History Of Drug Use Research Articles

Acute Toxic Effects of the New Psychoactive Substance \u201cVoodoo\u201d among Patients presented to the Poison Control Center of Ain Shams University Hospitals (PCC-ASUH), Egypt, during 2017

BackgroundVoodoo is a heterogeneous mixture of psychoactive substances that has recently grown in popularity among youth in Egypt. Patients can present with a variety of manifestations that may lead to death in some cases. This study assessed the acute toxic effects of voodoo among patients presented to the Poison Control Center of Ain Shams University Hospitals (PCC-ASUH) during a one year period.MethodsThis is a retrospective study of all patients presented with voodoo intoxication at the PCC-ASUH from 1 January 2017 to 31 December 2017. Clinical data, routine laboratory findings, and ECG results as well as duration of hospitalization and outcome were compiled from hospital records.ResultsSeventy-one voodoo intoxication cases meeting the inclusion criteria were analyzed (mean age: 25.19 ± 9.54 years, range: 15–50 years, 97.2 % male). Pulse, blood pressure, and respiratory rate were normal in more than half of all patients. Neurological abnormalities including agitation, hallucinations, disturbance of consciousness were the most frequent manifestations. Respiratory acidosis was the most common laboratory finding (54.9 %), followed by increased serum urea (43.6 %), hypokalemia (33.8 %), hyperglycemia (28.1 %), and leukocytosis (26.7 %). The most common ECG finding was sinus tachycardia (31 %), followed by QT prolongation (15.4 %). More than half of the studied patients (53.5 %) co-administered other illicit substances, most frequently cannabis and tramadol. Most patients recovered fully and were discharged, but death occurred in two cases.ConclusionsVoodoo toxicity can manifest with many presentations, hampering timely diagnosis. Clinicians should consider possible voodoo poisoning in patients presenting with a history of drug use with neurological symptoms, and they should conduct follow-up arterial blood gases, electrolytes and ECG as voodoo may contain potentially fatal psychoactive substances.

The impact of pre-existing blood pressure control in patients with acute aortic dissections.

Arterial hypertension (HTN) is considered a seminal risk factor for aortic dissection (AD). The purpose of this study is to evaluate whether pre-existing blood pressure (BP) control lessens the extent of dissection and has a favorable impact on outcome of patients with acute AD. Consecutive acute AD patients who had at least two BPs recorded within the 12months preceding the AD were retrospectively analyzed. The two most recent BPs were averaged and defined per published guidelines as normal (BP≤ 130/80), Stage I HTN (BP >130/80 and <139/89), or Stage 2 or greater HTN (BP > 140/90). The number of hypertensive medications (MEDs) was also used as a surrogate marker of HTN severity. Patients with known genetic causes of AD were excluded. 89 subjects (55% men, 45% women; mean age, 64±14years) with acute AD (58% Stanford type A and 42% Stanford type B) were included. Two most recent BPs were recorded a mean of 5±3 and 3±2.7months before the AD, respectively. Twenty-nine (33%) subjects had normal BP, including nine subjects with no history of HTN and on no MEDs. Sixty (67%) subjects had elevated BP, including 21 (35%) with Stage I HTN and 39 (65%) with Stage 2 HTN. Compared to subjects with normal BP, subjects with Stage 1 and Stage 2 HTN were younger (70±13years vs 62±1year, p = 0.01), but there were no differences in other demographics, risk factors, comorbidities, or history of drug use. There were no group differences in the distal extent of the dissections, complications requiring thoracic endograft repair, mean length of hospital stay, final discharge status, or 30-day mortality. Compared to the number of MEDs before AD, all three groups had a higher mean number of MEDs to achieve normal BP at discharge that persisted at a mean follow-up of 18±15months. These data show that approximately one-third of patients with acute AD had well controlled or no antecedent history of HTN. The degree of pre-existing HTN control had no bearing on the type or extent of AD, length of stay, or early outcome. Regardless of the state of HTN control before AD, the consistent and sustained increase in the severity of HTN after AD suggests that the dissection process has a profound and lasting effect on BP regulation. Further studies are indicated to elucidate the pathologic mechanisms involved in AD.

