of drugs injected [p = 0.0096; (for ephedrine, adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 7.38; 95% CI, 1.50–36.26)] and not using condoms at last commercial sex (aOR = 2.29, 1.22–4.32). The following variables were significantly associated with unsafe injecting behavior at last injection and not using condoms at last sex with commercial and/or occasional partners in the multivariate analysis: marital status [p = 0.0002; (for divorced, widowed, and separated aOR = 2.62, 1.62–4.25; for single aOR = 1.61, 1.08–2.39)], being a member of a regular injecting group (aOR = 0.62, 0.44–0.88), types of drugs injected in the past month [p = 0.0024; (for buprenorphine aOR = 0.34, 0.18–0.63)], city of residence (p = 0.0083), and not receiving information on HIV (aOR = 1.82, 1.07–3.09). Though only ephedrine was injected by a smaller number of IDUs (9.1%), the vast majority of these (81.4%) reported unsafe injecting practices at last injection. High prevalence of unsafe injecting behaviors and diverse and at-risk sexual partnerships highlight the need to implement complex and targeted HIV interventions among IDUs in Georgia.