Situational and motivational factors associated with unhealthy alcohol use among Russian women with HIV and hepatitis C Virus co-infection.

Introduction: Alcohol use is prevalent among Russian women with HIV and hepatitis C Virus (HCV) co-infection despite alcohol's known harmful health effects for this population. Identifying factors that facilitate continued unhealthy alcohol use is critical to developing effective alcohol reduction interventions. This study assessed situational and motivational factors associated with unhealthy alcohol use among HIV/HCV co-infected women in clinical care in St. Petersburg, Russia. Methods: Guided by the motivational model for alcohol use, we conducted 30 semi-structured interviews with women living with HIV/HCV co-infection to identify situational and motivational factors associated with unhealthy drinking and barriers and facilitators to abstaining. Interviews were recorded and analyzed using a the-matic analysis approach. Results: Despite awareness of the health risks associated with alcohol use, many women reported heavy episodic drinking, particularly in social situations. A key motive for drinking was coping with negative emotions triggered by stressful situations, such as work- and family-related conflicts. Key situational factors included drinking with family and friends and in social situations. Women who endorsed negative drinking coping motives were the most motivated to stop drinking. Health concerns were also cited as reasons to stop drinking; however, few women reported that their doctors recommended that they abstain. Conclusions: Several situational and motivational facilitators of alcohol use and barriers to alcohol reduction were identified, as well as some opportunities for prevention, among women in care for HIV in Russia. Awareness-raising and training regarding the adverse consequences of alcohol use among persons with HIV/HCV co-infection should include clinicians, patients and relatives.

Description of dynamic lung fluid transport phenomena by linear non-equilibrium thermodynamic equations.

We propose a mathematical model of dynamic lung transvascular fluid flow based on linear non-equilibrium thermodynamic equations. The model makes use of experimental results concerning lung fluid balance during hydrodynamic and hypooncotic loading. An 'inexact problem' solution method was employed to solve the mathematical problem and to obtain coefficients of mass transfer. Transport features dependent on the system's condition and on boundary phase surface phenomena were also considered. A complex analysis of such a multi-unit system as the lung is useful for the evaluation of fluid balance mechanisms and their application to the development of artificial mass exchange devices.

[Experimental substantiation of intestinal sorption in acute pancreatitis]. / Eksperimental'noe obosnovanie énterosorbtsii pri ostrom pankreatite.

Enterosorption on the carbon material Vaulen was performed in experiments in albino rats with the model of acute pancreatitis. The application of enterosorbents was shown to increase the percentage of survival of the animals, to decrease the activity of pancrease enzymes in the blood, components of the Kallikrein-Kinin system, proteolysis products. The clinical observations support the expediency of using this detoxication method.