Incidence, characteristics, and outcome of COVID-19 in patients on liver transplant program: a retrospective study in the north of Iran

The risk of severe coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) disease seems to be higher in individuals with solid organ transplantation. Therefore, the purpose of the present research is to investigate the incidence of COVID-19 and laboratory data and epidemiologic factors in liver transplant recipients and the patients on the waiting list for liver transplantation. In this study, we evaluated the records of patients on the waiting list for liver transplantation and of recipients of a liver transplant. Demographic data, underlying disease, history of drug use and participants’ outcomes were collected. The diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection for all patients was confirmed using a nasopharyngeal swab specimen with real-time RT-PCR. During the study period, 172 patients were enrolled, among whom 85 patients (49.4%) were on the waiting list for liver transplantation, and 87 patients (50.6%) were recipients of a liver transplant. Out of them, 10 (5.8%) had a positive result for SARS-CoV-2. Of these patients, 7.05% (6/85) and 4.6% (4/87) of patients on the waiting list and recipients of liver transplants were positive for SARS-CoV-2, respectively. Patients on the waiting list with COVID-19 infection had a higher median of albumin, ALT, AST, TBIL, DBIL, HDL and LDL value. In summary, the incidence of COVID-19 in liver transplant patients was slightly higher. The existence of underlying liver diseases should be well known as one of the poor predictive factors for worse outcomes in patients with COVID-19. So, comparative studies are recommended to identify risk factors for COVID-19 in patients with liver injury.

Are laboratory evaluations required in every case admitted to the pediatric emergency department with epistaxis?

Epistaxis is a mostly self-limiting condition common among children and is rarely severe. In this study, it was aimed to evaluate the incidence, demographic characteristics, causes of bleeding and treatment methods of patients who presented to the pediatric emergency department (PED) with epistaxis, and to determine in which cases a laboratory test should be used. Admitted to Gazi University Faculty of Medicine, PED which provides trauma care and is a tertiary hospital, from 1 January 2019 to 31 December 2019, 452 patients aged 0-18 years who presented with epistaxis for any reason or secondary to systemic disease were analysed retrospectively. The annual incidence was found at 1.23%. The median age was 5.25 years, 258 of the cases (57.1%) were male. It was found that the cases most frequently applied to the hospital in the autumn months (37.6%). Sixty of the patients (13.3%) had a chronic disease and 54 (11.9%) had a history of drug use. Bleeding time was less than 5 minutes in 75.2% and 84.4% of the bleeding was unilateral. Nasal bleeding is local in 73.4%; 4.7% of them developed because of systemic reasons. The most common cause of epistaxis; while they were trauma at the first 10 years of age, they were idiopathic causes after the age of 10 years. In 434 (96%) of the patients, epistaxis spontaneously stopped and there was no need for additional treatment. As a result of this study, it was concluded that laboratory tests should be performed in cases with chronic disease history, bilateral bleeding, active bleeding and nontraumatic epistaxis. The situation that causes epistaxis in the childhood age group should be determined with a good history and physical examination, laboratory tests should not be used in every patient.

Navigating Intersectional Stigma: Strategies for Coping Among Cisgender Women of Color.

Intersectionality is a critical tool for understanding how socially constructed categories shape multiple dimensions of lived experience. In this study, we apply an intersectional lens to explore how women of color from two different contexts, Hyderabad, India and Chicago, Illinois, manage gendered forms of stigma and oppression as they converge with other devalued statuses, namely living with HIV or having a history of drug use or incarceration. Applying intersectional stigma as our conceptual framework, and drawing from transnational feminist perspectives, we identified two overarching themes. Women in both contexts combat stigma by employing strategies of concealment within their romantic and familial systems. Moreover, women's roles as mothers were critical sources for managing their complex illnesses and for accessing support. Using these experiences of stigma against women of color as our analytic lens, we offer an intersectional framework for qualitative health research involving marginalized cisgender women of color in transnational contexts.

