Elevated prevalence of high-risk HPV in healthy oral mucosa of users and nonusers of drugs in Northeastern Brazil

Abstract: Variable rates of HPV infection have been reported in healthy oral mucosa worldwide. The main objective of this study was to detect and genotype HPV infection in users and nonusers of drugs with clinically healthy mucosa from the Northeast Brazil. Samples from 105 patients were amplified using the primers MY09/MY11 and GP5+/GP6+, and genotyping was performed by multiplex-PCR for HPV-6/11, 16 and 18. A total of 81.9% samples were positive. Among drug users, 84.5% presented the virus and 20.4% showed multiple infections. Among non-drug users, 78.7% were positive and 13.5% had multiple infections. Limited information is available on oral HPV in Brazilian population, especially for drug users, and our results showed higher HPV infection rates in both users and nonusers of drugs. More studies and researches focused on drug users including factors like sexual behavior, nutrition and cultural habits are necessary to enhance the comprehension of this relationship, and develop preventive strategies.

HBV and HCV infection: incidence and risk factors among injecting drug users in Bahawalpur city

To determine the incidence and risk factors in a well characterized cohort of injecting drug users who have been monitored in Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences Department, Bahawal Victoria Hospital, Bahawalpur. Prospective and experimental. April, 06 to April, 08 in Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences Department, QAMC and Bahawal Victoria Hospital, Bahawalpur. The 12 month incidence of HCV infection was relatively high in IDUs aged 24 years or younger [36%] and also elevated in 26-40 years old [23%] compared with older injectors [12%]. Statistically significant [P=<0.01] differences in incidence was found in subjects who belonged to low socioeconomic group [67%] verses high socioeconomic group [19%]. Similarly higher incidence [P=<0.23] seen in heterosexuals [20%] verses homosexuals IDU's [10%]. HCV incidence was particularly higher among IDU's who had been injecting for more than 6 years [P<0.01], whereas HBV incidence was not associated with duration of drug [P<0.7]. High incidence of HCV and HBV infection is seen in IDU's. Patients with age groups < 24, lower socioeconomic status and sharing of syringes among drug users and showed statistically significant [<0.05] higher chances of HBV and HCV infection

Prevalence of hepatitis G and associated HBs Ag HCV -Ab viral markers among professional blood donors/drug addicts in Pakistan

Hepatitis B and C viral infections have been prevalent with endemicity throughout the world including Pakistan. In Pakistan no information is yet available about the prevalence of hepatitis G virus in general population and high risk groups. On a small scale some work was done [in collaboration with Nagoya University, Japan], with reference to the prevalence of hepatitis B and C viral infection in different risk groups. The present study pertains to 474 individuals [representing professional blood donors and drug addicts] in order to find out the prevalence of HGV status in Pakistan. Seven [1.5 percent] individuals were screened as hepatitis G virus RNA positive by PCR technique. Interestingly, two of these individuals were found to have co-infection with hepatitis C virus based on HCV-Ab, another two of them were found to have mixed infection with hepatitis B and hepatitis C viruses, while rest of the three were exclusively infected with HGV. This suggests for a thorough screening [including HGV] of all blood donors even if their routine hepatitis profile is negative

Health status assessment of drug addicts in Alexandria

The case-control study was conducted among addicts in Alexandria to determine the different health problems among them, as well as to study the correlation between addiction and these problems. One hundred drug addicts and eighty apparently healthy controls were included in this study. The whole sample was subjected to the following: filling a predesigned questionnaire sheet, clinical and electrocardiogram [ECG] examination, measurements of Body Mass Index [BMI], complete blood picture and antistreptolysin O titre [ASO], testing for hepatitis B surface antigen [HBsAg] and antibody to hepatitis B core antigen [anti HBc], skin scrapings from superficial fungal lesions in addition to complete urine and stool examination. The results revealed that chest rhonchi, hepatomegaly, central nervous system [CNS] abnormalities, skin lesions lymphadenopathy, underweight and anaemia were significantly higher among addicts than the controls. Hepatitis B virus [HBV] exposure and HBsAg seropositivity were found 48.0% and 21.0%, respectively among addicts compared to 26.3% and 5.0%, respectively among the controls. The intravenous injections and tattooing were the most risky routes for HBV infection among addicts. A positive correlation was revealed between HBV exposure and both the duration and the number of daily injections. Chest X-ray suggestive of pulmonary tuberculosis were found in 7.0% of the addicts. Addiction potentiated the risk of fungal infection among low social class, but it had no effect on the relationship between anaemia and social class nor on that between loss of appetite and underweight