Suicidal ideation among women who engage in sex work and have a history of drug use in Kazakhstan

Suicide rates in Kazakhstan rank fourth worldwide. Suicidal ideation is a strong predictor of death by suicide. Yet there is limited information about factors associated with suicidal ideation among women who engage in sex work (WESW) with a history of drug use. Guided by the Diathesis-Stress Theory of Suicide, this study examined the risk and protective factors associated with suicidal ideation among WESW in Kazakhstan. Data drew from the baseline assessments from a sample of four hundred women who participated in a cluster randomized control trial comparing a treatment arm which received a combination of HIV Risk Reduction (HIVRR) and microfinance intervention, and a control arm which received HIVRR alone. Multiple logistic regression models controlling for sociodemographic characteristics examined the effects of risk and protective factors on suicidal ideation. More than half of the participants (52.5%) reported suicidal ideation in the past seven days. Women with vulnerabilities such as child sexual abuse and harmful alcohol use and stressors such as stigma were more likely to think about suicide compared with those who did not. Keeping income from sex work was associated with a lower risk of suicidal ideation. HIV interventions targeting WESW and use drugs must include a mental health component to decrease the risk of suicidal ideation among this group. Women's ability to keep income from sex work suggests the potential to strengthen women's financial stability as a source of empowerment, which may in turn lessen the detrimental effects of childhood adversities and life stressors experienced by WESW.

Pharmacoepidemiological Safety of Drugs Used in Geriatrics: A Systematic Review in Madanapalle and Punganur Region of Andhra Pradesh

In this study, we were provided universal considerations for the setting up and carry out of pharmacoepidemiological studies of drug use for disorders like Osteoarthritis, Hypertension, Hyperlipidemia, Hypothyroidism, Depression, and Osteoporosis in geriatric patient. The study method was focused on monitored and categorized the prescriptions of geriatrics from 650 patient in Madapalle and Puganur region of Andhra Pradesh, Identified and prepare the list of drugs, which were inappropriately prescribed and used in geriatrics by using Revised Beers criteria and also assess the Activities of Daily Living (ADL) by using Modified Barthel Index (MBI). Identify any drug-drug interactions among the drugs used in geriatrics. We were reported the adverse drug reactions appeared in geriatrics and the various treatments that the patients are received with different co-morbidity disease with the assessment of drug exposure, and ascertainment of PIM, PPO STOPP, START criteria and MBI outcomes. Characteristic of statistics sources include evaluation of complete history of drug use in elderly patient with co-morbidity condition, allowing approximate of collective exposure. Result data from beers criteria with PIM, modified barthel index are preferable, but elderly patient treatment data from reliable sources, for example, patient or pathology registries, and medical records are also considered. We present report to showed poly-pharmacy effects of drug use on elderly patient improvement and converse the need for employing STOPP and START criteria of PIM and PPO to avoid undesirable drug reaction causation. We emphasize that a study design of beers criteria always be considered and result of Modified barthel index shows the dependency rate in elderly patient. We also underline the need for Comorbidity analyses in geriatric patient and drug usage, as drug utilization in geriatric are prone to dose and number of drugs in treatment dependent. In the main, studies of Prescription analyses like polypharmacy, PIM, PPO in prescription should explore risk Geriatric patient, the present study reveal the PIM and PPO of in prescription from six hundred and fifty geriatric patient. We conclude the pharmacoepidemiological studies of elderly patient are likely to develop significantly in the coming years, due to the rising mortality of long-term drug exposures and less awareness of poly-pharmacy result, the increasing perform of multinational studies, permiting studies of rare and common disease in elderly people, types of medication and procedural development specifically addressing geriatric treatment and long-term outcomes.

Exploring the Relationship Between Substance Use and Allostatic Load in a Treatment/Research Cohort and in a US Probability Sample (NHANES 2009-2016).

Allostatic load, an operationalization for cumulative strain on physiology from adaptation (allostasis) to stress over a lifetime, can manifest as damage to cardiovascular, neuroendocrine, and metabolic systems. The concept of allostatic load may be particularly useful in research on substance-use disorders (SUDs) because SUD researchers have sought to better understand the relationship between chronic stressors and drug use. Theoretical models hold that SUDs can be conceptualized as a spiral toward a state of persistent allostasis (i.e., allostasis so persistent as to represent homeostasis at a new, unhealthy set point). Regardless of the extent to which those models are accurate, increased allostatic load could be a mechanism by which frequent drug administration increases risk for adverse outcomes. We conducted two secondary analyses to evaluate allostatic load in the context of drug use, including alcohol use, in a locally recruited sample with a high proportion of illicit substance use (N = 752) and in a nationally representative sample from the NHANES 2009–2016. We hypothesized that after controlling for age and other potential confounds, people with longer histories of drug use would have higher allostatic-load scores. Multiple regression was used to predict allostatic load from participants' drug-use histories while controlling for known confounds. In the locally recruited sample, we found that longer lifetime use of cocaine or opioids was related to increased allostatic load. In NHANES 2009–2016, we found few or no such associations. Lengthy histories of problematic non-medical substance use may facilitate more rapid increases in allostatic load than aging alone, and, together with findings from previous investigations, this finding suggests increased risk for chronic disease.

Prevalence of Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS) in children with thalassemia major in Ali Asghar Hospital in Zahedan, Iran

Introduction Thalassemia major is one of the most debilitating chronic and inherited diseases caused by impaired hemoglobin production. To improve the quality of life in the long-term treatment of thalassemia patients, it is necessary to pay special attention to sleep-related disorders such as restless legs syndrome. The present study, thus, attempts to determine the frequency of restless legs syndrome in children and adolescents with thalassemia major.Methods This study was performed on 302 patients with thalassemia major with an age range of 5-20 years in Ali Asghar Hospital in Zahedan in 2018. After obtaining the patients’ consent and their information including age, sex, underlying disease, history of drug use, Insomnia, splenectomy, oral and injectable iron depletion, and serum ferritin levels, as well as restless legs syndrome were recorded. Then the data were analyzed by SPSS statistical software. Chi-square and T-test were used to compare the data.Results The results of this study revealed that the prevalence percentage of Restless Legs Syndrome in children and adolescents with thalassemia major was 17.2%. In addition, it had a direct and significant relationship with vitamin D (p-value=0.008) and calcium (p-value 0.05)Conclusion Due to the high prevalence of RLS in patients with thalassemia major, especially in patients with a history of vitamin D and calcium intake, screening for RLS is necessary. In this way, taking medical measures can help improving the quality of life among these patients.

The Effect of Crystal Dependence on Brain Activity Related to the Perception of Pleasure Using fMRI

Background: Addiction is currently one of the problems of human society. Drug abuse is one of the most important issues in the field of addiction. Methamphetamine (crystal) is one of the drugs that has been abused in recent decades. Methods: In this case-control study, 10 individuals aged 20 to 40 years old with at least 2 years of experience of methamphetamine consumption without any history of drug use or other stimulants from clients and drug withdrawal centers in Tehran City, and 10 healthy volunteers were selected. Age, social status, and economic status of addicts were included in the fMRI apparatus, and 90 selected pleasurable, non-pleasurable, and neutral images (IAPS) were displayed by the projector through an event-related method. The playback time of each photo was 3 s, and after this process, the person outside the device, without the time limit selected the enjoyable and unpleasant images. Results: The results showed that there was no significant difference between the groups in terms of age, alcohol use, and smoking history (P &lt; 0.05). There was no significant difference in terms of the age at first use between members of the methamphetamine-dependent group. Also, the methamphetamine-dependent group showed more brain activity in their pre-center and post-center gyrus than the normal (control) group. Conclusions: According to the results obtained in this study, in general, it can be concluded that there are some areas in the brain of addicts that are activated when watching pleasant photos, while these areas are not active in the brains of normal people.

Frequency of Cleft Lip with or Without Cleft Palate and Related Factors in a Group of Neonates in Three Hospitals in Sari, Iran, during 2004-2018

Introduction: Cleft lip with or without cleft palate (CLP) is one of the most common congenital defects in the orofacial region. Many factors are involved in the occurrence of cleft lip in newborns including genetic and environmental factors. The prevalence of this anomaly varies in different races and countries. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the prevalence of this disorder in newborns in Bu Ali, Hekmat, and Amir Mazandarani Hospitals in Sari, Iran, during 2004-2018. Materials and Methods: This descriptive-analytical study was carried out using information obtained from the records of patients in Imam, Hekmat, and Amir Mazandarani health centers in Sari, Iran. The number of patients with CLP was extracted from the information in the record files. Afterward, information related to infant and mother, such as gender, birth weight, maternal age, the cases of consanguine marriage, family history of CLP, history of drug use in the first trimester of pregnancy, the history of smoking and alcohol consumption were also recorded to investigate the factors related to CLP. Results: A total of 65,522 births were recorded at the three abovementioned health centers during 14 years, of which 80 infants were born with a variety of CLP anomalies. The overall CLP prevalence in this study was estimated at 1.2 per 1,000 births. It should be noted that 52.5% (n=42) and 47.5% (n=38) of these cases had CLP and CL, respectively. No cases of isolated cleft palate were observed. Furthermore, 71.3% (n=57) of all CLP cases occurred unilaterally. In total, 86.3% of the studied infants weighed over 2,500 gr at birth and 72.5% of mothers aged under 30 years at childbirth. Conclusion: Based on the obtained results, the overall prevalence of oral clefts in the studied population was 1.2 per 1,000 births and mostly occurred unilaterally.

New hepatitis C virus infection, re-infection and associated risk behaviour in male Irish prisoners: a cohort study, 2019

BackgroundPrisoners are recognised as a high-risk population and prisons as high-risk locations for the transmission of hepatitis c virus (HCV) infection. Injecting drug use (IDU) is the main driver of HCV infection in prisoners and harm reduction services are often suboptimal in prison settings. HCV prevalence and incident data in prisoners is incomplete which impacts the public health opportunity that incarceration provides in identifying, treating and preventing HCV infection. The aim of this study is to identify new HCV infection and associated risk factors in an Irish male prison.MethodsWe conducted a follow up (18-month) cohort study on prisoners who had previously tested negative, self-cleared or had been successfully treated for HCV infection. We conducted the study in a male medium security prison located in Dublin Ireland (Mountjoy Prison) using HCV serology, a review of medical records and a researcher-administered questionnaire.Results99 prisoners with a mean age of 33.2 yrs. participated in the study and 82(82.8%) completed a research-administered questionnaire. Over half (51%) had a history of drug use from a young age (14.8 yrs.), 49.9% a history of heroin use and 39% a history of IDU. The prevalence of HIV and hepatitis B virus core antibody was 3% and HCV antibody was 22.2%. No new HCV infections were identified in those who had never been infected (n = 77), had self-cleared (n = 9) or achieved sustained virological response (n = 12). Small numbers of prisoners continued to engage in risk-behaviour including, IDU both in the prison (n = 2) and the community (n = 3), sharing syringes (n = 1) and drug taking paraphernalia (n = 6) and receiving non-sterile tattoos (n = 3).ConclusionDespite the high numbers of Irish prisoners with a history of IDU and HCV infection, new HCV infection is low or non-existent in this population. Small numbers of prisoners continue to engage in risk behaviour and larger studies are required to further understand HCV transmission in this cohort in an Irish and international context.

The relationship between level of education and moral judgment toward who abuse drugs.

The aim of the present study is to verify the differences of the moral judgment toward the people who abuse drugs according to the schooling of the participants. This is the Brazilian part of a multicentric study. N=180 individuals in a community in Brasília, DF, Brazil; following consent, descriptive data were collected by anonymous interviewer-administered questionnaire that included socio-demographic, educational level and the history of drug use. Participants were predominantly females, middle-aged, married, employed, religious, with high school education; higher schooling considered alcohol abusers, marijuana, cocaine and crack are important as anyone else; the majority with lower education level knew someone who used drugs, but no association was found regarding drug use and schooling; in the unadjusted logistic regression model, positive associations were found between higher schooling and 'who use drugs are as important as anyone else' for all drugs studied; after adjusted, the association remained only for marijuana (all p<0.05). The negative attitude surrounding drugs issue can be an important obstacle. The results suggest that education can help to reduce the stigma associated; public policies would be important to minimizing social harm caused by stigmatized visions of drug users.

Factors Associated With Ruminative Thinking in Individuals With Gender Dysphoria.

This study aimed to examine psychosocial factors and medical history as well as symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress associated with ruminative thinking in transgender people with gender dysphoria (GD) before undergoing gender affirmation surgery (GAS). This study evaluated 189 participants with GD (111 trans women and 78 trans men) from a specialized service for GAS in southern Brazil. Semi-structured interviews were conducted, and participants were asked to complete self-report questionnaires. We recovered participants' sociodemographic and psychosocial data (e.g., history of sexual abuse, expulsion from home, and history of drug use) and data regarding their clinical history (e.g., medication, history of suicidal ideation and attempted suicide, and HIV status). Further, we implemented the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21) to examine participants' psychological state, as well as the Ruminative Response Scale (RRS) to assess ruminative thinking, which includes brooding and reflection. The predictor variables were those that exhibited a minimum level of significance of p ≤ 0.05 in multivariate linear regression. The ruminative thinking scores for trans women were higher than those of trans men (Brooding p = 0.014; Reflection p = 0.052).In the multivariate model, suicidal ideation, moderate depression, and severe/very severe anxiety were associated with both brooding and reflection. Feminine gender identity and stress symptoms moderated only brooding, while anxiety symptoms moderated only reflection. Our findings show that trans women had the highest ruminative thinking scores, and that depression, anxiety, stress, and suicidal ideation were associated with ruminative thinking in total sample. Psychological symptoms should be examined in the context of gender affirmation surgery to minimize the possibility of adverse mental health outcomes. Follow-up studies are required to measure ruminative thinking levels more accurately and to identify its predictors.

An intervention to increase hepatitis C virus diagnosis and treatment uptake among people in custody in Iran

BackgroundIran is among countries with high opioid agonist therapy (OAT) coverage in prisons, which provides an infrastructure to increase feasibility of HCV programs. We aimed to evaluate the impact of an intervention to improve HCV screening, diagnosis, and treatment, including alongside the provision of OAT, in an Iranian prison. MethodsDuring July-December 2018, in the Gorgan prison, all incarcerated adults (>18 years) received HCV antibody rapid testing and, if positive, provided a venepuncture sample for HCV RNA testing. Participants with positive RNA received direct-acting antiviral (DAA) therapy [(Sofosbuvir/Daclatasvir) for 24 or 12 weeks, respectively, for those with and without cirrhosis]. Response to treatment was measured by the sustained virological response at 12 weeks post-treatment (SVR12). ResultsAmong 2015 incarcerated people with a median age of 35 years (IQR:29–41), the majority were male (97%), had not finished high school (68%), and had a history of drug use (71%), of whom 15% had ever injected drugs. A third of participants were receiving OAT, including 54% of those who had ever injected. HCV antibody prevalence was 6.7%, and RNA was detected in 4.6% of all participants; this prevalence was 32.6% and 24.7% among those with a history of injection, respectively. Treatment uptake was 82% (75/92) and was similar among people on OAT and those with a history of injection (81%). The majority completed treatment in prison and were available for SVR12 assessment (71%, 53/75). Achieved SVR12 was 100% (53/53) based on the available case analysis; those who did not have available SVR12 were released either prior to treatment initiation or completion (n = 39). ConclusionThe availability of OAT infrastructure should be considered as an opportunity for enhancing HCV care in prisons. Where resources are limited, the prison harm reduction network could be used to design targeted HCV programs among people who are at higher risk of infection.

Mental Health Service Utilization among Adults with Head Injury with Loss of Consciousness: Implications for Social Work.

The purpose of this study was to identify factors associated with mental health service utilization among adults with head injury with loss of consciousness (LOC) using Andersen's model of health. This secondary data analysis used the 2011-2014 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey with data collected from 7,399 adults. Binary logistic regression was conducted to determine odds associated with predisposing, enabling, and needs factors on head injury with LOC and mental health service utilization. A total of 948 (12.8 percent) adults 40 years and older self-reported head injury with LOC. Head injury with LOC was higher among men and people with lower income, illicit drug use history, and moderate to severe depression. Mental health service utilization for people with head injury with LOC was lower among older-age adults and those with no health insurance. However, utilization was higher among adults with military service, history of drug use, and moderate to severe depression. Social workers in health care settings play critical roles serving adults with traumatic brain injury (TBI) through mental health and substance use disorder treatment and bridging gaps in service access. Social workers should recognize the complex needs of clients with TBI and factors affecting mental health service use.

RIGHT SIDED ENDOCARDITIS: CASE SERIES FROM MOROCCO

Objective: Compared with the extensive data on left sided infective endocarditis, right-sided infective endocarditis (RSIE) remains a rare condition. It accounts for 5–10% of all cases of infective endocarditis (IE) [1] [2] [3].Although it is predominantly encountered in the injecting drug user (IDU) population, where HIV and HCV infections often coexist, rheumatic heart disease remains the most important predisposing factor for IE in our context. The aim our study is to report clinical, investigation, management and outcome data in 5 patients diagnosed with RSIE in our department during the last 2 years. Methods: A retrospective analysis of data of 5 patients with right sided endocarditis in a tertiary care center from 2018 to 2020 was done. Results: All of our patients were young aged females none of them had cardiac devices or history of drug use. Persistent fever was the most common clinical presentation. Interestingly, 4 patients presented clinical heart failure. 3 patients had isolated tricuspid valve IE, one patient had isolated pulmonary valve IE, and one patient have both tricuspid and pulmonary valve IE. Blood cultures were negative in two cases, whilst two others were positive to Streptococcus (alpha) and one positive to Staphylococcus. 4 patients underwent surgical treatment after well conducted antibiotic therapy the indications were the presence of right heart failure secondary to severe tricuspid regurgitation and the size of the vegetations. Unfortunately, one patient died of massive pulmonary embolism despite well conducted antibiotherapy. Conclusion: RSIE is rare and occurs in a wide range of underlying conditions like implantable electronic devices, indwelling catheters, CHD and immune compromised state. Surprisingly, it can occur in young individuals without known risk factors. In our context, rheumatic heart disease remains the most incriminated etiology which lead us to question three essential points: 1. The interest of antibiotic prophylaxis in young patients with VSDs 2. The use of empiric antibiotics with action against streptococcus 3. Early surgical treatment in rheumatic heart disease.

Effectiveness of a Culturally Tailored HIV and Sexually Transmitted Infection Prevention Intervention for Black Women in Community Supervision Programs

Concentrated epidemics of HIV and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) have persisted among Black women in community supervision programs (CSPs) in the United States. Accumulating research has highlighted the effectiveness of culturally tailored HIV/STI interventions for Black women; however, there is a dearth of such interventions for the large number of Black women in CSPs. To determine the effectiveness of a 5-session culturally tailored group-based intervention (Empowering African-American Women on the Road to Health [E-WORTH]) with individualized computerized modules and streamlined HIV testing in reducing STIs and condomless sex vs a 1-session streamlined HIV testing control condition. This randomized clinical trial was conducted from November 18, 2015, (first recruitment) to August 20, 2019 (last 12-month follow-up). Black women mandated to probation, parole, or alternative-to-incarceration programs in New York City who had a history of drug use were recruited and randomized to receive either E-WORTH or a streamlined HIV testing control condition. Both conditions were delivered by Black female staff at a large CSP. The analysis took an intention-to-treat approach. E-WORTH included a 1-hour individual HIV testing and orientation session and 4 weekly 90-minute group sessions. The control condition included one 30-minute session of HIV testing and information. Primary outcomes were incidence of any STI (biologically assayed chlamydia, gonorrhea, and Trichomonas vaginalis) at the 12-month assessment and the number of condomless acts of vaginal or anal intercourse in the past 90 days during the 12-month period. A total of 352 participants who identified as Black or African American were enrolled, including 79 (22.5%) who also identified as Latinx. The mean (SD) age was 32.4 (11.0) years. A total of 172 participants (48.9%) were assigned to the E-WORTH condition, and 180 (51.1%) were assigned to the control condition. Compared with control participants, participants assigned to the E-WORTH condition had 54% lower odds of testing positive for any STI at the 12-month follow-up (odds ratio, 0.46; 95% CI, 0.25-0.88; P = .01) and reported 38% fewer acts of condomless vaginal or anal intercourse during the 12-month period (incidence rate ratio, 0.62; 95% CI, 0.39-0.97; P = .04). The magnitudes of effects found across biological and behavioral outcomes in this randomized clinical trial indicate the feasibility and effectiveness of implementing E-WORTH in real-world CSPs. The findings lend further evidence to the promise of culturally tailored HIV/STI interventions for Black women. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02391233.

Urinary retention concomitant with methamphetamine use: a case report

BackgroundUrinary retention is a condition in which impaired emptying of the bladder results in postvoid residual urine. It can be acute or chronic urinary retention. There have been only scattered case studies that have described urinary retention resulting from methamphetamine use. This case report is aimed at raising awareness about methamphetamine abuse as an important factor in the aetiological considerations when evaluating cases of urinary retention among healthy younger age groups.Case presentationWe report a patient who had acute urinary retention after brief amphetamine use. A 26-year-old Nigerian man presented at the emergency room on account of an inability to pass urine and lower abdominal pain. Before this incident, the patient reported a recent ingestion of amphetamine to achieve weight reduction and a fit body. A week after use, he started to experience difficulty passing out urine hence necessitating a visit to the emergency department. After a brief assessment, physical examination revealed a man in painful distress with mild suprapubic fullness. He had a successful passage of a urethral catheter for continuous bladder drainage with dramatic improvement in his symptoms. He was subsequently discontinued on methamphetamine use and referred to a urologist for further evaluation.ConclusionMost cases of urinary retention are diagnosed clinically and are rarely missed. But because urinary retention is associated with a wide range of aetiological factors, clinicians need to be aware of the effects of certain drugs in the aetiology of urinary retention. In the management of a case of urinary retention in the younger age group, clinicians should enquire about a history of drug use, the drug of particular interest being methamphetamine, and also employ the use of urodynamic studies in the evaluation of such cases.

Prevalence of Hepatitis B and C Infections and Associated Risk Factors in Pars Cohort Study, Southern Iran.

BACKGROUND Hepatitis B and C virus (HBV and HCV) infections rank among the most frequent infectious diseases with a rising worldwide burden. However, their epidemiology and risk factors are understudied in many regions, including Iran. METHODS This study was conducted as part of the Pars Cohort Study (PCS) in Valashahr district, Fars province (2012-2014). Participants received venipuncture for HBsAg and HCV antibody, followed by Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) testing. All infected people and their comparison groups completed a risk assessment questionnaire. RESULTS Overall, 9,269 people participated in the study; the majority were women and of Fars ethnicity. Prevalence of HBsAg and HCV antibody was 2.3% (n = 215) and 0.3% (n = 26), from whom 23% (n = 47) and 13% (n = 3) had indications for treatment, respectively. During follow-up, among HBsAg-positive individuals who were not on treatment, 62% tested negative for HBsAg, and in 2% HBV DNA had risen to treatment levels. Risk factors for HBV infection were illiteracy [OR = 3.43, 95% CI = 1.1, 10.3], and Turk ethnicity compared to Fars [OR = 1.58, 95% CI = 1.1, 2.3]. History of blood transfusion [OR = 2.00, 95% CI = 1.1, 3.5] and history of drug use [OR = 2.85, 95% CI = 1.1, 7.4] were associated with HCV infection, after adjustment. CONCLUSION Further epidemiological studies are needed to identify at-risk populations in different regions. Preventive interventions, including educational programs and transfusion safety strategies, are crucial for reducing the hepatitis burden.